Chapter 52: The New Junior Disciple

High in the sky, Ji Ning flew while remotely sensing the location of Su Youji, which was a cave dwelling built atop a mountain peak. Outside the cave dwelling sat eighteen figures cross-legged.

“Why are there eighteen World-level cultivators staring at a cave dwelling?” Ji Ning muttered to himself.

…

Inside the cave treasure.

The captured tall, thin World-level cultivator looked at the white-robed youth in terror and quickly said, “Spare me, senior.”

“You’re sensible. Answer my questions well, and since we have no prior enmity, I naturally won’t kill you unless necessary.” Ji Ning said calmly. His incarnation, formed from half his divine power, could easily kill this World-level cultivator.

“Understood.” The tall, thin World-level cultivator nodded repeatedly.

No kidding—he had been caught in an instant without even being able to struggle, so he understood the gap. He even suspected that the white-robed youth might be a Dao Lord in disguise. Now that he was trapped in the other’s cave treasure, how could he dare not be sensible? Knowing when to yield was wise.

“I ask you.”

Ji Ning pointed at the void beside him, and an image of part of the East Smoke Branch of the Huilan Sect materialized in midair, including the cave dwelling and the eighteen World-level cultivators sitting cross-legged before it.

“Who lives in this cave dwelling?” Ji Ning pointed at the cave on the peak.

“That is Senior Sister Qingfan’s cave dwelling,” the tall, thin World-level cultivator said quickly. “Senior Sister Qingfan has profound strength, at the peak of the World level, and ranks among the top ten in our East Smoke Branch.”

Ji Ning nodded and pointed again, asking, “Why are there eighteen World-level cultivators surrounding her cave dwelling?”

“Does senior know Senior Sister Qingfan?” the tall, thin World-level cultivator asked softly.

“Speak.” Ji Ning frowned.

“Senior, Senior Sister Qingfan is indeed in big trouble now, so her cave dwelling is under surveillance,” the tall, thin World-level cultivator said quickly. “When she and two other senior brothers from the sect were out adventuring, they met a female cultivator from outside called the Fire Fairy. Senior Sister Qingfan became very close with that Fire Fairy.”

A fierce glint flickered in Ji Ning’s eyes.

Fire Fairy?

“I heard they met in a dangerous place left by the ‘Flying Immortal Saint Lord,’ saved each other’s lives, and went through life-and-death dangers together. In the end, the Fire Fairy obtained a statue of the Flying Immortal Saint Lord,” the tall, thin World-level cultivator said. “The Fire Fairy later came to our East Smoke Branch with Senior Sister Qingfan…”

The tall, thin World-level cultivator chuckled slyly. “There’s some awkward business here.”

“Speak.” Ji Ning barked.

“Yes, yes, yes, I’ll speak,” the tall, thin World-level cultivator said quickly. “Back then, besides the Fire Fairy and Senior Sister Qingfan, there were also two senior brothers who went through the dangers together. After Senior Brother Baihu returned to the branch, he immediately reported to the East Smoke Sect Leader. I heard the East Smoke Sect Leader coveted the Fire Fairy’s treasures and planned to kill her for them.”

Ji Ning’s pupils contracted.

“Killing for treasure is very common, especially since the Fire Fairy was said to have extremely powerful insect beasts and puppets, as well as the Flying Immortal Saint Lord statue, and possibly other treasures,” the tall, thin World-level cultivator remarked. “But who would have thought that Senior Sister Qingfan would notice something wrong at a critical moment and join forces with the Fire Fairy to resist, even hiding inside the cave dwelling. In particular, the Fire Fairy stayed inside and refused to come out.”

The tall, thin World-level cultivator explained, “In our Huilan Sect, it is forbidden to forcibly enter a World-level disciple’s cave dwelling without an order from the main sect leader. This is a sect rule, so the East Smoke Sect Leader has no way to deal with it for now. He can only send loyal subordinates to watch and is probably thinking of other methods.”

“The East Smoke Sect Leader wants to kill the Fire Fairy.”

“Senior Sister Qingfan wants to protect her.”

“So Senior Sister Qingfan has had a hard time lately. I heard she hasn’t left her cave dwelling at all.” The tall, thin World-level cultivator stole a glance at Ji Ning, guessing that this powerful cultivator might have some special relationship with Senior Sister Qingfan.

“Let me ask you again: what are the formations and restrictions of the entire East Smoke Branch?” Ji Ning inquired.

The tall, thin World-level cultivator obediently told him everything he knew.

…

High in the sky.

Ji Ning flew toward the distant cave dwelling, thinking to himself that while it was easy for him to enter, taking Su Youji out would be difficult. After all, this was the mountain gate of the East Smoke Branch of the Huilan Sect. If the formations and restrictions were activated, it would be a huge problem.

“Swoosh.” Ji Ning quickly dove down.

“Hm?”

The eighteen World-level cultivators sitting cross-legged before the cave dwelling all looked up and saw Ji Ning.

“Who are you?” a black-robed old man asked coldly. “I don’t recall seeing you before.”

“I am Beiming. Greetings, fellow Daoists.” Ji Ning smiled. “I just joined the Huilan Sect, so I don’t know most of the senior and junior brothers and sisters yet.”

“Oh, a new member?”

“So you’re a new junior disciple.”

These eighteen World-level cultivators were only here to keep watch. Apart from the leading black-robed old man, most were not particularly high in status within the East Smoke Branch. They were generally polite to fellow disciples.

In normal sects, people recognized each other by their aura.

Once seen, they were remembered.

Only in places like the Twelve Palaces, where there were too many experts scattered across endless territories, would the Great Rulers personally refine ‘identity tokens.’ Such tokens that could resonate with each other were not easy to make. Even the ‘Snow View Diagram’ could resonate, but even inferior ones were costly and complex to refine. The Huilan Sect, with over five thousand World-level cultivators, naturally couldn’t afford such measures.

These eighteen did not suspect Ji Ning of impersonation. Where were they? This was the home base of the East Smoke Branch! There were hundreds of World-level cultivators here, along with the guardian grand formation personally laid down by ‘Huilan Dao Lord,’ and countless complex formations and restrictions.

Which World-level cultivator would dare to cause trouble here? Looking for death?

“Why have you come here, junior brother?” the black-robed old man asked coldly.

“To see Senior Sister Qingfan,” Ji Ning said with a smile.

“Hm?”

The black-robed old man and the others all changed expression slightly.

“What is your relationship with Junior Sister Qingfan?” the black-robed old man asked.

“Senior Sister Qingfan once showed me kindness. Although she only gave me casual guidance back then, I have always remembered it. After breaking through to the World level, I came to join the Huilan Sect, and now I am here to thank Senior Sister Qingfan,” Ji Ning said.

The black-robed old man frowned and looked at Ji Ning for a moment, then said coldly, “Go ahead.”

Over the years, quite a few had visited Qingfan, but none had managed to rescue the Fire Fairy, Su Youji.

“Senior Sister Qingfan.” Ji Ning walked to the entrance of the cave dwelling and called inside, “Senior Sister Qingfan! Senior Sister Qingfan!”

After calling several times,

Ji Ning vaguely saw a white-clad woman appear inside. She drifted over and saw him.

Ji Ning immediately sent her a voice transmission: “To save Youji, cooperate with me.”

Hearing this, Fairy Qingfan was startled. The East Smoke Branch was small, and news of the Fire Fairy had spread, but very few knew her real name was Su Youji. Moreover, the white-robed youth carrying a sword on his back was a complete stranger.

“Senior Sister Qingfan, back when you guided me, I have now finally broken through to the World level and come to join the Huilan Sect,” Ji Ning said with a grateful expression. “Thank you for your guidance back then.”

“I only gave you a casual pointer,” Fairy Qingfan said with a faint smile. “I didn’t expect that the Ancestral God from back then has now become a World-level cultivator.”

Their conversation was audible to the eighteen World-level cultivators in the distance.

But their voice transmissions were unknown to them.

“Who are you?” Fairy Qingfan transmitted. “Hmph, help Youji? That fool tried this trick before. Don’t think you can easily enter my cave dwelling.”

“Tell Youji a sentence, and she will know who I am,” Ji Ning transmitted.

…

Inside the cave dwelling, in one of the rooms.

Su Youji sat cross-legged, serene and composed.

“Sister Youji.” Divine power surged beside her, condensing into an incarnation—Fairy Qingfan’s incarnation. Her true body was still conversing with Ji Ning at the entrance, deliberately using an incarnation to relay the message.

“Sister Qingfan, what is it?” Su Youji opened her eyes and looked at Fairy Qingfan in confusion.

Fairy Qingfan quickly asked, “Someone wants to see you?”

“See me? I don’t know many people in the East Smoke Branch,” Su Youji said doubtfully.

“He said… his name is Ji Ning,” Fairy Qingfan said.

…