Chapter Eighty-Four: The Trio of Wind and Cloud

PS: When I returned from my business trip, I realized I had left my laptop charger at the hotel. I've already called and asked them to mail it back to me. If it doesn't arrive tomorrow, there will probably only be one chapter posted. Also, wishing everyone a happy Mid-Autumn Festival!

Compared to Baize’s excitement, Geng Xiao was far more composed. He glanced at Baize with a blank expression and spoke coolly, “Cultivators of the Five Elements are indeed much stronger than ordinary cultivators, but when they encounter true geniuses, their advantage becomes negligible. Besides, she’s only at the fourth stage of Qi Refinement. Even if she cultivates all five elements, what difference does it make?”

Baize, hearing this, felt as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped over his head. His flushed face fell, but he quickly conceded, “She may only be at the fourth stage of Qi Refinement, but her body tempering has reached the fourth stage of Transcendence. With dual cultivation of elemental and physical bodies, stepping onto the arena isn’t without hope for victory.” Geng Xiao lowered his gaze, paying him no further mind.

“Stop arguing, Brother Bai. You just said that cultivators who’ve reached the sixth stage of body refinement can only participate in Foundation Establishment arenas, right?” Ji Mo impatiently interrupted the two men. Since she had already decided to take part in the tournament, she wouldn’t vacillate; this was one of her strengths—once she set her mind to something, she wouldn’t turn back.

Geng Xiao gave Ji Mo a faint glance, clearly unwilling to respond. Baize coughed lightly and took up the thread, “That’s correct. From what I know, body cultivators at the sixth stage of Transcendence can no longer participate in Qi Refinement stage tournaments.”

“Oh, so is there a Five Elements spiritual vein in the Flame Domain?” Ji Mo pressed on. Since the path of body tempering couldn’t be relied upon too heavily, she had to consider alternatives. If she could find a Five Elements spiritual vein, she felt somewhat confident she could break through two more realms in the next three years. If she reached the sixth stage of Qi Refinement, with her Demon Body Tempering Art, she didn’t believe she would necessarily lose to the people of the Flame Clan.

As for simply using the unique environment of Flame Domain to push herself straight to the sixth stage of Transcendence and then compete in the Foundation Establishment tournament, Ji Mo wasn’t that reckless. From Baize and Geng Xiao’s conversation, she had gained a rough understanding of the combat strength of the Flame Clan. If they were all at the same realm, Ji Mo didn’t think she would lose, but if she just broke through and stepped onto the Foundation Establishment arena, it would be sheer folly.

“Five Elements spiritual vein? The Scarlet Domain is vast, filled with countless secret realms. There should be one somewhere, but we don’t know where,” Baize replied irresponsibly. The Scarlet Domain was a naturally formed True Flame world, a magnetic field of fire elemental energy, but the Flame Domain was boundless, with innumerable secret realms inside. Though Five Elements spiritual veins were rare, they might exist here. The key was whether one had the luck to stumble upon one, and the ability to claim it.

“Even if you do happen upon a Five Elements spiritual vein, with your current cultivation, could you claim it?” Geng Xiao remarked airily.

Ji Mo frowned, wanting to retort, but realized Geng Xiao’s words, though harsh, were true. Worrying about it was pointless, better to let fate take its course. For now, filling her stomach was more pressing, and at that moment, her stomach growled audibly. Ji Mo immediately put the matter aside; for her, food was of utmost importance.

She lowered her head and took out several pieces of roasted beast meat from her storage ring, preparing to eat, only to notice a scorching gaze fixed upon her from across the way. Ji Mo paused, instinctively looking up, and caught Baize staring intensely at the roasted meat in her hands. Feeling a bit awkward, she coughed lightly, “Ahem, brothers, would you like some?”

Actually, it wasn’t Ji Mo’s fault for not being polite. With two living people beside her, she hadn’t thought to offer them food. Mostly, she assumed that with Baize and Geng Xiao being Core Formation cultivators who had long reached the fasting stage, they wouldn’t be interested in her roasted meat.

Baize’s eyes lit up as soon as Ji Mo took out the meat. Though he was a peak Core Formation cultivator and had long reached the fasting stage, he couldn’t resist his love for food—he was a born carnivore. Especially the roasted meat Ji Mo produced, whose aroma was incredibly enticing. Upon hearing her offer, he wasted no time, “Thank you, then I won’t stand on ceremony.”

Without waiting for Ji Mo’s invitation, he grabbed a hefty piece of meat weighing at least five pounds and tore into it hungrily. Geng Xiao frowned, instinctively about to refuse, but for some reason, the aroma tempted him, and the words of rejection slipped away; he too reached out for a piece.

Ji Mo looked at the two in surprise. She had thought, given their cultivation and status, they wouldn’t eat her roasted meat, but they showed no restraint whatsoever. Her impression of them improved by several degrees; people who accept a stranger’s invitation so readily must not be bad at heart.

With this thought, she took out all the hundreds of pounds of roasted meat from her storage ring. The three sat on the ground and ate heartily, with little regard for appearances. Baize devoured the most, quickly consuming dozens of pounds, and couldn’t help but comment as he ate, “If I’d known there’d be such delicious roasted meat, I would have saved some Immortal’s Drunkenness. If only we had that wine to go with this meat—the taste, ah, how can ‘delicious’ begin to describe it!”

Hearing Baize mention wine, Ji Mo couldn’t help but think of her second senior sister, Chu Qing. It had been some time since she’d seen her, or tasted her wine—she missed it dearly. She couldn’t help but add, “My second senior sister is especially skilled at brewing. Her wine and nectar are the pride of our cultivation world.”

“Is that so? If I ever have the chance to visit your world, I must try some!” Baize’s eyes brightened, gazing at Ji Mo with genuine anticipation. Unconsciously, sincerity crept into his gaze.

Baize wasn’t particularly virtuous, but neither was he sinister; he acted with a certain spontaneity. Born to a prominent family with exceptional talent, he seemed quite different from the cold, ruthless Geng Xiao, but in truth, there was little distinction. People like them rarely developed genuine feelings for someone or something upon first meeting. To them, Ji Mo was just a stranger—Geng Xiao, upon realizing her origins were unclear, had harbored murderous intent; Baize, while less overt, felt no guilt in plotting against her. Yet, after eating her roasted meat, something shifted, and they found themselves genuinely fond of this young woman. Human relationships often change profoundly due to seemingly insignificant events.

“Ha, if you two ever visit, I’ll definitely have my second senior sister bring out her best wine to entertain you,” Ji Mo replied with a laugh. She thought of Chu Qing’s personality; if she knew cultivators from other worlds sought out her wine, she would be delighted.

“Are relations between your sect members very good?” Geng Xiao, observing the smile on her face, asked casually.

“Yes, very good. Only, I’ve only been in the sect a short time, so apart from my second senior sister and third senior brother, I haven’t met my eldest senior sister or fourth senior brother. They’ve been away for years,” Ji Mo answered. Perhaps it was the effect of sharing a meal together, she felt their relationship had grown closer, and she naturally began to speak of her master and fellow disciples.

Of course, Ji Mo could speak so frankly about her sect because she knew her cultivation world was only a medium-sized one, while Baize and Geng Xiao hailed from one of the ten great cultivation worlds. After leaving the Flame Domain, their chances of meeting again were exceedingly slim.

Geng Xiao and Baize thought nothing of Ji Mo’s words. At fourteen or fifteen, in the cultivation world, it was common for sect members to be separated by hundreds or even thousands of years. For a newcomer like Ji Mo, not having met her fellow disciples was hardly unusual.

After eating their fill, Baize wiped his mouth haphazardly, a thought swirling in his mind before he finally spoke, “Geng Xiao, Ji Mo, I have a suggestion. What do you think?”

“What suggestion?” Geng Xiao asked coolly, glancing at him.

“For the next three years, the three of us should form a team and act together. Ji Mo will handle our meals, Geng Xiao and I will provide the beast meat. What do you two think?” Baize looked at them eagerly.

“Haha, if you two don’t mind my low cultivation and worry I’ll drag you down, then I certainly have no objections.” Ji Mo looked at him in surprise. Previously, though Baize had insisted she stay, she sensed he didn’t have much goodwill toward her. But now, she could feel his sincerity, and she laughed cheerfully in response.

“I have no objection either. Anyway, if I want a fight, there are plenty of opponents here. I don’t necessarily need you,” Geng Xiao replied, to Ji Mo’s astonishment—this was the man who had once harbored killing intent toward her, and he agreed to Baize’s proposal?

“Excellent. From now on, our Storm Trio is officially formed. Ji Mo, if we ever encounter a Five Elements spiritual vein, Geng Xiao and I will do our best to help you seize it. Of course, anything can happen in the Flame Domain; experts abound. If we can’t win it, don’t blame us,” Baize declared, his personality becoming especially bold once he decided to accept someone genuinely. He clapped his hands and laughed loudly.

“Haha, Brother Bai, your kindness is more than I could ask for. How could I ever blame you? But why do we call ourselves the Storm Trio?” Ji Mo laughed, curious about the name Baize had chosen.

“You, me, and him—none of us are destined to be ordinary. One day we’ll command storms and dominate the three realms. For now, it’s just a way to spread our reputation early,” Baize boasted shamelessly.

Ji Mo stared at him in astonishment, realizing Baize’s thick skin surpassed even her brazen third senior brother by severalfold. How did such a person become close friends with the cold and proud Geng Xiao? Her curious gaze unconsciously fell upon Geng Xiao. (To be continued...)