22-25

Chapter 22

On the sidelines, Xu Wenyuan was overjoyed, looking up at Song Yueting and saying, "How about that? You look down on others with your short-sightedness. Does it hurt your face?"

Song Yueting glared fiercely at Xu Wenyuan, saying, "When a little person succeeds, men like you only care about appearances. I can't be bothered with you. Let's go." With that, Song Yueting and her companions swiftly departed, leaving Xu Wenyuan seething with anger.

"Goodness, what's with her attitude?"

Liang Qin patted Xu Wenyuan and advised, "Don't stoop to her level. She's just unable to accept others being better than her."

"Fine."

On the other side, Song Ruhai and the three elders returned to their respective residences. Upon returning, Song Ruhai immediately used a voice transmission talisman to call Song Chaoyun.

Before Song Chaoyun could even settle, Song Ruhai spoke, "Chaoyun, it's true that Song Zhixia has truly cultivated the fire-based single spiritual root and even established a foundation in such a short time. I think she might be useful to us. We have good relations with the Zhao family among the four major families in Linhai City. Should we further ally with the Tian family, it would make the Qin family our enemy, and Qin Xian's days would be numbered."

Furrowing his brows, Song Chaoyun questioned, "But what does this have to do with Song Zhixia?"

"You are unaware that Tian Yuelan, the head of the Tian family, dotes on her son and daughter. It's been said that her son, Tian Junjie, is quite flirtatious. So why don't we arrange for Song Zhixia to be betrothed to Tian Junjie? Despite Song Zhixia's damaged primordial spirit, her cultivation aptitude and appearance are both superior. I refuse to believe that Tian Junjie wouldn't be swayed." Song Ruhai said with a smile, as if he could easily win over the Tian family.

"However, Father, it may be difficult for Song Zhixia to heed our words now. After all, we haven't taken care of her since she returned to the Song family."

"What's so difficult about it? Women are naturally sensitive. I'll have your mother personally go and bring her here. After a few days of companionship, she will naturally fall in line. Besides, she's always with Song Weizhi every day, hindering you from getting close to her." Song Ruhai glanced at Song Chaoyun, and the two exchanged smiles.

At noon, the tranquil courtyard of Song Weizhi suddenly became chaotic as He Qingmei, who had not been seen for a long time, arrived. However, before the sect master's wife could step into Song Weizhi's courtyard, she was intercepted by Wei Zhao, who had appeared out of nowhere.

He Qingmei looked at Wei Zhao and demanded, "Who are you? How can you be in Weizhi's courtyard?"

Wei Zhao coldly glanced at He Qingmei and said, "That's none of your concern. This is my master's courtyard. Outsiders are not allowed in."

He Qingmei's veins bulged. After so many years in the Song family, she had never experienced such treatment. She immediately struck out at Wei Zhao, but Wei Zhao calmly accepted it, "Your cultivation might be impressive, but it's far from matching my master's."

Wei Zhao's words infuriated He Qingmei, but she realized that with her own cultivation, she couldn't gain the upper hand against this young woman. This was something she couldn't believe.

Realizing that she might not be able to win through force, He Qingmei suppressed her anger and said, "I am Weizhi's stepmother and the biological mother of Song Zhixia. If you don't believe me, you can ask them."

In fact, Song Weizhi had already heard the commotion outside. He Qingmei's arrival at this time was rather inexplicable, especially after Song Zhixia's extraordinary display of talent. It was obvious what her intentions were written all over her face. However, from a blood lineage standpoint, He Qingmei was indeed Song Zhixia's mother. Song Weizhi was afraid that her little bunny might fall into the wrong hands.

Soon, there was a knock on the door. Avoiding confrontation was not her style, and she couldn't help but retaliate against He Qingmei's attempts to disgust her. As Song Zhixia's stepmother, she really knew how to speak misleadingly, making Song Weizhi's whole body shiver. She was worried if her little bunny could withstand it.

When Song Weizhi went out, Song Zhixia had already arrived at the courtyard gate. Seeing that Song Zhixia had come out, He Qingmei immediately tried to grab her hand with a joyful smile, but Song Zhixia stepped back.

A crack appeared on He Qingmei's originally delighted face, but she quickly adjusted and said to Song Zhixia, "Zhixia, you have been home for quite some time. It's time to come back and live with us. Your father wanted to toughen you up by keeping you outside. Otherwise, how could you have the drive to catch up with others? Now, you have already proven your strength. Look, Mother has come to take you home."

Listening to this, Song Weizhi felt like laughing. He Qingmei was a real schemer; using such flowery words. It made Song Weizhi's whole body shiver. She was worried if her little bunny would be able to withstand this?

Just as Song Weizhi was anxiously thinking about Song Zhixia, the person in question spoke up, "Madam, there is no need. I am living well here and I do not want to move."

He Qingmei's face cracked again, and she said urgently, "Are you still blaming your mother and father? We truly didn't mean to mix up the two of you back then. You have no idea how much your mother blames herself. Your mother doesn't ask for your forgiveness, just for you to come home and let us take care of you."

"Madam, you are overthinking. I don't have the time to bear grudges against irrelevant people. Please, just leave." Song Zhixia said coldly, like a sacred and untouchable flower on the summit of a snow-capped mountain.

Watching Song Zhixia, Song Weizhi almost applauded her. She shouldn't have given pleasant treatment to such an old schemer!

"Zhixia, we really do want to compensate you. Would you like your mother to pour her heart out to you?" He Qingmei vividly acted out the scene. Even Song Weizhi wanted to applaud He Qingmei's performance. It was not easy!

However, the next moment, Song Zhixia said, "Alright, I'll see just how dark your hearts are. First, you abandoned me in the past, then on that day, you refused to acknowledge me. At the martial arts arena, if it weren't for my senior sister, I'm afraid I wouldn't be standing here to talk to you. Not to mention, when I competed with Zhao Gui, none of you believed that I relied on my own ability. Instead, you insisted I practiced forbidden techniques. Each of these incidents speaks volumes. I may not know the purpose of your visit, but based on these incidents, if Madam has thought of me, it's certainly not for a good reason."

He Qingmei's face turned red and white in turns, and she shouted, "Alright, Song Zhixia, you're asking for trouble!"

As she spoke, she struck out at Song Zhixia, but Song Weizhi promptly struck back. He Qingmei was forced to retreat more than ten steps, blood spilling from her mouth.

Veins popped on her forehead. "Song Weizhi, how dare you lay your hands on me! I'll make you regret it sooner or later."

"Regret? There's no need. I'm already regretting it enough." With that, she winked at Song Zhixia.

Song Zhixia didn't know what that meant and blinked innocently at Song Weizhi. She wondered if her senior sister had gotten something in her eye. She wasn't sure if it was something serious, but after this annoying person left, she would help her senior sister look, because having something in her eye was quite uncomfortable.

"Alright, Song Weizhi, you just wait and see. And you, Song Zhixia, one who refuses respect must face punishment. Let's go." He Qingmei led her retinue away from Song Weizhi's courtyard in a huff.

"Master, that old woman dared to insult you. Shouldn't I teach her a lesson?" Wei Zhao was enraged. She was there to protect her master, yet that woman had insulted not only her master but also her master's future partner. She really couldn't stand it.

Sighing, Song Weizhi looked at Wei Zhao and said, "Let's forget about it. We'll have to stay here for a while." Besides, He Qingmei was indeed Song Zhixia's mother by blood. However, Song Weizhi chose not to voice the second part of her thoughts.

Once she calmed down Wei Zhao, Song Zhixia approached her.

"Sister, I noticed you were blinking just now. Did something get into your eye? Do you want me to help you?" Song Zhixia sincerely asked with concern.

Seeing Song Zhixia's earnestness, Song Weizhi took a look at her and then returned to her room. Hadn't she winked just now? Her little bunny actually thought something got into her eye. Well, she was quite straightforward.

Song Zhixia touched the back of her head in confusion. Had she said something wrong? Why didn't her senior sister respond and just left?

He Qingmei returned to her residence with Song Ruhai, angrily narrating the events to him. Song Ruhai was so furious that he smashed the table in the front hall.

"Song Weizhi, I want to see if she can pass my son Chaoyun's test. Once she becomes the daughter-in-law of our Song family, she will have to endure!" Song Ruhai was so angry that he almost ground his teeth to dust.

"What about Song Zhixia? How do we convince her to willingly marry Tian Junjie?" After taking a few calming pills, He Qingmei's anger subsided. She never expected that Song Weizhi would lay hands on her.

"She won't have a choice. During our time in the secret realm, we'll find ways for Tian Junjie to take advantage. Once her innocence is lost, she won't have any choice. By the way, I have already sent the marriage proposal to the Tian family. We should receive a response soon."

Sure enough, in the afternoon, Song Ruhai received a response from the Tian family. The message stated that Tian Junjie wanted to meet Song Zhixia first before further discussion. Song Ruhai immediately agreed and sent his men to invite the Tian family to witness the remaining matches of Song Zhixia.

Accompanying Tian Junjie was not only the head of the Tian family, Tian Yuelan, but also her daughter, Tian Yanyan, who all came to the Song residence. Song Ruhai personally went to greet them with great enthusiasm.

"We have long looked forward to Master Tian's visit. Please come in. Ah, this must be the talented nephew Junjie. He truly embodies the image of an outstanding individual. Miss Tian, you truly exemplify the grace of a noblewoman. Please come in." Song Ruhai exclaimed joyfully.

Tian Yuelan, seeing the respect given by the Song family, also smiled and returned the courtesy, "We appreciate your hospitality. Junjie is exceptional in every aspect, although he may be a bit selective. But since he is the daughter of the Song Master, she must be an extraordinary individual. Let the young people size each other up."

Author's note:

Song Zhixia: Why is Sister ignoring me?

Song Weizhi: Don't ask. The answer is eye infection!

Appreciation for the angels who cast their votes or provided nutrition between 2021-04-21 21:47:33~2021-04-22 21:27:55~

Appreciation for the angels who cast rocket votes: Little Chenxi 1

Appreciation for the angels who cast landmine votes: YueXiangnan 1

Appreciation for the angels who provided nutrition: Little Chenxi 132; Yan, Hao 10; Wanliyanqixi 5; Roujianghuoxini 1

Chapter 23

"Yes, but the young lady is a bit shy. I'm afraid she may not be willing to meet male outsiders. In the next few days, there will be a competition for the young lady. At that time, Master Tian and Master Tian's son can go to watch together."

The next day's competition went as smoothly as ever for Song Zhixia. However, there were vaguely a few gazes from the sidelines that made her feel uncomfortable. With her foundation building, her senses were even more acute. When she looked outside, she met the gaze of a man in white who was smiling at her. Song Zhixia coldly glanced back; the man's gaze was rather lecherous, causing Song Zhixia to furrow her brow involuntarily.

She quickened her steps to find Song Weizhi, "Senior sister, let's go. Someone was making me feel uneasy just now."

Song Weizhi had already reached the perfection stage of the Golden Elixir. Upon hearing Song Zhixia's words, she immediately used her spiritual power to scan the surroundings. As expected, she saw a pair of eyes looking at her small white rabbit as if they were glued to it. Fixating on them, Song Weizhi quickly recognized the person and matched him with the character from the original book.

In the original book, there was a lecherous man named Tian Junjie who competed with the male lead for the female lead and even attempted to drug and force himself on her, only to be saved by the male lead in the end.

Unexpectedly, Song Weizhi had altered many plot points from the original book, yet Tian Junjie, this lecherous man, still appeared.

"Alright, Xiaoxia, don't be afraid; senior sister is here," Song Weizhi comforted, patting Song Zhixia's head.

At this moment, Tian Junjie in the distance also noticed Song Weizhi. The smile on his face deepened as he said to Song Ruhai, who was sitting beside him, "Master Song, Miss Song is truly outstanding, not only in talent but also in appearance. But who was that standing next to her just now? With such a cool demeanor, she can also be considered a cold beauty. I wonder if I have the fortune to marry both the Empress and the Lady at the same time?"

Initially, Song Ruhai listened to Tian Junjie's praise for Song Zhixia with a smile. However, as he continued, he gradually sensed something amiss. This Tian Junjie was quite scheming. He actually wanted to marry both of them? Song Weizhi was Song Chaoyun's future wife. How could he let others covet her?

Song Ruhai immediately said seriously, "The lady next to my daughter is Song Chaoyun's fiancée."

Upon hearing Song Ruhai's words, Tian Junjie clicked his tongue and said, "It's a pity then. But since she's Master Song's fiancée, I dare not harbor any thoughts. It's already my good fortune to meet Miss Song."

After hearing him speak, Song Ruhai's expression relaxed.

In the following days, Song Zhixia easily defeated a group of opponents and successfully passed the assessment for outer disciples. The only thing that made her uncomfortable was the gaze of that man—his look was becoming increasingly lascivious.

Once all the disciples had completed their assessments, they all gathered in the martial arts arena. As the head of the sect, Song Ruhai announced the names of the disciples who had successfully entered the sect, with Song Zhixia's name being the first.

Upon finishing the announcement, Song Ruhai insincerely said, "Zhixia's performance in this assessment was particularly outstanding. I am very pleased. You have not disappointed me."

Song Zhixia didn't even spare a glance for Song Ruhai. Instead, she looked happily at Song Weizhi and said, "Senior sister, I am the first."

Holding her little sister's hand, Song Weizhi said, "Yes, my beautiful little sister is the best. Didn't you want a reward from senior sister earlier? What do you want? Whatever senior sister has, I will give to you."

Upon hearing about the reward, Song Zhixia blushed and said shyly, "That, let's talk about it when we get back."

Song Weizhi was a bit surprised. It was just a reward. Why couldn't they discuss it here? Nonetheless, since her little sister had said so, she naturally would listen to her.

After announcing the names of all the disciples, Song Ruhai continued, "All the new disciples who have entered the sect will enter the Linlang Secret Realm with the original disciples. What you gain there will depend on your own efforts. Some disciples from the Zhao and Tian families will also be with you. It's best for you to team up in advance. The secret realm is not entirely safe, and it's better to have more people for support."

After Song Ruhai finished speaking, the disciples below started discussing:

"Well, we can team up, and we can also ask Huang Xiao," Xu Wenyuan said with joy. He hadn't expected to enter the sect after losing to Huang Xiao, but fortunately, he won a few matches afterward.

"Alright, that sounds good," Liang Qin also hadn't expected to enter the sect with such a low ranking.

As the disciples below discussed, the atmosphere gradually quieted down, and Song Ruhai continued, "The secret realm will open tomorrow. Everyone should go back and prepare. Tomorrow morning, all of you will gather at the back mountain." After giving these instructions, Song Ruhai led the disciples away.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Tian Junjie walked a few steps to where Song Weizhi and Song Zhixia were. He put on what he thought was a charming smile and said, "My name is Tian Junjie, I am a senior disciple of the Tian family. I wonder if I have the honor to team up with these two fellow junior partners. There will inevitably be some ugly exotic beasts in the secret realm. With me around, you won't have to dirty your hands."

Seeing how audacious Tian Junjie's gestures were and how his eyes were fixed on Song Zhixia, Song Weizhi stepped forward to block him and sneered, "That won't be necessary. We don't team up with garbage."

Without caring about Tian Junjie's sudden change in expression, she summoned her Feather-Edged Sword and walked away with Song Zhixia.

Leaving Tian Junjie standing alone, his expression kept changing. He had never encountered a woman who dared to despise him. She actually called him garbage. Tian Junjie was almost crushing his fist in anger.

Back in the courtyard, Song Zhixia said to Song Weizhi, "Senior sister, that man's gaze made me feel disgusted."

"Senior sister knows. Xiaoxia, rest assured. Senior sister won't let him get close to you. You don't need to pay attention to such trash." Song Weizhi consoled her and then remembered something, "By the way, what reward did Xiaoxia want? I'm curious, as Xiaoxia didn't want to talk about it in front of others just now."

As she brought this up, Song Zhixia's cheeks visibly reddened. She nervously avoided eye contact with Song Weizhi and finally said in a low voice, "It's just... I want senior sister to... hug me again."

Song Zhixia's voice grew quieter as she spoke, and by the end, it was barely audible.

"What kind of reward is that? If you want me to hug you, Xiaoxia, you can just tell me." With that, Song Weizhi stepped over and, with a few cheerful strides, embraced the shy little girl.

Feeling a bit shy, Song Zhixia clung to Song Weizhi's waist even tighter. The discomfort she felt from being leered at by the lecherous man had completely dissipated. Surrounded by Song Weizhi's presence, she felt at ease. It seemed like her whole body had relaxed.

While hugging the little girl, Song Weizhi jokingly teased, "How much do you miss me, Xiaoxia, to hug me this tightly?"

Hearing this, Song Zhixia kept her head low and pretended not to hear. However, her grip around Song Weizhi's waist only tightened.

Song Weizhi also felt it and smiled as she teased, "How much do you miss senior sister, Xiaoxia, to hug me this tightly?"

Blushing, Song Zhixia buried her face in Song Weizhi's embrace and timidly said, "Senior sister, should we team up in the secret realm? I don't want anyone else."

It turned out that the little girl was afraid of teaming up with someone else. Song Weizhi smiled and said, "It was supposed to be just the two of us. Who else would you want to team up with?"

"I just want to be with senior sister," Song Zhixia said shyly, discovering that Senior sister had the same idea, and she couldn't help but feel that her own heart was sweeter than honey.

When Song Weizhi went back to her room, the system's mechanical voice echoed in her mind, "The female lead has successfully passed the assessment for the outer disciples. The host receives 100 points as a reward. The current point total for the host is 750. Host, please keep up the good work."

Song Weizhi decided not to exchange these points for now, leaving them as a contingency plan for herself and Song Zhixia.

Before she could start thinking about something else, a voice transmission talisman arrived. Song Chaoyun was already waiting for her outside the courtyard. He approached her as soon as she came out, "Junior sister, I've acquired a lot of good Qi and blood supplements recently. Since we are about to enter the secret realm, I brought some for you. Also, I believe you haven't teamed up with anyone yet. How about teaming up with me? We used to be siblings, and even if we're not now, we shouldn't be estranged, right?"

Coldly looking at Song Chaoyun, who showed up with his offerings, Song Weizhi knew exactly what he was planning to do. "That won't be necessary. I already have a partner. I won't be needing it. Please keep it for yourself."

Song Chaoyun didn't expect Song Zhixia to refuse so decisively. After all, their relationship had been good before. He continued to smile and said, "Since you are with my sister, won't it be inconvenient for two girls to enter the secret realm? Let's go together. This way, I can also protect both you and Zhixia." Song Chaoyun believed he was being very polite and assumed that Song Weizhi would give him face.

The next moment, without waiting for Song Weizhi to respond, Song Zhixia hurriedly ran out of the room and ran a few steps to where Song Weizhi was standing. She looked coldly at Song Chaoyun, "I and senior sister don't need you to take care of us. I grew up in the village and can handle all kinds of chores. I will naturally take care of senior sister. You don't need to worry."

This saved Song Weizhi from having to reply. She looked with interest at Song Zhixia standing in front of her. Her little sister would also protect her now? Song Weizhi looked at Song Zhixia somewhat comfortingly.

"Zhixia, I am your real brother. I really have no ill intentions. I just want to team up together," Song Chaoyun tried to come closer.

"No need, I can't afford to be acquainted with you. Senior sister also told me that she only wants to team up with me, so you don't need to bother," Song Zhixia said coldly, ignoring his words.

Watching from the side, Song Weizhi suddenly found her little sister's protective attitude quite adorable.

Sure enough, the next second, Song Chaoyun's expression darkened, but it was only for a moment. Soon, he put on a faint smile and said, "Well, in that case, when you two need anything in the secret realm, just call me and I'll come."

Author's Note: Little Zhixia: Anyone who dares to compete with me for my sister, I will confront them!

Chapter 24

Song Chaoyun bid the pair adieu, thinking himself a refined gentleman. Soon after he left, Song Weizhi overheard her own Xiao Naitu muttering, "So annoying. Senior Sister said she'd team up only with me, act as a dogskin plaster."

Hearing this, Song Weizhi couldn't help but let out a chuckle. She raised an eyebrow and looked at Song Zhixia, mocking, "My dear Xiaxia, can you protect Senior Sister now? Great, tomorrow when we head to the hidden realm, Senior Sister will have to rely on my Xiaxia."

Song Zhixia's cheeks turned a deep shade, a bit embarrassed to face Song Weizhi, a far cry from her attitude towards Song Chaoyun just earlier.

She shyly tugged at Song Weizhi's sleeve and called softly, "Senior Sister~." She hoped Song Weizhi wouldn't tease her anymore. Seeing the coquettish Song Zhixia, Song Weizhi's heart melted, and she no longer teased the young girl.

The moment Song Chaoyun stepped out of Song Weizhi's courtyard, his expression changed instantly. He was stunned by the rejection but soon his face bore a mix of uncertainty and a hint of a smile.

The next morning, many people had already gathered at the rear mountain, the entrance to the Linlang Hidden Realm. Among them were members of the Zhao and Tian families. Song Weizhi and Song Zhixia stood at a distance, noticing the considerable number of people heading to the realm.

Song Ruhai stood alongside Zhao Fei and Tian Yuelan. He ordered Tian Ming to count the participants. Once everyone assembled, he proclaimed, "I will now open the entrance to the Linlang Hidden Realm. You will have three days to explore freely. I've been to the realm many times, and there aren't any major dangers. However, I hope everyone will remain vigilant. Also, any artifacts and secret beasts found inside the realm will belong to you."

As soon as they heard that they could keep any items or creatures they found, the disciples started discussing excitedly. Although Song Ruhai appeared friendly while observing his disciples, he thought, "A bunch of fools. This is just an annual routine to put you through tests. If there were any good spiritual treasures, I would have found them myself, instead of letting you have them."

"Alright, it's time to enter the realm. It's restricted inside. Everyone will automatically appear here on the third day, so there's no need to worry about exiting." Song Ruhai smiled and gestured to Tian Ming to unlock the realm.

As Tian Ming's finger-sized key underwent spiritual activation, it rapidly enlarged and swiftly approached a barrier in the rear mountain. Soon, a gate appeared in the void, emitting a bright light. The gate opened at a visible speed as the spiritual energy fluctuated.

"Alright, everyone can enter the realm now."

Following Song Ruhai's words, several disciples immediately flew into the realm on their flying swords. It was evident that they had been to the realm many times and knew that there weren't many dangers inside.

Song Weizhi ignored the occasional glances from Tian Junjie and Song Chaoyun toward her and Song Zhixia. Turning to Song Zhixia softly, she said, "Xiaxia, let's go too."

Saying so, Song Weizhi unsheathed her Lishuo Sword, and both of them flew towards the hidden realm. Song Chaoyun and Tian Junjie quickly followed suit, hoping to catch up with the girls even if they didn't form a team, wanting to get close to Song Weizhi and her companion.

However, Song Weizhi didn't give them a chance. With her cultivation at the Gold Core Great Perfection, how could she let two Qi Refining beginners catch up to her? After a few moments, she didn't even know where they were, but it felt as if they had already entered the depths of the hidden realm.

She held her Lishuo Sword in one hand and led Song Zhixia with the other. They arrived at a lakeside with a forest nearby. Song Weizhi sensed using her spiritual power, but there were no spiritual fluctuations nearby. Was this Linlang Hidden Realm just meant for leisure?

Song Zhixia was also puzzled. Wasn't the realm supposed to be full of danger? Why was it so peaceful here?

Looking at Song Weizhi's smiling face, Song Zhixia couldn't help but feel happy. She didn't know why, but she just felt that if Senior Sister was happy, then she was happy too.

"There doesn't seem to be any danger here. Why not summon Da Laohu and Xiao Ji out and let them play together?" Song Weizhi thought it wouldn't hurt to familiarize Da Laohu and Xiao Ji with each other. This way, they wouldn't end up being adversaries in the future.

Releasing Da Laohu from her primordial spirit, it hadn't been out for a long time. It couldn't help but rub against Song Weizhi the moment it stood on the ground. Even though it wasn't in physical form, Da Laohu's snuggling made Song Weizhi retreat continuously. A creature larger than an elephant acting all coquettish, not many people could resist that.

Amused, Song Weizhi rubbed Da Laohu's tiger face. It closed its eyes, thoroughly enjoying the attention. Song Zhixia watched them and then joined in, rubbing Da Laohu. Its current lazy appearance was worlds apart from the intimidating figure it had cut the other day, like it was a completely different beast.

Afterward, Song Zhixia released her Xiao Ji. Initially a bit dazed, it bumped into Da Laohu's thick leg, peered up, and locked eyes with it. A chicken and a tiger stared at each other. When Xiao Ji realized what had happened, it quickly retreated and huddled behind Song Zhixia, while Da Laohu, seemingly interested in Xiao Ji, tried to rub against it. In no time, the two spirit beasts started chasing each other by the lakeside. At first, Xiao Ji tried to run away, seeking help from Song Zhixia, but seeing her only laugh, Xiao Ji felt helpless—it couldn't rely on her, so it had to rely on itself.

However, with its short legs and limited strength, Xiao Ji didn't get far before lying down on the ground and even closed its eyes, pretending to be dead, hoping Da Laohu would leave it alone.

But as soon as it closed its eyes, Xiao Ji felt something scraping against it. Initially, it was fine when it was just around the head, but when it reached its rear end, Xiao Ji was quick to voice its displeasure, scolding Da Laohu with "jiji" sounds. Da Laohu felt wronged and hunkered down; it only wanted to play with Xiao Ji.

Seeing that Da Laohu seemed somewhat afraid of it, Xiao Ji gained some confidence and approached it, pecking at Da Laohu's leg with its beak. Seeing no adverse reaction from Da Laohu, Xiao Ji grew bolder and started pecking around, paving the way for the chicken and tiger to play together, amusing Song Weizhi and Song Zhixia.

However, this peace was soon shattered. Song Weizhi keenly sensed spiritual power fluctuations in the distance. "Xiaxia, put away Xiao Ji first," she said briefly, concerned that the small chicken might be at risk in case of an encounter with any strange creatures. Song Zhixia complied.

Sure enough, a moment later, several disciples and a giant poisonous spider approached the lakeshore. The disciples were struggling to hold off the spider's attacks, and they kept retreating.

Song Weizhi gave a quick glance at Song Zhixia and said, "Xiaxia, why don't you go help them? Be careful of the spider's silk."

"Okay," Song Zhixia replied and drew out her spirit sword, flying to the spider's vicinity. She understood that in this world, strength was respected, and she couldn't always hide behind her Senior Sister.

Standing about a dozen meters from the spider, Song Zhixia used her sword technique, unleashing the fifth move of her Flaming Sword technique—Blaze. She pressed the tip of her sword against the ground, igniting a fierce blaze around the blade. With a flick, she cleaved the ground, and the sword's flame and sword energy surged towards the spider. It was already preoccupied with the disciples and didn't anticipate another assailant. It was caught off guard by Song Zhixia's attack.

The spider, the size of a two-story building, immediately diverted its attention to Song Zhixia and charged at her. She dodged its leg attacks, aimed to leap to its head, and deal a fatal blow directly, but ended up being ensnared by the spider's silk mid-air.

The spider's peculiar appearance set it apart from the typical spiders because its body had a mouth both at the front (head) and at the back (body). As a result, when looking from above, it appeared to have mouths all over its body. This spider's silk covered everything. Song Zhixia and some disciples were completely entangled, unable to move. Adding to the horror, the spider's mouths continued secreting a sticky liquid that flowed down the silk towards them.

At this moment, Song Zhixia, along with several other disciples, was completely wrapped in spider silk from head to toe without any seams. Although she couldn't see, she could feel the silk coiling around her, pulling her towards the spider.

Meanwhile, Song Weizhi was sitting on a nearby tree, with Da Laohu standing under it, eager to help. However, Song Weizhi called it back. This spider wasn't a powerful beast, and Song Weizhi believed that Song Zhixia needed to become stronger by facing such challenges herself.

As Song Zhixia was entangled, she calmed down and activated her spiritual power. In an instant, her sword ignited with fierce flames, quickly burning the spider silk that bound her. Song Zhixia freed herself, flying into the air and directing the fiery sword energy at the spider, simultaneously freeing the other disciples entangled in the silk. She then used all her spiritual energy, infusing her sword with fire-based power and charged towards the spider.

The large spider's body was cumbersome, but its legs were surprisingly nimble, trapping Song Zhixia. She dodged the spider's mouth's sticky secretions while struggling against the spider's legs. However, the spider's legs were extremely hard, and her sword couldn't cut through them.

Thankfully, the other five disciples also recovered, summoning their spirit beasts to help. Distracted by the disciples, the spider gave Song Zhixia an opening, through which she escaped. She then attacked the spider, using her blazing sword techniques to engulf the spider in flames. Song Zhixia fought courageously, enduring the nauseating smell, until she found a foothold on the spider. She pierced the spider's mouth several times with her sword.

Enraged, the spider spat sticky secretions at Song Zhixia, who shielded herself with her fire-based spiritual power, preventing the secretions from touching her skin. Despite her efforts, she struggled to find the spider's weak spot.

The other disciples, mostly newly advanced from the outer sect, lacked foundational cultivation and were clearly panicked.

With a calm mind, Song Zhixia rose into the air on her sword. As the spider's mouth-covered upper body was covered in sticky secretions, Song Zhixia aimed at the spider's eyes. Evading the spider's attacks, she thrust her sword into the spider's left eye. The spider thrashed wildly, flinging secretions everywhere. Song Zhixia, with her unwavering spirit, extracted her sword from the spider's left eye and repeated the process with the right eye, slashing repeatedly. After several strikes, the spider eventually swayed and collapsed.

Exhausted, Song Zhixia descended from the spider's back, a little unsteady, evidently depleted from tapping into her spiritual energy excessively.

The other disciples, having narrowly escaped, were gathering their breath. Among them were Xu Wen Yuan and Liang Qin, who had witnessed Song Zhixia's recent competition.

After a pause to catch his breath, Xu Wen Yuan approached Song Zhixia to express his gratitude, acknowledging that they would have been in grave danger if not for her assistance.

"Song Junior Sister, thank you for your help just now. It was indeed perilous without your assistance," Xu Wen Yuan expressed his gratitude sincerely.

"No need to thank me. Since we encountered this, it's good that I could help," Song Zhixia responded with a nod in acknowledgement before turning her attention towards Song Weizhi, who she had been avidly searching for. Finally, she spotted her on a nearby tree and felt a sense of relief upon seeing her.

Seeing their Senior Sister's arrival, the disciples rushed forward, bowing and greeting her with beaming smiles. Song Weizhi nodded in acknowledgment, but her gaze remained fixed on Song Zhixia. With a wave of her hand, she changed Song Zhixia's disheveled clothes and refreshed the young girl using a purification technique.

Contrary to her daring demeanor during the spider encounter, Song Zhixia now gently held Song Weizhi's hand and said, "I defeated the spider."

"Of course, my Xiaxia is the best," Song Weizhi responded, holding Song Zhixia's hand.

Their intimate exchange left the other disciples in shock, feeling awkward as the scene unfolded.

Finally, one of the disciples gathered the courage to ask, "Senior Sister, should we dispose of the spider now?"

At this reminder, Song Weizhi and Song Zhixia remembered the giant spider that was yet to be taken care of.

"Song Junior Sister, we have already discussed this. Since you played the leading role in killing the spider, you deserve the beast core. As for the other parts of the spider, let's divide them among ourselves since there are seven of us," Liang Qin suggested. Recognizing Song Zhixia's significant contributions, the inner sect disciples were all reasonable people and decided to allocate the spoils of the spider to Song Zhixia.

"Let's divide the rest into six portions as I didn't do anything. You all did most of the work in killing the spider. Alright, let's take care of this quickly and be cautious not to attract any other strange beasts," Song Weizhi suggested.

Upon hearing Song Weizhi's instructions, Xu Wen Yuan's group immediately started processing the spider. Monstrous and repugnant as it was, with most of its body covering secretions and numerous mouths, it could be used for medicinal purposes, and its hard legs could be used to make protective gear. Even the secretions had their uses, and if they weren't needed, they could be sold for a good amount of spirit stones in the market.

Chapter 25

Several disciples endured their nausea as they began to eat. Xu Wen Yuan, in particular, spent half a day digging out the beast core. The core was the size of two fists and, when pulled out, was inevitably covered in a lot of mucus and blood. Xu Wen Yuan ran excitedly to Song Zhi Xia and handed her the beast core.

"Sister Song, take this beast core."

Song Zhi Xia looked at the large beast core with some confusion and then turned to Song Wei Zhi.

Song Wei Zhi chuckled and cleaned the beast core, then used her spiritual power to condense it to the size of a fingernail before handing it to Song Zhi Xia.

Receiving the beast core, Song Zhi Xia sighed in relief and said, "I thought I'd have to eat such a large one if I were to consume it."

Amused by Song Zhi Xia's comment, Song Wei Zhi said, "That thing is so pungent. Eating such a large one would make you sick. But let's put it away for now. I'll help protect you when we rest later."

Song Zhi Xia obediently put the beast core away. Meanwhile, Xu Wen Yuan and the others had almost finished handling the giant spider. They cheerfully collected the spiders they had obtained. Song Zhi Xia didn't use the hairpin her senior sister had given her; instead, she used a storage bag to collect the spiders.

Song Wei Zhi led Song Zhi Xia to the lakeside. They had three days in total, and treasure hunting in the mysterious realm was a rare opportunity that was not guaranteed. The two released Big Tiger and Little Clown Chicken again, letting the two spiritual beasts play on their own.

The several inner disciples who followed Song Wei Zhi were shocked. How could Senior Sister's heavenly-ranked spiritual beast get along with Song Zhi Xia's mediocre one?

"Xia Xia, while it's safe here in the mysterious realm, why don't you absorb and digest the beast core now?" Song Wei Zhi thought that at present, the priority for both her and Song Zhi Xia was to improve their strength.

Song Zhi Xia obediently took out the beast core and swallowed it in one go. Then, she sat down and began to digest it. The other inner disciples quieted down as well. For a while, the lakeside was filled only with the sounds of Big Tiger and Little Clown Chicken playing.

In the evening, Song Wei Zhi felt a fluctuation in Song Zhi Xia's spiritual power. She sensed that Song Zhi Xia might be on the verge of a breakthrough. Sure enough, in no time, Song Zhi Xia opened her eyes, and Song Wei Zhi could sense that she had reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage.

Song Zhi Xia also didn't expect the beast core to have such a significant effect. Song Wei Zhi knew what she was thinking and said, "You were only one step away from reaching the peak of Foundation Establishment on your own. The beast core merely gave you an extra boost. Mainly, it's because our Xia Xia is extraordinary."

"Senior Sister taught me well," blushed Song Zhi Xia.

But Xu Wen Yuan and the others hadn't achieved the Foundation Establishment stage yet, so they focused on fishing and hunting for food. Song Zhi Xia also felt excited and eager. Song Wei Zhi naturally noticed her eagerness and suggested, "Xia Xia, why don't you join them in finding food? It has been a while since Senior Sister had a meal."

"Does Senior Sister want to come with me?" Song Zhi Xia stared at Song Wei Zhi with her peach-blossom eyes.

Song Wei Zhi beckoned Big Tiger and signaled for him to lie down. Then, she leisurely leaned against the gigantic Big Tiger, inviting Song Zhi Xia with a playful wink, "I won't go. I'll wait to enjoy the food you find."

"Okay, then I'll go find something delicious for Senior Sister," Song Zhi Xia's peach-blossom eyes crinkled with a smile.

Upon seeing Big Tiger no longer playing with Little Clown Chicken, it ran over and nestled with Song Wei Zhi beside the large tiger. As they weren't in any imminent danger, Song Wei Zhi felt at ease allowing Song Zhi Xia to play around and mingle with the other disciples. Song Zhi Xia joined Xu Wen Yuan and a few others in the woods to hunt for food, while Liang Qin and another inner disciple remained by the lake to catch fish.

While Song Zhi Xia chatted with Xu Wen Yuan and the others and asked them to find some wild game, she looked for some vegetables and wild fruits nearby. she found a lot of them and then heard some rustling not far away. It sounded like people talking. As she approached, she saw two female disciples fighting, apparently from the Tian family.

Song Zhi Xia didn't want to intervene in the fight. She was about to turn and leave when she saw the unexpected scene of the two female disciples kissing each other!

Song Zhi Xia's eyes widened at the sight. She was taken aback by the scene and even broke a branch in her hand. Fortunately, she wasn't too close to them, and the two were fully engrossed in their altercation, so they didn't notice her. She felt overwhelmed by the situation and ran without even remembering her ability to fly on her sword. After running a long way, she finally stopped and leaned against a tree to catch her breath.

While resting, she mulled over the recent events. Could girls really kiss each other in such a way? Or were they just close sisters? Song Zhi Xia felt her mind was in chaos, her heart pounding as if it might leap out of her chest. She didn't know what had gotten into her to cause such a whirlwind in her mind. When she returned to the lakeside, she was still in a daze.

Song Wei Zhi noticed her little sister's absentmindedness and immediately waved her over, "Xia Xia, did you find something delicious for me? Come, let me see what you've found."

Song Zhi Xia seemed startled and somewhat dazed as she walked over to Song Wei Zhi, pouring out all the wild vegetables and fruits she found in front of her.

Looking at the small pears, persimmons, and bracken, among other things, Song Wei Zhi smiled and said to Song Zhi Xia, "Xia Xia, you are the best. You've found so many delicious things."

Song Zhi Xia's peach-blossom eyes shook as she looked at Song Wei Zhi. For some reason, she felt a little uneasy.

"No, it's nothing. Everyone found quite a lot," Song Zhi Xia stood still without moving.

Song Wei Zhi laughed as she watched her little sister fidgeting. "Xia Xia, why don't you come and rest on the tiger with me for a while? The little chicken is already here," she said, pulling the sleeping Little Clown Chicken out from the tiger's fur.

Song Zhi Xia blushed and said, "No, I'll go help them prepare the game." After speaking, she ran off as if fleeing.

Song Wei Zhi was puzzled. She hadn't said anything, so why did her little sister seem even more shy now?

Xu Wen Yuan and Liang Qin had already lit a fire by the lake and began roasting fish and wild rabbits. Before long, the shoreline was filled with the aroma of food. Xu Wen Yuan brought a lot of it over to Song Wei Zhi, who only kept a rabbit leg for herself.

She leisurely leaned against the Big Tiger, watching the little girl who had been avoiding her since the afternoon. Every now and then, the little girl would sneak a glance at her, thinking that she didn't notice. Song Wei Zhi had been holding back her laughter since her return, planning to tease the little girl later.

After eating, the male disciples, including Xu Wen Yuan, took the initiative to summon their spiritual beasts from a distance to rest, leaving only Song Wei Zhi and Song Zhi Xia by the lake.

Song Wei Zhi slept peacefully while Song Zhi Xia's heart was filled with unease. The image from earlier in the woods kept haunting her mind, and the faces of the two women gradually blurred in her daze. After a while, the image transformed into one of herself and her senior sister!

In the vision, her senior sister pressed the vision of herself against a tree trunk and then leaned in to kiss. In her dream, her senior sister was kissing her! Song Zhi Xia was startled awake before she could even feel the warmth of her senior sister's lips. Her senior sister had been so kind to her, how could she dare to defile her? She comforted herself by thinking that it was just a matter of thinking too much during the day and dreaming at night.

She secretly glanced at the already-sleeping Song Wei Zhi and tried to move back a bit. However, she realized that her senior sister's embrace was too tight, and she didn't dare to exert too much force for fear of waking her.

Song Zhi Xia sweated heavily on her forehead, although it wasn't particularly hot. She felt as if her whole body was burning with fever, especially when her gaze involuntarily landed on her senior sister's lips. She couldn't help but wonder how her senior sister's lips would taste if she hadn't woken up, if it was all a dream.

Author's note: Song Zhi Xia: Wah~ It's all because of those two female disciples. I'm beginning to feel strange!

Song Wei Zhi: Hey, it's perfectly normal for girls to kiss. Clearly, you've grown into a big "niece." Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or provided nutrition fluid from 2021-04-25 20:17:20 to 2021-04-26 20:08:22!