Half an hour ago
Envy.
Inside the Four Sages Academy camp, just after Dongfang Xiaotian and the other two had left, the Xuanwu Defensive Wandering Star Formation was already activated.
The Third Elder, Liu Bingchan, was no longer in her tent either. Instead, she was seated atop a boulder, meditating and regulating her breath.
As she watched Jiang Li pacing back and forth in front of her with a booklet in hand, constantly comparing it with other books, she couldn’t help but feel…
They all say children recover quickly.
Tushan Bingxian is a fox demon, so it’s understandable that her body is naturally stronger than ordinary people, but even this little disciple who only joined the sect half a year ago is…
Because Jiang Li had grown close to both Dongfang Xiaotian, the Senior Brother, and Tushan Bingxian, and his achievements in battle were also rather outstanding, she naturally knew about this young disciple.
Before they got separated, Liu Bingchan distinctly remembered that this boy had also suffered serious injuries, nearly losing all his blood.
Yet, while everyone else was gravely wounded—Liu Bingchan herself, as an Elder, had consumed several second-grade healing pills and still needed to sit here and regulate her breath—this kid was already wandering about freely, even breaking through from the eighth to the ninth layer of Qi Refining.
As the youngest late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator in Lingtian City, Liu Bingchan had once considered herself a genius.
But ever since Dongfang Xiaotian brought Jiang Li along, she realized what true talent really was.
Half a year ago, Jiang Li entered Four Sages Academy as the runner-up in the entrance exam.
Although he wasn’t as outrageous as Dongfang Xiaotian—who, upon entering, directly beat up the Outer Sect Senior Brother and seized his position—at that time, Jiang Li was only at the second layer of Qi Refining and could already thrash cultivators at the fourth layer.
Afterwards, his cultivation advanced rapidly over the next six months, never losing a single spar among the other disciples.
Now, while his cultivation wasn’t among the outer sect’s top ten, he was without a doubt already in that league.
Over these past six months, he even managed to outshine Dongfang Xiaotian, the boy whose secret of being unable to cultivate had been exposed.
Faced with such geniuses, Liu Bingchan felt her once self-proclaimed talent was truly laughable.
Liu Bingchan had high hopes for Jiang Li, but then Tushan Bingxian arrived, displaying even greater strength and methods no less than Dongfang Xiaotian’s, and with an even more impressive background.
Naturally, Tushan Bingxian became the hottest focus of the Four Sages Academy’s outer sect.
Moreover, Tushan Bingxian’s cultivation path was strikingly similar to Liu Bingchan’s—primarily spell arts, with sword cultivation as a supplement, both specializing in the ice element.
Their approaches were practically identical!
Wasn’t this fate telling her this was the perfect disciple?
So, wholly devoted to Tushan Bingxian, she’d actually neglected this other genius disciple.
Especially during this rescue mission for Tushan Bingxian, Jiang Li played a tremendous role—not only risking severe injury to slay several early Foundation Establishment cultivators, but also luring away a great number of evil cultivators, allowing her and Tushan Bingxian to barely escape.
Escape.
Later, after hearing Tushan Bingxian’s account, she learned it was Dongfang Xiaotian whom they encountered. He had given them a precious Earth Movement Talisman, which allowed the two to escape.
Looking at Jiang Li, whom she had overlooked, Liu Bingchan also recalled how she hadn’t paid much attention to Dongfang Xiaotian simply because he could not cultivate… In the end, it was her own ambition that had caused her to ignore these two loyal, devoted disciples.
Of course, it would be even better if Dongfang Xiaotian weren’t so contrary, never moving unless someone gave him a push.
Thinking about how Dongfang Xiaotian and Tushan Bingxian, who hadn’t even reached Foundation Establishment, were about to carry out a mission that even Foundation Establishment cultivators specialized in movement techniques would perish attempting, she felt a wave of guilt.
She had been too hasty in entering the Shen Dai Ruins this time. She only issued a notice and a command before leaving, without making thorough preparations—otherwise, she wouldn’t have ended up like this.
Watching Jiang Li, who was still craning his neck to look at his booklet, then at the camp, she beckoned him over.
“Jiang Li, come here.”
“What is it, Third Elder?”
Jiang Li closed his book and ran up to the rock where Third Elder sat. “Do you need something from your disciple?”
Looking at the sweet-faced youth before her, who looked more and more like some pampered young lady from a noble family, Liu Bingchan nodded, “Mm. I don’t think I’ve ever really instructed you in cultivation or immortal arts. I’m a Law Hall elder, yet I’ve neglected my duty. I hope you don’t mind.”
“It’s fine! Senior Brother says the Third Elder is a caring and excellent teacher!”
“He actually praised me like that?” Liu Bingchan was startled, feeling even more guilty.
Because Dongfang Xiaotian’s spiritual sea was ruined, she had no way to help, so she simply ignored the matter, never expecting Dongfang Xiaotian would think of her that way.
“Mhm.” Jiang Li nodded. “Does Third Elder have anything else? I want to study formations now.”
“Studying formations?”
Liu Bingchan glanced at the book in Jiang Li’s hand, its cover still pristine, with no title. She smiled, “I know a thing or two about formations. Let me teach you.”
“Okay.”
Jiang Li handed over the book without hesitation. Liu Bingchan was quite curious about the contents. As she opened it, a fresh fragrance of ink greeted her. The scent was unusual, very new.
Usually, quality formation manuals were ancient texts passed down for generations; the ink would have a special formulation, leaving behind a unique fragrance.
But regardless of the ink, as time passed, it was rare to find such a fresh scent. At least, it was hard to imagine a junior like Jiang Li at the Qi Refining stage could get his hands on something like this.
In other words, was this formation book freshly written?
With some doubts, Liu Bingchan flipped through the pages. The handwriting was elegant, the brushwork neat and flawless, and the fragrance made her feel relaxed and happy, but the content…
“At two-thirds of the Kun position, walk thirty steps to the left, dig downward…”
“At the Gen position, step back three, veer thirty degrees northeast for fifty meters, about here…”
Liu Bingchan found it all so simple and easy to understand, but there was no mention of any of the typical formation terms—heavenly stems and earthly branches, topography and timing, formation cores and magical implements—none of that.
Other than the fact that every sentence came with an illustration, and both the pictures and text were of high quality, after reading countless formation manuals over the years, Liu Bingchan simply couldn’t see how this book had anything to do with formations.
“Eh… Who gave you this book?”
“Senior Brother!”
“…When we get back, I’ll prepare a real formation book for you.”
Feeling a headache, Liu Bingchan handed the book back to Jiang Li, not expecting that even a veteran like Dongfang Xiaotian could get scammed buying a formation book.
And thinking of Dongfang Xiaotian, Liu Bingchan recalled his current mission.
“I wonder if they’re ready yet? It’s almost noon.”
While Liu Bingchan pondered, a few disciples arrived, bowing to her.
“Third Elder, we’re ready.”
The ones who arrived were the former Outer Sect Senior Brother, now Outer Sect Third Disciple, Fang Yu, along with several others who were to carry out the rescue mission together.
“Mm.”
Liu Bingchan didn’t think there was anything wrong with them leaving now.
After all, even Foundation Establishment cultivators had died—there was nothing wrong with making full preparations before setting out.
“Dongfang Xiaotian, Bingxian, and Miss Beichen? Aren’t they going with you?”
She looked at them and asked, “They’re not going with you?”
“Hmph, who knows?”
At this, Fang Yu’s younger cousin couldn’t help but mock, “Maybe Second Senior Sister is still trying to persuade Dongfang Xiaotian, that cowardly good-for-nothing, to leave the formation and run away.”
“Being a turtle hiding in his shell—that’s pretty much how he’s always been at the Four Sages Academy, hiding behind women or staying in his cave all day.”
Liu Bingchan sighed softly. It wasn’t that she had any particular issue with Dongfang Xiaotian; it’s just that this was indeed the impression he left on everyone.
Fang Tian’s words were a bit harsh, but it was certainly possible.
But now that Beichen Yue was basically tied to Dongfang Xiaotian because of the marriage contract, if he didn’t go, Beichen Yue probably wouldn’t go either.
So Liu Bingchan looked at Jiang Li, who was still waving his book around. “Jiang Li, come over here.”
“What is it, Third Elder?”
Jiang Li jogged over, looking very obedient.
“Your Senior Brother and Second Senior Sister, where are they?”
“They left to ask for reinforcements half an hour ago.”
Jiang Li said, “If you want to find Senior Brother, Third Elder, you’ll need to use a transmission talisman.”
“They left an hour ago?”
Liu Bingchan was surprised. Didn’t that mean they set out right after the meeting? They didn’t even make extra preparations for such a dangerous task?
Were they really so concerned for the safety of the Four Sages Academy? It seemed she had truly misjudged Dongfang Xiaotian.
The others also looked surprised; none of them had expected Dongfang Xiaotian to leave earlier than them, so eager to accept a near-suicidal mission.
For an instant, they actually felt Dongfang Xiaotian really did look like a Senior Brother should.
Liu Bingchan nodded and looked at the departing group, saying, “You all set out too, and stay safe.”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
“Yes!”
The group cupped their fists and turned to leave the formation.
But after just a few steps, the Xuanwu Defensive Wandering Star Formation suddenly activated. The Four Sages Academy camp was immediately enveloped by a green barrier with faint hexagonal patterns.
“Why did the Xuanwu Defensive Wandering Star Formation activate?!”
Liu Bingchan immediately sprang up from the boulder, scanning her surroundings—only to discover a large number of Xiao Sect disciples and a group of black-robed evil cultivators had appeared outside the formation.
They spread out around the Xuanwu Defensive Wandering Star Formation.
Thanks to the miasma, Liu Bingchan couldn’t estimate their exact numbers, but there were definitely not fewer than the five hundred people in their own camp!
Among the evil cultivators, a thin, slightly aged man walked forward. He gazed at those inside the formation with mocking eyes, finally fixing his gaze on Liu Bingchan’s graceful figure.
“Long time no see, Fairy Bingchan.”
Liu Bingchan’s willow brows drew together.
She drew her sword and pointed it outside the formation at the Xiao Sect’s Third Elder, cursing furiously, “Li Shihua! You dare collude with the Evil God Sect? Aren’t you afraid of divine retribution?!”
Only now did Liu Bingchan realize—all the distress messages she had sent, even the fastest messenger Li Moyan she’d dispatched for help—had failed.
So it turned out Xiao Sect had collaborated with the Evil God Sect!