Bao Gu stepped out of the teleportation formation from the void and was startled by the scenery before her. Although she couldn’t remember the exact date, she estimated it should be either January or February.
In colder regions, the heavy snow had not yet melted, and even in warmer areas, the ice and snow had just begun to thaw, right? Yet, this place was shaded by green trees, with bees and butterflies fluttering around, full of the breath of spring. The green poplar and locust trees were covered with clusters of snow-white flowers. As the wind blew, petals danced in the air and fell onto the green grass.
The Duobao Spirit Monkey, which had been dozing on Bao Gu’s shoulder, suddenly woke up, its pitch-black eyes staring ahead at the green-shaded path, its lively eyes rolling around. It suddenly shot into the sky and ran towards the forest.
Zi Yunshu hurriedly called out, “You naughty monkey, come back!”
Hearing Zi Yunshu’s call, Bao Gu quickly shouted, “Little monkey, come back!” No sooner had her words fallen than she saw the Duobao Spirit Monkey appear in front of her, floating in the air and looking at her, with several sixth-grade spiritual herbs in its hand.
Zi Yunshu exclaimed in admiration, “You naughty monkey, your hands are really quick!”
The Duobao Spirit Monkey squeaked a few times, quite proud of itself. It gestured wildly, signaling Bao Gu to hurry inside, where there were many treasures.
Zi Yunshu said, “Wait here for me, I’m going to look for an old friend.” She instructed Bao Gu, “Keep an eye on the Duobao Spirit Monkey, and don’t let it run wild.”
Bao Gu thought to herself, “Weren’t we supposed to go to the Taiyin Sect? Why are we looking for an old friend first?”
The Duobao Spirit Monkey, sitting on Zi Yunshu’s shoulder, kept chattering non-stop.
Zi Yunshu’s face turned green instantly and said, “If you’re capable, go pick it yourself. I guarantee she won’t kill you.”
The Duobao Spirit Monkey looked at Zi Yunshu with its round, puzzled eyes. Suddenly sensing something, it let out a sharp scream, excitedly jumping up and down, then suddenly froze, its eyes wide open. The next moment, it hid behind Bao Gu.
Bao Gu looked towards the forest path and saw a woman in snow-white luxurious clothes with a noble aura appearing ahead. She seemed to be around twenty, imposing yet dignified and elegant, pure as a sacred lotus.
From the moment Bao Gu saw her to the moment she approached, it was just a blink of an eye. Bao Gu even saw her take only one step to reach them. Was this the “Shrinking Earth into Inches” supernatural power? Bao Gu wondered.
Suddenly, Bao Gu felt movement behind her and then saw the woman reach out towards her back. Before she could react, the woman had already retracted her hand with a light snort, saying, “Lucky you ran fast!”
The Duobao Spirit Monkey’s sharp squeals came from afar.
Yu Mi looked at the woman in surprise and called out, “Aren’t you…” Then she burst into laughter, bowed, and said, “Yu Mi pays respects to…” She paused, asking, “How should I address you?”
Zi Yunshu glared at Yu Mi and said, “Itching for a beating?”
Bao Gu smelled a strange, ethereal fragrance on the woman, more serene than that of lotus flowers.
The woman’s gaze fell on Zi Yunshu, her stunning face instantly warming up with a gentle smile, asking, “Why are you here? I was worried you were mad at me.”
Zi Yunshu said, “You did the right thing by not taking action!” She grabbed the woman’s wrist, saying, “Inside, they said to ask you for some Disguise Pills.”
The woman held Zi Yunshu’s hand, pulling her in, and said, “No rush.” Her gaze then fell on Bao Gu, saying, “So you’re the Bao Gu who’s been the talk of the cultivation world recently?”
Bao Gu responded, “Hmm,” and bowed, “Bao Gu pays respects to the senior. The little monkey was rude just now, and I apologize on its behalf. It took your spiritual herbs, and I… I’m willing to compensate.”
“Never mind, for Zi Yunshu’s sake, I can afford to lose a few herbs. I heard you have many ninth-grade sacred objects, including Heavenly Spirit Fruit, Earthly Spirit Fruit, and Primordial Spirit Fruit?”
Bao Gu scratched her head, saying, “I only have sixth-grade and below Monkey Wine in my possession.”
The woman nodded lightly, saying, “If you have them, I’m willing to trade one of my petals for them.”
Bao Gu asked in astonishment, “Senior, what kind of petal is worth a ninth-grade sacred object? As a merchant, I must make clear deals and cannot afford to lose. Looking at how you call her ‘Little Martial Aunt,’ it seems you have a deep relationship with her.”
The woman smiled gently, saying, “Naturally, it’s my petal.”
Zi Yunshu glanced at the woman and said, “You’re not afraid of pain, are you? Want me to help you pluck the petal?” She then told Bao Gu and Yu Mi, “Wait here for me, I’ll be right back.” After saying that, she dragged the woman into the forest.
Bao Gu watched their figures disappear into the distance and asked, “Sister, who is she?”
Yu Mi chuckled lightly and replied, “An old friend of Little Martial Aunt.” She turned and sat under the poplar and locust trees.
Bao Gu hurriedly sat next to Yu Mi and said, “Sister, don’t speak in riddles. The way she looks at Little Martial Aunt and the way Little Martial Aunt looks at her are both quite strange.”
The Duobao Spirit Monkey landed back on Bao Gu’s shoulder, its eyes fixed on the depths of the poplar and locust forest, swallowing hard.
Yu Mi glanced at the Duobao Spirit Monkey and said, “You dare to eat her? Be careful she doesn’t eat you instead!”
The Duobao Spirit Monkey squeaked in agreement, sitting obediently, occasionally glancing towards the forest and swallowing.
Bao Gu frowned and asked, “That lady in white wants to trade a petal for the Heavenly Spirit Fruit. What kind of petal is so valuable? Sister, have you heard of it?”
Yu Mi laughed softly, saying, “If you dare to accept her petal, I guarantee Little Martial Aunt will personally kill you.”
Bao Gu said, “To avoid being killed by Little Martial Aunt, sister, please tell me.”
Yu Mi whispered into Bao Gu’s ear, “I once heard Little Martial Aunt mention after getting drunk that she spent a high price at an auction for an ancient scroll, which contained clues to a ninth-grade Holy Lotus. She spent two years finding the location of the ninth-grade Holy Lotus to pick it, but unexpectedly, the ancient scroll was from many years ago, and the ninth-grade Holy Lotus had already gained sentience and was incredibly powerful. Instead, it picked Little Martial Aunt.”
Bao Gu was stunned and exclaimed, “What do you mean ‘picked Little Martial Aunt’?” She suddenly screamed, “Ninth-grade Holy Lotus? A ninth-grade sacred object… turned into a human form?”
She was so shocked that her mouth could fit a large egg! A ninth-grade Holy Lotus was a treasure, nurtured by heaven and earth, a true treasure! A human-formed ninth-grade Holy Lotus, its effects must be comparable to immortal medicine, right? Thinking of this, Bao Gu couldn’t help but swallow.
No wonder the Duobao Spirit Monkey was so greedy and excited. She thought for a moment and asked, “Sister, has the ninth-grade Holy Lotus also cultivated to the Transformation Stage?”
Only spirits that have cultivated to the Transformation Stage can transform into human form, their strength equivalent to a cultivator’s Nascent Soul Realm.
Yu Mi replied, “I don’t know, but she has come to Lingyun Peak to find Little Martial Aunt several times, and the mountain guardian granny didn’t notice once. The mountain guardian granny’s strength is at the peak of the Transformation Stage.”
Bao Gu asked, “Then how come you seem to have seen her?”
Yu Mi said, “I was practicing my sword day and night at that time, and I saw her when she came. Otherwise, how could there be the incident of me getting Little Martial Aunt drunk to pry information from her?”
Bao Gu thought to herself, “Sister getting Little Martial Aunt drunk to pry information, that’s really naughty.” She asked, “Sister, what does it mean that the ninth-grade Holy Lotus ‘picked’ Little Martial Aunt? Little Martial Aunt isn’t a flower, how can she be picked?”
Yu Mi was speechless and called out, “You really are… naive!” She was about to speak when she suddenly saw Zi Yunshu and the ninth-grade Holy Lotus coming out together, quickly standing up and calling, “Little Martial Aunt!” pretending as if she hadn’t said anything.
Zi Yunshu glared at Yu Mi and said, “Let’s go!”
Bao Gu curiously stared at Zi Yunshu’s mouth and asked, “Little Martial Aunt, why are your lips… so red?” Little Martial Aunt’s lips were already quite red, but now they seemed like they could drip blood, and they were also moist.
Yu Mi sighed silently, “So naive. Can you even ask that?”
Zi Yunshu glanced at Bao Gu and turned to look at the ninth-grade Holy Lotus.
The ninth-grade Holy Lotus said, “If it’s to help Bao Gu cultivate and go to the Taiyin Sect, you might as well stay here for a while.”
The Duobao Spirit Monkey immediately became excited upon hearing this, standing up and nodding vigorously, hugging Bao Gu and squealing loudly, urging Bao Gu to agree to stay.
Zi Yunshu said, “No!” After saying that, she reluctantly glanced at the ninth-grade Holy Lotus, activated the teleportation platform, and left with Bao Gu, Yu Mi, and the Duobao Spirit Monkey, who was howling miserably, unwilling to leave.
The Duobao Spirit Monkey floated in front of Bao Gu, pointing at her and chattering non-stop.
Zi Yunshu raised her hand to slap the Duobao Spirit Monkey.
Yu Mi screamed, “Little Martial Aunt, don’t move during teleportation!” She then asked, “Little Martial Aunt, does the master know about you and the ninth-grade Holy Lotus?”
Zi Yunshu turned her slap towards Yu Mi, hitting her on the forehead, and threatened, “If you dare to leak a word, I guarantee you’ll… hehe…” She laughed coldly. After laughing, she pinched Yu Mi’s cheek hard and scolded, “That’s for getting me drunk and prying information from me!”
Yu Mi cried out, “Little Martial Aunt, it hurts!”
Zi Yunshu said, “Little Martial Aunt, I’m not in pain!” pinching even harder.
Bao Gu saw Yu Mi’s face being pinched out of shape by Zi Yunshu and felt pain for her. Seeing that they had already teleported to their destination, she quickly said, “Little Martial Aunt, we’ve already teleported!”
Zi Yunshu finally let go of the tearful Yu Mi, looked around, and said, “Follow me.”
Bao Gu looked at Yu Mi and asked, “Sister, does it hurt?”
Yu Mi rubbed her face and asked, “What do you think? It hurts to death. Bao Gu, let me tell you, Little Martial Aunt must be cherishing her beloved flower, secretly giving her the Supreme Monkey Wine…” Before she could finish, she felt an energy fluctuation approaching. She hadn’t reacted yet when she was enveloped in a cold air and instantly frozen into an ice sculpture.
Bao Gu, seeing Little Martial Aunt act so swiftly and fiercely, was scared to make a sound, silently watching her sister in distress.
Fortunately, her sister was not weak, and with a shake of her cultivation, she shattered the ice and broke free.
Yu Mi sighed softly and changed the subject, asking, “Little Martial Aunt, where are we?” She looked around and realized they were in a desolate mountain range.
Zi Yunshu replied, “We’ve already arrived outside the Taiyin Sect’s territory! Wait here for me, and make sure to hide well.” After saying that, she disappeared into the forest like a gust of wind.
Yu Mi pulled Bao Gu to a nearby mountain hollow, activated the invisibility formation on her jade bracelet to hide their presence, and said, “Rest for a while. Little Martial Aunt won’t be back so soon.”
Bao Gu asked, “Where did Little Martial Aunt go?”
Yu Mi replied, “To capture someone.”
Bao Gu asked, “Capture who?”
Yu Mi said, “You’ll know soon enough.” After saying that, she closed her eyes to meditate and recuperate.
Bao Gu had no choice but to do as told. After about two hours, Bao Gu suddenly heard Little Martial Aunt’s voice.
Yu Mi stood up, deactivated the invisibility formation, and then Zi Yunshu appeared in front of them.
Zi Yunshu was holding three Taiyin Sect outer disciples, tied up tightly. She threw the youngest one to Bao Gu and said, “Strip his clothes and wear them, then take a Disguise Pill and change your appearance to match his. The Disguise Pill’s effect lasts for two hours, allowing you to change to any appearance you want and also hide your cultivation level.”
Bao Gu was so startled that she trembled, thinking, “Strip a man’s clothes? Isn’t that outrageous?” She looked at Yu Mi and Zi Yunshu and realized they were only stripping the outer sect uniforms, sighing in relief, “Thank goodness it’s not stripping naked.”
She quickly knelt down and stripped the fourteen or fifteen-year-old boy’s sect uniform to wear, also taking the outer disciple’s identity waist badge to wear on herself. Following Zi Yunshu’s instructions, she used the Disguise Pill to change her appearance to match the outer disciple’s, throwing her own clothes into a large storage bag.
After Bao Gu finished, she looked up and saw that Zi Yunshu and Yu Mi had already changed their appearances.
Zi Yunshu had disguised herself as a plain-looking young man in his early twenties, completely unnoticeable in a crowd.
Yu Mi’s disguised appearance was quite handsome, around seventeen or eighteen years old.
Zi Yunshu then took out three low-quality storage bags and gave one to Bao Gu and Yu Mi. She said, “These are the storage bags of the two people you’ve disguised as. Take them. These three were supposed to go to the Taiyin Sect’s spirit mine to work as miners.
We couldn’t find more suitable targets in time, so we had to make do with these three. We can only go mine for a month first, then find a way to take on other tasks inside the Taiyin Sect.” She spoke as if reluctantly, but her eyes were smiling!
Bao Gu was amazed to hear her Little Martial Aunt’s voice change to a man’s, wondering if the Disguise Pill could also change one’s voice.
Zi Yunshu looked at Bao Gu and said, “Don’t just stare at me! You need to learn how to walk like a man, don’t give yourself away with your movements.”
Bao Gu thought about how men walk, took a few steps with her feet apart, and asked, “How’s this?”
Zi Yunshu found it acceptable and let Bao Gu pass.
Bao Gu asked, “What about you two?”
Yu Mi said, “Let’s go!” Her appearance, voice, and demeanor were all convincingly masculine, completely unrecognizable as the Immortal Yu Mi of the Xuantian Sect.
Bao Gu realized that Yu Mi and Zi Yunshu were experienced in such matters and understood this wasn’t their first time!

