Cohabitation with Sword Spirit

Chapter 479 - 64: Brilliant Tactics from an Intelligence Index of 3.3

Shen Qingming calmed down after leaving the house.

After spending so much time with Wang Jiu, although her sensitive nature as a young girl often led to fiery emotions, her anger subsided just as quickly.

Moreover, even someone with an intelligence index of 3.3 understands that throwing a tantrum won’t solve problems with a cunning opponent and might make them worse.

As Zhao Chenlu said, she has always been on the receiving end of Wang Jiu’s kindness, making their relationship unequal. Although Wang Jiu doesn’t mind, she realizes that eventually, even if he doesn’t get angry, he might think: if this relationship only brings unhappiness, perhaps separation would be better.

Shen Qingming certainly didn’t want to part ways with the Celestial Divine Sword. Even if she hadn’t considered the help he provides with immortal cultivation, her feelings alone were enough to keep her. However, facing the formidable opponent Zhao Chenlu, she felt utterly defeated for the first time.

Thus, she marched out of the city to seek help.

Outside Golden Jade City, she had very reliable companions who could help her in every possible way.

They were her family, her most solid support.

——

Lakefront stronghold.

Li Chaolu looked down at her as if she were trash and said, "So, you came running here like a stray dog looking for warmth?"

Li Wanqing said, "Running away without a plan is indeed thoughtless, Qingming."

Li Xinyu sighed, with the disappointed look of an elder brother: "I won’t say more, you know."

Shen Qingming took a deep breath, suppressing her rising anger, and said, "I’m not here for criticism, I’m here to ask for your help!"

Li Chaolu waved his hand, "No help from me. What’s in it for me? From my standpoint, watching you tear each other apart is best, and when Mr. Wang Jiu gets tired of your poor show, I can step in and take advantage."

Li Wanqing said, "From my standpoint, I should wait until you’re battered by Zhao Chenlu and lose interest in relationships, then step in."

The veins on Shen Qingming’s temple throbbed energetically as she asked in a low voice, "Li Xinyu, what about you? How do you plan to take advantage?"

Li Xinyu said, "Honestly, I’ll wait for Chaolu to realize she can’t win without you and then move in when she’s disheartened..."

"You fat jerk, what do you mean!?"

Looking at these supposed solid supports, Shen Qingming finally felt despair.

——

A moment later, walking under the shade by the lake, Shen Qingming sighed deeply.

"Maybe I really should leave Ah Jiu..."

"Why?"

"!?"

The sudden voice from behind startled her, stopping her heart. She turned sharply.

"Ah Jiu!?"

Wang Jiu looked at her, nodding, saying, "It’s me."

"Why... why are you here? Shouldn’t you be with your old flame?"

Having gradually become familiar with the customs of people, Wang Jiu understood that "old flame" referred to Zhao Chenlu, so he said, "Chenlu said, although you act like you’re distancing yourself from me, deep down you want me to come and comfort you."

These words made Shen Qingming’s face flush.

But the girl did not explode immediately; instead, she took a deep breath and suppressed the urge, asking, "So how do you plan to comfort me?"

Wang Jiu said, "On the way here, I thought about this. From my understanding, humans, due to emotional reasons, like to hear flattery, even if false, and women especially like compliments about their appearance. So, Qingming, you’re a beautiful, graceful woman, gentle and exceptionally wise..."

"..." Shen Qingming’s brain seemed to take on a seductive curve, "So what you’re saying is, I’m an ugly, hideous woman with a meager figure and a bad temper?"

Wang Jiu thought for a moment, "If you’re trying to completely reverse what I said, you should change ’woman’ to ’man’."

"You’re the man!" Shen Qingming said without hesitation, throwing a punch.

"Although the Celestial Divine Sword doesn’t have a gender concept, from the Sword Spirit True Form, I’m inclined towards being male," Wang Jiu answered seriously, "So, do you feel better now?"

"Do you think!?"

"Since you don’t let me observe your heart anytime, I can’t be sure, but from your reaction, it seems a lot better, so I’ll take my leave now..."

"Are you seriously leaving just like that!?" Shen Qingming fumed, "How did you conclude I feel better!? Are you blind!?"

Wang Jiu said, "Your current reaction is pretty typical, so I thought it was okay."

"..."

"If there’s nothing else, I’ll be off. I need to prepare extensively to visit the Saint Sect."

When it came to the journey to the Saint Sect, Shen Qingming temporarily put aside the anger in her heart and said earnestly, "Are you really going to Heaven-Reaching City with Zhao Chenlu? I’m certainly not against you going, but don’t you think it’s too hasty? Are you just going to do whatever Zhao Chenlu says? What if her judgment is wrong? After all, her Intelligence Index is only 7."

After unhesitatingly choosing Zhao Chenlu’s minimum intelligence, Shen Qingming added, "Of course, even if she only has 7 points, it’s not something I, with 3.3, can question. However, she’s not the only smart person in the world, so why blindly trust her judgment?"

These words made Wang Jiu slightly moved.

As the saying goes, even a fool will have a stroke of brilliance, and Shen Qingming was indeed right.

Zhao Chenlu is not omniscient or never wrong. In fact, even Shang Lanfei often makes wrong judgments, so the possibility of Zhao Chenlu making a mistake is certainly high.

"So, who do you think I should consider for advice as well?"

Shen Qingming said, "Among the people you know, other than Zhao Chenlu, who has the highest Intelligence Index?"

"Qian Yue."

"Ha?!"

Shen Qingming was stunned. Although she knew the answer wouldn’t be herself, why would it be that girl from the Qian Family!

Isn’t Sister Wanqing, who excels in social adeptness, better than her? Isn’t the well-read and knowledgeable Zhou Wenjun better than her? Isn’t the well-rounded Zhao Yan better than her? With so many people in the Li Family Mansion, surely a few smart ones can be found, right? Even if not in the Li Family Mansion, there’s the Lu Family among the three great families of QingCyan Cloud City. Even if not in QingCloud City, there are still plenty of people in Shen City.

How did Qian Yue get to reign supreme?

But in the eyes of the Celestial Divine Sword, many were smart in QingCyan Cloud yun City and Heaven-Reaching City, yet only Qian Yue had left a deep impression on him.

"Hold on, I’ll ask her opinion now." Wang Jiu said as he took out a thin piece of letter paper and carefully began to describe the problem he was facing...

Shen Qingming frantically tried to stop him, "Wait, this is a serious matter, how can you casually share it with outsiders?"

"Qian Yue isn’t exactly an outsider. By general human standards, she’s a fellow countrywoman of mine and shares a close social relationship with me at this stage."

"... A fellow countrywoman?" Shen Qingming was speechless for a long time, unable to refute this conclusion.

Though she wished Wang Jiu’s social network centered around her and spread outwards, with those close to her being close to Wang Jiu as well, those she disliked would be purposefully avoided by Wang Jiu...

But the world isn’t so perfect.

Zhao Chenlu was right; to the Celestial Divine Sword, young Shen Qingming wasn’t that special. She merely happened to awaken the Sword Spirit that was on the verge of awakening.

Hence, Wang Jiu’s focus certainly wouldn’t particularly lean towards Shen Qingming.

Compared to Zhao Chenlu, with whom he fought and risked life and limb, all the people in Xiangzhou combined probably didn’t hold as much weight in the heart of the Celestial Divine Sword.

Realizing this, Shen Qingming even found Qian Yue’s face to be somewhat cuter.

"I understand now... Qian Yue it is then."

——

Qian Yue’s reply came very quickly.

"Destroy the Saint Sect? Sure, count me in!"

This chaotically eager answer was no surprise. What was surprising was Qian Yue’s next response.

"At the lake’s edge, right? Hold on, I’ll be there soon."

Before the ink on the letter could dry, a golden light flew in from afar. Qian Yue stood on it, waving with enthusiasm.

"Mr. Wang Jiu, long time no see!"

Wang Jiu politely waved back, "Long time no see, it seems your cultivation has advanced, congratulations."

With the Peak Level Cloud Surge Realm aura surrounding her, Qian Yue beamed with joy, "As soon as I knew I was meeting you, Mr. Wang Jiu, I was full of motivation. After all, I shouldn’t be worse than the fools around you."

A certain fool was instantly unhappy, yet remained silent upon seeing the genuine Cloud Surge Realm fluctuations on Qian Yue. A few months back during the QingCyan Cloud yun Grand Competition, Qian Yue was only in the mid-tier of the Cloud Surge Realm, but now it seemed she was just half a step from the Cloud Flipping Realm!

She’s only 15 years old, right!? Such accomplishments surpass even Li Wanqing!

Even though teenage years are the golden age for Immortal Cultivation, where progress is swift and miracles common, these half a level advancements in six months are worthy of being recorded in history.

"Did you take some pills?!"

Qian Yue openly nodded and laughed, "Yes, with the Three Elements Sacred Spirit Pill and Strengthening Powder, my True Essence surged tenfold in three days without harm, isn’t that amazing?"

"... Such a surge in True Essence you can’t even absorb, you bought Immortal Dao Sacred Medicine just to show off in front of me!"

"Yeah, I wanted to. Do you have a problem with that?"

Shen Qingming was instantly at a loss. As the heir of the Li Family Mansion, the funds she could access seemed astronomical to a typical Independent Cultivator, but using the Three Elements Sacred Spirit Pill and Strengthening Powder just for show is an extravagance only a handful worldwide could bear!

Normally, Shen Qingming would have burst into rage, but thinking of the even more vexing opponent in Golden Jade City, a smile spread across the young girl’s face.

Indeed, it’s good to be annoyed. These two irritating fellows meeting together, just perfect for fighting fire with fire!