The Cold And Aloof Senior Sister Keeps Flirting With Me - Chapter 33

For the past month, Yan Jue had been frequently visiting the Valley of a Hundred Flowers to collect nectar.

Initially, it was just to provide food for the Ghost Fire (Ying – glow-worm/firefly). Later, upon discovering that the nectar from the Valley of a Hundred Flowers could also be used to make tea, she began researching various flower teas.

After all, Yan Jue had enjoyed tinkering in the kitchen back in the modern era.

The white nectar extracted from the Malihua (likely a fictional flower, perhaps referencing Malva/Mallow) made into a tea was not only delicious but also had skin beautifying effects.

Thinking she might not see Qi Xianqing for some time after descending the mountain this trip, Yan Jue spent the early morning brewing a cup of beautifying flower tea in her room, sealing it in a thermos, and giving it to Qi Xianqing.

After all, she felt a bit guilty for eating so many of Qi Xianqing’s snacks this past month.

As for why she acted like a protector for Qi Xianqing last night… What did a little fox spirit do anyway? It had nothing to do with her.

Yan Jue said goodbye to Qi Xianqing and returned to her dormitory for a short nap.

The next day, she set off on the trial journey down the mountain.

Du Ming: “Hurry up, hurry up!”

As Yan Jue walked out of the mountain gate, she felt a distinct spiritual energy fluctuation in her chest, like some kind of brand had been placed on her.

This was her last beginner-level mission. Upon completing three beginner missions, disciples of the Five Dragons Gate could descend the mountain freely.

Yan Jue thought this restriction at the foot of the Five Dragons Mountain would likely affect her for the last time, as this was her final time going down the mountain for a mission.

Yan Jue and Du Ming arrived at the foot of the mountain. Before they even got close, they spotted two gracefully clad women already standing in front of the mountain gate.

The two women wore long robes and each carried a huge gourd on their backs.

One gourd was cyan, slightly smaller. The other gourd was purplish red and slightly larger.

This mission was rated D-rank, requiring only 3-4 people. Therefore, the team composition was mostly the same as Yan Jue’s last mission: a total of four people, led by a senior sister at the late stage of the Illumination Realm (Kaiguang Houqi), followed by a senior sister at the early stage of the Illumination Realm, Du Ming at the early stage of the Illumination Realm, and the Foundation Establishment (Zhuji) mid-stage Yan Jue.

“…”

Although Yan Jue already knew her actual cultivation should have reached the Illumination Realm from last time, the aura she displayed was still only Foundation Establishment. Thus, Du Ming didn’t think much of it, as everyone knew Yan Jue was a good for nothing who had been on the mountain for three years and was still stuck at early Foundation Establishment. Even the rumor of her advancing to mid Foundation Establishment was said to be accidental.

Du Ming filled out the registration form, writing “Foundation Establishment Mid-stage.”

It was the middle of winter, but the area at the foot of the Five Dragons Mountain, constantly nourished by the mountain’s immortal energy, was surprisingly still covered in green grass. The sun was out for once today, casting slanted shadows, and the surroundings were exceptionally quiet.

Yan Jue looked at the two senior sisters already waiting at the gate and smiled politely: “Excuse me, Senior Sisters?”

“Jin Gang Sect, Lin Xi.”

“Ji Guiyan.”

Yan Jue looked at their cold gazes and suddenly felt something was not quite right. Why did those two names sound so familiar…

Lin Xi, the leading senior sister at the late Illumination Realm, from the Five Dragons Mountain’s main peak, Jin Gang Peak, glanced at her faintly, her words seemingly laced with sarcasm: “Junior Sister Yan actually has time to descend the mountain for training instead of pestering Junior Brother Chu?”

The other senior sister quickly cast the same look of disdain towards Yan Jue: “Truly rare.”

Now Yan Jue finally understood why it felt strange. These two, one older and one younger, seemed to be part of Chu Fu’s harem two of the women in the entire novel who were captivated by Chu Fu’s handsomeness.

Yan Jue’s gaze slowly swept over the four of them, finding the situation quite hard to describe. Isn’t this clearly a den of rivalry (Shura Field)!

Because Yan Jue and Du Ming were not familiar with the other two women, there was no small talk on the way to Empty Mountain; they just quietly traveled, arriving at their destination quickly.

The foot of Empty Mountain.

The forest was dim, and even from a distance, one could sense the abundant spiritual energy there. Yan Jue had checked the books before coming and knew that Empty Mountain was rich in spiritual energy. The reason it was called Empty Mountain was because it was completely deserted and rarely visited by people. Places rarely trodden naturally nurture many unknown poisonous weeds and flowers, and… demonic beasts.

The leading senior sister at the late Illumination Realm, Lin Xi, turned around and gave a brief lecture about Empty Mountain.

Lin Xi: “Empty Mountain is divided into the Outer, Middle, and Inner layers. This time, we will mainly be operating in the Outer Layer! The demonic beasts in the outer layer are basically at the level of the Third Realm or higher. After entering the mountain, you must follow closely behind me. If anyone acts independently against instructions, don’t blame me for deducting points.”

“Yes!”

Lin Xi coughed: “Our mission this time is to collect the Thousand Crest Divine Lingzhi. Especially since our team still has someone who hasn’t reached the Illumination Realm, don’t think you can slack off just because your cultivation is low. If you just follow behind without contributing, I will still deduct your score!”

Yan Jue: “…”

When a senior takes the lead on a mission, the trial disciples’ tasks always include an additional component: “scoring.” For instance, in Yan Jue’s previous mission with Qi Xianqing, Qi Xianqing also graded the others afterward. However, during the execution of the mission, Qi Xianqing had never threatened them with deductions. Comparing them like this, Yan Jue suddenly felt Qi Xianqing’s image become much greater in her heart.

“…”

After laying out the rules, Lin Xi and the others entered the mountain. With only four people, the formation had Lin Xi (late Illumination Realm) leading at the front, Ji Guiyan (whose cultivation was second to Lin Xi’s) covering the rear, and the lowest-cultivation Foundation Establishment disciple, Yan Jue, sandwiched in the middle.

Although the manners of the two senior sisters were acceptable, and they didn’t say anything about this arrangement, their expressions of contempt and disdain were unmistakable. Everyone knew that this famous Junior Sister Yan was a love struck fool whose only activity in three years on the mountain was spreading rumors with Chu Fu, a prospective disciple of the Water Cloud Sect, and constantly provoking Meng Hengjun of the Fire Control Sect, remaining a “good-for-nothing” at Foundation Establishment mid-stage. No one was keen to associate with such a person.

Du Ming quietly said to Yan Jue: “It’s fine. Just treat them like cabbages. Anyway, we’re here to rely on their strength; as long as we can finish the mission by clinging to them, it’ll all be worth it.”

Yan Jue wasn’t concerned about others’ gazes anyway, so she nodded.

Fearing miasma in the forest, the leading senior sister Lin Xi performed a hand seal and shouted: “Immortal Art, Breath Holding Technique!”

A faint golden light slowly spread around the four of them, shielding them from everything around them.

Empty Mountain was mostly covered by dense forest, and the deeper they went, the dimmer the light became. The towering trees took on strange shapes. Yan Jue stared blankly, inexplicably feeling that several trees resembled… human faces. Is this what trees look like after absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth?

Huge vines hung down from above, and the surrounding air faintly carried the damp scent of grass and wood.

Lin Xi walked on, saying: “Surely no one here is unaware of the mission’s contents!”

Someone definitely didn’t know. Look at that Water Cloud Sect disciple named Yan. With her red lips, white teeth, and face like powder, the ordinary uniform she wears looks stunningly beautiful, captivating to the eye. She probably spent all her energy on looking pretty and didn’t read the token carefully.

The only reason Lin Xi allowed Yan Jue and the others to join was because no one else wanted to come to this deep mountain wilderness full of demonic beasts to do the thankless task of collecting Lingzhi. Her team had been waiting for a month without being able to gather enough people, and the mission was about to be recalled by the Administration Hall. Who in the Five Dragons Gate now wanted to do missions in the deep mountains and old forests? Everyone wanted to make a name for themselves quickly; everyone wanted to go to towns to expel ghosts for wealthy families, where the missions were simple, and they would be respected as a “Young Hero.”

Du Ming: “Senior Sister, we are here to collect the Thousand Crest Divine Lingzhi. The Thousand Crest Divine Lingzhi is an extremely rare alchemy material, produced only in Empty Mountain throughout the entire world.”

Lin Xi managed a slight nod and said loudly, “Collecting the Thousand Peak Divine Ganoderma is the hardest task because the Thousand Peak Divine Ganoderma looks very similar to ordinary Ganoderma. You must be extremely vigilant when picking them.”

As expected of a late stage Soul Opening cultivator, Lin Xi’s voice was not very loud, but her profound inner strength allowed her voice to travel far, even reaching Ji Guiyan at the back of the team.

As Lin Xi walked, she suddenly noticed something and crouched down.

Yan Jue, diligently learning behind her, watched as Lin Xi took a small dagger from her Qiankun Bag (Cosmic Bag) and cut a Ganoderma mushroom growing next to a large tree.

Lin Xi held the severed Ganoderma in her hand and continued to explain, “Look closely at the top of this Thousand Peak Divine Ganoderma.”

Yan Jue was stunned.

The caps of ordinary Ganoderma are smooth.

However, the cap of the Thousand Peak Divine Ganoderma in Lin Xi’s hand was uneven, seemingly having some… special shape!

Lin Xi: “The difference between the Thousand Peak Divine Ganoderma and ordinary Ganoderma lies in the cap!”

“The caps of ordinary Ganoderma are smooth, but the caps of the Thousand Peak Divine Ganoderma come in various shapes. For example, the one I’m holding now has a cap shaped like chariots and horses, which is a low grade Thousand Peak Divine Ganoderma.”

“Naturally, the Thousand Peak Divine Ganoderma has other shapes. For instance, the mid-grade Thousand-Peak Divine Ganoderma has a cap shaped like a house.”

“And the top-grade Thousand Peak Divine Ganoderma has a cap shaped like a dragon and phoenix! It is a rare treasure seldom seen in the world. You must look carefully.”

After speaking, Lin Xi suddenly spotted something else, squatted down, took out the dagger from her bosom, cut another Ganoderma, and retrieved it.

Yan Jue looked, and the top of this Ganoderma was uneven, vaguely showing the shape of a cart it was a low-grade Thousand Peak Divine Ganoderma.

She couldn’t help but admire this team leading senior sister’s keen senses. The gap between late stage Soul Opening and Foundation Establishment realms was truly vast; she could even discover Thousand Peak Divine Ganoderma while talking to them.

Afterward, the group continued walking, but they did not find any more Thousand-Peak Divine Ganoderma.

Yan Jue followed slowly behind Lin Xi, observing the surroundings.

Although the two senior sisters were from the same sect and seemed to have a good relationship, they rarely interacted due to the distance between them.

The entire team gradually fell into a strange silence.

Yan Jue was happy to have some peace and quiet and couldn’t be bothered to engage.

Suddenly, the sound of a small stream flowing could be heard from all around!

The previously dim forest suddenly opened up ahead, and rugged rocks could vaguely be seen.

And in front of the scattered rocks, there was a gurgling stream.

Everyone froze.

Empty Mountain has many demonic beasts.

A stream winds down from the mountaintop, and the stream often contains Spirit Stones.

Empty Mountain not only produces Thousand Peak Divine Ganoderma but also Spirit Stones.

This is a world of cultivation, and in this world, ordinary gold and silver are not the main currency; instead, Spirit Stones circulate in the market.

And legend has it that the small streams in Empty Mountain contain many extremely rare quality Spirit Stones!

A few people walked out of the forest, and the surroundings brightened.

Looking out, there was a long, steep slope with the stream flowing down from the mountain.

Leaving the forest meant moving away from danger.

The sunlight shone on the stream, reflecting a dappling light.

For a moment, everyone’s gaze fell upon the team-leading senior sister, Lin Xi.

Without Lin Xi’s command, no one dared to act rashly.

Lin Xi, being in the late stage of the Soul Opening realm, naturally knew what this was. She slightly pursed her lips and murmured, “It is said that the small streams on Empty Mountain are rich in Spirit Stones, but no one has ever encountered this stream… Could we have found it?”

Ji Guiyan stared with wide eyes, completely abandoning formation etiquette, and rushed forward, grabbing Lin Xi’s sleeve with a cheer, “No way, Senior Sister! I did a divination today, and it said I would have good luck, I didn’t expect we would actually find this stream!”

Lin Xi remained cautious. She drew the sword from her waist and slowly approached the stream, fearing that some terrifying demonic beast might suddenly leap out of the clear water.

The stream was calm, with nothing visible except for the pale golden glow emanating from the Spirit Stones at the bottom.

They were rare top grade Spirit Stones!

Lin Xi’s pupils slightly widened. She immediately took out her Qiankun Bag, then suddenly thought of something, turned back to look at the people behind her, “This is a rare opportunity, everyone come and collect them.”

She was, after all, only sixteen or seventeen years old, comparable to a high school student in the modern age. Faced with such a situation, the joy in her eyes was unconcealable.

Ji Guiyan cheered and ran over, also taking out her Qiankun Bag.

Du Ming grabbed Yan Jue’s sleeve: “Mom! This team-leading senior sister is so nice, she’s even letting us collect them.”

“Will we be rich when we go back then!”

Yan Jue frowned, looking at the excited backs of the others, suddenly feeling something was strange.

Based on her years of reading cultivation novels, how could such an opportunity be obtained so easily?

Du Ming: “Senior Sister let us go, so there shouldn’t be any danger, right? Let’s go, Yan Jue.”

Yan Jue suddenly noticed something, and her pupils contracted sharply: “Be careful!”

In an instant, Lin Xi retracted her Qiankun Bag, deep purple spiritual energy burst forth from around her, and her long sword was already drawn! Her silver-white immortal sword pointed directly at the water’s surface.

The water surface remained calm without a ripple.

“…”

Lin Xi frowned and looked at Yan Jue: “What were you shouting about just now?”

Ji Guiyan, who was equally startled, also complained, “What are you doing? You almost gave me a heart attack!”

Yan Jue pointed at the small insects in the water, her expression grim: “This bug, I think I’ve seen it somewhere before.”

In her free time, Yan Jue often frequented the Scripture Depository, having read through the “Hundred Beasts Illustration” multiple times. But now, seeing the familiar bug in the small stream, she couldn’t quite recall it.

Alas, superficial reading was not good.

Lin Xi followed Yan Jue’s gaze. She only saw a few small black bugs floating in the stream.

As if sensing that someone had invaded their territory, the small black bugs vibrated their wings in the water and continuously spat something towards the shore.

Lin Xi observed: “They are spitting water.”

As soon as she said that, Ji Guiyan burst out laughing: “Hahahaha, Junior Sister Yan, you are too timid. In this world, not all demonic beasts eat people. This is clearly just a group of… small bugs that attack by spitting water!”

Yan Jue: “…”

Is that so?

Lin Xi also let out a scornful smile, rolled up her trousers, and jumped into the water.

Perhaps she had read too many cultivation novels and thought the deep mountains were too dangerous.

Yan Jue shook her head and was about to walk over when she suddenly saw the small flying insects swimming in the water, tirelessly spitting water towards the shore.

But since Ji Guiyan and Lin Xi were already in the water, why were they still continuously spitting water towards the shore? Could this be a group of insects with low intelligence?

No.

Yan Jue’s pupils suddenly constricted, and her gaze fell on the shadows of the two people on the shore.

Crystal clear water droplets fell from the air, landing precisely on the slightly angled shadows of the two, like rain falling from the sky.

Scattered, yet methodical.

The black bugs were actually spitting water at their shadows.

Suddenly, a small black bug in the water leaped up fiercely. The crystal-clear water droplet drew a beautiful arc in the air and landed directly on Yan Jue’s shadow.

Yan Jue only felt a wave of dizziness, and her vision went black.

Not good!

Yan Jue immediately recited the “Peaceful Heart Incantation,” circulating spiritual energy rapidly within her body.

She stabilized her mind and looked in the direction of Lin Xi and Ji Guiyan, only to find those few small black bugs circling around the two of them. Their small mouths were wide open, and in the sunlight, tiny teeth looked sharp and ferocious one by one.

And the two of them had already fallen headfirst into the water!