Chapter 268: Act Together
Players calling their Sect Master “Mom” in private and meeting her in person were two different things.
Shuitan carefully observed.
Currently, Song Jiulai was not using her original face, so she shouldn’t be recognizable.
Yet, Shuitan could still discern something from Song Jiulai’s pretentious exterior.
After all, it was unlikely that a proper Sect Master would have such an improper System, wasn’t it?
Moreover, the Players suspected that the Sect Master and the System were the same person.
Regardless, Song Jiulai’s image in the Players’ minds was somewhat fractured, but no matter which aspect, they, as her children, would accept it!
Shuitan was a smart person, so he wouldn’t try to get too close to Song Jiulai or act overly familiar.
He called out in a very proper manner, “Greetings, Sect Master.”
“Hello, it’s thanks to you that I could enter this Secret Realm this time. There’s no need for such formality between us.”
Song Jiulai uttered a sickeningly sweet phrase and immediately changed the subject, “Where is this place?”
“Tangu,” Shuitan explained, “The Fifth Elder sent me here to retrieve a Spirit Material. There’s a Phoenix Cry Bamboo in the most toxic part of the miasma.”
Anyway, the System could hear their usual conversations, so Shuitan had no qualms about revealing secrets of the Guanhai Sect.
“Phoenix Cry Bamboo?” Song Jiulai was surprised, “That’s a Tier 5 Spirit Material. It must be guarded by at least a Tier 5 Demonic Beast. How could a Foundation Establishment Stage cultivator possibly deal with it?”
“There’s a way,” Shuitan extended his hand, and a piece of meat, still emitting a faint spiritual energy and aroma, appeared: “The Fifth Elder said this piece of meat can lure away that Tier 5 Demonic Beast.”
Judging by its color, it didn’t look like Demonic Beast meat.
It looked more like the meat of some kind of Spirit Beast.
Spirit Beasts weren’t just for Beast Taming; some ordinary Spirit Beasts were like the poultry raised by mortals, meant for eating.
This piece of meat before them was even more extraordinary.
Song Jiulai looked at the piece of meat, her eyes narrowing slightly, “The Fifth Elder wouldn’t possibly deceive you.”
She needed Shuitan’s body for Body Seizure. At this stage, anything the Fifth Elder had Shuitan retrieve would definitely be beneficial for Shuitan.
Shuitan nodded, “I thought so too.”
Since there was a motive concerning Shuitan, he had to help him grow faster.
And this Phoenix Cry Bamboo was the key Spirit Material for crafting the Earth-grade Magic Treasure ‘Vermilion Phoenix Whip’.
In the Cultivation World, although Foundation Establishment Stage cultivators could use Earth-grade Magic Treasures, Golden Core Stage cultivators could use better Heaven-grade Magic Treasures.
But Heaven-grade Magic Treasures were on a different level from Earth-grade ones.
They were rare and hard to come by.
Most Heaven-grade Magic Treasures that became available weren’t very good.
However, some Earth-grade treasures used extremely good Materials and could unleash power comparable to ordinary Heaven-grade ones.
Good Earth-grade magical treasures were sufficient for some Golden Core Stage disciples.
But ordinary disciples of Major Sects couldn’t obtain good Earth-grade magical treasures.
This Vermilion Phoenix Whip belonged to the elite among Earth-grade magical treasures.
If her estimation was correct, the Fifth Elder intended to use this Spirit Material to craft a new Magic Treasure for Shuitan to protect himself.
It was being prepared for his Golden Core Stage.
Because this Phoenix Cry Bamboo had no effect on Nascent Soul Stage cultivators and above.
Having Shuitan retrieve it was partly to train him and partly a reward.
As for why she speculated this, it was because the Senior Brothers and Sisters before him all had their own signature Magic Treasures.
It wouldn’t be fair for the ninth disciple to be at a disadvantage.
Thinking of this, Song Jiulai felt an indescribable envy, “Having a Master is indeed good.”
At least someone considered all aspects.
Even if this Master wanted the disciple’s life.
But if the disciple had a way to protect themselves, that was another matter.
Just as Shuitan was about to say something, Song Jiulai waved her hand again, “However, being watched is still dangerous. You need to be careful when acting within the Guanhai Sect in the future.”
Shuitan nodded, “Yes.”
Song Jiulai looked around, “Do you know where the Phoenix Cry Bamboo is in Tangu?”
The surrounding Valley was shrouded in a layer of Mist, and the distant areas were even blocked from Spiritual Sense penetration.
“I don’t know, we’ll have to search.”
Although the Fifth Elder mentioned the existence of the Phoenix Cry Bamboo, Tangu was not small, and they had to go in to find it.
Song Jiulai’s expression shifted, “This Secret Realm doesn’t have a time limit?”
Shuitan shook his head, “No limit. This seems to be a man-made Secret Realm, and the creator is still alive. I don’t have any more information.”
Song Jiulai beckoned, “Then follow me. Be careful. This Mist is likely Miasma.” She frowned, “It will affect Spiritual Energy.”
After only being here for a short while, Song Jiulai could already feel her Spiritual Energy slowly decreasing.
Shuitan also looked around, “They didn’t mention this when I came.”
If he had known, he would have told Song Jiulai earlier.
Song Jiulai nodded, “Stay behind me, I’ll lead the way.”
Although she was currently in the Foundation Establishment Stage, with her Spiritual Sense activated, she could observe much farther than Shuitan.
At this moment, in front of the Players, she, as the Sect Master, perfectly displayed the sense of responsibility and morality a Sect Master should possess.
From the moment Shuitan entered this Secret Realm, part of his attention was not on the Secret Realm itself.
After all, who wouldn’t be curious when facing Song Jiulai?
The outside World had already investigated Song Jiulai’s information countless times.
There were also many people who wanted to contact her.
However, various plans were postponed due to certain considerations.
Even though she was standing before Shuitan now, Shuitan knew that some things couldn’t be said.
Her foundation was not yet stable; this was a problem anyone could see.
Shuitan carried a mission from the country.
The country wanted to know too much.
Why was this Game chosen to be set in Huaxia, and why did the disciples Song Jiulai recruited only have pure Huaxia bloodlines?
How did this Game appear, and would it really disappear one day?
Actually, Shuitan wanted to say that the country wanted to know.
What kind of help did Song Jiulai need?
All these thoughts gradually subsided.
Shuitan lowered his gaze, deciding to observe for a while longer before making a better judgment.
If Song Jiulai wanted to contact them, she probably would have already done so.
Song Jiulai led Shuitan through Tangu. The Miasma here did indeed affect the recovery speed of Spiritual Energy, but fortunately, it was not a big problem for Song Jiulai, who had abundant Spiritual Energy.
Moreover, she discovered that when she circulated the Nine Transformations Dragon Bone Cultivation Method, the Miasma’s influence was gradually diminishing.
Huh, this thing not only strengthens the Physical Body but also reduces poison absorption?
However, upon further thought, this seemed to be within reasonable limits.
The place where they had landed earlier was a small lake. Moving slowly forward, they found that the path ahead was a dense Flower Forest.
These flowers were not like Peach Blossoms; they were blood-red, blooming on the branches.
It reminded Song Jiulai of red plum blossoms.
However, upon closer inspection, one would realize that this Miasma was gradually seeping from these red petals.
Since they were everywhere, the forest seemed endless, making the Miasma unavoidable.
“Hiss hiss—”
Suddenly, a faint sound came from somewhere.
Song Jiulai’s Spiritual Sense detected it first.
It was a Small Snake.
Blood-red and tiny, only about half the length of a normal person, far from the terrifying Demonic Beasts outside.
Yet, Song Jiulai still felt a dangerous Aura emanating from it.
