Chapter 61 Part 2

After returning from the study, Sheng Xu took a casual shower. She flopped heavily onto the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling, lost in thought.

Her phone vibrated, breaking the room’s silence. Picking it up, she saw Lu Wuqi’s safe-arrival message. A smile finally crept onto Sheng Xu’s face.

What was she moping about? The two changes Lu Wuqi brought had already improved things greatly. She should be happy.

She’d thought her fate unchangeable, but now another path lay before her. She needed to buck up!

Sheng Xu tapped out a quick reply on the virtual keyboard, starting a chat with Lu Wuqi.

–

The next day, Lu Wuqi took on a relatively simple mission: head to a designated spot and eliminate a malevolent spirit that had lost its mind.

Such a task was extremely simple for Lu Wuqi. She just needed to drive to the destination, take out the tracking talisman, demon-exorcising talisman, and the thunder talisman she had learned not long ago. In less than ten minutes, she completed the mission.

After pulling out her phone and sharing the news with Sheng Xu, Lu Wuqi returned to her dormitory and began practicing sword techniques.

The peachwood sword was quite effective against ghosts and monsters, but when dealing with people, she still needed real steel.

So after warming up her learned sword techniques with the peachwood sword, Lu Wuqi took out the profound iron sword that the sect leader had the Action Bureau deliver to her. She began practicing seriously.

Meanwhile, at the Sheng Family old residence.

Sheng Xu had been publicly assigned a task, so she could only politely escort the guest following the great elder—his favored youngest son, Zhang Bufan—around the Sheng Family estate before they sat down for afternoon tea together.

“Junior Sister Sheng, this is a little trinket I picked up during my recent training expedition. See if you like it.” Not long after they sat down, Zhang Bufan took a small box from his qiankun bag and placed it in front of Sheng Xu.

“Senior Brother Zhang, I can’t accept a gift without merit,” Sheng Xu refused without thinking, pushing it back.

“It’s not anything valuable—just a jade plaque infused with spiritual power. It’s not rare for me.” Zhang Bufan said as he casually opened the box and took out the jade plaque inside.

“I had the Third Elder inscribe some defensive formations on it. If Junior Sister Sheng encounters danger, the formation will provide you with protection.”

Zhang Bufan spoke what he thought was considerate, proactively handing the jade plaque to Sheng Xu.

Sheng Xu smiled politely. “Thank you for your kind intentions, Senior Brother Zhang, but I really have no use for this jade plaque. You should give it to some junior brother who needs it.”

“Why? Can’t Junior Sister Sheng use spiritual power? With your constitution, you lack self-defense capabilities. It’s better to carry more protective items.” Zhang Bufan said.

He had no intention of belittling Sheng Xu; he was just stating what he thought plainly.

“Because a friend gave me many protective talismans—tons of them—so I can use them for a very long time.” Sheng Xu maintained her polite smile.

Zhang Bufan frowned slightly but quickly smoothed it out. “Did Shi Siyuan give them to you? The most she could give are a few low-tier body protection talismans, right? Those things aren’t very useful at best. At most…”

Before Zhang Bufan could finish, Sheng Xu took out two protective pouches from her person. One contained five high-tier protective talismans, and the other was packed full of mid-rank protective talismans.

That’s right. After ten days of cultivating together, Lu Wuqi could now smoothly draw mid-rank supreme body protection talismans. She immediately replaced the original low-tier ones and worked hard to gather fifty to give to Sheng Xu.

“They’re not low-tier protective talismans—they’re mid-rank and high-tier ones. This is just a portion; I have many more stored away in my room.” Sheng Xu said calmly and unhurriedly.

Zhang Bufan had no chance to say the words he had prepared. He could only cover his earlier slip with laughter.

“Junior Sister Sheng and Junior Sister Shi must have a great friendship. So many protective talismans—Junior Sister Shi must have gone to great lengths to get them.” The smile on Zhang Bufan’s face was starting to stiffen. Suddenly, he felt like he couldn’t offer the jade plaque in his hand anymore.

After all, while the jade plaque with inscribed defensive formations could block attacks multiple times, its effectiveness was equivalent to only five or six mid-rank protective talismans at best—far inferior to high-tier protective talismans.

“Xiaoshi didn’t give them to me. A friend from the Imprint Moon Sect did.” Sheng Xu said. “Senior Brother Zhang, would you like to try the desserts? This chef was poached by my uncle at a high salary. His skills are excellent.”

Zhang Bufan agreed with a sound. Unable to find a topic, he picked up a small pastry and ate it while inwardly guessing who this friend from the Imprint Moon Sect that Sheng Xu mentioned could be.

He had considered the possibility that it was Lu Wuqi.

But Zhang Bufan didn’t believe the rumors on the forum. Could someone who joined just two or three months ago become a level 3 celestial master? Absolutely impossible.

Otherwise, what would he be, after spending over twenty years to reach level 4 celestial master? A waste who couldn’t grow strong even with excellent resources?

No one wanted to be a waste, and Zhang Bufan was no exception.

After ruling out Lu Wuqi, however, Zhang Bufan couldn’t think of anyone else for the moment. Yin Wuming, who had similar cultivation to him and Sheng Xu, shouldn’t have much interaction with her. Why would he give her so many precious protective talismans?

If he knew that high-tier protective talismans could only be made by level 6 celestial masters and above—and that celestial masters of level 6 or higher could establish their own sects—there would be no need to curry favor with a waste like Sheng Xu who only took without giving.

–

After barely accompanying Zhang Bufan for over half an hour, Sheng Xu made an excuse about being tired and needing rest to leave. She returned to her own room.

Zhang Bufan appeared quite polite, but he didn’t hide his contempt for Sheng Xu very well. It showed clearly in the details.

So after returning to her room, Sheng Xu’s mood wasn’t great. She casually pulled a book from the shelf, trying to soothe her emotions by reading.

But this method didn’t help much. Just as Sheng Xu was about to chat with Lu Wuqi to change her mood, Shi Siyuan—the one Zhang Bufan had just mentioned—arrived.

“They didn’t bully you, did they?” Shi Siyuan asked straightforwardly. Her reason for coming was simple: she was worried that Sheng Xu had been bullied by the great elder and his youngest son, Zhang Bufan.

“No, it just wasted a bit of time.” Sheng Xu smiled. “Why are you here? Aren’t you supposed to be in seclusion, cultivating diligently to amaze everyone at the Exchange Meeting?”

“About that… I’ve hit a bottleneck in my cultivation.” Shi Siyuan sighed lightly, pouting as she spoke. “I don’t know why, but there’s plenty of spiritual power in my body, yet I just can’t break through. My master said it’s because my mental state isn’t steady enough. I even used a Tranquil Mind Pill to assist, but I still failed in the end.”

Once she started talking about her cultivation, Shi Siyuan couldn’t help venting her frustrations. She went on for over ten minutes before stopping.

“Xuxu, did I bore you with all that?” Shi Siyuan felt a bit embarrassed after realizing it.

“No, this is actually very valuable reference for me.” Sheng Xu smiled. “Who knows, I might encounter something similar once I can cultivate.”

Hearing this made Shi Siyuan even more embarrassed, thinking she had poked at Sheng Xu’s sore spot. She subconsciously wanted to make it up to her. “Xuxu, how about I take you out for a drive? I came by car. Once the great elder and the others leave, I can bring you back. How’s that?”

Sheng Xu was a little tempted by the suggestion but soon shook her head. “There’s a family banquet tonight. Everyone has to attend unless there’s a special circumstance. I need to stay here.”

“Alright then. Is there anything I can do?” Shi Siyuan asked, her gaze toward Sheng Xu a bit complex.

Shi Siyuan vaguely realized she had feelings for Sheng Xu that were different from friendship. Those emotions were complicated—pity, heartache, and perhaps a bit of admiration and wishful thinking.

If only she were stronger. Then, even though she and Sheng Xu were the same gender, she could become her marriage partner, keep Sheng Xu safe at home, and prevent others from bullying her.

“You don’t need to do anything. Just keep me company and chat.” Sheng Xu said softly. “Maybe talk about cultivation-related things? I’ve been reading a lot lately and have many questions.”

She had read many books, but they were all untested theories—superficial knowledge.

Lu Wuqi could practice many things, but she had entered this world too late and only had superficial understanding of a lot.

Shi Siyuan, who had received elite education from childhood and had excellent talent, seemed like the perfect person to resolve both their current issues.

Shi Siyuan was a bit puzzled but agreed due to that subtle psychology.

–

Shi Siyuan could come visit Sheng Xu temporarily, but she couldn’t stay for the Sheng Family’s family banquet. So around five o’clock, she left—around the same time as the great elder.

The so-called family banquet was just family members meeting up, exchanging cultivation experiences, and sharing resources.

The Sheng Family mainly cultivated spell techniques of various functions and effects—attack, defense, or support. The Sheng Family had corresponding spell techniques passed down.

However, the Sheng Family’s spell techniques had a fatal flaw: none of the inherited ones were particularly strong. They seemed to produce all-rounded talents, but in reality, they were celestial masters with no outstanding specialties.

Sheng Xu wasn’t the star of the banquet, so after some group activities ended, she messaged Lu Wuqi, saying she could leave around nine-thirty.

Lu Wuqi had driven nearby early. Upon receiving the message, she quickly headed toward the Sheng Family old residence.

Perhaps Sheng Xu had greeted them in advance, because this time Lu Wuqi wasn’t stopped. She smoothly parked in the same spot as last time.

Lu Wuqi: Xuxu, I’m here. Can I come to the main gate to pick you up?

Sheng Xu: Okay, I’ll come out right away.

After the brief exchange, Lu Wuqi unbuckled her seatbelt, got out of the car, and jogged all the way to the main gate.

Just as Lu Wuqi stopped, Sheng Xu emerged from the gate carrying a small handbag. She waved lightly at her.

“Xuxu, I’m here to pick you up.” Lu Wuqi caught her breath and smiled brightly.

“Thanks~” Sheng Xu stepped forward and gave Lu Wuqi a light hug. “You’ve worked hard.”