Chapter 632 - 579: ’Forced’ Mission
Seven Stars River, Green Ripples Dock.
A small boat parted the dense reeds, slowly approaching the pier.
A female cultivator, wearing a conical hat and dressed in green, stood at the bow holding a long pole. Her sleeves fluttered in the wind, and her white hair was like snow.
A little girl wearing a red skirt, with a blue finch perched on her head and white gauze covering her eyes, sat sulkily at the stern, slapping aside the reeds brushing her face.
"Why must I accompany you on your mission?!"
Jiang Yuebai stirred the ripples and turned to look at Bai Jiuyou, sighing, "Haven’t I told you many times? I’m also being forced outside. The Supreme Elder said if I don’t take a break, the elders of the Zhuge Family will cause trouble. The same goes for you—many disciples below have already collapsed from exhaustion."
Jiang Yuebai was also helpless about this. They had only joined the Zhuge Family for over half a year. They followed their own pace, doing their own things, yet why did this group insist on comparing with her and then making trouble when they couldn’t match up?
It was utterly unreasonable and incomprehensible.
"I don’t care, I want to go back, I need to study. Do you know how many credits I’m losing for these delays? What if the second place surpasses me? You have it easy—you can earn contribution points even if you’re not present by setting up that great array. But I can’t!"
Bai Jiuyou sulkily plucked a reed and swung it around.
Jiang Yuebai held the bamboo pole, "Your credits—you could give the second place an entire year, and they still wouldn’t have a chance to surpass you. The Supreme Elder specifically instructed me to bring you out to see the world and relax, so you can properly establish your foundation when you return..."
Before Jiang Yuebai finished speaking, spiritual energy suddenly burst forth, rushing into Bai Jiuyou’s dantian.
"Foundation established, flawless. Send me back to study!"
Jiang Yuebai: (;一_一)
"Alright, alright, stop being difficult. Actually, I originally didn’t want to take this mission either, but the Supreme Elder told me it involved the female demon head, Chenzhou Wanderer, so I reluctantly agreed."
Bai Jiuyou turned angrily, "Is someone really impersonating you and committing evil deeds in the Seven Stars River Basin?"
"What do you mean impersonating me? They’re impersonating the Chenzhou Wanderer. I, True Monarch Wangshu, am a righteous person, a renowned guest elder of the Zhuge Family!" Jiang Yuebai adjusted her conical hat.
Bai Jiuyou specifically pulled down her blindfold to give Jiang Yuebai a big eye roll.
"So, what’s your plan for this trip? Catch the fake Chenzhou?"
Jiang Yuebai thought for a moment, "Actually, it’s possible. If we can indeed fish in troubled waters, we could exchange this fake Chenzhou for that massive bounty from the Iron Palm Master. If not, we can’t let this person ruin Chenzhou’s name."
Bai Jiuyou re-covered her eyes, "What has the fake Chenzhou done?"
Jiang Yuebai recalled the tired face of the Supreme Elder of the Zhuge Family instructing her.
"I’ve heard they’ve caused quite a few extermination tragedies, gathered a group of evil and demon cultivators, and went around killing, burning, and robbing, throwing the Seven Stars River Basin into utter chaos."
"The first sect of the Seven Stars River Basin, Heavenly Star Sect, has been hunting the Chenzhou Wanderer and their subordinates, but they always arrive a step too late, only able to clean up the aftermath. Though the Supreme Elder didn’t say it out loud, I feel like there’s something fishy with the Heavenly Star Sect."
"Oh, and the Supreme Elder also mentioned that the Xiong Family from the Eight Immortals River Basin has also sent people to the Heavenly Star Sect to help hunt down the Chenzhou Wanderer. The Supreme Elder told us to be careful, and if we can’t catch the Chenzhou Wanderer, to help move the people of ’Qianji Tower,’ a small sect supported by the Zhuge Family."
Bai Jiuyou nodded, then asked, "You’re not just out for this mission, are you?"
Jiang Yuebai smiled, "Of course, the White Dragon Spear has been soaking in Ten Thousand Years Cold Stalactite for a while. The final quenching time is near, and I’m ready to absorb Candle Dragon Essence Blood, so I need to find a secluded spot to complete these two tasks."
"Additionally, I need you to act as a protector, to open the Nine Netherworld Gate. Once all this is done, we can hunker down in the Zhuge Family and prepare for the Dragon Group Gathering of the Nine Rivers Realm in four years. The Supreme Elder told me that this session of the Dragon Group Gathering is unlike any in the past—the Realm Lord of Nine Rivers will also appear."
"The Supreme Elder said the Realm Lord doesn’t always appear, but when they do, you can request their help to handle one matter within their ability by passing their test."
Jiang Yuebai pondered, gazing towards the distant Hidden Misty Green Mountain, which strikingly resembled the Qingyun Ridge of the Heavenly Interence Sect.
"The Nine Rivers Realm comprises nine rivers. The Upper Three Rivers are governed by the Realm Lord. The Lower Three Rivers are occupied by loose cultivators, noble families, and sects. The Central Three Rivers are said to have many mountains and secret realms of demon beasts. Though their environment is not as hospitable as the Lower Three Rivers, no powerful force has ever occupied it, leaving it rampant with demon beasts."
"What do you intend to do?" Bai Jiuyou asked.
Jiang Yuebai answered straightforwardly, "Not long ago, Uncle Fuyi responded to me saying that the Taiwei Star Alliance is in a tense war, and the Ziwei Star Alliance seems unable to hold its position. It’s not suitable to establish a sect there, so I’m thinking of trying to contest for the Central Three River Basin of the Nine Rivers Realm."
"I’ve already shared my idea with Uncle Fuyi. She’ll inform the others. By the time the Dragon Group Gathering comes around, they’ll likely come to the Nine Rivers Realm. Given the Zhuge Family’s ties with the Heavenly Interence Sect, perhaps we could lend the Heavenly Interence Sect a hand. Whether it’ll work or not, we can at least try."
"If it works, the masters don’t need to wait until Divinity Transformation to enter the Upper Realm. They only need to leave some people to guard the sect in the Earth Spiritual Realm, while others can settle in the Upper Realm, allowing everyone to reunite there. I really miss everyone."
Hearing this, Bai Jiuyou sighed, "The Heavenly Interence Sect truly gained by taking you in as a disciple."
Jiang Yuebai was unashamed, "Right? I think so too!"
Bai Jiuyou laid back with arms behind her head, gazing at the sky from the boat’s stern, "That’s all long-term planning. For now, who are you planning to send to help you locate the Nine Netherworld Gate? Little Green, Long-Haired Water Ghost, or that crybaby Yann Hongyu?"
The boat neared the shore, and other ferries subtly appeared around the waterway.
Jiang Yuebai lowered her conical hat, concealing her aura, and disguised herself as a Golden Core Master, transmitting a message to Bai Jiuyou, "Yann Hongyu definitely won’t do—her cultivation is low and she’s lazy. If I say something, she could cry for half an hour."
"Long-Haired Water Ghost has no consciousness, and Little Green is one of my five spiritual artifacts. I currently have two plans: one is to let my soul leave my body and possess the Long-Haired Water Ghost to locate it, the other is to have Little Green control Long-Haired Water Ghost for the location. Both methods carry risks, and I haven’t decided yet."
Bai Jiuyou sat up and after contemplating said, "Directly having your soul leave the body is too dangerous. Instead, let me—my Primordial Spirit—go out to control the Long-Haired Water Ghost. There’s a ’line’ between my Primordial Spirit and your Divine Soul, so if anything happens, you can pull me back. If it were Little Green and she got sucked into the Netherworld, you’d have nowhere to cry."
Jiang Yuebai beamed a brilliant smile, glancing back, "We’ve reached the pier; let’s find a place to settle before making further plans."
As the boat reached the shore, Jiang Yuebai handed the Zhuge Family’s token to the pier guard for inspection and smoothly entered the Green Ripples Dock Market.
The market was not large, yet it bustled with people coming and going, their expressions wary, creating an atmosphere of tension.
Jiang Yuebai released Yann Hongyu, whose Ghost Slave Seal at her brow had disappeared. Jiang Yuebai initially intended to release her, but she insisted on staying to work tirelessly, though her clumsy hands never managed anything.
Now, Jiang Yuebai gave her another chance to investigate matters regarding the fake Chenzhou and the Heavenly Star Sect. If she failed even this time, then Jiang Yuebai truly couldn’t keep her.