Chapter 25: So-called Class Privilege

Ji Yao did not give a direct answer to Ling Ru’s barrage of questions, instead choosing a vague and ambiguous reply.

“When I was alone once, I saw someone using what you called demonic spirit energy,” she said.

This sentence could be interpreted in many ways.

Ling Ru understood it to mean that before meeting her, Ji Yao had encountered a demonic cultivator without realizing it, and had even fought them. She did not believe that someone as clever and cautious as Ji Yao would venture outside Guangqi City alone to face such a foe.

Before this, the two had almost always been together. If Ji Yao had had such an encounter, there was no reason for Ling Ru not to know about it.

Ling Ru’s interpretation, which she felt was flawless, spared Ji Yao from lengthy explanations.

Following up, Ling Ru asked, “So when you heard me mention devouring demons, you thought of that demonic cultivator, didn’t you? He must have been much more powerful than you?” Otherwise, she wouldn’t have been so pale with fright.

Of course, considering Ji Yao’s state at that time, Ling Ru did not voice the latter part.

Ji Yao had only meant to avoid answering directly, but Ling Ru’s reasoning had neatly tied up the loose ends, seamlessly connecting to the earlier, distant topic. Ji Yao was both stunned and quietly relieved; the matter was finally settled, even if not by her own words.

After careful consideration, Ji Yao nodded. “He was much stronger than me. I couldn’t defeat him, got injured, and used the only earth-escape talisman I had to flee.”

Her words were brief, stating the facts plainly and leaving room for Ling Ru’s imagination. Should Ling Ru ever learn the truth, Ji Yao could not be blamed, for she had not lied.

Ling Ru did not ask further, instead offering comfort. “Luckily, you had the talisman to escape—fate smiled on you. Are your injuries from then fully healed?”

Ji Yao breathed a sigh of relief and smiled again. “Didn’t you just check? What else worries you?”

“You’re right,” Ling Ru said, not dwelling on the matter anymore. Her mood shifted, and she brought up the real reason for her visit.

Ling Ru took several pill bottles from her storage bracelet and handed them to Ji Yao.

“These are for you, all refined recently. I know you don’t like relying on pills, but besides energy-gathering pills, there are some for healing. Better to have them than not.”

They had agreed on this arrangement long ago. Ji Yao understood Ling Ru’s concern, accepted the bottles without hesitation, and Ling Ru was satisfied.

“These pills were just practice for me. My rapid progress in cultivation lately is thanks to gains from alchemy,” Ling Ru explained.

Ji Yao knew that many pure pill cultivators often advanced in this way and couldn’t help but admire Ling Ru’s talent.

“By the way, I haven’t congratulated Senior Sister Ling on her promotion yet!” Ji Yao laughed, clasping her hands in salute.

“Enough with the flattery! If you don’t need those energy-gathering pills, trade them for spirit stones. Just because you don’t need them doesn’t mean others don’t. Remember to share half the profit with me!” Ling Ru tapped the table beside her, reminding Ji Yao.

“No problem! Thanks again, Senior Sister Ling!” Ji Yao knew that many outer disciples and servants could never have enough energy-gathering pills, so even if she didn’t leave the mountain, she could easily sell them.

“All right, it’s getting late. You’d better hurry back or risk punishment!” Ling Ru glanced at the hourglass in her cave dwelling and urged Ji Yao.

“Yes, I’m leaving now!” Ji Yao was about to rise when Ling Ru handed her a jade talisman.

“This is a high-grade message talisman. We’ve stored each other's aura in them. Unless we’re very far apart or blocked, we can keep in touch at any time,” Ling Ru said, showing her own matching talisman.

Ji Yao once again marveled at the privileges of their rank. As outer disciples, they used low-grade message talismans—one-use slips with short range. The personal disciples and true disciples received high-grade talismans upon entry, while even inner disciples had to buy them with spirit stones. Less wealthy inner disciples still struggled with low-grade talismans.

This was convenient, sparing her from going through the sect’s administrative hall every time for messages. Ji Yao was not one to deny herself, and knowing Ling Ru did not lack spirit stones, she accepted the talisman readily.

Taking the task token Ling Ru had crossed off, Ji Yao happily returned to the outer sect’s administrative hall to submit her task.

It wasn’t that Ling Ru didn’t want to visit her in the outer sect, but Master Zhaoming had forbidden wasting time on unnecessary people. Besides, the outer sect was chaotic, with many possible spies from other sects—quite normal.

Returning to her small courtyard, Ji Yao discovered that the other female disciple who shared the yard was not inside.

As night had not fully fallen, Ji Yao paid it no mind, entered her own room, closed the door, and began her cultivation.

Outer disciples of Lingyun Sect lived two to a courtyard. The reception hall was shared, with two rooms on either side belonging to each disciple.

The woman who lived with Ji Yao was at the eighth level of Qi Refining. Judging by appearance, she looked only about thirty, but the deep lines around her mouth gave her an air of gloom.

Because the woman left early and returned late, Ji Yao had only seen her a handful of times in the five months since joining.

Ji Yao cultivated until midnight. When she finished, she noticed her neighbor’s room was still empty. Seeing the rare opportunity, she slipped into the Sumeru Space.

She had not entered since her injury healed, as there was always someone nearby. Now, with the courtyard empty and protected by a formation, she decided to take a look.

Upon entering, she immediately sensed something different. Beneath the great tree outside the bamboo house, a rocking chair swayed gently. A woman in moon-white robes reclined sideways, her back to Ji Yao.

The woman rested her hand against her forehead, as if gazing into the distance. Her dark hair was gathered in a simple topknot, secured by a plain jade hairpin, with the rest cascading down her back in gentle waves.

“You’re here—come closer,” the woman said without turning, lifting her other arm and beckoning Ji Yao.

Ji Yao, pleased and excited, hurried forward to stand behind her.

“Senior Sitou, you’re awake? Have you recovered?” Ji Yao asked.

The woman on the rocking chair lowered her arm, rose languidly, and slowly turned, pointing to a spot in front of her.

“Where did you get this?” she asked.

Ji Yao’s first glimpse was of the woman’s profile—her brows arched like distant mountains, her eyes shining like stars, lips curved in a faint, enigmatic smile.

Following her gesture, Ji Yao saw a black stone, ugly yet oddly familiar.

“Beian City. Senior, do you recognize it?”

“This?” The woman tapped her chin thoughtfully. “It’s quite a treasure.”