She turned around, throwing down a high-grade spirit stone that clattered on the ground.

She said hatefully: “Your grace today, Li Gate will never forget!”

As she finished speaking, her poisonous gaze swept over the four female cultivators in the corner.

The meaning was crystal clear – this white-robed female cultivator would henceforth be not only Mu Lanqing’s enemy, but the enemy of the entire Li Gate.

With these words, what rogue cultivator in the city would dare associate with Liu Changning and offend the entire Li Gate?

After saying this, Mu Lanqing led the two women and one man quickly out of the restaurant without looking back. No one saw the handsome blue-robed man’s lips curl imperceptibly as he left, his light blue eyes full of calculation.

As for this side, the Tianxin Sect disciples who had been threatened by Mu Lanqing were full of anger. But the senior disciple Chen Suxin didn’t seem to mind. Li Gate was weak now, with disciples of varying quality. They were barely clinging to their place among the Ten Great Sects.

She didn’t care much about the threat from some spoiled disciples of a cultivation sect.

What interested her was the white-robed woman by the window who hadn’t truly made a move from start to finish. Earlier when her spiritual energy fluctuated, though still at Foundation Establishment, she was able to strike down the natal spiritual weapons of Golden Core cultivators.

At first she thought the white-robed rogue cultivator had hidden her cultivation level, but upon careful examination, there was nothing unusual about the spiritual energy around her – it was indeed Foundation Establishment realm. Only Tribulation Passing stage great powers could conceal their aura so perfectly.

If not a great power, there was only one possibility – her internal spiritual energy was rich, her spiritual roots pure, and her cultivation method superior. Such cultivators often had deep karmic luck and could defeat enemies across realms.

Chen Suxin leaned more towards the latter guess. Even if there was a heaven-sent Purple Star in the cultivation world, it was impossible to become a Tribulation Passing stage great power at the age of twenty.

With such great potential, this woman’s future was certainly limitless.

Her mind turning over a hundred times, Chen Suxin stood up and walked over without pause.

At this moment, having just experienced a battle between cultivators, the timid ordinary people had already fled.

The second floor was empty except for them.

Walking up to the white-robed female cultivator, Chen Suxin greeted her warmly: “Sister, your technique is excellent. I am the head disciple of the Tianxin Sect’s sect leader. I just saw you defeat the Three Tyrants of Li Gate across realms – truly impressive.”

Liu Changning lifted her eyelids slightly but showed no intention of responding. Only coming forward to watch the show at this point – outwardly dignified and proper, with an extraordinary status, but full of concerns and many thoughts.

Such people lacked a bit of valor and didn’t meet Liu Changning’s standards.

She opened her mouth, about to dismiss the person.

But the little black bird in her arms let out a hoarse cold snort, its bean-sized eyes sliding over with a trace of disgust as it glanced sideways at Chen Suxin.

“Master, this human doesn’t smell bad, but the greasy aura is making me uncomfortable. Why don’t we leave…”

Liu Changning’s fingers paused as she stroked the black bird’s feathers. Master? This word was good. Thinking of Phoenix Ancestor later in bed, imagining the sight of him enduring and begging while calling her master.

The old cadre’s heart stirred. She lowered her gaze, meeting the little black bird’s bean-sized eyes steadily.

The corners of her lips curled slightly, her thin lips parting as she spoke in a cold tone with a barely perceptible trace of huskiness: “Master? Very good.”

The oblivious little black bird awkwardly turned away, shaking its suddenly raised feathers, its eyeballs rotating with difficulty.

A chill ran down its spine that wouldn’t dissipate. Pei Ziyuan was a bit dazed, wondering if it had been cursed. The sense of danger lingered.

Liu Changning looked at the little black bird’s wary appearance and rubbed the tuft of hair on its head.

She raised her eyes and smiled apologetically at Chen Suxin, who stood awkwardly not far away: “Please forgive me, friend. My spirit beast has a big temper and speaks bluntly. There was no intention to offend.”

After speaking, she hugged the little black bird, straightened up, and slowly walked away. She didn’t even glance at the four from Tianxin Sect.

Chen Suxin was stunned for a moment before calling out to her retreating figure, trying to curry favor: “Sister, you’re also participating in the sect disciple selection in a few days, right? You’ve offended Li Gate now, but don’t worry. My Tianxin Sect welcomes you at any time.”

The white-robed woman didn’t answer, her figure growing more distant as if she hadn’t heard.

Chen Suxin watched her receding figure, a glint flashing through her eyes.

Behind her, the three female disciples were indignant.

“Senior Sister, how unreasonable of that female cultivator. With such an attitude, why bother recruiting her into the sect?”

“Yes, this person was so disrespectful to Senior Sister. Does she really think she’s a heaven-sent Purple Star?”

…

The junior sisters were furious.

But Chen Suxin just smiled without speaking. Talent was hard to come by. If this woman tested as having Single Spirit Root or above at the trial grounds in two days, she would definitely report to the sect elder and snatch her into the sect.

The reason Tianxin Sect had long maintained its position among the top Ten Great Sects was not only because of the support of Tribulation Passing stage ancestors in the sect, but also the successive disciples with extraordinary talents.

Therefore, whenever the Ten Great Sects recruited disciples in Wuya City, once a good seedling appeared, not only their sect, but all Ten Great Sects would reach out to grab them.

The only regret was that this woman seemed uninterested in her overtures.

Chen Suxin lowered her eyes, a determined light flashing through them.

—

Liu Changning didn’t return directly to the inn. In early spring, Wuya City was brightly lit, with lanterns hanging high.

People streamed through the streets and alleys. Street vendors pushed carts, hawking various small items.

Liu Changning took the little black bird to browse the lively market. Though Pei Ziyuan complained of boredom, when they entered the night market, its bean-sized eyes rolled around.

Seeing his hypocritical appearance, Liu Changning deliberately took him to browse the night market a while longer.

When they returned to the inn, the streets had gradually emptied of people.

Liu Changning carried the little black bird through the dark alley entrance, winding through seven or eight turns. Thanks to her good memory, otherwise she would have gotten lost.

When passing through the alley closest to the inn, something happened.

The deep alley was empty, moonlight spilling onto the ground paved with blue stones. The scenery in the alley was indistinct, the pebbles appearing oddly shaped under the moonlight, particularly strange.

As soon as Liu Changning stepped into the deep alley, she sensed something was wrong. The surroundings were silent, without even the sound of insects or birds.

As soon as she entered, a chilling cold hit her face.

When she wanted to retreat, it was already too late. The enemies hiding in the darkness had clearly come prepared, following Liu Changning as she stepped into the deep alley.

The array formation in this alley was activated, separating it from the outside world.

Liu Changning looked down and exchanged a glance with the little black bird. The little black bird’s expression remained unchanged as it said hoarsely: “This is an isolation array.”

Liu Changning reached out and tapped the chin of Pei’s ancestor, a look of understanding crossing her face: “Killing someone in Wuya City will get a cultivator expelled from the city. Setting up an isolation array, it seems they want to kill me?”

The little black bird flapped its wings, looking suspiciously at the female cultivator who seemed calm without a trace of panic, and reminded her: “Cultivators who possess isolation array talismans are not to be underestimated. You should know that one array talisman sells for an astronomical price in spirit stones at the Qizhen Pavilion. Ordinary cultivators would never use them.”

Liu Changning’s gaze softened. She lifted the little black bird close, her eyes meeting its, and asked gently: “Thank you for your concern, Ancestor. You’re so good to me. Why don’t I join the Dunshi Xiangong after the sect recruitment in two days and take you as my master?”

Under the moonlight, her tea-colored eyes sparkled with starlight. The moonlight cast a halo around her, making her jade-white face appear even more translucent.

Her expression was focused, her breath fanning across its face.

Pei’s ancestor’s heart skipped a beat, that subtle trembling sensation terrifyingly returning.

He awkwardly turned away his gaze, grumbling in embarrassment: “Fickle junior, one moment wanting to take this venerable one as master, the next moment thinking of taking me as… my master, hah! Put away your delusions… hmph!”

The little black bird ranted angrily, spouting nonsense. When it looked up again after finishing its tirade, the woman in the moonlight was just chuckling softly, her chest rising and falling, making him rise and fall along with the magnificent softness, completely melting into a puddle of black mud.