That ethereal figure silently swept past.
A moment later, a strange surge of power rippled out from Zhu Yan’s body, accompanied by a piercing, explosive roar.
Su Yanqing’s expression changed drastically: “Get down! The vicious beast is about to explode!”
Boom…
After a world-shaking blast, the vicious beast Zhu Yan, now fully materialized into solid form, was torn to pieces by the tremendous force and vanished into the void.
The magnificent Grand Hall was instantly reduced to ash.
Even the pile of bronze fragments at the center of the hall was blasted into dust.
Fortunately, at the critical moment, Helian Chuxue… still clinging to a sliver of strength… erected a barrier that shielded everyone.
The surviving demonic cultivators on the field had long since been obliterated, blown to bits.
Su Yanqing stared in astonishment at the bizarre scene before her, her voice hoarse with disbelief: “Just like that… we won?”
Suddenly, an ominous premonition rose in her heart.
Sure enough, a voice she dreaded to hear reached Su Yanqing’s ears: “Found you, little fox.”
She turned and saw a handsome, breathtaking face come into view.
That signature snow-white hair, those long, upswept eyes, that peerless beauty almost too enchanting to be human.
Who else could it be?
None other than the beautiful, strong, and tragic villain whom Su Yanqing had slapped twice across the face… Xie Qingxuan.
If time could flow backward, she would never have acted so impulsively over a moment’s anger.
Just look… Xie Qingxuan had felled Zhu Yan with a single light palm strike, instantly reversing the tide of battle.
What goes around comes around.
Su Yanqing paused briefly, then sighed softly. “Senior Xie, long time no see.”
At these words, the entire hall fell deathly silent.
Such a powerful and stunning male cultivator had actually come for their Little Junior Sister?
Helian Chuxue seemed to recognize the newcomer’s identity, and a flicker of panic crossed his eyes.
Murong Yi also recognized the man as the powerful cultivator from the cave, his fists clenching tightly.
Mu Yunci remained silent, utterly ashamed of his own helplessness.
Jing Sanhuai, however, had instantly grasped the situation and wore the expression of someone enjoying a good show.
Yueli stared fixedly at Su Yanqing, her eyes and heart filled with nothing but the girl, her cheeks flushing faintly pink.
Only Bai Xiaoru… severely wounded, collapsed on the ground, bleeding without stop… glared with eyes reddened by hatred:
Why! It was Su Yanqing again, stealing her thunder!
Clearly, it was thanks to her compass that everyone had found the demonic cultivators’ lair.
Yet no one was grateful to her… everyone only cared about Su Yanqing!
Just because Su Yanqing had received Master’s true teachings and killed the demonic cultivator with ease!
Even the mighty cultivator who had rushed to the rescue had come for Su Yanqing!
How could that wretch’s fate be so good!
Still shaken, Su Yanqing smiled sweetly at Xie Qingxuan: “I have no way to repay your life-saving grace. Could you do us the kindness of first sending us back to the Wuji Sect? My father will surely repay your benevolence.”
In short… a stalling tactic!
“You’re a bold one. Aren’t you afraid I’ll hold you accountable for what happened before?” Xie Qingxuan’s gaze was exceedingly dangerous.
“Senior Xie, I was the one who erased your sea of awareness mark. If you wish to hold someone accountable, I am willing to bear it alone.”
“Qingqing is still young. Whatever she has done wrong, it is my fault as her Master.” Helian Chuxue stood before Su Yanqing without a trace of fear, speaking up in her defense.
But Xie Qingxuan said nothing more, continuing to question Su Yanqing: “Who is your father?”
Su Yanqing paused, then answered honestly: “Su Xiaofeng, sect master of the Wuji Sect.”
“Hmm, the sect master’s daughter… a weighty identity. This will require some discussion.”
“Very well. I had business at the Wuji Sect anyway, so I’ll escort you there.”
Xie Qingxuan snapped his fingers, and a magnificent flying spirit boat suddenly appeared in midair. “Board the ship. We should reach the Wuji Sect in about a day.”
In the end, the more seriously injured members of the group boarded Senior Xie’s luxurious spirit boat.
Helian Chuxue, Jing Sanhuai, and the others returned together to the inn in Black Cloud Town, gathered the remaining disciples, and followed close behind.
Bai Xiaoru was kept under Jing Sanhuai’s strict watch and could not sneak onto Senior Xie’s spirit boat.
Instead, Yueli… who had always been something of an invisible presence… took advantage of the distraction to secretly move into the room next to Su Yanqing’s.
But it was on this very night that Yueli came to deeply understand Su Yanqing’s troubles.
Night fell.
Silver moonlight poured down, and the evening breeze accompanied the moving boat.
Bathed in moonlight, the luxurious spirit boat was inlaid with countless spirit stones and treasures, dazzling to the eye.
Yueli was the first guest to knock on Su Yanqing’s door.
“Junior Sister Su, may I come in?”
“Please do.”
Su Yanqing opened the door with a brilliant smile.
Yueli was a little nervous. From the very first moment she had seen Su Yanqing’s true face, she had found her so warm, so adorable.
When she had been unconscious, this gentle, thoughtful person had cared for her.
At the moment of life and death, she had reached out to save her from peril.
How could such a kind, lovely little fairy not be likable?
“May I ask… why did you end up with Bai Xiaoru, hunted by demonic cultivators?”
Su Yanqing asked bluntly.
Yueli recalled that terrifying experience, and fear surfaced on her pretty little face. She sobbed softly: “When I was unconscious, I could still sense things. After you and Senior Brother Jing left, I was a bit scared. But after a while, Bai Xiaoru shook me awake.”
“And then? Why didn’t you return to Black Cloud Town?” Su Yanqing took out a silk handkerchief and asked with concern.
Yueli accepted the handkerchief and wiped her tears. It carried a fresh, faint fragrance. “Bai Xiaoru said you were in danger and asked me to help rescue you.”
“I thought something had happened to you, so I followed without a second thought. But halfway there, we ran into a powerful demonic cultivator who wanted to refine us into vengeful spirits.”
“When Bai Xiaoru saw she couldn’t win, she shoved me and ran. But the demonic cultivator was too strong… Bai Xiaoru had barely escaped for a moment before she was subdued in two or three moves.”
Su Yanqing: “Then the demonic cultivator brought you both to find me?”
Yueli nodded. “Mm. Actually, I wanted to expose her crimes, but I had no evidence, and I’m from the Hehuan Sect…”
“What’s wrong with the Hehuan Sect! Is dual cultivation any lowlier than sword cultivation? Senior Sister Yueli, you have no reason to belittle yourself. You can come back to the sect with me and explain everything. My father will surely punish her severely.” Su Yanqing spoke with righteous indignation, her soft little hand gripping the other’s tightly.
It was roughly as she had guessed.
Bai Xiaoru had most likely dragged Yueli down as a scapegoat just to claim credit.
Yueli blushed, quietly tucked away the handkerchief, and handed over a jade slip and a jade token. “In any case, I must thank you all for this. Otherwise, I very likely would have become a wronged soul on that Hundred Ghosts Banner.”
“This is my Hehuan Sect’s cultivation manual. If Junior Sister Su doesn’t mind, please accept it for future need. And this jade token… you can use it to send me a voice transmission at any time.”
Su Yanqing didn’t know whether to accept or not.
A dual cultivation manual…
She was a vicious female supporting character, a lone star of ill omen, with no official love interest. What would she even do with this?
But seeing the beauty smile like a blooming epiphyllum, she was unwilling to refuse the other’s goodwill. She awkwardly accepted them and murmured her thanks: “But I mainly cultivate the sword, so I probably won’t have much use for it.”
Yueli’s pretty little face suddenly flushed bright red, as if she had thought of something. “Junior Sister Su, don’t… don’t overthink it. This dual cultivation doesn’t require men and women to engage in such matters.”
“Even two female cultivators, as long as their spiritual energy is compatible, can exchange through their sea of awareness or blood to complement each other and jointly improve their cultivation.”
“For example, you have an ice spiritual root and I have a fire spiritual root. We could exchange spiritual energy…”
“What you’re describing… is that palm-to-palm cultivation, transferring power?” Su Yanqing was astonished. Wasn’t that a plot device from wuxia novels?
Had the cultivation world… evolved to be so pure now?
It seemed she was the ignorant one.
“One method of spiritual energy exchange is indeed the palm-to-palm posture. The Hehuan Sect is entirely female cultivators, and not everyone can find a male cultivator to their liking.”
“So it was improved into this cultivation method. I didn’t expect Junior Sister Su to be so well-informed and already know of it.” Yueli was naturally stunning, and with her crescent-moon smile, her beauty only deepened.
Su Yanqing felt a little shy under that gaze and instinctively lowered her eyes to avoid the other’s look.
Just as the friendship between the two was steadily rising…
Tonight’s second uninvited guest gently knocked on the door.
“Little Six, are you asleep?”