Chapter 268: Acting Together
Calling her "Mom" behind her back and meeting "Mom" face-to-face were two completely different things for the players.
Shuitan observed her carefully.
Song Jiulai wasn’t using her original face right now, so theoretically, there shouldn’t be anything to see.
But Shuitan could still glimpse something beneath Song Jiulai’s pretentious exterior.
After all, how likely was it that a proper Sect Master would create such an improper system?
Besides, some players even suspected the Sect Master and the system were one and the same.
In any case, Song Jiulai’s image in the players’ minds was a bit fragmented. But no matter which side of her they saw, they, as her "children," would accept it all!
Shuitan was a smart man, so he didn’t try to get overly familiar or cozy up to Song Jiulai.
He just gave a very formal greeting, "Sect Master."
"Hello. I have you to thank for being able to enter this Secret Realm. There’s no need for such formalities between us."
After uttering the cringe-worthy line, Song Jiulai immediately changed the subject. "Where are we?"
"Tang Valley," Shuitan explained. "The Fifth Elder sent me here to retrieve a spirit material. There’s a stalk of Phoenix Cry Bamboo in the area with the most potent Miasma."
The system could hear their usual conversations anyway, so Shuitan felt no pressure about selling out Sea View Sect’s secrets.
"Phoenix Cry Bamboo?" Song Jiulai was surprised. "That’s a Fifth-Rank spirit material. There must be at least a Fifth-rank Demon Beast guarding it. How could someone at the Foundation Establishment Stage possibly handle that?"
"There’s a way." Shuitan held out his hand, and a piece of beast meat appeared, emanating a faint Spiritual Energy and a fragrant aroma. "The Fifth Elder said this piece of meat can lure the Fifth-rank Demon Beast away."
Judging by its color and sheen, it didn’t look like it came from a demon beast.
It was more like some kind of Spirit Beast Meat.
Spiritual beasts weren’t only for Beast Taming; some ordinary spiritual beasts were like poultry raised by mortals, meant to be eaten.
And this piece of meat was clearly extraordinary.
Song Jiulai looked at the meat, her eyes narrowing slightly. "The Fifth Elder wouldn’t be trying to trick you."
’He needs Shuitan’s body for possession, so for now, he’ll definitely have Shuitan retrieve things that are good for him.’
Shuitan nodded. "That’s what I thought, too."
’Since he has designs on Shuitan, he needs him to grow stronger, faster.’
And this Phoenix Cry Bamboo was the key spirit material for forging the Earth-grade Treasure, the ’Vermilion Phoenix Whip’.
In the Cultivation World, although Earth Grade Magic Treasures could be used during the Foundation Establishment Stage, one could use even better Heavenly Grade Treasures upon reaching the Golden Core Stage.
But Heavenly Grade Treasures and Earth Grade ones were on completely different levels.
They were things you could only stumble upon by chance, not seek out deliberately.
Most of the Heavenly Grade Treasures that circulated publicly weren’t all that impressive.
However, some Earth Grade treasures were made with extremely high-quality materials and could unleash power comparable to an average Heavenly Grade one.
A good Earth Grade Magic Treasure was sufficient for some Golden Core Stage disciples.
But ordinary disciples from Major Sects still couldn’t get their hands on a good Earth Grade Magic Treasure.
This Vermilion Phoenix Whip was among the best of the Earth Grade treasures.
’If my guess is right, the Fifth Elder must be planning to use this spirit material to forge a new Magic Treasure for Shuitan’s protection.’
’In preparation for his Golden Core Stage.’
This was because Phoenix Cry Bamboo was useless to anyone at or above the Nascent Soul Stage.
Sending Shuitan to retrieve it was, on one hand, a way to train him, and on the other, a reward.
’As for why I inferred this, it’s because his senior martial brothers and sisters all have their own signature Magic Treasures.’
’When it’s Old Nine’s turn, he can’t get the short end of the stick.’
Thinking of this, Song Jiulai felt an indescribable envy. ’It really is good to have a master.’
’At least you have someone looking out for you in every aspect.’
’Even if that master wants his disciple’s life.’
’But it’s a different story if the disciple has a way to save his own skin.’
Just as Shuitan was about to say something, Song Jiulai waved her hand again. "Still, being watched is dangerous. You need to be more careful in the Sea View Sect from now on."
Shuitan nodded. "Yes."
Song Jiulai glanced around. "Do you know where in Tang Valley the Phoenix Cry Bamboo is?"
The surrounding valleys were all shrouded in a layer of mist, and it even blocked her Divine Sense from penetrating too far.
"I don’t. We’ll have to find it."
Although the Fifth Elder had told him about the Phoenix Cry Bamboo, Tang Valley was quite large, so they would have to search for it inside.
Song Jiulai’s expression flickered. "This Secret Realm doesn’t have a time limit?"
Shuitan shook his head. "No limit. It seems to be an artificially created Secret Realm, and its master is still alive. I don’t know any more than that."
Song Jiulai beckoned him over. "Then follow me for now. Be careful. This mist... it should be Miasma." She frowned. "It will affect our Spiritual Energy."
They had only been inside for a short while, but Song Jiulai could already feel her Spiritual Energy slowly depleting.
Shuitan also looked around. "I wasn’t told about this when I came."
If he had known, he would have told Song Jiulai sooner.
Song Jiulai nodded. "Stay behind me. I’ll lead the way."
Although she was only at the Foundation Establishment Stage, she had unlocked her Divine Sense and could observe a much wider area than Shuitan.
’Right now, in front of a player, I, the Sect Master, am perfectly demonstrating the sense of responsibility and morality a Sect Master should have.’
From the moment he entered this Secret Realm, part of Shuitan’s mind was no longer focused on the realm itself.
After all, who wouldn’t be curious when face-to-face with Song Jiulai?
The outside world had already investigated Song Jiulai’s information over and over again, many times.
Many people wanted to make contact with her.
But for various reasons, all these plans had been postponed.
Even though she was standing right in front of him now, Shuitan knew there were some things he couldn’t say.
Her foundation was still unstable; that was a problem anyone could see.
Shuitan carried a mission from his country.
There was so much the country wanted to know.
Why was this game launched in Huaxia? Why did Song Jiulai only recruit disciples who were pure-blooded Huaxia people?
How did this game appear? Would it really just suddenly vanish one day?
Actually, what Shuitan really wanted to say was that the country wanted to know...
What help did Song Jiulai need?
All these various thoughts gradually subsided.
Shuitan lowered his gaze, deciding to observe for a while longer before making a better judgment.
’If Song Jiulai wanted to contact them, she probably would have done so already.’
Song Jiulai led Shuitan through Tang Valley. The Miasma here did indeed affect the recovery rate of their Spiritual Energy, but thankfully, it wasn’t a major issue for Song Jiulai, who had an abundant supply.
Moreover, she discovered that when she circulated the Nine Transformations Dragon Bone Heart Method, the effects of the Miasma gradually weakened.
’Huh? Isn’t this thing supposed to strengthen the physical body? It can also reduce the absorption of toxins?’
But on second thought, it seemed to be within the realm of possibility.
The place they had landed earlier was a small lake. Moving forward slowly, they found their path blocked by a dense, impassable forest of flowers.
These flowers didn’t resemble peach blossoms; they were a blood-dripping red, blooming on the branches.
They reminded Song Jiulai of red plum blossoms.
However, upon closer inspection, she discovered that the Miasma was gradually seeping out from these red petals.
Because they were everywhere and the forest seemed endless, there was no avoiding the Miasma.
"HISSS—"
Suddenly, a faint sound reached them.
Song Jiulai’s Divine Sense detected it first.
It was a small snake.
It was blood-red and tiny, its body length only about half a person’s height—a far cry from the terrifyingly massive demon beasts outside.
But Song Jiulai could still sense a dangerous aura emanating from it.