Yuzhou City.
By the deep pool, unseen for a long time.
Chu Xingchen, with a smile on his face, said to Ning Qianqian, who looked somewhat nervous:
"Sorry, my trip to Zhongzhou was delayed. I've looked both inside and outside the sect, and I know you've worked hard during this time."
Ning Qianqian quickly shook her head and said, "This is just my duty, not worthy of praise from the Sect Leader."
Chu Xingchen smiled and shook his head. "It's already quite impressive to complete your tasks without any mistakes."
Hearing this, Ning Qianqian wanted to say something. But her gaze fell on the stone table and chairs by the pool, and she silently closed her mouth.
By the pool, in front of Chen Baiqing, there were preserved fruits and books on the other side of the table.
Green Snake stared wide-eyed at every word in the book before her. It was as if trying to engrave each word deeply into her mind.
This is wicked! Too wicked!
Why does she look so cute yet strike so fiercely!
This girl is the arrival of nightmares, the embodiment of fear!
Forget one character, and this girl would use incomprehensible methods to control her physical body. She would pose Green Snake to match that character as closely as possible.
That explanation that echoed like a devil in her ears - if the brain can't remember, then the body will remember.
If she forgot the meaning of a word, a sudden illusion would appear. It would teach Green Snake the meaning of that word through direct experience.
Naturally, this illusion was no warm and caring teacher's thoughtful review.
At least, Green Snake had a deep memory of words like wind, water, fire, and thunder.
She also understood what it meant to be unable to open her mouth, unable to breathe, burning hot, and numb to the bone.
She had originally thought that kind of terrifying feeling came from Chu Xingchen. After all, this person's cultivation depth was boundless at first glance.
But she never expected that it actually came from the seemingly well-behaved Chen Baiqing.
Is this teaching a snake to read?
Are you sure this isn't teaching a snake to recognize the complete collection of punishments?
As for the thought of resistance... it all vanished when Green Snake saw the gentle smile on Chen Baiqing's face.
This person... probably doesn't have much sympathy for things that aren't human, does she?
At this point, resistance was useless.
The most comfortable way was to study diligently! Study hard! Study to the death!
If you don't study to the death, then you'll experience the ultimate thrill of enlightenment through death.
"I'll test you on what I just taught you soon," Chen Baiqing looked up at Green Snake and said. "If you don't know it, it's okay. I'll teach you again carefully."
Green Snake said nothing, only wagging her tail as she studied hard.
Although she didn't know what use a snake studying had.
Ning Qianqian looked at the once proud Green Snake, now wishing she could bury her head in her book. She could only remain silent.
Chu Xingchen's gaze followed, and he spoke in a calm tone:
"There's no need to be in such a hurry."
Green Snake's gaze turned joyful and shocked as she looked at Chu Xingchen.
Chu Xingchen said, "It's not too late to teach her properly when we reach Zhongzhou."
Hearing this, Chen Baiqing nodded obediently and said, "Yes, Master."
Green Snake's gaze instantly turned both sad and happy.
Good news: she could have a break for a while.
Bad news: this terrifying job would still have to continue.
Chu Xingchen withdrew his gaze and leisurely looked at the spiritual fish still playing in the pool.
He hadn't expected this return trip to come with a pleasant surprise.
After all, he had been in this world for a long time. Very few people had the qualifications for immortality. Those who could be clearly seen as genuine cultivation geniuses were either already in major sects or were already famous great cultivators.
After searching everywhere, the system had only recognized four people.
This time, the system was unusually generous and gave away an extra recognized slot.
The positioning of this Green Snake was also quite clear - a mountain-protecting divine beast to be cultivated.
After all, the snake recognized a master, not a teacher.
It was worth spending some effort to cultivate her. But she didn't count as a disciple.
Secondly, the system's reward for the Mountain-Sea Ark... was, as expected, a design drawing.
At one glance, Chu Xingchen understood that this thing couldn't be handled by him alone.
The system currently had only two direct rewards - that egg and Wanban.
So Chu Xingchen had long mentally prepared that the Mountain-Sea Ark would be a design drawing. He couldn't say whether he was disappointed or not.
The system was just this stingy, what could you do?
Chu Xingchen only brought Chen Baiqing back to Yuzhou City this time. It wasn't that the others didn't want to come back and see things. Cui Hao also wanted to return home, but how could a mere fifth junior brother withstand the majesty of the third senior sister?
He was defeated with just one glance.
He could only stay behind and properly prepare for establishing a branch sect at Wanhua Ridge.
The purpose of this return was also clear - to pack up and prepare to move.
Since they planned to move to Zhongzhou, they of course needed to gather reliable personnel. Ning Qianqian and Ning Kun both had experience in establishing sects.
Ning Kun was also the foreman, so his experience was even richer. Such talents naturally needed to go to Wanhua Ridge to contribute to the construction of the branch sect.
Everything that could be taken had to be taken. Such as the precious spiritual jade in the pool.
Spirit plants that could be transported long distances. Some books that Lin Luoyu wanted to bring back. The stone table and chair that Chen Baiqing liked. And Cui Hao's little secret under his bed.
Of course, there were things that couldn't be taken. The main hall built here, the deep pool where they cooked one fish out of two.
The game area personally designed by Li Yingling. Every corner that held many memories.
Although somewhat reluctant, Chu Xingchen wasn't too sad.
After all, memories continue forward, not staying in one place.
Better stories and emotions would cover up this reluctance. When looking back in the future, this reluctance would probably seem like - nothing special.
Chu Xingchen happily accepted everything before him. He understood that everything was moving in a better direction.
"Bring what you want to bring, prepare to go to Zhongzhou," Chu Xingchen said with a smile to Ning Qianqian. "This time, I'll have to trouble you again."
Ning Qianqian quickly shook her head, then said somewhat hesitantly:
"Then this place... does the Sect Leader plan to leave it to whom?"
Ning Qianqian naturally felt reluctant. She had cultivated many spiritual plants here, was familiar with everything here, and had come to regard this as a very good home.
She couldn't bear to part with everything here.
But when faced with a need, Ning Qianqian would set aside this reluctance.
Because she understood that the sect was her home, not this place.
However, she still wanted to know who this place would be left to.
"Just leave it for now."
Before coming, Chu Xingchen had already gone through potential candidates in his mind. There wasn't anyone particularly suitable.
Rather than filling the position with someone unqualified, it was better to leave it empty for now.
In Yuzhou City, Chu Xingchen's sect naturally had a name. He wasn't worried about anyone causing trouble.
Above, there was the Xuanwu Nation's Demon Suppression Division that could occasionally check the perimeter situation. Below, there was the mountain-protecting formation.
They just needed to transfer the spirit-gathering array to the mountain-protecting formation to keep it running continuously. And set up an alert if it was attacked.
"Maybe... let me stay here?" Green Snake tentatively spoke.
At this point, even wandering outside would be better than studying under Chen Baiqing.
If she could stay here...
Chu Xingchen said nothing, only threw a glance at Chen Baiqing.
Chen Baiqing understood with a nod and reached out her small hand to grab Green Snake's head.
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