Bao Gu believed the situation wasn’t as dire as her senior sister imagined.
In the world of cultivation, the highest combat power plays a decisive role.
The highest combat power of the Demon Alliance is the Jade Qilin, while Xuantian Sect’s is Nanshan Yijian.
Nanshan Yijian and the Jade Qilin are evenly matched in strength, and with enough Monkey Wine to back Nanshan Yijian, there’s a great chance of victory in a one-on-one fight against the Jade Qilin.
It’s undeniable that the Demon Alliance has a large number of members, but they are not a cohesive unit; they have only come together because of a common enemy.
Bao Gu had several strategies to deal with them.
Seeing that Xuantian Peak was tightly protected by formations, she knew her Grandmaster was prepared to hold the fort, and Xuantian Sect could indeed defend itself.
Xuantian Sect is protected by powerful formations, making it difficult for the Demon Alliance to take it down in one go.
The Demon Alliance, formed through alliances, would suffer a blow to morale if they couldn’t break through after prolonged attacks, and any significant casualties would lead to their collapse.
Xuantian Sect could slowly wear down the Demon Alliance, and the longer it dragged on, the more advantageous it would be for Xuantian Sect.
The most important thing now was defense and recuperation.
Seeing that there was nothing urgent at the moment, Bao Gu wanted to go back and rest, only to realize she didn’t know where she was staying.
She quickly called out to Yu Mi, who was stepping down the long stairs at the entrance of Xuantian Hall and heading into Xuantian Square, “Senior sister, wait for me!”
She used her lightness skill to catch up with Yu Mi and asked, “Where are we staying?”
Yu Mi was momentarily stunned, remembering that during the reconstruction of Xuantian Sect, Bao Gu had been in a drunken sleep and was unfamiliar with the new layout.
She said, “Grandmaster has reorganized Xuantian Sect based on the current situation. Previously, everyone followed their own masters, but now, without masters, everyone is taught directly by Grandmaster and gathers in one place to practice. We attend morning classes in Xuantian Square every day, and those with free time practice here. If anyone needs to go into seclusion, they must ask Grandmaster for permission and use the pass to enter the Quiet Forest for cultivation.”
Bao Gu asked, “Quiet Forest?”
Yu Mi replied, “It’s a specially designated area in the back mountain. The Quiet Forest has formations set up according to the five elements—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—to assist in cultivation. It’s much better to cultivate there than outside.”
Bao Gu acknowledged, “Oh.”
She then asked, “Where does everyone live?”
Yu Mi said, “The courtyard behind Xuantian Hall is where Grandmaster resides. Further back is the Elder’s Courtyard, where Martial Uncle Feng and Senior Nanshan live.”
She pointed to the left side of Xuantian Square, “Those houses are for Foundation Establishment disciples, each with their own room. The left side is reserved for future inner disciples. Disciples at the Golden Core stage have their own courtyards scattered around.”
Bao Gu quickly said, “Senior sister, I want to live with you.”
Yu Mi pursed her lips and said, “Grandmaster has arranged a courtyard for you, not far from mine.”
Bao Gu pouted, “I’m only at the second stage of Foundation Establishment. Who knows when I’ll reach the Golden Core stage? How can I have my own courtyard? Grandmaster set the rule that only Golden Core disciples have their own courtyards, so why break it? Senior sister, don’t mind me squeezing in with you. I’ll even pay rent.”
Yu Mi gave Bao Gu a sidelong glance and said, “Grandmaster is giving you special treatment, and you’re not happy?”
Bao Gu clung to Yu Mi’s arm and pleaded, “Senior sister, let me stay with you. Or maybe we can connect our courtyards?”
Yu Mi widened her eyes and said, “Each courtyard has its own protective formation. If you can break the formation set by Grandmaster, I’ll allow it!”
Bao Gu exclaimed, “Deal, no take-backs!”
Yu Mi: “…”
She nodded, knowing full well Bao Gu’s expertise in formations.
Even Bao Gu couldn’t break the formations she set, let alone modify the ones set by their Grandmaster.
Bao Gu turned and ran into Xuantian Hall.
Yu Mi was dumbfounded.
She thought, “You’re not going to ask Grandmaster to modify the formations for you, are you?”
She couldn’t believe it!
Bao Gu would definitely get scolded by Grandmaster.
She called out, “Come back, or Grandmaster will scold you—” but before she could finish, she saw Bao Gu leap into Xuantian Hall without even announcing herself.
This was outrageous!
Yu Mi hurried to the entrance of Xuantian Hall, ready to bow, when she heard Zi Tianjun look at Bao Gu, who had just jumped in, glance at her, and ask, “What is it?”
Yu Mi immediately regretted following and getting caught up in this mess, wishing she could disappear!
Bao Gu blinked and said, “Grandmaster, I… um…”
Zi Tianjun sternly said, “Speak clearly, no stammering.”
Bao Gu thought for a moment and asked, “Grandmaster, why can’t I live with the other Foundation Establishment disciples?”
Zi Tianjun gave Bao Gu a deep look and sternly said, “Do you think if you lived with them, they could still cultivate properly?”
Yu Mi glanced at Bao Gu and thought, “Why couldn’t they?”
Bao Gu asked, “Why couldn’t they cultivate properly if I lived with them?”
Zi Tianjun said with a serious face, “You know very well why!”
He glanced at Yu Mi and bluntly said, “Can you honestly stay put without sneaking over to Yu Mi’s place?”
He added in his mind, “With the patrol disciples’ level of cultivation, they can’t stop your Celestial Fox. Don’t make me get up in the middle of the night to catch a demon!”
Yu Mi blushed with embarrassment, wishing she could disappear.
Bao Gu “uh”ed, wanting to praise, “Grandmaster knows me well.”
She suddenly realized that her Grandmaster was likely aware of the relationship between Little Martial Aunt and the demon saint.
Zi Tianjun saw Bao Gu standing there motionless and asked, “What? Not satisfied with my arrangement?”
Bao Gu forced a smile and said, “Grandmaster, I… I want to ask you for a favor.”
Zi Tianjun looked at Bao Gu, his face stern, and said, “Speak.”
Bao Gu closed her eyes, steeled herself, and said, “I want to ask Grandmaster to help connect my courtyard with my senior sister’s.”
Zi Tianjun really wanted to flick his sleeve and send Bao Gu flying out.
Yu Mi was so scared her heart was pounding.
Grandmaster had already been lenient with you, and you’re still being greedy and reckless!
Bao Gu waited for Zi Tianjun’s response, but when none came, she opened her eyes pitifully to see Zi Tianjun glaring at her with a face as dark as a storm.
Even though Zi Tianjun had restrained his aura, she could clearly feel his anger.
Zi Tianjun took a deep breath and angrily scolded, “You fool!”
Bao Gu stood still.
Yu Mi, with no other choice, stepped into the hall, bowed her head, and said, “Grandmaster, please calm down,” intending to drag Bao Gu away.
She was truly exasperated with Bao Gu!
She was becoming more and more unruly.
In this matter, Grandmaster had already been indulgent, yet she dared to make such a request.
Zi Tianjun coldly stared at Bao Gu and said, “Get out!”
Yu Mi quickly said, “Grandmaster, we take our leave.”
She grabbed Bao Gu, trying to pull her away.
Bao Gu used her spiritual power to anchor her legs firmly to the ground, refusing to move.
Zi Tianjun’s gaze was icy as he watched Bao Gu.
Yu Mi gripped Bao Gu’s wrist tightly, transmitting her voice, “Let’s go! Grandmaster is already furious! Stop messing around! You can stay in my courtyard! Okay, ancestor!”
Seeing she couldn’t move Bao Gu, and fearing Zi Tianjun might actually punish her, she decided to use her spiritual power to forcibly drag Bao Gu away.
Bao Gu was stubborn, using all her strength to hold her ground against Yu Mi.
The five-element spiritual power surged from her dantian, forming a protective aura around her, anchoring her legs to the ground like roots.
Yu Mi knew Bao Gu was a five-element cultivator, with deeper internal energy than most.
After her meridians were broken and rebuilt by the Xuantian Sword, and consuming numerous spiritual pills and treasures, her physique and spiritual power capacity were far greater than normal.
Even with her late-stage Golden Core strength, using two layers of power, she couldn’t move Bao Gu, which shocked her.
She increased her strength, but Bao Gu remained unmoved, forcing her to use even more power.
Five layers of power could easily send a Foundation Establishment disciple flying, even a mid-stage Golden Core disciple, yet Bao Gu stood firm, though drenched in sweat and trembling, her aura rapidly circulating, clearly struggling.
Bao Gu gritted her teeth, pushing her power to the limit, and even tried to draw on the Xuantian Sword’s power to relieve the pressure.
With Zi Tianjun’s cultivation level, he could clearly see how much power Yu Mi was using.
He hadn’t expected Bao Gu to withstand Yu Mi’s five layers of power.
He silently watched the contest between the sisters, curious to see how long Bao Gu could hold out.
Bao Gu was struggling, sweat pouring down.
Her dantian’s spiritual power was nearly exhausted, and she wanted to drink some Monkey Wine to replenish it.
But she knew if her senior sister’s power increased even slightly, she wouldn’t be able to hold on, not even to drink.
She refused to back down, so she continued to resist even as her last bit of true power was depleted.
Suddenly, she felt a tearing sensation in her meridians, her strength vanished, and her vision went black.
She spat out a mouthful of blood and collapsed into Yu Mi’s arms, unconscious.
Yu Mi screamed, “Bao Gu!”
and quickly caught her.
She hurriedly checked Bao Gu’s pulse and used her spiritual sense to examine her, finding Bao Gu’s dantian and meridians empty of spiritual power, with internal injuries and bleeding.
She panicked and called out, “Grandmaster!”
She hadn’t realized Bao Gu was injured.
Why hadn’t Bao Gu told her?
Zi Tianjun examined Bao Gu’s injuries, took out two healing pills, and fed them to her, asking, “Who did she fight with before?”
He immediately recalled Bao Gu had fought a dragon and even killed it.
Yu Mi, pale, said, “The dragon…”
She remembered the massive energy released when the dragon died, her face drained of color.
With internal injuries and depleted spiritual power, it was a miracle she hadn’t died on the spot.
Yu Mi was terrified.
She quickly took out Monkey Wine to give Bao Gu, intending to transfer spiritual power to her, but saw her Grandmaster had already acted.
Zi Tianjun used his spiritual power to stabilize Bao Gu’s injuries, relying on the healing pills and Monkey Wine to heal her.
After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense, Zi Tianjun finished.
He said, “She’s fine now. It seems the intense impact during the previous fight caused internal injuries, which would have healed with rest. But exhausting all her spiritual power while competing with you caused the original injuries to tear.”
He glanced at Bao Gu and stood up, saying, “Take her back to rest.”
He hadn’t realized Bao Gu was so stubborn when she set her mind to something.
Yu Mi replied, “Yes,” and carried Bao Gu in her arms.
She looked at Zi Tianjun and said, “Grandmaster, please don’t blame Bao Gu for her rudeness.”
Zi Tianjun waved his hand, saying, “Go.”
He had long known Bao Gu’s feelings for Yu Mi were unusual, but he hadn’t expected Bao Gu to become so obsessed when it came to Yu Mi.
He said, “Yu Mi, I think you understand Bao Gu’s situation. Her behavior is detrimental to her cultivation.”
Yu Mi replied, “I understand.”
She understood, but there was nothing she could do.
She couldn’t tell Zi Tianjun.
No matter how kind and indulgent Grandmaster was, he was still a sect leader.
If they went too far, Grandmaster would intervene, and Bao Gu would suffer.
She didn’t want to see Bao Gu harmed.
Unable to bow with Bao Gu in her arms, she lowered her head in a gesture of respect and said, “I take my leave.”
She carried Bao Gu out of Xuantian Hall, summoned her flying sword, and flew back to her courtyard.
Yu Mi placed Bao Gu on her bed and sat by her side, her mind in turmoil.
She hadn’t expected a casual remark to lead Bao Gu to act so recklessly.
She didn’t understand Bao Gu, nor did she understand what made her worth such dedication.
When it came to her, Bao Gu disregarded all consequences.
This left Yu Mi feeling anxious and fearful.
She wanted to understand Bao Gu but found herself increasingly unable to.
The evening sun cast its glow through the window, illuminating the bed.
Bao Gu opened her eyes and saw Yu Mi sitting by the bed, lost in thought.
She called out, “Senior sister,” and sat up.
Yu Mi placed her hand on Bao Gu’s wrist, using her spiritual sense to check her condition.
Seeing Bao Gu’s dantian had recovered about seventy to eighty percent of its spiritual power and her injuries were mostly healed, she said, “You have injuries. You can’t use spiritual power for the next few days. You need to rest. When we were in the Demon Cave, I asked if you were hurt. Why did you lie to me?”
Bao Gu blinked, confused, and said, “I wasn’t hurt.”
She vaguely remembered spitting blood at the time.
Although she had coughed up blood, she hadn’t felt any discomfort, so she hadn’t taken it to heart.
Yu Mi silently looked at Bao Gu for a long time before saying, “Bao Gu, I really don’t know what to do with you.”
Bao Gu was even more confused and asked, “What’s wrong?”
She realized and said, “I’m sorry, I… I won’t be stubborn with you anymore.”
Yu Mi stood up, staring at Bao Gu lying on the bed, and asked, “What were you thinking at the time? Grandmaster was already angry, and you still stood there—” She frowned and said, “Just because of one sentence from me, you dared to make such a request to Grandmaster… Bao Gu… Grandmaster is not only Grandmaster but also the sect leader. Even Little Martial Aunt wouldn’t dare act so recklessly in front of Grandmaster! You were so presumptuous, did you even consider Grandmaster, the sect leader of Xuantian Sect? If you go too far, no one can protect you. You’re usually smart, so why are you so foolish about this?”
She took a deep breath and continued, “Your actions will hinder your cultivation. If your cultivation doesn’t progress, your lifespan will be short. Even if I give my heart to you, how long can you stay with me? In the world of cultivation, decades or centuries are just a blink of an eye. My blink of an eye is your entire life. Bao Gu, how can you be with me for the long term? I understand your intentions, but your actions leave me at a loss. You are willing to give everything for me, but how can I repay your deep affection? If you have no future, and I give my heart to you, how will I cope after you pass away? Have you considered my feelings? Bao Gu, you make me afraid, more and more afraid.”
Bao Gu was speechless, stunned.
Yu Mi sighed deeply and said, “A few days ago, Grandmaster mentioned recruiting disciples. I’ve thought it over and decided to go to the mortal world to find talented children to bring into the sect.”
Bao Gu asked, “Senior sister, are you leaving?”
Yu Mi replied, “Yes. A sect with only a few dozen people and no successors can never grow strong.”
Bao Gu called out, “Senior sister…”
Her heart ached.
She knew she had driven Yu Mi away.
At a time when there was an external threat, it shouldn’t be the strongest among the younger generation, Yu Mi, going to recruit new disciples.
Feng Menglong and Hua Sheng would suffice!
Yu Mi softly said, “I’ve made up my mind. If you truly care for me, focus on your cultivation. You can stay in my courtyard if you like.”
With that, she turned and walked towards the door.
At the door, she paused and said, “I’ll leave after saying goodbye to Grandmaster.”
Bao Gu got out of bed and chased to the door, calling, “Senior sister—” She couldn’t bring herself to ask Yu Mi to stay, so she changed her words, “Take Ling’er with you.”
She handed over the blood oath token of Little Celestial Fox Ling’er, saying, “It’s dangerous outside. Ling’er can gain experience with you. With Grandmaster and the others looking after me, you can rest assured.”
She took out a large amount of Monkey Wine and various treasures from her oversized storage bag, packed them into a storage bag, and handed it to Yu Mi, saying, “It’s always good to have more protection when you’re out. You know I have plenty of these things, take them.”
Yu Mi looked at Bao Gu, tears welling in her eyes.
She sighed, “Fool!”
Bao Gu placed the blood oath token and the storage bag filled with treasures into Yu Mi’s hands, saying, “Take Ling’er and these things so I can be at ease. Also, ask Grandmaster for two life-saving talismans.”
Yu Mi accepted the blood oath token and storage bag, mounted her flying sword, and left without looking back.
Bao Gu leaned against the door, watching her senior sister’s departing figure, dazed and lost.
She suddenly realized that sometimes being good to someone can be selfish.
Sometimes being good to someone isn’t truly for their benefit.
She thought sincerity could move mountains, but she never considered that what her senior sister truly wanted was something she couldn’t give.
Her senior sister had said she had seen too many in the cultivation world turn against each other, fighting to the death for resources and treasures.
Bao Gu was willing to give everything to her senior sister, to protect her with all she had.
Her senior sister had said she didn’t want to become a lonely widow like Nanshan Yijian, didn’t want to experience such pain.
Bao Gu had so many life-extending treasures, even a Nirvana Pill from the demon saint.
She was a five-element cultivator, with so many cultivation resources, drinking Monkey Wine and consuming spiritual pills daily, yet her cultivation was slow and difficult.
Even reaching the Golden Core stage seemed far off.
Her cultivation was already extremely challenging, yet she was distracted by trivial matters and burdened by emotions.
No one could see hope in her, not even her senior sister.
Bao Gu suddenly realized that cultivation is indeed lonely, because the path is long and arduous, requiring full dedication.
Discussing anything else would hinder cultivation.
And she was tired of the monotony and boredom of cultivation.
This was another major obstacle on her cultivation path.
Her senior sister saw no hope in her, so even if she liked her, she didn’t dare give her heart, because she didn’t want to be hurt, didn’t want to endure future pain, only to protect herself.
Bao Gu dejectedly uttered three words, “I’m sorry.”
She never thought her actions, her entanglement, would be another form of harm to Yu Mi, nor did she expect to drive Yu Mi away in the end.
