Chapter 7: Grasping the Essence

That night.

Upon hearing the news, Ye Yueqing was so furious that she was throwing things around the room, cursing wildly. If she hadn’t been afraid of being reported, she would have stormed straight to Chen Xu and berated him.

“He’s nothing but a useless wretch—can’t even handle such a trivial matter properly, yet he has the audacity to demand tribute from me!”

“He might as well have been beaten to death by that despicable woman—it would have ended everything!”

The few small followers standing silently nearby did not dare to intervene. Who would risk their lives trying to calm her down?

After a long while, Ye Yueqing finally regained her composure. She clenched the reflection stone tightly and said coldly, “Give him the tribute—let him shut his mouth for good.”

“Qingqing sister, what about this thing? Should we use it?” Liu Qianqian timidly held out a small jar with a narrow mouth—the item Ye Yueqing had asked her sister to procure, which had just arrived that evening.

Ye Yueqing glanced at it impatiently. “Put it away for now. We’ll decide tomorrow.”

Tomorrow was the day to clean the Ascension Steps.

Ye Yueqing had resolved to give Ji Ning one last chance. If Ji Ning still refused to cooperate, she would plead with her sister for help again.

So what if she was a sister mooch? Those who sneered behind her back were merely jealous—jealous of her fortunate fate and of having a genius sister.

On the other side.

Compared to Ye Yueqing’s frenzy, the Servants’ Hall was much calmer.

With the same kind of seeds, others could only grow first-grade low-quality herbs, yet Ji Ning was able to cultivate first-grade medium and even high-quality herbs, all while ensuring a high growth success rate.

Everyone pursued profit, including Master Wang.

Lingyun Peak, also known as Servants’ Peak, was a fool’s dream if one hoped to earn spirit stones through pill making, talismans, or formation devices.

The Medicine Valley and Spirit Beast Garden were the only two profitable ventures on Lingyun Peak.

Having entered the sight of Master Wang, who oversaw the Medicine Valley, the other responsible masters did not speak further.

Master Chen, who managed the Library Pavilion, felt a chill upon hearing this news. If this girl ended up under his supervision, he would surely be implicated. At that moment, his daytime enthusiasm for recruitment vanished completely.

At this very moment, Ji Ning was deeply engrossed in cultivation within the Medicine Valley.

Sitting cross-legged near a cluster of spirit herbs, surrounded by their fragrant aromas, she felt the spiritual energy refining into spiritual power. Her divine sense seemed to enter another realm.

She was fully aware of the growth state of every spirit herb, the tangled roots beneath the spiritual field, and the soil’s moisture and dryness.

Ji Ning smiled inwardly; this was faster than Master Wang’s inspections.

In this state, practicing the Wood Spirit Technique felt like a fish swimming freely in water.

Two hours later, Ji Ning finally comprehended the first level of the Wood Spirit Technique—the principle of endless vitality.

The spiritual power refined at this level inherited the characteristics of the wood element: resilient, tenacious, and possessing immense vitality.

When using spiritual power, the remaining power in the dantian would endlessly divide and replenish itself under the endless vitality principle, never truly depleting unless a one-time consumptive martial art was used. Thus, the dantian’s spiritual power would not run dry.

Ji Ning suddenly understood why she had won against Ye Yueqing in spiritual power contests—back then, she had likely already touched the edge of the first level of the Wood Spirit Technique.

This cultivation method was truly profound!

She only rose to leave in the deep night.

Under the quiet starlit sky, she walked home beneath the moonlight, the rustling of tree shadows and the gentle breeze lending a faint melancholy.

The little fox had long since been awakened by hunger, lying at the door waiting and colliding with Ji Ning as she hurried back.

How could anyone resist touching such an adorable creature?

Without hesitation, Ji Ning reached out her magic paw.

Moments later, the little fox shook its disheveled fur, grabbed the oil-paper-wrapped spiritual rice cake, and scampered off to feast.

After tasting it, the little creature licked its paws, closed its eyes, and purred softly before drifting into dreams.

The next morning, the first thing Ji Ning did upon waking was to kick the little fox off the foot of the bed.

The little one ran off, feeling wronged, squeaking its complaints.

“Squeak squeak squeak~ stingy ghost!”

Remembering that she had spent five tribute points on it just the day before, only to be called stingy today, Ji Ning felt an itch in her teeth and smiled brightly, saying, “No dinner for you tonight, starve away.”

“Squeak squeak squeak~ stingy ghost! Stingy ghost!”

...

Dressed and ready, Ji Ning stuffed her white storage pouch into her bosom, grabbed the large broom at the door, and set off.

Today, she was going to sweep the Ascension Steps.

Back then, Ji Ning had also squeezed through the crowds to climb these steps.

The Ascension Steps were no different from ordinary mountain steps—just a name to sound grand.

Ji Ning hadn’t done this task before but had heard about it.

The Ascension Steps were the foremost face of the Xuanzhin Sect.

Spring sweeping dust, summer sweeping ash, autumn sweeping fallen leaves, winter sweeping snow. Oh, and in summer, sprinkling water was necessary to dispel heat.

Now it was August, the perfect season for sweeping ash and sprinkling water.

Before heading to the Ascension Steps, Ji Ning made a special trip to the dining hall, bought two pots of herbal tea at Lingyun Post Station, poured all the tea into a gourd, and placed it in her storage pouch.

She also packed a meal, well prepared.

Because of last night’s incident, many recognized Ji Ning on the road.

Facing their warm gazes, Ji Ning carried her broom, straightened her small frame without a hint of shyness, smiling politely whenever greeted.

By chance, she also met Master Chen of the Library Pavilion.

Master Chen looked at her solemnly and said, “Disciple Ji, your actions yesterday were indeed reckless. If it weren’t for me and a few other elder brothers pleading for you, you might have already been expelled from Lingyun Peak.”

Ji Ning thought: What nonsense is he spouting? How can a decent person be so shameless?

She had thought through the key points before acting yesterday. Otherwise, she would have just beaten Chen Xu and left him behind secretly.

Of course, Ji Ning did not dare to voice her rebellious thoughts, so she smiled slightly and said, “Thank you, Master Chen. Your kindness and understanding are truly a blessing for the sect. The Library Pavilion’s important position truly cannot be without you.”

After exchanging pleasantries, they parted ways.

Only later did Master Chen realize the biting sarcasm behind Ji Ning’s words—that she was mocking him for never advancing or becoming wealthy.

Frustrated and helpless, he angrily flicked his sleeve and walked away, venting his anger.

When Ji Ning arrived at the Ascension Steps, Ye Yueqing had already arrived earlier and chosen her cleaning area.

Ye Yueqing swept the upper half while Ji Ning swept the lower half.

This meant Ji Ning had to start from the foot of the mountain, walking twice as far as Ye Yueqing back and forth.

With no one else around on the descent, Ye Yueqing no longer concealed her hostility and coldly said, “If you’re sensible and willingly become my follower, I won’t target you or your friends anymore. All past grievances will be forgotten. When you enter the outer sect, I’ll even introduce you to my sister. How about it?”

Watching the mountain path without a care, Ji Ning almost thought she was hearing things.

What day was this? Why were so many people speaking nonsense?

Ji Ning smiled, “Senior Ye, have you not woken up yet?”

“Don’t be ungrateful!”

“Is refusing to stoop to your level really ungrateful? Learn to use your words properly—how amusing!”

With that, Ji Ning turned away without looking back and quickened her pace.

She knew very well this was just a conciliatory tactic. Ye Yueqing was vindictive and would never sincerely make peace.

Even if she did, Ji Ning would never agree.

She was not yet masochistic enough to become a follower of her enemy.