I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World

Chapter 52: Chapter 43: Warning

As the noon bell rang, Jiang Yuebai snapped back to reality, silently noting where she left off in the ”Mountain and Sea Monster Collection,” massaging her sore legs and channeling Spiritual Energy to relieve her fatigue.

At this moment, a black-robed cultivator with a goatee walked out of the hall, judging by the token on his waist, he was the Chief Executioner at the Foundation Establishment stage from the Law Enforcement Hall.

Jiang Yuebai’s heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly corrected her posture and knelt properly.

Zhu Wu approached Jiang Yuebai, looking down at her as he twirled his beard, releasing the full pressure of his Foundation Establishment stage Spiritual Pressure, then narrowed his eyes and questioned.

”Servant Jiang Yuebai, do you know your crime?”

Damn you, you bootlicker!

As soon as the thought arose, Jiang Yuebai was stunned. This emotional response wasn’t hers, it was Ye Shiming’s!

Zhu Wu glared, ”How dare you ignore my question!”

Jiang Yuebai maintained a respectful demeanor, quickly replying, ”No, no, I was just reflecting on my mistakes, feeling ashamed, and unsure how to respond. I’m young and not very eloquent.”

”You entered Yinfeng Creek from Ten Miles Slope unauthorized. Ordinarily, this minor breach wouldn’t warrant punishment. But why did you not report the cave you discovered timely? Moreover, why did you secretly escape with Lu Nanzhi and Xie Jingshan during your punishment period?”

What a clown!

Jiang Yuebai frowned, ”Yes, Chief Executioner, I understand your reprimand.”

Zhu Wu’s expression softened slightly, ”Considering you’re young and this was your first offense, and since you didn’t cause any major trouble, the Sect Master, in his generosity, won’t pursue the matter. Furthermore, for your contribution in discovering traces of the Evil Ghost, you are rewarded with one thousand Contribution Points. Be mindful in the future, understood?”

Slap me and then give me a date; do they really think I’m that stupid?

”Thank you, Sect Master. I will be cautious in the future and work hard to repay the sect.”

Jiang Yuebai bowed deeply, without any resentment. Insulting her a bit but giving her a thousand Contribution Points was definitely worth it. She wouldn’t mind a few more lessons like this!

”Collect your Contribution Points from the Inner Affairs Hall, and leave if there’s nothing else.”

Zhu Wu passed through the side door of the front hall, entering the back garden, where he bowed to an elderly woman amid the exotic flowers and plants to report.

”Sect Master, I have already reprimanded her.”

The old woman, with her head full of silver hair, exuded grace and nodded, asking, ”How did she behave?”

”She showed no resentment and was quite humble, not panicking in the face of my stern reprimand.”

”That’s a good temperament. She’s diligent in cultivation too, no wonder the girl Nanzhi wants to cover for her, and Jiuchuan likes her. Let’s observe her for now. If she can achieve Foundation Establishment within ten years like Jiuchuan, it’s not too late to nurture her further.”

With these words, the elderly woman walked beneath the plum tree.

”Five Spirit Roots are not without prospects, but they require more perseverance than Single Spiritual Roots. Go ask the Supreme Elder if there’s any response from the Upper Realm. If Wuwei Mountain Man cannot be found, Jiuchuan will truly need to undergo Shattering Elixir and Rebuilding. Tell the Supreme Elder not to cling to my leg crying when the time comes.”

”Yes, I’ll go immediately.”

＊

Walking down the mountain path, Jiang Yuebai furrowed her brow.

She felt overwhelmed by emotions that didn’t belong to her. She didn’t want to become someone as muddleheaded as Ye Shiming. What should she do?

At the mountain’s crossroads, Lii Jiuchuan paced back and forth, having waited there all morning.

Seeing Jiang Yuebai descending from a distance, Lii Jiuchuan’s lips curled into a slight smile; after taking two steps, his brow furrowed.

Jiang Yuebai usually walked in small, quick steps, sometimes cautiously like a fox, shrinking back.

But now, she was striding confidently, full of vigor, an attitude not typically associated with encountering something pleasant.

”Elder Lii!”

At the sight of Lii Jiuchuan, Jiang Yuebai’s face lit up as she sprinted down like a gust of wind.

”Elder Lii, I was just looking for you. Guess who the thousand-year-old grudge in Yinfeng Creek is tied to; you won’t believe it. It has an enormous connection with Wuwei Mountain Man...”

Without waiting for Lii Jiuchuan to ask, Jiang Yuebai, bursting to share, chirped away.

Both Lii Jiuchuan and she admired Wuwei Mountain Man, making this a shared topic of interest.

”So, you were almost possessed by Ye Shiming?” Lii Jiuchuan asked, eyes filled with concern.

Jiang Yuebai nodded then shook her head, ”Ye Shiming wasn’t bad; possession was unlikely, but I was indeed influenced by his memories. I was thinking of going to the Library to see if there’s a solution.”

Lii Jiuchuan sighed in relief; he thought she had been punished at Heavenly Chief Peak, which worried him. It turned out to be this matter, making his waiting here to comfort her unnecessary.

”The solution is simple: you just need to do something you’ve always wanted to do but were afraid to. It will help you release and strengthen yourself.”

”Something I’ve always wanted to do but was afraid of?” Jiang Yuebai blinked, pondering.

”Regarding Ye Shiming’s influence, you don’t have to resist entirely. His character and actions aren’t all bad. Accept what you agree with and use what you don’t agree with as a reminder.”

”He has rich experience and is likely more mature and stable in dealing with people and things. It’s better to select the best and embrace it, letting things happen naturally instead of being on constant defense.”

Jiang Yuebai furrowed her brow and nodded. It made sense.

”Additionally, the Library has a ’Turtle Shell Spell Collection.’ You only need to exchange for the ’Solid Consolidation’ spell inside, engraving it daily in your Sea of Consciousness with Divine Sense. Over time, it will stabilize your Divine Soul and strengthen your Sea of Consciousness’s defenses. In the future, if any external evil invades, you’ll be able to resist and have time to respond.”

”Thank you, Elder Lii. I was just worried about this.”

”Since there’s nothing urgent, I’ll escort you to the Inner Affairs Hall.”

Lii Jiuchuan produced a white jade bamboo scroll, tossing it into the air where it expanded and opened, clear and pure, exuding Immortal Qi.

The two sat on the bamboo scroll, heading slowly towards Heavenly Full Peak.

Jiang Yuebai couldn’t help but ask, ”Elder Lii, don’t you feel sorry for Ye Shiming? He was wronged for a thousand years, eventually facing obliteration, while Lin Jingyue ascended the Immortal Path, rising to great heights.”

Lii Jiuchuan glanced at Jiang Yuebai, her small age belying her wide knowledge, likely due to her experiences. Additionally, being influenced by Ye Shiming gave her another lifetime of wisdom, making it impossible to see her as a mere child.

”Many things in this world are not about right or wrong, just differing perspectives. The grudges between Ye Shiming and Lin Jingyue are their issues, not subject to outsiders’ judgment. But if you say the Heavenly Dao is unjust, that’s not necessarily true.”

Jiang Yuebai’s curiosity piqued, her eyes shining brightly.

”If you see records of Wuwei Mountain Man’s state of mind during Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and even Divinity Transformation, you’ll understand the depth of her Heart Demon. Each critical moment was life-threatening, her Heavenly Tribulations more perilous than those of other cultivators. She once mentioned a hundred thousand wronged souls; I didn’t understand at the time, but now I see the reason.”

”Didn’t she still successfully achieve Divinity Transformation though?”

Lii Jiuchuan chuckled, ”Without guilt or regret, she wouldn’t have a Heart Demon. Her repeated survival was due to the Yun Country people’s Incense Fire. She fought for Yun Country half her life, revered as a War God, with War God Temples everywhere. A hundred thousand wronged souls couldn’t surpass a million Yun Country Incense Fires.”

”Under the Heavenly Dao, the cycle of cause and effect follows its course. You’ve been influenced by Ye Shiming, already part of the scheme. Ask yourself, if not for Lin Jingyue’s influence, would Ye Shiming have surely won against the Yun Country’s invincible army with his hundred thousand troops?”

Jiang Yuebai was taken aback; indeed, she always thought Ye Shiming had been deceived by Lin Jingyue, causing the doom of a hundred thousand troops, but in truth, that war had seen Ye Shiming giving it his all.

Jiang Yuebai suddenly felt enlightened, yet she still believed Ye Shiming was somewhat thoughtless, overly focused on matters of the heart, whereas Lin Jingyue seemed more rational.

”In youth, love and desire can blind one from seeing the world. Some are ensnared, clinging to love, forsaking life. Others awaken, seizing the world, abandoning desire. Ye Shiming is the former, Lin Jingyue the latter.”

”And what about you?”

Lii Jiuchuan’s eyes held a subtle smile, glancing toward Heavenly Gang Peak.

With a glance, he returned his gaze outward.

”In a few days, I will retreat to stabilize my Cultivation. Should you have any cultivation problems, note them down first and ask me once I come out again.”

”Okay.”