The tentacles of the large, withered tree were all severed, leaving it standing motionless in place.
Clear sap flowed from the stumps of the tentacles.
The pair approached the tree.
Qing Ruanning spoke first.
“It’s a good thing we reacted quickly. Most people would have died right here at the hands of this demon tree!”
A gap opened in the demon tree’s trunk as it pleaded in agony, “I was wrong! Please, spare my life! This lowly one failed to recognize your greatness. I beg you to let me go!”
Qing Ruanning pointed her sword at the immobile tree demon, her voice laced with fury.
“When you ambushed us, did you ever consider whether we would live or die?”
A Sun-Incinerating Fire Talisman appeared in her hand, intending to burn the tree demon to ashes.
Li Ze reached out a hand to stop her.
“Wait!”
“Xiao Nuo, kindness to the enemy is cruelty to oneself!”
Qing Ruanning said, seemingly misunderstanding the intent.
The young girl explained, “The clear liquid flowing from the tree demon can be used for alchemy. Don’t let it go to waste.”
She then took a white bottle from her storage bag and began collecting the fluid.
The tree demon could only watch helplessly as its own clear blood was siphoned into the bottle.
Qing Ruanning had thought Xiao Nuo was being soft-hearted, but she realized the girl was actually more ruthless than her.
Once the bottle was full, a fire talisman was released, and the tree demon was reduced to ash.
The commotion attracted the attention of some Yin Yang Sect disciples passing nearby.
Just as the girl and Qing Ruanning were about to leave, they were called out to by a man in the distance.
“Hey!”
(°ο°) : “Senior, it seems someone is calling us.”
“Hmm?”
The girl turned around.
At the head of the group was a handsome, black-robed man with an oval face, followed by three men in black and three women in white, totaling six people.
They were all from the same sect.
Li Ze had seen the leading man several times while at the Yin Yang Sect.
He was Cao Wei, the son of a Core Formation Realm elder from Falling Bamboo Peak.
He was at Level 10 of the Spirit Realm.
He was an arrogant man who enjoyed playing around with women.
“I am Cao Wei…”
Li Ze was in a hurry to find treasures and found being stopped to listen to his preaching incredibly annoying.
The girl’s tone was indifferent and cold.
“There’s no need to tell me who you are. If you have something to say, say it. If not, get lost!”
Cao Wei’s expression soured.
A lowly Level 7 actually dared to snap at him.
“To think she dares to speak to Senior Brother Cao like that. These two women are finished!” a black-robed man behind him mocked.
However, Cao Wei continued politely, “Princess Qing, may I be so bold as to invite you to join our team to search for treasures? That way, we can look out for each other.”
The people behind Cao Wei were all startled.
“Princess Qing? Could she be the daughter of the Joyous Peak Master, Qing Ruanning?”
Because Qing Ruanning kept a low profile and focused on her bitter cultivation, she usually wore the same clothes as ordinary disciples.
Consequently, many in the sect knew of her existence but had no idea what she looked like.
Li Ze pointed at Cao Wei and asked Qing Ruanning, “Is this a friend of yours?”
Qing Ruanning glanced at Cao Wei.
“No. Just the biological son of an elder.”
She then looked at Cao Wei and said in an unfriendly tone, “My Junior Sister and I are sufficient to search for treasures on our own. You should look for someone else to team up with.”
“Princess, you are only at Level 8 of the Spirit Realm. If you encounter disciples from the Azure Sword Sect with higher cultivation than yours… well, that would be unfortunate,” Cao Wei said.
“Besides, I am only thinking of your safety—”
Before he could finish, the young girl interrupted him.
“After all that talk, isn’t it just because you want to brown-nose Princess Qing and get close to her? A toad lusting after swan meat!”
Cao Wei’s voice no longer maintained its forced elegance; it carried a hint of insulted gloom.
“Princess Qing has a noble status, and I, Cao, invited her with sincerity and respect. As for you…”
His gaze crawled over the girl’s cold face like a venomous snake.
“A mere Level 7 of the Spirit Realm, relying on a bit of cleverness and beauty to act so presumptuously? It seems you’ve been spoiled in the sect and don’t know the heights of the heavens!”
“Senior Brother Cao!”
Qing Ruanning’s voice turned cold with a warning edge.
“Xiao Nuo is my Junior Sister. Please show some respect.”
“Respect?”
Cao Wei sneered, his eyes a mix of greed and malice.
He stepped forward until he was right in front of them.
“Princess Qing, the secret realm is dangerous. You are spread thin and weak. Following us is the safest option. As for this Junior Sister… if she’s willing to be obedient, I might find a place for her.”
The girl’s voice was icy.
“Are you deaf, or do you just not understand human speech? Princess Qing does not want to team up with you. Do you not understand?”
The subordinate behind Cao Wei couldn’t take it anymore.
A mere Level 7 piece of trash was actually speaking so arrogantly.
“You bitch, how dare you speak to our Senior Brother like that!”
The black-robed disciple raised his hand, intending to slap the girl’s face.
Slash!
A severed arm hit the ground!
“Agh! AAAARGH!!”
The disciple looked at the girl with eyes full of disbelief and terror.
“You… you…”
Qing Ruanning’s expression shifted.
“You dared to try and lay a hand on Xiao Nuo? You’re looking for death!”
Immediately, Qing Ruanning swung her longsword, aiming straight for the black-robed disciple’s throat.
A disciple behind him acted quickly, pulling the black-robed man back and narrowly dodging the fatal blow.
Qing Ruanning looked at Li Ze with worry.
“Xiao Nuo, are you alright?”
“I’m fine.”
The atmosphere turned awkward.
Cao Wei had originally wanted to curry favor with Qing Ruanning, but now they had become enemies.
However, given her status, if he truly enraged her, things would not go well for him back at the sect.
He couldn’t afford to do anything too out of line.
“Princess, it was my failure to discipline my subordinate properly. This is my fault.”
Cao Wei pulled out a bottle of medicinal pills.
“These are pills that assist in breaking through from the Spirit Realm to the Dao Realm. Consider them my apology!”
Li Ze took the white bottle.
“Good stuff. Thanks.”
Cao Wei and Li Ze locked eyes intensely.
Then, Cao Wei feigned a respectful bow.
“Princess, I have other matters to attend to. We shall take our leave!”
With that, Cao Wei led his people away.
Qing Ruanning only let out a sigh of relief once Cao Wei’s group had disappeared into the depths of the glowing vines.
She turned to Xiao Nuo, the worry still present in her eyes.
“Xiao Nuo, you were too impulsive just now. Cao Wei’s father is a Core Formation Realm elder; he has significant influence in the sect…”
The girl sheathed her Azure Sword, its tip still dripping with the black-robed disciple’s blood.
“You almost killed him yourself. Weren’t you also impulsive?”
“That was because I was worried about you!”
The girl’s voice was indifferent.
“In a secret realm, strength is the only logic. If he dares to be insolent again, I don’t mind making sure he stays here forever.”
Qing Ruanning froze.
Looking at her Junior Sister’s cold profile and the decisive killing intent in her eyes, her heart skipped a beat.
Was this really the Level 7 Junior Sister she knew?
“Let’s go.”
Li Ze turned around, her white dress brushing over the withered leaves on the ground.
Qing Ruanning quickly followed.
Only the severed arm remained on the ground.
…
The two passed through a forest of bioluminescent mushrooms, and the ground beneath them gradually became damp.
A faint, refreshing fragrance filled the air, and the spiritual energy grew denser the further they walked.
Suddenly, the path opened up.
A turquoise pool lay quietly in the center of the valley, the water so clear the bottom was visible, covered in green pebbles.
In the center of the pool, a cyan lotus bloomed quietly.
Its petals looked as if they were carved from jade, and a speck of golden light flickered at the center of the flower.
It was the rare, once-in-a-millennium Cyan Lotus!
“It really is a Cyan Lotus!” Qing Ruanning said in surprise.
“Legends say that consuming it can help a Spirit Realm cultivator break through to the Dao Realm!”
Li Ze, however, frowned slightly.
The Cyan Lotus was so precious; how could there be no guardian beast?
As Qing Ruanning moved to pick the lotus, the pool water suddenly churned.
A massive, green-scaled serpent erupted from the water.
Its body was as thick as a water bucket, and a fleshy lump sat atop its head.
It was a Level 3 Dao Realm Cyan Flood Dragon!
“Get back!”
Li Ze shielded Qing Ruanning behind her, and the Azure Sword cleared its scabbard.
A malicious light flickered in the dragon’s eyes as it spat out a jet of water at lightning speed.
Li Ze dodged to the side, the water jet grazing her shoulder and soaking her white clothes instantly.
The dragon took the opportunity to lunge, its massive tail sweeping across.
Li Ze executed the Lingbo Microsteps, her figure becoming like smoke as she leaped and thrust her sword toward the dragon’s seven-inch mark.
The dragon then began to condense a mass of green light in its mouth, firing it at the girl.
Li Ze knew that was the dragon’s innate venom.
If hit, a Spirit Realm cultivator would be reduced to a pool of bloody water in an instant.
She was forced to retreat.
Above the valley, a man dressed in pure white had arrived at some unknown point.
Li Quan stared fixedly at the girl’s back.
‘You’re actually here!’