CHAPTER 257: 255. LING YUN WHO WANTS TO ESCAPE (1/4)

"Sect Leader, thank you, I’ll return the sword to you."

With that, Zhao Yi handed the sword back to Wen Ping.

Wen Ping did not take it, "Return it to me once you find your aunt."

Zhao Yi nodded, expressed his thanks, and entered the room quietly, his silhouette showing a trace of loneliness.

Yang Lele and the others hurriedly followed in concern.

"Brother Zhao."

"Brother Zhao."

Everyone spoke in unison, inquiring about what happened.

Zhao Yi didn’t hide anything because they were his friends, almost like family—after spending so much time together, what couldn’t be shared?

"My aunt might be coming to find me."

Yang Lele paused halfway through her sentence, realizing it wasn’t appropriate, she quickly kept quiet, "Isn’t your family..."

"Isn’t what?"

The newcomers like Lin Kewu didn’t know Zhao Yi’s situation and quickly asked.

"Our Zhao family was exterminated, I’m the only one who survived." Zhao Yi responded in a low mood.

Lin Kewu and the others awkwardly forced a bitter smile.

"Sorry, I didn’t mean it."

"It’s alright, Brother Yang and the others already know."

Yang Lele continued the conversation, "Then your aunt?"

Zhao Yi responded, "My aunt joined a sect and hasn’t been home since childhood. The only memory I have is the Flying General Sword that the sect leader bought. That originally belonged to my father; one day he told me he gave it to my aunt. Only then did I know I had an aunt. But then, there was no news of her for seven or eight years, and everyone thought she died."

"Did she know you survived and is coming to find you?"

"It should be like that."

Zhao Yi nodded.

At this time, Qin Shan came over and said, "Don’t worry, the City Lord’s Mansion has thousands of people helping to search, you’ll find her soon."

Zhao Yi responded, "Thank you."

Huan Shan immediately stood out and promised, "As long as she’s in Cangwu City, my father will definitely help you find her."

"Thank you."

Zhao Yi finally showed a trace of a smile.

Qin Shan said, "Alright, everyone go out to cultivate, the big competition is the day after tomorrow."

"Mm."

Everyone responded and exited the room.

...

Once outside, everyone continued to cultivate.

Of course, due to the infusion, they were also practicing the Circulation Technique to perform the Circulation of Heaven.

As the night deepened, everyone prepared to return to the house to rest. Before leaving, Yang Lele said, "By the way, I’m going down the mountain to buy swords tomorrow morning, anyone coming along?"

The Sword Control Skill technique was already in their minds.

Just missing a sword.

Yang Xi responded, "I don’t have a sword."

"Me neither."

"Same here."

Everyone responded.

Huan Shan quickly said, "Then let’s go together, I know where to find the swords of the best quality. If we can’t buy them, you can get one from my family’s armory, full of precious swords from Cangwu City!"

"Great!"

"Let’s go together then."

Everyone responded.

On another side, Wen Ping found Luo Mi, who was still cultivating.

Luo Mi had a sword in his Storage Ring, currently learning how to maneuver it skillfully. Undoubtedly, Luo Mi was the fastest in cultivation among everyone, thanks to the Enlightenment, which at least put him ahead by ten days.

However, with only two days left, achieving Minor Success seemed a bit challenging.

To Wen Ping’s surprise, Hua Xiaozhu had actually managed to make her sword fly.

No, to be precise, it floated.

The sword was still wobbly, unable to face an opponent.

Admittedly, her progress was absurdly quick.

"System, could she be the Innate Sword Cultivator?"

"Possibly."

The system responded with another perfunctory answer—possibly.

Then, Wen Ping walked to the back of Yunlan Mountain, intending to see his Jianmu Tree.

With the upgrade of Tingyu Pavilion, the daily purchase capacity of Jianmu Tree Species reached ten, exactly the number needed for the ten White Crystals earned by Biyue Piaoling to max out the daily purchase.

Within four days, a small Jianmu Forest appeared behind Yunlan Mountain.

The earliest planted Jianmu had grown nearly two meters tall, its branches lush and its leaves countless, with a tendency to cover the sky. Hard to imagine, after ten years of irrigation with Spiritual Water, it would turn into what kind of sight.

Just this small piece of Jianmu Forest pleasantly surprised Wen Ping as it provided more Wood Qi than a large forest. Wen Ping tested the Changmo Technique by absorbing Wood Qi without depleting the tree’s production of Wood Qi; Jianmu continuously supplied Qi without interruption.

Just then, a loud crash was heard.

Ling Yun was thrown beside the Jianmu Forest.

Wen Ping glanced at her, noticing blood seeping from the corner of her mouth.

Seeing Wen Ping, she quickly got up and shouted, "Sect Leader Wen, help!"

Before Wen Ping could ask what happened, the Red-eyed Giant Ape emerged from the base of the mountain.

As it walked, it cursed incessantly.

"Running? Where can you run to?"

Upon hearing this, Wen Ping could guess the gist; Ling Yun likely couldn’t endure and attempted escape but was caught by the Red-eyed Giant Ape.

Wen Ping also noticed Hei Ze watching from a nearby treetop with a schadenfreude expression.

It was unclear if he’d grown fond of the current life or simply resigned to the inability to escape, helplessly accepting the present days.

Wen Ping waved his hand, coldly saying, "Enough."

"This king treats her sincerely, yet she finds an opportunity to flee." The Red-eyed Giant Ape stood angrily, grumbling as it rolled up its sleeves.

Ling Yun, fearing its stance, shouted again, "Sect Leader Wen, I won’t dare again."

Wen Ping ignored Ling Yun, directly speaking to the Red-eyed Giant Ape, "Good job; when this mountain’s covered in those trees, I’ll return your Golden Shuttle Leaf."

Wooden Flowing Sand wasn’t secured, and other materials were useless sitting around.

Better to give the Golden Shuttle Leaf to the Red-eyed Giant Ape to help it become an Upper Profound Realm Demon King; thus, ensuring the planting squad’s efficiency.

From Mitian Sect’s Half-Step Divine Profound and two Middle Profound Realm individuals, he obtained nearly a hundred White Crystals and some Vein Techniques, assuring his idea to construct a Jianmu Forest.

Of course, the Vein Techniques were valuable, selling them could yield over a hundred White Crystals. However, he’d have to wait for the next exploration task to go out and sell.

With the existing hundred White Crystals plus the medicine fee from treating Biyue Piaoling, Wen Ping planned to first establish the Jianmu Forest, allowing for easy realm advancement later. As for the sect’s daily income, Wen Ping naturally used it to gradually upgrade sect buildings.

Currently, the sect’s supplies were sufficient.

Of course, he planned only a small Jianmu Forest now.

A hundred trees!

To maintain rapid realm cultivation.

Plant too many, and future upgrades for Tingyu Pavilion would be difficult.

The next upgrade required 300 White Crystals.

Hearing Wen Ping’s words, the Red-eyed Giant Ape immediately rejoiced.

Not good with words, it could only express joy but then glared at Ling Yun, angrily saying, "Away with you! Your ploys are useless; old woman only knows trickery! This king would be a fool to trust you again!"

Ling Yun retreated to the side, while Wen Ping told the Red-eyed Giant Ape to leave too.

Subsequently, Wen Ping walked into the depths of Jianmu Forest, executing his Changmo Technique at the fastest speed, fiercely devouring the Wood Qi the Jianmu produced.

One night equaled a month’s cultivation!