Chapter 9: You Pay with Spirit Stones

Usually the most composed of them all, Wen Ying couldn’t help but smile when she saw Ji Jiuxuan, who was even younger than Qin Yuzhou, trying to intimidate him. Ji Jiuxuan used to act like a little adult, but now, standing next to the small Yuzhou and chatting, it was clear she was just a child herself—just lacking a playmate.

“My grandfather is the master of Wangling Peak. It was your maternal grandfather who spoke to him. If you don’t believe me, you can ask my little uncle; he was there that day.” Being doubted by Ji Jiuxuan, Qin Yuzhou’s face flushed with urgency, eager to explain, almost dragging her straight to Wangling Peak for proof.

She had heard that her maternal grandfather, Qi Shuoyuan, and Wangling Peak’s master, Qin Yue, were friends. Qin Yue had a grandson who was recently found to possess the golden heavenly spiritual root.

Qin Yuzhou was nearly half a year older than Ji Jiuxuan. He had gone with his mother to his maternal family and missed the spirit root test at Xuantian Sect, so he had it performed early within his maternal clan. Among all the testers, he had the highest aptitude, drawing much attention and praise from his maternal family and others.

Since returning to Wangling Peak, Qin Yuzhou had become a little tyrant, invincible in his own world.

Seeing his proud, petulant demeanor, Ji Jiuxuan realized he was thoroughly delighted with his own talent.

“You want to challenge me?” Having practiced boxing for over two hours yesterday, she was now forced to rest for four more hours, bored and idle.

In the past three years, aside from the day she was taken to the Ancestral Dao Pavilion for testing, she had never left the Xuanheng Courtyard. Wandering the sect should pose no danger, and Wen Ying would allow it.

She needed a guide, and since Qin Yuzhou had come alone, he must know some parts of Xuantian Sect well. Even if he wasn’t familiar with everywhere, he was from Wangling Peak, and with his personality, was surely most familiar with his own peak.

Seeing how easy it was to persuade this child, Ji Jiuxuan decided to let him guide her around the sect.

Qin Yuzhou nodded, then looked at the soft, adorable girl across from him, suddenly feeling a bit shy for reasons unknown.

He forced himself to steady his nerves, raising his voice to mask his fondness for the little girl.

His little uncle had said: when facing an opponent, one had to be fierce, or else people would think you’re easy to bully.

“If you want to challenge me, fine. But I’m not someone you can challenge whenever you wish. If you lose, you have to become my little follower. Otherwise, I don’t have time to waste.”

Wen Ying looked at Ji Jiuxuan, a tiny child uttering grown-up words yet with childish intent, and couldn’t help but laugh and shake her head.

It was time for her to interact more with peers.

Now that she had drawn spiritual energy into her body, she needed to gradually learn the rules of this world and become familiar with everything in it.

Becoming someone’s follower was absolutely impossible for the little tyrant of Wangling Peak. Yet seeing Ji Jiuxuan’s determined face, clearly unwilling to accept the challenge without this condition, Qin Yuzhou gritted his teeth and agreed, “Fine, let’s do it!”

He was confident he wouldn’t lose. Both were at the second level of Qi refining, but he had started months earlier and had been practicing swordsmanship ever since, supervised by his little uncle.

His uncle had said his sword skills were the best among his peers.

Yuzhou, round and plump, was actually quite simple-minded; he just wanted to see who was stronger, nothing more.

“The sect forbids private duels,” Wen Ying interjected just as Qin Yuzhou prepared to draw his sword.

Fearless as he was, Qin Yuzhou nevertheless felt an inexplicable awe towards Wen Ying.

His eyes rolled with bold confidence, and he smiled at Ji Jiuxuan. “Then let’s go to the arena. It’s allowed there.”

Of course, there was a fee of spirit stones to enter the arena.

Ji Jiuxuan had never been out, but over the years had coaxed Wen Ying into giving her a simple introduction to the outside, so she knew about this. “You pay for the spirit stones.”

She had no intention of wasting spirit stones on this; money should be spent wisely.

Ji Jiuxuan’s words didn’t seem odd to Qin Yuzhou, but Wen Ying was a bit surprised.

The little girl had plenty of spirit stones, especially after the sect leader returned recently and gave her a storage space. Ji Jiuxuan had shown it to Wen Ying; the spirit stones could be piled into a mountain.

The spirit stones needed for an arena match were negligible for her.

She’d never been stingy before.

The arena fee meant nothing to Qin Yuzhou, so he nodded, “Alright, I’ll pay.”

His generous manner even made Wen Ying smile.

“Aunt Ying, I’m going with him to the arena. I’ll be back later.”

Previously, with her parents absent, Wen Ying had kept a close watch, fearing she’d fail in her duty. But now, she wouldn’t restrict her anymore.

“Go ahead, be careful,” Wen Ying nodded. Although they were going to the arena, there were people watching, and even if she didn’t follow, her spiritual sense could see everything. If anything happened, she could arrive instantly. There was no problem at all.

A small, red identity jade appeared in her hand, engraved with Ji Jiuxuan’s name. “Here, bind it with your spiritual sense.”

In Xuantian Sect, identity jades came in white, blue, and black, representing outer disciples, inner disciples, and true disciples respectively.

But those from cultivation families, second or third generation, had red jades.

Within the sect, no one dared provoke those with red jades—behind the child, there was a whole line of elders. Such a formation was not something ordinary people could afford to offend.

Of course, the strength of those with red jades varied. The truly powerful were more intimidating than those with black jades. The less talented merely benefited from the protection of their elders, ensuring safety, but among black jade holders, they could only stand aside.

Qin Yuzhou also had one. Ji Jiuxuan glanced at it and noticed the patterns differed—there were totems, and a careful look revealed which peak each totem represented.

With her identity jade secured, Ji Jiuxuan walked toward the outside. “Let’s go.”

Qin Yuzhou hurried after her.

She had studied the sect’s map, so she knew the arena was at the foot of the main peak.

For two children at the Qi refining stage, walking down the mountain was exhausting, and Ji Jiuxuan had no intention of walking.

She approached a large rabbit by the roadside, climbed onto it, and placed spirit stones into its pouch. “I want to go to the arena at the foot of the mountain. Thank you.”

Every part of Xuantian Sect had spirit beasts to ferry people where they wanted, as long as they paid the fare.

“Alright, please sit tight,” the Moon-white Rabbit replied gently, calming her.

“Wait, I haven’t gotten on yet!” Qin Yuzhou rushed to climb onto the rabbit as well. “Same as her, to the arena.”

Ji Jiuxuan had chosen the Moon-white Rabbit, the smallest among the spirit beast mounts, but it could easily carry two or three adult cultivators. For two children, it was spacious, but as it was her first ride, she wanted it all to herself. “Pick another one.”