Fang Zhiluo furrowed her delicate brows slightly. Her full name was Fang Zhiluo, the chief disciple of the Jade Emblem Daoist of the Qingyun Sect, and the leading talent among the current generation of disciples.
The Qingyun Sect and the Tianyan Sect, which Zhong Qiu had mentioned, were both among the Four Great Sects of the Tianyuan Realm. The two sects had always maintained friendly relations, and in the past five centuries, they had solidified their bond through several marital alliances.
She and Xie Yunfan of the Sword Peak under the Tianyan Sect were both regarded as paragons of their generation. Thirty years ago, the two sects arranged the marriage between her and Xie Yunfan to seal the goodwill between them.
After the engagement, she and Xie Yunfan had only met privately twice. On other occasions when they encountered each other, they merely nodded and exchanged greetings.
As they were future spouses, and since Zhong Qiu had brought up Xie Yunfan, it felt improper to pretend not to have heard. Therefore, she stepped out of the defensive formation and inquired, “Has something happened?”
Xie Yunfan’s cultivation level surpassed hers, and furthermore, the harvest from training in the Phantasmal Mist Forest was limited. If nothing major had occurred, why would Xie Yunfan travel a thousand miles to this place?
Zhong Qiu tightly grasped his core-destined sword and stated angrily, “Martial Uncle Xie was severely wounded by two Azure Flood Dragons. The Peak Master requested the Elder of the Medicine Sect to intervene, and only then did Martial Uncle Xie avert disaster. How can we possibly not seek revenge for such a profound enmity?”
“Sect disciples have been searching for the escaped Azure Flood Dragons for over three months outside, but have failed to find any trace of them. Some time ago, we heard that a demonic cultivator used a lightning technique to kill the City Lord of Tianlan City. Martial Uncle Xie suspects that demonic cultivator is one of the Azure Flood Dragons and specifically dispatched us to track down that cultivator.”
Fang Zhiluo lowered her gaze in contemplation. The City Lord of Tianlan City had died at the hands of Yun Xiao. Could Yun Xiao be an Azure Flood Dragon?
When they first met, Yun Xiao’s cultivation was comparable to hers. Xie Yunfan was unrivaled among those of the same cultivation rank, so it was impossible for Yun Xiao to have injured Xie Yunfan.
She feared that Xie Yunfan was mistaken.
Xie Yunfan was an arrogant man and would likely not believe her one-sided explanation. Thus, she could only tell Yun Xiao to be extra vigilant.
Stopping her train of thought, Fang Zhiluo took out a bottle of high-grade Rejuvenation Pills and tossed it to Zhong Qiu, stating coldly, “Do as you wish.”
With that, she turned and returned to the formation, shifting her position back to the side of the cold pool.
After much deliberation, she still took out a Sound Transmission Talisman to inform Yun Xiao of Zhong Qiu’s words.
Unable to see Fang Zhiluo’s figure, one of the disciples could not help but whisper, “Regardless of the person, at least consider the relationship. Martial Aunt Fang holds too little regard for Little Martial Ancestor Xie.”
Zhong Qiu sharply rebuked him, “Silence! Martial Aunt Fang is cold by nature, and besides, didn’t she give us high-grade Rejuvenation Pills to heal our injuries when she saw we were hurt?”
“The injuries we have were all caused by her defensive formation, though.”
Zhong Qiu grew furious and directed his pressure at the speaking disciple, “We should be grateful that the one whose defensive formation we trespassed was Martial Aunt Fang. If it were anyone else, you would have already lost your life.”
The disciple, merely a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, was so oppressed by Zhong Qiu’s pressure that he could barely breathe. He pleaded, “Martial Uncle Zhong, calm your anger. I was wrong, I will never dare to again.”
Zhong Qiu withdrew his pressure, opened the high-grade Rejuvenation Pills given by Fang Zhiluo, distributed one to each of the other two disciples, took one himself, and then put the rest away.
As for the tactless disciple whose injuries had worsened, he deserved what he got.
Yun Xiao, located two hundred li (Chinese unit of length) away, had not only effortlessly slain the Sky-Swallowing Giant Wolf but had also found its cave-mansion and pocketed all the Storage Bags within.
Just as she was about to step out, she suddenly felt a subtle fluctuation of spiritual energy.
She carefully sensed it and found that it was seeping out from the stone wall directly behind her.
Resolved to find out the truth, Yun Xiao transformed a claw and forcefully smashed it against the stone wall.
It didn’t break open?
She had tested it earlier; even a several-hundred-pound stone could not withstand one of her claws, yet this stone wall was completely intact.
Perhaps there was something good behind this stone wall.
After smashing it more than ten times consecutively, the stone wall finally showed cracks.
A dense spiritual energy rushed towards her. Not wanting to benefit anyone else, she cast a spell to set up a small barrier to prevent the spiritual energy from leaking out.
Naturally, any good discovery had to be shared with Ah Luo. Yun Xiao took out the Sound Transmission Talisman carrying Ah Luo’s spiritual aura from her Storage Bag and saw Ah Luo’s message on it.
She quickly activated it, and Ah Luo’s voice came through.
“Xie Yunfan of the Tianyan Sect has mistaken you for the Azure Flood Dragon that seriously injured him. He will arrive at the Phantasmal Mist Forest three days from now. This person is unrivaled among those of the same cultivation rank; you are not his match.”
The joy of discovering the mystery was instantly washed away, replaced by panic.
Had Ah Luo discovered that she had lied to her?
As soon as this thought arose, she quickly dismissed it. If Ah Luo had truly discovered her deception, she would not have sent her a message.
Regaining her composure, Yun Xiao began to analyze why the male protagonist, Xie Yunfan, would target her.
After much thought, there was only one possibility: the matter of her using lightning to destroy the City Lord of Tianlan City had aroused Xie Yunfan’s suspicion.
Should she fight Xie Yunfan?
No. Xie Yunfan was unrivaled among those of the same cultivation rank. Her own cultivation had not yet reached the Soul Condensation Stage, which is equivalent to the Body Transformation Stage. If she were to truly face Xie Yunfan, putting aside her chances of winning, she feared that her whereabouts would be completely exposed, and she would then face pursuit from the Tianyan Sect.
Thinking of something, she retrieved a form-altering magic treasure from her spatial dimension, which she had pilfered from the Tianlan City Lord’s treasury. This magic treasure was of the highest quality; it could freely change her appearance and conceal her aura. It was simply the best aid for robbery and plunder.
Crucially, cultivators below the Void Refining Stage could not see through this magic treasure. As long as she wore it, she was not afraid of Xie Yunfan recognizing her.
Having settled on a plan, Yun Xiao sent a message to Ah Luo, asking her to come and join her in deciphering the secret.
Fang Zhiluo arrived quickly. Seeing the completely unfamiliar face before her, she instinctively formed hand seals.
Yun Xiao hastily spoke, “Ah Luo, it’s me. Didn’t you say that Xie Yunfan person was targeting me? I decided to change my face.”
She spun around in place and asked, “How is it? If I hadn’t voluntarily confessed, would you have recognized me?”
“I cannot sense your aura,” Fang Zhiluo realized something was amiss and stated with certainty, “You know Xie Yunfan.”
Yun Xiao looked disgusted, stating a mix of truth and falsehood, “I fought with that person before. He is arrogant, has too many romantic entanglements, and is not a good person.”
She didn’t blame herself for poisoning Ah Luo’s mind against him. It was simply that many talented female cultivators in the book had willingly entered Xie Yunfan’s “fish pond,” and she did not want Ah Luo to be deceived by that hypocrite.
Upon reflection, her alarm bells rang, and she pressed, “Are you and Xie Yunfan familiar with each other?”
“A nodding acquaintance,” Fang Zhiluo replied. With that, she walked forward, bent down, and passed through the small opening Yun Xiao had smashed.
Yun Xiao sighed in relief and followed closely behind Fang Zhiluo.
This was a bottomless cave, where the spiritual energy within was dense.
Generally, caves rich in spiritual energy are accompanied by natural treasures. Fang Zhiluo stepped back out and threw out a sixth-grade defensive formation and a fifth-grade isolation formation.
Thinking of the three formation plates in her spatial dimension, plus these two, Yun Xiao had a guess. Her eyes sparkling, she looked at Fang Zhiluo, “Ah Luo, are you a Formation Master? You have so many formation plates on you.”
Fang Zhiluo returned to the cave and answered, “I also cultivate the Dao of Formations. Fang Zhiluo is my full name.”
As she spoke, she was already walking toward the area with the densest spiritual energy.
She felt no guilt about concealing anything from Yun Xiao; she had merely refrained from telling Yun Xiao her full name.
“That name is truly beautiful,” Yun Xiao praised, her lips unconsciously curving upwards. Ah Luo had told her her full name; did this mean her relationship with Ah Luo had grown closer?
But why did that name sound somewhat familiar?
Casting the doubt aside, she quickened her steps to catch up.
The further they went inside, the heavier the spiritual energy became, tempting Yun Xiao with the idea of settling down right there.
Fang Zhiluo paused, staring vigilantly ahead.
Yun Xiao slowed her steps and stopped beside Fang Zhiluo, sensing a powerful aura in the shadows.
After waiting for half an hour, the creature hiding in the dark did not actively attack. She and Fang Zhiluo exchanged a look, then tentatively took a step forward.
It was safe.
Even so, neither Yun Xiao nor Fang Zhiluo dared to relax their vigilance.
Fifteen minutes later, a pool of water suddenly appeared in their line of sight.
In the water, several stalks of green lotus flowers grew. Judging by the scent and the color of the lotus, they were the supreme-grade spiritual herb, the Azure Lotus.
Legend has it that the supreme-grade Azure Lotus can be used to refine the eighth-grade Reconstitution Pill, which can help a cultivator recast their physical body.
This meant that as long as the Nascent Soul was not destroyed, consuming an eighth-grade Reconstitution Pill could grant a new body without needing to cultivate all the way to the Body Integration Stage.
Everyone desired an extra life. If others knew there was a supreme-grade Azure Lotus here, even cultivators at the Void Refining Stage would be alarmed.
Forcefully suppressing her excitement, Yun Xiao also raised her guard to the highest level.
Natural treasures are usually accompanied by a Guardian Beast, and the Guardian Beast of the Azure Lotus was the ninth-rank Giant Alligator.
A ninth-rank demonic beast is equivalent to a human cultivator at the Body Transformation Stage.
The aura she and Ah Luo had sensed earlier was likely that of the Giant Alligator.
Although she had some experience fighting Body Transformation Stage cultivators, one was merely a clone and the other was an evil cultivator whom her lightning specifically restrained. She had never actually fought a Body Transformation Stage demonic beast.
Should they retreat?
No. The supreme-grade Azure Lotus was an even rarer spiritual herb than the Nine-Turn Golden Lotus. Not only she, but even Ah Luo would be unwilling to give up just like this.
Since neither wanted to retreat, then they must fight.
Yun Xiao transmitted her voice to Fang Zhiluo, “I will hold off the Giant Alligator; you are responsible for harvesting.”
Fang Zhiluo nodded and cautioned, “Be careful.”
Yun Xiao flew to the air above the pool. Before her hand could even touch the Azure Lotus, she was attacked by the Giant Alligator that darted out of the darkness.
After more than twenty rounds, Yun Xiao had already sustained injuries (挂了彩) and knew that she was not the Giant Alligator’s match. She simply adopted a stalling strategy, consecutively throwing the mid-to-high-grade magic treasures she had ‘borrowed’ from the Tianlan City Lord’s treasury at the Giant Alligator.
Fang Zhiluo dared not delay. She came to the edge of the pool and, while the Giant Alligator was entangled with Yun Xiao, swiftly picked the five mature Azure Lotuses in the pool. The remaining, unripe one was left in the water.
The harvesting of the Azure Lotuses completely enraged the Giant Alligator. Even though Yun Xiao used every trick she had, she struggled to resist it.
She spat out a mouthful of clotted blood, tossed a high-grade spiritual herb into her mouth, and then proactively met the attack, rescuing the injured Fang Zhiluo from the Giant Alligator. She then stated, allowing no refusal, “Go!”