Chapter 146: Diligence Makes Up for Clumsiness

Upon hearing the sounds, Yan Chixia, Bai Xiaoyue, She Mei'er, and Song Ta'er knew that Tu Xiaomeng had returned. They all called out in unison:
"Xiaomeng, stop hiding and show yourself!"
"Hee hee hee... Alright!" Tu Xiaomeng responded, suddenly appearing out of thin air before everyone. With a wave of her hand, she took off her hat, removed the "Celestial Guardian Invisible Robe," held it in her hand, and smiled at True Person Qingxu, "Master, I have completed the task! Now you can put away this 'Celestial Guardian Invisible Robe' for safekeeping!"
"Heh heh..." True Person Qingxu smiled with heartfelt joy, "Chongzi, you've worked hard! This 'Celestial Guardian Invisible Robe' now belongs to you; go ahead and store it away."
"Really? That's wonderful!" Tu Xiaomeng cheered happily, her large, dark, and sparkling eyes curving into two crescent moons of delight. As she spoke, as if fearing that Song Ta'er might snatch the "Celestial Guardian Invisible Robe" away, she hurriedly recited a mental incantation and stored it inside her storage ring.
True enough, seeing Tu Xiaomeng store away the "Celestial Guardian Invisible Robe," Song Ta'er could not help growing a bit anxious as he said:
"Master, Xiaomeng has a magical treasure, but I don't. What should I do?"
"Heh heh..." True Person Qingxu smiled at him, "Chizi, do not worry. The 'Celestial Guardian Invisible Robes' I forged are meant for all four of you; everyone gets one." Having said this, his gaze fell upon She Mei'er's face, "She Mei'er, although you saved my life, I did not prepare a share of the 'Celestial Guardian Invisible Robe' for you! Now, if I distribute treasures to Danzi, Mingzi, and Chizi, please do not think me too stingy!"
She Mei'er replied:
"Of course not. Hee hee... I never expected True Person Qingxu to have such a sense of humor!"
Before her voice had even faded, True Person Qingxu had already recited an incantation, summoning the remaining three "Celestial Guardian Invisible Robes" from his storage space. He handed them to Yan Chixia, Bai Xiaoyue, and Song Ta'er respectively, instructing:
"Danzi, Mingzi, Chizi, you should store your 'Celestial Guardian Invisible Robes' away as well."
"Yes, Master!" the three answered in unison, happily reciting their incantations to store the "Celestial Guardian Invisible Robes" into their respective storage rings.

At that moment, Song Ta'er scurried back to True Person Qingxu and asked with an honest, good-natured smile:
"Heh heh heh, Master, I've used up all my 'Seven-Color Spirit Stones'! Can you use your [Paper-Drawn Talisman Magic] to activate some more for me?"
"Oh?" True Person Qingxu was slightly taken aback. "Surely not? Chizi, didn't I give you ten 'Seven-Color Spirit Stones' just ten days ago? How could you have used them all up in such a short time?"
Before Song Ta'er could reply, Tu Xiaomeng piped up:
"Master, Song Ta'er is wasting heavenly treasures! Don't give him any more 'Seven-Color Spirit Stones'!"
"Oh?" True Person Qingxu shifted his gaze to Tu Xiaomeng. "Chongzi, what do you mean by this? How is Chizi wasting heavenly treasures?"
"Master, don't listen to her nonsense. I haven't wasted anything!" Song Ta'er immediately defended himself.
Tu Xiaomeng argued her case on principle:
"Song Ta'er, how have you not? Over the past few days, I've noticed that not only do you use the 'Seven-Color Spirit Stones' while cultivating, but even when you sleep, you keep a 'Seven-Color Spirit Stone' right next to your pillow, letting it constantly release spiritual energy... Tell me, if that isn't wasting heavenly treasures, what is?"
"How is that a waste?" Song Ta'er argued further. "Wasn't I absorbing spiritual energy? Xiaomeng, you are clever, and I am dull... If I don't find ways to absorb more spiritual energy, won't my cultivation fall further and further behind yours? Master, please judge this fairly. Am I right or wrong?"
"Heh heh..." True Person Qingxu smiled. "What you say makes sense! Chizi, diligence can make up for a lack of talent; Master fully approves of what you are doing!" Having said this, his gaze returned to Tu Xiaomeng's face, "Chongzi, knowing to be thrifty is a rare and commendable virtue. You are also worthy of praise!"
"Hee hee..." Tu Xiaomeng couldn't help laughing. "Master is truly the best! No matter what Song Ta'er and I do, in your eyes, we are always right!"
"Chongzi, neither you nor Chizi did anything wrong to begin with," True Person Qingxu replied. With a wave of his hand, a sheet of talisman paper materialized, floating horizontally and unrolling before him. Then, with another wave, he grasped a cinnabar ink brush in his hand...

Seeing this, Yan Chixia, Bai Xiaoyue, She Mei'er, Tu Xiaomeng, and Song Ta'er immediately gathered around True Person Qingxu. With the brush flying like a startled dragon and a snake in motion, he swiftly painted numerous "Seven-Color Spirit Stones" onto the talisman paper. Then, retracting the ink brush, he grabbed a corner of the paper talisman and gave it a sharp flick. A flash of golden light erupted, and instantly, all those "Seven-Color Spirit Stones" were activated, falling to the ground in a cascade. Afterwards, True Person Qingxu said to Song Ta'er:
"Chizi, here are one hundred 'Seven-Color Spirit Stones,' specially activated for you. Store them away and use them freely! When you run out, Master will make more for you..."
Song Ta'er was overjoyed. He readily agreed and was about to recite the incantation to store all one hundred "Seven-Color Spirit Stones" into his storage ring when he suddenly stopped and said:
"There are too many 'Seven-Color Spirit Stones' here! Brother Yan, Sister Bai, Sister She, Xiaomeng, let's store them together. There are one hundred spirit stones, twenty for each of us..."
"Oh, give it a rest, Song Ta'er." Before he could finish, Tu Xiaomeng interrupted, "We all have spirit stones; you're the only one who didn't. These 'Seven-Color Spirit Stones' were specially given to you by Master, and none of us will take them!"
"Indeed!" She Mei'er chimed in, deeply moved. "Song Ta'er, thank you for thinking of me! These one hundred 'Seven-Color Spirit Stones' seem like a lot, but they won't be enough for you. With your extravagant habit of spending money like water, I'm afraid these one hundred stones will be completely wiped out in just a few days... However, it doesn't matter, I have a 'Five-Color Spirit Stone' mine. Although slightly inferior to these 'Seven-Color Spirit Stones,' it is still quite rich in spiritual energy! Song Ta'er, once you finish using these 'Seven-Color Spirit Stones,' I will go to the 'Death Valley' and fetch a large pile of 'Five-Color Spirit Stones' for you!"
"That's wonderful!" Before Song Ta'er could speak, Tu Xiaomeng joyfully exclaimed, "Sister, whenever you go to the 'Death Valley,' take me with you too!"
"No problem!" She Mei'er replied readily. "Mengmeng, when the time comes, Sister will not only take you, but also Yue'er, Song Ta'er, and Yan Chixia. We will all go together!" Having said this, she looked up at the sun. Seeing that it was noon, she hurriedly took her leave, saying, "It's noon, I must return to the Zixia Palace immediately to cultivate... You all carry on with your tasks, I'll see you tomorrow morning!"
With that, she executed the [Pure Breeze Escape] technique and returned to Mount Li.