Senior sister, stop working and go home for dinner.

Chapter 35 Our sect is going to produce a college student!

Upon hearing the news that "Second Senior Sister has been found," Feng Xiaolu on the other end of the phone erupted in an even louder cheer than when she learned that fifteen million had been deposited into her account.

"Second Senior Sister?! You really found her?! How is she? Is she alright? Let her talk to me!" Feng Xiaolu's voice was urgent and full of joy.

Chen Anran smiled and handed the phone to Wei Qingyi, who was still somewhat dazed beside her, "Second Senior Sister, Third Senior Sister wants to talk to you."

Wei Qingyi took the phone and had barely put it to her ear when Feng Xiaolu's rapid-fire voice came through: "Second Senior Sister! Is that you, Second Senior Sister! You heartless wretch! You haven't contacted us for so long, we were so worried! Are you alright? Have you been bullied?"

Hearing the familiar voice on the other end of the phone, Wei Qingyi felt a lump in her throat and her eyes instantly welled up with tears.

She took a deep breath and tried to make her voice sound calm: "Little Deer...it's me. I'm fine, I'm sorry to have worried you."

"It's alright! It's alright!" Feng Xiaolu kept saying, "My senior sister is right next to me, she's almost frantic with worry! Wait here, I'll let her take the call!"

Then, the voice of Senior Sister Su Wan came from the other end of the phone, "Qingyi?"

Just those two words almost brought tears to Wei Qingyi's eyes. She turned her head to look at the rapidly receding street scene outside the car window and softly replied, "Senior Sister... I'm sorry for making you worry."

"I'm glad you're alright. You must have had a hard time out there. Come back with Anran soon. Everything is fine in the sect now, there's no need for you to work so hard anymore."

Hearing her senior sister's familiar voice and feeling the long-lost concern from her family, Wei Qingyi's throat tightened, and after a long while, she responded softly, "Yes, senior sister, I understand. We'll go back after we finish things with An Ran."

"Okay, okay." Su Wan responded repeatedly, and after giving a few more words of advice on taking care of her health, she handed the phone back to Feng Xiaolu, who was still in a state of excitement.

Feng Xiaolu snatched the phone and chattered away, repeatedly confirming that Wei Qingyi was safe and sound. She also made a pact to "torture" her after returning to the mountain and interrogate her about her "crime" of not contacting everyone. Only then did she hang up the phone after being persuaded by Chen Anran.

Silence returned to the car. Wei Qingyi handed the phone back to Chen Anran, looking at him with a complex expression. A thousand words were stuck in her chest, but in the end, they only turned into a soft sigh: "Thank you, junior brother."

Chen Anran smiled, her eyes clear: "Senior Sister, there's no need for thanks between us. Now that the money issue is resolved, you should be able to put your mind at ease, right? I'll have Third Senior Sister transfer the money over. You should deal with that agreement as soon as possible and put this trouble behind us."

Wei Qingyi nodded. A heavy stone that had been weighing on her heart for months was finally lifted, and she felt much more relaxed. Even the gloom between her brows dissipated.

Back at his retreat, Chen Anran immediately began his "seclusion." He needed to nurture those three "magical treasures" as soon as possible to fulfill his promise to Zhao Qiming.

For now, we should first remove two of the pebbles, put the three treasures that Zhao Qiming wanted into them, and then evolve them.

Taking advantage of this free time, Chen Anran began to plan his "Spirit Gathering Floor Tiles" and "Spiritual Cuisine Farmhouse" projects in detail. He took Wei Qingyi for a walk in the courtyard of the retreat while explaining his ideas.

"Senior Sister, look, if we could build a farmhouse inn at the foot of the mountain, using the sect's existing farmland, all the ingredients, whether rice or vegetables, would be 'nurtured' by me, imbued with spiritual energy. Long-term consumption might not guarantee immortality, but it would definitely strengthen the body and prolong life." Chen Anran's eyes were gleaming. "Our target customers would be top-tier individuals like Chairman Zhao, who have the resources, the need, and a high acceptance of mystical matters."

Wei Qingyi listened attentively, but after listening, she said, "Junior Brother, I still want to take the adult college entrance examination."

Chen Anran was so speechless at Wei Qingyi's words that he almost choked. He stared wide-eyed at his second senior sister's still serious face, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Senior sister! Why are you still thinking about taking that exam!" Chen Anran rubbed her forehead, feeling a bit of a headache. "Didn't we already agree? With this agritourism project, you can have a respectable and well-paying career of your own! Why bother going down that incredibly competitive path?"

Wei Qingyi stopped and stood beside a clump of green bamboo. "Anran, I understand your good intentions. Your plan sounds good, and it might really make a lot of money. But studying and taking exams isn't just about getting a diploma and making money."

She turned to look at Chen Anran, her gaze profound: "My experiences since entering the world have taught me that power—whether military force or financial resources—is ultimately a castle in the air if it is not matched with wisdom and understanding to wield, and may even bring disaster. I want to systematically learn knowledge, not just magic and Taoist scriptures, but also the laws, economics, and management that govern this modern society. I want to truly understand how this world works. Only in this way can I better help you, help Senior Sister, and help the Yunyin Sect, so that we can walk more steadily and further on whatever path we choose."

She paused, her tone tinged with self-deprecation and realization: "Before, on the mountain, I always thought that focusing solely on cultivation was enough. Only after coming down the mountain did I realize that cultivation is far more than just absorbing spiritual energy and raising one's realm. Cultivating the mind, cultivating wisdom, cultivating the body—cultivation is everywhere."

Chen Anran was stunned. He looked at Wei Qingyi as if he were truly getting to know his second senior sister for the first time. She was no longer the icy beauty who only knew how to cultivate.

Chen Anran suddenly realized that what her second senior sister wanted might not just be a high-paying job, but a sense of "control" over herself and the world. She hoped to arm herself with knowledge and wisdom to ensure that she and the sect would no longer be in a passive position in the ever-changing future.

"But that's too strenuous," Chen Anran's voice softened. "Look at your previous schedule, is that even human life?"

"The hardship is only temporary. I used to work to pay off debts, and I was exhausted both physically and mentally. Now I'm studying for myself and for the sect. No matter how hard it is, my heart is at peace. Besides," she looked at Chen Anran, her eyes filled with trust and reliance, "Isn't there you? You said we'd face the sect's affairs together from now on. You'll support me, right?"

Chen Anran was speechless. What could he say? Oppose his second senior sister's pursuit of knowledge and self-improvement? He couldn't do that.

Sigh, if you want to be the school beauty, then go be the school beauty.

"So, Senior Sister, what are your plans? Didn't you just promise Senior Sister you you'd return to the sect?"

Upon hearing Chen Anran's question, Wei Qingyi answered without hesitation, "The exams are in June. We'll go back after the exams. If I pass smoothly, I'll stay at the sect until the start of the new school year in September."

Chen Anran blurted out, "What if I don't pass the exam?"

Wei Qingyi replied firmly, "Then keep taking the exam until you pass."