CHAPTER 385: CHAPTER 385: I SHOULD KEEP A LOW PROFILE

Many years had passed, and Zi Ji’s appearance hadn’t changed at all. She still looked like an eleven or twelve-year-old girl, naive and honest, with clear, innocent eyes. Although she had only been at the Sect for a year, everyone in the Fifth Division treated her as if she were their own younger sister, with great affection and care.

At this moment, when Zi Ji appeared, Yan Bei, captain of the Fifth Division, said, "Why are you here? Hurry back!"

Zi Ji was dressed in simple clothes, with delicate features and an ordinary demeanor—the kind of person who wouldn’t attract a second glance on Long Street. She cradled a small black dog in her arms; it was very well-behaved, its pair of shiny black eyes seeming full of spirit.

Hearing Yan Bei’s words, Zi Ji’s glistening eyelashes fluttered, and she said earnestly, "Sister asked me to come help you all."

The disciples of the Fifth Division were startled, then voiced their concerns, "You’re not needed here. Quickly go back."

Bai Yisheng had decided Zi Ji would participate; he didn’t want the Fifth Division to lose. However, Guang Xiaoyu didn’t want Zi Ji to take action, not wishing to reveal too much. Bai Yisheng had advised against it, but Guang Xiaoyu was insistent. With no other option, he had to concede. Now that the Fifth Division was facing humiliation, Guang Xiaoyu had sent Zi Ji into the fray. But in the eyes of the Fifth Division disciples, Zi Ji was too young. Having only joined the Sect for a year, she simply hadn’t had enough time to cultivate and thus lacked the ability to slay ferocious beasts.

"Oh, so this is the new disciple Bai Yisheng brought back?" a woman from the Second Division’s ranks said, her tone neither warm nor overtly hostile.

"Doesn’t look like much!"

"Heh... the Sword Saint’s disciple has such poor judgment, nothing much after all."

"An eleven or twelve-year-old little girl, what can she possibly do?" The crowd jeered, their words sharp and filled with mockery.

Zi Ji wasn’t angry; she just watched them quietly.

If Wu Mo or Feng Yuhan were here and saw these youngsters from the Second Division provoking Zi Ji, they’d probably slap them silly. Anyone Bai Yisheng brought back couldn’t be ordinary—it’s common sense! Honestly, are your brains filled with water, you damn fools?

Just because she wasn’t angry didn’t mean the people of the Fifth Division weren’t. As captain, Yan Bei naturally had to defend his teammate. He slammed his hand on the table and roared, "Zhang RuoLing, if you dare, let’s settle this in a deathmatch!"

The atmosphere instantly quieted. Although disputes and scuffles had erupted many times over the years, with both sides even coming to blows, there had never been any real killing intent between them. After all, they were from the same Sect. Killing someone was an entirely different matter. Of course, regarding a deathmatch challenge, as long as both parties agreed, not even the Sect could intervene. And this deathmatch Yan Bei proposed was the first of its kind in years.

It so happened that the people from the First, Third, and Fourth Divisions had just returned. They were all surprised to hear Yan Bei’s words.

The captain of the First Division was a slender woman. Her realm stood at the First Heaven of Emperor Tao, making her arguably the pinnacle of the new generation—a top-tier combatant. At this time, she too was surprised. "Yan Bei has always been composed and rarely acts rashly. Is he really challenging Zhang RuoLing to a deathmatch over that little girl?"

The man beside her whispered, "She was brought back by Bai Yisheng."

"I know," the woman said with a light laugh. "This time, Bai Yisheng brought back two girls. Both appeared young and hadn’t shown any particular specialness. Hmm... herding cattle, raising dogs, did that count?" She was curious. Not only her, but the entire Fairy Valley was also curious: what was so special about the two women the Sword Saint’s only disciple had brought back from Soup Valley? For a whole year, they neither cultivated nor went out. They occasionally chatted with people from the Fifth Division. The older girl always had an old yellow ox in tow, while this little girl in front of them held a small black dog in her arms. It was puzzling.

The captain of the Third Division chuckled, "Yan Bei is just at the Second Heaven of King Tao, while Zhang RuoLing has already entered the late stage of King Tao. He dares challenge Zhang RuoLing?"

The captain of the Fourth Division said, "He’s on a suicide mission."

"Captain, you mustn’t!"

"Senior Brother, don’t be rash!" The disciples of the Fifth Division cried out in shock behind him.

Zhang RuoLing, however, merely laughed. Stepping forward, the aura fluctuations of a late-stage King Tao cultivator emanated freely, exerting an intangible pressure.

Yan Bei’s breath hitched. A flicker of regret crossed his mind, but the words were out; there was no turning back. He thought back on the years of rivalry with Zhang RuoLing and the scenes of the Second Division suppressing the Fifth Division. An unconscious fire of anger burned in his heart as he silently clenched his fists.

Forget it. If I’m going to die, then so be it!

"Senior Brother..." Zi Ji exhaled and said, "If you do this, I’ll be scolded when I return."

Yan Bei: "???"

"Senior Sister told me to protect you all, to prevent you from getting hurt, and to help you hunt ferocious beasts," Zi Ji said earnestly. "She said if they make a move, I should too. If they don’t, I should keep a low profile."

Everyone was stunned.

You? Protect us?

Zhang RuoLing burst into laughter, "I’d like to see just how you intend to protect them!"

Yan Bei’s face darkened. "Alright, alright, Junior Sister, hurry back now! Don’t cause trouble."

Zi Ji remained unmoved. Her dark eyes glanced at Zhang RuoLing before turning to Yan Bei. "Fine! Since Senior Brother has decided to fight him in a battle to the death, then... Zi Ji shall gift you a Divine Weapon!"

A Divine Weapon, too?

Hearing this, the cultivators in attendance became curious. What kind of Divine Weapon could this eleven or twelve-year-old girl produce? Third-rank? Fourth-rank? Surely not a mere second-rank weapon?

Yan Bei felt like he was about to cough up blood. He was just about to speak up and stop her...

But Zi Ji had already produced the Divine Weapon: a massive, cyan sword. It shone with a crystalline light and pulsed powerfully, imbued with Emperor Tao Principles.

It was actually an Emperor Tao Divine Weapon.

Everyone was once again astonished.

"Oh? Senior Brother, you don’t cultivate the Sword Dao, do you?" Only after taking out the Divine Weapon did Zi Ji seem to realize this. Still chattering, she produced a second Divine Weapon.

It was a book, also an Emperor Tao Divine Weapon.

She said earnestly, "My brother said that most Divine Power Holders use this type of Divine Weapon, so... here, take this one."

Ah? Brother? Where did she get a brother from? Wait, that’s not the issue to ponder right now. The point is, she just casually took out two Emperor Tao Divine Weapons... Isn’t she supposed to be uninitiated in cultivation? Moreover, judging by her attire and demeanor, she looked nothing like a girl with any significant background or status. Yan Bei was dumbfounded.

Seeing Yan Bei dazed and not taking the Divine Weapon, Zi Ji couldn’t help saying, "Is it? Is it because the level is too low?" After a pause, she added, "But, Senior Sister said that for cultivators in the King Tao Realm, it’s best to use Emperor Tao Divine Weapons. Giving them Sacred Soldiers might prevent them from being awakened."

"???"

What does she mean? Is she suggesting that she also has Sacred Soldiers?

After setting down the book, Zi Ji indeed took out a Sacred Soldier—a black ancient cauldron that floated above her palm, exuding a terrifying sacred might.

Everyone was dumbstruck.

Zhang RuoLing was utterly flabbergasted.

Yan Bei remained utterly breathless.

Everyone present couldn’t help but recall her earlier words: "I should keep a low profile."