If the sect could detect such things, she decided it was better not to mention that Senior Sister Gu had been in the vicinity.
If Senior Sister Gu had truly run into danger, the sect would naturally discover it and take action without her interference.
If Senior Sister Gu wasn't in danger, the situation here was so complex that she shouldn't be dragged into it at all.
“Unless it is a special zone, anything within the cultivation world can be detected,” the inner sect martial aunt said, her brow furrowing. “Was there a Xiaoyao disciple here earlier?”
“No, I was just curious because I’m trying to save up promotion points,” Yuan Zhi replied.
Seeing the suspicious look on the martial aunt’s face, Yuan Zhi added, “Martial Aunt, it’s really nothing. I’m just worried that this incident might affect our future missions here. You’re in charge of guarding Tingyang City this month, so you should know that we come to this dense forest quite often for the Purple Sun Flower dew collection mission.”
Yuan Zhi’s explanation was reasonable and her expression sincere. The martial aunt studied her for a moment before offering some comfort. “The sect will handle this. There is no need to worry.”
Once Yuan Zhi nodded, the martial aunt turned to the others. “Song Jin, the sect outpost in Tingyang City is short-staffed. Take them back first. I will stay here.”
“Yes, Martial Aunt.”
An outer sect disciple at Qi Refining level twelve cupped his hands in response.
The other disciples who had been training in the forest didn't linger either, following Song Jin as they departed.
Gu Ningyun, listening to the conversation between Yuan Zhi and the martial aunt, felt a bit dazed.
Was Junior Sister Yuan Zhi truly following her out of concern for her safety?
...
Seven days later.
The dense forest outside Tingyang City had returned to its usual tranquility. Only a few low-grade cultivators moved in and out for their missions.
Having completely stabilized her Qi Refining level six cultivation, Gu Ningyun slapped a Stealth Talisman onto herself. After leaving her space, she took a long detour and exited the forest from a different corner.
Fearing she might run into Yuan Zhi in Tingyang City and accidentally expose something, she boarded a spirit boat and bypassed the city, heading to the neighboring Tingxi City to take a teleportation array back to the sect.
Only after returning to her Cloud Residence in Ruiyu Pavilion did Gu Ningyun take out her identity jade token to check her messages.
The first thing her divine sense picked up was a string of messages from Yuan Zhi.
“Senior Sister Gu, I heard a demon cultivator self-detonated deep in the forest. Are you okay?”
“Senior Sister Gu, if you’re in danger, remember to tell me. I’m in Tingyang City and can bring reinforcements.”
“Senior Sister Gu, is it inconvenient for you to reply?”
...
“It’s been six days. Did I make a mistake?”
“I should have told the martial aunt at the outpost. She’s a Foundation Establishment senior; she would have definitely found a way to save you.”
“It’s been seven days.”
Gu Ningyun hurriedly sent a reply. “I’m fine, don't worry. I found a place to break through to Qi Refining level six earlier and wasn't checking my messages.”
The moment the message was sent, she received an immediate reply from Yuan Zhi.
“Senior Sister Gu, you really are okay! That’s wonderful!”
“I’ve been scared to death these past few days!”
After calming Yuan Zhi down, Gu Ningyun finally clicked on the forum message she had forwarded to herself earlier.
【Unfortunate to Encounter Taiyi Peak, Gu Lianxue Disturbs Cultivation】
As everyone knows, Taiyi Peak is one of the seven inner peaks of the Star-Moon Sect. With its rich spirit energy and the history of producing an ascended powerhouse, it is a cultivation holy land that many Star-Moon Sect disciples aspire to join.
The Peak Master of Taiyi Peak is diligent and responsible, and the three progeny disciples he raised are all leaders among their peers. The other inner sect disciples also cultivate diligently, creating a scene of prosperity within the peak.
But is the truth really as it seems?
A Wind-Seeker recently received submissions from several inner sect disciples of Taiyi Peak, claiming that since Gu Lianxue joined the Star-Moon Sect two years ago as the Peak Master’s fourth progeny disciple, Taiyi Peak has no longer been the cultivation holy land it once was.
One inner sect disciple from Taiyi Peak wrote: “After this Little Junior Sister Gu Lianxue joined the sect, she didn't focus on cultivation. Instead, she began studying the arts of schemes and power plays.”
“I was merely asking First Senior Brother for guidance on a technique, yet Little Junior Sister slandered me, claiming I had improper designs on him and was trying to seduce him to disturb his Dao heart.”
“The Peak Master was also deceived by her, believing her words alone. I was confined to the Cliff of Reflection for several months and was only released recently.”
“The Dao Ancestor is my witness; First Senior Brother and I are both men. It was nothing more than a normal discussion about cultivation, so how did it become seduction? Since this incident, First Senior Brother has given me a wide berth, unwilling to offer me even a shred of guidance.”
Another inner sect disciple wrote: “This Little Junior Sister’s thoughts are extremely bizarre for someone so young. I have no idea who taught her.”
“I was simply performing my normal morning sword practice, but Little Junior Sister said I was showing off to attract Second Senior Brother’s attention.”
“When I offered a reasonable explanation, she couldn't argue back, so she resorted to sophistry, claiming that fighting and killing were not for women. She said that with me being so violent every day, no man would ever want me.”
“It would have been one thing if she just said those disgusting words to me, but in the end, she went crying to the Peak Master, insisting that I was using my cultivation to bully her.”
“The Peak Master was blinded by her tears and wouldn't even listen to my explanation. He actually expelled me from Taiyi Peak. Fortunately, Huiping Peak took me in, so I wasn't left without a place in the inner sect.”
Upon receiving these submissions, the Wind-Seeker visited more inner sect disciples of Taiyi Peak with a sense of indignation, only to learn that the current state of Taiyi Peak is far more serious than the submissions suggested.
This progeny disciple named Gu Lianxue was only accepted by the Peak Master because she tested as having a high-grade water spirit root upon entry.
However, months after joining the sect, she still hadn't managed to succeed at qi induction.
After several inquiries from the Peak Master, she finally claimed that on the day she joined, she was injured by the sword qi of the Third Senior Sister while visiting her. This allegedly caused her spirit root to become incompatible with her body, making her unable to cultivate.
After this incident, that exceptionally gifted third progeny disciple of Taiyi Peak was confined to the Cliff of Reflection by the Peak Master, grounded for two hundred years.
To treat Gu Lianxue’s spirit root, Taiyi Peak’s resources have been poured into this Little Junior Sister like flowing water. This has led to a shortage of cultivation resources for other inner sect disciples, forcing them to leave the sect daily to earn resources for themselves.
With the precedent of the Third Senior Sister’s punishment and the subsequent punishment of two other inner sect disciples, a sense of insecurity has permeated Taiyi Peak.
The Little Junior Sister Gu Lianxue, who is unable to cultivate, has thus become an existence that everyone on Taiyi Peak avoids.
Having investigated to this point, the Wind-Seeker cannot help but feel doubtful.
What kind of sword qi could possibly cause a spirit root, which is naturally born within the body, to suddenly become incompatible with that body?
And based on what considerations did this Peak Master become so doting toward this fourth progeny disciple, not only listening to her biased words but also heavily punishing innocent people?
The Wind-Seeker will continue to track and investigate this matter to bring the truth to all fellow Daoists.
—This investigative message was published by Mr. Fenghua, a Wind-Seeker from Five Continents Bookhouse.
After reading this message, Gu Ningyun felt more inclined to believe the records in the original book regarding the replacement of the original host’s wind spirit root.
Gu Lianxue’s current situation of spirit root incompatibility was exactly the same as the situation in the original book when she had swapped for the wind spirit root.
In the original book, it was that old Daoist who took action to solve the problem of the spirit root and body rejecting each other.
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