Nature

Morning.

Chu Xingchen stretched lazily as he stepped outside, his gaze instinctively drifting toward the courtyard chair where Bai Xuanling usually sat.

Bai Xuanling, that lofty figure, had a habit of elegantly sipping tea there in his leisure time.

As expected, Bai Xuanling was nowhere to be seen.

After returning from the spectator seats, Yanyun had seamlessly gone straight to Bai Xuanling for intensive training.

Given Xu Jin’s performance, Yanyun was likely feeling quite pressured.

But it didn’t matter—Yanyun’s victory or defeat wouldn’t affect the bigger picture. It was just a chance for her to gain experience.

If Yanyun lost, Chu Xingchen wouldn’t participate in the final round either.

Win or lose, the last match would be Yanyun’s final spar with Xu Jin.

Chu Xingchen’s own matches had already concluded ahead of schedule.

There was still some time before the next round. Xu Jin’s injuries weren’t severe—no need for medicinal pills—just a good night’s sleep, and he’d be back in top form.

But the tournament schedule couldn’t be helped.

For immortals, even a month could be counted in days. This grand competition, the first of its kind among the core disciples of the three great sects, would wrap up in just three days before everyone headed home. Some might even call it slapdash.

It might make people wonder if these folks had nothing better to do than stage fake matches for entertainment.

Still, a little break to allow for better preparation and a more spectacular showdown wasn’t a bad thing.

Chu Xingchen’s purpose in coming to the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect was more or less fulfilled.

At the moment, Lv Xuan was still in discussions with Li Moze.

Chu Xingchen strolled leisurely to a stone chair, glancing around to spot only a few scattered figures of Tianyan Sect disciples.

They moved hurriedly, none sparing him a second glance.

He had tried striking up conversations with them before, but their responses were always formal and overly respectful. Even his jokes were taken seriously.

Or perhaps they knew they were jokes but still treated them as earnest remarks.

Chu Xingchen sighed softly, suddenly missing his own disciples.

Now, he just hoped everything would go smoothly so he could return sooner and check on the progress of his sect’s construction.

But with nothing else to do, he figured he might as well seek out Yanyun and tease her a bit.

Watching her get flustered and then beaten in training was rather amusing. Maybe he’d even secretly record it with a memory stone to show Ling Yu later.

Wanhua Ridge.

The sun cast its warmth as a gentle breeze stirred the flowers, carrying a faint scent of tranquility.

Yet the atmosphere here was anything but tranquil—rows of uniquely shaped buildings were in the final stages of construction.

Chen Baiqing observed carefully, mentally comparing the progress against the plans.

Though cultivators possessed immense strength and could accomplish much with their abilities, certain skills—like architecture—required specialized knowledge. Building wasn’t something one naturally mastered just by cultivating.

Besides, cultivation wasn’t meant for infrastructure work. Large-scale construction was better suited to experienced laborers rather than cultivators.

Naturally, a cultivator with construction experience was ideal.

For this branch sect’s construction, many cultivators had been hired—mostly at the Qi Refining stage. Even so, their cultivation sped up the process significantly.

Chen Baiqing was in charge of the disciples’ living quarters, which were progressing a bit slower but involved fewer complications.

Still, there were challenges. While Cui Hao had designed a template for the residences, everyone had their own preferences.

Some had many requests, others few.

Cui Hao himself had initially made so many modifications that the original design was almost unrecognizable—though he later scaled back.

Then there was the Second Senior Brother, who simply nodded in silence—This is fine, more than enough.

Having slept in a ruined temple before, Li Xingtian was content as long as the new building didn’t leak wind.

Chen Baiqing wanted to ensure every detail matched their expectations, so they could move in without the slightest discomfort.

She meticulously refined every aspect, striving for perfection.

Naturally, she paid the most attention to her Master’s residence.

The original design had placed the Master’s dwelling in a separate area, isolated from the disciples. But the Master had outright rejected it.

"This Master doesn’t want to cross half the sect just to chat with you all."

Chen Baiqing had adjusted the design based on the Master’s habits.

After confirming everything was on track, she turned to leave, planning to report to the First Senior Sister—the residences were ready for the next phase.

The branch sect’s construction was progressing swiftly.

But there was still a long way to go before completion.

A sect wasn’t finished just because the buildings were up.

Ritual formations, protective arrays, and other measures still needed preparation.

Not long after setting off, Chen Baiqing spotted the dispirited Green Snake.

Qinghe had lasted quite a while this time, but the endless labor with no time for play had finally worn it down.

So it had found an excuse to return to Tianyan Sect for a few days’ rest before coming back.

Lately, the Green Snake had been sticking close to Qinghe, and the two had grown quite close. Qinghe had even boasted about taking the Green Snake under its wing.

But ever since Qinghe left, the Green Snake seemed… reluctant?

Its work ethic had noticeably slumped.

Chen Baiqing hesitated before stopping. "Green Snake, if you’re tired, go rest. Or wait until Qinghe returns."

The sect’s construction wouldn’t collapse just because one snake slacked off.

Besides, this snake was the Master’s designated guardian beast of the sect…

Even if it was only at the Qi Refining stage, its strength was already on par with San Dong’s. Since the Master acknowledged it, it deserved some consideration.

The Green Snake paused its sluggish movements, turning to Chen Baiqing as if struck by inspiration.

For some reason, it suddenly perked up, its voice brimming with vigor. "No need! I can do it!"

Chen Baiqing blinked, slightly puzzled. She understood people well enough, but snakes were another matter.

After a moment, she simply said, "If you want to rest, go rest early."

As she walked away, she overheard the Green Snake muttering to itself:

"No… I can’t slack off. Qinghe said we must work harder—only then will we have a future!"

Chen Baiqing halted mid-step, glancing back at the suddenly motivated serpent.

This snake hadn’t seemed entirely foolish before—it clearly had some brains in its head.

How had Qinghe managed to trick it so thoroughly?

If the Green Snake ever learned Qinghe’s true nature, the fallout would be… entertaining.