Gathering her scattered thoughts, Jian Xiaolou bowed deeply toward Bai Li Xi, who sat at the head of the room.
"Thank you for your care during this time, Senior Bai Li. I am deeply grateful. I came today to bid farewell."
Bai Li Xi asked, "Where do you plan to go?"
Where indeed?
Since waking up, Jian Xiaolou had been pondering this question. Her original plan had been to qualify in the Fire Refinement Sect and participate in the Tianyi Alliance's examination two years later. Yet, the incident with Yue Ze had completely upended her plans. Was returning to White Cloud City her only option now?
The sudden thought of her parents and elder sister made her heart clench as though gripped by iron claws.
She had killed Yue Ze. If Elder Xuan Zhen and Song Qingman couldn't capture her, would they take revenge on her family?
The more she thought, the more terrified she became. She was about to rush out in panic when Bai Li Xi's calm voice interrupted her.
"Do not worry. Your family is unharmed."
Jian Xiaolou froze. Could Bai Li Xi read minds?
Bai Li Xi slowly straightened and gestured for the attendants in the cave to leave, leaving only the red-robed woman who had spoken earlier.
"The Tian Sundial is broken, and Floating Light City suffered heavy casualties. With the Alliance Leader's ire, the Fire Refinement Sect can barely handle their troubles. Meanwhile, I infiltrated White Cloud City with my forces at the first opportunity."
"Senior, you—"
"Jian Xiaoyou." Bai Li Xi abruptly changed the topic. "As the head of the Bai Li family, I sincerely invite you to join our family as a guest cultivator. Would you consider it?"
"A… guest cultivator?" Jian Xiaolou was astonished.
In cultivation families, members were ranked into three categories: supreme elders, guest cultivators, and retinue. She, a mere ninth-level Qi Condensation cultivator, was being directly offered the position of a guest cultivator—personally invited by the head of the Bai Li family, no less. Was she hearing correctly?
The red-robed woman beside Bai Li Xi chuckled.
"If you agree, our family head will ensure the safety of your relatives and provide ample resources for your artifact cultivation. The Bai Li family may rank last among the Four Great Families, but surely you've heard the saying, 'No nation can rival Bai Li's wealth.' Our business reaches far beyond the Eastern Immortal Three Continents."
Even Jian Xiaolou, no matter how uninformed, knew how rich the Bai Li family was.
This family, though lacking in numbers and combat power, held a secure place among first-tier families thanks to their vast commercial empire.
"But why me?" she asked, furrowing her brows in confusion.
"My cultivation is mediocre, and I'm only a one-star artificer. I'm just an ordinary cultivator…"
Had this been before the Yue Ze incident, she might have been overjoyed. But after everything, such unsolicited favors from high-level experts felt more like traps. Did Bai Li Xi suspect something from her petrification?
What could anyone discern from a lump of stone?
"Rare commodities are worth investing in."
Bai Li Xi's gaze was direct and unwavering.
"Do not misunderstand. I investigated your background thoroughly. Your clear record is one thing I value. Yue Ze, a proud scion of artifact cultivation in the Eastern Immortal Domain, sought your soul to forge a sword—there must be something special about you. Your soul survived as a sword spirit, returned to your body, and after thirty days of petrification, you stand here unharmed. Do you still think you're ordinary?"
Well, when put that way, she didn't seem ordinary at all.
"If you agree, I will provide resources for your cultivation and protection against anyone who dares to harm you. But if you fail to meet my expectations, I will not hesitate to strip you of your title," Bai Li Xi said, his tone even.
Jian Xiaolou was silent. Sweet promises were easy to make; not everyone had her inability to lie.
"Do you still wish to join the Tianyi Alliance?" Bai Li Xi probed further.
"I know you are investigating your brother Jian Qingyu's death. While I found nothing, that doesn't mean you won't. As a guest cultivator of my family, you would still qualify for the Tianyi Alliance's examination two years later…"
Jian Xiaolou was taken aback.
Bai Li Xi knew about her brother and had investigated his death—though, like Zhan Tianxiang, to no avail.
"You don't have to answer now," Bai Li Xi said. "Take your time to consider."
"Yes." Jian Xiaolou exhaled in relief and bowed before leaving his cave.
Once she had gone, the red-robed woman frowned.
"Master, do you truly plan to cultivate Jian Xiaoyou to uncover the secret of the Twin Gourd?"
Bai Li Xi nodded slightly.
"The Twin Gourd is a treasure for which the old master sacrificed his life to retrieve. But this Jian Xiaoyou seems unreliable…"
"Without the method to unlock it, it is but a sealed gourd," Bai Li Xi murmured.
"My grandfather believed that only those who are extraordinary can unveil its secrets. We've cultivated countless 'extraordinary individuals' over centuries. One more won't hurt."
...
Back in her room, Jian Xiaolou wrestled with her thoughts.
Cultivating artifacts required immense resources. If Bai Li Xi truly saw her as a rare gem worth nurturing, this was undoubtedly a golden opportunity.
"What do you think?" she asked Xiao Hei.
"If I join the Bai Li family, everything will be resolved. With resources for cultivation, my family protected, and the chance to take the Tianyi Alliance examination…"
"Caw…" Xiao Hei responded, though it clearly didn't understand.
"If she's scheming like Yue Ze, what should I do? Bai Li Xi is the head of the Bai Li family—a thousand Yue Zes wouldn't match her power."
"Caw…"
Xiao Hei's responses kept her from feeling like she was talking to herself.
"If Bai Li Xi truly has ill intentions, can we even escape?"
Jian Xiaolou sighed in resignation. She felt powerless. No matter how she looked at it, she had no choice but to comply.
A sudden vibration interrupted her thoughts—the six-star bone shard quivered and pulsed.
Jian Xiaolou hurriedly took it out, removed its seal, and called, "Senior Ye?"