The news that Xuantian Sect had discovered an upper-grade spirit stone vein quickly spread to the other sects.
It was said that Baili Muchen, the sect master of Hunyuan Sect, was so furious that he couldn't sleep for several days.
The sect masters of the other two sects were also so angry that their stomachs churned with sourness.
However, the upper-grade spirit stone vein discovered by Xuantian Sect was only an accompanying vein, and with Blood Tiance having consumed a good portion of it, a rough estimate suggested only about ten thousand pieces remained.
Converted into lower-grade spirit stones, that would be around one hundred million.
For the other three sects, especially Hunyuan Sect, that amount wasn't too significant.
So, though they were jealous, it's within limits.
Regardless of whether others were envious or not, the people of Xuantian Sect were overjoyed, thank the heavens, thank the earth, thank Little Junior Sister Feng Xi!
For a time, Feng Xi basked in endless glory within Xuantian Sect!
Whether it was her daring sneak attack on Blood Tiance or her key role in discovering the upper-grade spirit stone vein, both were enough to make her shine brilliantly.
If it had been someone else, they'd have become arrogant long ago.
But Feng Xi showed no change at all. She still rose early each day to greet Xiao Baidao and remained polite when meeting her fellow disciples.
Everyone in Xuantian Sect fully approved of her. The only flaw was her cultivation.
Unable to cultivate, her future was limited.
In fact, she might not even live for many more years.
Xiao Baidao worried himself sick over this matter. He privately told Feng Xi, "My disciple, never take the risk of using spells again. You were lucky this time that nothing major happened, but if your dantian were to shatter, you wouldn't survive."
Feng Xi first nodded obediently, then said, "Master, I don't know if it's because I took the Ziqiao Linglong Fruit, but it seems like I've developed a new Fire Spirit Root."
Xiao Baidao: "..."
Nonsense!
Spirit roots are fixed, no one's ever grown a new one halfway through life!
Then he saw a small flame flicker from the tip of Feng Xi's finger.
Xiao Baidao: "..."
"Master, not only did I grow a Fire Spirit Root, but my dantian injury also seems to have improved. The Ziqiao Linglong Fruit is really amazing!"
Actually, when Xiao Baidao had checked Feng Xi's condition earlier, he'd already noticed some improvement, but hadn't paid much attention.
Now hearing this, a thought arose in his mind.
"My disciple, while you were unconscious, I fed you a Nine-Turn Rebirth Pill, an extremely rare heaven-grade pill.
Perhaps that pill accidentally helped mend your dantian injury.
As for the Fire Spirit Root, maybe you were originally a Three-Spirit-Root constitution, but when you entered Hunyuan Sect the test had an error.
Like Shen Zhilan, when she first entered, she had dual Water and Wood roots, but later it was revealed she possessed a supreme-grade Water Spirit Root.
Unfortunately, the Nine-Turn Rebirth Pill is something one encounters by chance, not by seeking. I only obtained one by sheer luck back then, otherwise, if you could take a few more, your dantian injury might fully heal."
Feng Xi smiled sweetly, echoing his words and silently gave herself a thumbs-up!
Now, with Xiao Baidao's explanation, her future dantian recovery would have a perfectly reasonable excuse.
She really was a clever little fox!
That day, Feng Xi counted on her fingers, six days left until the Tianhen Secret Realm opened. She had to finalize the situation of her mount.
So, she strolled over to the beast pens.
The Golden Maned Suanni's huge eyes stared at her, its gaze somewhat complicated.
It too had heard about her recent glorious deeds, everyone in the sect had been singing her praises to the skies.
The Golden Maned Suanni thought that it's the only one in Xuantian Sect still sane. Only it knew her true nature.
Cunning, devious, utterly shameless!
Feng Xi clasped her hands behind her back and lifted her small face, "Little Goldie, have you decided yet? Are you coming with me to the Tianhen Secret Realm, or are you going to keep rotting here like an old useless trash?"
Golden Maned Suanni: "..."
You're the useless trash! Your whole family is useless trash!
Feng Xi yawned, "I still have to go back and take my nap, so hurry up and give me an answer!
If you're coming, roar a few times, if you're not, stay silent.
Actually you should be more open-minded, it's really not so bad if your cultivation keeps declining. You're the sect's guardian beast after all. Even if you actually turned into old trash, killing you for your meat is impossible.
But, to make use of your remaining value, they might rent you out to the Hunyuan Sect's female spirit beasts for breeding, or maybe pluck some fur, draw some blood from time to time…"
The Golden Maned Suanni roared furiously.
Feng Xi snapped her fingers, "Since you agreed, it's settled then! I'll go tell my master, when the time comes, you'll be my mount!"
After she finished, she dashed off faster than a rabbit.
Golden Maned Suanni: "..."
I never agreed!
I was expressing displeasure!
But then it thought about it, that nasty girl was always scheming, but maybe she really did know some powerful techniques. Following her might not be so bad.#
Besides, it had been ages since it last went outside, this could be a good excuse to stretch its legs.
At that moment, Feng Xi was already with Xiao Baidao.
"Master, I've spoken with the sect's guardian beast, it's going to carry me to the Tianhen Secret Realm."
Cough cough! Cough cough!
Xiao Baidao nearly choked to death on his tea!
"What did you just say?"
"You also know, Master, the guardian beast and I have a great relationship. It said the journey to Tianhen Secret Realm is long, and it's worried my frail little body won't endure it,
so it volunteered to carry me there.
I didn't dare agree right away, I came to ask for your opinion first."
Xiao Baidao: "..."
The guardian beast you're talking about is the living ancestor in the beast pens?
It volunteered to be your mount?
Somehow, I find that hard to believe!
Thus, Xiao Baidao personally brought Feng Xi to the beast pens.
The Golden Maned Suanni's eyes darted evasively because it felt a little embarrassed.
But when Xiao Baidao questioned it, it still gave a confirming answer.
And under Feng Xi's subtle eye signal, it even indicated that if it wasn't allowed to serve as Feng Xi's temporary mount, it would go on a hunger strike!
Starve to death if it had to!
Of course, Xiao Baidao couldn't understand the beast's roars, Elder Mu translated for him.
Elder Mu's expression the entire time was one of complete shock.
He even suspected that the Golden Maned Suanni had been possessed by something, perhaps a mangy dog?
Xiao Baidao had no choice but to convene the senior elders to discuss the matter.
If this had happened back when Feng Xi had first joined the sect, everyone would've objected immediately.
But Feng Xi's reputation was now impeccable, brave, intelligent, insightful, and even a bringer of fortune. What a wonderful child!
When the sect discovered the upper-grade spirit stone vein, they'd wanted to reward her handsomely, but she'd refused again and again, only reluctantly accepting in the end.
Such a good disciple deserved every privilege!
Even riding the sect's guardian beast into Tianhen Secret Realm wasn't too much to ask.
Besides, if they didn't approve, who knew how that guardian beast, the sect's living ancestor, might throw a tantrum. Fine, let them go!
In their minds, the Golden Maned Suanni was simply using Feng Xi as an excuse to leave the mountain for a bit of fun. Feng Xi was the one being taken advantage of.
If the Golden Maned Suanni knew what they were thinking, it would've showered them with spit in outrage!
Foolish humans!
You've all been duped by that scheming vixen Feng Xi!
Even a dog isn't as shameless as her!