While she was still stunned, a voice from beside her broke through Bai Xiaoxiao’s helpless expression.
“Sorry, Fellow Daoist Bai, you can use this Disciple Token for now.”
Bai Xiaoxiao turned in a daze, looking at the jade token Ming Jingqiu held out. “This token is…?”
Ming Jingqiu nodded and explained, “The decision was too rushed, so I could only get a spare token. But it’s no problem—this one can freely enter and leave the sect and record task points as well. Once you attach your Spiritual Sense to it, it will work.”
Bai Xiaoxiao was stunned for two seconds, then slowly accepted the token. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of Ming Jingqiu’s own Disciple Token, with her name on it and “Moon-Gazing Peak” written as her affiliation.
The difference seemed hardly significant.
Bai Xiaoxiao suddenly remembered that when she’d first met Rong Qingqing, the girl had asked Shen Zhiyue whether she was a newly arrived servant. Perhaps being a Servant Disciple actually wouldn’t be so bad—at least she’d have an identity token of her own.
Unlike her current awkward situation. She was Shen Zhiyue’s Spirit Pet, yet the two of them had no Contract. After being brought back, she’d stayed on Moon-Gazing Peak in this vague, undefined capacity.
In the entire Sword Sect, she was probably the only one in such an awkward position.
Bai Xiaoxiao had actually thought about asking Shen Zhiyue for a Disciple Token, but she didn’t feel she had the standing to ask, so she’d buried the thought deep in her heart.
The spare token in her hand was also made of jade and warmed to the touch. It just wasn’t hers.
Bai Xiaoxiao sighed softly, raised her hand, and attached a wisp of Spiritual Sense to it.
The jade token flashed faintly—successfully activated.
“So you’re not actually a Sword Sect disciple?”
A voice suddenly broke in. Bai Xiaoxiao turned and found that Ye Xingtong had already chosen her task.
The three of them had only exchanged brief greetings when they gathered, and Bai Xiaoxiao hadn’t yet had a chance to observe this junior sister who stood opposed to Rong Qingqing.
Hearing her speak, Bai Xiaoxiao didn’t feel offended, only nodding lightly. “I… am Sword Venerable Mingyue’s Spirit Pet. Fellow Daoist Ye can call me Xiaoxiao, or use the same title as Fellow Daoist Ming.”
Ye Xingtong’s eyes were big and round. Looking at her, Bai Xiaoxiao inexplicably thought of a cat—soft, proud, and fond of doing that syrupy meow.
At the thought, her eyes curved.
“Then I’ll call you Xiaoxiao. You two never get tired of all this ‘Fellow Daoist’ this and that, do you? Call me Ye Xingtong, or Xingtong, Xingxing, Tongtong—anything goes. Just don’t say ‘Fellow Daoist,’ my ears are getting calluses.”
Her eyes were full of unconcealed curiosity, but she still lifted her chin slightly, putting on a proud air.
Bai Xiaoxiao smiled and nodded. “Alright, then I’ll call you Xingtong.”
Ye Xingtong nodded in satisfaction.
After the brief introductions, they were ready to depart. Bai Xiaoxiao assumed they’d fly on swords, but unexpectedly, Ming Jingqiu led them to a place called Kite Star Platform.
“The Kite Star Platform has a Teleportation Formation. It can send us to the furthest town under the Sword Sect’s jurisdiction. From there, we can save a lot of time.”
Bai Xiaoxiao suddenly understood, looking around with great curiosity.
The Elder guarding the Kite Star Platform was curled up in a rocking chair. He merely moved a fingertip, and the Teleportation Formation activated.
Bai Xiaoxiao noticed a huge Formation Pattern appear on the ground out of the corner of her eye, lighting up inch by inch until it connected into a complex design.
It was her first teleportation, and Bai Xiaoxiao had no experience. She foolishly stared at it for a moment, then felt her nose turn warm. She wiped it with her hand and realized she was bleeding.
Before she could figure out what was going on, her vision vanished, as though a familiar presence had brushed past her.
“Don’t look. Your cultivation is too low. Staring directly at a complex high-grade Formation will cause backlash.”
It was Shen Zhiyue’s voice. Bai Xiaoxiao’s tense body relaxed. But before she could speak, the Teleportation Formation activated, and the unprepared Bai Xiaoxiao felt a violent force press against her back, as if space itself were being twisted.
Her head spun horribly, a mess of mush.
By the time the teleportation ended, Bai Xiaoxiao, pale-faced and with a nosebleed, lifted her head—giving the Elder waiting at the other end such a start that he nearly drew his sword.
“Tsk, with a look like that, if I hadn’t held back, this little disciple of yours would’ve really turned into a ghost.”
Ye Xingtong, not understanding, turned to look and burst out laughing. “How did you end up like this?”
Wiping the blood from her nose, Bai Xiaoxiao didn’t bother about her dirty hands. She took a moment to send a thought to Shen Zhiyue, who was temporarily staying in her Sea of Consciousness. “Thank you, Your Eminence.”
After a long pause, Shen Zhiyue gave a soft “Mm” and closed her eyes.
Holding her nose, Bai Xiaoxiao turned to the Elder who’d spoken and apologized in a muffled voice.
Seeing her like this, Ming Jingqiu’s lips twitched. She quickly cast a Dust-Cleansing Spell. “It was my oversight. I forgot to tell Fellow Daoist Bai some precautions. Truly, I’m sorry.”
Bai Xiaoxiao felt her whole body become light and clean. It took her two seconds to react before she bowed in thanks. “Thank you, Fellow Daoist Ming.”
As she said this, she curiously sent a sliver of consciousness into her Sea of Consciousness and poked Shen Zhiyue. “Your Eminence, do you know what spell Fellow Daoist Ming just used?”
Shen Zhiyue had originally been cultivating to calm her heart, as usual. But when she closed her eyes, she sensed an abnormal fluctuation in Bai Xiaoxiao’s soul, so she sank her consciousness into the Divided Soul—and found that this little snake was actually staring at the massive Teleportation Formation, completely oblivious to death.
She’d finally teleported away, thinking she could cultivate, but before two seconds of peace passed, the sensation of being poked came again.
Opening her eyes, sure enough, it was Bai Xiaoxiao. She paused, then replied concisely, “Dust-Cleansing Spell.”
Bai Xiaoxiao’s eyes lit up. “Can I learn it?”
Shen Zhiyue didn’t say much, simply reaching out to lightly tap Bai Xiaoxiao’s forehead. “Unless it’s necessary, do not disturb me on this trip.”
Bai Xiaoxiao felt as if a book had been stuffed into her brain, the jumbled knowledge swelling until her head ached. When she came back to her senses, she realized Shen Zhiyue had poured a torrent of basic spells into her.
So that was possible.
If this method existed in the modern world, why would she ever have had to stay up late memorizing things?
Having gained quite a few spells, Bai Xiaoxiao glanced at the little figure of the Divided Soul sitting with eyes closed in meditation. The corner of her mouth rose on its own, but she wisely didn’t disturb her again.
When her awareness returned, Bai Xiaoxiao felt the scenery around her rapidly rushing past. She looked closely and realized she was currently on a flying boat.
“Wait—where did this flying boat come from…”
Bai Xiaoxiao was shocked.
“It’s mine. Unfortunately, my newly customized flying boat hasn’t been built yet, or I’d show you my new boat.”
Ye Xingtong’s tone was full of regret.
Bai Xiaoxiao slowly turned to look at Ming Jingqiu, who was holding her sword.
Ming Jingqiu was silent for a moment. “Junior Sister Ye’s family owns a spirit stone mine.”
Just one simple sentence, and Bai Xiaoxiao was enlightened.
So she was a young miss with a mine. No wonder Murong Huaping had said Ye Xingtong carried many life-saving Spirit Artifacts.
“What’s all the fuss? Don’t your families have mines too?”
Bai Xiaoxiao: “…No. I’m a Spirit Pet.”
Ming Jingqiu: “…No. I’m an orphan.”
Ye Xingtong looked at them sympathetically and casually tossed each of them a Storage Ring.
“My mother told me to help each other out. Meeting as fellow sect members is fate. Take them, don’t be shy.”
Bai Xiaoxiao held the Storage Ring in her palm, utterly confused. The ring’s design wasn’t fancy—it could even be called plain, not quite matching the style of a young miss like Ye.
Ming Jingqiu hadn’t expected this junior sister to be so generous either. After a stunned two seconds, she tried to give it back.
Ye Xingtong waved a hand. “I never take back what I give. They’re just Storage Rings, nothing valuable. Keep them and play with them.”
Ming Jingqiu paused, as if considering. “Then thank you, Junior Sister Ye. If there’s anything you want on this trip, just tell me.”
Ye Xingtong had actually meant to say no need, but a thought crossed her mind and she reluctantly nodded. “Fine.”
Bai Xiaoxiao hesitated. She didn’t think she had anything to offer Ye Xingtong in return, and one shouldn’t accept favors without repaying them, so she tried to give it back.
Ye Xingtong frowned and suddenly looked over. “You keep it. If you really must return it, just throw it away.”
After a brief stalemate, Bai Xiaoxiao ultimately accepted. “Then thank you, Xingtong.”
She looked at the Storage Ring in her hand, curiosity filling her eyes. She’d seen Fushui use one before—though that was a pendant, it was probably similar.
She turned the ring over and studied it, then tentatively attached a wisp of Spiritual Sense. An unowned Storage Ring was easily marked.
But when she excitedly looked inside the Storage Ring and was nearly blinded by the shine, her mind went blank for an instant.
Hastily withdrawing her Spiritual Sense, Bai Xiaoxiao pointed at the ring, her voice trembling. “Xingtong… this Storage Ring…”
Ye Xingtong looked over, puzzled. Two seconds later, as if remembering something, she said in realization, “Oh, those are just extras. We have plenty at home.”
Ming Jingqiu seemed to realize something too. She quickly checked hers and was rooted to the spot by the pile of shining Spirit Stones.
The two of them had never encountered such an outrageously wealthy young miss in their lives. For a moment, they both lost control of their expressions.
It wasn’t until the flying boat reached its destination that Bai Xiaoxiao and Ming Jingqiu finally recovered from the reality of being bludgeoned with money.
The secret realm hadn’t opened yet, but many cultivators had already gathered around its perimeter. The moment the three arrived, countless threads of Spiritual Sense swept over from all directions, probing their cultivation bases and identities.
Bai Xiaoxiao wasn’t used to those chaotic probes and frowned slightly.
Fortunately, Ming Jingqiu acted in time. The blade that left its sheath blocked most of the Spiritual Sense.
Those people were weaker than Ming Jingqiu. Realizing they’d hit a hard target, they didn’t dare cause trouble—except for a few who continued to radiate blatantly.
Ming Jingqiu held her sheath, expression cold as she stared ahead.
Before long, a streak of light shot across the distance. A young woman stood in the void with her hands behind her back, eyes indifferent, seemingly with ill intentions.
The air tensed abruptly. Bai Xiaoxiao quietly clenched her hand, guessing this young woman was no ordinary figure.
In the silence, Ye Xingtong let out a slight “tsk” and said coolly, “What’s the Young Pavilion Master Jing putting on airs for? Relapse again?”
Bai Xiaoxiao turned in surprise. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw the young woman seem to slip—”Oof!”—and come crashing down toward their flying boat with the force of thunder.
“…”
What a unique way to make an entrance.
