Seeing the person walking toward her against the light, Qin Zhizhi suddenly felt a disorienting sense of displacement, as if she could not tell what year or era she was in.
In the past, Xie Yutai had also protected her during her cultivation.
Because she was merely a transmigrator who carried a system to complete capture missions, she had never been particularly invested in cultivation. In the system’s words, it was all a waste of effort anyway, she had to die in the end, so no matter how powerful she became, she would still end up dead. Qin Zhizhi had simply chosen to slack off. Aside from building up favorability and completing tasks, she enjoyed a full range of eating, drinking, and playing. While others cultivated diligently, she spent her time gossiping, reading stories, or hiding in the library to flip through scandals, unless she was caught red-handed by the Sect Master.
Naturally, her Foundation Establishment had been forcefully achieved by Fu Xingyun through sheer force-feeding of spirit stones and spiritual pills. If he could, Qin Zhizhi felt that Fu Xingyun would have gladly transferred half of his own cultivation directly into her body. It would have been best if, on the day Fu Xingyun ascended in the future, he could simply tuck his underachieving junior sister into his waistband and carry her along with him.
The unambitious Qin Zhizhi was terrible at cultivation, but she was absolutely number one when it came to diligently completing her tasks.
Upon hearing that Xie Yutai was descending the mountain for trials, she had packed her bags and left the Tiantong Sect without a second thought.
Xie Yutai had merely taken on a task from the Guiyuan Sect’s demon-slaying board, descending the mountain alone to eliminate demons. He had not expected to find a little tail following behind him halfway through his journey.
He had originally thought it was a coincidence, but no matter where he went, this person remained right behind him. At first, she followed him with extreme caution, prompting Xie Yutai to quicken his pace. Unbeknownst to him, she noticed this. Perhaps fearing she would not be able to keep up, she simply ran straight to him: “Why, if it isn’t Senior Brother Xie! What a coincidence! Are you coming here too? What are you doing here?”
Xie Yutai swept a glance over Qin Zhizhi and said coolly: “You and I do not belong to the same sect. There is no need to call me Senior Brother.”
“Alright, alright! Calling you Senior Brother does sound rather distant anyway. Since so many people call you Senior Brother, it makes me feel less special,” Qin Zhizhi replied, completely unbothered by his cold tone. She nodded with a sweet smile: “Then I shall call you Xie Yutai. How about that, Xie Yutai?”
Xie Yutai raised his eyelids, but in the end, he said nothing.
Perhaps because Qin Zhizhi’s smile had been too bright along the way, the demon cultivators they encountered on this trip genuinely believed the two shared a close relationship. They kidnapped Qin Zhizhi on the spot to blackmail Xie Yutai.
Qin Zhizhi had pushed things along, wishing she could appear miserable, even more miserable, and at her absolute most miserable. Yet, to her surprise, amidst all her antics, she began to breakthrough. Unable to suppress the spiritual energy in her dantian, Qin Zhizhi took a risk and meditated right beneath the noses of the demon cultivators, rushing all the way into the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.
Although she carried the system to protect herself, Qin Zhizhi still felt a lingering fear. She had not expected that the moment she opened her eyes, she would see Xie Yutai quietly sitting beside her, refining his sword intent and protecting her. The Hantian Sword levitated between them, expanding its barrier to ward off all wind and rain.
Outside the door lay the bodies of the demon cultivators, who had long since been slain.
When Qin Zhizhi looked at him, a ray of sunshine happened to land on Xie Yutai’s shoulder. He opened his eyes, his deep black pupils clearly reflecting Qin Zhizhi’s figure, and nodded slightly: “Congratulations.”
The situation today was so similar to that of the past.
Qin Zhizhi found it highly strange. She had thought she had long since forgotten these past experiences, yet they still slipped into her mind when she least expected it.
She saw Xie Yutai standing before her with his hands behind his back, his magnificent presence undeniable. It was as if something had quietly changed, yet had never changed at all.
Qin Zhizhi snapped out of her daze and smiled faintly: “Thank you, Immortal Lord Xie.”
At some point, the two had returned to the grand hall from earlier. The screen was right before them, but only a chaotic mess of lines remained on it, the image of the old monk long gone.
From entering the dream, to breaking it, to achieving Foundation Establishment, if this had occurred in the real world, it would have been difficult to accomplish without several months. Yet in the old monk’s void realm, it had only been a single instant of this world.
It was truly an instant stretching into eternity, and eternity captured in an instant.
Neither of them spoke again, walking side by side from behind the screen in silence.
When they turned a corner, perhaps because the space was too narrow or because they were walking too close, Qin Zhizhi’s right arm gently brushed against Xie Yutai’s left side.
Qin Zhizhi glanced at Xie Yutai with a touch of surprise. Seeing that his nose was straight and his lips were tightly pursed as if he had not noticed at all, she placed her hands behind her back with some awkwardness, gently balling her hand into a small fist.
When they reached the center of the hall, Qin Zhizhi suddenly recalled the old monk’s words. She glanced at the ancient and carved Huntian Mirror, clearing her throat as she said: “Can I take a look at the Huntian Mirror?”
Xie Yutai nodded and stopped his pace.
Qin Zhizhi swept her eyes over it, seeing that the Huntian Mirror truly looked like an ordinary bronze mirror, resting steadily on the table. If she had not known that the Shapo Sect possessed this item, who would believe that this was the legendary Huntian Mirror, which could connect heaven and earth?
Her own face was reflected fuzzily on the bronze mirror. She reached out and tapped it lightly, but only heard a ringing clatter echo in her ears. She then placed her palm against the surface of the mirror, closed her eyes, and asked silently in her heart: Huntian Mirror, where are my Queyin and Feidu?
Qin Zhizhi wanted to try and find her two missing spirits.
After asking, she opened her eyes and looked at the mirror’s surface with anticipation. However, the mirror remained completely still, still reflecting Qin Zhizhi’s slender, delicate, and peering figure.
Qin Zhizhi: “?”
Was this not exactly like an ordinary bronze mirror?
Qin Zhizhi raised her hand and struck the edge of the bronze mirror firmly, only to be deflected, causing a sharp pain in her knuckles. Cradling her hand, she let out a sharp breath, turned around, and ran back to Xie Yutai’s side, muttering: “Let’s go.”
What a big liar. The Huntian Mirror must have a huge bug!
Rubbing her hand, Qin Zhizhi said unwillingly: “There is definitely something wrong with the Huntian Mirror!”
Xie Yutai asked calmly: “Is that so?”
Qin Zhizhi blinked her eyes, recalling what he had said earlier about searching a soul. She stammered: “Well… anyway, maybe what you see isn’t necessarily correct either.”
Xie Yutai’s figure paused slightly, and his hand holding his sword hilt tightened: “Thank you.”
Xie Yutai had not actually specified whose soul he wanted to search, had he? What if she was just flattering herself? It would not be right to crush someone else’s hopes like that. Qin Zhizhi let her thoughts wander aimlessly.
She saw Xie Yutai push open the door of the main hall. Just as she was about to step forward and follow him, Xie Yutai suddenly focused his attention and spoke: “Do not move.”
Qin Zhizhi froze with one foot suspended in the air, unable to decide whether to step down or retreat.
Supporting herself against the doorframe, she peered out carefully: “What is it?”
She had not paid attention, but looking now gave her a fright. Right outside the door of the main hall lay several corpses scattered about. They were dressed in uniform, wide-sleeved navy-blue robes, clearly the gate-guarding disciples of the Shapo Sect, yet each had died in a highly gruesome manner.
Qin Zhizhi was dazed: “What is going on here?”
Xie Yutai turned his head, his tone solemn: “They died not long ago, all from sword wounds.”
“How could that be?” The Shapo Sect was a typical sect of dharma cultivators, and they had absolutely no disciples who used swords. Could the Shapo Sect have met with disaster in the brief time they had entered the main hall?
Thinking back to the figure that had flashed past outside earlier, Qin Zhizhi’s face changed: “Quick, let’s go.”
A terrifying thought crossed her mind, and without time to think further, she grabbed Xie Yutai and ran outside.
If something major had happened to the Shapo Sect, it made no sense for this place to be completely quiet. Why kill the gate-guarding disciples but not enter the main hall? What was the goal? Furthermore, these were all sword wounds. If the Shapo Sect had not met with a sudden external disaster, who else could the sword cultivator currently in the Shapo Sect be?
Xie Yutai of the Guiyuan Sect.
This was clearly a premeditated frame-up.
Recalling Xie Yutai’s action of pulling her behind the screen earlier, Qin Zhizhi said through gritted teeth: “Immortal Lord Xie, just who on earth have you offended?”
Among the three major sects, the Guiyuan Sect, a sword sect, stood at the head, followed by the Tiantong Sect, a saber sect, and the Shapo Sect, composed of dharma cultivators. Because of their weapons, the sword and saber sects were naturally closer, while the Shapo Sect, with its profound techniques that emphasized comprehension, had never been particularly close to other sects. Still, they all belonged to the three major sects, so there was some mutual regard. Would the people of the Shapo Sect really frame Xie Yutai by sacrificing their own? It was simply unimaginable. If it was not the Shapo Sect, then who else could it be? Was it the demon race?
All kinds of thoughts flashed rapidly through Qin Zhizhi’s head, finally converging into one realization: no matter what, they could not let anyone catch them at the scene. Otherwise, they would be caught red-handed, and there would be no way to defend themselves.
However, just as she pulled Xie Yutai through the full-moon archway, Xie Yutai’s footsteps paused. The moment he turned around, his sleeves fluttered, and a strand of sword qi bounded from his fingertips, slicing through the air with a sharp whistle!
With a metallic clash, a small magical treasure was struck by the sword qi and fell to the ground.
Qin Zhizhi’s pupils contracted suddenly as a person walked out slowly from behind them.
“Xie Yutai, what’s this? You kill the disciples of my Shapo Sect, and you want to leave without even giving an explanation?”
The newcomer had loose hair, with only a portion casually tied and hanging over his shoulder. He wore a golden forehead band, looking quite wild and unconstrained. This was none other than the eldest disciple of the Shapo Sect’s master, Luo Hou, whose cultivation had already reached the Nascent Soul stage.
The Sect Master of the Shapo Sect had been in secluded cultivation for a long time, so almost all matters of the sect were currently managed by Luo Hou. It was no exaggeration to call him the acting Sect Master.
As soon as he finished speaking, several Shapo Sect disciples appeared behind him, surrounding Xie Yutai and Qin Zhizhi.
Sure enough, the moment Xie Yutai stepped out, the people of the Shapo Sect caught up with them. With such a perfect coincidence, who would believe there had not been an arrangement beforehand?
But what exactly was the purpose of framing Xie Yutai?
Although she had achieved Foundation Establishment, the cultivation suppression of a Nascent Soul cultivator was truly too terrifying. Qin Zhizhi swallowed her saliva, her first thought being: This matter has nothing to do with me anyway. Can I run?
Luo Hou also noticed Qin Zhizhi. Upon seeing her, a flash of surprise crossed his eyes, and he instantly laughed: “Xie Yutai, I really didn’t expect you to know how to enjoy yourself so much.”
Qin Zhizhi: “…”
Where on earth was his mind going with that expression?
Before she could make sense of it, Xie Yutai raised his hand and swept his sleeve. Qin Zhizhi felt her body grow light as she was propelled toward the east, followed immediately by Xie Yutai’s voice transmission: “The teleportation array, go quickly.”
Not far from this location was a teleportation array. Because it was a random teleportation array set up several hundred years ago, it had long since been abandoned. However, using it to flee for her life right now was perfect. Without a second thought, Qin Zhizhi used the momentum of the sword qi to scramble toward the east.
Seeing that Xie Yutai wanted Qin Zhizhi to escape, Luo Hou pulled back his smile: “You want her to run?”
The other disciples behind him immediately gave chase upon seeing this. The breeze whipped up the white silk ribbon tied behind Xie Yutai’s head, and with a sharp whistle, the Hantian Sword was unsheathed!
“Xie Yutai, your opponent is me.” Luo Hou used his index and middle fingers as a guide, pointing them between his brows. A magic array rose slowly from beneath his feet, and the pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator instantly blanketed the area. Sensing danger, the Hantian Sword buzzed and vibrated. Air currents swirled beneath Xie Yutai’s feet, lifting the corners of his robes.
Luo Hou narrowed his eyes: “What on earth is going on with your eyes?”
Xie Yutai moved upon hearing the sound, his sword body bursting with brilliant light as he lunged toward his opponent.
Qin Zhizhi only heard a loud boom behind her. Looking back instinctively, she saw four Shapo Sect disciples following her like ghosts. Expressionless and silent, they gave her quite a fright, causing her to cry out: “My goodness!”
These four disciples each held a long staff. Seeing Qin Zhizhi’s footsteps hesitate slightly, they all lunged toward her.
Qin Zhizhi dodged to the side, but one of the disciples managed to get close, grabbing the Qiankun bag tied to her waist. She quickly reached out to grab it back, but the disciple ran faster than a rabbit, causing her to say in anger: “It’s one thing for you to fight me, but what do you mean by stealing my things?”
This Qiankun bag was something the Sect Master of the Heguang Sect had given her. Since trouble had arisen here at the Shapo Sect, she could not let the Heguang Sect be dragged down as well. She had to get it back.
Qin Zhizhi was thoroughly frustrated and simply stopped her footsteps.
Although Luo Hou was very strong, the cultivations of the four disciples he brought with him ranged from Foundation Establishment to the Bigu stage; they were not entirely impossible to fight.
Qin Zhizhi took a brief glance and instantly made up her mind.
She narrowed her eyes, immediately grabbed a tree branch that had fallen on the bushes beside her, and thrust it fiercely toward the person with the lowest cultivation! This move carried a powerful, overbearing momentum, straight toward the opponent’s face. Shaken by this rapid and fierce saber qi, the opponent’s eyes tightened, and he instinctively dodged. However, Qin Zhizhi leapt forward, directly seizing the long staff from his hand and striking his knee. Caught unprepared, the disciple knelt down heavily with a loud thud.
Unable to withstand such violent saber qi, the tree branch in Qin Zhizhi’s hand shattered into several pieces.
Without even looking, she held the long staff and tossed the shattered pieces of wood from her hand.
Back in the Tiantong Sect, Qin Zhizhi had trained in wielding a large saber. Although her cultivation was not at the absolute top, her every move had been personally taught by Fu Xingyun, giving her an elegant and agile posture. His natal saber was named Guizang, and its style was robust, swift, and highly refined.
Qin Zhizhi raised her eyebrows, intending to catch the person who had stolen her Qiankun bag. It just so happened that Luo Hou and Xie Yutai were retreating along the path, and the two groups unexpectedly ran straight into each other.
The disciple at the Bigu stage was shaken by Xie Yutai’s sword qi, causing his internal injuries to flare up and his spiritual energy to choke. Qin Zhizhi seized the opportunity, immediately grabbing the disciple’s collar and snatching back her Qiankun bag.
Luo Hou raised his eyes and saw her figure, letting out a sinister laugh: “Finding you took no effort at all.”
He struck out fiercely with his palm toward Xie Yutai. Xie Yutai blocked with his sword, retreating rapidly. As his robes fluttered, he landed steadily right in front of Qin Zhizhi.
Seeing Luo Hou arrive, the other four disciples felt their morale surge, instantly surrounding the two of them.
Xie Yutai’s hand holding his sword tightened. From slaying Jiang Yuanzhi, to fighting Dan Wuning, and now facing Luo Hou of the Nascent Soul stage, his spiritual energy had already been depleted too quickly. If he were alone, he would still have the strength to fight, but with Qin Zhizhi to protect, he feared being attacked from both sides, making it difficult to escape.
Qin Zhizhi’s heart stirred, and she suddenly grabbed Xie Yutai’s arm, whispering: “When I count to three, take me away immediately.”
With that, she closed her eyes.
“One.”
Luo Hou pressed closer, a magnificent magic array expanding beneath his feet: “Still haven’t given up?”
“Two.”
The four disciples pressed their fingers to their brows, moving their feet in coordination with Luo Hou’s actions to lay down the array.
“Three!”
Qin Zhizhi opened her eyes instantly.
The chanting of Brahma and the golden wheel of myriad laws rose slowly from her eyes.
The Lomo Eye!