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Chen Moqing looked at the fluffy little beast shaking with laughter and transmitted a message to him through sound, "You can hear him speaking to a certain presence?"
Cang Shun: [That presence has no physical form. I can’t hear its voice, but I can hear that fool saying some amusing things]
Chen Moqing gently pinched the furry paw with his fingers, "May I inquire?"
Cang Shun repeated the two sentences from earlier and sneered: [In any case, you should stay away from him]
Chen Moqing’s expression showed no surprise. He calmly stroked the soft fur under his palm.
—Just as expected.
He had previously suspected that there was a special presence beside this junior apprentice brother, ‘helping’ him in secret.
He didn’t expect this Demon Emperor to hear their communication. Could it be that the presence is similar to him?
Chen Moqing slightly lowered his gaze. When Cang Shun met his eyes, he immediately understood his meaning and declared loudly: [That sort of thing doesn’t deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as Benzun! They’re nothing but ghosts and goblins, and they can’t escape Benzun’s eyes]
Chen Moqing replied skillfully and indifferently, "As expected of the wise and mighty Demon Emperor."
Cang Shun hummed contentedly, lying on his arm with its soft fur draping down.
Xiao Jibai glanced at them subtly, thinking to himself how amusing this useless little spirit cat was, and how this person treated a useless creature like a treasure, even bringing it up the mountain—they probably wouldn't even make it halfway up the steps.
"Why does it feel increasingly exhausting to climb these mountain steps…"
After just a few dozen steps, some people were already unable to lift their feet, sweating profusely.
Xiao Jibai flicked open his folding fan and cheerfully stepped past them, "Excuse me."
Basking in the envious gazes of the crowd, he strode vigorously up each long step. Occasionally, he looked back, his eyes registering a slight surprise.
That low-level Qi Refinement cultivator carrying the useless spirit cat had actually managed to keep up, staying just one step behind him.
Xiao Jibai walked backward and tapped the fan against his palm, "Brother, you’re quite capable!"
"It's alright," he heard the man reply flatly, "I used to go up the mountain often to chop wood."
"......"
Xiao Jibai turned back around, amused inwardly. He looks refined, but turns out to be a country bumpkin.
Still, this is just the first half; he hasn’t even started trying. Soon, these country folk won’t even see the hem of his robes.
Xiao Jibai took a long stride and, under the wide-eyed stares of those behind, leaped up two steps at once, then charged upward step after step.
The mountain path gradually grew emptier. The snow-white little beast landed lightly, stepping on the rough bluestone steps, its slender tail ever so casually brushing against the soft hem of that person's clothes.
Wind swept through the forest, rustling the leaves, and dappled shadows scattered over the young human’s figure. His ink-black eyes, reflecting faint light, were calm and focused.
Each mountain step contained a trace of faint array formation energy. The higher one went, the deeper this energy became, creating a heavier sense of pressure for some.
Chen Moqing’s boots lightly touched the bluestone step. This time, he could sense the specific circulation patterns of the array formation energy.
A grand formation was buried beneath this towering, majestic mountain.
He took another step, spreading his divine sense, meticulously perceiving the spiritual vein currents and mana structure of this grand formation—soon, a familiar sensation arose, one he had also experienced while studying runes.
Indeed, the path of talismans shares the same origin and can interconnect.
Chen Moqing repeatedly simulated and rehearsed in his heart, attempting to reconstruct and replicate it using talisman techniques—at this moment, the long mountain-climbing steps also became a form of cultivation for him.
The higher he climbed, the lighter and faster his steps became, and the more composed his gait.
With each step he took, the array energy on every stone step he crossed began to circulate. The bluestone steps trembled slightly, forest leaves rustled, and the mountains resonated with a silent hum. It was as if the great formation within the mountain was awakening from a long slumber, opening its ancient eyes.
A gentle breeze brushed through his hair and lifted the flowing hem of his robe. In Chen Moqing’s ink-dark lake-like eyes, the towering green mountains had transformed into countless flowing currents of spiritual power, wisps of golden light drifting and wandering, converging toward one place—there lay the formation’s eye.
Behind the towering mountain gate of the Wanhua Sect, someone let out a surprised "Huh?"
"The grand formation left by the ancestor actually responded! It seems this time, the sect will gain another genius of array formation arts!"
The near-noon sunlight broke through the forest shade, warming his forehead until fine beads of sweat appeared. Xiao Jibai initially maintained a composed expression, leisurely waving his fan, but as time passed, the smile at the corner of his mouth gradually stiffened, and his stepping movements became faster and faster. From time to time, he would turn his head to look at the person walking alongside him.
"System! System!! This isn't right!" If the system had a physical form, he would want to grab it by the collar and shake it vigorously, "I have the Light-Body Pill you gave me, able to walk ten thousand miles as if on flat ground. So how is this happening with him?! Can't you make him slow down a bit?"
"Host, what others gain does not constitute your loss."
"Speak in plain language!"
"Today's points have been exhausted. Unable to exchange for items."
"You can't be serious, System! Are you just going to stand by and watch me get overtaken by some woodcutter?!"
"Host, do not belittle yourself unnecessarily. Keep fighting!"
"Of course I know I'm amazing! If my true self were here, I would have long since crushed everyone! But right now, I'm just an avatar! Damn it, nobody better think that just because they overtook my avatar, they're stronger than me!"
The more Xiao Jibai spoke, the more agitated he became, chattering incessantly. Of course, he was certain no one else could hear his words.
[So noisy]
[Don't you dare get too close to him]
[Trash like this can get into your former sect too? So your sect collects scraps]
[You're not scrap. They wouldn't take you]
Chen Moqing smiled faintly and reached out toward the snow-white little beast hopping up the steps one by one with its small legs, catching the tiny furry ball that bounced into his palm.
With his next step, he moved forward again, easily overtaking Xiao Jibai, who was desperately striding forward.
Xiao Jibai, "......"
"System! System, look at him!!"
After Xiao Jibai had wailed who knows how many times to the system, he suddenly realized that he had caught up to the person who had been leading before.
It seemed the other had finally grown tired; his breathing was slightly faster, and his steps had slowed.
Xiao Jibai’s eyes lit up. He raised his fan and said, "Brother, this won't do! There's still a long road ahead. You must be diligent!"
After speaking, he took the steps two or three at a time, immediately creating a gap between himself and the other person, leaving him far behind.
Chen Moqing watched his retreating figure and, unhurried, took a step back, beginning to observe the great formation beneath his feet in reverse.
A deep, resonant bell toll shook the mountains and forests, startling flocks of birds from the peaks.
At the entrance to Wanhua Sect’s mountain gate, Xiao Jibai stood with his hands on his hips, delightedly saying to the system, "I knew it! It had to be me in the end!"
He was the first to complete all the mountain steps. A good while after him, the second person appeared, then the third… Only after several dozen people did that Qi Refinement cultivator slowly climb up to the mountain gate, still holding that useless spirit cat.
Xiao Jibai thought to himself, ‘Hmph’, and waved, "Brother, I’m over here!"
The Qi Refinement cultivator raised his eyes and gave him a slight nod as a greeting.
Xiao Jibai couldn't suppress the smile at the corner of his mouth, thinking to himself: I'm just too strong. Look, I've crushed him so hard he can't even speak.
Tens of thousands of people had begun climbing the mountain steps before dawn. By sunset, fewer than a thousand remained.
"Not bad. All of you here possess talent in array formations. Now, line up one by one for your spiritual roots and bone structure test."
In front of the mountain gate, three Wanhua Sect cultivators came out carrying testing instruments, and the crowd divided into three lines. Xiao Jibai’s eyes shifted, and upon seeing the Qi Refinement cultivator carrying the spirit cat line up in another queue, he squeezed into the middle of the adjacent line, roughly aligning with him.
[Why is he always staring at you?]
A certain Demon Emperor’s voice seemed somewhat displeased.
Chen Moqing lowered his gaze, still transmitting sound in secret: [You don’t like him?]
[I don’t] Cang Shun said, [I see you don’t like him either. How about I let Benzun kill him?]
Chen Moqing, "It’s useless."
[Oh? So you’ve already killed him once before]
Chen Moqing didn’t answer. Cang Shun knew this was silent confirmation. After a couple of seconds, he said, very dissatisfied: [He’s staring at you again!]
Chen Moqing said leisurely, "Is Your Majesty the Demon Emperor displeased with him because he keeps looking at me?"
Cang Shun immediately fell silent.
For a long time afterward, this snow-white little beast remained quiet as a piece of wood, not uttering another word.
"Four spiritual roots, low-grade. Pass."
"Two spiritual roots, no cultivation aptitude whatsoever. Pass!"
The three long lines moved quickly, yet not a single person had decent spiritual roots. The cultivator in charge of the test frowned tightly, until the next girl timidly stepped forward and the instrument suddenly emitted a faint glow.
"Six spiritual roots! High-grade! Accepted!"
Immediately, a sect cultivator came forward to guide the astonished girl into the mountain gate, amidst the jealous gazes of the crowd.
"Brother, brother."
Behind Chen Moqing, a young man quietly nudged him.
"Can we switch positions?"
Chen Moqing stepped aside to make room. The young man gratefully stepped forward and said, "I’m Chu Luo! Thank you, brother!"
He started chatting with this amiable-looking peer, but they hadn’t been talking long when he noticed the snow-white spirit cat in the other’s arms glance at him.
Chu Luo suddenly felt a chill down his back, as if a cold breeze had blown from somewhere, and he shivered.
He dismissed it and continued chatting idly with Chen Moqing as before.
Cang Shun slightly raised an eyebrow.
Chen Moqing lowered his gaze, his eyes meeting the Demon Emperor’s in mid-air. After a few seconds, Cang Shun raised his eyebrow again, turned his head without a word, and flicked his tail, looking completely unconcerned.
"Five spiritual roots for the array path, medium-high grade. Eligible for entry."
Seeing the glow emitted by the instrument, Chu Luo was overjoyed. He turned and patted Chen Moqing on the shoulder.
"I passed! Brother Chi, I'll wait for you up ahead!"
[Is he that familiar with you?]
Cang Shun stared gloomily at Chu Luo's hand, uttering his first words after a long silence.
Chen Moqing didn't answer, stepping forward instead while activating the ‘Withered Wood Revival Decree’ order to slightly alter the aura of his spiritual roots for the talisman path within his spirit sea.
"Not bad. Also five spiritual roots for the array path. Admitted."
As Chen Moqing passed through the mountain gate, Chu Luo, who hadn’t gone far, saw him and immediately jogged back, "I knew you could do it!"
Just after he spoke, an exclamation rose from behind.
In front of Xiao Jibai, the cultivator testing his aptitude widened his eyes, "Eigh… eight!"
"How many years has it been… The Qingluan Prefecture has produced another world-shaking talent with eight spiritual roots!"
The corner of Xiao Jibai’s mouth lifted as he said to the system, "Keep it low-key, keep it low-key. Eight is enough. If I revealed my eleven spiritual roots, I’d probably scare them to death."
"Speaking of which, my senior apprentice brother had twelve spiritual roots for the sword path—unprecedented and never to be matched. I only have eleven. That’s unfair."
"System, how about you give me another Pinduoduo* big gift pack and let me group-buy it into twelve."
*t/n; Chinese shopping app.
As soon as he finished speaking, a points payment page popped up before his eyes, split into six hundred installments.
"Alright, forget I said anything. Anyway, that senior apprentice brother of mine is already dead."
He confidently stepped forward—and suddenly, his entire body ‘thudded’ to the ground, falling flat on his face.
Everyone stared, dumbfounded. Xiao Jibai lifted his bruised and swollen face and scrambled to his feet, "Haha, it’s fine, I’m fine!"
"Someone’s trying to harm me!!"
He roared at the system.
"No killing intent was detected just now."
"…Someone must be trying to harm me! Someone as talented as me is always envied by both heaven and men!"
Xiao Jibai wiped his face with his sleeve, and the bruised, swollen face returned to normal.
Even so, he still felt like there was a lot of whispering around him. Those mediocrities must be secretly laughing at him out of jealousy. With a cold expression, he stepped through the mountain gate.
Once past the gate, he saw that average-rooted Qi Refinement cultivator saying something to his spirit cat. Xiao Jibai immediately put on a bright smile again, "Brother, we meet again!"
The Qi Refinement cultivator raised his eyes, still giving him a faint nod, then lowered his head to stroke his spirit cat.
Xiao Jibai’s smile froze, and for some reason, he felt a bit irritated.
Chen Moqing transmitted a sound message to Cang Shun, "What did he say earlier? You seemed very angry."
[Who said Benzun is angry?] Cang Shun snorted. [Benzun doesn’t care about that kind of fool]
Chen Moqing, "Don’t touch him."
As soon as he finished speaking, Cang Shun narrowed his demonic pupils coldly.
[Oh? So he’s truly your dear old acquaintance, and you still show him mercy everywhere?]
Chen Moqing looked at this huffy snow-white little beast, calmly raised his eyes, and remained silent.
Cang Shun, "......"
So it is tacit agreement!
The snow-white little beast’s fur fluffed up slightly, turning into a big, puffy ball. It lifted its furry paw and tapped the hem of this human cultivator’s robe, again and again.
Even after being harmed like that, he still holds onto old affections for those people! What if some other old acquaintance appears later? Would they all be his good senior or junior brothers?!
...Why does he cling so much to past sentiments for others!
The snow-white little beast was so angry its fur got all tangled. It kept patting that sleeve, causing it to sway back and forth—then, the edge of the sleeve lifted slightly, brushed past the soft fur, and gently wrapped around him.
A slender hand settled among his fur, carrying a faint fragrance. He heard that clear, calm voice say, "It’s not that."
"I just hope you don’t finish him off entirely. Leave him for me to deal with personally."
Cang Shun: […Oh]
So that's how it is.
The snow-white little beast was nestled within the wide sleeve, being stroked on the head again and again by that slender hand. It stayed motionless, curled into a small ball of cotton-like fluff, its fur lying smoothly down.
"Brother Chi, your cat is really well-behaved," Chu Luo watched, itching to reach out—
Cang Shun glanced at him.
A sharp, claw-like pain seared across the back of his hand. Chu Luo let out a pained "Ow!" and clutched his hand, grimacing, only to find no wound on his skin.
Chen Moqing, "My apologies. He’s a bit fierce and doesn’t like being touched."
Chu Luo covered his hand and silently moved farther away, "So he only likes being petted by Brother Chi."
Cang Shun, "......"
Chen Moqing calmly pressed down on a certain ruffled Demon Emperor.
Outside the mountain gate, the spiritual root testing continued.
"Five… Huh? You have physical body path spiritual roots!"
The Wanhua Sect cultivator looked helplessly at the burly man in front of him, "We'll send you to the neighboring Body Sect. That's a great place for body cultivators."
The man said in a deep, muffled voice, "Immortal, I want to learn to be a array cultivator!"
The cultivator chuckled, "You? Well, you can still cultivate the array path without the corresponding spiritual roots, but your progress will be slower than those with roots. You'll inevitably fall behind."
"Anyone with cultivation aptitude can choose any path of cultivation—except in one situation: if you once had spiritual roots but they were destroyed, you can never step onto that path again."
"Heaven's gift, yet you couldn't protect it, so Heaven abandons you. So, cherish your physical body path spiritual roots."
The cultivator waved his hand, "Someone, take him away."
A swift wind swept through the mountain forest, stirring waves in the sea of trees. A figure stepped through the air, and behind the mountain gate, the Wanhua Sect cultivators all saluted in unison, "Elder!"
It was a face Chen Moqing wasn't unfamiliar with—Duan Ya, the person who had bid on his Thunderstrike Talisman at the Jinyin Pavilion a few days earlier.
"I heard a genius with eight spiritual roots has appeared?"
Duan Ya landed in front of Xiao Jibai.
"You must be the one who resonated with the grand formation left by the founding ancestor, correct?"
Xiao Jibai smiled confidently, "Exactly!"
Duan Ya stood with his hands behind his back, "Excellent. From today onward, you are my final disciple."
Xiao Jibai scratched his cheek, "Um, may I ask what your cultivation level is, Elder?"
"How bold!" a Wanhua Sect cultivator beside him said, "Elder Duan is the younger brother of the Grand Elder! His status is of the highest honor. How dare you speak recklessly!"
Duan Ya amiably waved his hand, "Enough. Those who do not know are not at fault."
Xiao Jibai complained to the system, "Isn’t this just nepotism? Whatever. With talent like mine, what do I need a master for? At least following him, I can live in comfort."
Then, smiling brightly, he performed a bow, "Master!"
Duan Ya leisurely replied, "Mmm," and casually swept his gaze over the others. When his eyes fell on Chen Moqing, they paused briefly.
"Your spirit beast is quite an interesting one."
He said only that and nothing more, but others understood the implication—it was a request.
Chen Moqing, "Thank you, Elder, for the compliment."
Then, holding the snow-white little beast unmoved, he showed no intention of letting go.
Cang Shun looked up at him and blinked.
The cultivator behind Duan Ya angrily spoke again, "Not even formally entered the sect, yet so ignorant of propriety!"
"Haha, it’s fine." Duan Ya said lightly with a faint smile, "Let him follow Elder Yun instead. They seem rather compatible in temperament."
That cultivator heard this, and his smile also became peculiar, "As Elder Duan commands! Shouldn't you thank the Elder for choosing a good placement for you?"
Xiao Jibai waved his fan and smiled. Beside him, Chu Luo seemed about to say something but lowered his head instead.
Duan Ya left with Xiao Jibai. Before departing, he tossed out a remark with a faint, ambiguous smile, "You have passed the aptitude test, but you are not yet formal disciples of the sect. In three months, there will be another test. Those who fail will be expelled from the sect."
[I see this sect also collects scraps]
Walking along a small mountain path, Chen Moqing heard Cang Shun's indifferent voice.
He calmly ruffled that little head, "As the number one major sect in Qingluan Prefecture, it naturally has its foundations."
Cang Shun raised his chin, pressing down on the back of his hand.
[If you had handed me over earlier, you wouldn't have offended that Elder]
His gaze drifted to the side, his tone sounding quite casual.
Chen Moqing, "Has Your Majesty the Demon Emperor forgotten that there is still a contract between us?"
Cang Shun clearly paused, instinctively grabbing his hand. He remained silent for a good half a cup of tea's time before remembering to let go.
[So, you refused those people earlier because of the contract?]
This time, the deep voice beside his ear noticeably lowered further.
Chen Moqing lowered his gaze, calmly looking at the snow-white little beast whose furry ears had drooped slightly, meeting those somewhat lowered demonic eyes.
He said, "You disliked others looking at me earlier—was that also because of the contract?"
Cang Shun: "......"
The snow-white little beast seemed to suddenly freeze, motionless, staring blankly with its round, glazed eyes.
After two seconds, it looked left, then right.
Then, acting as if nothing had happened, it lifted the edge of Chen Moqing’s sleeve.
Acting as if nothing had happened, it crawled inside, leaving only its furry lower half exposed.
It hadn’t heard a thing.
Chen Moqing, "......"
Co cute kekeke
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