The Cub I Raised Turned Out to Be a Reborn Boss (GL) - Chapter 17

$\text{Qingyang}$ $\text{Mountain}$ was verdant with trees, and a flying boat hovered directly above it.

The $\text{Qingyang}$ $\text{Fruits}$ on the $\text{Qingyang}$ $\text{Spiritual}$ $\text{Trees}$ were rich in spiritual energy, beneficial to $\text{Heaven}$-rank and $\text{Earthy}$-rank cultivators. Thus, there were many rogue cultivators coming and going on $\text{Qingyang}$ $\text{Mountain}$.

When they saw the flying boat, their eyes couldn’t help but show some apprehension.

This area was within the jurisdiction of the $\text{Yuqing}$ $\text{Sect}$. The $\text{Yuqing}$ $\text{Sect}$ was a behemoth they dared not touch.

However, despite their apprehension, they continued to enter the mountain and do what they needed to do.

It was widely known that $\text{Qingyang}$ $\text{Mountain}$ was one of the $\text{Yuqing}$ $\text{Sect}$‘s trial grounds, and the appearance of a $\text{Yuqing}$ $\text{Sect}$ flying boat here was not surprising.

Furthermore, the rules for the $\text{Yuqing}$ $\text{Sect}$ trials were publicly announced to the world.

They all knew that as long as they didn’t take the disciples’ lives, even if they robbed these young disciples, the $\text{Yuqing}$ $\text{Sect}$‘s $\text{Guard}$ $\text{Team}$ would not interfere.

Among these disciples were many favored by heaven, with rich family backgrounds, yet they had never seen the world.

In the eyes of these rogue cultivators, they were all fat sheep ready to be slaughtered.

So, instead of running, the rogue cultivators spread the news to each other.

The rogue cultivators were all searching for the whereabouts of the $\text{Yuqing}$ $\text{Sect}$ disciples. Conversely, the $\text{Yuqing}$ $\text{Sect}$ disciples were in misery. They had to face the threat of spiritual beasts and also worry about being mugged from behind.

This was also part of the trial, letting them know the dangers of the outside world.

Jiang Yixue sat on the deck of the flying boat. Her teal-green skirt hung down, swaying gently with the clear breeze.

Sunlight enveloped her, seemingly plating the three thousand strands of her dark hair with a faint golden sheen. She rested her cheek on one hand, somewhat listlessly watching the trial below.

$\text{Zuo}$ Hao had just returned from a patrol, having found no anomalies.

Seeing Jiang Yixue sitting outside, he walked over cheerfully and said, “$\text{Young}$ $\text{Sect}$ $\text{Master}$, why aren’t you cultivating in your room today?”

“Cultivation also requires a balance of work and rest. I came out to take a look around. I won’t disturb you.”

Jiang Yixue was very distressed. After reaching the $\text{Spirit}$-rank peak, she seemed to have hit a bottleneck. No matter how hard she tried, her cultivation level barely advanced.

Earlier, Jiang Yixue had been completely focused on teaching Song Xi cultivation, so a lack of progress was normal. But she had been at $\text{Qingyang}$ $\text{Mountain}$ for two months now, and still, there was no progress.

With $\text{Zuo}$ Hao stationed here, no one dared to cause trouble, so she dedicated all her time to cultivation, yet there was zero progress. This was highly unusual.

“The $\text{Young}$ $\text{Sect}$ $\text{Master}$ is right,” $\text{Zuo}$ Hao pulled a chair over from the side, took a large step, sat down, leaned back in the chair, and stretched.

$\text{Zuo}$ Hao had been so busy in the previous period that he barely returned to the flying boat. Even if these disciples were favored by heaven, as soon as they entered the mix of spiritual beasts and rogue cultivators, they were instantly bewildered, unable to display even half of their usual strength.

With Jiang Yixue stationed on the flying boat, $\text{Zuo}$ Hao was like a firefighter, constantly rushing around to save people.

Seeing him so relaxed, Jiang Yixue was somewhat surprised: “$\text{Squad}$ $\text{Leader}$ $\text{Zuo}$, are you not going on patrol today?”

$\text{Zuo}$ Hao clicked his tongue and said, “These little brats have good potential. Now is nothing like two months ago. I’m hardly needed anymore. I can finally take it easy.”

$\text{Zuo}$ Hao chuckled, pointing to the east side of the mountain forest below, and said, “A disciple from the $\text{Medicine}$ $\text{Hall}$ has set up a large base camp there and united all our disciples. That kid has some skill. He broke through to $\text{Earth}$-rank cultivation and not only keeps the base camp watertight in defense but also occasionally leads an elite squad out to hunt those rogue cultivators. No one has called for help for several days now. On the contrary, those rogue cultivators are being chased all over the mountain.”

A $\text{Medicine}$ $\text{Hall}$ disciple?

The alarm bells immediately rang in Jiang Yixue’s heart. The $\text{Medicine}$ $\text{Hall}$ disciple here did not need to participate in the assessment, and there was only one—Lin Chen.

Breaking through to $\text{Earth}$-rank cultivation, and even becoming the leader of the disciples…

Jiang Yixue slightly furrowed her brows, the alarm bells blaring in her heart. Lin Chen should currently be the lowest-cultivated among the four male leads, but he was about to catch up to her.

He truly was the male lead. Not only was his own cultivation impressive, but he could also unite people.

$\text{Zuo}$ Hao was grinning widely, his mouth almost reaching his ears, but Jiang Yixue couldn’t smile. This was not good news for her. After all, these four people were all potential killers. With their strength growing so fast and hers stagnating, it was very dangerous.

$\text{Demon}$ $\text{Realm}$ $\text{Supreme}$ $\text{Qin}$ $\text{Huanchuan}$, $\text{Yuqing}$ $\text{Sect}$‘s $\text{Chief}$ $\text{Elder}$ $\text{Han}$ $\text{Yansu}$, and the $\text{Demon}$ $\text{God}$ $\text{Wei}$ $\text{Qi}$ with his mysterious background… Every one of them stood at the pinnacle of martial strength on the continent.

Only Lin Chen was still weak, but as soon as he inherited the $\text{Canghuang}$ $\text{Throne}$ and accepted the legacy, he could become a powerhouse on par with them overnight.

Jiang Yixue felt a strong sense of impending doom.

A gust of wind blew past her side. Jiang Yixue, who was deep in thought, suddenly turned pale, tilted her head, and gently coughed a few times. A trace of scarlet appeared on her lips, and a faint metallic taste rose in her throat.

“$\text{Young}$ $\text{Sect}$ $\text{Master}$,” $\text{Zuo}$ Hao suddenly became anxious. He wanted to reach out to help Jiang Yixue but felt awkward about the impropriety of physical contact between a man and a woman, freezing awkwardly in place.

Jiang Yixue eased the dull pain in her chest and said faintly, “It’s nothing. I just suffered a backlash from my spiritual power. I’ll be fine after half a day of meditation.”

Last night, she attempted to break through the $\text{Heaven}$-rank barrier, failed, and suffered a backlash due to the resulting spiritual power disorder.

Jiang Yixue knew that cultivation couldn’t be rushed, but seeing Lin Chen’s incredible speed, she couldn’t help but feel anxious.

“You speak of balancing work and rest, yet you push yourself this far,” $\text{Zuo}$ Hao sighed helplessly. “Breaking through to the $\text{Heaven}$-rank cannot be rushed. I’ve been stuck at the $\text{Spirit}$-rank peak for ten years. Such things depend on destiny.”

Jiang Yixue sighed softly, shook her head, and said, “I don’t have that much time.”

Ten years? Lin Chen would take at most six years to grow up. The turmoil caused by the divine meridians in the original plot would happen in eight years. If she was still at $\text{Spirit}$-rank peak cultivation after eight years, Jiang Yixue would be completely powerless to do anything.

Geniuses always get stuck on such points. $\text{Zuo}$ Hao thought for a moment and suggested, “$\text{Young}$ $\text{Sect}$ $\text{Master}$, why don’t you go relax? As you said, cultivation also requires a balance of work and rest. A few rogue cultivators I met the other day were going to an auction in $\text{Qingyang}$ $\text{City}$. $\text{Qingyang}$ $\text{City}$ is not far from here. $\text{Young}$ $\text{Sect}$ $\text{Master}$ can go there to relax and look around.”

“But, here…”

Jiang Yixue’s words were interrupted by $\text{Zuo}$ Hao: “That kid from the $\text{Medicine}$ $\text{Hall}$ is doing well. With him leading the disciples, there will definitely be no problem. Having just me with the $\text{Guard}$ $\text{Team}$ stationed here is enough. Besides, $\text{Qingyang}$ $\text{City}$ is less than a hundred miles from here, which isn’t very far.”

She had been transmigrated for so long, and the most prosperous place she had visited was $\text{Lingshan}$ $\text{Town}$. She hadn’t even seen a major city in this world yet.

Jiang Yixue knew that her current anxious state was detrimental to cultivation. It might be better to go out, relax, and perhaps with a relaxed mindset, she could break through.

$\text{Qingyang}$ $\text{City}$ was the largest city within a five-hundred-mile radius, named after the nearby $\text{Qingyang}$ $\text{Mountain}$. The $\text{Qingyang}$ $\text{Auction}$ $\text{House}$ in $\text{Qingyang}$ $\text{City}$ was personally hosted by the $\text{City}$ $\text{Lord}$, held once every five years, making it a major quinquennial event.

The day Jiang Yixue arrived in $\text{Qingyang}$ $\text{City}$ was precisely the day the auction opened.

The $\text{City}$ $\text{Lord}$ of $\text{Qingyang}$ $\text{City}$ was named Yun Tongtian, a powerhouse with $\text{Heaven}$-rank intermediate cultivation. No one dared to cause trouble on the $\text{Yun}$ family’s territory. People entered the venue in an orderly manner.

The auction was held in a dedicated three-story $\text{Treasures}$ $\text{Tower}$. The first floor was the main hall with many seats arranged. The second floor consisted of small private rooms, and the third floor was the appraisal area where people wishing to sell goods had to go to estimate the value of their items.

Jiang Yixue displayed her $\text{Yuqing}$ $\text{Sect}$ $\text{direct}$ $\text{disciple}$ token, and a servant immediately led her through a special side entrance directly to the second floor of the auction house.

The $\text{Yuqing}$ $\text{Sect}$ was a first-rate righteous sect, and the identity of a $\text{direct}$ $\text{disciple}$ was sufficient to grant direct access to a private room on the second floor.

Not many people used this exclusive passage. As Jiang Yixue stepped onto the stairs, her gaze fell upon an elegant figure a hundred paces ahead. She was clearly also entering through the special passage.

That person wore a long, deep purple dress. The fitted waistline outlined a graceful figure. Tasseled girdle ornaments swayed slightly with her steps. What attracted Jiang Yixue was her aura. Although she appeared to be a young woman, her every move exuded the authority of someone long in a high position.

She turned her head, and her eyes met Jiang Yixue’s.

It was an exquisite face. A pair of phoenix eyes held a reddish hue, as vivid as a ruby, captivating the soul. Her features were delicate, and the corners of her eyes curved upward with an arrogant, unrestrained arch. She curved her lips, smiling softly at Jiang Yixue, a smile that was both alluring and mesmerizing.

Jiang Yixue subconsciously held her breath slightly. She is a true beauty of the “disaster level”…

Anyone entering through the special passage should also be a person of status. This person’s appearance was so captivating that it was hard to look away. She couldn’t be a nobody. But Jiang Yixue searched her mind repeatedly and couldn’t find any relevant memory of this person.

The woman turned and continued walking forward. The man beside her whispered, “Mistress, do you know the person behind you? Is there trouble? Should I take care of it?”

“How do you propose to take care of it?”

The man lowered his voice, speaking hoarsely: “Naturally, to put an end to it once and for all… to kill her…”

The woman shot him a fierce look: “Do not touch her. Stay away from her.”

With that, she quickened her steps and walked into the auction house, muttering to herself.

She seemed to be saying: “Didn’t $\text{Senior}$ $\text{Sister}$ go to lead the trial team? Why did she suddenly come to the auction house… Fortunately, fortunately, I’ve temporarily recovered some of my strength and maintained my previous appearance. She shouldn’t recognize me…”