Feng Jun, upon thinking it over, decided to act immediately and took Qing Ji to the Blazing Flame Plate.

He chose a path that avoided the main city and ventured into the very edges of the periphery, not wanting to engage much with the Jinwu Disciples in this area.

True Immortal Qing Ji slightly sensed the surroundings and immediately knew where they were, "Wait a moment, I’ll contact Junior Brother Qian Shu."

After trying to contact him for a while, she sighed, "This isn’t right... how could he choose to be in seclusion at this moment?"

Then she nodded slightly at Feng Jun, "Please wait, I’ll use the Blazing Flame’s transmission to awaken him."

In the next moment, the space in front of the two people rippled slightly, and Elder Qinghuang emerged, speaking with a cheerful tone, "Why did you come up again so soon after going down? Qing Ji, what do you need Qian Shu for... Can I help with anything?"

True Immortal Qing Ji thought for a moment, realizing it’s actually quite suitable to ask Qinghuang. Although Qinghuang generally didn’t handle guidance, no one would sneer at him guiding a qualified True Immortal. After all, he had control over the Blazing Flame Plate and possessed resources richer than general guides.

She hadn’t sought Qinghuang initially simply because they weren’t very accustomed to working together, and now that he asked, she spoke frankly.

"Guiding a Crimson Pheonix disciple from the Kunhao Realm?" Elder Qinghuang pondered slightly and immediately responded, taking it upon himself, "This is easy to handle, though I haven’t done guidance in years, the basic procedure is intact."

He understood clearly that Qing Ji making an exception to ask for help for her associated sect absolutely wasn’t a change in her nature, so there was no need to question her reasons for coming.

Elder Qing Ji felt a bit embarrassed, "Then I’ll trouble you, Elder Qinghuang, I’m really sorry to bother you previously."

"Saying this is being too polite," Elder Qinghuang waved his hand, speaking indifferently, "You can speak directly in the future if there’s anything... By the way, how old is this Xia Nichang?"

Elder Qing Ji hadn’t asked in detail, so she glanced at Feng Jun, giving him a questioning look.

I knew it was like this, Elder Qinghuang secretly praised himself: Luckily, I agreed to help before asking her age.

Feng Jun hesitated and answered, "Her age... around five hundred years."

Still "around"? Perhaps it’s well over five hundred years, Elder Qing Ji thought, knowing full well that if she were under five hundred, any guide would not miss it, otherwise it would be dereliction!

With such thoughts in mind, he nodded with a smile, "Since that’s the case, she truly deserves the title of genius. I shall head to the Mountain Gate now to guide her up."

Genius is virtually impossible, but meeting the standard of ’acceptable’ isn’t too difficult, and thus not troublesome for him.

Just then, a paper crane fluttered over and spoke, "It’s Qing Ji, I was making Talismans just now, any good news for me?"

"Apologies, Brother Qian Shu," True Immortal Qing Ji raised her hand slightly and smiled wryly, "I thought you were in seclusion and already discussed the matter with Elder Qinghuang. I’ll ask for your help next time."

"What do you mean by that," The voice emerging from the crane was somewhat displeased, "Don’t you know if I’m in seclusion? Well, as long as you’re happy, can’t you at least tell me what it’s about?"

"I wanted to ask for your help in guiding a Nascent Soul from the lower sect," True Immortal Qing Ji answered calmly, "Her potential has been underestimated."

"This matter..." True Immortal Qian Shu initially felt it wasn’t significant, and the term "good news" was hardly applicable, but suddenly he realized something, "You can guide her yourself, right?"

Elder Qing Ji sighed, "It’s from the sect I originate, avoiding favoritism is necessary."

True Immortal Qian Shu understood the implication, but still, it didn’t really constitute good news.

However, the next moment, he spotted another issue, "Isn’t Elder Qinghuang responsible for the Blazing Flame Plate, not for guidance?"

Across the seven sects and eighteen paths, guidance affairs are managed by a dedicated group of True Immortals.

Other True Immortals aren’t barred from guiding, but typically each handles their designated affairs.

Especially someone like Elder Qinghuang, holding the responsibility for the Blazing Flame Plate already keeps him occupied excessively; he often delegates authority to others for most tasks of the Blazing Flame, considering his own cultivation needs.

And from a profitability perspective, guidance isn’t particularly beneficial, whereas managing the Blazing Flame Plate’s affairs generates considerable profits, even without deliberately seeking gains, it’s an exceptionally lucrative role.

So now the question arises, since Qinghuang is quite unwilling to handle many of the Blazing Flame’s affairs, why would he involve himself in guidance matters?

Upon hearing the paper crane’s query, Elder Qinghuang laughed heartily, "Isn’t it that Elder Qing Ji coincidentally being at the Blazing Flame? Helping with something convenient, I’d naturally assist."

The voice of True Immortal Qian Shu became increasingly peculiar, "Are you really... making me check this? Hmm, Elder Qinghuang doing this does not honor Senior Brother Qian Feng."

It’s common for True Immortals not to interfere with the matters of guidance, as it’s feared that the True Immortal in charge of guidance would be unhappy—clearly, it’s my business, and you’re meddling; isn’t that disrespectful towards me?

"His honor? Haha," True Immortal Qinghuang laughed indifferently, "It’s clear this person is a genius, yet he failed to guide them promptly. Hence, I am just helping him pick up the slack... surely, he would be thankful to me."

Daring to say this naturally gave him confidence, for True Immortal Qian Feng was currently only at the Nascent Soul Fifth Level with little room for advancement, whereas Qinghuang himself was an Elder of the Jinwu Sect, possessing authority for spontaneous decisions. In terms of identity, status, or cultivation level, he far surpassed Qian Feng.

"Just stop it, will you," True Immortal Qian Shu snorted coldly, "The matter of guidance does not fall under your responsibility as the Lord of Blazing Flame; the guidance for this person will be handled by me. Do not meddle further!"

"What?" Elder Qinghuang was furious upon hearing this, "How dare you speak to an elder like that; are your days too comfortable?"

"Do you think you have grounds for interfering with our guidance affairs?" True Immortal Qian Shu retorted without yielding an inch, "Come and try at our headquarters to see if you can succeed in guiding!"

The True Immortals responsible for guidance mainly depended on the Speculator to discover and identify newly formed cultivators. This group also used a rotational method to guide cultivators from the lower realms, as everyone had many things to attend to and couldn’t stay there permanently.

If they disagreed with outsiders taking over guidance, they could use the Speculator to prevent it, though such situations were rare — among fellow disciples, they would still show this bit of respect.

"Seems like you need some discipline, just wait," Elder Qinghuang raised his hand, tore open the space, and walked straight in.

True Immortal Qian Shu, seeing him leave, was not hurried but asked Elder Qing Ji, "Does this person have something special about them?"

Elder Qing Ji gave Feng Jun a sidelong glance and smiled as she replied, "A genius, isn’t that enough?"

Genius, my foot! True Immortal Qian Shu knew this very well, though the paper crane couldn’t notice her expression.

If it really was a genius, would Qian Feng let such a person go? They are all engaged in the guidance business; how could he not understand this?

After the call ended, he pondered for a moment and then used the Speculator to inspect Xia Nichang’s information—and indeed, a Nascent Soul under six hundred years old, at best decent; Senior Brother Qian Feng could choose to guide early or postpone the guidance.

Afterward, True Immortal Qian Shu calculated a bit, though he was ready to act on the guidance. However, he needed to clarify the issues involved; otherwise, if Qian Feng acted up, even if he was a high-ranking Nascent Soul, he couldn’t simply rely on cultivation level to suppress others, could he?

His deduction ability wasn’t that impressive, yet he still acutely noticed something: Xia Nichang’s fate seemed to have improved, with the key term being "White Pebble Beach."

White Pebble Beach... He frowned, thought a bit, and then slapped his thigh: Isn’t that the Golden Core dojo with the Speculator?

Currently, True Immortal Qing Ji’s notoriety in the Jinwu Sect was also quite significant; recently, she rallied a group to support Wan Qing, with the Lingmu ally Yi Jue. Ultimately, Yi Jue killed Elder Tiegu at the Lingmu auxiliary mountain gate.

This battle was quite sensational, with many highlights. Whether it was the Transpatial Vine or the Jade Spore Skyworm left a deep impression on spectators, and the damaged True Treasure Speculator returning safely from the void... these were all highly eye-catching.

Though True Immortal Qing Ji "did not take action," she actively pursued Yi Jue into the void, something all present could attest to. Despite the key to emerging from the void being that Small Golden Core, Elder Qing Ji’s fearless behavior was commendable in the eyes of the Jinwu disciples.

True Immortal Qian Shu was no exception, later learning more about the Small Golden Core, only then realizing that the collaboration with Jinwu was quite profound. In White Pebble Beach, it’s said there were shared aspirations, with many Jinwu disciples forming their cores there.

However, True Immortal Qian Shu made a common mistake: he only isolatedly viewed the situation concerning Feng Jun. Though he noted the three words "White Pebble Beach," he never linked it with the Kunhao Domain!

He wasn’t even aware that the disciples sent to White Pebble Beach were from the Crimson Pheonix Sect—Jinwu had many branches, and he only knew the Kunhao Domain’s subordinate sect was the Crimson Pheonix Sect.

Only at this moment did he piece together all the clues, "So, Elder Qing Ji from the Crimson Pheonix Sect is in the same Kunhao Domain as White Pebble Beach? Then Xia Nichang... could very well know this Small Golden Core?"

"No, no, it’s definitely not ’could very well know,’ but must know, and quite possibly have a good relationship. Otherwise, the Elder wouldn’t personally step in for someone barely over five hundred years old who just formed a core to ask for a favor."

"But, what is it about that Small Golden Core that could be beneficial to me? Whatever is deduced, I don’t need it for now, and I can’t enter the void... Oh right, the void, the void treasure!"

With this reason, it was enough; he was about to act on guiding Xia Nichang.

"Damn you, Qian Shu!" An angry shout came from outside; True Immortal Qinghuang rushed in, immediately seeing what he was about to do. "Stop right there! Who gave you the gall to dare steal my opportunity?"

"Isn’t it you who stole my opportunity?" True Immortal Qian Shu spoke with a dark face, "Elder Qing Ji was supposed to contact me; why did you insist on intervening? As an Elder, can you bully others at will?"

"Uh... Can the two of you talk things out?" A Nascent Soul Middle Phase appeared, precisely True Immortal Qian Feng.

(Updated to, summoning monthly tickets.)