In truth, Yu Ci was breaking out in a cold sweat for the young girl.
Her cultivation level was ultimately a bit weak, and the living beings below were particularly active. She only managed to persevere for a short while, and her breathing had become significantly heavier. However, she surprisingly managed to maintain the rhythm of her breaths, even though her hands were shaking, the rhythm never changed.
"To have such willpower, this young girl is quite impressive. Shi Song's upbringing isn't too bad either."
Yu Ci slowly approached, but the young girl could no longer sense his presence. All her energy was focused on the fierce struggle with the living beings below, clearly in a predicament she couldn't easily escape from.
Suddenly, a roar echoed from below, startling the young girl. She quickly released the fishing rod in her hand, but it was too late. A Flying Monkey, common in the Sky Rift Valley, discovered the target above thanks to the tug on the fishhook. It flapped its meaty wings and shot upwards, followed by two more creatures eager to join the fray.
"Ah!"
The young girl tried to flee, but it was too late. Just as she was about to be swatted down by the Flying Monkey, a sudden flash of light appeared before her. It seemed like the mists of the Sky Rift Valley had surged forward, sweeping the Flying Monkey away. By the time she regained her senses, Yu Ci was standing in front of her, his Pure Yang Talisman Sword shining brilliantly, having just been withdrawn from the Flying Monkey's chest.
The body of the Flying Monkey, taller than a man, was kicked down. The two creatures that had followed hesitated, unsure whether to advance or retreat. Yu Ci had already decisively leapt off the cliff, his sword energy howling as he swiftly dispatched them.
The bodies, reeking of blood, plummeted down, undoubtedly triggering a fierce struggle among the living beings below. Yu Ci didn't care about what would happen below. With a few leaps, he was back on the cliff, even catching the fishing rod that the young girl had dropped.
"It's all because of you..."
The young girl had just recovered from her fright and needed someone to vent her frustration on. But upon seeing Yu Ci's smiling face, she deflated and muttered a quiet, "Thank you, Mr. Yu."
Her voice was softer than a mosquito's hum.
After this incident, the two of them finally had a reason to talk. They sat side by side on the edge of the cliff, their legs dangling in the mist, as if washing their feet in a clear stream. It was quite pleasant.
The young girl bravely admitted her mistake. The "Soul Fishing Technique" she had used should not have been used here. In fact, she had only practiced in deep pools with a few big fishes before. This time, she wanted to show off in front of Yu Ci, but nearly lost her life in the process.
Of course, she didn't forget to defend her sect's method:
"Just because I failed, doesn't mean our Thousands Spirits Sect is a failure! When my grandfather demonstrated the Soul Fishing Technique, it was right here on the Sky Rift Valley. He cast a hundred feet of fishing line, extending ten miles. Below, at least a thousand powerful creatures gathered, but my grandfather fished them up one by one, obediently!"
Yu Ci laughed upon hearing this.
Of course they were obedient. Miss Shi's grandfather, the Clan Leader of the Thousands Spirits Sect, Shi Song, was a renowned Middle Stage of Golden Elixir cultivator. His strength ranked among the top five in Cliff City. For him, this kind of task was as easy as catching a fish with his bare hands.
However, he still comforted the little girl a few words, and teased her, "Look at those people in the sky, all scared enough by you. Let's make a bet, within a quarter of an hour, your Elder Cheng will rush over... Believe it or not?"
The little girl shrugged her head, too scared to answer.
Yu Ci had long noticed Shi Xin being followed by the escort of the Thousands Spirits Sect, riding the same Blood Eagle, trailing from afar. When she flew down, the other party hesitated for a moment, but in the end, they just hovered above. When the little girl was in danger just now, they rushed over without regard for their lives. Even though it ended up being a false alarm, those few people were almost on the verge of collapse. They would never let the little girl act recklessly again.
In fact, it was not just Cheng Rong who was attracted over.
The Thousands Spirits Sect's method of Soul Attachment was quite famous. They were high above, without intentionally hiding their tracks. Everyone within a hundred miles should have seen it clearly. After that action, those who were slightly more curious would come to see, not to mention the people of White Sun Mansion who were now as crazy as mad dogs.
Calculating the time, it should be about half an hour away.
As he was calculating, the little girl had passed her period of depression. She stole a glance at his expression and carefully said, "Mr. Yu, the White Sun Mansion is looking for you."
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Yu Ci swung his legs contentedly and laughed, "Aren't they planning to kill me?"
Seeing his nonchalant attitude, the little girl relaxed a lot, but she was still a bit worried, "But they are also very powerful, um, yes, there is also the Soul Search Mirror."
Once she started talking, the little girl couldn't stop. She chattered about everything she had seen and heard yesterday, even adding some "intelligence" she had obtained from asking Cheng Rong. She seemed to be a very competent little spy.
Most of this Yu Ci already knew, but he still expressed his sincere thanks. It was the first time the little girl had heard him say "thank you", and she was a bit dizzy with happiness, giggling with joy.
From this point, the conversation between the two extended. Yu Ci talked about some matters of the Twin Immortal Sect, earning the little girl's admiration and sympathy. He also talked about his experiences as a wanderer, satisfying the little girl's curiosity about an adventurous life. The little girl initially tried to act mature, discussing the situation in Cliff City, but gradually revealed her true nature.
"I don't like the name Shi Xin, it's ugly and not catchy..."
"I think it's quite good, uh, if not, I'll just call you Little Nine girl... or, how about Little Nine?"
In one sentence, he changed her name three times, finally earning a bright smile from the little girl. Afterwards, "Little Nine" was in high spirits, her words started to lean towards cats and dogs. Of course, the pets collected by Miss Shi were all extraordinary, something that ordinary girls of the same age couldn't even imagine.
Yu Ci listened with a beaming smile, not showing the slightest hint of impatience. In fact, he truly enjoyed hearing these tales, they were about a world he had never ventured into, yet had always longed for.
"…Old Bai was a gift from Second Grandfather, but he only gave me that one. It was during my full moon celebration, I don't even remember it. Second Grandfather is very young, even younger than my father. He looks about the same age as Mr. Yu, just not as handsome."
Little Nine's intentions were good, but her description left Yu Ci both amused and exasperated. The "Second Grandfather" she referred to was Hu Dan, the top master of the Thousands Spirits Sect. He was once a prominent figure in Cliff City, achieving the Golden Elixir at a young age. He then teamed up with Shi Song, the leader of the Thousands Spirits Sect, to fight Jin Huan, the Master of the White Sun Mansion. Although they were ultimately defeated, it did not tarnish his reputation.
"Second Grandfather is the most powerful master in the sect, but I rarely see him. I heard he spends most of his time outside, cultivating, trying to find a way to deal with Jin Huan. Both my grandfather and Second Grandfather, no, everyone in the sect is trying to find a solution, but so far, nothing has worked."
The little girl sighed like an adult. The White Sun Mansion, despite its name meaning "daylight," was like a thick, oppressive cloud hanging over the Thousands Spirits Sect, making it hard for them to breathe.
The time for the "cloud" to descend was almost upon them.
Yu Ci then asked with a smile, "Do you dislike the White Sun Mansion?"
"Yes."
The little girl responded matter-of-factly, "My father told me that a long time ago, before I was born, when Second Grandfather had just broken through to the Golden Elixir Stage, that villain Jin Huan saw Second Grandfather as a threat. Fearing that he would be surpassed one day, he challenged us to a fight when Second Grandfather was still unstable from his breakthrough. As a result, Second Grandfather was severely injured at a crucial meridian point. It took him years to recover, but his cultivation level has been delayed... That villain, I hate him the most!"
Phrases like "a threat" and "unstable from his breakthrough" were clearly not the little girl's own words, but rather, they were the result of years of hearing others describe the situation. It seemed that the grudge between the Thousands Spirits Sect and the White Sun Mansion was even deeper than Yu Ci had originally imagined, considering that even seven or eight-year-old children were exposed to such stories.
However, with such a White Sun Mansion and such a Thousands Spirits Sect, are they genuinely engaged in cultivation, or are they merely vying for territory?
Although Yu Ci sighed inwardly, a smile was painted on his face. "Is that so? Well, you better prepare to leave too, so as to avoid bumping into those you find distasteful."
"Eh?"
The little girl was taken aback once again. At this moment, the airborne escort of the Thousands Spirits Sect, who had been hovering high in the sky, could no longer hold back. They sent out messages while steering the Blood Eagle to descend, evidently noticing the movements of the White Sun Mansion.
In reality, unless Jin Huan decided to fall out with the Thousands Spirits Sect right then, there was no way he would harm Little Nine. However, years of familial teachings made the little girl exceptionally anxious. She started to clumsily gather her things and whistled for the distant Blood Eagle to come over.
Yu Ci watched with an amused smile. Compared to the little girl's panic, he seemed so relaxed that it was almost irritating. Little Nine also noticed the man's nonchalant attitude.
"Mr. Yu..." She was somewhat puzzled. "Shouldn't we leave quickly?"
"I still need to gather herbs. Remember, I mentioned that this was my purpose for coming here."
His response was somewhat cryptic, but the message was clear.
"But there are many people over there."
The little girl said so, but in her heart, she was very much looking forward to it.
Children, with their relatively simple minds, do not have a clear concept of strength or weakness. Having seen the nine bodies on both sides of the snowy stream in the valley, and hearing the high praise from various powers, she naturally developed feelings of admiration. These feelings, which should have been directed towards her elders, fell onto Yu Ci. And Yu Ci's response did not disappoint her:
"They? Let them come find me in the Sky Rift Valley. I'll make sure to give them a warm welcome."
With that, he gently picked up the little girl, placed her on the eagle's back, and checked her safety equipment again. Then, with a smile, he waved her off. Throughout all this, Little Nine did not resist, her face flushed with embarrassment.
At this point, the escort of the Thousands Spirits Sect had descended to a height of about ten meters, while the men of the White Sun Mansion had moved within twenty miles, separated from them by a hill. As for Cheng Rong, he was still fifty miles away, rushing towards them.
Yu Ci waved again as Little Nine's Blood Eagle took off, soaring into the sky. On the eagle's back, the little girl was still practicing her sword-wielding posture, shouting loudly, "Mr. Yu, give it your all!"
"Little girl, they must have heard that!"
Yu Ci scratched his head in amusement, watched the men of the White Sun Mansion crest the hill, and smiled. Then, without a second thought, he walked to the edge of the cliff and jumped.
***************
I have also posted the following more chapters [All free] on: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e