Bao Gu was almost out of breath when Yu Mi grabbed her.
Her face turned red, and she coughed while pointing at Yu Mi’s hand, signaling her to let go.
Yu Mi released Bao Gu, looked at her coldly, and snorted, “Tired of living, are you? Daring to take advantage of me?”
Bao Gu took a deep breath, her eyes brimming with tears, and said, “Senior sister, I’m also an unmarried girl. Even if I kissed you, you wouldn’t lose anything! I poured a whole gourd of sixth-tier Monkey Wine into you. If anyone is at a loss, it’s me. If anyone is taking advantage, it’s you!”
Yu Mi’s expression softened, thinking to herself, “A whole gourd indeed, no wonder I advanced a level during the healing just now.”
She reconsidered, realizing that Bao Gu kissing her didn’t cause her any loss.
In fact, Bao Gu had given her a gourd of sixth-tier Monkey Wine, which helped her advance from the third to the fourth level of the Golden Core stage.
This deal was a win for her.
But then she thought, “You poured Monkey Wine into my mouth, but why did you kiss me afterward?”
The more Yu Mi thought about it, the more suspicious she became.
She scrutinized Bao Gu from head to toe and asked, “Why did you kiss my lips?”
Bao Gu, feeling cornered, boldly replied, “There was the fragrance of the wine, and I wanted to taste what sixth-tier Monkey Wine was like, but I couldn’t drink it, so I could only taste what was left on your lips…”
The image of Bao Gu picking remnants from her mouth flashed through Yu Mi’s mind, frightening her into raising her hand to stop Bao Gu, saying, “Stop, don’t say anymore…”
She would never believe Bao Gu’s explanation.
If Bao Gu really craved the sixth-tier Monkey Wine, Yu Mi had plenty in her oversized storage bag.
Even if she couldn’t drink it, couldn’t she just drop a few drops into her mouth to taste?
Was there a need to stoop so low as to lick her lips?
Knowing she wouldn’t get a reasonable explanation, Yu Mi decided to ignore Bao Gu and flew towards Xuan Yue Ancient City on her flying sword.
Bao Gu summoned her flying carpet and carefully followed Yu Mi towards Xuan Yue Ancient City.
Soon, they arrived at Xuan Yue Ancient City and rushed towards Qing Feng Pavilion amidst the stares and whispers of numerous cultivators.
Qing Feng Pavilion had helped them greatly; even the old pavilion master had come out to assist.
They had to at least go and express their gratitude.
As Bao Gu and Yu Mi reached the entrance of Qing Feng Pavilion, they encountered Pavilion Master Lu leading a few young disciples out.
They quickly went forward to greet him.
Pavilion Master Lu smiled and said, “You two have come at just the right time. Come, let’s go to the Ancient Ruins together.”
He then turned to a sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy behind him and said, “This is my son, Lu Wendao!”
The handsome young man immediately stepped forward with a fist salute to greet Bao Gu and Yu Mi.
Although he looked appealing, his voice was still changing, sounding like a duck.
Pavilion Master Lu then turned to a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl behind him and said, “This is my true disciple, Hong Chen.”
Yu Mi noticed that the girl named “Hong Chen” had a cultivation level of the Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment, which genuinely surprised her.
Pavilion Master Lu smiled at Bao Gu and asked, “I wonder if Bao Gu is willing to take my son and disciple along?”
Having just received a great favor and still under their protection, Bao Gu dared not refuse.
She replied, “I would be honored.”
Then she added, “But, Uncle Lu, I have a small favor to ask.”
Pavilion Master Lu smiled and said, “Please speak, I will help as much as I can.”
Bao Gu said, “I need to borrow a secluded chamber.”
Pavilion Master Lu agreed and led Bao Gu and Yu Mi back inside Qing Feng Pavilion, finding them a secluded chamber in the backyard.
After Yu Mi checked and confirmed no one was spying, she nodded to Bao Gu, saying, “It’s safe now.”
Bao Gu rolled up her sleeves, revealing her arm, and directly pulled Yu Mi into the oversized storage bag on her arm.
Duobao Spirit Monkey peeked out from Bao Gu’s arm, blinked its eyes, looked around, and suddenly, very alertly, looked into the distance before quickly retreating back into the oversized storage bag.
Seeing Duobao Spirit Monkey acting like a mouse seeing a cat, Bao Gu guessed it sensed the presence of a cultivator at the level of Spiritual Transformation and did not want to show itself.
She let the timid and cunning Duobao Spirit Monkey stay hidden in the oversized storage bag.
Pavilion Master Lu and his group waited outside the chamber for just a few moments before seeing Bao Gu emerge alone.
Pavilion Master Lu was surprised at how quickly it happened.
His divine sense scanned the surroundings and found no trace of Yu Mi, assuming Duobao Spirit Monkey had used its powers to hide her in the void.
He sighed in admiration, “Duobao Spirit Monkey is indeed extraordinary.”
Thinking of its thieving skills, he added silently, “It’s just too detestable!”
If it weren’t for everyone relying on its Monkey Wine, especially the Supreme Monkey Wine, many forces in Xuan Yue Ancient City would have acted against it, not just one Qing Feng Pavilion, but ten wouldn’t be able to stop them.
Bao Gu understood what Pavilion Master Lu meant by the extraordinariness of Duobao Spirit Monkey, and she was happy to let him misunderstand without explaining.
Pavilion Master Lu led Bao Gu towards the Ancient Ruins, smiling warmly.
He said, “Bao Gu, although there are many spiritual treasures and fruits in the Ancient Ruins, the most precious is the legacy left by an ancient great being. However, this legacy can only be obtained by those destined to receive it.”
He then carefully explained the precautions for entering the Ancient Ruins to Bao Gu.
These were experiences paid for with the blood and lives of those who had entered the Ancient Ruins before, and Bao Gu listened very attentively, silently grateful for Pavilion Master Lu’s guidance.
As they approached the Ancient Ruins, Pavilion Master Lu stopped and said in a low voice, “Bao Gu, the Tai Yin Sect has suffered a severe blow, and your entry into the Ancient Ruins provides them with a perfect opportunity for revenge, making it extremely dangerous for you. You must have great fortune, in terms of legacy, you must have the inheritance of the Xuan Tian Ancestor, and in terms of spiritual treasures, you have Duobao Spirit Monkey by your side. If you can find a secluded place to concentrate on cultivation and study carefully, you need not worry about your future. Although there are treasures in the Ancient Ruins, they have been repeatedly scavenged by various sects before. What’s left is either extremely hidden and hard to find, or they are ordinary spiritual medicines and fruits that have grown later, which might be treasures for those loose cultivators or junior disciples of various sects, but for you, they are dispensable. Duobao Spirit Monkey’s association with you is well-known in the cultivation world, and the sects have communicated with each other, absolutely not allowing you to bring Duobao Spirit Monkey into the Ancient Ruins privately. If you plan to bring Duobao Spirit Monkey into the Ancient Ruins to hunt for treasures, it would be difficult to execute.”
Bao Gu bowed and said, “Thank you, Uncle Lu, for the advice. I won’t bring the little monkey in then.”
As soon as her words fell, Duobao Spirit Monkey poked its head out from her arm and let out a loud “squeak,” expressing strong protest.
Pavilion Master Lu looked at the monkey, half of its body exposed and the other half buried in Bao Gu’s arm, its body golden-red and fluffy, and chuckled, “Duobao Spirit Monkey, the heavenly lords of the sects have already discussed this. If you forcibly sneak into the Ancient Ruins, they are prepared to join forces to capture you.”
Duobao Spirit Monkey “squeaked” again, its small eyes rolling around, then it tried to retreat back into the oversized storage bag.
Bao Gu quickly grabbed Duobao Spirit Monkey and said, “Little monkey, just wait for me to come back, I promise you won’t lose out.”
“Squeak—” Duobao Spirit Monkey turned its head away from Bao Gu.
Bao Gu wrinkled her nose and said, “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure to take everything with me, even the soil!”
Duobao Spirit Monkey’s eyes lit up, it “squeaked” excitedly, its eyes rolling around, and it agilely jumped onto Bao Gu’s shoulder.
Suddenly, a concept emerged in Bao Gu’s mind, not a sound nor a word, but a kind of consciousness, more like an instinct, or perhaps an instinctual divine ability.
Move mountains and seas!
How to perform the “Great Divine Ability of Moving Mountains and Seas” clearly emerged in Bao Gu’s mind, as if she had memorized it countless times.
She knew this was Duobao Spirit Monkey imprinting the divine ability into her memory to teach her.
She also understood why Duobao Spirit Monkey could steal so cleanly!
Bao Gu was somewhat amused because she was currently only at the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining stage, and this divine ability was given to her, but she couldn’t unleash its power.
Duobao Spirit Monkey seemed to sense what Bao Gu was thinking, patted her head as encouragement, then let out a long “squeak” and leaped to a spot not far from the Ancient Ruins, eagerly watching Bao Gu.
Bao Gu followed Pavilion Master Lu to the outside of the Ancient Ruins and saw that the area was already crowded with people.
Although those going to the Ancient Ruins were cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage, these cultivators were the best of the best selected by various sects.
Not to mention the distant ones, just looking at the identities of Lu Wendao and the girl named Hong Chen brought by Pavilion Master Lu, one could tell.
Xuan Tian Sect had only one token, wasn’t it given to Nan Yi?
Nan Yi!
Bao Gu suddenly remembered this “traitorous spy.”
Nan Yi had a token for the Ancient Ruins, allowing him entry.
She wondered if he would enter the Ancient Ruins and whether she would encounter him.
Pavilion Master Lu greeted people non-stop along the way, this sect leader, that sect master, elders, all prominent figures.
Looking at the young talents accompanying these figures, each one appeared extraordinary.
Bao Gu thought her body full of Nascent Soul stage magical treasures was impressive enough, but comparing herself to these dazzling, almost celestial-like cultivators from major sects and families, she felt like a country rich man compared to city elites.
It made sense, after all, entering the Ancient Ruins meant being cut off from the outside world.
If someone was killed inside, the outside wouldn’t even notice, and the death would be in vain.
Looking at these people, each more precious than a lump of gold, how could their backers afford to let them be killed?
They competed in wealth, bestowing a plethora of protective treasures on their direct descendants.
Bao Gu thought she was rich enough, walking among the crowd should have drawn admiring glances.
But unexpectedly, those prominent figures only briefly glanced at her before moving on, and their golden lumps of followers looked at her sideways, occasionally throwing disparaging remarks her way.
“A mere orphan from a broken rice shop…”
“Just got a broken monkey, huh, treating it like a treasure…”
“Enough already, what’s there to discuss about a minor sect?”
“Xuan Tian Sect is now clinging to Qing Feng Pavilion, giving them some face.”
“I heard she’s also clinging to Nanshan Yijian’s leg, isn’t Nanshan Yijian crazy?”
“He was crazy, that’s why she took him away. If Nanshan Yijian regains his senses and realizes he’s been used by Xuan Tian Sect, there’ll be a good show to watch.”
Bao Gu heard these snippets of conversation from the young talents of the cultivation world, meant for her to overhear, and muttered to herself, “Stringing these gossips’ tongues together and wrapping them around Xuan Yue Ancient City a hundred and eighty times would probably still leave some to spare.”
Lu Wendao, who had been maintaining a mature demeanor behind Pavilion Master Lu, suddenly chuckled at her words, then cautiously glanced at Pavilion Master Lu before resuming his composed demeanor.
