The words spoken by Yue Qing were nothing short of a thunderclap to Mo Lanyi!
She had labored tirelessly for so long, trying to please that old fool every day, all for the sake of the "vital energy." And now, he turned around and gave the valley to someone else?!
Cursing Yue Qing a thousand times in her heart, Mo Lanyi still put on a pitiful look, her voice tinged with the slightest sob.
"Master! But you promised! That land was supposed to be mine... You can't go back on your word."
Yue Qing awkwardly replied, "It's not that I am going back on my word, but the sect has requisitioned that land."
"The sect requisitioned it??"
"Yes, it was the Sect Leader himself who decided."
The Sect Leader...
Thinking of the proud, powerful, and fiercely protective leader, Mo Lanyi's heart sank even further.
Because she always felt that the Sect Leader should have been her master!
Not this useless fool before her!
Wait!
What if the land was...
Was it given to Ji Wushuang?!
Yes!
It must have been given to Ji Wushuang!!!
Ji Wushuang was far too mysterious—every time she got involved, everything turned awry. How infuriating!
The mere thought of Ji Wushuang taking what was hers twisted Mo Lanyi's delicate features in anger. "Master, that valley hasn't been given to Ji Wushuang, has it?"
Yue Qing paused for a moment, taken aback by her tone. Yet, understanding her well, he gently reassured her, "No, it was given to the sect."
As for the sect's purpose, he would not disclose that to Mo Lanyi.
If the Tianyuan Fruit really took root, it would be an endeavor of immense consequence!
Even though he loved his disciple dearly, he could not afford to be indiscriminate.
Mo Lanyi was about to say something more, but the old ghost spirit quickly intervened. [Mind your tone. You still need this man to back you.]
[Master, he is clearly just brushing me off! That land must have gone to Ji Wushuang!]
[So what if he's brushing you off? Who's fault is it that your strength is so lacking? Besides, while the valley was indeed taken by Ji Wushuang, that doesn't mean you can't still absorb vital energy from it. You don't have to live there. Think about it—it's still part of Zilin Peak's territory. Do you really think Ji Wushuang has the authority to ban anyone from entering?]
[That... won't happen...]
[Exactly. As long as you can still enter, even if it's just for a brief moment, you can still nourish your spiritual root. Don't worry about the process—your goal is to merge with your spiritual root. Instead of angering Yue Qing and ruining his favor, why not take advantage of his guilt to secure some benefits?]
A sudden enlightenment washed over Mo Lanyi.
[Understood. Thank you, Master Ghost.]
Mo Lanyi quickly composed herself, her expression now full of understanding. "Master, I've thought it through. The sect must have urgent matters requiring the use of the valley. In that case, I should understand."
Yue Qing, relieved at his disciple's mature response, smiled warmly. "Rest assured, I'll make sure you get the best cave dwelling."
"Thank you, Master. If there's ever anything the sect needs, I'll be more than willing to help."
"Hahaha, good girl, good girl!"
...
Mo Lanyi's careful calculations echoed in her mind, but she never anticipated that an immensely powerful formation would rise outside the valley that afternoon, sealing it off completely and not allowing even a hint of energy to leak out.
From the outside, it appeared as though the valley had become an isolated island, cut off from all external observation.
Mo Lanyi strained to sense anything, but felt not a trace of the "vital energy" she had been hoping for. She nearly screamed in despair.
[Master Ghost! What is going on?!]
The old ghost spirit, taken aback, murmured, [How is this possible...]
[What formation is this?]
After a long pause, the old ghost spirit finally spoke gravely. [It's the Seventy-Two Star Slaughtering Immortals Formation.]
Mo Lanyi's heart immediately sank. [What kind of formation is that? And where has all the vitality gone?]
The old ghost spirit surveyed the area with his divine sense, his tone now tense. [I never expected this. The Yunlan Sect's legacy runs deeper than I imagined. In addition to the Seventy-Two Star Slaughtering Immortals Formation, there's a barrier here so powerful that even my divine sense cannot penetrate.]
[What does this mean?]
[It means that the Yunlan Sect has likely discovered the secret of the "Life Vein" and has sealed it off. Your plan to merge your spiritual root with the vitality here is no longer feasible.]
[...]
[Don't worry. Your luck is still strong. Once you've completely absorbed the luck of Lu Xingzhou and Lian Yuan, your spiritual root will remain stable for at least thirty years. During that time, with your good fortune, surely you'll find another "Life Vein." The priority now is to continue improving their affection for you so that you can continue to absorb their luck.]
Mo Lanyi's anxiety quickly subsided, and she responded calmly. [I understand. Thank you, Master Ghost.]
[Mm.]
Though the old ghost spirit continued to comfort Mo Lanyi, he couldn't help but feel cautious about the suddenly revealed formation and barrier. The Yunlan Sect still had secrets, and he would have to tread carefully in the future.
What Mo Lanyi didn't know was that the very formations she had taught the Sect Leader of Dao Yi Peak had inadvertently caused the old ghost spirit to become more reserved.
He, her greatest supporter, had now become wary, weakening her position even further.
For over half a year, Chen Qingxian, the Sect Leader of Dao Yi Peak, had envied Zhan Fan, unable to stop himself from wishing for Zhan Fan's downfall late into the night.
But who could have predicted that the tides would turn so quickly?
In the blink of an eye, it was now Dao Yi Peak's turn to thrive!
Unlike the imposing Zhan Fan, Chen Qingxian was more refined, exuding an air of scholarly elegance. If it weren't for his仙风道骨 demeanor, one might mistake him for a learned scholar rather than a martial arts master.
As he nervously traced the restored formations and barriers Ji Wushuang had helped reactivate, he murmured, "Don't worry, little Wushuang. You sacrificed your ancient texts and helped us restore the Locking Spirit Seal and the Seventy-Two Star Slaughtering Immortals Formation. We, Dao Yi Peak, will never forget this. Zhan Fan may offer you points, but we'll match them, no—no, we'll give you ten percent more!"
Ji Wushuang chuckled softly, "There's no need to be so courteous, Master Chen. After all, my only goal in restoring these formations was to ensure a peaceful space for myself."
The Tianyuan Fruit had to be planted here, and it was imperative to ensure its safety.
It was, after all, her lifeline!
And what could be more trustworthy than an ancient seal and a powerful formation?
It was a small effort on her part, nothing more.