The Masked Strength of the Sect's Trash chapter 44

Chapter 44 Fang Xiao is a bit overwhelmed

Faced with Lu Shaoqing’s response, Fang Xiao didn’t know how to continue the conversation. But she had no intention of dwelling on this topic anyway. She had only brought it up to probe him.

Given Lu Shaoqing’s response, pressing further might arouse his suspicion. Knowing how meticulous he was, talking too much could only lead to more scrutiny, which wouldn’t be good for her.

Sensing that it was time to leave, Fang Xiao said, “Well, I won’t disturb you any longer, Young Master Lu. I’ll take my leave.”

Lu Shaoqing waved casually, “Take care.”

After bidding farewell, Fang Xiao turned to leave. But just as she stepped outside, she felt a sudden surge of intense energy from afar.

“Haha, Second Senior Brother, just you wait, I’m out!”

Fang Xiao’s pupils constricted. “Is that... sword intent?”

She stood rooted to the spot, staring in the direction from which the energy had come. Although the surge quickly subsided, Fang Xiao was sure she hadn’t imagined it. It was indeed sword intent.

After a long while, Fang Xiao muttered to herself, “That voice... it was Little Yi’s.”

“Could it be that she’s really comprehended sword intent?”

“But how is that possible?”

“In just one month, she’s mastered sword intent?”

Fang Xiao felt her worldview shattering. Just a month ago, Xiao Yi was still working at her restaurant, and they had grown close, even calling each other sisters. Fang Xiao knew Xiao Yi’s strength—late-stage Qi Refining, having just broken through to the eighth level.

She hadn’t comprehended sword intent then. Xiao Yi had told her that her two senior brothers expected her to comprehend sword intent within two months and then break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. Fang Xiao had been shocked at the time. How could they be so insane?

At first, Fang Xiao thought it was a joke. But when Lu Shaoqing mentioned it while taking Xiao Yi away, she was relieved to find out it was just a joke.

But now, it seemed it was far from a joke.

Fang Xiao could hardly process what was happening. Xiao Yi had really done it—not in two months, but in just one month, she had comprehended sword intent.

Fang Xiao felt like the world was going mad. Was the world going too fast for her to keep up? Was sword intent now so common that anyone could master it?

Looking at the entrance of the Tianyu Peak behind her, Fang Xiao was tempted to rush in and see for herself. Did they have some secret at Tianyu Peak that allowed people to comprehend sword intent so easily?

Fang Xiao didn’t even know how she made it back to her restaurant. The events of the day had left her completely dazed. It was too overwhelming. Sword intent, just like that? Could Xiao Yi be a supreme genius too? If that’s the case, all three disciples at Tianyu Peak have comprehended sword intent. What kind of monstrous talent is that?

At that moment, someone outside called, “Miss, someone’s here

 to see you.”

“Who?” Fang Xiao asked, waving her hand dismissively. “Tell them I’m not in the mood today. They can come back later.”

She was still trying to digest everything that had happened and didn’t want to see anyone.

But then a voice from outside called out, “Could it be that even you don’t want to see me, Cousin?”

A tall and stunning figure appeared in the doorway. Recognizing the voice, Fang Xiao looked up and smiled with surprise. “Yu Mei? What are you doing here?”

The visitor was none other than Xia Yu, the eldest disciple of the Shuangyue Valley.

“Come in, quickly,” Fang Xiao said, ushering Xia Yu and Bian Rou Rou inside before closing the door.

“Yu Mei, what brings you here?”

Xia Yu’s mother was from a branch of the Fang family, and after Xia Yu became the eldest disciple of Shuangyue Valley, the Fang family naturally sought to strengthen their ties with her. Xia Yu and Fang Xiao were close in age and had grown close over time, fostering a deep bond. It was thanks to Xia Yu that Fang Xiao could establish her restaurant in Lingxiao City, giving her a chance to rise within her family.

“We’ve been here for a while,” Xia Yu replied in a soft, gentle voice that was as soothing as a spring breeze. Talking to her brought a sense of peace, a trait that was closely tied to her cultivation method. “But we’ve been busy with some matters, so I haven’t had a chance to visit you, Sister Xiao.”

Fang Xiao responded, “If you need any help, just let me know. Don’t treat me as an outsider.”

Xia Yu smiled and said, “Actually, I am here to ask for your help.”

Fang Xiao’s curiosity was piqued. Sitting across from Xia Yu, she asked, “What could possibly trouble you, the eldest disciple of Shuangyue Valley?”

Xia Yu, like Ji Yan and Zhang Conglong, was a representative of the younger generation of Shuangyue Valley, one of the three major sects in Qizhou. The sect was known for its female disciples and its wealth. Many cultivators dreamed of marrying a Shuangyue Valley disciple because it was like marrying a treasure trove.

For Xia Yu to seek help, it had to be a significant matter.

Xia Yu explained, “There’s a secret realm near here. I intended to explore it with my junior sister, but it’s too large and dangerous for just the two of us. Our senior sisters from the sect won’t arrive in time, so I need to find help in Xiaoyao City.”

Secret realms are different from small worlds or pocket dimensions that can exist indefinitely. Once a secret realm is opened, its spiritual energy begins to dissipate, and once depleted, the realm itself vanishes, much like a cracked egg that eventually rots.

Bian Rourou added, “The secret realm has already been opened. According to Senior Sister’s estimation, the spiritual energy will be completely gone in about a month.”

“There’s something in there that’s very important to Senior Sister, so we need to find others to help.”

Xia Yu then asked, “Sister Xiao, do you have any recommendations? You should know some people in Lingxiao City, right?”

Fang Xiao asked, “Yu Mei, do you have any specific requirements for these candidates?”

Bian Rourou replied, “We need three or four people.”

“And their strength...”

Xia Yu added, “They should be at least at the Foundation Establishment stage. We can’t afford to bring anyone too weak.”

Xia Yu herself was at the eighth level of the Core Formation stage, but she didn’t expect to find anyone of Core Formation level. She only needed one or two Foundation Establishment cultivators to help. Secret realms are full of dangers, and those with insufficient strength would only be a liability.

Fang Xiao’s face lit up. “That means I’m eligible too, right?”

Fang Xiao was at the seventh level of the Foundation Establishment stage, not weak by any means.

Xia Yu smiled warmly and confirmed, “I came here to seek your help, Sister Xiao. I wouldn’t leave you out.”

“Sister Xiao, if you could recommend one or two more people, that would be perfect.”

Fang Xiao nodded, her mind racing to think of suitable candidates. For some reason, she instinctively thought of Lu Shaoqing.

She hesitated, “There is someone who might be suitable...”