Inside was a Heart-Clearing Jade Plaque suitable for the Golden Core stage, which could nourish the sea of consciousness and protect against the intrusion of inner demons.
With Eldest Senior Sister's Nascent Soul tribulation imminent, wearing this close to her body would surely be of some help.
Yet, who could have guessed that Eldest Senior Sister would take off so abruptly, leaving not even a trace of her sword's wake behind.
“Senior Sister, should we have Qinghe and the others deliver these to Eldest Senior Sister's cave dwelling?”
Chi Yuan reached out and pinched the corners of her upturned lips, stopping her from showing off any further. “You sly thing. Don't you know exactly why Eldest Senior Sister left so quickly, A-Ci?”
Shen Qingci dodged to the side, slipping behind her senior sister, and leaned close to her ear. “I'm only sly in front of you, Senior Sister. Anyone else who sees the Eldest Young Lady of the Shen family would call her dignified, composed, and decisive.”
“Besides, whether your junior sister is 'sly' or not, Senior Sister knows best!”
Chi Yuan's breath hitched.
She repeatedly reminded herself that she had spoiled her, so she couldn't get angry. Her master and martial mother were still in the side hall, and the divine sense of Soul Transformation cultivators enveloped the area. Now was not the time to settle scores.
Taking two deep breaths, she backhanded a Silence Spell onto Shen Qingci.
Frostchill unsheathed itself, its sword light sweeping out and half-embracing Shen Qingci as it carried them directly back to Yunqi Cave.
Shen Qingci leaned in her senior sister's embrace with an innocent expression (:3っ )っ, as if she wasn't the one who had just spoken without filter.
She knew perfectly well what she was doing. Since her master's fan fiction was so wildly popular, providing some regular source material was just her way of showing support.
Besides, most of the spirit stones earned from it would end up being added to her two senior sisters' dowries anyway.
Once they landed, Chi Yuan lifted the Silence Spell.
Shen Qingci rubbed her throat. Not at all upset, she turned and sent a transmission into the courtyard. “Qinghe, deliver these items to Eldest Senior Sister's cave dwelling.”
“Tell her to wear the Heart-Clearing Jade Plaque at all times. The storage bag contains a few spiritual items to stabilize her foundation for her Nascent Soul breakthrough. Just say it's Wanjian Peak's official allocation.”
Qinghe took the red packet and the storage bag, departing quickly.
Standing in the courtyard, Chi Yuan pointed her finger, intending to summon Frostchill back into her dantian for nourishment.
The Earth-grade Low-rank natal sword trembled in her palm, refusing to return to her dantian. Instead, it flew straight out of her hand and began circling around Shen Qingci.
Its ice-blue blade drew several translucent arcs of light in the twilight.
After circling three times, it hovered in front of Shen Qingci with its tip pointing down and hilt pointing up, looking exactly like a well-behaved junior sword cultivator performing a formal bow to an elder.
A childish voice drifted out from the blade, crisp and loud: “Mother! Frostchill missed you every single day in the Sword Tomb.”
Shen Qingci froze, turning to look at her senior sister. She wanted to ask if her senior sister had taught the sword this, or if Frostchill was simply self-taught.
But knowing her senior sister's personality, she didn't seem like the type to teach such things...
Chi Yuan also looked rather surprised.
The childish voice babbled on: “Does Mother still remember? Back at the Nanxing Artifact-Refining Workshop, you personally promised Frostchill that as long as I obediently listened to Master, you would find Earth-grade and Heaven-grade materials for me.”
“Frostchill has been very obedient these past five years! I stayed by Master's side when she practiced her sword, and I helped apply cold compresses when she was injured.”
“When Master missed Mother in the Sword Tomb, Frostchill even helped suppress her restless sword intent and saved up a lot of extra ice souls.”
Chi Yuan averted her gaze slightly, her fingers twitching slightly inside her sleeve.
She had no idea her natal sword spirit had been doing these things behind her back.
Shen Qingci could no longer suppress the curl of her lips, darting glances at her senior sister.
Frostchill completely ignored her master's warning look, continuing to act spoiled toward Shen Qingci: “Mother, Frostchill is now Earth-grade Low-rank, and my sword spirit has fully matured.”
“Does Mother's promise from back then still stand?”
Shen Qingci coughed twice. “Of course it stands.”
Frostchill's blade buzzed and vibrated as if it had hit the jackpot. It said in its childish voice, “Then Frostchill wants a piece of Nine Heavens Cold Soul, three jin of ice marrow essence, and that scrap piece of azure jade slab from the storehouse.”
“Frostchill overheard Auntie Qinghe saying that Mother's storehouse has a lot of good things hidden inside. Frostchill isn't greedy; I'll just start with these three.”
“'Start with'???” Chi Yuan finally snapped out of it, her voice cold.
Frostchill said very seriously, “Master, Senior Sister Liu Qi of Biluo Peak said that if a sword spirit wants to grow up, it can't just rely on absorbing spiritual energy; it has to eat natural treasures.”
“Senior Sister Liu said that a sword cultivator must cling onto a wealthy family's lady as early as possible. Guiding-illusion cultivators can take their time...”
“But someone like Mother, who has a literal mine at home and is so beautiful, can't be found anywhere else in the entire Azure Cloud Sect. If we don't lock her down early, who knows how many sword spirits will be lining up and turning green with envy later.”
“Senior Sister Liu said that a sword cultivator has three treasures: a Dao companion, a spiritual mine, and a good sword scabbard. Our family has all three. What is Master still hesitating for?”
“Senior Sister Liu also said that a sword spirit must take the initiative to get natural treasures to eat. If we wait for Master to speak up, the opportunity will have long passed.”
“Master is thin-skinned, so Frostchill has to speak up on her behalf to ask for them. Otherwise, we won't even be able to afford an Earth-grade sword scabbard in the future.”
“Mother is the heir of a hidden great family, and the spiritual mines at her home are piled up so high they could form a secret realm. As long as we coax Mother well, our sword life will be complete!”
Chi Yuan remained silent, her gaze landing heavily on Frostchill.
The blade of Frostchill trembled under her gaze, and it hurriedly hid behind Shen Qingci.
Shen Qingci laughed so hard she could not stand straight, patting the blade. “What on earth did Senior Sister Liu Qi feed you in the Sword Tomb? One of these days, I'll have the Shadow Division send some thank-you gifts to Biluo Peak.”
Chi Yuan called out to her, “A-Ci~”
Shen Qingci immediately wiped the smile off her face and stood up straight.
“Don't spoil Frostchill. She can just eat goldscale stones. She got by on that in the past; let her remember her humble beginnings.”
Shen Qingci nodded obediently. “Okay, A-Ci will listen to Senior Sister.”
Frostchill poked half of its sword tip out from behind Shen Qingci, its childish voice squeaking, “Huh???”
Shen Qingci reached out to grasp the hilt and flicked her wrist, sending Frostchill flying toward the sword chamber.
The blade drew a crooked arc in the air, floating reluctantly into the sword chamber. At the very end, it poked its tip out from the door crack and muttered in its childish voice, “Mother is a liar, not giving me Heaven-grade materials anymore.”
“She learned well, but she missed a word,” Shen Qingci said leisurely. “Henpecked.”
Frostchill's sword tip buzzed and instantly retracted back into the sword chamber, not daring to say another word.
Shen Qingci put her hands behind her back and called out toward the sword chamber, “The Nine Heavens Cold Soul and ice marrow essence are both in the storehouse. Whenever Senior Sister nods, I'll have them sent to you.”
A soft whimpering sound came from the sword chamber.
Shen Qingci pretended not to hear.
She knew very well which was more important: coaxing her senior sister or coaxing the sword spirit. No matter how good Frostchill was at acting spoiled, she had to stand behind her senior sister.
No matter how precious Heaven-grade materials were, they couldn't compare to her senior sister saying, “A-Ci will listen to Senior Sister, okay?”
“A-Ci!” Chi Yuan called her junior sister again.
Shen Qingci turned around and walked over to her senior sister in a few quick steps. “Does Senior Sister have any other instructions?”
Chi Yuan didn't speak. She merely raised her hand to tuck her junior sister's wind-blown hair behind her ear, her fingertips brushing against her cheek.
Shen Qingci leaned into the touch, tilting her face slightly. “Senior Sister, is A-Ci obedient?”
Chi Yuan lowered her eyes. “Oh? Has my little junior sister ever been obedient?”
“When have I ever not been obedient in front of Senior Sister?”
“You weren't just now. Do you need Senior Sister to help you remember? Is it the Silence Spell, or swinging your sword five thousand times today?”
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