"You first white-rich-beauty are surprisingly stingy."
Zi Yan cutely pouted.
Xiao Ting had written in his Journal that Xun Er was the Gu Clan head's daughter and her father was a late-stage nine-star Dou Saint.
In the Battle Qi Continent, Xun Er was the number one white-rich-beauty—no other woman could compare.
Yet on their first meeting, she only offered a simple plate of pastries…
"Mm, so fragrant, so delicious." Zi Yan casually stuffed a piece into her mouth. Her pretty eyes instantly lit up.
She quickly finished all the pastries. A thick surge of heaven and earth energy accumulated inside her body, ready to be absorbed and converted into strength when the time was right.
"It's the first time I've felt full." Zi Yan rubbed her belly and licked her lips with lingering satisfaction.
"I wronged you." Zi Yan moved closer to Xun Er with a cheeky grin. "You're surprisingly generous. Can you give me more of these pastries?"
Xun Er: "..."
This little girl was quite realistic—and rather familiar right away.
"No more pastries." Xun Er smiled faintly with lowered eyes. "But I have something even better than pastries. Do you want it?"
"Of course!" Zi Yan nodded frantically with anticipation. "Xiao Ting wrote that you're my half-sister from different parents. You can give me all the good stuff without holding back."
Xun Er covered her mouth and laughed lightly.
Xiao Ting had never written that—he had only said Zi Yan had a good relationship with her. This little girl was good at summarizing.
"First, confirm—you have a copy, right?" Xun Er asked with a smile.
"Yes, yes." Zi Yan nodded repeatedly.
"You came with Jia Nan Academy's recruitment team and wanted to meet Big Brother Xiao Ting early?" Xun Er asked again.
"Correct." Zi Yan nodded heavily. "I want to know what kind of magical beast I am, why my parents abandoned me, and why I've been bullied by those powerful magical beasts in the back mountains of Jia Nan Academy ever since I can remember."
"Then I advise you to change your plan." Xun Er spoke gently. "Don't rush to meet Big Brother Xiao Ting yet."
"Why?" Zi Yan asked anxiously.
She was impatient to learn her background.
That was why, the moment the Jia Nan Academy recruitment team arrived in Wu Tan City, she had sneaked out alone to find the Xiao family.
If she hadn't been attracted by that spiritual herb midway, she might already have found Xiao Ting.
"Because we can't expose ourselves." Xun Er signaled Zi Yan to calm down and explained.
Although Zi Yan was somewhat reckless, she wasn't the type to ignore advice and act willfully.
Learning that meeting Xiao Ting might expose the Journal copies and put herself and Xun Er and the others in mortal danger, her little face immediately turned serious.
"Actually, you don't need to rush." After patiently explaining, Xun Er reached out and gently patted Zi Yan's head. "With Big Brother Xiao Ting's current strength, after the recruitment assessment he will definitely be able to join Jia Nan Academy's inner academy directly.
"Even if you don't seek him out, he should come find you. He mentioned he wants to teach you a secret technique so you can better utilize your treasure-seeking talent.
"The answers to what you want to know will come soon."
Zi Yan thought about it and realized it made sense. After the Jia Nan Academy recruitment assessment ended, Xiao Ting would definitely leave with the group.
Wu Tan City was already one of the later stops—they would return to Jia Nan Academy in less than ten days or half a month.
Then she could "coincidentally" meet Xiao Ting in a natural way and still achieve her goal.
She had gone so many years without knowing her background—a few more days wouldn't matter.
"Alright, I'll listen to you." Zi Yan puffed her cheeks. "Since you gave me so many delicious things, what's the good thing you said you'd give me?"
Hearing this, Xun Er directly manifested her Journal copy and said, "Manifest yours too."
Zi Yan immediately did so and successfully joined the Journal copy holders' group chat.
…
[Yun Yun]: Eh, the copy just notified me of another imprint. Who is it?
[Cao Ying]: Blind guess—Zi Yan.
[Zi Yan]: Eh, how did you know it was me?
[Cao Ying]: Teacher mentioned many names in his Journal. Among the women, everyone except you and Nalan Yanran is already in this group. And Sister Yun Yun confirmed Nalan Yanran doesn't have a copy.
[Feng Qing Er]: Welcome, newcomer. Who pulled you into the group?
[Zi Yan]: It was Big Sister Xun Er.
[Huo Zhi]: You ran all the way to Wu Tan City too?
[Zi Yan]: "Too"?
[Yao Ling]: Big Sister Huo Zhi and I both came to Wu Tan City, but Little Sister Xun Er persuaded us to wait a bit longer before meeting Xiao Ting. Cao Ying, Tang Huo Er, and Feng Qing Er are also planning to wait until Xiao Ting reaches the Central Plains before finding a chance to "encounter" him.
[Zi Yan]: I'm the same—I was persuaded by Big Sister Xun Er and plan to get to know Xiao Ting after returning to Jia Nan Academy's inner academy.
[Huo Zhi]: You'll be faster than me.
[Zi Yan]: I just want to know my background.
[Little Fairy Doctor]: Xun Er doesn't know your background, but she has the ability to help you identify your species.
[Xun Er]: Zi Yan took the shape-shifting grass to transform, so she can't reveal her true form right now. Normal methods won't work—I need a drop of her essence blood so I can have someone investigate.
[Zi Yan]: Never mind, never mind. No rush for a day or two.
[Zi Yan]: Little Fairy Doctor, Qing Lin—where are you? Xiao Ting said I have good relationships with you. Let's get to know each other first.
…
She had longed for reliable friends for many years and finally had a bunch of trustworthy sisters.
…
[Qing Lin]: Not right now. I just finished cooking in the kitchen and ran into Young Master Xiao Ting on the way—you need to leave.
[Zi Yan]: Sigh~ Why can't I meet him right now?
…
Although she felt regret, after saying goodbye to Xun Er, Zi Yan left immediately.
But she didn't return to the Jia Nan Academy recruitment team's camp. Instead, she activated her talent for sensing heaven and earth spiritual items and arrived at the Miteer Auction House.
"So many good things!"
Passing through the void into a treasure vault, Zi Yan looked at the several spiritual herbs inside and instinctively wiped her mouth.
"Boom!"
Just as Zi Yan was about to stuff a spiritual herb into her mouth, several sharp ice spikes suddenly shot out from the shadows, aiming straight at her face.
"Who!?" Zi Yan clenched her fists and swung with full force.
The ice spikes were all shattered, but the powerful cold made her shiver.
The attacker was definitely a full major realm above her. Combined with the ice-attribute Battle Qi, the identity was obvious.
"Hai Bodong?" Zi Yan asked.
"You recognize this old man?" Hai Bodong emerged from the shadows, blue light glowing on his hands, ready to form seals at any moment.
"It really is you." Zi Yan planted her hands on her hips and puffed out her chest. "You actually dared to ambush me? Do you know who my boss and my sister are?"
"Who?" Hai Bodong asked with a cold face.
These spiritual herbs had been gathered by the Miteer family at his request. He was about to store them and send them to Xiao Ting so a powerful alchemist around him could refine pills.
No matter who this little girl's backer was, he would make them pay.
"Hmph." Zi Yan thought she couldn't mention Xiao Ting yet, so she snorted and said, "My sister is Queen Medusa."
Hai Bodong: ?
Hai Bodong: !!!
Hiss~ Did this old man mishear?
…