Chapter 685 - 632: Innate Water Spirit
A Dragon Group Gathering quietly came to an end, with many people not even knowing what transpired inside the Kunxi Divine Palace.
They only knew that in the matches for Qi Cultivation and Foundation Establishment, the Zhuge Family claimed first place. However, the early-stage Foundation Establishment Bai Jiuyou from the Zhuge Family didn’t seem pleased.
In contrast to her, Lou Cunming, who came second in Foundation Establishment, was as happy as if he had won first place.
In the Golden Core Stage competition, the title was taken by the Youx Family from Eight Immortals River, who specialize in Water Techniques, while the Zhuge Family only managed to secure second place.
As for Nascent Soul and Divinity Transformation, the Heavenly Interence Sect made a dramatic appearance. Immortal Monarch Chongmin announced from within the Immortal Palace that True Monarch Wangshu from the Heavenly Interence Sect claimed first in Nascent Soul Stage, and True Venerable Fuyi took first in Divinity Transformation Stage.
For a time, the name of the Heavenly Interence Sect stirred great waves in the Nine Rivers Realm, as people began to inquire about what kind of divine entity this sect was.
In the Upper Realm, only the most ancient families and sects, and those with the highest cultivation levels and oldest age, knew the names Lu Xingyun and the Heavenly Interence Sect.
To the current forces and cultivators, the sudden emergence of the Heavenly Interence Sect was regarded as a new star among sects, attracting many unaffiliated loose cultivators eager to join in its formative days.
Zhao Fuyi exerted all her strength, overpowering other Divinity Transformation cultivators to take first place. She originally intended to ask Immortal Monarch Chongmin for protection to help the sect through its early founding stage, but discovered Jiang Yuebai had already prepared everything for the Heavenly Interence Sect.
Greatly shocked, Zhao Fuyi, as Jiang Yuebai’s senior, felt guilty that Yuebai had to make a sacrifice by becoming an Immortal Servant to secure the sect’s establishment.
Jiang Yuebai comforted Zhao Fuyi, encouraging her to make a request to the Immortal Monarch beneficial to her own cultivation, not to waste the great opportunity, assuring her that the Immortal Monarch was very amiable.
Jiang Yuebai’s carefree laughter made Zhao Fuyi feel guilty, secretly vowing to treat Jiang Yuebai better in the future, to never get annoyed at her questions, and to keep an eye on other senior brothers and sisters.
Little did she know, Jiang Yuebai herself was not at a loss and actually profited greatly.
On the way back, Jiang Yuebai went to meet Zhuge Family’s Supreme Elder Zhuge Jing, originally intending to apologize for bringing glory to the Heavenly Interence Sect rather than under the Zhuge Family’s name.
Unexpectedly, Zhuge Jing didn’t mind at all but instead advised Jiang Yuebai not to dwell on it.
He said that the Heavenly Interence Sect’s rise to fame would eventually benefit the Zhuge Family, as they were like ’one family.’
Jiang Yuebai thought the Zhuge Family was indeed a great ally. Coupled with Immortal Monarch Chongmin’s arraying skills, at least until Chongmin’s ascension, the Heavenly Interence Sect would firmly stand in the Nine Rivers Realm.
The Heavenly Interence Sect could also learn from the Zhuge Family’s way of educating disciples, throwing away the outdated rules of the Earth Spiritual Realm.
As for the Heavenly Star Sect and the Xiong Family, they would take their time. An overly peaceful external environment doesn’t bode well for a sect’s development; having enemies creates pressure, and pressure fosters advancement.
After exiting the Quiet Room in the cabin where the Heavenly Interence Sect elders were, Jiang Yuebai briefly recounted her experiences in the Secret Realm and Immortal Monarch Chongmin’s promises, receiving abundant praise.
The elders of the Heavenly Interence Sect all claimed she was the sect’s fortunate star, praising her to the point of almost floating away.
After struggling to free herself, Jiang Yuebai went up to the deck, now just waiting to finalize everything with the Yuquan Sect. Then, with Immortal Monarch Chongmin setting up the array, she would apply to the Star Alliance for a Passage Order.
Afterwards, she could return triumphantly to the Earth Spiritual Realm!
Outside, the sky was overcast; ever since the end of the Dragon Group Gathering, it had been incessantly drizzling across the realm, regardless of season.
Jiang Yuebai learned from Zhuge Jing that the weather in the Nine Rivers Realm was somewhat influenced by Immortal Monarch Chongmin; if his emotions fluctuated, it could cause dysphoric weather and fierce winds throughout the realm.
Of course, most of the time, a Mahayana Immortal Monarch’s emotions are very stable, so the weather is not affected.
Jiang Yuebai felt that personally killing Wen Su had subtly affected Immortal Monarch Chongmin, even if he seemed indifferent, otherwise it wouldn’t be raining continuously in the Nine Rivers Realm.
He himself had stated that having emotions is the greatest weakness of being human. Reaching the Mahayana Realm without completely extinguishing his emotions and daring to face them was truly rare.
"...Master, please, let me stay in the Zhuge Family. I also want to create those big things like Senior Uncle Jiuyou, how fun~"
On the other side of the deck, Chu Guirui held onto Xie Jingshan’s sleeve, face full of pleas.
Jiang Yuebai glanced over, seeing Xie Jingshan barely able to hold back a smile, pretending to be stern.
"Let go, you are a disciple of the True Martial Immortal Sect, how can you stay in another family?!"
"If you don’t agree, I won’t let go. True Monarch Wangshu is a disciple of the Heavenly Interence Sect, yet she serves as a Guest Elder in the Zhuge Family. If she can, why can’t I, Master~~"
"No way. You never settle down. If I appeal to the Zhuge Family and you want to come back after only a few days, where would that leave my dignity?"
Xie Jingshan struggled to free his sleeve; how could a Nascent Soul not overpower a child?
Chu Guirui pouted, "You weren’t concerned about dignity when you cried after drinking too much..."
Hearing this, Xie Jingshan raised his hand to spank, and Chu Guirui quickly let go, darting behind Jiang Yuebai.
"Save me, True Monarch Wangshu!"
"I can’t. You’d better go back with your master sooner rather than later."
Jiang Yuebai decisively refused, causing Xie Jingshan’s eye to twitch; he quickly added, "If you truly want to stay, it’s not impossible, but you can’t stay with the Zhuge Family. You have to stay with the Heavenly Interence Sect and repay the sect’s favor on behalf of your master."
Chu Guirui’s eyes lit up, considering that this way, he could still visit Bai Jiuyou in the nearby Zhuge Family.
Jiang Yuebai chuckled softly, nodding to Xie Jingshan, "Thanks for your help in the Secret Realm; let’s have a drink the three of us someday."
With that, she went back into the cabin.
Xie Jingshan chuckled wryly, feeling only he found it odd returning to his childhood ways was actually nice.
Xie Jingshan relaxed his mindset, realizing he had overthought before, but wouldn’t think too much in the future either.
"Master, look, the rain has stopped, the sky has cleared, and the rainbow is beautiful!"
Chu Guirui dashed to the railing and climbed up, reaching out to admire the rainbow over the distant mountain.
Xie Jingshan also smiled with relief, but soon, his smile froze on his lips.
"Master, why does a rainbow appear after the rain? Why does it have seven colors? Why isn’t there a black rainbow?"
"......"
Jiang Yuebai returned to her Quiet Room; Yann Hongyu and the others had already been brought back. She had much to sort through.
Opening the door, Jiang Yuebai discovered Lu Nanzhi had already returned.
After the Dragon Group Gathering, she had been missing; Moh Baichun said that after leaving the Secret Realm with them, Lu Nanzhi claimed she had something to do and went off alone.
"Anan, where did you go?" Jiang Yuebai approached, intending to tell Lu Nanzhi about Immortal Monarch Chongmin’s matters.
Lu Nanzhi suddenly gestured, causing Jiang Yuebai to freeze in place.
Lu Nanzhi said she went to see Shen Mingjing!
Immortal Monarch Chongmin’s attitude towards Wen Su had Jiang Yuebai on edge, prompting her to make complicated gestures to Lu Nanzhi, ensuring the matter stayed confidential.
They sat down, setting up multiple barriers, communicating entirely through their private gestures.
Jiang Yuebai asked Lu Nanzhi why she went to see Shen Mingjing?
Lu Nanzhi replied it was Shen Mingjing who sought her out, completing her gestures, and handed over a specially crafted jade bottle to Jiang Yuebai, gesturing further.
"Shen Mingjing asked me to deliver this to you; he promised to give you the Innate Water Spirit of One Yuan Heavy Water."