The Arrogant Immortal
Chapter 156 - 155: The Master Got Another Dog

Chapter 156: Chapter 155: The Master Got Another Dog

Bai Ruiting invited Xie Jiuniang to the hall, where she took the seat of honor.

The tea table already had warm Spiritual Tea ready, and Xie Jiuniang unapologetically took her seat.

This made Bai Mudan anxious, "Big brother, we’ve already agreed on this matter."

"I can handle my own affairs, no need for my sister to sacrifice herself," Bai Ruiting had his principles and resolve.

Xie Jiuniang didn’t touch anything on the tea table; instead, she happily took out a Spirit Fruit from her Storage Ring and began munching away.

Crunch crunch.

It was quite eerie.

It made the quarreling siblings fall silent all of a sudden.

Bai Ruiting hoped he could survive, but he did not want to live a compromised life by sacrificing his sister’s future, which would betray his initial resolution and inevitably give rise to inner demons over time.

Once inner demons sprouted, the thought of reaching Core Formation within a hundred years was practically a fool’s dream.

Bai Mudan was usually a very rational person who did not easily show her emotions.

At this time, a rare panic could be seen on her delicate face.

Xie Jiuniang could understand Bai Ruiting’s decision and also Bai Mudan’s feelings. Honestly, in saying she’d take Bai Mudan in, she had never thought about how to enslave her; at most, she might ask her to handle some menial tasks while in the Sect. Beyond that, there wasn’t much help Bai Mudan could provide, given her stage of Qi Cultivation.

"The affection between you siblings is deep; it’s quite enviable."

Xie Jiuniang still looked like a thirteen-year-old girl, yet her tone sounded like that of a weathered elder, strangely out of place.

In the end, Bai Mudan yielded, as what Bai Ruiting said was too serious.

After a long silence, Bai Mudan exited the room.

Only two people were left in the hall.

Xie Jiuniang looked over at Bai Ruiting, who had knelt on one knee before her.

"I’ll give you two choices. One is to serve me for a hundred years; the other is to serve me forever," Xie Jiuniang suddenly said with solemnity.

Bai Ruiting was stunned.

The Lifespan Extension Pill was for a hundred years; if he couldn’t break through to Golden Core... how could he serve forever?

Suddenly thinking of something, his heart pounded, "To serve forever, would my master provide me with resources for a breakthrough?"

"Of course, if you want the horse to run, you have to let it graze, right?"

The difference between the two must be significant.

This decision would determine how Xie Jiuniang would treat him in the future.

If he chose the first option, he would just be a common follower to be ordered around, and he would not be privy to some real secrets. If he decided to serve indefinitely, naturally, the treatment would be different.

Xie Jiuniang did not want to collect Contracted Beasts, but she didn’t mind having a few close followers.

Followers and Contracted Beasts were, after all, not the same.

For example, she could have confidants deal with everyday matters, which Contracted Beasts couldn’t handle. Moreover, maintaining followers consumed far fewer resources than Contracted Beasts, making them more cost-effective.

Xie Jiuniang wouldn’t make a losing deal.

Bai Ruiting chose the latter option and signed a servant-master contract with Xie Jiuniang, willingly giving up a wisp of his Spiritual Soul. Only such loyalty could put a master truly at ease, without the worry of betrayal.

What Cultivators needed most was resources.

Clustering around families or powerful individuals for resources was the norm.

For the sake of immortality, what was a life of servitude?

Jian Lingyan had observed the entire process, and in a childish, odd voice said, "Master has taken in another dog."

"Shut it. Where did you learn that from?" Xie Jiuniang’s eyelid twitched.

"From the house next door, yeah. There was a male cultivator asking a female cultivator why she hadn’t visited him for so long, wondering if she’d taken in another dog?" Jian Lingyan imitated the scene vividly.

Xie Jiuniang was speechless and let Bai Ruiting stand up. She gave him enough resources to cultivate to the late Foundation Establishment stage and told him to focus solely on cultivation when free to improve his strength as much as possible.

Clutching the Storage Bag, Bai Ruiting felt a surge of relief.

With these resources, he was confident he could increase his strength in a short period.

At that moment, Bai Ruiting said, "Master, Old He once sought me out, wishing to meet with you."

"Did he say what it was about?" Xie Jiuniang was not overly surprised.

Bai Ruiting replied, "He said he wanted to repay the master for saving his life."

"Repaying a debt from a Nascent Soul Stage... If he truly wishes to repay me, let him go into hiding to protect two people..." Thinking of her parents in Yunmu City, Xie Jiuniang couldn’t help but feel some worry, "The term is a hundred years. As long as he agrees, I will send him a generous gift."

"I will convey this to him," the servant said.

"Mhm."

Xie Jiuniang gave him a quizzical look, "No need to refer to yourself as a servant, I don’t consider you one. Just focus on your cultivation."

"Thank you, Master. Your subordinate will certainly practice diligently."

Bai Ruiting adjusted his mindset quickly, positioning himself appropriately.

It had to be said, both siblings were smart.

This was probably something that those living at the bottom understood the best, what is known as the way of survival.

Resources were not easily acquired; to gain something, one must pay a price.

Xie Jiuniang gave him a pile of Sound Transmission Talismans and then left, leaving Bai Mudan and Bai Ruiting alone together.

After leaving, she visited her family’s home in the Fangshi, where the store was still managed by Uncle Er.

Uncle Er was surprised to see Xie Jiuniang, his gaze sweeping over the Direct Disciple Robe she wore, his smile widening, "Xiaojiu, you’re looking more and more like a young lady—"

He intended to say a polite remark, but upon seeing Xie Jiuniang’s tender face, still carrying a bit of baby fat... he couldn’t continue!

Xie Jiuniang found his reaction amusing and stepped forward to greet him with a junior’s courtesy, "I have seen you, Uncle."

"Good, good, good, come over here." Uncle Er led her to the back hall.

Not having seen each other for a long time, there was inevitably a bit of small talk, asking about various things.

He wouldn’t ask about private matters, only about routine affairs, a sign of an elder’s concern for a junior.

Xie Jiuniang responded to all his questions properly and in an orderly fashion; meanwhile, she learned from Uncle Er about her parents’ recent situation and received a letter from them.

Uncle Er was very happy lately.

The reason was that his only daughter had successfully reached Foundation Establishment and entered the Inner Sect.

This was truly a cause for celebration.

Now, the family was prospering daily, a far cry from its previous decline, with good news following one after another.

Xie Jiuniang left behind a jar of Spiritual Wine as a token of filial respect for Uncle Er and then went to the market to buy a batch of Spirit Jade.

She left the Fangshi in a hurry.

At the entrance of the Fangshi, she saw Bai Mudan waiting for her.

As Bai Mudan was about to speak, Xie Jiuniang raised her hand to stop her, transmitting her voice, "Let’s talk back at the Sect. It’s too crowded and complicated here."

It wasn’t without reason she was watched during her outing.

Jian Lingyan had already warned her that someone was surveilling her.

This time, it wasn’t Foundation Establishment or lower cultivators that had come out, but rather those above Golden Core.

The two of them returned to the Sect together.

Just as they flew back to the foot of Zhengyang Peak, they saw Xie Xu and Shi Qi being blocked outside the peak by others.

The ones blocking them were Qiao Shuijuan and the Tian brothers.

"What’s happening?" Xie Jiuniang’s eyes swept indifferently over Qiao Shuijuan and the three of them.

Qiao Shuijuan appeared caught off guard by Xie Jiuniang’s appearance, her expression faltering as she said dryly, "Yuanxi, they said they received a Sect mission, but I—we didn’t receive any news, so... so..."

"So you’ve blocked my people? Who gave you the authority?"

Xie Jiuniang was fed up with these types of people but maintained her composure, "Enough, you don’t need to come here again. As for the harvest of the remaining Spiritual Fields, haven’t you already taken quite a bit? Deduct from that portion. If you have any complaints, go see Qiao Sanshi, I believe she will settle your wages."

"..."

Qiao Shuijuan and the three left in a dejected manner.

Tian Feng and Tian Lin couldn’t lift their heads.

They hadn’t wanted to stop anyone, but Qiao Shuijuan had insisted on doing so.

Now, they had lost both face and grace and had even offended the disciple of True Lord Chaoyan, not knowing whether they would be slighted in the future. At this moment, the brothers regretted it deeply...

Xie Jiuniang led the three into Zhengyang Peak.

Xie Xu asked quietly, "Xiaojiu, aren’t they Zhengyang Peak’s disciples?"

"Did they tell you they were Zhengyang Peak’s disciples?" Xie Jiuniang countered.

Unable to hold back, Shi Qi said, "Not exactly, but the attitude they took was as if they were the masters..."

"Tsk! That woman’s name is Qiao Shuijuan; she has a sister who became a direct disciple of the Sect Master. She used to manage Zhengyang Peak and made quite a lot from it. Now that I’ve come here..."

Xie Jiuniang explained to them the intricate interests involved, not hiding anything, so they would be prepared in the future.

After all, they would be managing Zhengyang Peak from then on and might run into Qiao Shuijuan and others again.

Now everyone understood.

It was all due to vested interests...