Ninth In the World

Di Jiu was perfectly satisfied. He had managed to pick divine spirit herbs for two days in the Dao Evolution Mountain Range Herb Valley. Even though he could not pick in many places within two days, his Ninth World stored all kinds of divine spirit herbs. Apart from that, there was a huge pile of divine spirit herbs from level-one to level-four.

While there were many level-five and level-six divine spirit herbs, level-seven divine spirit herbs were sparse and Di Jiu did not manage to obtain any. However, he was not surprised. The level-seven divine spirit herb was too high for him now and he could not use it.

After three days, a dizziness took over and Di Jiu landed outside the Dao Evolution Mountain Range.

“You’re Di Jiu? You’re the outer sect disciple who represented the First Evolution Dao Sect at the Dao World Elixir River Competition?” Once Di Jiu appeared, the deacon at the entrance asked him two consecutive questions.

Di Jiu nodded. “That’s right. I’m Di Jiu.”

The deacon then started smiling even more. “If I knew that you would rank in the top 50 for the First Evolution Dao Sect, I would have reminded you not to use that token to enter the herb garden now.”

Di Jiu understood what he meant. Since his cultivation level was still too low, when he entered the Dao Evolution Mountain Range Herb Garden, he certainly would not pick much. When his cultivation level improved, he would enter the Dao Evolution Mountain Range Herb Garden again to achieve a bigger harvest.

This person meant well, so Di Jiu thanked him.

Just as Di Jiu was about to leave, the deacon suddenly said, “Valley Master An told you to find her when you come out.”

Di Jiu guessed that his core disciple position should have been announced. Although he did not care much about being a core disciple, An Tuning also meant well.

He would be a core disciple then. As long as he did not acknowledge a Master, nobody should be able to discover his Ninth World. Besides, he would have support as the First Evolution Dao Sect’s core disciple. Even if Jiang Dai was aware of his whereabouts, he probably would not dare to casually meddle with him, right?

…

After accepting the sect’s core disciple, Di Jiu did not even bother going to the Outer Sect Mountain. He went directly to the Spring Evolution Valley.

When he arrived at the Spring Evolution Valley, Di Jiu realized that there were only female disciples there. While he felt hesitant about whether he should enter, he saw a man and a woman walking out laughing.

Since male disciples could also enter, Di Jiu naturally stopped worrying. Plus, An Tuning had called him over.

As soon as Di Jiu entered the Spring Evolution Valley, and before he could even step into the array door, two women stopped him. “The Spring Evolution Valley is only composed of women. How are you? How dare you barge into the Spring Evolution Valley?”

“Isn’t he a male disciple?” Di Jiu pointed at that man.

The two women laughed out loud and looked at Di Jiu in disdain before saying, “That is Senior Brother Shao Rongqin, who is the sect’s core disciple. How can you be compared to him?”

Di Jiu frowned slightly but still explained politely, “Valley Master An invited me over. Please go in and report to her that Di Jiu is here.”

“What’s going on?” By that moment, the man and the woman had walked close to the array door. It was that woman who had spoken.

The female disciple who had stopped Di Jiu hurriedly replied, “Greetings, Senior Sister Pang. He is Di Jiu. The Valley Master invited him over.”

Di Jiu had registered, so she knew who he was.

Upon hearing Senior Sister Pang, Di Jiu understood. This woman should be disciple Pang Ying that An Tuning had mentioned. The Dao Ridge Enlightenment jade card that he had obtained would probably be given to the woman before him.

“You’re Di Jiu?” Pang Ying faintly asked as her gaze landed on Di Jiu.

Di Jiu cupped his fists. “Yes, I am. Valley Master An invited me over.”

Pang Ying nodded her head. “My Master is currently recuperating. She has told me why you are here. After Senior Brother Rongqin and I are done with our task, you will follow us.”

“Valley Master An is injured? What happened?” Di Jiu asked in shock.

Three days ago, when An Tuning and he had returned together, she had still been fine. How come she had gotten injured in the sect? If he had guessed correctly, An Tuning was certainly at the mid-stage or even late-stage Primordial Dao. It was indeed somewhat strange that such an expert could get injured in the sect.

The man explained awkwardly, “Valley Master An and my Master had some kind of conflict, and my Master’s temper is not very mild…”

An Tuning had been injured by the Master of Shao Rongqin, who was before his eyes? Di Jiu’s gaze then landed on Pang Ying as he started feeling puzzled.

An Tuning definitely thought highly of Pang Ying. Otherwise, she would not have asked him for this Dao Ridge jade card for Pang Ying. However, she had paid a price for that. Not only had she given him the Dao Evolution Mountain Range Herb Garden’s herb-picking token, but she had also promised him a core disciple position.

Although Di Jiu did not find this core disciple strange, he knew very well how impressive the core disciples of a major sect like the First Evolution Dao Sect were.

The reason that Di Jiu was puzzled was that An Tuning had taken good care of her disciple Pang Ying. However, Pang Ying was whispering sweet nothings with the disciple whose Master had injured An Tuning. He really could not figure it out. She had gone overboard by whispering sweet nothings openly in the Spring Evolution Valley.

When Pang Ying sensed Di Jiu’s puzzled gaze, she snorted and said, “Master did it because of you. If she had not requested a core disciple position for you, she would not have infuriated the Second Elder and gotten injured eventually.”

Di Jiu despised Pang Ying. How much did this trashy woman appreciate her Master if she could say that she had infuriated the Second Elder? He could not figure out why An Tuning had treated an ingrate like her well.

However, although he despised this woman deep down, Di Jiu faintly replied, “I only came to ask Valley Master An when we will be going to the Dao Ridge.”

Pang Ying shouted, “What right does an outer sect disciple like you have to ask my Master this question? Senior Brother Rongqin and I are about to go to the Dao Ridge. If you want to come along, follow me and stop talking so much.”

Di Jiu replied coldly, “You’re wrong. I want to ask the Valley Master for my Dao Ridge jade card. This jade card is not yours, but mine. I want to go to the Dao Ridge and I don’t care what other people think.”

Pang Ying had turned green from anger. Before she could say anything, a weak voice was heard. “Ying’er, this jade card is indeed Di Jiu’s. You are able to go to the Dao Ridge because of Di Jiu’s capability. You should be thanking him. Don’t say anything else. Go there soon and attain the Dao Transformation as soon as possible.”

“Yes, Master.” Pang Ying swallowed back her words.

This was An Tuning’s voice. When Di Jiu heard it, he knew that she had not been injured lightly. He even wondered how An Tuning had been injured seriously. Shao Rongqin’s Master was the Second Elder, who had seriously injured a Valley Master. This sect was not a place where anyone should be staying.

An Tuning had been seriously injured by the Second Elder. However, she had not objected to Pang Ying and Shao Rongqin being together. She was really magnanimous, or at least more than he was.

An Tuning’s voice was heard once again. “Di Jiu, I have let you down. You helped me a lot, but I could not even arrange a core disciple position for you. I hope you can find your opportunity at the Dao Ridge.”

Di Jiu knew very well what An Tuning meant. She hoped that he would not continue to stay in the First Evolution Dao Sect. Since the First Evolution Dao Sect had seriously injured a Valley Master like her and could not deal with this matter fairly, what was the point of an Alchemy Master who had a bright future staying in this sect?

Di Jiu bowed while facing the Spring Evolution Valley. “Thank you, Senior. I understand.”

Even if she had wanted him to stay in this rotten sect, he would not have bothered staying.

“Before we go to the Dao Ridge, Senior Brother Rongqin and I have to go to the sect’s Elixir and Blacksmithing Hall to exchange some things. Wait for us outside the sect.” After Pang Ying said this to Di Jiu, she then told Shao Rongqin, who was beside her, with a laugh, “Senior Brother, let’s go.”

If he had not exchanged the Dao Ridge jade card with An Tuning’s token, Di Jiu would have asked to have it back long ago. Why would he still be waiting for this woman?

However, he had no choice now. He had used An Tuning’s token and harvested a lot. Not only did he understand the nomological escape technique, but he had also harvested a huge pile of divine spirit herbs, including some precious ones.

Upon seeing Pang Ying and Shao Rongqin leave, Di Jiu also turned to leave. He went directly to the Outer Sect Disciple Hall. Since he did not intend on staying in the First Evolution Dao Sect, he had to withdraw his outer sect disciple status before he left.

Why would he value a rotten outer sect disciple position? Back then, if it had not been for the sake of going to the Vast Ruins, he would not have joined the outer sect of the First Evolution Dao Sect at all.