PID Chapter 59

(5/5) Extra Update ~

(˶ᵔ ᵕ ᵔ˶)

 

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The Cloud Platform Grand Competition was a grand event in the middle realm. Although the three children’s cultivation levels weren’t high enough to participate, the academy would bring some disciples to broaden their horizons besides the competitors. The three children were on the list.

 

The competition venue was chosen in a celestial valley. Rogue cultivators who wanted to participate needed to register at the Jinxiu Pavilion a month in advance. Any Jinxiu Pavilion branch would do. Chu Jinglan had already obtained his identity token after registering in Lin’an City.

 

The five major powers – Cloud Peak Six Sects, Immortal Alliance, Jinxiu Pavilion, Lin’an Academy, plus the demon race – would all send people from the upper realm to watch the competition, showing its importance.

 

Of the six main sects in the Cloud Peak Six Sects, each would send at least one Divided Spirit cultivator. The Immortal Alliance and Jinxiu Pavilion, led by prominent families, would also send representatives from each family. But now, people couldn’t guess who the demon race would send, and there were few information channels.

 

Wang Ludian hadn’t lost his enthusiasm for keeping in touch with Chu Jinglan and Xiao Mo. He specially sent a message via jade tablet to tell them who would be leading the Yingyue Sect this time. Reportedly, this person had a good relationship with the Moon Lord. He delivered the information they wanted right to their hands.

 

Xiao Mo held the messaging jade tablet and asked with a smile: “I wonder who will be leading the upper realm’s Jinxiu Pavilion this time?”

 

When it came to his own family matters, Wang Ludian became more reserved. He answered shrewdly: “It’s still under discussion. We’ll know at the competition. In any case, I’ll definitely be there. If you two have time then, we could have a cup of tea together.”

 

“By the way, inns near the celestial valley will surely be packed. If you have trouble finding accommodation, take your previous tokens to the Jinxiu Pavilion. There will be a solution.”

 

Xiao Mo raised an eyebrow: “Wasn’t it said the tokens could only be used for entering and exiting the cultivation rooms?”

 

Wang Ludian chuckled: “Rules are dead, but people are alive, you know.”

 

After ending the communication, Chu Jinglan commented blandly: “He’s overly enthusiastic.”

 

Xiao Mo: “Indeed, but it’s not harmful to us for now.”

 

Xiao Mo could guess a bit, probably related to Wang Ludian’s cousin. That Young Master Wang loved stories about extraordinary talents the most. In the original story, this was also part of the reason he actively connected with Chu Jinglan.

 

In the original story, Chu Jinglan didn’t participate in the Cloud Platform Grand Competition. That part of the story was mainly from Su Baimo’s perspective, without Chu Jinglan’s scenes. No one knew how Chu Jinglan entered the Yingyue Sect; it seemed he was naturally destined for glory, and other stories weren’t important.

 

Now Chu Jinglan’s path should be much easier. The plot had changed, and it was unknown if he and Young Master Wang would meet earlier.

 

Xiao Mo put away the messaging jade tablet. The three children poked their heads out from the study. They had been copying books in the room for two days and handed over the completed copies. Chu Jinglan took the books. Yan Chun’s handwriting was neat, Chu Xia’s was graceful, and Mo Zhi’s… Chu Jinglan looked at his book in silence.

 

Xiao Mo peeked and laughed: Well, chicken scratch handwriting.

 

Mo Zhi clearly had full awareness of this and was very nervous. Seeing Chu Jinglan silent while looking only at his book, he quickly said: “Master, my handwriting has improved.”

 

Yan Chun also spoke up for him: “Yes, now we can recognize it as writing.”

 

Xiao Mo couldn’t help but laugh. Yan Chun wasn’t being sarcastic; he was genuinely praising. He rubbed Mo Zhi’s head: “He won’t blame you.”

 

Mo Zhi had learned to read late, and Chu Jinglan indeed wouldn’t blame him. He would only assign homework: “From now on, practice at least five pages of writing every day, even after we part. Yan Chun, you supervise him.”

 

Yan Chun immediately said: “Yes, Master.”

 

Mo Zhi was distraught: Practicing writing is harder than practicing the knife, wuwu, so difficult!

 

Xiao Mo called the three children to the courtyard: “Help me with something.”

 

Mo Zhi was the first to run out quickly, escaping from Chu Jinglan’s sight. He thought Senior Brother was helping him out, but after Xiao Mo had them stand ready, he realized it was really to help with something.

 

Xiao Mo stood in front of them, channeled his spiritual energy, and activated the Phantom Moon Core.

 

He had placed the Phantom Moon Core directly in his heart position. Being a spiritual body made it convenient. As his spiritual energy moved, a huge illusion unfolded before the three. Before they could react, the scenery around them changed completely. The three children were amazed by the wondrous scene constructed, all exclaiming in awe.

 

Xiao Mo had constructed a magnificent palace. A lamp floated in front of Chu Xia. She curiously took it, holding it in her hand, feeling it was just like a real one.

 

Yan Chun looked around and asked Xiao Mo: “Xiao- ah no, Shixiong Mo, what is this?”

 

“An illusion,” Xiao Mo said.

 

In the hands of someone with powerful spiritual sense, the Phantom Moon Core’s illusions could combine virtual and real. He didn’t control the children’s minds at all, only unfolding the illusion for them. Xiao Mo’s body felt no discomfort now, meaning putting people in the illusion didn’t count as harm. So the next step was…

 

Xiao Mo told them: “Pinch your arms, not too hard, just enough to feel a little pain.”

 

The three obediently did as told, each pinching their arm.

 

Xiao Mo, who had been fine just moments ago, immediately felt a knife-like pain across both his arms. The backlash pain was doubled. Xiao Mo endured it and pressed his arms, getting a rough idea.

 

This meant that in his spiritual body state, he could trap people in illusions, but if the trapped people suffered any damage in the illusion, even if not caused by him, it would count against him.

 

Xiao Mo lowered his hands, thinking optimistically: Not bad, at least he gained a defensive skill. If he timed trapping and releasing people well, he could still assist Chu Jinglan even in spiritual body state.

 

Xiao Mo withdrew his spiritual energy. The three children still wanted to see more, but Chu Jinglan had already come to the courtyard with his sword.

 

“Come,” Chu Jinglan said, “I’ll test your cultivation.”

 

After guiding their studies, he was now guiding their martial arts. Though Chu Jinglan spoke coldly, he was actually very responsible.

 

The three children immediately perked up, all on high alert. Yan Chun held talismans, Chu Xia had flying threads and silver needles, while Mo Zhi held a knife, his eyes bright and eager.

 

The three children attacked together. They had coordination and good teamwork. Chu Jinglan deliberately let them attack a few more times, but he didn’t even need to unsheathe his sword. After a moment, Chu Jinglan stopped feeding them moves and knocked each child down with his scabbard.

 

He hit Yan Chun: “Too much thinking, easy to miss opportunities. Need to cut off distracting thoughts.”

 

He hit Mo Zhi: “Plenty of strength, but lacking in mind. No proper form. Practice basics more.”

 

He hit Chu Xia: “Too timid. Need to be bold yet careful.”

 

The three children got up, dusty and disheveled, but happy despite being beaten: “Thank you for the guidance, Master.”

 

Xiao Mo sat on the porch, watching with great interest. This small residence was full of the warmth of life.

 

The children stayed at home for a few days, receiving good teaching, before returning to the academy. Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan wouldn’t leave for the celestial valley with them. Before leaving, they gave the three more pocket money.

 

This time it wasn’t just spirit stones, but also some precious magical treasures and spiritual medicines. Within their abilities, Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan never stinted on the three children.

 

With the children gone, the residence became empty again. Xiao Mo twirled the flute in his hand: “Want to spar with me too?”

 

Xiao Mo could only fight without holding back against Chu Jinglan. Chu Jinglan also wanted to test his Nascent Soul stage cultivation. He didn’t need to draw his sword when sparring with the children, but against Xiao Mo, Chu Jinglan’s sword was already unsheathed.

 

His expression remained calm, but his eyes clearly showed fighting spirit: “Alright.”

 

A protective barrier was set up around the courtyard to prevent damage. Xiao Mo smiled, holding his flute horizontally: “Shall I suppress my cultivation to early Nascent Soul stage?”

 

Chu Jinglan raised his sword: “No need.”

 

Xiao Mo: “Then I won’t hold back.”

 

Just as he put the flute to his lips, Chu Jinglan’s sword was upon him.

 

Back in the bamboo grove when they first met, Chu Jinglan’s sword flashed cold light, and Xiao Mo could only watch helplessly as the sword energy froze him in place, seeing Chu Jinglan’s thrust coming. Now, with a light touch of his toes, Xiao Mo gracefully spun, the sword grazing past his flexible waist. The flute’s demonic notes suddenly exploded by Chu Jinglan’s ear, black mist and sword light violently colliding, spiritual energy surging.

 

The sword raised startling waves, the jade flute splashed ink, the wind howled wildly.

 

No shackles, no life and death, just an exhilarating duel.

 

The three children certainly didn’t know that as soon as they left, their master and senior brother fought for a day and a night.

 

The fight made both increasingly excited. Xiao Mo’s red pupils appeared, Chu Jinglan broke through two illusions in succession. Black mist swirled around Xiao Mo like a mysteriously beautiful flower by the Sanzu River. He directly wrapped himself in black mist and struck out a palm at close range towards Chu Jinglan, who immediately countered with spiritual energy in his palm.

 

Demonic energy and silvery-white spiritual light faced off equally, their pressure colliding, sharp edges meeting. Both intensified their spiritual energy more and more, and then — they heard a faint “crack” in their ears.

 

The sound was small, but it made both fighters, caught up in the heat of battle, slightly shift their gazes and simultaneously withdraw their force.

 

They retracted their power quickly, but the protective barrier had already reached its limit. Looking up, they saw the barrier covering the entire courtyard cracking like a spider web. Air currents swept through the tree trunks, making leaves rustle and fall.

 

Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan happened to be standing under a tree.

 

As soon as the leaves fell, Chu Jinglan instinctively raised his hand to shield Xiao Mo’s head.

 

Xiao Mo blinked.

 

Chu Jinglan also froze for a moment, then withdrew his hand, using spiritual energy to brush away all the fallen leaves.

 

Yes, using spiritual energy to brush away the leaves was the efficient and effective approach. Chu Jinglan’s earlier hand-raising to shield… was an action he himself hadn’t even realized.

 

Chu Jinglan pressed his finger joints. This page could be turned as if nothing happened, no problem—

 

Then he saw Xiao Mo reach out and pluck a leaf from his shoulder.

 

Xiao Mo held the leaf, waving it in front of his eyes, smiling: “You fought well.”

 

Chu Jinglan: “…Mm, you too.”

 

The inner demon being too strong wasn’t good news for the host, but Chu Jinglan wasn’t lying.

 

Chu Jinglan looked at that leaf, thinking of something, and gave Xiao Mo more points. Xiao Mo just thought it was because they enjoyed the fight, so points were added. He lightly flicked the leaf away. The system had already calculated Chu Jinglan’s current data.

 

“Fighting someone at mid Nascent Soul stage, one level higher, he has a 70% chance of winning; against peak Nascent Soul, he has a 35% chance of winning, but would be severely injured. This data doesn’t include additional spiritual tools. If added, the data would fluctuate within a certain range.”

 

As expected of a genius.

 

With this combat power, in the early Nascent Soul group of the Cloud Platform Grand Competition, Chu Jinglan should easily secure a top ten position, striving for first place.

 

“Now only the rewards for the top three haven’t been revealed,” Xiao Mo said. “I’m very interested in what the first place prize will be.”

 

Chu Jinglan: “I’ll go get it.”

 

Xiao Mo’s lips curved: “So confident?”

 

Chu Jinglan: “I’ll do my best.”

 

Xiao Mo clapped his hands: “I admire your proud yet humble attitude.”

 

Chu Jinglan said nothing, unsure if it was Xiao Mo’s earlier confidence in him that influenced him, or if it was the long-absent abundant spiritual energy that gave him assurance. In any case, his goal aligned with Xiao Mo’s, and what harm was there in making Xiao Mo happy along the way?

 

*

 

The two rested in Lin’an City for some days. Because the celestial valley was far, they needed to depart early. This time they didn’t take a public flying boat, having their own transportation.

 

It was a flying boat left by the Moon Lord.

 

The boat could accommodate about ten people. It couldn’t compare to the fortress-like celestial ships of major sects, but its protective arrays were crafted by masters, even able to defend against Divided Spirit attacks. The hull was made of precious materials, suitable for friends and family traveling together, not inferior to anyone else’s.

 

Xiao Mo and Chu Jinglan rode this flying boat, arriving near the celestial valley half a month before the competition.

 

The three cities closest to the celestial valley were already packed. Even arriving half a month early, there were no vacant rooms in the public inns.

 

If possible, camping outdoors certainly wasn’t as comfortable as an inn. So the two took their tokens and went to the Jinxiu Pavilion in the city.

 

The Jinxiu Pavilion quickly arranged accommodation for them in one of their own inns, not open to the public. Only Jinxiu Pavilion’s own people could stay there. Not only were the room quality excellent, but three spirit meals were provided daily, ensuring satisfaction with food and lodging.

 

They only took one room. Opening the window, it didn’t face the street but a beautiful garden view, quiet but not lonely, a peaceful and comfortable resting environment.

 

Xiao Mo sincerely remarked: “Dealing with the Jinxiu Pavilion was truly not a wrong move.”

 

Chu Jinglan also nodded. He said: “I need to go to the street to buy some things for maintaining the spirit sword.”

 

Xiao Mo was very willing to go out and look around: “Let’s go, and see what potential opponents there might be.”

 

The cultivators in the city now were all here for the Cloud Platform Grand Competition; they were all opponents to each other.

 

The two walked side by side on the street, first finding a spiritual tool shop. After Chu Jinglan chose his items, needing a large quantity, the shopkeeper smiled and carefully packed them, asking them to wait a moment.

 

Xiao Mo noticed a spirit food shop not far away, specializing in pastries. The aroma could be smelled from afar. Since the spiritual tool shop owner was still packing, Xiao Mo said to Chu Jinglan: “I’ll go to that shop first to see what good food they have.”

 

Chu Jinglan nodded: “Alright.”

 

Xiao Mo went to the pastry shop and saw many appetizing snacks, steaming with the fragrance of spiritual ingredients. There were many varieties. Xiao Mo bought two of each to try the taste. He and Chu Jinglan could split them, and if Chu Jinglan didn’t want to eat, he could finish the rest himself.

 

Xiao Mo bought a lot, so the shop used a food box to pack them. Just as he turned around with the box, he heard a familiar voice: “What a nice smell, what is…”

 

The speaker’s words cut off abruptly upon seeing Xiao Mo’s face.

 

In one of the three cities outside the celestial valley, among so many people, Xiao Mo came face to face with Su Baimo outside a pastry shop.

 

Xiao Mo: “…”

 

As Su Baimo saw Xiao Mo’s face, he froze completely. Behind him, Dai Zisheng and Mu Jian approached, asking what was wrong as they saw him stop.

 

Xiao Mo reacted quickly, pretending not to see Su Baimo and moving to leave. After all, he should be a stranger to Su Baimo; no reaction was the best reaction.

 

But unexpectedly, after his initial shock, Su Baimo immediately rushed forward: “Wait, please wait a moment!”

 

This shout made Dai Zisheng notice Xiao Mo too.

 

Dai Zisheng was startled, even more excited than Su Baimo. He hurried over: “Fellow cultivator, please wait!”

 

They blocked his path, forcing Xiao Mo to stop.

 

He sighed inwardly but kept his expression unchanged: “May I ask what you need?”

 

Dai Zisheng carefully examined his features, feeling they were too similar. He was more direct: “May I ask… do you know a young master surnamed Chu?”

 

Though abrupt, they had long been without news of Chu Jinglan. Seeing someone with similar features, they couldn’t help but ask, preferring to be wrong than not ask at all.

 

Xiao Mo was about to say there were many surnamed Chu, he knew dozens, but just as he opened his mouth, he heard Su Baimo exclaim: “Brother Jinglan!?”

 

Xiao Mo had to swallow his words and turn around to see Chu Jinglan had already come out of the spiritual tool shop and was walking to his side.

 

The four cornerstone characters had unexpectedly encountered each other.

 

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1 Kofi = 1 Extra Chapter