I Outworked the Entire Cultivation World-Chapter 258 - 225: Reunion with an Old Friend

Jiang Yuebai found a clothing shop and changed into a new outfit, a white dress as pure as snow, with flowing ribbons.

After putting on the face veil, Jiang Yuebai walked leisurely down the street outside the plaza, watching a group of loose cultivators rush past aggressively.

A burly man with a bruised face stopped beside Jiang Yuebai and asked, "Fellow Daoist, have you seen a black-clothed masked she-devil pass by?"

"Is it a fierce-looking black-clothed female cultivator about this tall?" Jiang Yuebai gestured and asked.

The burly man nodded vigorously.

Jiang Yuebai pointed delicately, speaking softly, "She went that way."

The burly man glanced at Jiang Yuebai, his cheeks slightly red, grinning with half of his front tooth missing.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist, for pointing the way."

The burly man left, Jiang Yuebai stifled a laugh, carrying a pouch of Memory Jade, ready to visit various battlefields to gauge the opponents’ strength.

According to the Wind and Cloud Meeting’s Tianjiao list by Hongyan Building, and Jiang Yuebai’s own investigation, there were indeed quite a few opponents who gave her a sense of crisis.

Jiang Yuebai took out her little notebook and charcoal pencil, writing and drawing as she walked.

The noble families were led by Kong, Fang, and Lu, each focusing on three disciples from Late-stage Foundation Establishment to Peak Foundation Establishment.

The Kong Family’s Three Heroes were at Peak Foundation Establishment, one a sword cultivator, another a magic cultivator, and the last a Confucian cultivator Jiang Yuebai had never encountered, said to have the power of eloquence and poem recitation to kill enemies.

The Fang Family’s Two Heroes were also at Peak Foundation Establishment, with ancient divine bloodline. They called themselves barbarian cultivators, said to transform into giant barbarians over ten feet tall when their bloodline power was fully activated.

Fang Family’s third, Fang Mingyi, Jiang Yuebai directly crossed off the list.

The Lu Family was established by the brother of the Heavenly Interence Sect founder, Lu Xingyun. They had little interaction with Heavenly Interence Sect, possessing their own Daoist heritage. Usually ranked behind Kong and Fang Families, their appearance as a major family this time was likely supported by the Fang Family.

Though Kong and Fang Families cohabited the same city, no marriage alliances occurred over ten thousand years, merely nodding acquaintances without disputes.

The Lu Family brought over a dozen Foundation Establishment disciples, one on the Tianjiao list, but Lu Nanzhi had warned her of the brothers Lu Qixiu and Lu Qiyuan, who were not on the list.

Jiang Yuebai circled these two names in her notebook, focusing on them.

The Earth Spiritual Realm had countless cultivation families; beneath the three families, only ten immortal cultivation families participated this time, each sending only ten people.

During the Heavenly Interence Sect’s minor comparison, Ge Yuchan’s precedent made Jiang Yuebai stay vigilant, never underestimating anyone.

"Loose cultivators..."

Jiang Yuebai tapped twice in her notebook, noting that loose cultivators often hid well, coming from various places in the Earth Spiritual Realm. Hongyan Building could track few, only allowing investigation within these five days.

Finally, the sects, beyond the Tianjiao list’s rising stars...

Both she and Lu Nanzhi were only Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, while others like Ge Yuchan, Xie Jingshan, and Hee Wangchen were just Early-stage Foundation Establishment.

Those five from Guiyuan Sword Sect, Zhuo Qingfeng and Hua Yingshi just reached Mid-stage Foundation Establishment, the remaining three still at Early-stage Foundation Establishment.

Jiang Yuebai felt this generation of Foundation Establishment cultivators was insufficient, most sent by sect elders to gain experience at the Wind and Cloud Meeting.

To truly earn placement, one must rely on the sects’ Late-stage Foundation Establishment and Peak Foundation Establishment senior brothers and sisters.

Yuu Qiuqi was previously first on the Heavenly Interence Sect Foundation Establishment battle list; after her Core Formation, it passed to Fang Yuxing, Sword Lord Guanhan’s disciple.

Originally destined for Core Formation, he suppressed his cultivation at Peak Foundation Establishment for this Wind and Cloud Meeting, a popular contender for the Foundation Establishment stage championship.

The Guiyuan Sword Sect’s sword cultivator, Chu Yunwei, shared the same situation, repeatedly challenging Fang Yuxing before the Wind and Cloud Meeting, only to be refused.

The Vajra Platform had ten martial monks in the Foundation Establishment stage; Hundred Yang Sect, Spiritual Crane Sect, and Liuyun Sect all boasted renowned figures. Jiang Yuebai’s notebook was filled with names, marked by circles of various sizes.

"None of them are easy to deal with, feeling quite pressured."

Tang Weimian, True Monarch Fuyi’s third disciple, was also in Late-stage Foundation Establishment. Besides direct disciples, each sect’s inner and outer sect disciples also participated independently, potentially winning the Breaking Boundary Pearl and persisting till the end.

Arriving at the northern battlefield, crowds surged, noise buzzed.

Jiang Yuebai squeezed in slowly, observing the surrounding cultivators’ attire, many from major sects, the rest mostly loose cultivators.

Suddenly spotting a long-unseen acquaintance on the arena, just fiercely defeating an opponent, Jiang Yuebai’s eyes sparkled as she removed her veil and waved on tiptoes.

On the arena, the extraordinary Zhuo Qingfeng retracted his sword, causing an uproar. He greeted, "Thanks for letting me win," then looked up to see the bright-eyed, snow-white-robed maiden waving in the crowd.

Her smile was as enchanting as a blooming flower.

Zhuo Qingfeng’s heart skipped, his cheeks reddened slightly, responding with a somewhat nervous and stiff wave.

"Brother Hong!"

Jiang Yuebai ran past Zhuo Qingfeng’s ring directly to another arena behind him at an angle, leaving Zhuo Qingfeng’s hand awkwardly paused mid-air.

Huff~

Hua Yingshi and Xu Qianjin below the arena laughed, Zhuo Qingfeng glanced over, causing them to quickly cover their mouths, pretending nothing happened.

The next fighter took the stage, Zhuo Qingfeng flicked his long sword; his sword qi imposing, feeling somewhat displeased.

Jiang Yuebai ran straight to Hong Tao’s arena, truly surprised to see him there.

"Senior Sister Jiang." A familiar male voice called from the side.

"Qii Ming? Why are you here too?"

Qii Ming, dressed plainly, with a warm smile, squeezed through the crowd to Jiang Yuebai’s side, eyes filled with joy.

On the arena, Hong Tao looked equally delighted at Jiang Yuebai, though somewhat surprised by her current cultivation level.

The six-year-old child Hong Tao once brought into the sect had caught up in less than twenty years, becoming a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator like him, already a direct disciple with some fame.

Hong Tao sighed with emotion, never imagining this day back then, and silently noted to aid such good seedlings like Jiang Yuebai in the future, to cultivate good fate.

A male cultivator jumped onto Hong Tao’s ring, Hong Tao said to Jiang Yuebai, "Let’s talk later, please go ahead."

As blades and swords clashed on the arena, Jiang Yuebai watched for a moment, keenly noticing Hong Tao deliberately hiding his true strength, appearing disadvantaged but actually unfazed, instantly setting her mind at ease.

"When did you arrive, where’s Qii Yue? Did anyone else come?" Jiang Yuebai searched around.

Suppressing envy, Qii Ming reported politely, "I came with Brother Hong, not with other outer sect members."

Jiang Yuebai held down Qii Ming’s arm, "We’re outside, no need to follow sect rules; you and I can just call each other senior and junior brother. I haven’t even thanked you for managing Heavenly Cry Peak and Huaxi Valley for me and Master over the years."

"It’s my duty, and without Senior Sister’s Foundation Establishment Elixir, I couldn’t have reached Foundation Establishment so quickly," Qii Ming expressed gratitude. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

"Is everyone in Huaxi Valley well?" Jiang Yuebai asked.

Qii Ming nodded, "Everyone’s fine. Brother Guo reached Foundation Establishment before me, Shi Xiaowu and Qii Yue are also close to Foundation Establishment, waiting for the next minor comparison to compete for Foundation Establishment Elixirs."

"Besides managing Huaxi Valley, Qii Yue’s talent in Puppet Dao caught the attention of two Martial Uncles from Ten Thousand Laws Hall; she’s currently apprenticing with them, thanks to Senior Sister’s early guidance in Puppet Dao."

"She only learned because she sought it herself; if she didn’t, I wouldn’t teach. By the way, are you entering the Wind and Cloud Meeting too?"

Qii Ming shook his head, "My cultivation is shallow, I dare not make a fool of myself. Just came to gain experience; is Senior Sister... collecting intelligence?"

Qii Ming lowered his voice, glancing at Jiang Yuebai’s notebook.

Jiang Yuebai lifted her notebook, "Yes, know yourself and your enemy, and you can win every battle."

"The Wind and Cloud Meeting gathers many talents, a large number of participants. Collecting information is exhausting; perhaps I can find reliable people to help Senior Sister, so you can focus on the competition."

Jiang Yuebai’s eyes lit up, recognizing Qii Ming’s attention to detail and interpersonal skills, making him more suitable than herself for information gathering.

"Then I’ll rely on you, junior brother."

Jiang Yuebai entrusted the notebook and pouch of Memory Jade to Qii Ming.

Thud!

A heavy object hit the ground, victory and defeat decided in the arena.

Hong Tao cupped his hands, "Thank you for letting me win!"

Jiang Yuebai was about to congratulate when a familiar phrase echoed from the arena behind her.

"...I’m not targeting anyone, I’m just saying, everyone here is trash!"

Jiang Yuebai: ........

News really spreads fast!