According to the rules of the Experience Conference, the immortals within the sect only escort their disciples to the designated location and then let them enter on their own to undergo their trials, without interfering further.
As the saying goes, “Fate governs life and death; fortune determines wealth and honor.”
Allowing disciples to grow rapidly in dangerous situations naturally means accepting the risk of losing some of them.
Under Xuanmo’s divine sense surveillance, Shangguan Yunzhu and Qingfeng were quickly heading toward their assigned area—the mountain where the Chifeng Grass grew.
It was considered one of the safer zones within Juezhang Forest.
Though neither dared to fly freely, their pace was not slow. They ran urgently, one after the other, speaking little. Even when vicious beasts attempted ambushes, the two easily dealt with them.
“As expected, the disciples from Zaohua Peak really make things easier.”
The viewpoint shifted to Zhuangyang and Baiyan.
Though their strength wasn’t as impressive as the previous pair, their coordination was excellent, and no fierce beasts along the way could threaten them.
“Nothing really happened, but I still feel a bit annoyed.”
Xuanmo curled her lips and shifted her gaze to Lu Qiancha…
Hmm? Where is he?
Her divine sense shifted—
Gone!
Was he swallowed whole by some vicious beast so quickly?
Xuanmo frowned deeply and immediately intensified her divine sense search.
No, it wasn’t that. Some method was shielding his divine sense. She could still sense the little guy’s aura to the north, moving at high speed, advancing—
…almost twice as fast as Shangguan Yunzhu and Qingfeng!
“Ahhh! I’m really amazed! A Nascent Soul Peak brat, still daring to charge headlong into the depths of the forest without a glance back! Flying so fast! When you come back, I’ll make sure to tear open your rear for your master’s sake!”
Xuanmo silently roared to the sky, then lightly touched Baiyan and Zhuangyang with her hand before flying off angrily toward Lu Qiancha’s direction.
“Catch that little guy and hand him over to Baiyan and the others!”
But moments later, Xuanmo arrived above Lu Qiancha, keeping pace with her and looking down for a while. Her frown deepened further.
This guy…
It seemed he was using an invisibility talisman to hide his aura and avoid detection by nearby beasts.
Moreover, Lu Qiancha was traveling with the Cloud Sea Wandering Dragon Step, her movements erratic and elusive. Even a Convergence Realm beast would find it hard to launch an accurate attack.
Also, the gourd hanging from her waist…
Xuanmo’s divine sense scanned briefly—inside was a single drop of Dragon Blood…
With the pressure emanating from that, it was no wonder beasts dared not approach, nor that Lu Qiancha dared to rush forward so recklessly.
Xuanmo raised an eyebrow and muttered, “This little guy has made quite a lot of preparations. I wonder what kind of herb he’s after?”
A rough voice sounded behind her: “Immortal, why not go down and ask?”
“The bird can’t stay in its cage forever. Let her go.” Xuanmo stretched lazily, glancing at the Shigong behind her. “Let’s go check on your princess. Don’t say I, as the Aunt, am showing favoritism.”
Shigong immediately nodded eagerly, his expression fitting that of a loyal bodyguard.
However, as Xuanmo flew off, a gray beetle flew out from beneath Shigong’s feet and tightly followed Lu Qiancha’s figure.
***
“Yo, little Qiancha, you’ve been spotted.”
Canxin’s voice emerged slowly, carrying a hint of schadenfreude.
“Hm?”
Lu Qiancha looked up toward the sky. As she dashed forward, she indeed felt eyes watching her from above but could not pinpoint the exact location.
Is that the Aunt?
Probably not. This gaze carried hostility.
Trust but verify, Lu Qiancha took out a Magical Artifact from her storage ring.
“Yin-Yang Transmutation.”
She formed hand seals, and the Scheming Rubik rapidly rotated and reassembled. Soon, it transformed into a small azure pearl.
Lu Qiancha infused spiritual power into it, and in a moment, the pearl emitted a burst of purple smoke and vanished on the spot.
Moments later, Lu Qiancha’s figure reappeared out of thin air in a patch of grass some fifty miles away.
“This Fabao is quite interesting—able to transform into the appearance of other magical artifacts.”
Canxin’s curiosity suddenly peaked, and she asked, “What’s the name of this pearl and the cube artifact?”
“The azure pearl is called the Ender Pearl, and the Fabao is the Scheming Rubik.”
Lu Qiancha answered silently in her mind and looked around.
The feeling of being watched had vanished, allowing her to relax slightly.
At this moment, the cube had returned to its original form, the side marked with the Ender Pearl now dull and lifeless.
Still, Lu Qiancha felt a headache coming on.
That Shigong who appeared out of nowhere…
The seemingly friendly Qingfeng…
The cold but likely straightforward Shangguan Yunzhu…
The princess, the worldly royal power…
She was definitely caught up in some bizarre mess.
“Really unlucky.”
Lu Qiancha cursed silently. She only came to gather herbs and ended up with so much trouble.
“Grand Dao of Three Pure Ones above, let Karma not touch me; all evil retreat!”
With a sharp shout, Lu Qiancha steadied herself and continued moving forward.
But soon, that inexplicable sensation of being watched returned to her mind.
“That person is really persistent.”
Canxin chuckled softly before saying, “If you can’t solve it, just call for Lady Canxin.”
Ignoring Canxin, Lu Qiancha kept sweeping her spiritual sense around, eyes constantly alert.
Yet, for a long time, she only felt monitored but encountered no ambush or sneak attacks.
Two days and nights of high tension passed, during which she used the Ender Pearl several times. Still, the feeling of being tailed persisted.
Lu Qiancha calculated her position. By now, she had already ventured deep into Juezhang Forest, likely beyond the range of Xuanmo Aunt’s divine sense.
She dared not rest for a moment but, thanks to medicinal supplements, felt no fatigue.
Suddenly…
Killing intent?
Lu Qiancha frowned slightly. Her spiritual sense detected no threat.
Clearly, the other party had some means to avoid spiritual sense detection.
Lu Qiancha pressed forward at high speed, while the Scheming Rubik in her hand slowly reassembled, just one twist away from forming a complete pattern.
Should she escape?
She quickly rejected the idea. The opponent clearly had some tracking method.
Fleeing would not shake off the pursuit.
Just as she made up her mind, a sword howl pierced from the side.
A cold gleam, three parts faster than the sword howl, slashed straight at Lu Qiancha’s neck!
At the critical moment, the Scheming Rubik clenched tightly in her fingers exploded with dazzling light! Countless tiny facets seemed to come alive, rotating, interlocking, and transforming at a dizzying speed!
The buzzing drowned out the sword howl! A bizarre spear formed suddenly, its shaft covered in mysterious spiral patterns, half red and half yellow.
The red resembled a bloodied sunset; the yellow like golden desert sand. The spear stood exactly between Lu Qiancha and the deadly cold gleam!
Clang—!!!
The piercing metallic clash tore through the air! The violent shockwave instantly cleared decayed wood and gravel in a circle!
Lu Qiancha’s vital energy surged wildly as she staggered back a step. Her wrist throbbed painfully, the tiger’s mouth of her hand faintly cracked.
But the spear formed by the magical cube remained firm, its light holding off the attacker’s blade steadily, not allowing an inch of progress!
Almost simultaneously, about a yard behind Lu Qiancha, an unremarkable wisp of green smoke twisted and writhed like a living thing, instantly condensing!
A figure wearing a wide bamboo hat and tattered gray robes appeared abruptly. The hat was pulled low, shadows covering most of his face.
He maintained his sword strike stance, while his other hand hidden in his sleeve formed a subtle hand seal.
“Was that a mistake?” came a hoarse, low voice from beneath the hat. A corner of the front curtain was lifted slightly by the gust, revealing a pale, gaunt face with a mocking, cold smile.
“So what if it was?” The gray-robed man’s voice carried calm confidence.
“A mere Nascent Soul junior able to block my ‘Shadow Snake Bone-Devouring Slash’ must be completely spent, right?” Before the words finished, the killing intent surged again!