"Did you, Junior Sister, really obtain the Muling Flower with only Foundation Establishment cultivation?"
Jin Bao'er nodded. Her exquisite, beautiful face remained calm, showing not a hint of pride.
"It was just luck. Are you sure you want to buy the Muling Flower petal for one hundred medium-grade spirit stones, Senior Brother?"
Yu Chengjing, surprised by the composure of this fifteen-year-old girl, simply nodded and handed her a small Mustard Seed Space. After verifying its contents, Jin Bao'er handed over the box.
"If you intend to refine pills with it, Senior Brother, you might want to consult my master, the Peak Master of Huaming Peak. After all, this is the only Muling Flower petal in existence; it would be a pity if the refinement failed."
With that, she gave a slight nod and turned to leave, only to come face-to-face with a young woman floating by in white robes at the doorway.
As the saying goes, enemies are especially resentful when they meet! Su Xianzhi, whom she hadn't seen in years, had shed her youthful awkwardness and grown into a graceful beauty. Dressed in white, she exuded an ethereal aura, and that delicate face of hers made many disciples bow in admiration.
Yet, to Jin Bao'er, all of this was utterly disgusting. Because Su Xianzhi loved white, Jin Bao'er vowed never to wear white dharma robes again; the snow-white color served only to remind her of her past humiliation and downfall.
"Is Junior Sister Jin just returning? Why are you wearing men's clothing? Has Huaming Peak become so poor that it can't even afford a proper dharma robe? If you're truly in need, I have a few spares. If you don't mind, you might take a look."
The young woman looked at Jin Bao'er—who was half a head taller than her—with a concerned and gentle expression. Counting on the fact that no one else could hear their conversation, she laced every word with sarcasm. Anyone unaware of their history would have thought they were the best of friends.
Jin Bao'er looked coldly at the arrogant, posturing girl, noting her current level of cultivation. The corners of her mouth curled up slowly.
"I heard that Immortal Venerable Louyun’s disciple, Su Xianzhi, reached the Foundation Establishment Stage half a year ago. Why are you still at the Early Foundation Establishment stage now? Could it be that your cultivation has stagnated over these past six months?"
She might as well have accused her of being lazy. Her voice was loud enough for everyone present to hear. The gentle mask on Su Xianzhi's face stiffened instantly, though she quickly reverted to her look of frail vulnerability.
"What are you saying, Junior Sister? I have simply been consolidating my cultivation lately. Master says that one’s foundation is of the utmost importance. As for you, I heard you just finished seclusion and are now at the Early Foundation Establishment stage. If there is anything you don’t understand in the future, you can ask me. After all, Peak Master Hua is an alchemist; he might not be able to help you much with your cultivation."
At this point, the crowd finally noticed the friction between the two. Jin Bao'er’s gaze turned icy, and her aura surged, forcing the equally Foundation Establishment-level Su Xianzhi to take two steps back in shock.
The disciples around them looked on in astonishment, and Yu Chengjing, who hadn't left yet, tightened his expression. To think that a mere Early Foundation Establishment cultivator could possess such presence! It seemed the rumors were not to be trusted.
Hearing Su Xianzhi insult her master, Jin Bao'er could no longer remain as calm as before. Her cold, black eyes were filled with fury, and the sarcasm on her lips grew sharper.
"Su Xianzhi, have you forgotten that you are a defeated opponent? Even with the same level of cultivation, you are no match for me! You only rely on Immortal Venerable Louyun; what is there to be proud of? When it comes down to it, you are nothing but an incompetent person who relies on the power of others!"
As she finished, Su Xianzhi turned deathly pale. Her pitiful appearance was marred by a flicker of rage she barely managed to suppress. When all was said and done, the current Su Xianzhi was not yet the hypocritical, deep-seated lunatic she would become a decade later. If not for Jin Bao'er’s limited strength and the protection Su Xianzhi received from the Immortal Venerable, she would have killed this madwoman right then and there.
"We are all disciples of the same Sect; why must you be so unpleasant, Junior Sister Jin? Senior Sister is not wrong—even if you won once, the path to immortality is long. Who is strong and who is weak is not yet decided! Does winning once mean you will always win?"
Someone in the crowd, unable to watch their goddess being bullied, couldn't help but shout at Jin Bao'er.
However, when Jin Bao'er turned to look at the disciple who spoke, she recognized him as the very one who had tricked her into taking on the Golden Core Stage mission. The mockery on her face deepened. She stared directly at him, as if looking at a circus clown.
"Since when do men get a say in a quarrel between women? Are you so fond of meddling in others' business? Could it be that Su Xianzhi is your mother? How touching that you are so filial! You deliberately tricked me into taking that Golden Core Stage mission—were you trying to vent your mother's anger? Ha! You didn't expect me to return unscathed, did you?"
Once these words were out, the disciple’s face flushed red with rage and shame. He couldn't even look at Su Xianzhi, and he pointed at Jin Bao'er, stuttering, "You... you... you..."
The onlookers finally realized what Jin Bao'er meant. It was clear the disciple had schemed against her for Su Xianzhi’s sake. No one expected she would have the luck to return safely, and now he had the nerve to try and trick her out of the Muling Flower petal... what a shameless man!
Su Xianzhi’s expression also soured. Everyone knew her words were a jab at her, but that disciple had indeed done those things—a useless fool who couldn't accomplish a single task! Even as she thought this, she dared not glare at him; she still relied on him for future missions—the short, simple ones with high points and rich rewards. Damn it, if only she had a puppet to handle these chores for her! She didn't realize that in her past life, she had never liked doing these tedious tasks and had dumped them all onto Jin Bao'er, so she had no idea how exhausting they were. In this life, without Su Bao'er, she had to do them herself.
Seeing Su Xianzhi suffer in silence, Jin Bao'er felt a sense of relief and turned to leave. She realized she still needed more experience; she had to grow stronger. With that thought, she decided the time for that minor secret realm to open was near.
She returned straight to Huaming Peak, told the old man everything, and prepared to embark on her journey of cultivation once more.
Early the next morning, as she left the Sect, she hadn't walked more than two steps before a figure rushed toward her, carrying a chill!
Jin Bao'er reacted instantly, retreating and throwing an icicle, but it missed entirely. Someone clutched her thigh tightly, followed by a series of wails.
"Brother Jin, you’ve finally come out! I have waited so bitterly for you! You have no idea, there are blood-sucking demon insects here at night! They bit me all over! I was almost drained dry!!"
Jin Bao'er looked down at Li Qingjiu, who was kneeling on the ground, hugging her leg, crying and complaining incessantly. The delicate young man's face was covered in seven or eight red, swollen bumps; anyone unaware would think he had contracted some terrifying contagious disease.
She tried to pull her leg away, but it wouldn't budge.
"Get up!"
The cold tone didn't scare Li Qingjiu at all; instead, he wailed even louder, as if Jin Bao'er had done something unforgivable to him.
Helpless, and knowing that this guy’s cultivation was higher than her own, Jin Bao'er could only sigh.
"Fine. I’ll take you along for the training."