Yan Nie observed Gan Xuehua throughout the tournament. He really didn’t know what to say about Gan Xuehua’s luck. Aside from the first few matches, it appeared as if the world had bent over for her. She got extremely lucky with her opponents. If he didn’t know it was impossible, he would have thought Tianyi arranged all this preferential treatment.
Oh, he could see that Tianyi gave her preferential treatment. Only of the worse kind. If people didn’t know the inside story, they would have thought Tianyi deliberately sabotaged her.
After the tournament ended, he sent a private message to Gan Xuehua’s Xiyinet account. For people like them, this should be the most convenient method. And after the Gan Dynasty’s banquet, Yan Nie appeared in front of Gan Xuehua. He didn’t say anything and took a closer look at her.
“I wonder what Senior summoned me here for?” Gan Xuehua asked after she couldn’t hold it anymore. ‘It couldn’t be because he saw my beauty and wanted a taste?’
If Yan Nie knew of Gan Xuehua’s thoughts, he would have slapped her. Maybe not to death, but she’d definitely be puking blood. Luckily, he didn’t, so she dodged a bullet. Instead, he held up the Xiyi talisman in his hand. “For people like us, the inspiration for these Xiyi Talismans should be more than familiar, right?”
Gan Xuehua’s heart skipped a beat. Was Yan Nie also like her and Xi Ri?
Still, Gan Xuehua did not rashly admit it. “I wonder if Senior can clarify what you mean.”
“You’re careful enough. As expected of someone who survived the apocalypse,” Yan Nie said, not angry at Gan Xuehua’s response.
His words pretty much confirmed Gan Xuehua’s confirmation, but it also made her feel a bit helpless. She was someone who liked to hold the initiative. She’d rather not be able to contact Xi Ri and fail than be in the current situation. Still, nothing could be done about it now.
“How many are there?” Gan Xuehua asked.
“There should be six, including you, but one of them is an enemy.”
“Is Xi Ri one of them?” Although it was a question, there was a definite certainty in Gan Xuehua’s tone. As for one being an enemy, that didn’t surprise her. It wasn’t camaraderie that tied people together in the apocalypse, but interests. For interests, a person could even betray the ones closest to them. Such was the harshness of the apocalypse.
“Well, it is a bit obvious,” Yan Nie said. “But why didn’t you think Xi Tianyi was one of us?”
“He doesn’t feel like one of us,” Gan Xuehua said.
“Yeah, he’s quite the lucky son of a bitch.” Gan Xuehua raised a questioning look, but Yan Nie didn’t mean to clarify. He was also surprised when he learned of it. He senses the same air of a survivor on Daoyi, but Tianyi didn’t have such an aura. Later, he learned that Tianyi didn’t experience the apocalypse because he died early on. And he even reincarnated into an exalted status. How could he not be envious? "Anyway, do you know the reason I contacted you?”
Gan Xuehua shook her head.
“It’s because you are a reincarnated person like us, and all reincarnated people possess a high chance of becoming an immortal. Our bodies may not be suitable, but our souls are far stronger and purer than the people of the Three Thousand Immortal Realms System. The stronger the soul, the more suitable we are to comprehending the worldly laws,” Yan Nie said.
“Three Thousand Immortal Realms System?”
“You can think of it as the galaxy the Huang Realm exists in,” Yan Nie said. “Long story short, you can consider it an alliance of people with similar origins. You can only truly join when you transcend the Immortal Ascension Heavenly Tribulation.”
“Then is Xi Ri not a full member?”
“His situation is a bit special. If he didn’t have an accident, he would have likely already become a true immortal.”
Gan Xuehua frowned. “Then what’s the point of contacting me now?”
Yan Nie smiled. “Even if you can’t become a full member now, it does not prevent some aid. We won’t give you too many resources, but some cultivation methods and techniques that exceed what a third-rate force could provide are still possible.”
“Is there a catch?” Gan Xuehua asked.
“Of course,” Yan Nie said. “This is an investment, and you will have to contribute back to the organization in the future.”
Seeing that Yan Nie didn’t elaborate, Gan Xuehua didn’t press it. In reality, Yan Nie didn’t know what their organization did. There really wasn’t anything that could threaten them and no urgent goals that needed to be accomplished, but he couldn’t reveal the truth.
“Since I’ve confirmed your status, then your beginner package will be delivered soon.” Yan Nie chuckled upon seeing Gan Xuehua’s strange face. “Actually, there is a method to get a better cultivation method and more resources.”
Gan Xuehua’s heart tensed, but she still asked. “What is it?”
“One of our members wants the fragment of the Spectral Rising Jewel in your hand. They are willing to satisfy any of your needs as long as it’s not too much.”
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She resisted the urge to reach for the Spectral Rising Jewel fragment. The Spectral Rising Jewel was likely the reason why she swapped bodies with the thirteenth princess, and she didn’t know what would happen if she returned it. “Can I ask why? I know this fragment is special, but why would a true immortal want it?”
“Aside from the fact that it’s a fragment of a divine artifact? The person’s parent was originally part of the Xu Clan, the original owner of the Spectral Rising Jewel.”
Gan Xuehua’s heart tensed even more. “Is that really the reason? We aren’t true denizens of this place, but outsiders.”
“I don’t know. That person only told me to ask, but I suggest you agree. It seemed that person cares quite a lot about it.”
Gan Xuehua didn’t believe that the person wanting the Spectral Rising Jewel fragment really cared about the familial ties. How could a person still care after experiencing those hellish days? Still, it was a fact that a fellow reincarnator coveted the fragment in her hands. “Do I have to hand it over now? It’s important to me.”
Yan Nie frowned. “How long do you expect to keep it?”
“If possible, until I become a true immortal,” Gan Xuehua said.
“You aren’t thinking about going back on your word once you become a true immortal, are you?” Yan Nie asked. He wasn’t suspicious for no reason. People breaking their promises happened all the time during the apocalypse. “I’ll warn you right now that any of us can kill you, even after you become a true immortal. And don’t think about hiding. You cannot escape our reach in the Huang Realm.”
“Except Xi Ri,” Yan Nie added as an afterthought.
Gan Xuehua wasn’t surprised by Yan Nie’s question. She, too, would be suspicious if someone answered like that. “For reasons I cannot explain, I don’t want to part with it until then.”
Yan Nie didn’t answer for the time being. “I’ll add you to the private chat group, and you can discuss it with them.”
A minute later, Gan Xuehua opened her Xiyi Talisman to see a notification telling her that she had joined the Samsara Travelers Chat Group. There were only four members, not including her. Her lips twitched upon reading three of the nicknames: Flame-On, Ultimate Young Master, and Spider Idol. Only Xi Ri’s username appeared normal, since it was only Saint Xi, denoting his current cultivation base. However, it was darkened, meaning that his online status was set as busy.
Ultimate Young Master: Welcome.
Spider Idol: Welcome.
Gan Xuehua hesitated for a moment, but she still sent a message.
Rookie #69: Hello, thank you for inviting me.
Her brows furrowed when she read her name. She immediately tried to change it, but discovered that she couldn’t. Only when she became a full-time member could she change it. Gan Xuehua looked at Yan Nie to express her dissatisfaction, but Yan Nie shrugged.
Yan Nie looked at his Xiyi Talisman and wrote a series of message with his immortal sense before sending. Gan Xuehua felt a notification popped up, and her lips couldn’t help but twitch again. ‘Why are sending me a message through the Xiyi Talisman while I’m right in front of you?’
Flame-On: I’m only an ordinary admin on this chat. If you want to change your nickname before becoming an official member, you have to ask the admin, Ultimate Young Master.
Ultimate Young Master: No, every newbie must get that nickname. Of course, if you find another potential reincarnator and add them to this chat, you can transfer the nickname.
‘Where would I find another reincarnator?’ Gan Xuehua thought. It was already surprising that aside from Xi Ri, there were three more people like her. Furthermore, since Ultimate Young Master was the admin, she had a feeling that he was also an immortal monarch, and one likely stronger than Yan Nie.
If two immortal monarchs could, they would have likely gathered more. Where would she, a mere core formation master, go find another reincarnator?
Gan Xuehua couldn’t help but guess Ultimate Young Master’s true identity. In her eyes, it must be someone with a deep connection with Yan Nie and be part of the Immortal Court. However, she was just a mortal cultivator of a third-rate force, so she didn’t have enough information.
Rookie #69: The naming isn’t that important. I can still accept it for now. I heard that you want to get the Spectral Rising Jewel fragment in my hand.
Ultimate Young Master: That’s right.
Gan Xuehua’s eyes flickered. It seemed like Ultimate Young Master was the one who wanted the divine fragment. He was likely born of a member of the Xu Clan and an elder of the Immortal Court from hundreds of years ago. The Xu Clan perished hundreds of years ago, so he should be someone born around that time.
The only people she could think of that fit the bill were Yan Nie and Xi Tianyi. It couldn’t be Xi Tianyi, right?
She immediately dismissed it. Although Xi Tianyi’s father was unknown, he was the son of the Sword Sovereign. How could a member of the Xu Clan get together with Xi Mengfei? And even if they did, would Xi Mengfei watch the Xu Clan perish without doing anything?
The most likely candidate was an immortal monarch pretending to be a true immortal. Gan Xuehua approved of this tactic of pretending to be a pig to eat the tiger. Only by hiding your strength can you survive longer. However, she also hated to deal with this type of person, because they always think too much.
Ultimate Young Master: What do you want for it? If you hand it over, I can give you an immortal artifact right now.
Gan Xuehua’s heartbeat quickened, but she quickly suppressed it.
Rookie #69: I’m afraid of attracting danger if people discovered I have it.
Ultimate Young Master: I can conceal the aura so that no true immortal or immortal monarch will easily be able to discover it, but there is still a chance. If artifacts don’t work, what about immortal pills?
Gan Xuehua tried to recall any rising stars in the field of alchemy. Aside from Yan Nie, she really couldn’t think of anyone else.
Rookie #69: I really can’t trade it right now. Are you able to wait until I cross my Immortal Ascension Heavenly Tribulation?
There was no reply for a few minutes, making Gan Xuehua wait with bated breath.
Ultimate Young Master: That’s too long. And holding the Spectral Rising Jewel fragment increases the danger of your heavenly tribulation. What about when you become a saint?
Gan Xuehua eyes flickered as she considered the proposal. It would be best to exchange it after becoming a true immortal, but after she became a saint is fine, too. She wasn’t greedy for it. Although it attracted her, she also knew that fragments of divine artifacts also attracted the attention of powerful experts more than immortal artifacts.
Rookie #69: Okay
Ultimate Young Master: Okay, I’ll send you the beginner package. I’ve also unlocked the spatial storage function on your Xiyi Talisman. You can retrieve anything you store in the Xiyi Talisman even if you lose it after getting another one. I also sent a list of techniques and resources you can redeem for using points. After you use them up, you can only offer treasure or techniques to earn more points.
Gan Xuehua saw a notification appear that a gift had been sent to her inbox. She was about to open it, but stopped and looked at Yan Nie, who was looking curiously at her. “What’s wrong? Open it.”