Ji Wushuang gazed steadily with her clear eyes, her expression serious as she addressed the three grandmasters of the talismanic arts, each possessing their own distinct yet equally ethereal aura. "My ancestor once said that all of you are exceedingly generous and kind-hearted seniors, and without a doubt, you would never allow me to suffer any loss."
The three were taken aback by the high praise from Jing Tian, their laughter growing even more heartfelt.
"Speak then, what is it that you seek, young one?"
"I dare not say," Ji Wushuang replied.
"Oh?" one of them asked, raising an eyebrow.
"If I were to speak too bluntly, it would seem presumptuous. Yet, if I were overly cautious, I might inadvertently damage the dignity of the esteemed seniors. After all, if the elders of my Yunlan Sect were to think that you were being stingy, it would be most awkward," Ji Wushuang continued, while slowly taking out the gifts from the eighteen disciples of Yunlan.
"This is a gift from my ancestor Jing Tian. This one is from Su Yue Daoist. This is from Jin Feng Daoist. This is from Shou Deng Daoist, and this is from Jiu Men Daoist..."
With each item Ji Wushuang presented, the hearts of Xingyue Daoist and the others skipped a beat, and by the time the last one was revealed, their hearts were practically in their throats...
Heavens!
Was there no end to the wealth of the Yunlan Sect? Was this an attempt to overwhelm a mere junior?
Why were they giving away eighth-grade spirit tools, seventh-grade array disks, and top-tier spiritual treasures to a child?
Had they gone mad?
Had they truly gone mad?
The three elders, who had initially planned to offer only modest trinkets to dismiss Ji Wushuang, now broke into a cold sweat.
After displaying the gifts, Ji Wushuang looked at them with wide, bright eyes, her gaze full of expectation. "Perhaps the esteemed seniors could enlighten me?"
Lian Xing and Zhan Fan exchanged glances, speechless...
Good grief! They had originally thought Ji Wushuang was just an innocent, sweet girl, but now it seemed she was a crafty one underneath.
The three Daoists said no more. With a sigh, they each handed Ji Wushuang their Qiankun rings. "We will grant you temporary access to the contents of our Qiankun rings. Take what you like."
"Indeed, feel free to take whatever you desire."
"Take your pick."
Ji Wushuang blinked and responded, "Then I shall take what I like."
"Go ahead."
Ji Wushuang confidently stepped forward. From Xingyue Daoist's Qiankun ring, she selected a clod of earth. From Miao Bi Daoist's ring, she took a piece of skin from a spirit beast of the Great Ascension stage. From Master Lu's ring, she picked a gemstone pendant hanging at his waist.
Xingyue Daoist's heart ached, his face twitching. Ji Wushuang had selected... a piece of spiritual earth!
Spiritual earth!
With spiritual earth, high-level, high-quality spiritual plants could be grown endlessly. He had kept this earth concealed within his Qiankun ring, along with many other precious items, worth hundreds of thousands of spirit stones.
How had she instantly locked onto the spiritual earth?
Miao Bi Daoist nearly ground his teeth in frustration. The skin of a Great Ascension-stage spirit beast! Good heavens! He had expended an enormous amount of effort to obtain it.
He had even deliberately disguised it to appear worthless—how had she seen through it?
Only Master Lu was still utterly confused. "Huh? This? You only want a gemstone pendant?"
To be honest, the pendant wasn't particularly valuable. It was something he had stumbled upon in his youth, with no spiritual energy but an ethereal beauty, as if waves flowed within it. That was why he had kept it.
"Thank you, esteemed seniors," Ji Wushuang said respectfully. Aside from Master Lu, who smiled sincerely, the other two Daoists had to force smiles, their hearts heavy with regret.
The three elders then proceeded to inquire further about the key points of crafting "non-spiritual energy talismans," and Ji Wushuang answered each question in turn.
Finally, they asked Ji Wushuang to demonstrate how to draw talismans. She complied, drawing a first-grade talisman on the spot and even agreed to allow them to record the process using a recording stone.
Seeing how Ji Wushuang was as pliable as dough, allowing them to handle her as they pleased, the two Daoists felt their minds at ease.
When it came time to bid farewell to the three grandmasters, Ji Wushuang bowed respectfully. "If the esteemed seniors ever need to purchase non-spiritual energy talismans in the future, I can offer you a discount."
The three smiled outwardly, though inwardly they grumbled. After learning how to draw the non-spiritual energy talismans themselves, why would they need to purchase any more?
What, were they buying them out of boredom?
Indeed, Jing Tian's disciple was just as infuriating as he was!
Once the three grandmasters departed, Lian Xing and Zhan Fan hurried over. "Ji Wushuang, how could you have told them the secret? Won't this cause us trouble?"
"It's fine, no need to worry. It might even bring some extra income to our Yunlan Sect," Ji Wushuang replied casually.
"Ah? Do you mean they can't craft non-spiritual energy talismans themselves?"
"Indeed."
Lian Xing and Zhan Fan exchanged a glance, then decided to trust her for now.
Ji Wushuang handed the skin of the Great Ascension spirit beast to Zhan Fan, who was so moved he nearly teared up. "This... for Hongfu Peak?"
The skin of a Great Ascension spirit beast!
This was priceless!
Ji Wushuang nodded. "I've caused quite a bit of trouble for Hongfu Peak recently. This is a token of gratitude."
Zhan Fan paused, then laughed heartily as he ruffled Ji Wushuang's hair. "You little rascal, we're all family. What trouble are you talking about? How about this—let me convert this into merit points for you?"
Ji Wushuang was about to refuse when Zhan Fan suddenly grew serious, pinching her cheek. "No refusal! I'll go back and set up a meeting, then directly credit the merit points to your account!"
With that, he rushed off like his pants were on fire.
Ji Wushuang rubbed her face, puzzled, and looked up at Lian Xing.
Lian Xing was at a loss for words...
For a moment, he didn't know whether to envy Zhan Fan for receiving the Great Ascension spirit beast skin, or for daring to pinch the face of the little ancestor without fear.
Tch, he wanted to pinch it too!
Cough, cough, cough... Lian Xing cleared his throat to cover up his wayward thoughts and swiftly changed the subject. "That spiritual earth... where do you plan to place it?"
"Does Zhi Xing Peak have a suitable location for cultivating rare treasures?"
"Yes, but the most favorable location in the sect would be Zilin Peak."
Without a doubt, Zilin Peak was the most spiritually abundant place in the entire sect, even more revered than the residence of the Great Ascension elders.
Ji Wushuang blinked. "Could you perhaps clear a space just for me there? A place where no one can approach?"
Lian Xing was dumbfounded. "Huh?"
"I have something very important that must be planted in a place rich in spiritual energy and absolutely secure. This spiritual earth is meant for that purpose."
Lian Xing hesitated. "May I ask... what is this important thing?"
Ji Wushuang did not hide it. She took out the seed of the Tianyuan Fruit.
Lian Xing looked at the seed, which seemed as though it were as close to "death" as one could imagine. He blinked in confusion. "What is this?"
"The Tianyuan Fruit."
"?" Lian Xing rubbed his ears. "I'm sorry, little Ancestor, but I think I misheard you... Did you say Tianyuan Fruit? What is that?"
Ji Wushuang blinked. "You didn't hear wrong. This is the Tianyuan Fruit—the fruit that improves one's constitution, stabilizes their spiritual roots, enhances their consciousness, cleanses the marrow and bones, and stabilizes the divine soul."