When Golden Finger Meets Salted Fish

The little white tiger's plan to convince Sect Leader Qingxiao ultimately fell through.

Early the next morning, Yun Qingyue carried the little white tiger and went to Little Spirit Peak with Zhong Heng. While Zhong Heng temporarily had a bye, Yun Qingyue went to draw lots as usual, and the result was quite favorable—her opponent this round was ordinary, or as Zhong Heng put it, a sure victory. Her match was also scheduled early, in the third position, so barring any unexpected circumstances, it would take place today.

Learning that Yun Qingyue's match wouldn't pose any problems, the little white tiger's eyes darted back and forth. After watching the first two matches with Senior Sister, she seized the opportunity when Yun Qingyue went up to compete, leaping down from Zhong Heng's shoulder and heading straight for the high platform.

Zhong Heng was in the midst of cheering for his Senior Sister when his shoulder suddenly lightened as Jianbing disappeared. Initially startled, after a brief search he discovered the little white tiger had headed toward the Sect Leader and Peak Masters on the high platform, which reassured him. Though he didn't know what the little white tiger was up to, he was easygoing—as long as the little white tiger wasn't in trouble, he wouldn't worry. He turned his attention back to the competition platform.

Meanwhile, after stepping on people's shoulders to leave the crowd, the little white tiger bounded up to the high platform where the Sect Leader and Peak Masters sat in just a few steps. Her movements were agile and lively, but only upon reaching the platform did she notice the elders from Tiandao Sect and Buddha Sect seated nearby.

Facing one's own people and facing outsiders were certainly different. The little white tiger hesitated, mindful of Jianbing's dignity, and slowed her pace.

The gathered dignitaries had naturally noticed Jianbing's sudden arrival. Seeing her approach with cat-like steps, everyone's attention was drawn to her. Sect Leader Qingxiao was the first to realize she was coming toward him, and as she drew near, he took the initiative to ask: "Jianbing, you've come to find me. Is there something you need?"

The little white tiger was not at all courteous. After reaching Sect Leader Qingxiao's side, she found looking up to speak quite uncomfortable and somehow lacking in authority. So with a single leap, she jumped onto the small table beside Sect Leader Qingxiao's chair that held tea, nearly knocking over the teacup.

Seeing this, Sect Leader Qingxiao wasn't angry. He simply moved the teacup away, giving her the entire table.

Crouching on the table, the little white tiger now faced Sect Leader Qingxiao at a less disadvantageous height, though still looking up at him. She felt more at ease and was about to discuss going down the mountain for training when she noticed from the corner of her eye that True Lord Ji Ling from Tiandao Sect had turned to look at her. While the great monk from Buddha Sect wasn't looking her way, with such close proximity and their level of cultivation, they would certainly overhear everything.

Realizing this, she hesitated. Her expression of wanting to speak yet holding back was noticed by Sect Leader Qingxiao, who waved his sleeve to set up a sound barrier around them before saying: "Don't worry, Jianbing. Others can no longer hear us."

Hearing this, the little white tiger couldn't help but give him an appreciative look, then without further delay, stated her purpose directly: "I want to go down the mountain for training."

"What?!" Even the steady and experienced Sect Leader Qingxiao was startled by her words. After all, Black Tortoise had been around for thousands of years, and everyone in the sect had grown accustomed to Divine Lord Zhiming's laziness—sleeping for decades at a time was common, but going down the mountain for training was almost unheard of. Having grown accustomed to divine beasts' lazy, sleep-loving nature, even knowing White Tiger differed from Black Tortoise, Sect Leader Qingxiao hadn't imagined she would want to venture outside at such a young age.

After a moment of speechlessness, Sect Leader Qingxiao finally gathered his thoughts and asked: "Why does Jianbing have such an idea? Have the sect disciples been negligent somewhere, causing Jianbing displeasure?" As he spoke, he seemed to glance down at the platform below.

Fearing misunderstanding, the little white tiger hastily raised her paw and waved: "No, no, what are you thinking? I just want to go down the mountain for training, not leave forever. What does this have to do with anyone else?"

Sect Leader Qingxiao was initially suspicious, but then glanced down at the platform again, this time happening to see Yun Qingyue on the competition stage. He suddenly understood—Yun Qingyue had just advanced to Nascent Soul, and wasn't this exactly the time for her to go out for training?

This wasn't a sect rule, but whenever cultivators broke through to a major realm, the cultivation resources they needed increased dramatically. Staying in the sect alone couldn't sustain them, so they inevitably had to go out for "training." Whether hunting spirit beasts, harvesting spiritual herbs, or exploring secret realms, they needed to replenish their storage equipment.

Take Yun Qingyue, for example. After reaching Nascent Soul, merely to refine the Fuxue Sword, she had attended auctions and visited the Mission Hall, nearly exhausting her previous savings. Moving forward with her own cultivation would surely be costly, and she couldn't rely entirely on the sect and her master.

Understanding this point, Sect Leader Qingxiao cleared his throat and said: "I understand now. However, Jianbing, you are still young and don't yet know the dangers of the outside world. It's better to remain in the sect for now. When you grow older and your cultivation advances further, there will be plenty of opportunities to go down the mountain for training. No one will stop you then, so why rush now?"

Cubs were simply too carefree. Even if he agreed, Divine Lord Zhiming surely wouldn't.

The little white tiger didn't care what Sect Leader Qingxiao understood, but his refusal wasn't unexpected. She stepped forward, her paw stepping on the armrest of Sect Leader Qingxiao's chair, and argued: "Disciples can go down the mountain for training after reaching Foundation Establishment. My cultivation has already reached Golden Core, so why can't I go?"

Sect Leader Qingxiao remained unmoved: "It's not the same."

The little white tiger protested: "How is it not the same?!"

Sect Leader Qingxiao seemed to sigh before finally clarifying: "Jianbing wants to go down the mountain with Disciple Qingyue, correct? She has now reached Nascent Soul cultivation, so the opponents she encounters and the secret realms she enters will naturally match her cultivation level. In such circumstances, if she faces danger, it won't be something a lower-level cultivator can withstand. Jianbing, you were born frail, and your cultivation is still lacking. Forcing yourself to go along would only be a burden, wouldn't it?"

These words were truly blunt, but seeing the little white tiger's stubborn face, Sect Leader Qingxiao knew gentler words wouldn't get through. Moreover, after these days of interaction, the little white tiger's dependence on Yun Qingyue was obvious.

Sure enough, upon hearing this, the little white tiger was instantly speechless. Her earlier momentum vanished, and even her tail drooped. She stammered: "I, I won't be a burden. Look how quickly my cultivation has been rising these days. In just a few short months, I've gone from no cultivation to nearly breaking through to mid-stage Golden Core. If I go down the mountain for training, my cultivation will grow even faster, and I'll soon reach Nascent Soul."

The system, in the midst of repairs in the background, happened to hear this and suddenly appeared to interject: "That's not necessarily true. Right now you're in Xuanqing Sect, which is why you have so many resources for cultivation and leveling up. Going down the mountain would be different. Tiger skin, tiger bones, tiger blood—these are all valuable items..."

Hearing this, the little white tiger felt a chill down her back and hastily waved her paw to dispel the system, adding a single word: "Scram!"

After being swatted away, the system disappeared again. Sect Leader Qingxiao, having heard the little tiger's words, couldn't help feeling somewhat tempted. After all, Divine Lord Zhiming had long reached the Tribulation Crossing realm and had been suppressing his cultivation to remain in this world. Xuanqing Sect's need for a new divine beast guardian was pressing. If the little white tiger before him could grow rapidly, it would certainly be a good thing.

However, temptation aside, he couldn't risk the danger, so Sect Leader Qingxiao ultimately refused her request, his attitude very firm.

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On the platform, Yun Qingyue's match ended quickly. Because her opponent was only at late Golden Core, with a major realm difference between them, the entire match was almost a complete domination. Her opponent had no chance to counterattack, and she secured victory in less than half an hour, suffering nothing worse than having a piece of her sleeve torn by her opponent's magical weapon—essentially emerging unscathed.

Zhong Heng jubilantly went to meet her, offering a few words of praise before scanning the empty platform. He suddenly exclaimed, "Eh? The next match is You Yi's again. Senior Sister, do you want to watch?"

Someone of You Yi's cultivation level, even after one defeat and relegation to the second platform, could easily return. He had only fought one more match than Yun Qingyue. She had seen him during the drawing of lots earlier but hadn't expected such a coincidence—he was scheduled immediately after her. If they continued competing, the two might well face each other again.

Yun Qingyue merely glanced sideways at the names appearing on the platform, showing no interest in staying to watch. Her gaze swept across Zhong Heng's empty shoulder, then looked around before asking: "Where is Jianbing?"

Zhong Heng pointed to the high platform: "Jianbing went up there to find the Sect Leader. I don't know what for."

Yun Qingyue looked where he pointed and indeed saw the little white tiger standing on the armrest of the Sect Leader's chair, appearing fierce as if arguing something with him. Zhong Heng didn't know what it was about, but Yun Qingyue had her suspicions. With a mixture of helplessness, she couldn't pretend not to see. Sighing inwardly, she walked toward the high platform.

The little white tiger naturally wouldn't give up easily. After all, cultivators had a weak sense of time—going out for training for three to five years was perfectly normal. Just thinking about being separated from Senior Sister for so long was unbearable; she had to convince the Sect Leader.

However, Sect Leader Qingxiao managed an entire sect—how could he be so easily persuaded?

The little white tiger chattered on until her mouth nearly went dry, while Sect Leader Qingxiao remained silent. Then suddenly, she was picked up from behind by a pair of hands. She fell into a familiar embrace, smelled a familiar cold fragrance, and looking up, saw Senior Sister's delicate, pretty chin... For some reason, she suddenly felt aggrieved, her paws instinctively resting on Senior Sister's hands that held her.

Then the next moment, the little white tiger suddenly remembered that it was Senior Sister who had proposed going down the mountain, Senior Sister who said she couldn't bring her along, and Senior Sister who told her to convince the Sect Leader and Divine Lord Zhiming...

Suddenly she couldn't feel aggrieved toward Senior Sister anymore—but what about feeling angry instead?!

The little white tiger withdrew her paws, snorted, and turned away, ignoring Yun Qingyue.

Both Yun Qingyue and Sect Leader Qingxiao observed her reaction clearly and couldn't help but smile. Yun Qingyue held the little white tiger in her arms, freeing one hand to stroke the little white tiger's fluffy head before addressing Sect Leader Qingxiao: "Uncle-Master, I'll take Jianbing back now."

Hearing this, Sect Leader Qingxiao acted as if nothing had happened, nodding and saying: "Go ahead."

So before the little white tiger could do anything more, she was carried away by Senior Sister, like a troublesome child being taken home by a parent.