novelraw Chapter 107: The "Don't Die" Challenge
Chapter 107: The "Don't Die" Challenge
"Thank goodness, thank goodness, it ended safely."
Qinghua patted her chest.
This An Shiyu was truly the most formidable opponent she had ever encountered.
Beautiful, with a good personality, and most importantly, she was currently the key to entering the Heart Image Remnant.
You could say all the flags were raised, giving her ample reason and initiative to actively approach the Sect Master.
Most importantly, she was a childhood friend who appeared out of the blue!
As someone well-versed in all kinds of romance stories, Qinghua knew full well the destructive power of a sudden childhood friend.
With that attribute, isn't it practically being chosen by fate!
Anyway, absolutely no opportunity should be given to An Shiyu. Otherwise, a daily-life childhood friend like Lady Bingtang would definitely end up as the fixed loser...
Having the Sect Master withdraw was the best choice for now.But the next problem was what method to use to keep the Sect Master away for a long time, or how to make An Shiyu leave.
That was another huge dilemma.
If the Sect Master became a controllable character with dialogue boxes and choices, Super Qinghua could definitely achieve the true ending...
"Four Leaf, Six Leaf, and Yumo."
Before she could think about the next step, Bingtang and the Sect Master had already returned to the sect.
The twins, who had been in the bathroom all this time, immediately jumped out at Bingtang's call.
Qinghua had thought they'd fallen into the toilet.
Yumo, though she seemed a bit down, was still hugging her rabbit plushie and followed behind the twins to the door.
Bingtang naturally stepped aside, pushing Jiang Si forward from behind her. "You go ahead."
Jiang Si didn't hesitate either. He took out the dessert that Bingtang had told him to protect along the way. "This is a gift for you, Four Leaf and Six Leaf."
When the two little girls first received the gift box, they were a bit at a loss. Six Leaf eagerly wanted to open the packaging, but Four Leaf quickly swatted her sister's hand. She first pulled her sister into a bow to the Sect Master. "Thank you, Sect Master!"
"It's fine, let Six Leaf open it," Bingtang said with a smile from the side. "Be careful, don't break it."
Only then did the two girls excitedly carry the gift box to the side. Opening it and seeing the perfectly arranged cake inside, their beautiful eyes sparkled.
Six Leaf reached out to grab a fork to eat, but Four Leaf swatted her hand again, picking up her phone to start taking pictures left and right.
After a good while, having taken who knows how many photos, the two finally started sharing the cake, each with their own fork.
Yumo quietly watched the happy smiles on her friends' faces, just hugging her plushie tighter and burying her face in it.
Because the Sect Master had nothing else in his hands.
Anyway, it just wasn't Yumo's turn...
"Yumo."
Jiang Si called out once, but the girl didn't react at first.
Only after he called again, "Come here," did Yumo raise her head, dazedly saying "Oh," and then walked over.
Jiang Si fumbled in his pockets for a good while before finally pulling out the gift box containing the hair clip.
After all, the gift box was quite small, and he had many pockets on him, convenient for carrying things. Now he couldn't remember which pocket he'd put it in, so he had to search each one.
Finally, he pulled out the small, exquisite gift box and handed it to Yumo. Jiang Si then planned to go inside the room to announce his plan.
But he was pulled back by Bingtang from behind.
"Wait and see Yumo's reaction first. You bought a gift, you should see if she's satisfied with it or not."
So troublesome.
Jiang Si stopped and looked up at the little girl who often hid her face behind her plushie to conceal her expression.
Her eyes had become bright and sparkling. The rabbit was now pressed against her chest, held by something. With both hands holding the gift box, she carefully opened it. Her pupils reflected the beautiful stone on the hair clip.
Then she raised her head, her gaze shimmering as she looked at Jiang Si. She took off her hood, mustered her courage, and held the hair clip out to Jiang Si. "S-Sect Master, c-could you help me put it on?"
"Let Bingtang help you, I don't know how."
Jiang Si refused offhandedly. He was still thinking about contacting Ruo Yun.
The Saint Hall should make a move now.
Like a deflated balloon, Yumo immediately shrank back, tightly hugging her plushie. Tears quickly welled up in her eyes, but she didn't cry.
That pitiful, adorable little expression would melt even the hardest heart with one look.
Unfortunately, Jiang Si didn't even glance at her.
Bingtang behind him sighed. "Help her put it on, I'll teach you. Otherwise, if Yumo cries later, it won't be good for carrying out the mission either."
Jiang Si, who had been about to leave, heard this and nodded. He casually picked up the hair clip. "Tell me, where to put it."
Under Bingtang's instruction, Jiang Si successfully clipped the hairpin onto Yumo's head.
The butterfly-shaped hairpin indeed suited the little girl very well, making her look even more adorable. Coupled with the delicate, tearful look, it involuntarily made one think of a flower adorned with dewdrops.
Carefully reaching out to touch the hairpin, a shy and happy smile appeared on Yumo's face. She gently shook her little head, and the butterfly hairpin on her head seemed to come alive. "H-how is it? Is it pretty?"
Jiang Si nodded. "Quite pretty."
Hiding her head behind her plushie again, Yumo let out a small, muffled laugh before saying vaguely, "Thank you, Sect Master!"
"What about mine, mine!"
Qinghua immediately cried out over there. "Why am I the only one without a gift!"
Only then did Bingtang let go of Jiang Si, allowing the Sect Master to return to the main hall. She then went over and flicked Qinghua's forehead. "Didn't the Sect Master just give you a gift when he returned? The phone and the Magical Girl Idol Project account!"
"Oh, right, then my gift is still better..."
Though Qinghua said this, she still ran over, grinning cheekily as she looked at the twins. "Four Leaf, Six Leaf, look how well I took care of you before. Give me a bite, okay?"
After shamelessly snatching a bite of cake, she ran over to Yumo, who was still lost in thought, daydreaming about something.
"Yumo, Yumo, we're such good friends. Lend me the hairpin to wear for a bit..."
She reached out from behind to touch it, but before she could even touch the person, she was sent flying.
After crying and begging for mercy for a long time, even comically kowtowing in the air like a frog, she was finally let down by Yumo.
After shamelessly snatching a bite of cake, she ran over to Yumo, who was still lost in thought, daydreaming about something.
His share was given to Yumo.
Yumo, now wearing the hairpin, didn't even put her hood back on.
From time to time, she would reach up to touch it, as if afraid the hairpin might suddenly disappear.
When children receive a gift they really like, they're probably like this.
Bingtang thought so, then walked into the meeting room and slapped the table. "You've all pretty much received your gifts. Now it's time to work hard."
"Yes!"
Several true disciple girls filed in one after another, each taking their seats, waiting for the Sect Master to announce what needed to be done.
But they saw Jiang Si walk in and not go straight to the prayer mat beneath the spirit tablets. Instead, he first took out a tape recorder and placed it behind a nearby screen. Bingtang immediately understood, pulling out a bundle of stick incense from under the table.
Yumo, Four Leaf, and Six Leaf immediately straightened their clothes. Even Qinghua put away her half-played phone game.
Joking aside, the current Sect Master and the others were terrifyingly serious.
Every time they did this, it meant they were about to discuss major matters...
When the clear sound of flowing water began to gurgle, a wisp of sandalwood immortal aura slowly swirled and spread out like a swimming dragon in front of the prayer mat.
Jiang Si sat on the prayer mat, feeling the wisps of blue smoke being carried by a faint, almost imperceptible breeze circulating within the room. He nodded in satisfaction, and his gaze towards Yumo held a trace of relief.
Finally not acting like an NPC anymore.
Then, with a wave of his hand, three more sticks of incense floated into the air, igniting on their own and landing before the tablets of the various founding masters. Jiang Si spoke, "Since the establishment of the Azure Cloud Sect, over thirty years have passed..."
"It's three years, right?" Qinghua interjected from the side.
"Over thirty is an approximate number," Bingtang explained. "Also, when the Sect Master is speaking, don't interrupt."
"Oh..."
After Bingtang finished, Jiang Si continued, "Over thirty years, the Azure Cloud Sect has grown from its initial obscurity to its current state. We have seven true disciples, countless honorary true disciples, even more inner disciples, and our outer branches are flourishing, spread across the land. It is a scene of thriving prosperity."
"I observe all of you under my sect. Your wisdom shines from the void, your spiritual pivots converge within you. Every move you make, your edge is hard to conceal. The actions you undertake are rarely seen even in ancient times."
The girls couldn't help but think, apart from the Sect Master, it didn't seem that 'rarely seen in ancient times'...
"...However, heaven and earth change, divine vessels shift. The world of cultivation has never been a place of eternal peace, and neither is the Azure Cloud Sect."
"Over these thirty-odd years, more and more enemies have encroached upon the Azure Cloud Sect's territory. The level of our opponents has gradually shifted from Foundation Building minor cultivators to Golden Core great experts. There are even supreme beings who have cut themselves down a notch, watching covetously from within forbidden zones!"
Four Leaf and Six Leaf listened, stunned. Qinghua stammered, "T-there are?"
So Jiang Si called out, "Yumo!"
"Ah...! Yumo is here!"
"You tell me, have you noticed the enemies becoming more and more troublesome?"
"Ah, um, Yumo... doesn't seem to feel any difference..."
"..."
Jiang Si waved his hand without changing his expression. "Sit down."
"I have a premonition that the era of great contention is about to arrive."
Bingtang facepalmed. So, what was the point of having Yumo answer the question...
"We cultivators seek longevity and contend for the Great Dao."
"In short, for over thirty years, I have allowed you to cultivate freely. Now, on a whim, it is time to test the results!"
"Since we cultivate the Great Dao, why fear a battle? From today onward, the Azure Cloud Sect will hold its first grand sect-wide competition to test whether your Dao Hearts are firm, whether your spells are exquisite, and whether you can face future great enemies!"
Qinghua tremblingly raised her hand. "Sect Master, h-how will the competition be held? Drawing lots for true disciple internal battles?"
Jiang Si shook his head. "The goal of the sect-wide competition is only one: for everyone in the entire sect, from top to bottom, to exert their full strength to defeat me."
The sect, which had just become somewhat lively and warm due to the gifts, instantly fell into dead silence.
Bingtang covered her forehead and sighed.
Only the Sect Master was full of vigor, his eyes shining brightly. With a grand wave of his hand, he said in an expectant tone:
"In short, please give it your all."
After announcing the competition requirements in the sect, Jiang Si proceeded to seclude himself.
He took out the cauldron and then lit the fire.
First, he refined the Grief Seed into pure medicinal extract essence, then processed the Calamity Egg in the same way.
The two materials were added in order—though Jiang Si didn't know what the order was, so he went by the order he discovered them.
He discovered the Grief Seed first, and the Calamity Egg later.
With this causal relationship, the order of the materials became clear. Immortal pills ultimately depend on cause and effect.
Slowly heating and refining them in the cauldron, he formed the pill embryo.
Then, he slowly infused the pure magical energy from the Miracle Seed into the pill embryo.
This step was particularly dangerous, as the conflict between pure magical energy and polluted magic was severe. The slightest carelessness could cause an explosion.
But who was Jiang Si?
The Azure Cloud Sect Master's control over magical energy had long reached the pinnacle. Under his precise control, the two opposing types of magical energy showed no rejection reaction.
Instead, under the influence of the mysterious material from the Calamity Egg, they gradually began to merge!
The two types of magical energy ultimately perfectly fused within the pill, then were continuously nourished by the Exotic Flame until the pill became round and smooth.
Only when the pill fragrance and luster emerged was it considered truly successful!
Although it didn't take much time, Jiang Si still felt it wasn't easy.
He tossed one into his mouth to taste.
A wave of warmth instantly flowed through his limbs and bones. Along with the warm current, that abundant power also circulated throughout his entire body!
It felt so comfortable he couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
Even though he hadn't eaten—only having had a bite of Bingtang's ice cream—he didn't feel hungry even now.
Indeed, for Grain Abstention, you still need Grain Abstention Pills.
"I think it might just be that you haven't reached the point of hunger yet. This thing probably only replenishes magical energy, right?"
Jiang Si suppressed the Black Dragon Heart Demon.
Simply absorbing the magical energy from Grief Seeds had a low conversion rate. He even needed a large supply of Disaster Beasts to keep up with his consumption.
Now, this Grain Abstention Pill could not only help him overcome hunger but also replenish a large amount of magical energy.
It was clearly a genuine treasure medicine.
He planned to refine a large quantity for backup and incidentally informed Bingtang of the refining method.
Pill refining could also help improve magical control, so Jiang Si planned to promote it within the sect, having them help him refine pills.
Such treasure medicine, the more the better!
Once proficient, Jiang Si basically didn't need to put much thought into it. He could just casually toss Grief Seeds and Calamity Eggs into the cauldron, and pills would come out within three minutes.
The problem was, there were currently too few Calamity Eggs.
Although they had wiped out three major Witch Associations, there were still only a few hundred Calamity Eggs.
Completely insufficient for sect consumption.
Although he had the method to create Disaster Beasts and Calamity Eggs, it could only be used once. The memory imprint of the Blood Cross would disappear once used. He hadn't found a good solution for this yet.
But he could buy Calamity Eggs from the Witch Association people with money.
Especially since he had the identity of the Witch Association's East China Regional Director. Wanting to make a comeback and purchase Calamity Eggs was a sufficient reason. As long as enough money was offered, someone at headquarters would be willing to sell.
Thinking of this, his mind stirred, and he considered the Saint Hall.
Wasn't money meant to be spent at times like this?
The Saint Hall should have quite a bit of money by now. He planned to first prepare a thousand or so Grain Abstention Pills for himself as backup.
You could never have too many pills. In which web novel cultivation story isn't the protagonist a pill-guzzler?
So, putting on his mask, he opened the crystal ball and contacted the Saint Hall in Jiangming City. Unexpectedly, only Hua Hu was there.
"How much money has been raised?"
"Eep! Reporting, Master, a total of three hundred thousand has been raised..."
"So little!"
Over there, Hua Hu looked like she was about to cry. "Master, since being acquired by the Ice Color Group, the company's capital flow has been strictly monitored. Several accountants have already been caught. We can't act recklessly, otherwise it would be killing the goose that lays the golden eggs..."
"Forget it, three hundred thousand is three hundred thousand. Transfer it all over."
"Um, now there's only one hundred thousand left..."
"What! Where's my two hundred thousand!"
"Miss Ruo Yun used two hundred thousand to forge equipment and maintain a Disaster Beast hunting team of over a dozen people. It's basically all spent..."
After a long silence, a low, muffled roar came from the other side:
"My money! She monopolized two hundred thousand by herself, and I get one hundred thousand! Am I supposed to thank her for that!"
In the crystal ball, the Saint Hall Envoy who had just called was in a state of magnificent fury.
Actually, Hua Hu also wanted to complain.
Three hundred thousand, she said to spend it sparingly, spend it sparingly, but in reality, most of it was spent by Ruo Yun.
Although forging weapons was her ability as a Magical Girl, she couldn't generate materials out of thin air.
Purchasing large amounts of materials, plus paying salaries to the team she established herself...
Two hundred thousand wasn't actually considered expensive anymore...
But the Saint Hall only had that much money.
What was left was even less than one hundred thousand. The shortfall was made up by Hua Hu digging into her own pocket...
"My Saint Hall, it seems to have become something she established!"
That wasn't wrong either...
Hua Hu thought. Up until now, the Saint Hall had basically been her raising money, and Ruo Yun spending it.
Because Lord Jiang the Demon Butcher basically didn't manage things and was hard to contact, Hua Hu couldn't very well oppose a Magical Girl.
"One hundred thousand is one hundred thousand then. Where is Ruo Yun now? Have her contact me immediately!"
"Report, Master, Ruo Yun has been out clearing Disaster Beasts. Ever since you said Grief Seeds could also be exchanged for points, she's been out exterminating Disaster Beasts and searching for remnants left by Disaster Beasts to make weapons!"
"Tell her! I'm kicking her out of the Saint Hall!" Jiang Si was furious. "Tell her to get lost, don't come back!"
"Yes, Master." Hua Hu was all smiles. Finally, she could get this ancestor to leave. Otherwise, who knew how much more suffering she'd have to endure. "Ah, right. Because we've been clearing Disaster Beasts and Witch Associations outside the city during this period, we've collected over seven hundred Calamity Eggs. Some were left by Chilian, and quite a few were left by other Witch Associations."
"Over seven hundred?"
"That's right."
Jiang Si was silent for a moment. "She only spent two hundred thousand? Does Ruo Yun think my Saint Hall has no money? Let her spend! Tell Ruo Yun to collect as many Calamity Eggs as possible. She won't be short on points."
"Ah? Master, but just now..."
"I told you to go, so go! Do you want to delay my opportunity?!"
"Yes, yes!"
Thinking of those over seven hundred Calamity Eggs, Jiang Si took a deep breath.
In the Witch Association, over a hundred contribution points were needed to exchange for one Calamity Egg, and one contribution point wasn't cheap.
Putting on his mask, he contacted Twins, who opened a live stream for him.
"Hello, family! Here's a live stream announcement. In about three days, I, Simo Tu, the East China Regional Director, will be undertaking a challenge from the Azure Cloud Sect."
Changing his surname shouldn't expose him now.
Imitating the Witch Association streamers he'd seen, he said:
"The challenge difficulty isn't high, four stars. One trip to the North Sea Demon Lair."