Even the Venerable doesn’t know? Linglong’s heart sank slightly, finding this answer hard to believe.
“Right now, all I know is that Hua Jian is safe. As for the others… I have no idea.”
The Saint of Wanhuagu’s intentions were still fairly clear; she wasn’t here to kill Hua Jian.
Rather, she was using some method to influence Hua Jian, making her walk the path she wanted.
This meant Hua Jian wouldn’t have any trouble for the time being.
Otherwise, what did the Saint come here for—just to go through the motions?
As she spoke, Fenghua Venerable took a step toward the Magic Mist, her fingers gently brushing the edge.
A phantom vine curled toward her but was blocked by her Soulforce.
After the first failed attempt, the indistinct vine in the mist tried twice more and, upon failing, retreated in annoyance.
Not particularly aggressive?
Fenghua Venerable stepped forward two more paces. The Magic Mist of the Illusory Dream Flower did not stop her, but another force blocked her path.
At her feet, a white bouquet seemed to come alive, transforming before her into barrier after barrier, impossible to pass.
Bai Hua Zun Zhe was stopping her from advancing further.
She punched the barrier hard, but it didn’t even tremble, making Fenghua Venerable click her tongue in surprise.
Earthbound Spirits lose their freedom of movement in exchange for nearly invincible fortress-like strength.
She was now within Bai Hua Zun Zhe’s domain, so it was normal that she couldn’t break this territory for a while.
Moreover… this level of reaction didn’t seem like Bai Hua Zun Zhe was actively stopping her. It was more like a kind of instinctive resistance.
It sensed a threat, so the body instinctively began to block the threat from approaching.
Even without Bai Hua Zun Zhe’s consciousness controlling them, these barriers still gave Fenghua Venerable quite a headache.
Smashing through would take a lot of effort.
But what could she do? She couldn’t just leave Hua Jian alone, could she?
……
Watching Fenghua Venerable disappear into the Magic Mist and hearing the rhythmic thudding from within, Linglong clutched her chest tightly, her heart in her throat.
She wanted to help, but going in now would only make her a burden.
If only there was some way she could help…
Swish… As she worried, a slightly cool breeze drifted from behind her, followed by the sound of swirling skirts.
“Linglong, are you troubled?”
Linglong was startled by the voice and instinctively drew her Ling Sword, slashing out.
The Ling Sword, wrapped in crackling lightning, struck toward the source of the voice—only to be caught easily between two snow-white fingers.
A white-haired, blue-eyed girl looked at Linglong innocently, her expression as if protesting her own grievance.
Shiqi hurriedly raised her sword at this stranger, but judging by how effortlessly Linglong’s attack was caught, this woman’s strength was likely terrifying.
“Why are you here?” Linglong recognized Qian Feixue but couldn’t understand why she would show up at such a coincidental moment.
Could the Qian Family also be involved in this matter?
Qian Feixue gently pressed down the blade she was holding, her smile as calm as ever.
To Linglong’s question, she gave a vague answer, “I smelled the scent of conspiracy, so I came to take a look. Didn’t expect such a commotion.”
Her gaze swept over Linglong’s head, looking at the sea of flowers shrouded in Magic Mist, eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Despite her always composed demeanor, she was more curious than anyone.
What in the world is going on here? Where did my new little sister go? What exactly happened?
So many questions she wanted to ask, but for the sake of her image, she could only pretend to be mysterious.
This was the self-cultivation of a charlatan.
“I have two Alchemy Pills here that might help you.” Qian Feixue released the Ling Sword, took out a small bottle from her storage pouch, and tossed it to Linglong.
“I thought one was for myself, but now it seems it belongs to someone else.”
Upon seeing Linglong and Shiqi, Qian Feixue realized these two pills were meant for them.
No accidents—she was just playing the role of a courier in this affair.
Before Linglong could ask, she proactively explained the pills’ effects: “These are Avoid Miasma Pills. They can block all sorts of miasma for a certain time. That Magic Mist is a kind of miasma. Take these and you can enter the mist safely.”
Linglong was confused. She had ordinary Avoid Miasma Pills too, but they had no effect on Hua Jian’s Illusory Dream Flower Mist.
Could Qian Feixue’s pills be far better than hers?
She uncorked the bottle, and a cool medicinal scent wafted out. Just smelling it cleared and calmed Linglong’s mind.
This was definitely no ordinary Avoid Miasma Pill!
“There are also some ingredients that calm the Soulforce. You’ll find them handy, right?” Qian Feixue shrugged. “Don’t ask how I prepared these. The Dragon Ancestor told me in a dream.”
The Dragon Ancestor? Linglong looked at the two pills in her hand with mixed feelings, took one and held it, and passed the other, with the bottle, to Shiqi.
Well, if you’ve brought out immortals, what’s left to say? I believe you.
“Did the Ancestor say anything else?”
“Nope.” Qian Feixue shook her head, still in the dark herself.
“Doesn’t sound convincing.” Shiqi couldn’t help but complain. “Are you sure this pill works?”
Facing Shiqi’s doubt, Qian Feixue instantly released her Ling Emperor–level pressure, sending Shiqi tumbling to the ground.
“Convinced now?” Qian Feixue huffed with arms crossed.
Even without the Dragon Ancestor, she was still a Ling Emperor, thank you.
Shiqi quickly nodded. Why didn’t you say you were a Ling Emperor earlier!
Linglong ignored their playful banter, didn’t hesitate, and popped the pill in her mouth, then bravely walked toward the flower sea shrouded in mist.
“Suck on it, don’t swallow!” Qian Feixue reminded from behind.
Linglong hummed through her nose in response. She knew how to use an Avoid Miasma Pill.
But Qian Feixue’s pill felt like holding an ice ball in her mouth, cold enough to almost numb her tongue.
The benefit was obvious: this chill also protected her Soulforce. When an invisible vine reached for her in the mist, Linglong only felt a slight dizziness before brushing it aside.
So this is what divine protection feels like? It’s quite reassuring.
Seeing Linglong bouncing around in the Magic Mist, Shiqi didn’t hesitate and took her pill, following Linglong into the mist.
She wasn’t looking for Hua Jian, but Bai Hua Zun Zhe—to get some answers.
Watching the two girls disappear into the mist, Qian Feixue sighed deeply. In the end, she still hadn’t learned anything.
Why couldn’t the Ancestor just be clear in her dreams? Was playing riddles supposed to be fun?
Qian Feixue, professional charlatan, started furiously criticizing her immortal ancestor in her heart.
After advancing some distance in the mist, Linglong spotted Fenghua Venerable struggling forward.
The flower sea was doing everything to stop Fenghua Venerable now; every step forward cost her tremendous effort.
When she saw Linglong bouncing around in the mist, her first reaction was she must be hallucinating from the mist.
But after Linglong’s wild gesturing, she understood why the two could move in the mist.
A member of the Qian Family delivered two pills so the girls could act freely in the Magic Mist? Sounds bizarre, but with that family name, maybe not so surprising.
Having an immortal ancestor who still cares for the mortal world is nice.
“You want to head deeper into the flower sea? Fine. I don’t think there are any other creatures here that can still move. When you get there, tell that Bai Hua to stop blocking me.”
Linglong and Shiqi had already entered, so Fenghua Venerable couldn’t send them out now.
Besides, she was stuck herself—might as well let them go scout ahead.
Linglong nodded hard, then walked with Shiqi deeper into the flower sea.
Perhaps they were just too weak, so the white flowers paid no attention to their approach. They simply walked and walked, soon reaching the place where the Blood Pool had been.
But the Blood Pool was utterly changed. The once-blood-filled pool was now bone dry, a gigantic plant rooted in the center, with its most striking feature being the enormous multicolored flower bud at the top.
Thump, thump. The bud quivered lightly, like a beating heart.
Even through layers of petals, Linglong could feel a powerful life force gestating inside the bud.
What’s going on? Where’s Hua Jian? Where’s the Treasure Pearl?
How had things changed so drastically after just a short while?
Pa! Pa!
Linglong was spacing out when a strange sound came from beside her foot.
Looking down, a slender multicolored vine poked up, whipping the air to draw her attention.
When she looked, the thin vine lashed her ankle, as if venting its displeasure.
This made Linglong uneasy. Could this vine be Hua Jian?
What happened next soon confirmed her worry. After slapping her foot, the vine climbed up Linglong’s calf to her upper body.
It circled her chest, then poked her forehead sharply.
‘Why did you come back?!’ Hua Jian’s voice sounded in Linglong’s mind.
With the pill in her mouth, Linglong could only mumble an explanation of what had happened.
After listening for a moment, Hua Jian told her just to speak in her mind—she could sense Linglong’s thoughts anyway.
At the same time, the vine on Linglong’s forehead split into two, like headphones, and reached into her ears.
Inside her ears, the vines divided into tiny tendrils, linking Hua Jian’s consciousness directly to Linglong’s.
‘Oh, so that’s how it is. So much has happened outside…’
After hearing everything, Hua Jian was at a loss for words.
She hadn’t expected her actions to cause such a stir, and had no idea her mist had engulfed the entire flower sea.
When someone focuses on something, they lose track of time—let alone when that someone wasn’t even human anymore.
‘How did you become like this?’
‘I don’t know. Maybe it’s the Illusory Dream Flower. Anyway, I’m helping Bai Hua Zun Zhe rebuild her body right now. It’ll take a few days to finish.’
Hua Jian wasn’t sure why she changed, only blaming the Illusory Dream Flower.
How could she have this plant form on her own? Must be because of merging with the Illusory Dream Flower!
‘Will you be able to turn back?’ Linglong asked worriedly.
If Hua Jian couldn’t turn back, that would be awful.
If Hua Jian had to stay this way until she reached the Spirit Lord realm to become human again, Linglong couldn’t accept it.
Her precious junior sister running off like this—who could stand it!
You know I can hear your thoughts, right?
Hua Jian gently reminded Linglong not to think such things. She could hear Linglong’s inner voice now.
But this made her feel more at ease about Linglong. The Dragon Girl really was a pure-hearted girl—she always treated Hua Jian as just a junior sister, which was good.
At least Hua Jian didn’t have to worry about Linglong suddenly having improper thoughts and pouncing on her.
Linglong coughed awkwardly, trying to suppress her stray thoughts.
No more daydreaming—she needed to focus on the issue at hand.
‘I think I’ll be able to change back. But for now, I’m helping the Venerable rebuild her body, so I can’t return to my original form.’
Hua Jian quickly skipped the awkward topic and discussed the current situation.
Bai Hua Zun Zhe was recreating a body by mimicking human birth, so she needed a mother-like environment.
If Hua Jian used her human form to create the body… um, as a sixteen-year-old maiden, was she supposed to greet Linglong with a big belly?