Chapter 417 - 398: Our Guixi Sect’s Daily Life Has Finally Appeared

Chapter 417: Chapter 398: Our Guixi Sect’s Daily Life Has Finally Appeared

’What kind of miserable life had I been living before? I thought I was enduring the bitterest hardships to become the best... but what was the result? In the end, I discovered it was just endless hardship! Here, even the scraps they let slip through their fingers are enough for me to live on for a lifetime!’

Lin Qingfeng waved his hand, signaling for Su Ling’er to dispense with the formalities. "Alright, you may go. Continue on your path of tribulation. It’s time for your brother to find some mortal fare to fill my stomach."

"Yes! Eldest Senior Brother!"

Su Ling’er bowed respectfully again, clutching the bag of Spirit Stones in her hand. ’This is Eldest Senior Brother’s expectation of me!’

She turned and, with the three hundred-odd newcomers still in a state of shock, majestically departed from the Dining Pavilion.

’It’s do or die! I must! I must save them! I must help Eldest Senior Brother resolve these troubles!’

Lin Qingfeng watched the group’s departing figures, then glanced over at the corner of the Mortal Food Area.

’Whoa, the [Abyssal Squirming Brain] is doing that well today? They sold so much? Don’t tell me everyone ate that?’

He shook his head, paid it no more mind, and walked straight into the depths of the Dining Pavilion, calling out in a resonant voice, "Mr. Qian! Come! Open up private room number one for me!"

Meanwhile, Su Ling’er was already leading the three hundred-plus people back onto the sect’s paths.

Her mind was still racing, trying to figure out how to complete Eldest Senior Brother’s sacred mission.

’The class oppression at the Dining Pavilion failed... the cruel enslavement at the Spirit Beast Garden also failed... Where should I go next?’

’What if I take you all to the Sword Mound? When I first arrived, I personally saw Eldest Senior Brother execute an Evil Cultivator who tried to sneak attack him. Maybe we can try our luck there?’

「Half an hour later.」

The group stood atop a desolate hill of swords. Countless broken blades were stuck askew among the jagged rocks, and the wind whistled as it passed, creating a mournful hum.

But... where was everyone?

Aside from a few iron-shelled beetles gnawing on ore slag, the entire Sword Mound was as deserted as an abandoned machine parts factory.

’...It seems the Sword Qi is too potent today. How about we try our luck at the Artifact Refining Pavilion?’

But when they arrived at the Artifact Refining Pavilion, there was still no sign of anyone being sacrificed.

Su Ling’er gritted her teeth, a new wind at her heels, and led the group toward the Alchemy Pavilion.

The newcomers trailing behind her were beginning to feel physically exhausted, but as they watched Su Ling’er’s back, their ideological fervor once again took hold.

’Could it be that Miss Su is leading us past each building without entering to help us comprehend a state of mind that is focused and untempted by the world?!’

’Miss Su is so painstakingly thoughtful! She must be afraid that the Daoist rhythm inside would overwhelm our spiritual senses if we went in directly. That’s why she’s tirelessly taking us on this roundabout path. She’s helping us acclimate to the sect’s profound nature!’

The undercover agents were also somewhat bewildered by the Senior Sister’s actions.

’Is there some kind of profound Guixi Sect Array hidden here? It’s clearly right in front of us, yet we have to take a winding, convoluted path to get there?’

Just as the group was passing a patch of forest, an orange shadow suddenly darted through the undergrowth.

Su Ling’er had sharp eyes and immediately spotted a fluffy ball of fur.

Taking a closer look, she saw it was a small, pure-orange cat, a "Round-Headed Elder Cat."

The cat had an exceptionally unique appearance. Its round head looked like a little orange meat bun, and its two small ears were pressed flat back in a standard "airplane ears" pose, which only made its head look rounder.

Its small mouth was tightly shut, forming a perfect "W" shape, making it look both adorable and endearingly silly—a perfect model for a cute pet.

Su Ling’er frowned in confusion.

’Since when did the sect have this kind of spirit beast?’

She extended her Divine Sense to investigate but found she couldn’t probe the cat’s depth. Frustrated by a full day of failed "discouragement" tasks, the sight of this cat sparked an impulse to "touch it, pet it."

Seeing that their Senior Sister seemed interested in the beast, the newcomers behind her immediately began to shower it with thunderous flattery.

"Look! Is that Miss Su’s personal divine beast?"

"Look at that perfectly round head! It must have cultivated some kind of perfection-realm Cultivation Technique!"

"My, this spirit cat is exceptionally divine! Judging by its color, it must be condensed from the essence of Li Fire! And look at those airplane ears—that’s a sign it’s always ready to ride the wind!"

Su Ling’er paid them no mind, instead pondering the cat’s origins.

’Could this really be a treasure from the Spirit Beast Garden? It looks so cute, a little pat shouldn’t hurt, right?’

She extended a jade-like finger, slowly approaching the "Round-Headed Elder Cat."

However, just as her fingertip was about to touch that soft orange fur—

"HISS!!—SPIT!!!"

The adorable pet from a second ago instantly turned feral, launching a hissing attack!

Its small, W-shaped mouth flew open, revealing a set of fine, sharp fangs, and it hissed furiously at Su Ling’er!

Its once-cute eyes turned incredibly fierce, its airplane ears pressed even tighter, and the cat arched its back, raising a paw with its little bean-pads, and swiped at Su Ling’er’s hand in a deadly, rapid-fire assault!

It looked ferocious, foolish, and vicious all at once, yet it was filled with a savage aura.

Su Ling’er reacted in a flash. With a flick of her wrist, she dodged the surprise attack.

An awkward, dead silence fell over the area.

The crowd behind her, who had been preparing a second round of over-the-top compliments, found the words stuck in their throats.

"Er... this... this spirit beast... certainly has a unique personality, huh?"

"Fairy... this cat... doesn’t seem to recognize its master?"

Su Ling’er felt her palms sweating profusely.

’This cat is so deceptively powerful! It looks so round and cute, but it’s so violent and fierce on the inside!’

Seeing its attack miss, the feral cat let out another "HISS" at the crowd before diving into the bushes and disappearing.

Su Ling’er turned and gave the awkward crowd a cold look.

"What were you all just saying?"

"N-no... nothing! We were saying... where are we going next!"

’We’re doomed. Our flattery completely backfired. Is Miss Su going to hold a grudge? Please tell me she didn’t actually hear us.’

Su Ling’er took a deep breath, forcing herself to maintain her aloof demeanor. "That was... that was a Phantom Spirit of the sect, specifically used to test whether you would be deceived by appearances. It seems your performance just now has left me... very disappointed!"

Everyone: ’Was this all a test?! Are you sure you weren’t just rejected trying to pet a cat and are now desperately trying to save face?’

After that, Su Ling’er led the group once more on a seemingly aimless, looping journey.

The setting sun bathed the sect’s pavilions and towers in a golden light. Immortal cranes returned to their nests, the Spiritual Spring tinkled, and the evening breeze carried the fresh scent of grass and trees.

Everything seemed so tranquil, so beautiful.

But it was precisely this beauty that caused Su Ling’er’s heart to sink, bit by bit, to the very bottom.

She led a flock of equally bewildered followers, wandering through this demonic sect that was the complete opposite of her perception, her steps feeling hollow and weak.

Every turn was accompanied by the shattering of another hope.

’Why... why is it like this?’

’Where did all the blood and cruelty I remember go? Have the figures I remember wailing in agony all dissipated into this peace and harmony?’

’Could it be... could it be that I’m really destined to fail Eldest Senior Brother’s expectations? I can’t even handle a few cats, a few pots of flowers, or a few bowls of brain. What right do I have... to be their guide?’

Her pace grew slower and heavier. She had even prepared for the worst.

She would lead this group on one final loop. If she still couldn’t find anything that would make them not dare to stay, then she would have no choice but to... but to...

Just as she was about to go for broke, they passed the martial arts arena.

"BOOM—!!"

The sound of clashing Spiritual Power, accompanied by a shout, suddenly erupted from the arena.

’What’s happening?’

Su Ling’er glanced over, feeling somewhat numb.

However, that one glance caused her clear, already dim eyes to instantly erupt with astonishing brilliance!

In the center of the martial arts arena, two Guixi Sect disciples were fighting in full swing, surrounded by a circle of fellow disciples who loved a good spectacle.

One of them moved with an elegant Body Technique, his techniques dazzlingly flashy.

He formed hand seals, and behind him, a phantom of the Thunder God, formed from lightning, materialized. Arcs of electricity crackled around it, its presence shockingly powerful!

"Hahaha, see what I just learned? This is true Daoist magic! Flashiness is king!!!"

He pushed his palms forward, and the lightning demon god let out a roar, pressing down on his opponent with the force of a thousand thunderbolts!

The newcomers behind Su Ling’er were captivated by the cool special effects in the arena.

"Is this how immortals battle? It’s so cool!"

"That senior brother is so strong! He can actually manifest a Thunderbolt Dharma Body behind him! With a move like that, the other senior brother is probably going to lose, right?"

Su Ling’er’s heart also tightened as she watched. The move was grand and truly imposing!

But his opponent, facing this attack, appeared plain and simple.

He merely drew a black greatsword... the size of a door panel... from his back.

He took a deep breath, raised the greatsword over his head, and in an extremely constipated-looking posture, poured all his Spiritual Power into it.

"You still love playing with all that flashy nonsense...!"

A magnificent Thunder God Dharma Body versus a simple two-handed greatsword. The outcome seemed obvious.

However—

Just as the lightning demon god was about to touch its opponent, the greatsword in his hands finally came down!

"VMMMM—!"

A black ray of Sword Qi flashed and vanished!

The incredibly majestic-looking Thunder God Dharma Body, upon contact with the black Sword Qi, instantly disintegrated into a sky full of light motes!

"What?!" The triumphant smile on the first disciple’s face froze instantly.

And the black Sword Qi, after shattering the demon god, continued onward with undiminished force, striking him squarely in the chest!

"PUFF—!"

The "special effects warrior" was struck as if by lightning. His protective spiritual light shattered instantly, and his entire body was sent flying backward. Half his torso was charred black, and he coughed up a torrent of blood!

He collapsed limply in a pool of blood, his breath faint. It looked like he wasn’t going to make it!

Brutal!

Bloody!

Undeniable internecine strife among Evil Cultivators!

Su Ling’er was also a bit stunned watching this.

’Seriously, Senior Brother, you made such an awesome-looking entrance, how could you be so fragile in a real fight? Oh, wait, now is not the time to think about that. Did you see that?! This is the daily life in my Guixi Sect!’

’A competition between fellow disciples, with no mercy shown! You either die or get crippled!! The weak don’t even deserve to breathe here!!!’

’I got it! I finally got it! This is the demonic sect you were looking for! Now run!!’