Fairy, I'm going to control you tightly!

"Senior sister, when do we set off?"

"Ugh... Ugh..."

"Senior sister, swallow what's in your mouth before you speak..."

"The day after tomorrow, it'll take quite a while on the road. But junior brother, I'm truly impressed by your cooking skills. We'll be relying entirely on you hunting monsters for our meals along the way!"

"Senior sister, we're going to participate in a demonic cultivation competition, not a picnic or outing..."

Ji Nanbei sighed in exasperation.

What a sin!

After having a hearty meal, Ji Nanbei made his escape.

The next morning, Ji Nanbei activated the soul transfer function again, and his consciousness descended to Xiao Jingxi's side.

Unlike usual, when Ji Nanbei's consciousness arrived today, Xiao Jingxi did not immediately greet him as she typically does.

"Xiao Jingxi?"

Ji Nanbei tentatively called out softly in his mind.

Xiao Jingxi didn't react at all, as if she had fallen into a state of "playing dead".

"A little sword immortal?"

As Ji Nanbei called out again, he manipulated Xiao Jingxi's body and gently poked his own cheek.

The tactile sensation was simultaneously transmitted to Xiao Jingxi's consciousness.

"Don't...don't call me Little Sword Immortal! It sounds... weird..."

Xiao Jingxi finally couldn't hold back and spoke up.

Ji Nanbei (controlling his body) tilted his head, revealing a slightly puzzled expression.

"Why? Everyone calls you Senior Sister or Little Sword Immortal, why do you find this title strange?"

"Because... that kind of address feels too formal and distant, I don't like it!"

Ji Nanbei was slightly taken aback upon hearing this.

He never expected that today's young girl would be so direct and frank.

"Oh? Then how should I address you from now on?"

"Just call me... Jingxi."

The sound grew fainter and fainter until it was almost inaudible.

If Ji Nanbei and Xiao Jingxi weren't directly connected in consciousness at this moment, they probably wouldn't have been able to hear those last few words clearly if they were talking face to face. Clearly, the girl's earlier courage had been exhausted, and she had reverted to her shy nature.

Ji Nanbei couldn't help but smile.

"I didn't hear you clearly. What did I call you?"

"You can clearly 'hear' it!"

This time, Xiao Jingxi wasn't fooled. She knew very well that her communication with Ji Nanbei at this moment was based on the spiritual and soul level, and the volume of her voice wouldn't affect the transmission of information.

A sense of pleasure quietly arises.

Although it was rather unkind of him to "bully" the girl so often, the pleasure he derived from it was real.

Ji Nanbei smiled, stood up, pushed open the door, and walked out of the room.

Unexpectedly, as soon as they stepped out, they ran into the Bai sisters, Bai Jie and Bai Xiaomeng.

The two were taken aback when they saw the exceptionally bright and genuinely joyful smile on Xiao Jingxi's face.

Although this senior sister (younger sister) smiles occasionally, her smile today seems particularly different, radiating a genuine and relaxed joy.

"Sword Immortal Senior Sister, has something happy happened?"

Unable to contain her curiosity, Bai Jie leaned forward and asked.

Ji Nanbei (controlling Xiao Jingxi's body) nodded.

"Yes, there is indeed something to be happy about."

Bai Xiaomeng also wanted to go over and ask, but she was too embarrassed to do so.

She had not yet fully adapted to the huge change in her feelings, and her demeanor inevitably still carried a bit of reserve and awkwardness.

"Oh? What could have made Senior Sister so happy?"

Bai Jie appeared to be asking out of curiosity, but in reality, she was already planning how to carefully record this information—it was something that could make her senior sister so happy, so it must be top-notch and important information.

Ji Nanbei simply shook his head.

"This is... a secret between me (and Xiao Jingxi)."

After saying that, he went downstairs by himself.

"Hmm, a secret?"

Bai Jie tilted her head, somewhat confused.

But deep within Xiao Jingxi's consciousness, her heartstrings were gently plucked.

Yes, only she knew of Ji Nanbei's existence, and only they knew the details of what had happened between them. It was truly a secret shared by both of them.

Thinking of this, even without a physical form, Xiao Jingxi felt her "heartbeat" quicken.

Most of the disciples of the Immortal Sword Sect had already gathered outside the inn to wait.

Yesterday, Xiao Jingxi informed everyone that they would be setting off for the Dao Sect today.

The aftermath in Luoling City may still be turbulent, but it will not be something that can be resolved in a short time.

That would require waiting for the Eastern Continent Immortal Dynasty to send someone to take over. Moreover, the Immortal Spirit Sword Sect also had someone specifically responsible for handling the aftermath of the demon invasion, so "Xiao Jingxi" naturally did not intend to continue to get involved.

Arriving at the Dao Sect as soon as possible is the most important thing right now.

The journey started exceptionally smoothly, and Ji Nanbei did not trigger any more system tasks.

The group traveled on the flat official road. Because they had purchased swift steeds for transportation, their speed was not slower than flying, but rather increased considerably.

The journey was uneventful and needs no further explanation.

In short, the group successfully arrived at the gate of the Dao Sect.

Similar to the Immortal Sword Sect, the Dao Sect is also located in the mountains.

However, the Dao Sect was not located in a continuous mountain range, but on an isolated peak called "Xi Kunlun", which was also the highest peak in the entire Western Xia territory.

Upon arriving at the mountain gate, there is no need to announce one's arrival.

The Dao Sect already knew that the Immortal Spirit Sword Sect would be sending disciples to exchange experiences.

Upon seeing the distinctive Immortal Spirit Sword Sect attire worn by Xiao Jingxi and the others, the disciples guarding the mountain immediately stepped forward and respectfully led them up the mountain.

The Seventh Elder went to visit the Dao Sect Master to reminisce (in reality, he was "begging for alms").

The person in charge of receiving Ji Nanbei (Xiao Jingxi) and his party on the mountain was Zhang Qingmiao, a leading figure among the younger generation of the Dao Sect, who was known as the "Little Celestial Master".

Indeed, the foremost young disciple of the contemporary Daoist sect is a female Daoist.

On the way here, Xiao Jingxi had mentioned Zhang Qingmiao to Ji Nanbei.

This is one of the "outsiders" that Xiao Jingxi, a person with "social anxiety," rarely knows.

The reason is that the two met in the final four of the Nine Gates Tournament years ago, and fought fiercely to a standstill, with Xiao Jingxi ultimately winning by a mere half-move.

Although it wasn't the final championship battle, Xiao Jingxi believed that Zhang Qingmiao was the opponent who put the most pressure on her and left the deepest impression on her at that competition.

That's why I remembered her. Hmm... actually, there's another reason...

Zhang Qingmiao is a chatterbox and can talk a lot.

"Yo-ho! You've finally arrived, Little Sword Immortal Xiao Jingxi! It's been so long since we parted ways after the Nine Gates Championship! How about it, did you miss this Daoist master?"

A lively and energetic girl dressed in a blue Taoist robe circled around Ji Nanbei (Xiao Jingxi) and kept talking.

Even someone as socially adept as Ji Nanbei felt for a moment that this girl's energy was a bit too much.