Chapter 28

Xi Zhou’s mouth twitched slightly, and her gaze flickered faintly. “What? Is that impossible?”

Zhou Zhouzi looked at her again as if she were an idiot. “Do you think it’s possible? I haven’t seen you for one night, and your brain moved houses?”

Xi Zhou wanted to speak but stopped. In the end, she sighed. Fine. She gave up struggling. It did seem not very possible.

Seeing her dejected appearance, Zhou Zhouzi could not help imagining things. He asked, “Why are you asking about Fairy Wangyou? Don’t tell me you want to rely on connections and take shortcuts like in the mortal world. I advise you to give up on that idea as soon as possible. Although Fairy Wangyou is leading the team this time, only Foundation Establishment cultivators can enter the small secret realm. If your cultivation is a little higher or lower, neither will work. Even if you go, you’ll only be watching the excitement from outside.”

Xi Zhou glanced at him. “I don’t need to ask Fairy Wangyou to help me take shortcuts.”

Zhou Zhouzi nodded. “Self-awareness is precious. You still have a future. Unlike Senior Brother Feng. I heard he reached out to the Young Sect Master, wanting Fairy Wangyou to look after him. Look at that fawning expression he shows whenever he sees inner disciples. It’s even harder to look at than the little eunuchs in the palace.”

Xi Zhou looked toward Senior Brother Feng, who was sitting in meditation at the cultivation grounds, and asked calmly, “Would Fairy Wangyou pay him any attention?”

Based on her understanding of Zhai Wangyou, something like that should be impossible.

Zhou Zhouzi shook his head and sighed in a very convincing manner. “What kind of person is Fairy Wangyou? She’s at Spirit Division stage, the number one person in the cultivation world. If someone catches her eye, that would be like ascending to heaven in one step. If not for sect rules stopping them, Beishan Peak would probably be packed with people standing beneath it every day. That’s why there are always people trying to get close, dreaming that a pie will fall from the sky and Fairy Wangyou will notice them.”

Xi Zhou let out a cold laugh and stopped speaking. She had contributed to Zhai Wangyou breaking through to Spirit Division, all right?

She pressed her lips together and remembered scene after scene from the past. There had been moments ​read the original at bailiantales.com​when, in the dream, she watched Zhai Wangyou bite her lip and restrain herself, and Xi Zhou had nearly wanted to exhaust her fingers completely…

Sigh. That woman put on clothes and refused to acknowledge people afterward. After a long-awaited reunion, she even tortured Xi Zhou’s leaves. Yesterday, she had pinched them so painfully.

Thinking of this, Xi Zhou took a deep breath, and her gaze suddenly turned fierce. This time, she absolutely had to endure. Until she successfully refined energy, she would definitely not go back.

Zhou Zhouzi watched his little companion’s expression suddenly become frightening again and silently walked farther away. He might as well go chat with the senior brothers. Women really were too changeable.

Xi Zhou patiently practiced every day. Another five days passed, and by then the entire sect knew of her existence. It was said that she was beautiful and enchanting, but her aptitude was just as shockingly dull.

She had not succeeded in refining energy even after fifteen days. She was simply a useless beauty.

That evening, just as Xi Zhou was about to rest, a knock sounded outside.

It was Senior Brother Feng, who had come to find her alone. “Junior Sister Xi Zhou, may I ask how you feel today?”

Xi Zhou shook her head. Not good.

“Senior Brother Feng, just say what you need to say.”

“It isn’t that I have something to say. Do you know that Tianjian Sect has never raised idle people? You still cannot refine energy, so you are no different from a mortal. With only a few decades of lifespan, you will soon age and die. Therefore, according to the rules, you should be sent back to the mortal world.”

Senior Brother Feng’s expression was gloomy. The deadline Eldest Senior Sister Chong Wen had given him was almost here, but this woman still could not refine energy. He could not wait any longer.

Xi Zhou’s heart jolted. Then she suppressed the ripple in her eyes. Female disciples were always managed by Senior Sister Lü. If there was any news from the sect, no matter what, it should not be a senior brother who managed male disciples coming to pass the message. Looking at him, he seemed to intend to personally send her out too.

She was the only one here. Once she stepped outside, other disciples might see her, but who knew whether those people were friends or enemies?

She touched her forehead. This talisman’s function was only enough to leave a few dying words for the tree demon senior to hear. It seemed she had no way to protect herself. No, wait. She could still go to Eldest Senior Sister’s place.

“Senior Brother Feng, please wait a moment. I’ll go pack my clothes.”

“Wait.” Seeing her move, Senior Brother Feng became suspicious. She was only a mortal. Why go through so much trouble? He could just destroy the body and erase all traces directly, avoiding further trouble.

He raised his hand, and spiritual energy secretly gathered in his palm.

Xi Zhou turned back. The moment she saw his movement, her body retreated. She instinctively dodged to the side, and in the blink of an eye, she was already three zhang away.

What was going on? Why was dodging as easy as a monkey?

“You can refine energy now? But it’s already too late.” Seeing this, Senior Brother Feng simply summoned his long sword and flew toward Xi Zhou with a thrust.

This time, Xi Zhou could no longer care about jumping. She focused her mind and disappeared from where she stood.

On Beishan Peak.

“Little Grass moved! Mother, Little Grass is dancing!” Little Xinghui happily hugged Zhai Wangyou’s arm. Mother and daughter looked together toward the Dream-Entering Grass in the flowerpot.

Inside the flowerpot, the Dream-Entering Grass was trembling wildly, as if it were having a fit.

After watching for a while, Zhai Wangyou sensed that something was wrong. “What happened to you?”

Xi Zhou was trembling uncontrollably. She also wanted to know what had happened to her. It felt as though she had been electrocuted and was stuck in a state between dying and not dying.

It was as if something had surrounded her, sealing her in from every direction without the slightest gap, as though it wanted to swallow her whole.

She trembled until her vision darkened and she could not stop no matter what.

Dear heavens. She had not been killed by someone’s sword, but she was going to die from convulsing.

Seeing that she seemed unable to respond, Zhai Wangyou stood and walked to the flowerpot. She closed her eyes and stretched out her hand to investigate.

Just when Xi Zhou was about to collapse, Zhai Wangyou opened her eyes and calmly instructed, “Close your eyes. Gather your energy. Do not resist. Relax your mind and guide the spiritual power into your body.”

This grass actually possessed cultivation. Judging by her state, she had just reached the Qi Refining stage. When cultivators stepped into Qi Refining, they could sense spiritual power and then refine it, thereby improving their cultivation.

This Dream-Entering Grass and this flowerpot had been watered by her with spiritual-energy-filled water for three years without interruption. The spiritual power accumulated inside was astonishing. ​unauthorized copy​To a Qi Refining cultivator, it was like a dried-up sponge suddenly encountering a torrential downpour. She did not know whether this was good or bad.

Although Xi Zhou did not know what was going on with her, she still instinctively followed Zhai Wangyou’s words.

She closed her eyes and relaxed her mind. Slowly, she felt the sealed air around her find an opening. It flowed into her limbs and bones, finally gathering in her dantian.

Only when she saw the Dream-Entering Grass calm down did Zhai Wangyou let out a breath of relief.

At this point, Xi Zhou also realized what had happened. Her situation was very similar to the scene described in Cultivation Essentials.

Foundation Establishment?

Had she established her foundation?

The book said that when spiritual power filled the dantian, one could establish foundation.

What exactly was going on? She had established foundation just like that?

Wasn’t it said that even single-spiritual-root disciples with high talent needed at least three to five years? Yet she, a lower-lower-grade five-spiritual-root disciple, had established foundation so easily? Wasn’t this too fantastical?

“You just succeeded in refining energy?” Zhai Wangyou considered this in her heart for a moment, but her face revealed nothing as she asked.

Xi Zhou drooped her leaves.

Yes. She really had just succeeded in refining energy.

Zhai Wangyou’s expression did not change. She said calmly, “Every day, I used spiritual power-infused water to water this grass. You can be considered to have gained fortune from misfortune. After you go back, just cultivate with peace of mind.”

Xi Zhou vaguely understood and drooped her leaves again.

Zhai Wangyou’s brows sharpened.

So she was going back to cultivate. Then where exactly was she going back to?

She steadied herself, her tone still calm. “Although you have established foundation, your cultivation is not stable enough yet. At this time, it is best to let a Spirit Division cultivator help soothe the spiritual power inside your body. You only need to relax your mind. Just like earlier, you do not need to do anything.”

Xi Zhou had originally been listening seriously. But when she heard “you need a Spirit Division cultivator’s help,” suspicion rose in her heart.

Why did that sound like she was saying: only I can help you, so behave a little?

Something seemed not quite right.

She examined Zhai Wangyou’s icy eyes. The expression on her face was the same as before, with nothing unusual. Was she overthinking? In any case, Eldest Senior Sister would not harm her.

After hesitating for a moment, Xi Zhou drooped her leaves to express obedience.

In the next instant, she felt a cool thread of spiritual power pass through her body before disappearing without a trace.

A dark look flashed through Zhai Wangyou’s eyes, but her tone still did not change. “After you go back, you must immediately sleep and rest for one night. When you wake tomorrow, cultivate as usual.”

Xi Zhou drooped her leaves once and obediently returned to her residence. There were no signs of damage on the door. Senior Brother Feng seemed to have already left. She tidied up briefly and, following Zhai Wangyou’s instructions, quickly went to sleep and rest.

Little Xinghui watched Mother and Little Grass ask and answer each other. In the end, Little Grass stopped moving again, but Mother looked very happy.

“Mother? Little Grass grew bigger again. Is Daddy coming back soon?” She tugged on her mother’s sleeve, her eyes full of expectation.

Zhai Wangyou lowered her eyes to look at her. The smile in her eyes was no longer hidden. In a gentle voice, she said, “Xinghui, you must remember from now on: you do not have a father. You have two mothers. Very soon, I will know where your other mother is.”

A Spirit Division cultivator could possess an additional divine soul. Aside from having higher cultivation than a Nascent Soul cultivator, this extra divine soul did not have much practical use. But at certain moments, it was very useful.

For example, when Xi Zhou had been completely unguarded, Zhai Wangyou had branded her own divine soul mark onto her.

As long as Xi Zhou slept deeply, Zhai Wangyou could sense where the divine soul mark was and thus know exactly where this person had returned to.

Little Xinghui listened in confusion. “I’m going to have two mothers? That’s great. Two mothers exactly the same?”

Then which mother would she like more in the future? If they were exactly [bailiantales.com]the same, it would be so hard to choose.

Zhai Wangyou stroked her head. “Be good. You’ll know in the future. Hurry and sleep. Only after Xinghui falls asleep can I go find that mother of yours.”

She wondered where that person would return to, and when she would fall asleep.

Little Xinghui obediently crawled under the quilt, closed her eyes, and slept.

Zhai Wangyou sat by the bed and focused on sensing. In less than half an hour, there was a response. It seemed very close.

She quietly stood, walked out the door, and flew in the direction of the divine soul mark.

She descended Beishan Peak, left the inner sect, and finally stopped outside the courtyard where the outer disciples lived.

“Disciple greets Elder Wangyou.”

The four disciples guarding the gate had all seen the portraits of the sect elders and recognized her at a glance.

Zhai Wangyou looked toward the courtyard. The response from the divine soul mark stopped here. So that person had been in Tianjian Sect all along these past three years?

Had she been hiding among the outer disciples?

Only now did she dazedly realize that she knew [stolen content]nothing about the Dream-Entering Grass. She did not know her origins or her identity…

“Tomorrow, have all outer sect disciples at Foundation Establishment go to the martial arts field. They will compete with the inner disciples for the spots to enter the small secret realm. Not a single one is to be left out.”

The four disciples cupped their fists and answered, “Disciples obey. We respectfully send off Elder Wangyou.”

Zhai Wangyou looked once more toward the courtyard.

If she was good, then fine.

But if she was not, no matter who she was or what purpose she carried, Zhai Wangyou would absolutely not tolerate it.

As for how to deal with her…

When the time came, she would imprison her on Beishan Peak. She would personally watch over her.