Investiture of the Gods: Childhood Sweetheart Daji, Starting with Quasi-Saint Cultivation

Seven days later, Su Yunbai returned to Chaoge.

The siege of Youhun Pass has been lifted, and Xiqi has temporarily retreated, but everyone knows that this is only the calm before the storm.

The backyard of Tian Ce Mansion.

The four women gathered together and gave Su Yunbai a detailed report on what had happened in the past few days.

"There were five demon infiltrators, and they have all been killed," Bixiao said. "According to the information obtained from the soul search, they were acting on orders from the Nuwa Palace, but their contact was made through Xiqi."

"Nuwa..." Su Yunbai's eyes turned cold. "It really is her."

In the original story, Nuwa sent three demons to wreak havoc on Chaoge because King Zhou wrote a blasphemous poem. Now that the Nine-Tailed Fox is dead, she directly sent demons to assassinate her.

"What about the inside man in the court?" Su Yunbai asked.

Jiang Xiaowu handed over a list: "It has been confirmed, it's these three people."

The list contained three names, all of whom were mid-level officials in the central government.

"Is the evidence conclusive?"

"It's confirmed," Jiang Xiaowu said. "Their correspondence with the Xiqi spies has been intercepted."

"Get rid of it," Su Yunbai said calmly. "I'll talk to His Majesty."

"Yes."

Ao Ling then reported: "On the Dragon Clan's side, the cause of the disturbance at the North Sea Eye has been identified. Someone has laid down a 'Reverse Current Array' on the seabed, intending to disrupt the stability of the eye."

"Who is this person referring to?"

"It has not yet been determined, but the formation contains a strong Western religious influence."

Western religion!

Su Yunbai frowned deeply.

As expected, the Western Church began to take action.

"Can the dragons solve this?"

"Father has already asked Prime Minister Turtle to break the formation, but it will take time," Ao Ling said. "In addition, Father hopes that General can take some time to go to the East Sea to discuss important matters."

"Alright." Su Yunbai nodded. "I'll go once Chaoge is stable."

Daji concluded, "The Wenhua Pavilion is progressing smoothly. The two books, 'Essentials of Agriculture and Sericulture' and 'One Hundred Crafts of Craftsmen,' have been compiled and are currently being printed. Movable type printing is very successful; it is ten times faster than woodblock printing."

"Very good," Su Yunbai praised. "Continue to promote it, and let knowledge spread throughout the world."

---

After finishing off the backlog of tasks, Su Yunbai spent time alone with Bixiao.

"Bixiao, about the Lady Shiji you mentioned last time..." Su Yunbai said, "I want to meet her."

Bixiao's eyes lit up: "You've decided?"

"Yes." Su Yunbai nodded. "She is indeed a suitable candidate for the fifth Daoist partner."

"Then I'll send her a message," Bixiao said. "Senior Sister Shiji's dojo is in the White Bone Cave on Skull Mountain, about three thousand miles from Chaoge. Given her personality, she probably won't come to Chaoge easily."

"Then I will go see her," Su Yunbai said. "However, I must first prepare a gift for our meeting."

What do you want to give as a gift?

Su Yunbai pondered.

In the original story, Lady Shiji was burned to death by Master Taiyi using the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover.

She cultivates earth-based techniques, and her magical treasures are the Eight Trigrams Cloud Light Cloth and the Eight Trigrams Dragon Beard Cloth.

"Earth element... perhaps we could give her an earth element spirit item."

He searched for "Earth-type Innate Spiritual Objects" in the system's store.

[Nine Heavens Breath Soil (Imitation)]

Price: 8000 Intimacy Points

Description: Replica of the Nine Heavens Breath Soil used by Nuwa to create humans, containing the origin of earth-based laws, capable of nourishing all things and providing unparalleled defense.

Do you wish to redeem?

Eight thousand points, not cheap.

But it's worth it.

"exchange."

[Ding! 8000 Intimacy Points consumed!]

[Current intimacy level: 23640 points.]

A fist-sized piece of soil, gleaming with a faint yellow light, appeared in his hand.

Although it is just a replica, the earth-elemental spiritual energy it exudes is still powerful and pure.

"This is..." Bixiao exclaimed in surprise.

"A replica of the Nine Heavens Breath Soil," Su Yunbai said. "Since Lady Shiji cultivates earth-based techniques, this item should be of great use to her."

Bixiao nodded: "Senior Sister will definitely like it."

She paused.

"However, Yunbai, Senior Sister Shiji is aloof and dislikes worldly formalities. When you go to see her, you'd better be honest with her and not try to play any tricks on her."

"I understand," Su Yunbai said with a smile. "Sincerity is the best strategy."

---

Three days later.

Skull Mountain, Bone Cave.

The mountain is shaped like a skull, with jagged rocks and a sinister atmosphere.

In front of the cave, two boys were sweeping up fallen leaves.

Upon seeing Su Yunbai and Bixiao arrive on a cloud, the boy quickly bowed.

"Uncle-Master Bixiao!"

"Tong'er, is Senior Sister here?" Bixiao asked.

"Master is cultivating in the cave. Please wait a moment while I inform him."

The boy entered the cave.

A moment later, a clear, cold voice came from inside the cave.

"Junior Sister Bixiao, come in."

The two entered the cave.

Inside the cave, unlike the gloomy exterior, it was elegantly furnished with stone tables and chairs, and calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls.

A woman dressed in a pale yellow Taoist robe sat on a futon.

She had a dignified appearance and a cool temperament, with a hint of aloofness between her brows, but a hint of sorrow in her eyes.

It was none other than Lady Shiji.

"Junior Sister, what brings you here today?" Shi Ji looked at Bi Xiao, her gaze pausing slightly as she swept over Su Yunbai.

"Who is this?"

"Senior sister, this is Su Yunbai, the Great General of Chaoge," Bixiao introduced. "Yunbai, this is my senior sister, Lady Shiji."

Su Yunbai clasped his hands in greeting: "Junior Su Yunbai greets Senior Shiji."

Shi Ji looked him over, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

Peak Quasi-Saint!

So young, yet possessing such cultivation?

"General Su, there's no need for such formalities," Shi Ji said. "Please have a seat."

The three of them took their seats.

A young boy serves tea.

"Junior Sister, what brings General Su here?" Shi Ji asked bluntly.

Bixiao glanced at Su Yunbai.

Su Yunbai took out the replica of the Nine Heavens Breath Soil and placed it on the stone table.

"Having heard that you cultivate earth-based techniques, I, a junior, have come to offer this item upon my occasional acquisition."

Shi Ji's pupils constricted slightly when she saw the Heavenly Breath Soil.

"This is... the Nine Heavens Breath Soil?!"

"A replica," Su Yunbai said. "Although it's not even a fraction as good as the real thing, it should be beneficial for earth-based cultivation."

Shi Ji picked up the Breath of Earth and felt the pure earth-elemental spiritual energy within it, her heart trembling.

This item was truly priceless to her.

"Why would General Su send such a generous gift?" she asked, looking at Su Yunbai.

"There are two reasons," Su Yunbai said frankly. "First, I respect your character, senior. Second, I would like to ask you to come out of seclusion and help me."

Shiji released the breathing soil.

"Help? Help with what?"

"Help humanity resist the great calamity."

Shi Ji remained silent for a moment.

"General Su, do you know that I have sworn never to get involved in human conflicts again?"

Why?

A hint of pain flashed in Shi Ji's eyes.

"When the Investiture of the Gods was first proposed, I was entrusted by someone to deliver a message to Kunlun Mountain. On the way, I encountered Taiyi Zhenren of the Chan Sect. Seeing that my mount was a demon, he tried to kill me without asking any questions. When I argued with him, he insulted my Jie Sect, calling us 'creatures with fur and horns, born from eggs in moisture'..."

She clenched her fists.

"I fought him for three days, but was defeated and had to retreat. After that, I vowed never to interfere in the affairs of the three religions again, and to cultivate in seclusion on Skull Mountain."

Su Yunbai understood.

In the original story, Shi Ji's disciple, Bi Yun Tong Zi, was shot and killed by Nezha. She went to Taiyi Zhenren to reason with him, but was instead burned to death by the Nine Dragons Divine Fire Cover.

In this world, however, it seems that this happened ahead of schedule.

"Does Senior hate Master Taiyi?" Su Yunbai asked.

"I hate it." Shi Ji gritted her teeth. "I hate even more the arrogant attitude of the Chan Sect, which treats us like dirt."

"Does the senior know where the Immortal Taiyi is now?"

"I heard... he went to Xiqi."

"That's right," Su Yunbai said. "Taiyi Zhenren, Manjushri Guangfa Tianzun, and Puxian Zhenren have all arrived in Xiqi to assist Ji Chang in his conquest of Shang."

He paused.

"If Xiqi gains power and the Chan Sect flourishes, do you think the disciples of the Jie Sect will have any chance of survival?"

Shi Ji's expression changed.

"What does General Su mean by this?"

"Senior should understand," Su Yunbai said. "The Chan and Jie sects have conflicting ideologies and have long been irreconcilable enemies. This Investiture of the Gods calamity, on the surface, is a change of dynasties in the human world, but in reality, it is a purge of the three sects."

"If the Chan Sect supports Xiqi and wins, it will surely exterminate the Jie Sect."

"Although the Jie Sect has the Tongtian Sage in charge, it can't fight against overwhelming odds. If the Western Sect also intervenes..."

Shi Ji fell silent.

Of course she knows these things.

But she didn't want to think about it, nor did she dare to.

"Senior," Bixiao spoke, "Master has sent Senior Brother Duobao to observe Chaoge, and he greatly admires Yunbai. If Senior Sister is willing to help, it will not only be for Yunbai, but also for the Jie Sect, and for herself."

Shiji looked up at Bixiao.

"Junior sister, you got involved too?"

"Yes," Bixiao said frankly, "I have already become Yunbai's Daoist partner, and we will share life and death."

Shi Ji was taken aback.

She looked at Su Yunbai, then at Bixiao.

After a long while, she sighed.

"That's enough."

She got up, walked to the window of the cave, and looked into the distance.

"For years, I've been hiding in Skull Mountain, thinking I could escape the conflict."

"But what's meant to come will come."

She turned around and looked at Su Yunbai.

"General Su, I can help you. But I have one condition."

"Please speak, senior."

"If one day I face off against Master Taiyi, I will settle our scores with my own hands."

Su Yunbai nodded.

"Can."

Shi Ji then accepted the Nine Heavens Breath Soil.

"When do we set off?"

"The sooner the better."

"Alright," Shi Ji said, "Give me a day to arrange matters in the cave."

---

Leave Skull Mountain.

Bixiao breathed a sigh of relief.

"Senior sister agreed, that's great!"

Su Yunbai replied, "She still has pent-up emotions in her heart and needs time to resolve them."

"You mean the matter of Taiyi Zhenren?"

"Yes," Su Yunbai said, "That incident hurt her deeply. If it's not resolved, it might become a mental obsession in the future."

Bixiao nodded.

"However, since my senior sister has already agreed, she will do her best. She is strong-willed and keeps her promises."

"I know," Su Yunbai said with a smile, "that's why I chose her."

The two rode the clouds back to Chaoge.

During the journey, Su Yunbai suddenly sensed something and stopped on the cloud.

"What's wrong?" Bixiao asked.

Su Yunbai looked towards the southwest.

"There... are signs of battle there."

His divine sense spread out, covering a thousand miles.

Three hundred miles away, in a valley, several figures were engaged in fierce combat.

On one side were three black-robed cultivators, their auras chilling, clearly unorthodox sorcerers.

On the other side was a woman in white.

The woman wielded a long sword, her swordsmanship fierce, but her cultivation was clearly inferior to her opponent's, and she was already at a disadvantage.

"Is it her?"

Su Yunbai's eyes narrowed.

The woman in white was actually...

"Who?" Bixiao asked.

"An...old friend."

Su Yunbai's figure flashed and disappeared from the spot.

---

in the valley.

The woman in white was pale, with blood trickling from the corner of her mouth, but her eyes remained resolute.

"You demons, even if I die, I will not let you succeed!"

The three black-robed cultivators grinned maliciously.

"Little girl, obediently hand over the 'Moonlight Spirit Pearl,' and we might give you a quick death!"

"dream!"

The woman in white gritted her teeth and thrust out her sword.

The sword light was like the moon, cold and aloof.

However, the opponent's cultivation level was too high, and the attack was easily neutralized.

"court death!"

A black-robed cultivator raised his hand, and a wisp of black energy struck the woman's chest.

The woman was too weak to dodge and closed her eyes to await her death.

But the expected pain did not come.

She opened her eyes and saw a figure blocking her way.

That figure, both familiar and unfamiliar.

"Su...Yunbai?"

Su Yunbai turned around and smiled slightly.

"Long time no see, Yang Chan."

This woman in white was none other than Yang Chan, whom he had met once before outside Jizhou City!

Yang Jian's younger sister, a disciple of the Jade Cauldron Immortal!

How did she end up here?

He was being chased and killed?

Su Yunbai had no time to think and turned to look at the three black-robed cultivators.

"You three, isn't it a bit inappropriate to bully the weak?"

The black-robed cultivator's expression changed.

"A quasi-saint?!"

They turned to run away.

But Su Yunbai would not let them go.

The threads of affection appear in my hand, and I give it a gentle shake.

Three threads shot out like lightning.

Before the black-robed cultivator could even scream, a thread pierced his brow, annihilating his soul.

The battle is over.

Su Yunbai turned around and looked at Yang Chan.

"Are you alright?"

Yang Chan stared at him blankly, a complex expression flashing in her eyes.

"You...how did you get here?"

"Just passing by," Su Yunbai said. "But what about you? Why are you here? And being chased?"

Yang Chan bit her lip.

"I...I ran away from home."

"Sneaked out?"

"Hmm," Yang Chan said softly, "My senior brother and master have both gone to Xiqi to help Ji Chang conquer Shang. I didn't want to be associated with them, so I secretly went down the mountain to... to come and find you."

"Looking for me?" Su Yunbai was taken aback.

"Yes." Yang Chan looked up, her eyes firm. "I've always remembered what you said to me back in Jizhou."

"You said that humanity should strive for self-improvement and should not rely on immortals and gods."

"I want to see what this self-reliant Chaoge you're talking about is like."

"But before I even reached Chaoge, I encountered these sorcerers. They stole the Moon Essence Pearl that my mother left me..."

Her voice choked with emotion.

Su Yunbai's heart softened.

"Don't cry, I'll get it back for you."

He walked to the black-robed cultivator's corpse, searched it, and found the Moon Essence Pearl, which he handed to Yang Chan.

Yang Chan took the spirit pearl, and tears finally fell.

"Thanks……"

Bixiao arrived at this moment and was somewhat puzzled when she saw Yang Chan.

"Yun Bai, who is this?"

"Yang Chan, Yang Jian's younger sister," Su Yunbai said. "We met once in Jizhou back then."

Bixiao suddenly realized.

"So it was you."

Her gaze towards Yang Chan softened.

"In that case, let's go back to Chaoge together."

Yang Chan hesitated.

"I...can I go? I'm a disciple of the Chan Sect, and my senior brothers and master are both in Xiqi..."

"So what?" Su Yunbai said, "You are you, and they are them."

"Chaoge welcomes anyone with good intentions."

A look of emotion flashed in Yang Chan's eyes.

"Okay, I'll go."

---

The three returned to Chaoge.

On the way, Su Yunbai was making plans in his mind.

Yang Chan...

She was a disciple of Master Yuding and the younger sister of Yang Jian.

Was her appearance a coincidence, or...?

[Ding! High-quality potential partner detected: Yang Chan]

Overall rating: 94 points

[Recommendation: Add her to your harem. This will grant you some information about the Chan Sect and may influence Yang Jian's stance.]

Su Yunbai gave a wry smile.

The system is using this trick again.

However, Yang Chan is indeed a variable.

If we can win her over, we might be able to influence Yang Jian, or even... Yu Ding Zhenren.

But this can't be rushed.

This needs to be considered carefully over a long period of time.

---

Back at Tian Ce Mansion.

Su Yunbai arranged for Yang Chan to stay.

The four women reacted differently when they heard that another "younger sister" had arrived.

But seeing that Yang Chan was simple and kind, and had a pitiful background, he accepted her.

The family has gained a new member.

---

late at night.

Su Yunbai sat alone in his study, sorting out his thoughts.

Lady Shiji has agreed to come down from the mountain.

Yang Chan arrived unexpectedly.

Xiqi has temporarily retreated, but may return at any time.

The Western Church began to take action.

Nuwa directly sent demons to assassinate her.

The situation is becoming increasingly complicated.

"We're still missing a Daoist partner..."

he murmured.

"Yang Chan?"

He shook his head.

"It's not the right time yet."

"Let's wait and see."