: Another Relic

What does it take to survive in this world of cultivation?

A young cultivator would surely answer that it was due to courage and hard work, but Qingxuan was no longer a young cultivator.

She knew better than anyone how difficult it was to cultivate to the Golden Core realm in a small sect; she had seen it all before.

He knew all too well that to thrive in the world of cultivation, it all boiled down to two words: having powerful backers!

In this world, the five holy lands control the vast majority of cultivation resources, while the next-ranking forces share the remaining resources.

Without a powerful force to back you up, you think you can cultivate immortality? Keep dreaming.

Even if one manages to cultivate to the Golden Core realm by chance, they will still be targeted by various forces under various pretexts, and in severe cases, they may even be killed.

That's how difficult it is for independent cultivators. It's so easy to target an independent cultivator; just by labeling them as an evil cultivator, they can kill you openly.

That's right, not demonic cultivators, but evil cultivators.

Labeling someone a demonic cultivator could easily offend the Purple Extreme Holy Sect, so the cultivation world invented a new term: evil cultivator.

What constitutes a heretical practitioner? That's not important. What's important is that if you don't have a powerful backer, and someone accuses you of being a heretical practitioner, then you are guilty and will die.

It was precisely because he was well aware of the wickedness of this world that Qingxuan was so determined to devote himself to Buddhism.

But after hearing Yu Zhao say that he had befriended the senior disciple of the Dragon Tiger Holy Land, Qingxuan's mind immediately started working, and she felt that she had found a better place to go.

So he quickly pressed Yu Zhao, "Zhao'er, how did you and Young Master Zhang meet? Tell me in detail."

Actually, that wasn't what Qingxuan really wanted to ask. What she really wanted to ask was, "Does Young Master Zhang intend to marry you as his Daoist partner?"

The reason she didn't ask directly was that Qingxuan realized it was inappropriate to speak like that. After all, she was a Golden Core cultivator, and how could she act like a pimp?

But what she didn't know was that Yu Zhao still saw the clue in her eyes and immediately understood the true thoughts in the heart of this cheap master.

After a moment of contemplation, Yu Zhao spoke:

"Brother Zhang said I resembled an old friend of his, and thought I might be a descendant of that old friend, so he wanted to take me to the Dragon Tiger Holy Land to have the elders of the Holy Land do some divination."

Yu Zhao had thought this through carefully. It would be very inappropriate to directly say that she might be a descendant of the previous Celestial Master. Putting aside the fact that she didn't quite trust Qingxuan, the ambiguous relationship between Qingxuan and the monk Huizhen was an information that could not be revealed.

If Qingxuan sells her, how will she get to the Dragon Tiger Holy Land?

So Yu Zhao changed her wording, and to others, her new wording didn't seem like a big deal.

Even if it were leaked, people would only think that she had some kind of relationship with Zhang Yanqiu, rather than associating her with the previous generation of Celestial Masters.

The difference between the two is huge.

Just as she had expected, Qingxuan did not take Yu Zhao's words seriously. She became even more convinced that this young master Zhang had taken a liking to Yu Zhao.

She knew perfectly well what it meant to be a descendant of an old friend. It was just a way of trying to get closer to him.

Thinking of this, Qingxuan's smile grew even brighter. She raised her hand and gently touched Yu Zhao's hair, saying tenderly:

"In that case, after the Ullambana Festival, you and your junior sister can go to the Dragon Tiger Holy Land together as a kind of travel. I will pick you up from the Dragon Tiger Holy Land when I am done with my work."

It's obvious that Qingxuan wants Yu Zhao and Zhang Yanqiu to get closer, and then use that relationship to turn around and join the Dragon Tiger Holy Land.

Yu Zhao readily agreed on the surface, and even expressed concern for Qingxuan, telling her to be careful while she was busy with her own affairs.

Qingxuan was very pleased, and the three of them chatted for a while longer, creating a warm atmosphere.

After sitting in the room for a while, Qingxuan left, eager to explore a historical site with the monk Huizhen.

After she left, Yu Zhao's expression changed instantly, and she said to Shen Yunshu indifferently, "Junior sister, it seems that we will only have each other left again."

Knowing Yu Zhao well, Shen Yunshu understood that her senior sister meant she intended to sever ties with her cheap master.

She felt a little regretful. She quite liked this cheap master, but compared to her senior sister, her senior sister was definitely more important.

Qingxuan never imagined that she would completely extinguish the feelings Yu Zhao had for her with just a few words.

In Yu Zhao's view, Qingxuan wanted to sell her as his disciple in order to gain the protection of the Dragon Tiger Holy Land.

No matter how nicely it's said, that's the essence of it.

This directly crossed Yu Zhao's bottom line. She wouldn't dare to have such a master. Today he might sell her to Zhang Yanqiu, but tomorrow he might betray her for greater benefits.

Even if there was only a sliver of a possibility, Yu Zhao wouldn't dare to gamble. She was extremely cautious and walked on thin ice; she wouldn't dare have a teammate like that.

In her opinion, Qingxuan was too calculating. She would scheme against anyone to achieve her own interests, and such a person was too dangerous.

Therefore, Yu Zhao made a plan: if the Dragon Tiger Holy Land was a good place, she would completely sever ties with Qingxuan after leading Shen Yunshu inside.

Alas! My master, how wonderful it would have been if you had died on this journey.

Or you could just stay quietly in the Buddhist community; I hope you won't make things difficult for your disciple.

Yu Zhao has never liked fighting and killing, especially killing his master. He has already killed one, and killing another would be too outrageous.

If this gets out, it will damage her reputation.

After all, no righteous cultivator would be obsessed with killing their master.

……

Sunrise and sunset, time flies.

Before they knew it, the time for the Ullambana Festival arrived. Early that morning, the young monk Kongxiang knocked on Yu Zhao and the others' door.

After Yu Zhao and Shen Yunshu came out, they found Zhang Yanqiu and Mu Feng there as well. Seeing that the three men seemed to have a good relationship, Yu Zhao was curious about what had happened between them during this time.

How did we become so close?

Although she was curious, Yu Zhao couldn't bring herself to ask such gossipy questions, so she simply nodded calmly to Zhang Yanqiu and Mu Feng as a greeting.

Shen Yunshu, on the other hand, was much more lively. She looked the three of them over and then asked with a smile, "The three of you seem to get along very well. Where have you been playing together lately?"

"Junior Sister Shen is joking. I did have a very pleasant conversation with Senior Brother Zhang and Senior Brother Mu, but it was not on purpose that I didn't include you and Junior Sister Yu."

Seeing that you've all been engrossed in your cultivation lately, I don't want to disturb you.

The young monk Kongxiang thought Shen Yunshu was complaining that they didn't include her in their play, so he began to explain.

However, the reason he didn't invite Yu Zhao and Shen Yunshu along wasn't because he couldn't bear to disturb their cultivation, as he claimed. Rather, he felt that Zhang Yanqiu had ulterior motives towards Yu Zhao and seemed to be trying to abduct his junior sister.

He naturally didn't want Yu Zhao to have much contact with this guy.

It wasn't that he had any romantic feelings for Yu Zhao; he simply put himself in the position of an older brother.

No older brother would want his younger sister to have contact with men outside the family. Although Senior Brother Zhang is a very good man, if you want to marry his junior sister as your Daoist partner, you have to pass his test!

This little thought naturally didn't escape Yu Zhao and Shen Yunshu's notice, but they were too lazy to point it out. Yu Zhao thought these young boys were childish and didn't want to bother with them.

Shen Yunshu found the little monk Kongxiang very interesting and fun.

At the same time, she secretly approved of the young monk's behavior. That's how it should be done. The people outside are all bad, and we can't let them taint our senior sister's eyes.

If possible, Shen Yunshu even wanted to find a place to lock Yu Zhao up, so that she wouldn't see any outsiders, and the cave would only have the two of them for company.

Therefore, she naturally wouldn't expose the young monk Kongxiang's thoughts; in fact, she quite liked the young monk and gently patted his arm.

"Senior Brother Kongxiang, you're doing very well. Keep it up."

The young monk Kongxiang: "???" What the hell? I'm already pretty good?

Junior sister, what are you talking about?

Realizing he couldn't understand Junior Sister Shen's words at all, the young monk Kongxiang didn't dwell on it and changed the subject:

"The Ullambana Festival is just around the corner, so we've come to ask if you'd like to attend?"

Fearing the two women might not know the procedure for this grand event, the young monk Kongxiang added:

"The first day is a prayer ceremony, where great masters of our Buddhist sect will preach and pray for blessings. If you are not interested, you may not go. The second day is for the elites to discuss the Dao."

Upon hearing this, Shen Yunshu immediately lost interest. She knew nothing about Buddhism, so why should she listen to anything?

So he looked at Yu Zhao and asked her, "Senior Sister, do you want to go?"

"think."

Yu Zhao spoke concisely, and she really wanted to listen. She had mastered Buddhist palm techniques and cultivation methods and wanted to supplement her knowledge of Buddhism so that if the external power-up provided her with Buddhist techniques or cultivation methods in the future, she would be able to understand their rationale.

"Since you want to go, senior sister, then I want to go too."

Although Shen Yunshu wasn't interested, she naturally wanted to go since her senior sister was going.

As she spoke, she naturally took Yu Zhao's arm and said to the young monk Kong Xiang, "We're ready, senior brother, please lead the way."

The young monk Kongxiang smiled and said nothing more. Led by him, the group headed towards Famen Temple.

On the way, Zhang Yanqiu took the initiative to strike up a conversation with Yu Zhao.

"Junior Sister Yu, are you aware of the recent discovery of a ruin in the Western Regions?"

"Junior Sister Yu? What does that mean?" Mu Feng, who was walking ahead chatting with the little monk Kong Xiang, turned around and raised an eyebrow at Zhang Yanqiu after hearing this address and asked.

Zhang Yanqiu returned a cold look, and the guy immediately became obedient, continuing to pester the little monk Kongxiang to chat about this and that, creating opportunities for his senior brother to talk to the beauty.

Upon hearing Zhang Yanqiu's words, Yu Zhao shook her head, her tone cold: "I haven't heard of that. I haven't left my house these past few days. Could Senior Brother Zhang tell me the details?"

Although she didn't seem enthusiastic, Yu Zhao was extremely interested. Relics meant opportunities. Her last exploration of relics had yielded a bunch of treasures and allowed her to meet a powerful and unfathomable figure. She loved relics very much.

"This site is two thousand miles away from Prajna City. I heard it is very special, as it allows those at the Golden Core stage to enter. You should know that most sites are restricted to those below the Foundation Establishment stage."

Such relics, which allow advancement to the Golden Core stage, must contain great opportunities. Although the dangers are considerable, we cultivators are inherently fighting against fate; how could we fear danger?

Upon hearing Zhang Yanqiu's words, Yu Zhao immediately guessed what Qingxuan had gone to do; she must have gone to explore the ruins with the old monk Huizhen.

Good heavens, they didn't even reveal a single piece of information to their apprentice.

"Judging from what Senior Brother Zhang said, you're planning to go and investigate?" Yu Zhao asked.

"I have this idea; I wonder if you, Yu Zhao, are interested?"

Zhang Yanqiu only asked Yu Zhao, without mentioning Shen Yunshu. Clearly, in his eyes, Shen Yunshu was too weak, and entering such a ruin would mean certain death for her.

In fact, he didn't even invite the young monk Kongxiang or his junior brother Mufeng, because they weren't qualified.

The reason he invited Yu Zhao was that he could vaguely sense that Yu Zhao was very strong. Although Yu Zhao was only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, he gave him a very dangerous feeling.

He speculated that Yu Zhao, with his mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation, could fight against a Golden Core cultivator, and given that Yu Zhao possessed lightning techniques, defeating a mid-Golden Core cultivator would not be a problem.

Even if I can't win, I can at least save my life.

If the two of them join forces, they will surely be able to gain something from the ruins.

"I am indeed interested, but if even a Golden Core Realm senior can enter the ruins, I'm afraid it will be difficult for you and me to gain much."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yanqiu no longer concealed his opinion and decisively stated:

"Junior Sister Yu, don't worry. Although I'm only at the peak of Foundation Establishment, I can fight against Golden Core cultivators. If any Golden Core cultivators provoke us, even if we're surrounded by them, I can protect you!"

Zhang Yanqiu spoke with great confidence, but it made sense. As the senior disciple of the Holy Land in this generation, he must have many trump cards in his hands. Yu Zhao even suspected that this guy had ways to protect himself even under the hands of a Nascent Soul expert.

"In that case, let's go, but I'll be taking my junior sister with me."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yanqiu frowned slightly and glanced at Shen Yunshu beside Yu Zhao. "Excuse my bluntness, it's too dangerous for your junior sister to go in with her cultivation level."

"Don't worry about that. I'll take responsibility for my junior sister's safety and make sure she doesn't hold us back."

Yu Zhao insisted on bringing Shen Yunshu along for two reasons. First, because of Shen Yunshu's luck, he believed that with her there, they would definitely find something good. Although there would be danger, the high risk and high reward made it worth the gamble.

Secondly, she had only known Zhang Yanqiu for a few days and didn't trust him at all. Having one of her own people with her would provide an extra layer of security.

If Zhang Yanqiu becomes greedy for money, the sisters are confident they can turn the tables and kill him if they join forces.

While the possibility is slim, it's not zero either.

Seeing that Yu Zhao insisted, Zhang Yanqiu couldn't say anything more; he had to give his junior uncle face.

"Alright then, Junior Sister Yu, allow me to prepare. We'll set off in two days."

Originally, he only brought Yu Zhao, so there was no need to prepare anything. But now that there was an extra burden, Zhang Yanqiu planned to call another person.

They need to call another Golden Core cultivator to protect them.

Although the Holy Land will definitely send Golden Core cultivators to explore this time, they may not necessarily follow behind to protect them.

Zhang Yanqiu needs to find a Golden Core cultivator who will follow his lead.

"Senior brother, can I join you?" Mu Feng tried to make his presence known again.

Zhang Yanqiu's response was a single word: "Get lost!"

Hiring a Golden Core cultivator to protect one person is expensive enough; hiring another one is like expecting him to starve in the future.

"Waaaah! Senior brother, you're heartless! We're brothers!"

"If you keep acting like a little girl, I'll cut you down with my sword."

Mu Feng immediately became obedient, but he still muttered, "If you don't take me with you, I'll find someone to team up with myself."

Who doesn't have a few fellow Daoists?