His sunken eyes, buried within a web of bark-like wrinkles, slowly lifted.
They swept past Qing Ling and Bai Ya, whose expressions varied, and fixed on a distant point deep in the southeastern mountains.
He slowly raised a withered arm and pointed toward a mountain peak.
That peak was not particularly towering or steep.
Amid the layered verdure, it even seemed somewhat inconspicuous.
Its silhouette was relatively gentle, and the top appeared to have a sizable open area.
Under the slightly overcast afternoon sky, it presented a drab, grayish tone.
Compared to the surrounding spiritual peaks, which shimmered with dense spiritual energy and were often adorned with rosy clouds or veils of mist, this mountain appeared unusually still and restrained.
It indeed fit the description of “sparse spiritual energy.”
“The terrain here is fairly flat and spacious, far from the hustle and bustle, forming its own secluded domain. The mountain has no master, nor any spiritual veins coiled within.”
His words were concise, lacking Qing Ling’s ornate embellishments or Bai Ya’s flattering enthusiasm, but they made Jiu Baiyun feel considerably more comfortable.
Qing Ling and Bai Ya’s gazes immediately followed Ku Mu’s pointing finger.
Qing Ling’s delicate brows furrowed slightly.
Clearly, she found the place too desolate and crude.
Bai Ya’s small eyes darted around even faster, as if rapidly assessing whether this old fogey Ku Mu had some ulterior motive.
Zhu Le and Zhu Shi also craned their necks to look, bear faces full of curiosity and confusion.
In their eyes, that peak was utterly mediocre, far inferior to the steep peaks the War Bear Clan occupied.
But no matter what they thought, Jiu Baiyun was personally quite satisfied, and Su Zhiyun kept nodding beside him.
He inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, then nodded to Qing Ling, Bai Ya, Ku Mu, and the head-rubbing Zhu Shi and Zhu Le.
“Mm, this is the place. Everyone disperse. I’ll go over there myself.”
Qing Ling was relatively straightforward.
Seeing that the Young Lord had made up his mind, though she had many doubts about establishing a human sect, she dared not say more.
Her gauzy robes swayed slightly as she gave Jiu Baiyun another graceful bow.
“Yes, Qing Ling takes her leave. Young Lord, if you need anything, feel free to come to Qixia Peak.”
With that, a faint cyan glow emanated from her body.
She lightly tapped her toes, ready to soar into the air with an elegant posture.
However, just as she was about to move, Bai Ya’s shrill, sycophantic voice rang out.
“Ah! Young Lord, wait!”
Bai Ya slid forward in one smooth step and sidled up to Jiu Baiyun, rubbing his hands together.
His mung-bean-sized eyes darted around, his face wreathed in an ingratiating smile.
His tone was so warm and ingratiating it seemed about to overflow.
“Young Lord! Your status is noble, and you’ve just arrived. Although Senior Ku Mu has pointed out the place, the surroundings… well…”
He deliberately drew out his words, his small eyes glancing at the deep woods around them.
He lowered his voice, as if sharing some earth-shattering secret.
“Hehe, inevitably, there might be some reckless, uncivilized little demon whelps, wild and untamed, not knowing their place.”
“If they were to offend you, Young Lord, or disturb these nine ladies beside you… that would be our sin!”
As he spoke, Bai Ya’s peripheral vision quickly swept over Su Zhiyun, A Ran, and Xiao Mu behind Jiu Baiyun, his thoughts racing.
Although he instinctively disliked the idea of the Young Lord establishing a human sect, the person before him was a genuine great opportunity.
Even just forming a positive connection could greatly benefit the Mystic Mouse Clan.
As for the sect?
If the Young Lord wanted to play, let him play.
As long as it didn’t touch on core interests, why stir up trouble?
Now was the perfect chance to show loyalty!
“Look…”
Bai Ya bent his waist even lower, his smile practically blooming.
His tone was full of eagerness.
“Why not let me, or a few of my clever and sensible clan members, stand guard or keep watch nearby?”
Jiu Baiyun: “…”
Qing Ling, who had paused midair upon hearing Bai Ya’s words, hesitated.
Her gauzy robes fluttered gently in the wind.
A flicker of realization and chagrin crossed her clear face.
She clearly realized that Bai Ya was scrambling to get ahead.
She hesitated for a moment but ultimately did not fly away immediately.
Instead, she hovered in the air, waiting to see how Jiu Baiyun would decide.
Ku Mu, meanwhile, remained silent, standing in place.
His sunken eye sockets held a heavy gaze, his thoughts unknown.
Jiu Baiyun looked at Bai Ya’s fawning face before him, then glanced at Qing Ling hovering behind him.
He felt a faint ache starting at his temples again.
Even if he were treated as the bloodline of the Fox Demon Lord, did he deserve this much enthusiasm?
And according to the Fox Demon Lord, it had been many years since she last came here.
After all this time, were they still this enthusiastic toward merely a “descendant”?
Moreover… right after arriving, accepting their favors under the guise of the Fox Demon Lord’s name…
Hmm, it didn’t feel right.
As he thought, Jiu Baiyun was about to open his mouth to refuse Bai Ya’s offer, but Su Zhiyun suddenly tugged at his sleeve.
Then she extended a finger and lightly tapped the back of his hand.
Just as Jiu Baiyun was wondering what Su Zhiyun was up to, a clear mechanical voice rang out in his mind.
[A sub-system has bound with the host.]
[This system is unique. Unless the host actively unbinds, no one else has the authority to intervene with this sub-system.]
[We wish you a pleasant experience~]
Jiu Baiyun was startled, then immediately understood.
So that’s what Su Zhiyun gave him.
So Su Zhiyun’s golden finger was a system!
Staring at the translucent panel floating before him, Jiu Baiyun’s eyes flickered with a hint of envy.
After all, when he had first transmigrated to this world, he had longed for a system more than anything!
Besides, although this system before him was just a sub-system, it was still a system!
Its importance was not insignificant!
Most importantly, this sub-system actually had exclusivity!?
Su Zhiyun was willing to give him something so important?
Jiu Baiyun was about to ask Su Zhiyun what she was doing, but before the words left his mouth, the panel before him let out a series of dings and message notification sounds.
Su Zhiyun sent several messages in a row through the system panel.
[Su Zhiyun]: Jiu Baiyun, I’m giving you this sub-system.
You can communicate and exchange things through it, so we won’t have to go through any trouble later.
[Su Zhiyun]: The system’s initial inventory only has one slot.
It might not be as convenient as your cultivators’ storage rings, but at least it’s safer.
(｀・ω・´)
[Su Zhiyun]: As for the other functions, you’ll have to figure them out yourself.
I haven’t even fully figured out my own system.
Sob sob.
[Su Zhiyun transmitted a legendary item — 「Preliminary Sect Establishment Scroll」.]
[Su Zhiyun]: This is the reason I wanted to establish a sect.
Take a look at the description.
It’s way more amazing than you think!
[Su Zhiyun]: I thought it over.
This sect still needs you to establish it.
I have no cultivation and can’t support a sect.
If we really want to set it up, it’ll have to rely on you for everything down the road.
(;`^´)
[Su Zhiyun]: Also, don’t expect my system to produce anything good.
I’ve drawn hundreds of times, and this scroll is the only decent thing.
Not a single cultivation manual or anything!!!
[Su Zhiyun]: Sigh…
[Su Zhiyun]: Finally, I’ve already set you as the Sect Master and myself as an Elder.
The rest will have to be set after the sect is established.
The rest is up to you.
(｀・ω・´)9