The appearance of the three little Dragons injected new vitality into Eden Garden. To sate their hunger, their enthusiasm for work was exceedingly high. Besides, for them, this bit of work wasn’t difficult at all; it was quite relaxing.
The former Fire-Burning Boy, Da Bai, must be crying his eyes out in the latrine.
Just as Eden Garden was prospering, the exchange students from Flower Fairy Valley finally arrived.
The Flying Boat from Flower Fairy Valley, much like its Cultivators, was a vibrant pink and adorned with colorful Spirit Flowers. As soon as the Flying Boat landed, a captivating fragrance wafted through the air. Following closely were the chattering and laughing Female Cultivators from Flower Fairy Valley.
"Hua Jiu, I never expected the team leader to be an old woman like you!" Wudao Tian said with a chuckle.
"And I didn’t expect to be received by a brute like you," Hua Jiu retorted, a tightness in her chest.
"Senior Brother Wu," Die Luowu greeted, peeking out from behind Hua Jiu.
"Ah, Junior Sister Die! I’m glad you could come as well," Wudao Tian said, somewhat awkwardly.
「Inside the Main Hall」
Wudao Tian clarified which Inner Sect Mountains of the Myriad Beasts Sect were willing to host the disciples from Flower Fairy Valley. "These are the Inner Sect Mountains willing to host. You may choose at your leisure."
Hua Jiu carefully searched the list. To her dismay, she found that none of the four great Inner Sect Mountains were available. Somewhat discontentedly, she asked, "None of the four great Inner Sect Mountains are open?"
Wudao Tian glanced at Hua Jiu and then said, somewhat exasperated, "It’s not that we aren’t offering them to you, but are you sure your disciples can learn anything from those four peaks?"
"And why not?" Hua Jiu retorted, unconvinced.
"Are you certain?" Wudao Tian countered.
Hua Jiu bit her lip, about to stubbornly retort, when another woman behind her tugged at her clothes. "Master," the disciple said, "our capabilities are far too inferior compared to the disciples of those four peaks."
Hua Jiu, somewhat disheartened, said, "Let it be then."
"Is this your disciple? Another True Inheritor of Flower Fairy Valley, Hua Jianyu?" Wudao Tian looked at Hua Jianyu in surprise. This disciple is good, he thought, at least much more sensible than her Master.
After many disciples from Flower Fairy Valley had chosen their desired mountains, only a few people remained in the Main Hall.
Wudao Tian said to Hua Jiu, "Elder Hua, you and your two True Disciples need not choose. Just come with me to meet the Great Elder; he has arrangements for you."
"The Great Elder is just up ahead. You can go by yourselves. I’ll take my leave first." Wudao Tian waved his hand and departed.
Hua Jiu and the Great Elder, Ye Sheng, had some prior acquaintance, which was why Hua Jiu was chosen to lead the delegation from Flower Fairy Valley this time.
"It’s been a long time, Hua Jiu," Ye Sheng said. He was seated beside Silver Flower, with Spiritual Tea already steeped on the table.
"It really has been a long time, Ye Sheng. Have you and Silver Flower finally tied the knot?" Hua Jiu asked, somewhat absentmindedly.
"The disciples from Flower Fairy Valley are visiting our Myriad Beasts Sect this time. Does your Sect Master wish to form an alliance with us, similar to the one with the Triple Sect?" Ye Sheng saw through the Flower Fairy Valley’s Sect Master’s intentions at a glance.
Hua Jiu made no attempt to conceal it. "Yes," she said. "Without an Immortal Golden Immortal, we lack the resources of the Infinite Star Sea. We can barely manage a single Great Thousand World, let alone find strong support. How else are we to survive?"
Ye Sheng sighed. "I’ve always said that your Flower Fairy Valley should cultivate more disciples specialized in Fighting Techniques. You’re always looking for shortcuts. Don’t you understand that one’s own strength is the most fundamental asset?"
Hua Jiu remained silent. If only it were that easy, she thought. Besides, the founding ancestor of Flower Fairy Valley was merely a gardener—a lovesick one at that. For the sect to have reached its current scale is already quite an accomplishment.
"Considering our friendship, and thanks to the help from Yue Shanghua, we will do our best to enhance the strength of the disciples you’ve brought this time. However, the core of the Myriad Beasts Sect still lies in its Spiritual Beasts. How much they can learn will depend on your disciples themselves," Ye Sheng said, shaking his head.
With official matters concluded, it was time for personal ones.
Prompted by Silver Flower, Ye Sheng finally relented. "I heard," he began, "that a True Disciple from your sect, Die Luowu, seems to have something budding with Wudao Tian?"
Hua Jiu gave Ye Sheng an odd look, then glanced at the clearly curious Silver Flower. She couldn’t help but chuckle. "Luowu, Elder Ye is asking you a question."
Hua Jiu pulled forward a blushing Die Luowu.
"G-Greetings, Great Elder," Die Luowu stammered, utterly mortified.
"This young lady is quite comely. That boy, Dao Tian, is always hiding in Eden Garden on Hundred Herbs Peak. If you wish to see him, you can go there directly. That place belongs to my grand-disciple."
"Thank you, Great Elder!" Die Luowu exclaimed, then hurriedly departed.
Ye Sheng chuckled. "I haven’t even given her a welcoming gift yet. Well, next time will do. The other young lady must be your disciple, Hua Jianyu, right?"
"Jianyu, quickly, pay your respects to Elder Ye," Hua Jiu urged the disciple behind her.
"Hua Jianyu pays her respects to Elder Ye," Hua Jianyu said deferentially.
"Hmm, not bad. Your foundation is decent. As an elder, I don’t have much of a gift for you. How about this: I’ll give you this token. If you take a fancy to any Spiritual Beast in our sect, and it is willing, you may take it with you." Ye Sheng casually conjured a golden token.
"Thank you, Elder Ye!"
Hua Jiu felt a surge of gratitude. Choosing freely from the Spiritual Beasts of the Myriad Beasts Sect was indeed a grand gift! With some luck, if Hua Jianyu obtained a Divine Beast, Flower Fairy Valley might even gain another Golden Immortal-level Divine Beast to protect the sect!
"Master, Elder Ye, I would also like to visit Eden Garden at Hundred Herbs Peak," Hua Jianyu stated respectfully, putting away the token.
"Go on, then," Ye Sheng permitted.
Chen Jiuge was puzzled to see his Eldest Senior Brother, who had left early in the morning, return so soon. What puzzled Chen Jiuge even more was the arrival of Die Luowu from Flower Fairy Valley shortly thereafter. Then, another beautiful Female Cultivator, whom Chen Jiuge didn’t recognize, also arrived.
"And you are?" Chen Jiuge asked the visiting Hua Jianyu.
"Greetings, Senior Brother. I am Hua Jianyu from Flower Fairy Valley, currently here at Hundred Herbs Peak for training. My Junior Sister, Die Luowu, should have already arrived," Hua Jianyu said respectfully.
Seeing Hua Jianyu’s impeccable etiquette and respectful demeanor, Chen Jiuge felt a bit awkward. "Junior Sister Hua," he said, "no need to be so formal. Things are quite relaxed here. Please, make yourself comfortable. Just... try not to casually attack the Spiritual Beasts."
"Understood, Senior Brother. May I ask where my Junior Sister is now?" Hua Jianyu inquired curiously.
Chen Jiuge pointed to the small courtyard. "She’s in there, catching up with our Eldest Senior Brother. If there’s nothing urgent, I suggest you wait a bit before going in."
"You mean Wudao Tian... Senior Brother Wu?" Hua Jianyu exclaimed in surprise.
Isn’t Wudao Tian the Eldest Senior Brother of the Myriad Beasts Sect? Shouldn’t he be at the Main Hall? Why would he be in the cave mansion of an ordinary disciple at Hundred Herbs Peak?
Chen Jiuge, unaware of Hua Jianyu’s thoughts and operating on the principle that all visitors are guests, began showing her around Eden Garden, making sure to promote the Spiritual Beasts there.
When Chen Jiuge learned in casual conversation that Hua Jianyu was not only a True Inheritor of Flower Fairy Valley but also the disciple of their visiting Heavenly Immortal Elder, his expression became even more enthusiastic. If I can get Hua Jianyu to speak well of Eden Garden’s Spiritual Beasts among the other Flower Fairy Valley disciples, he schemed, I could secure all their business!
A huge deal! A massive sale! Chen Jiuge internally screamed with delight.
Unaware of Chen Jiuge’s intentions, Hua Jianyu simply found this Senior Brother to be very enthusiastic. Could he also be interested in my looks? she wondered. With this thought, Hua Jianyu grew a bit more guarded.
Chen Jiuge, oblivious that his enthusiasm might be misconstrued as scheming, continued to passionately introduce the Spiritual Beasts before them.