Stop pretending, the seemingly useless junior sister is the real boss.

Ling Tian's heartfelt words moved Bai Xiaobai.

"But my senior brothers and sisters are all so powerful, and they have all formed their cores at such a young age. If I get beaten up in the sect's minor competition, it will embarrass my master and my senior brothers and sisters."

Hearing Bai Xiaobai's slightly disappointed little voice, Changling took the initiative to move closer to the little girl with her eyes downcast.

"Alright, alright, for Xiao Tian's sake, I'll mercifully accompany you to that 'Ferocious Beast Secret Realm' you mentioned, and get you some more demon cores. Besides, it's just a small competition, what are you afraid of?"

Nestled in Bai Xiaobai's arms, A Yin, whose size was about the same as that of an ordinary kitten, rubbed her face with her fluffy head.

"Master, A-Yin believes in you and will grow stronger alongside you."

Just then, Yuanbao came out of the kitchen and handed over a delicate storage bag.

"Junior Sister, this is all the spirit stones that Senior Brother Yuanbao has saved up over the years. It's all for you. Although there aren't many spirit stones, they can still be of some use."

Hearing this, Bai Xiaobai raised her little head, her eyes red-rimmed, and her voice choked with emotion.

"Thank you everyone, thank you Senior Brother Yuanbao. But if we want to increase our strength as quickly as possible, we can't just rely on desperate cultivation. There is a shortcut we can take."

Hearing her say that, Yuanbao and Lingtian were a little confused.

Is there a shortcut to cultivation?

Moreover, is there any shortcut that can improve one's cultivation level in a short time?

Bai Xiaobai sobbed twice, then gestured for them to come closer.

"Actually, the sect leader's spirit-testing stone seems to be able to solve my problem of not being able to gather spiritual energy. But cultivating only once every seven days is too slow. So, fellow disciples, could we secretly get our hands on that spirit-testing stone?"

After hearing what Bai Xiaobai was saying, Ling Tian and Yuanbao firmly shook their heads in refusal.

"No, Master said last time that allowing Junior Sister to go there to cultivate every seven days is already the biggest concession the Sect Master has made. Besides, that is the most precious treasure of our Qingxiao Sect. If the Sect Master finds out, the consequences will be unimaginable."

"Yes, junior sister, our trip to Lingxiao Peak last time was dangerous enough. We can't go again. I won't agree to it this time."

Seeing that her two senior brothers refused so firmly, Bai Xiaobai pouted and large tears welled up in her eyes.

"Since... since the senior brothers are unwilling to help, then let junior sister be beaten to death by disciples from other peaks and other sects in the sect's minor competition. Anyway, it's only half a year. Even if junior sister works day and night, she can't possibly go from a useless person who is not even at the first level of Qi Refining to a powerful existence."

As she cried, large tears streamed down her face like beads from a broken string. Her porcelain-white face was streaked with tears, making her look both aggrieved and pitiful.

Seeing this, Ling Tian and Yuan Bao had no choice but to frantically try to coax him.

"Junior sister, don't cry. Let's think of other ways."

"Yes, yes, there must be a way. Why don't we go to Master? Master will definitely have a solution."

Bai Xiaobai cried even harder.

"Fine, let... let my junior sister get beaten to death."

Seeing Ling Tian and Yuan Bao frantically trying to comfort the little dumpling who was crying uncontrollably, the red-clad sword spirit figured out what was going on.

However, if the little guy really is the broken rock that I know, then it might actually work.

This guy is indeed precocious and cunning despite his young age.

Besides, I've been trapped by those old guys from the Qingxiao Sect for a thousand years. Now that I've finally gotten out, I have to go and cause some trouble for them.

Why not help bring that broken stone over? After all, I've already formed a soul contract with it.

If she were injured or died, it wouldn't be good for me either.

Changling had already seen through Bai Xiaobai's little scheme, so she prepared to lend a hand.

"You guys are making such a fuss over nothing. It's just a broken rock. Borrowing it for a while shouldn't be a big deal."

Upon hearing that Changling was actually helping him, Bai Xiaobai's eyes darted around, and he continued sobbing.

"Junior sister didn't intend to keep it for herself. She just felt that the stone would be helpful for my cultivation, so she thought... she thought she could borrow it for a while."

Ling Tian and Yuan Bao exchanged a glance. After much internal struggle, they could only nod in agreement.

"Alright, there's a barrier around the spirit-testing stone. With your cultivation levels, you can't get close at all. I'll think of a way."

Seeing that Ling Tian agreed, Bai Xiaobai finally stopped crying and started smiling.

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Yuanbao had a strong intuition that his senior brother today, like himself last time, had been tricked into joining a pirate ship.

However, the sect competition is indeed a headache. With my junior sister's cultivation level, she will definitely suffer a great loss, and she really needs to improve her cultivation level as soon as possible.

Well, even if it's risky, we have no choice but to give it a try.

Besides, the senior brother is a promising genius of the sect. Even if things are exposed, the punishment won't be too severe out of respect for him.

By this time, it was completely dark, and the matter of the spirit stone had been settled. Bai Xiaobai yawned incessantly.

After eating and drinking to your heart's content, it's time to go for a good night's sleep and rest.

But she was also a little conflicted. Now that she had taken human form, although she was just a three or four-year-old little dumpling, she was still a little girl.

Is it really appropriate to go to Master Shen Ji's room to sleep now?

However, just as she was struggling with this decision, she heard Shen Ji's voice transmission.

"Little White, come to my room."

Upon hearing Shen Ji's voice, Ling Tian and Yuan Bao also stood up.

"Junior sister, it's getting late. You haven't been getting enough rest these past few days. Go and get some rest."

"Well, goodbye, senior brothers. And eldest brother, please be careful in everything you do. If things really don't work out, then forget it. I don't want to put you in a difficult position."

Hearing that sweet and adorable voice made Ling Tian make up his mind completely.

It's just a spirit-testing stone. It's the first time my junior sister has asked me for a favor. If I don't "lend" it to her, I'll be a useless senior brother.

After saying goodbye to his two senior brothers, Bai Xiaobai took A Yin to Shen Ji's courtyard.

As for Changling, he naturally continued to shamelessly follow Lingtian.

He was stunned when he went in to wait for Bai Xiaobai to enter Shen Ji's room.

Two snakes, each over a foot long, were currently slithering around in a small barrier in front of Shen Ji.

She looked at her master, puzzled.

So she was called here to see the snake?

She had barely transformed into human form when she couldn't wait to find two more?

What a weird quirk!

Seeing her come in, Shen Ji waved for her to come over.

Although she didn't understand, she still walked over with her short legs and a bewildered expression.

"Master, what do you mean by this? Do you like keeping snakes as pets?"