The pull from the upper realm grew stronger and stronger. Jiang Chan knew it was time to leave the cultivation world.
She squeezed Mo Yu’s hand, told her to take care, and followed the golden light of ascension, disappearing from that world.
As she watched Jiang Chan leave, Feng Qiwu suddenly pressed a hand to her chest. It was filled with joy and anticipation for the future.
The spectators dispersed, and several Alchemy Peak disciples headed back together. A round-faced female cultivator suddenly muttered, “If Grandmaster is a treasure-hunting mouse, what is Elder Mo?”
The others fell silent. Jiang Chan and Mo Yu had always been inseparable. If Jiang Chan was a treasure-hunting mouse, Mo Yu was probably a spirit beast too. After all, they came from the same place.
Qingqing’s lips twitched. There had been rather too many shocks today. Her master was a spirit beast, and now a divine beast. But whatever Jiang Chan’s identity, she would always be the teacher who had taught her everything. Nothing could change that.
“Don’t gossip about Master. Martial Aunt Mo’s identity is hardly something for us to speculate about.”
“I’m just curious. I want to know what Elder Mo really is.”
The round-faced cultivator was Jiang Chan’s youngest disciple. Her senior brothers and sisters all doted on her, so despite her considerable cultivation, she remained innocent around her fellow disciples.
“Too much curiosity will get you killed. Hurry back to your cave dwelling and cultivate. Master is still waiting for us in the immortal realm.” After gently scolding her junior sister, Qingqing returned to her own cave dwelling.
Those who had watched Jiang Chan’s tribulation up close had gained many insights. This was the perfect time to go back and cultivate. Only their youngest junior sister remained preoccupied with their master’s true form.
Gradually calming her mind, Qingqing began contemplating every moment of Jiang Chan’s tribulation.
Over the following decades, the Sword Sect became a major topic of conversation throughout the cultivation world.
Twenty years after Jiang Chan’s tribulation, Mo Yu successfully passed her own and ascended. With yet another elder ascending, the Sword Sect’s reputation soared. Even the Yunshui Sect, which had once been able to rival it, now had to keep out of its way.
In the immortal realm, Mo Yu had only just arrived when she spotted the golden-robed woman standing nearby. She immediately broke into a broad smile, rushed over, and gave Jiang Chan a great hug, rubbing her cheek against Jiang Chan’s shoulder.
It was an instinctive feline gesture, especially after a long separation. Mo Yu could hardly have been happier to see Jiang Chan again.
With an arm around Jiang Chan’s shoulders, she shifted uncomfortably. “That lightning tribulation hurt like hell. I nearly didn’t make it.”
Jiang Chan moved her shoulder. “You must have worked very hard these past twenty years. I thought you’d need thirty.”
Mo Yu smiled delightedly. “I knew you were waiting for me here. We’ve been together for hundreds of years and have hardly ever been apart. When you suddenly ascended, being on my own felt so strange.”
Jiang Chan pinched her cheek. “I know. I felt lonely without you too. It’s good to have a friend by your side.”
Mo Yu grinned, entirely carefree. “You should have seen Alchemy Peak’s disciples when I revealed my true form during my tribulation. Their eyes nearly popped out!”
Imagining the scene, Jiang Chan smiled faintly. It really was amusing. A treasure-hunting mouse who refined pills and a Shadow Leopard who refined artifacts. The two of them had certainly broken new ground.
“Oh, and I don’t think it’ll be long before Feng Qiwu ascends. She’s cultivating so quickly.” Knowing Jiang Chan worried about Feng Qiwu, Mo Yu blurted out the news.
“Good. Let’s spend some time traveling around the immortal realm first. When Qiwu ascends, we can have a proper reunion.”
Heaven knew how much Jiang Chan had wanted to go traveling. Unfortunately, as a treasure-hunting mouse whose innate ability was finding treasures, she still needed someone else to protect her.
If she ventured out alone, someone as sought-after as her would sooner or later be captured by a powerful immortal. Did anyone really think the immortal realm was an easy place to get by? Without the strength to manage it, she was better off staying safely tucked away.
And so Jiang Chan had remained near the Ascension Platform for twenty whole years, waiting for Mo Yu to ascend and protect her. Once Mo Yu arrived, she finally felt she could hold her head high.
After Jiang Chan and Mo Yu had traveled together through the immortal realm for nearly a hundred years, Feng Qiwu successfully ascended. The moment Jiang Chan saw her, she knew her mission was truly complete and that it was time to leave.
This had been the longest of all Jiang Chan’s missions, but it had also taught her countless things and greatly broadened her horizons and outlook.
Originally, Jiang Chan had not intended to submit the completed mission quite so soon. But while she, Mo Yu, and Feng Qiwu were traveling together, they happened to encounter another treasure-hunting mouse.
That was the end of her peace. He would not leave her alone. According to him, they were both pure-blooded divine beasts, and treasure-hunting mice were exceptionally rare. They were a match made in Heaven.
Even Mo Yu had attracted the persistent attentions of another divine beast in the immortal realm. Divine beasts capable of ascending were few and far between, and females like Mo Yu were rarer still.
Jiang Chan could do nothing about the treasure-hunting mouse pestering her. She had no right to agree to such a thing on Xiao Jin’s behalf. Xiao Jin would have to make that choice herself.
And so, ten years after Feng Qiwu ascended, Jiang Chan finally submitted the completed mission. If she put it off any longer, she might not be able to resist throwing that treasure-hunting mouse out!
Xiao Jin stretched her body and gave a great, lazy yawn. Being back in her own body felt wonderful. She had never expected Jiang Chan to return it to her and let her reap such an enormous benefit for nothing.
With a satisfied sigh, Xiao Jin transformed, and a gleaming golden treasure-hunting mouse appeared where she had stood. She waved a paw, conjuring a water mirror before her.
Seeing the glossy fur and slender body reflected in it, Xiao Jin nodded in satisfaction. Jiang Chan was truly amazing. She had made her look so beautiful.
Then she remembered how little attention Jiang Chan usually paid to her appearance and felt a little deflated, only to brighten again. Even without making an effort, she was this beautiful. Clearly, she was a natural beauty!
“What are you doing? You’ve been looking in that mirror forever.” Mo Yu strode in casually. After watching Xiao Jin admire herself for five minutes, she finally lost patience.
She was not surprised by Xiao Jin’s appearance. Back when she first ascended to the immortal realm, Jiang Chan had told her that she would leave one day. Mo Yu had long since prepared herself.
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