Sect Mascot

Central Continent, Ten Thousand Blossom Ridge.

San Dong stood atop the mountain peak, watching as grand structures began to rise slowly from the ground.

In the past, seeing such a sight would have saddened San Dong, giving it the feeling that its own backyard was being forcibly taken over.

But not anymore.

Because the newcomers were neighbors San Dong liked. From now on, San Dong could even stroll around openly in broad daylight without fear of being captured.

Now, San Dong’s status in the sect was… a mascot?

It didn’t fully understand what "mascot" meant, but "auspicious" was definitely a good word.

Besides, Cui Hao had said that a mascot held a very high position in the sect.

Seeing Cui Hao’s solemn expression and the reverence in his eyes, San Dong figured those words couldn’t be far from the truth.

This little spirit’s life was getting better and better.

Li Yingling and the others had offered a great deal of spirit stones, Moon Essence, and Wood Essence in exchange for the land nearby.

At first, San Dong had refused. After all, if Li Yingling wanted to live here, San Dong would have gladly welcomed them.

Besides, though this place was called San Dong’s home, it was really everyone’s home.

Strictly speaking, the land didn’t even belong to San Dong.

If someone had truly wanted to seize it, San Dong wouldn’t have been able to stop them.

So their gesture had already warmed San Dong’s heart, and it had refused all the spirit stones and other offerings.

But later, Cui Hao explained—this was human custom.

He went on with a long, convoluted explanation, most of which San Dong didn’t understand, but it somehow moved it deeply.

After Cui Hao insisted—"If we’re real friends, you’ll accept it"—San Dong ended up taking the gifts in a daze.

Looking back now, San Dong regretted it a little—it shouldn’t have taken them. Friends should be pure, without such transactions.

On the way to return the gifts, San Dong coincidentally ran into Cui Hao again, who was busy with something…

And once more, it was bombarded with heartfelt speeches about the priceless nature of friendship.

In the end, San Dong still didn’t return the gifts.

But no matter how you looked at it, these new neighbors were kind, and San Dong liked them.

"Spirit?"

A slightly puzzled voice came from behind San Dong—one it had never heard before. It quickly turned around.

A young girl with antlers stood there, her eyes narrowed as she studied San Dong.

With just one glance, San Dong felt its entire body tremble. It was a suppression of rank—an overwhelming pressure from an absolute predator.

Most creatures could be considered natural enemies of plant spirits, but this bone-deep terror proved that the antlered girl before it was no ordinary deer spirit.

She was something far higher in existence.

San Dong stumbled back, its voice quivering as it issued a warning:

"See that sect being built down there? I—I’m their mascot! You… you…"

"Mascot?"

Qinghe looked San Dong up and down. It wasn’t as cute as her, but alas, she was already bound to Grandma Bai. Even if that scheming brat invited her to join his sect, Qinghe wouldn’t go.

Why? Because Qinghe was loyal.

Sure, Grandma Bai was eccentric, stingy, loved bullying the weak, and often tricked her for fun.

But…

Well, their bond ran deep.

Qinghe didn’t press San Dong further. She wasn’t the type to pick on small fries for no reason.

"Who’s here right now? Li Xingtian or Cui Hao? Where’s that scheming brat?"

San Dong’s face paled slightly. Was this an enemy?

It hesitated to answer, afraid of accidentally revealing its friends’ whereabouts and bringing them unnecessary trouble.

Suppressing its fear, San Dong asked instead:

"Who… who are you?"

"Me? I’m the great Qinghe, of course. You little flower spirit seem a bit slow." Qinghe frowned. "I’m with the folks down there. I came to find them—finally sneaked out for some fun."

Grandma Bai had gone to deal with another flower spirit, stirring up trouble with the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect.

Xie Lingyu had handled some initial matters before diving back into secluded cultivation, as if something outside had deeply unsettled him.

Right now, Qinghe was completely unsupervised.

Yuzhou City was too far—too risky for casual visits. If Grandma Bai caught her, she’d be done for.

But Ten Thousand Blossom Ridge was much closer to Tianyan Sect. Even if she got caught, she could always claim she was just out for a stroll.

Besides, the people at Tianyan Sect were far less interesting than Chu Xingchen and the others.

Qinghe’s seniority also made things awkward. The new disciples were too respectful to joke around with her—like trying to banter with an ancestor, where even curses had to include an honorific.

The little flower spirit seemed to understand now and answered softly:

"Actually… I don’t know either. They’ve all been really busy lately."

Qinghe was speechless. Was this mascot here to balance out that scheming brat’s ruthlessness?

Whatever. Qinghe had standards—she didn’t pick fights with fools.

She strode straight toward the construction site, tossing a dismissive remark at San Dong:

"Alright, mascot, keep playing here. Qinghe’s going to find them."

San Dong watched her back and quickly called out: "They’re all busy… isn’t this bad timing?"

It wanted to play with Li Yingling too, but they were all occupied, working hard for a better future.

San Dong believed that if their lives could improve, now wasn’t the time to disturb them.

Their happiness was more important than its own fleeting amusement.

Qinghe glanced back and grinned.

"Qinghe misspoke. Qinghe’s here to help them build!"

San Dong blinked, then silently shut its mouth.

It could carry things, but constructing grand buildings like the workers? That was beyond San Dong’s abilities.

But even manual labor had already been assigned to other cultivators, leaving San Dong with nothing to do.

Its skills mostly involved manipulating plants—useful before the foundation was laid, but now it risked damaging the structure.

That was why the sect leader had shooed it away to play elsewhere.

As for Li Yingling and Cui Hao, they weren’t busy with construction but were out comparing prices, purchasing materials, and selling treasures to earn spirit stones.

Right now… if San Dong remembered correctly, the sect leader was overseeing the site.

It watched Qinghe’s retreating figure, hesitating whether to say more. But if Qinghe was here to help… maybe no warning was needed?

Lately, the sect leader had even thrown a green snake into the workforce. Qinghe’s arrival might just ease the labor shortage.

Qinghe swaggered into the construction site, her eyes bright with curiosity.

Some workers noticed her, but in the Central Continent, strange sights were common. Most simply avoided her and kept working.

The site was vast, bustling with activity everywhere.

Qinghe watched as the buildings took shape, her delight growing—this was fascinating.

"Pretty interesting, huh?"

A familiar voice called out from behind Qinghe, who was so engrossed in watching that she answered absentmindedly:

"It's a bit noisy, but quite interesting indeed."

The voice continued from behind her.

"Would you like to see something even more interesting?"

Qinghe suddenly realized who it was and whirled around.

There stood Chu Xingchen, looking at her with an amused smirk.

Qinghe immediately protested:

"I'm a guest here! You can't possibly..."