Jiang Yuebai sent the Little Monk to Heavenly Cry Peak, but before she could say anything, a Communication Sword Light flew towards her.

The Sect Master wanted to see her.

Helplessly, Jiang Yuebai could only hand the Little Monk over to Qii Ming to settle him, leaving Jixiang to find its own food on the mountain without wandering off.

Jixiang rolled around in the grass, raised its small nose to sniff, and immediately its fur stood on end as it squealed and leaped towards Jiang Yuebai.

Unfortunately, Jiang Yuebai had already stepped into the air and left, leaving Jixiang to huddle trembling in the grass.

Rushing non-stop to the Heavenly Chief Peak Main Hall, Jiang Yuebai saw the Sect Master sitting at the head of the hall, her own master True Monarch Cang Huo, Sword Lord Guanhan, True Monarch Fantao, and two unfamiliar male True Monarchs who had returned from outside, seated on each side.

Along with the Great Elder of the Inner Affairs Hall, Gongsun Zhu, the Great Elder of the Elixir Hall, Master Bailu, the newly appointed Great Elder of the Hundred Weapons Hall, Yuu Qiuqi, Fang Yuxing, and several other Golden Core Masters were also present.

It seemed like all important figures in the Heavenly Interence Sect were here, except for the Supreme Elder.

Jiang Yuebai’s scalp tightened as memories of the past resurfaced: she remembered beating up the village chief’s precious grandson as a child, and upon returning home after wandering around, this was the scene she faced.

All sitting properly, waiting for her to return and face the family law.

Jiang Yuebai swallowed her saliva and walked in with heavy steps.

In the past two years, she hadn’t done anything bad, and even if she had, her master shouldn’t report her as soon as he returned, right?

Just as she set one foot over the threshold, Jiang Yuebai saw True Monarch Cang Huo’s eyes light up, and he sprang from his chair.

"Oh my, come and see our talented disciple who cultivated my ’Fire Refining Sky Secret Scripture’ and reached the Core Formation at twenty-nine."

Jiang Yuebai hesitated at the door, the Sect Master Wenn Ci was about to speak, but True Monarch Cang Huo’s interruption made him forget his words, so he glared at True Monarch Cang Huo in annoyance.

The other True Monarchs and Masters wore expressions of being at a loss for words, and Sword Lord Guanhan directly snorted coldly.

Seeing this situation, Jiang Yuebai relaxed completely; it wasn’t a criticism after all, but praise they prepared for her.

"Disciple Jiang Yuebai greets the Sect Master and all True Monarchs, and senior brothers and sisters."

Jiang Yuebai respectfully bowed, and Lii Jiuchuan nodded slightly, reminding her that no matter what happens outside, one must not lose manners in front of others.

Wenn Ci glared at True Monarch Cang Huo to make him sit down, and then he said to Jiang Yuebai, "It was hard work on this North Sea mission, Jiuchuan has already informed me about your matters. Right now, stabilizing your cultivation is the most important, let others deal with the trivial matters."

Jiang Yuebai nodded, understanding the so-called trivial matters were things like registration, changing the token, collecting monthly allowances, and so on.

After becoming a Golden Core Master, she no longer had to complete mandatory tasks, so she wouldn’t have any more debts; she was relatively free. Of course, she still had to pay contribution points for resources and cultivation.

"For a Three Spiritual Roots cultivator, Core Formation at fifty or sixty with diligence, and the fastest single spiritual root I remember is from the Guiyuan Sword Sect, forming a core at thirty-two. A Golden Core at twenty-nine with Five Spirit Roots is unprecedented in the entire Earth Spiritual Realm, but too much limelight leads to troubles, so..."

Lii Jiuchuan boldly continued the Sect Master’s line, "I suggested to the Sect Master not to hold a Golden Core Ceremony for you."

Jiang Yuebai nodded, "I actually had the same thought. Thank you, Master and Sect Master, for considering it for me."

In the North Sea, just the matter with the Winged Dragon would have brought her a lot of trouble. If someone suspected she took a secret treasure from the Dragon Palace, her facing pursuit from all sides would be inevitable.

Furthermore, those sect families with poor relations with the Heavenly Interence Sect might plot behind her back.

Not holding a Golden Core Ceremony was the right choice; making a fortune in silence.

Wenn Ci continued, "In the future, you may borrow any cultivation technique from the sect library, except the top floor. In the Ten Thousand Laws Hall, it is the same. You can have your own Research Institute, and recruit your own disciples and servants. Since you are cultivating the Patriarch’s lineage, visit the top floor of the library for enlightenment when convenient, and choose two magic treasures from the Hundred Treasures Pavilion for your protection. If you have any other requests, feel free to ask."

Jiang Yuebai smiled, "Not at the moment, if I do, I will certainly trouble the Sect Master."

Wenn Ci nodded with a smile, "I misjudged back then, fortunately, your Master has the insight to recognize talent, or else Heavenly Interence Sect would have missed an exceptional genius."

Jiang Yuebai smiled without speaking, and the other True Monarchs and Masters offered their congratulations and spoke words of praise and blessings.

Jiang Yuebai handled it all with grace, maintaining her composure throughout.

Although Sword Lord Guanhan was somewhat aloof, he sincerely congratulated her, and True Monarch Cang Huo was so enthusiastic that he was somewhat loud.

However... Sword Lord Guanhan’s disciple, Fang Yuxing, was standing beside him, fingers caressing the hilt of his sword, gazing at her with a high-spirited battle intent.

Jiang Yuebai was yet unaware that the "Three Hundred Method to Cry Sky Sword Peak" she left behind two years ago had caused so much damage to the disciples of Heavenly Sword Peak.

They talked until dusk before she left the main hall, and Jiang Yuebai went to visit the Supreme Elder. Arriving at Heavenly Leisure Peak, she found the Supreme Elder drunk, lying in the courtyard, unable to be awakened.

She hadn’t realized it before, but now she thought it must be hard for the Supreme Elder. Divinity Transformation cultivators couldn’t cultivate in the Earth Spiritual Realm and had to endure bitter days without being able to do anything.

She covered the Supreme Elder with a blanket and took away the half-finished wine before leaving temporarily.

Upon returning to Heavenly Cry Peak, Jiang Yuebai saw from afar several people waiting for her at the junction of Huaxi Valley leading to Heavenly Cry Peak.

Jiang Yuebai walked over, and they smiled, bowing in unison.

"Greetings to Master Wangshu."

Jiang Yuebai looked over from left to right, seeing Guo Zhen, who had grown a beard like Hong Tao, now an Outer Sect disciple at the Early-Stage Foundation Establishment. Beside him stood the now youthful Shi Xiaowu, still grinning foolishly, stuck at the Peak of Qi Cultivation with his Five Spirit Roots.

Qii Ming and Qii Yue, the brother and sister duo, had matured quite a bit—Qii Ming was nearing Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment, while Qii Yue had just stepped into Early-Stage Foundation Establishment.

Beside Qii Yue stood a twelve-year-old girl with delicate features and a bright smile, at the Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer, who Jiang Yuebai had brought to the Heavenly Cry Peak, Jiang Ziying.

This little girl had been attending her lectures at the Dharma Hall two years ago, and later achieved the Five Elements Wheel Bridge. It seemed she had been quite diligent over the past two years, already reaching Late-Stage Qi Cultivation.

After exchanging congratulations, Jiang Yuebai chatted with them, asking about their lives over the last two years, and found that things were pretty much the same.

Guo Zhen took Shi Xiaowu to manage Huaxi Valley, and the Yuan Nourishing Tea Seedlings she had left behind were successfully cultivated and spread throughout the sect, keeping the master-disciple duo incredibly busy.

Qii Ming was in charge of Heavenly Cry Peak, while Qii Yue was still an apprentice at Ten Thousand Laws Hall, having successfully earned an Eighth-Grade Puppet Master Token.

However, Shi Xiaowu was a source of frustration for Guo Zhen, having failed Foundation Establishment once, unsure if he would succeed the next time.

Leaving the others to their tasks, Jiang Yuebai took Jiang Ziying back to Heavenly Cry Peak, questioning her about her cultivation progress over the past two years and clarifying some doubts.

"...Are you still researching the grafting method for Spirit Plants I left with you?"

Walking along the mountain path, Jiang Yuebai asked.

Jiang Ziying answered respectfully, tension evident all over her, "I’ve been learning it continuously, but I’m too dense. In the past two years, I’ve only managed to cultivate one plant, and it’s always being upended by Danggui... never mind."

Jiang Yuebai looked at Jiang Ziying, noting the cat hair from Danggui stuck to her head, apparently indicating many scuffles between them over the past two years.

"One plant is already quite an achievement; don’t belittle yourself. If you’re interested, keep researching. When your experience accumulates to a certain level, you’ll have a breakthrough, and after that, you’ll find everything less daunting."

Jiang Ziying nodded vigorously, "I’ve accumulated some issues with my cultivation over the past two years; may I seek your guidance?"

Jiang Yuebai felt a moment of apprehension, "Um, how many issues are ’some’?"

Jiang Ziying reached into her waist pouch, retrieving a notebook, "Qii Yue Shishu told me that you used to record problems in your self-bound notebook for easy reference, so I did the same. Over the past two years, I’ve accumulated...this much."

Jiang Ziying held up a notebook two fingers thick, which made Jiang Yuebai feel slightly overwhelmed.

At this moment, she saw her master’s Tunneling Light returning from afar, landing in front of the hall midway up the mountain.

Jiang Yuebai’s eyes sparkled, grabbing Jiang Ziying and rushing over.

"Master, this is Jiang Ziying, whom I’ve mentioned; she constructed the Five Elements Wheel Bridge as an Early-Stage Qi Cultivator, you should test her."

She then turned to Jiang Ziying, "This is True Monarch Jiuchuan. He is particularly fond of diligent and inquisitive disciples. Do your best; I have a little monk waiting for me, so I’ll be off!"

Jiang Yuebai waved and dashed off.

Left behind, Jiang Ziying nervously glanced at Lii Jiuchuan, whose gaze fell upon the familiar notebook in her hand, feeling faint.

Ah, my troublesome disciple!

Taking a deep breath, Lii Jiuchuan maintained a gentle demeanor, "Follow me, let’s first assess your understanding of the fundamental rules of the Five Elements."

"Yes!" Jiang Ziying’s eyes brightened, feeling both honored and surprised.

Jiang Yuebai ran straight to her small courtyard at the foot of the mountain, not daring to look back.

"That was close!"

Meow～

Awo～

The cries of Danggui and Mountain Lord Qionglin emerged from the bamboo forest by the path, as Jiang Yuebai crept closer, suppressing her aura, only to find the big and small creatures crouching harmoniously together, facing away from her, seemingly conspiring with their meows and awoos.

"What are you two up to?"

Meow awo!

Danggui leaped three feet high in fright, while Mountain Lord Qionglin pounced flat on the ground, turning a guilty gaze towards Jiang Yuebai, realizing she had reached Early-Stage Golden Core cultivation. His eyes widened, and he pressed down firmly on whatever lay beneath his paws with both claws.

Jiang Yuebai squinted, recognizing a familiar mouse tail protruding from under the Mountain Lord’s paw.

Squeak!

Jiang Yuebai:......

With the matter exposed, Mountain Lord Qionglin picked up Jixiang with a bite and dashed away.

"Let go of my Jixiang!!"

With Jiang Ziying chasing Danggui over the mountain, Jiang Yuebai pursued the Tiger Lord across the peaks.

Meow～～