Chapter 37: Just a Slip of the Foot

Even Baili Muchen and his peers felt a stir in their hearts; Feng Xi’s performance had truly caught them off guard, and perhaps it really did have something to do with the Purple Buckwheat Linglong Fruit.

Someone approached Xiao Baidao, expressing an interest in purchasing the fruit. Following the lines Feng Xi had scripted for him, Xiao Baidao replied:

"I am truly sorry, but our Xuantian Sect has not yet decided whether or not to sell this batch of Purple Buckwheat Linglong Fruit. Once we have a definitive answer, we will make an official announcement."

His words only fueled further speculation, and many began to play on his emotions, pleading with Xiao Baidao to reserve some for them should they ever go on sale. Xiao Baidao gave no firm commitment, offering only vague, non-committal responses. He thought to himself, *This is exactly what my little disciple predicted. She really is a little rake for gathering wealth!*

Feeling that enough was enough, Feng Xi finally set off.

She first took a nap on the back of the Golden-Haired Suanni. Upon waking, she sighed and lamented to the beast:

"Little Goldie, this time I only beat Lu Xiuhen into a severe injury, took some of his good loot, helped our Xuantian Sect secure first place, and had a momentary epiphany by accident—it seems I’ve gained nothing at all! I am truly ashamed of my performance; I’m just so useless!"

The Golden-Haired Suanni: *Will you die if you don't show off?!*

After a moment of such humble-bragging, Feng Xi asked the beast, "I heard Shen Zhilan found a celestial beast egg. You didn’t get any inappropriate ideas, did you?"

The Golden-Haired Suanni let out an indignant, guilty roar.

Feng Xi looked puzzled. "I meant I was worried you might want to steal and eat the egg. Are you really this worked up? Don’t tell me you actually have some sordid thoughts about an egg? If that’s the case, you are truly despicable!"

The Golden-Haired Suanni: "..."

If not for the cultivation technique she had promised, it would have slapped her to death right then and there!

After keeping the Golden-Haired Suanni in check, Feng Xi began to review the Sky-Scar Secret Realm trial. She was not entirely satisfied with herself. Her gains this time had come through wit, and she hadn't truly showcased her martial prowess. She was still too weak! She would have to focus on her cultivation upon returning, striving to stand tall above the masses without needing to use her brain next time!

With that, she began to meditate.

Then, she froze.

The three spirit roots within her Dantian were more than twice as thick as before, and even her meridians had widened significantly. Could it be because of those high-grade spiritual plants she had eaten? Indeed, no meal is ever eaten in vain!

Either she gained weight or she gained power!

Feeling eager to test her progress, she had the Golden-Haired Suanni speed up, leaving the rest of the Xuantian Sect members behind until they reached an open field. She leaped off the beast's back and began to practice the Flame Incantation.

One, two, three... In the blink of an eye, several small flames had manifested on the ground.

The Golden-Haired Suanni’s giant eyes nearly popped out of its head!

*Instantaneous Multi-Sealing!* She could actually perform instantaneous multi-sealing! Wasn't that a skill reserved for the Golden Core stage?!

Feng Xi had no idea what "instantaneous multi-sealing" was; she simply thought that when facing an enemy, the faster and more numerous the incantations, the better! If you can dodge one or two, can you dodge a hundred? So, while casting, she had split her divine sense into several parts to form seals simultaneously. She hadn't expected it to work on the first try.

She then began to experiment with the Entanglement Incantation. Several small spiritual vines flew from her fingertips, wrapping around the previous flames and extinguishing them.

As she played along happily, the Golden-Haired Suanni stared with its eyes wide and its mouth agape, looking like a complete fool. Not only could she perform instantaneous multi-sealing, but she could also control every single spiritual incantation with such precision—even those at the Golden Core stage might not be as precise as she was! Of course, the spiritual attacks she was unleashing now were relatively weak and couldn't be compared to Golden Core-stage attacks, but they were certainly enough to kill a Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator! She could even put up a fight against a mid-stage one!

*How monstrous!*

Now, the Golden-Haired Suanni deeply believed everything Feng Xi had said earlier! She must have a technique to save it from its regressing cultivation! She was its savior!

So, when Feng Xi finished her practice, she saw the Golden-Haired Suanni shaking its head and wagging its tail, even trying to nudge her with its massive head.

Feng Xi: "Get lost! What the hell, do you think you’re a dog?"

She hadn't originally felt that she was anything special, but seeing the beast act like this, she realized she was indeed quite formidable. She felt delighted—*I really am just a plain and simple little genius!*

A while later, Xiao Baidao and the others caught up.

Before Xiao Baidao could start lecturing her, Feng Xi said, "Master, this Golden-Haired Suanni is too unreliable. It suddenly went crazy just now and started running as hard as it could! I couldn't stop it no matter what I said. When we get back to the sect, we really need to educate it properly!"

The Golden-Haired Suanni: *You called me a dog, and now you're accusing me? You’re the real dog! The biggest dog of them all!*

Xiao Baidao did not doubt Feng Xi’s words at all, given the beast's already poor reputation.

During the remainder of the journey, Feng Xi spent almost all her time cultivating, only sleeping for two hours when she was truly exhausted. Even the Golden-Haired Suanni had to admit that although Feng Xi was a bit devious, she was indeed very hardworking. If it worked just as hard, would its cultivation regress more slowly? It decided to practice diligently once they returned, too.

That morning, the group arrived at the Xuantian Sect. Outside the mountain gate, everyone dismounted from their flying swords. Feng Xi felt it was necessary to show off her movement technique, as she was no longer the same person she had been. She struck what she considered a very ethereal pose and leaped off the Golden-Haired Suanni's back.

And then... she face-planted onto the ground.

A full prostration. A perfect three-hundred-sixty-degree bow!

Xiao Baidao and the others watched and sighed in admiration, remarking that Feng Xi was truly respectful toward the Ancestor—not only did she kneel to pay her respects when she left, but she did the same upon her return. She was truly a model disciple of the Xuantian Sect! It was just that the child was a bit reckless—she should have waited for the beast to lie down before jumping!

Having failed to look cool, she had to keep up her persona, so she feigned composure and said:

"Ancestors above, disciple Feng Xi has fulfilled her mission and led the fellow disciples to secure first place in the Sky-Scar Secret Realm trial! In the future, this disciple will continue to work hard to become the pride of the Xuantian Sect, spread the name of the Ancestors, and bring glory to the sect!"

Perhaps her words were too passionate, as Xiao Baidao and the others knelt down along with her, praying for the Ancestors' protection.

Feng Xi: "..."

*If I told you all right now that I just slipped, would you want to strangle me?*