Chapter 1578 - 1533: Salted Fish Turnaround 4

"Nonsense."

Fairy Ziyun pulled Anning aside: "What Daoist couple nonsense, you can’t just randomly form a Daoist union. First, you must be of one heart and mind. During the union, both parties’ Divine Souls merge. If you don’t absolutely trust the person, it’s hard to accomplish this, and there may be danger. Besides, the difference in cultivation between you and Yuan’er is too great; you can’t form a union at all."

"Yes." Chi Hezi nodded: "Ningning, your master is right. You can’t just form a Daoist union with anyone you see. Don’t just grab a handsome man and insist on forming a Daoist couple."

"I’m not doing it randomly."

Anning blinked her eyes. Taking advantage of the situation, she broke free from Ziyun, and in an instant, found herself next to her senior brother, nearly clinging to him: "Senior brother and I are destined. As soon as I saw him, I knew he was my Daoist partner. It’s okay if our cultivation levels are different; I’ll just cultivate well from today."

"That’s still not acceptable."

Fairy Ziyun, exasperated, went over and pulled Anning hard.

Anning cried and clamored, insisting on clinging to her senior brother: "Brother, I want to be with you; I don’t want to leave with my master."

Fairy Ziyun’s face turned purple with anger.

Seeing Anning crying so sorrowfully, Chi Hezi felt a bit sympathetic.

He quietly advised Fairy Ziyun: "Senior sister, how about you go back first and let Ningning stay with me for a while? Perhaps she’s just intrigued for the moment, and it’ll pass in a few days."

As he said this, he winked at Fairy Ziyun, using the method of secret transmission, he whispered: "Don’t forget, Ningning hates hardship. She can’t calm down to cultivate, let alone seclude for decades for a man."

That indeed is the case.

Fairy Ziyun calmed down now.

Her face stern, she asked Anning: "Do you really want to be with your senior brother?"

Anning quickly nodded: "Yes, yes, I really like senior brother. I want to be with him."

"What does Yuan’er say?"

Ziyun asked the senior brother.

A faint smile appeared on the senior brother’s face: "Just let Junior Sister stay by my side. I’ll guide her well."

Ziyun nodded: "Very well, you’ve always been dependable. Let Ningning stay by your side for now, and you take good care of her."

"Yes." The senior brother bowed as a gesture of respect.

Chi Hezi then asked the senior brother: "Yuan’er, are you ready for the tribulation?"

"I’m prepared. I’ll find a place to undergo the tribulation in a few days."

Ziyun and Qing Song spoke simultaneously: "We’ll act as your protectors."

"Thank you, masters." The senior brother bowed again, then embraced Anning.

Chi Hezi thought for a moment: "Alright, then we’ll leave you to your own devices."

He took the lead and vanished instantly.

After Ziyun and the others left the back mountain,

When only Anning and the senior brother were left outside the cave mansion, Anning tightly hugged him: "Finally found you, and I also found a reason to strive forward."

As it turned out, this senior brother was Xiao Yuan.

He picked Anning up and headed into the cave mansion: "It’s so good to see you right after coming out of seclusion."

The two entered the cave mansion, and An Xin came out to greet Xiao Yuan, then disappeared again.

Anning asked Xiao Yuan: "What’s going on with you?"

Xiao Yuan shook his head: "I’m not entirely sure, but the original didn’t face any serious issues. He likely didn’t survive the Nascent Soul Tribulation, so I took over this body."

Anning sent a thread of her Divine Soul to probe Xiao Yuan’s body: "This body has suffered some hidden wounds; undergoing the tribulation will be tough."

Xiao Yuan smiled: "It’s alright, I’m confident."

"But I’m still a bit worried."

After all, the Nascent Soul Tribulation is the first major Heavenly Thunder tribulation on a cultivator’s path, really hard to overcome, and one misstep could be fatal.

Anning supported her chin with her hand, pondering for a long while before snapping her fingers: "Got it."

"What?"

Xiao Yuan was taken aback.

Anning smiled, cupping Xiao Yuan’s face: "A lightning rod. Did you think the ancients were fools, not knowing how to utilize such a good tool?"

Xiao Yuan chuckled: "No need to trouble yourself so much."

"Yes, absolutely necessary."

Anning, decisive, stood up and began searching the cave for materials: "When is your tribulation? I need to hurry and make a lightning rod."

Xiao Yuan also stood up and embraced her from behind: "No rush; we haven’t been together in a long time. Can you help me out first, alright?"

He picked Anning up and carried her to a prepared bedroom, gently laying her on the bed.

The news from Cang Mountain Sect travels fast.

Many disciples knew that Senior Sister Yu had fallen for the senior brother and was insisting on forming a Daoist couple with him.

This news, once spread, broke many hearts.

The senior brother was like an ice block, usually cool, aloof, and unapproachable. Despite his looks being decent, no female disciple in Cang Mountain Sect dared get close to him, let alone liked him.

There are plenty of male disciples in the sect, many being good-looking, whether they’re sunny and handsome, cold and glamorous, or gentle and warm. With so many disciples, who would hang onto that elder senior brother with an icy demeanor? Hence, the female disciples didn’t care much, though they felt sorry that Senior Sister Yu was so blind. Why not go for those young, pretty junior disciples instead of the old ice block?

After all, the senior brother was hundreds of years old, long past his prime, not as fresh and tender as those young disciples.

The female disciples only felt sorry, but the male disciples were genuinely upset.

Many couldn’t focus on cultivation, sneaking up to the senior brother’s cave mansion at Cangyan Peak in the rear mountain, hoping to ask Senior Sister Yu what she was thinking.

But they waited quite a while.

After two days, Anning finally emerged from Xiao Yuan’s cave mansion.

That fresh, pretty young girl seemed listless when she came out, making everyone who saw her feel sorry. But still, Anning looked so beautiful that it was hard to look away.

"Senior Sister Yu."

Seeing Anning emerge, many junior disciples gathered around.

Those junior disciples looked so aggrieved, their eyes all red.

"Senior Sister Yu, why did you choose the senior brother?"

"Senior Sister Yu, I like you. Choose me, please. I’ll work hard to cultivate. I’ll find you the best Spiritual Medicine and Spirit Plants."

"Senior Sister Yu, I’ll find you the prettiest Vestment robe. Choose me, please. I’ll treat you especially well and do anything you say."

"That’s right! Senior Brother’s so old; his skin definitely isn’t as nice. Look at my skin, how good and tender it is."

"Senior Brother’s older and won’t understand you as I do. We’re about the same age and can talk about the same things."

Anning’s original self was not only pretty but also had a particularly good nature, getting along well with the junior disciples. Therefore, the disciples would say anything in front of her, never avoiding speaking their minds.

Anning wore a gentle smile, listening as the junior disciples confessed one by one: "I know you’re all great. I’m aware of your feelings, but I just like the senior brother. Even if he’s not good, I still like him. What can I do?"

"Ahem..."

A heavy cough came from behind Anning.

Xiao Yuan, dressed in a white robe with his hair loose, stood at the entrance of the cave mansion.

His eyes coldly scanned the group: "What? All so free? Not cultivating? Do you want me to spar with you?"

"Senior Brother, I haven’t watered the Spiritual Medicine yet. I must hurry to the Medicine Garden."

"Senior Brother, my master’s cave mansion isn’t tidied yet. I need to get to work."

"My master’s Alchemy Furnace isn’t cleaned yet. I must..."

Suddenly, the group of junior disciples dispersed like birds and beasts.

Some brave ones still spoke to Anning as they left: "Senior Sister Yu, think it over. If you change your mind, find me."

"Senior Sister Yu, I’m keeping some Spiritual Medicine for you."

After the group of disciples left, Xiao Yuan walked up to Anning, filled with jealousy: "I didn’t expect our Junior Sister Yu to be so beloved. Look, there are quite a few junior disciples who like you, all so young and fresh..."

"Indeed." Anning smiled, nodding in agreement: "Aren’t they just fresh? So tender, really quite appetizing."