Feng Xi cultivated until midnight before finally going to rest.
If she hadn't expended so much energy recently, she wouldn't even consider sleeping.
Shen Zhilan had obtained the Heavenly Dao qi mechanism and might soon form her Golden Core, Feng Xi had to accelerate her cultivation progress.
In the neighboring courtyard, Jun Wen and Jiang Ji were doing the same.
They were the senior brothers, yet they had to rely on Little Junior Sister to carry them to victory every time, they're utterly useless!
As long as they didn't die, they would cultivate diligently from now on!
Just after Feng Xi fell asleep, she heard loud commotion outside.
Her heart stirred, is it possible that the matter of the treasury had come to light?
If it was anyone else, they'd be too anxious to sleep.
She simply yawned and continued sleeping.
In any case, it was the demons who did it, she didn't even have half a spirit stone's worth of connection to it!
At this moment, Baili Muchen was practically exploding with anger!
It wasn't time for a routine treasury inspection yet, but because of the abyss incident, he had felt uneasy and decided to inspect it ahead of schedule.
The moment he looked inside, he nearly twisted his nose crooked in rage!
There's a massive gap in the pile of spirit stones, a rough estimate showed that at least fifty million spirit stones had been stolen!
Who did this?!
Upon careful inspection, faint traces of demonic qi were discovered, all fingers immediately pointed toward the demons!
He promptly summoned Xiao Baidao and the other two and explained the situation.
After he finished, Lu Zhenkuan, the Sect Master of Wan Jian Sect, said, "If the demons did it, why didn't they touch the other treasures?"
Baili Muchen frowned deeply, "That is exactly what I don't understand. I had carefully inspected, and only spirit stones were missing. Everything else was untouched."
Lu Zhenkuan continued, "Furthermore, the demons aren't stupid. If something happens now, they'd be the first suspects. Why would they act so foolishly?!
So I think this matter isn't so simple."
Baili Muchen gave a bitter smile, "What you said makes sense, but spirit stones don't just vanish into thin air, right?"
Hu Wankui stroked his chin, "They actually might vanish into thin air!
I recall reading in an ancient text that some treasures, after giving birth to a tool spirit, will automatically absorb spirit stones.
Your Hunyuan Sect treasury has so many treasures, is it possible that one of them absorbed the spirit stones?
Of course, the likelihood is very small, but your sect's luck has been poor lately. Who knows?"
Baili Muchen: "...Then how do you explain the demonic qi?"
"You said it yourself, the demonic qi was very faint. Perhaps some spiritual artifact had once fought against demons and was tainted by residual demonic qi."
Baili Muchen found the explanation somewhat absurd, but it also seems to carry some hints of plausibility.
After further discussion, the four of them could only conclude with this explanation.
After all, the possibility that this was done by the demons was too low!
There's no need to tear relations apart over this matter.
When Feng Xi heard about it from Xiao Baidao, she was stunned.
This wasn't how she had envisioned things at all!
Xiao Baidao even gloated, "If they must blame someone, blame Hunyuan Sect for having too many treasures. Our Xuantian Sect doesn't have that kind of problem."
Feng Xi: "..."
So you're proud of being poor?!
However, through this incident, she also discovered her own shortcomings.
She wasn't greedy enough!
If she had casually taken a few treasures along with the spirit stones, the framing would've been perfect!
Sigh!
There's no helping it, I'm just too kind! Too conscientious!
I couldn't do something so dog-like!
Everyone assumed the demon delegation would depart immediately. Who could've thought that they would suggest visiting Xuantian Sect to look around.
Xiao Baidao: Retreat! Retreat! Retreat!
Do you know how many spirit stones you'll consume?!
But for the bigger picture, he could only pinch his nose and agree.
The old man wailed in his heart.
Just when life had slightly improved, these demon brats came to feast at his expense. Was he destined to never enjoy wealth?
Since the demon delegation was going, the other three sects also had to follow.
Thus, a large group of people set out for Xuantian Sect.
Xiao Baidao shamelessly hitched a ride on Beast-Taming Sect's flying ship.
There's no helping it. He couldn't have the guests ride flying ships and demonic vessels in front while he, the host, chased behind on his sword!
That day, they arrived outside Xuantian Sect's mountain gate.
Feng Xi dawdled for quite a while before finally stepping down from Beast-Taming Sect's flying ship.
The moment she did, she performed a dramatic sliding kneel that carried her over three meters forward!
Everyone was shocked!
What cultivation technique was this? It's quite mystical!
Xiao Baidao chuckled and explained, "Xiao Xi, this child, is extremely respectful toward the ancestors. Every time she enters or exits the mountain gate, she would kneel down.
She must've been too emotional this time, that's why the movement was a bit exaggerated."
Feng Xi: "..."
She respectfully kowtowed three times and said, "Ancestors above, disciple Feng Xi greets you!
Today, honored guests have arrived. Normally, I should fulfill the duties of a host and make them feel at home.
But you also know that our days in Xuantian Sect aren't easy. In daily life, I split a fasting pill into eight pieces before eating. Where would we get fine wine and delicacies to entertain guests?!
Sigh!
So I plan not to return to the sect for now. I'll head to the Extreme Cold Ice Plains to hunt and bring back something good to add a few dishes for our guests!"
Everyone: "..."
If we wait for you to return from the Extreme Cold Ice Plains, we'll starve to death first!
Xiao Baidao said sternly, "Xiao Xi, don't speak nonsense! Even if we're poor, even if we have to tighten our belts, we must not neglect our honored guests!"
Everyone: "..."
Xiao Baidao, Xiao Baidao, you're becoming more and more shameless by the day!
Hu Wankui coughed twice, "Old Xiao, there's no need for fine wine or fancy dishes. I've heard your Xuantian Sect's smoked meat is quite good, let's just eat that."
Xiao Baidao looked embarrassed, "Please don't laugh at us! There's no helping it, our days are truly hard!
But rest assured, there's plenty of smoked meat!
Please, come inside!"
The crowd walked ahead, and Feng Xi trotted behind.
Go to the Extreme Cold Ice Plains?
That's impossible!
She was just giving Xiao Baidao a way out, so the old man wouldn't puff himself up to save face and regret it later.
Still, there probably wasn't much smoked meat left, it would be better to tell the cook to add more salt.
If it's too bland, it wouldn't be tasty.