“Senior Brother Gu, you guys… are actually still alive?!” Mo Xiaonian said in disbelief, her mouth agape for a long time, her eyes filled with astonishment.
In the face of a False Infant Realm evil artifact, even a Spirit Condensation Realm cultivator would struggle to find a sliver of hope for survival, let alone Senior Sister Yuexi, who was only at the Core Formation stage and burdened with a Foundation Establishment stage liability.
This was simply a miracle.
Gu Shenzhi tried to naturally let go of the beauty in his arms, pretending nothing had happened.
Noticing a shift in the other’s gaze, he quickly changed the topic, saying with a serious tone, “From the way Junior Sister Mo speaks, it sounds like you really want me to die.”
If Mo Xiaonian noticed the strange posture he and Yuexi had just been in, it would be a big problem.
Who knows, maybe one day this would inexplicably reach the ears of the Red Lotus Saintess.
At that point, he couldn’t exactly explain, “I was just trying to challenge my weaknesses, right?”
He’d definitely be chopped up and fed to the fish.
“No, I’m just happy for Senior Brother and Senior Sister,” Mo Xiaonian said weakly, tears welling up in her eyes.
Every time she thought about her cowardly escape, her heart was filled with unbearable regret.
Such cowardly behavior not only betrayed the sect but also disgraced the bloodline of the Muyun Mo family.
Seeing Mo Xiaonian’s crestfallen expression, Gu Shenzhi realized this was a good opportunity to strengthen their bond as fellow disciples.
He quickly stepped forward to wipe the tears from the corner of her eyes and gently patted her head.
But don’t misunderstand—Gu Shenzhi was only doing this to build a good relationship with the little rich girl from the Muyun Mo family, hoping to get some spirit stones.
As for her fair, slender, and charmingly rounded legs, he genuinely had no interest whatsoever.
“Junior Sister Mo, you don’t need to blame yourself too much. In that situation, anyone would be scared. Besides, Senior Sister Yuexi and I didn’t suffer any serious injuries.”
Hearing her senior brother’s words, the guilt in her heart lessened, though it didn’t fully dissipate.
Thinking carefully, aside from being lecherous, despicable, shameless, and a bit perverse, Senior Brother Gu was actually pretty decent.
“Thank you.”
Mo Xiaonian respectfully bowed and took out a light purple jade pendant from her storage pouch, handing it to him.
“Senior Brother, this is a gift for you. I hope you like it.”
The jade pendant was exquisitely crafted, made of high-quality materials, with a seven-story spirit tower carved on its surface, emitting a faint glow.
It was undoubtedly a valuable spirit treasure.
As an item personally worn by the direct daughter of the Mo family, it couldn’t possibly be cheap.
Gu Shenzhi took the jade, examining it closely before saying, “Junior Sister, you’re too generous. To give away a Mysterious Tier protective spirit treasure so casually—don’t you feel reluctant?”
Nearby, Yuexi’s beautiful eyes widened in surprise upon hearing this, but that surprise quickly turned into faint jealousy.
As the senior sister of Qingying Peak, she only had a Yellow Tier spirit treasure.
Yet Gu Shenzhi, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, had acquired two spirit treasures: first, the Earth Tier spirit sword [Falling Plum], and now this Mysterious Tier [Qiongta Purple Jade], a protective spirit treasure no less.
Why did the heavens, which should remain impartial, favor this lecherous, despicable beast so much?!
Mysterious Tier spirit treasures were already rare—even Nascent Soul cultivators might not possess one.
Moreover, this Qiongta Purple Jade was an especially precious protective spirit treasure.
Even when Gu Shenzhi was the true young master of the Spirit Sword Sect, he couldn’t have produced a third Mysterious Tier protective spirit treasure.
“The grace of saving my life—how could a mere piece of purple jade compare? Senior Brother Gu, you’re underestimating the magnanimity of my Muyun Mo family.”
Mo Xiaonian placed her hands on her hips, pouting with flushed cheeks, as if she thought Gu Shenzhi’s words insulted her family.
But her inner thoughts were far more complex than her outward expression.
Even as the direct daughter of the Mo family, Mo Xiaonian only had one protective spirit treasure like the [Qiongta Purple Jade].
But to avoid owing this foolish senior brother a favor, she chose to give it to him.
A drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring, let alone the grace of saving her life.
At seventeen, having reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, Mo Xiaonian was indeed a cultivation genius by ordinary standards.
But in the Muyun Mo family, she was merely mediocre.
To live and preserve her chastity as a tool for the Mo family’s marriage alliances was her predetermined fate from birth.
As for what Mo Xiaonian herself thought, the powerful figures in charge neither valued nor cared.
So she left that lonely, chilling place and joined the Moon Shadow Sect, determined to prove her worth to the Mo family and make those who once scorned her regret their shortsightedness.
“I really like this purple jade. No cultivator would ever complain about having too many life-saving measures. I just feel unworthy of accepting it.”
“What do you mean?” Mo Xiaonian tilted her head, asking in confusion.
“If I had defeated that False Infant Realm evil artifact single-handedly or stalled long enough to escape, I could rightfully claim to have saved Junior Sister’s life, and I’d accept this gift. But…”
At this point, Gu Shenzhi paused, slowly weaving a fabricated tale: “Right after Junior Sister left, people from the Spirit Sword Sect arrived. From what I know, it’s likely that a city deacon noticed something was wrong and reported it to the sect. Moreover, they came on an elder’s spirit boat, fully capable of dealing with the False Infant evil artifact. I just got lucky and managed to escape with Senior Sister Yuexi.”
“Is that really what happened?”
Yuexi narrowed her eyes, asking with suspicion.
The first time she heard it, something felt off, and now, hearing Gu Shenzhi repeat it, that sense of unease not only persisted but grew stronger.
Though she had no proof, Yuexi instinctively felt he was lying—absolutely lying.
Her sixth sense was usually quite accurate.
“Of course. Do you think I could single-handedly defeat a False Infant Realm evil artifact with one sword and come out unscathed? Do you take me for the Red Lotus Saintess? Even novels wouldn’t dare write such a thing!”
Though he spoke the truth, he was certain no one would believe it.
In such moments, the truth became the greatest lie.
When falsehood becomes truth, truth becomes falsehood—how could others tell the difference?
Even Gu Shenzhi himself was starting to lose track.
Faced with Gu Shenzhi’s righteous retort, Yuexi was momentarily speechless.
She wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words, visibly frustrated.
She desperately wanted a reason to contradict Gu Shenzhi, even if it was just for the sake of arguing.
When it came to dealing with this beast from the Spirit Sword Sect, the senior sister of Qingying Peak adhered to a principle of opposing the person, not the matter.
But Yuexi was truly at a loss. Upon reflection, a Foundation Establishment sword cultivator single-handedly defeating a False Infant evil artifact was utterly absurd from any angle.
She could have “slandered” Gu Shenzhi by accusing him of hiding his true cultivation and plotting to build a harem in the Moon Shadow Sect, playing the pig to eat the tiger.
But that would indirectly acknowledge that Gu Shenzhi had strength comparable to a Spirit Phoenix.
How, then, could she trick… er, persuade… Gu to leave the Red Lotus Saintess?
This was a matter of principle.
Truly worthy of a beast from the Spirit Sword Sect—not only despicable in character but also cunning in his methods.
Yuexi thought silently to herself, stubbornly saying, “Hmph, I don’t believe it anyway.”
Then she turned and entered the cave dwelling without looking back, her steps light, her slender legs graceful, with a few holes in her black stockings revealing fair, rosy skin, exuding an exquisite charm.
From Yuexi’s current appearance, she didn’t look at all like a woman who had suffered serious injuries.
If she had suffered anything, it would surely be so-called emotional wounds.