Master Is Back!

Ye Qing walked through the air, quietly returning to Xuwu City without drawing anyone's attention.

Shedding his cold demeanor, his white figure flashed, and he arrived outside the main hall of the Medicine King Pavilion.

Adjusting his robes, he stepped into the hall. The rich fragrance of elixirs filled the air, causing the spiritual energy within anyone who smelled it to surge.

“Senior Sister, the mission is complete.”

Sensing the restlessness of his own spiritual energy, he chanted a spell to calm himself down, wondering silently what his senior sister was researching this time.

Seeing that she had not emerged, he shifted his mind, causing a scroll wrapped in golden runes to float out of his portable space.

He stood respectfully in place. Within a few breaths, the scroll in his hand flashed and landed before the person behind the curtain.

The figure behind the curtain slowly opened her eyes. She raised her cold, sharp phoenix eyes, her gaze piercing.

Her black hair was pinned up with two golden hairpins, from which two hair ribbons naturally fell onto her shoulders. She wore a wide-sleeved Hanfu in red and white, its broad cuffs adorned with golden patterns.

She stood up from her futon with elegant grace, each step carrying the resonance of the Dao and its laws.

Sweeping her gaze over the scroll, her slender fingertip lightly swiped across it. The scroll unfurled, and a roar echoed from within.

A look of satisfaction flashed in her eyes.

It really did exist.

Stepping out from behind the curtain, she saw the white-robed figure.

“Was everything smooth this time? You didn't send any word to me.”

She raised her brow, a faint smile playing on her red lips.

“Senior Sister, although there were some minor setbacks, everything is fine now.”

Ye Qing smiled obsequiously. Surely his senior sister didn't want to punish him again, did she?

He quietly took two steps back.

“Cut the chatter. Tell me, what's going on with that little disciple of yours? Give me the honest truth.”

Ye Qingluan glanced at him. This kid had opposed recruiting disciples a hundred times before, yet he went out and took a disciple on his own whim. And to make matters worse, that disciple had ended up at the Liuyun Sect.

Ye Qing scratched his head and explained the situation. As for how his disciple was doing in the Liuyun Sect now, he didn't know either, as he hadn't received any reply to the spiritual messages he sent out.

Hearing this, Ye Qingluan shook her head helplessly. What an unreliable fellow. How could anyone just abandon their newly recruited disciple like that?

Because of this, she felt a trace of pity for Jiang Lu.

As the Pavilion Master of the Medicine King Pavilion, she was not permitted to recruit disciples, which was to ensure better cultivation and management.

The next Medicine King Pavilion Master would be chosen from these disciples of her martial siblings. If Jiang Lu was truly as outstanding as her junior brother claimed, then that Yan girl would have some competition.

“You still have the nerve to say that. Now that you're back, head to the Liuyun Sect as soon as possible and bring her back. Although disciples from different sects are allowed to learn from one another, there's no reason to leave her there for so long.”

Especially since the Grand Elder had asked her about personnel matters several times, and she was already tired of explaining. Since her junior brother was back, he should resolve the trouble he caused himself.

“Understood, Senior Sister.”

Ye Qing also knew he had been a bit too careless this time. After explaining things to the Grand Elder, his figure flashed as he made his way toward the Liuyun Sect.

Crescent City—

Jiang Lu looked around curiously at the buildings, which were covered in crescent moon motifs, before stepping into a shop.

Crescent City was named for its location in the Crescent Mountain Range, which was home to countless gentle spirit pets.

Many cultivators came here to choose spirit beasts to contract with, and the city also offered many treasures that could help spirit beasts advance.

Sitting by the window and watching the cultivators pass by, her lips pursed slightly beneath her veil as she saw the message that had arrived via her spiritual message.

Her master was back!

She immediately replied with her current location. Upon learning that her master had already headed to the Liuyun Sect, she told him she would return as soon as possible.

“I heard that the Linglang Pavilion has some good stuff today. Would you like to go with me, Brother?”

“Oh? Do you know what it is?”

“Word is that if a spirit beast consumes it, their strength will instantly increase.”

“Are you sure you aren't being tricked? I've never heard of such a wondrous item.”

“Whether you believe it or not, we'll know once we go see it.”

...

Holding her teacup, Jiang Lu propped her chin on her hand and gently swirled the tea, listening to her surroundings as she caught this piece of news.

An instant increase in strength?

It was worth checking out. She prepared to follow behind the two men.

But after taking just a few steps, she stopped, gave the two men a deep look, and headed in a different direction. Once she turned and left, those two figures reappeared around the corner.

She walked into a few shops to ask the assistants about the Linglang Pavilion, but they all looked completely bewildered and shook their heads, having never heard of the name.

If Jiang Lu still didn't realize those guys were scammers, she would be a fool.

If even the local shop assistants hadn't heard of it, how could there be any treasures? They probably just wanted to lure her somewhere. She hadn't expected the cultivation world to have scams targeting visiting cultivators as well.

After thanking them, she walked aimlessly down the street. There were many shops buying and selling spirit beasts, and several small beasts poked their heads out to look at the items on the street.

“Master, Master, that looks delicious! I want it!”

“That looks delicious too, I want it as well!”

“Master, Master...”

...

Before Jiang Lu had even walked halfway down the street, her arms were piled high with all kinds of spirit beast treats. She felt exactly like a parent taking unruly kids out for a stroll.

“Master, there's a familiar aura over there.”

Mingyue's ears twitched as it spoke to Jiang Lu.

Hearing this, Jiang Lu expanded her divine sense to scan the area, but she didn't detect any medicine designed to attract spirit beasts. Following Mingyue's guidance, she arrived at a spirit beast hall.

“Fellow Daoist, is there any spirit pet you are looking for?”

Seeing Jiang Lu's elegant aura and extraordinary strength, a maid immediately approached and asked.

“May I just look around?”

Jiang Lu glanced around and asked.

“Of course. Just let me know if you need anything.”

Seeing this, the maid stepped aside.

“Master, over there. The aura is over there.”

Mingyue was a little excited as it pointed ahead and spoke to Jiang Lu.

As Jiang Lu walked closer, she saw some Spirit Rock Turtles in a spirit beast pool.

“Do you mean these turtles?”

Mingyue nodded, its eyes darting around. It was definitely one of them.

Sensing several intense gazes, one of the turtles slowly extended its limbs, rotated its shell, and poked half its head out to look at Jiang Lu.

Something flickered in its round eyes. It blinked, spotting the several spirit beasts at her waist.

It was the aura of other spirit beasts...

It crawled over cautiously. Jiang Lu shifted her gaze, meeting its eyes.

“Mingyue, is it this one?”

Jiang Lu pointed at it. This turtle looked like it had just been born.

The Spirit Rock Turtle seemed to sense the gentle aura radiating from Jiang Lu and crawled toward her.

Ever since it was born, it knew it was different from the other Spirit Rock Turtles. While its peers loved to explore everywhere, it only liked to sleep.

It felt like every time it woke up, its strength would double. By now, it was already a Tier Three demon beast.

However, it possessed a natural talent that allowed it to only display the strength of a Tier One demon beast. Whenever cultivators came by, it would play dead, as it disliked the scent of humans.

But the human in front of it smelled so nice, and she even had other spirit beasts with her.