The two fell silent again, and Qu Weiyin subtly slowed her pace, no longer walking with the urgency she had before.
They quickly made their way along the mountain path, finally catching sight of the grand gate made of white jade, glistening and translucent after being washed by the rain. A few disciples waited there, some holding umbrellas, while others had cast water-repelling spells. The rain fell in torrents, creating small waterfalls above their heads.
Qu Weiyin stopped in her tracks and suddenly glanced at Luo Jinxiao, her gaze drifting down to her smooth, pale calves.
“Your attire is inappropriate,†Qu Weiyin frowned, then averted her eyes.
Luo Jinxiao looked down at herself. Her skirt was loosely tied around her thighs, and the hem of her pants was rolled up like a cylinder, leaving her looking rather unkempt. She scratched her head, shook her legs a few times, and tried to straighten out her pants.
Qu Weiyin seemed to have no desire to look at her anymore, keeping her gaze fixed on the distant mountains. After a short while, the originally foggy sky cleared up, the rain gradually lessening until it finally stopped.
As the heavy rain ceased, a rainbow appeared in the sky, arching like a colorful ribbon that crossed over the mountains in front of them, its destination unknown.
“Did you bring Qiongqi?†Qu Weiyin asked.
“Of course I did! It’s the perfect time for it to breathe in some fresh air,†Luo Jinxiao replied, pulling out a small tiger that was about the length of her arm from a pouch at her waist, cradling it as one would a large cat.
Qu Weiyin’s expression nearly faltered at the sight.
After seemingly struggling with herself for quite a while, she finally spoke, “You kept it in your pouch?â€
“Yes! There’s plenty of space in here, and it’s super convenient. I even threw in a quilt for it to sleep under,†Luo Jinxiao said with a laugh, reaching out to stroke Qiongqi’s fur. “Isn’t that right, Little Sweet?â€
Qiongqi let out a soft “Aow!†as it raised its fluffy head.
“I found out a few days ago that it can shrink and transform! Right now, it just folded its wings and turned into a little tiger, but later, it can transform into a small cat. It will be so cute when I take it out!†Luo Jinxiao spoke excitedly, rubbing the fur with increasing frequency as Qiongqi purred contentedly.
Qu Weiyin could barely contain her frustration, her fists tightening as she gritted her teeth. “Luo Jinxiao, it’s a fierce beast, not a pet!â€
Luo Jinxiao jumped back in surprise, taken aback by her tone.
“If you want it to assist you in the future, you must train it like a spiritual beast, not treat it like a household pet.â€
After saying this, Qu Weiyin let out a sigh, her demeanor softening. “Never mind; you’ll understand in due time.â€
Shaking her head, Qu Weiyin turned to walk away. At that moment, Chang Siyu also arrived, quickly rushing a few steps to catch up with her, and the two of them continued on together.
“Did you hear that? You’re a fierce beast,†Luo Jinxiao said, standing in place as she poked Qiongqi playfully.
Soon, everyone gathered to ensure safety. Qu Weiyin, Chang Siyu, and their master, Guijiu, accompanied them just in case. Chang Siyu blew a whistle, summoning a large gray Qilin, its body massive and its wings spreading wide like the canopy of a tree.
Everyone leaped onto the Qilin, with Luo Jinxiao and Lu Fanzhi standing at the back. She turned her head to see Qu Weiyin flying ahead on her sword, the striking crimson blade catching the eye. Qu Weiyin’s long hair flowed gracefully behind her, half of it dancing in the wind, while her snow-white robes fluttered gently, producing a rustling sound.
The golden sunlight cast a warm glow on her face, causing her beautiful phoenix eyes to narrow slightly, hinting at a relaxed, almost lazy demeanor.
Luo Jinxiao couldn’t help but gaze at her, marveling inwardly. A beauty like this, truly beyond compare, how could she end up as the Demon Lord?
It was like watching a flower from the highest branches wilt and fall into the dust.
At that moment, Chang Siyu, who had been trailing behind, suddenly darted out from somewhere, falling in step beside Qu Weiyin. He spoke animatedly, his head bowed as he chattered away, though Qu Weiyin seemed increasingly impatient while listening.
Chang Siyu continued rambling on, oblivious to her annoyance.
Since he always seemed to go against her, Luo Jinxiao thought it might be a good chance to teach him a lesson this time. With a playful spirit, she secretly released Qiongqi, whispering into its ear, “Little Sweet, go chase that guy away.â€
Perhaps because Luo Jinxiao often rewarded it with treats, Qiongqi now regarded her as its benefactor and obediently flapped its winged form. As soon as she finished speaking, it unfurled its miniature wings and flew towards Qu Weiyin, jamming itself between them and pushing Chang Siyu aside with little ceremony.
Chang Siyu frowned, about to reprimand the creature, but he was taken aback when he saw Qu Weiyin smiling at Qiongqi, reaching out to scoop the fluffy little tiger into her arms.
With her red lips curved in a smile, she looked truly radiant, as if blooming flowers were on display, breathtakingly beautiful.
Luo Jinxiao had never witnessed her smile so freely, causing her heart to flutter unexpectedly.
After about two hours, the Qilin finally landed. Despite the long journey, the group was filled with excitement, chattering away and hardly feeling tired.
As soon as Luo Jinxiao dismounted, she looked around, taking in her surroundings. This place was nothing more than a common patch of flat ground, devoid of even a blade of grass, with only some wilted shrubs that rolled across the ground when stirred by the wind.
This was supposedly the Celestial Realm, situated in this barren wasteland?
Everyone shared her confusion. Lu Fanzhi hopped up to take a look and said to Luo Jinxiao, “Could it be that the Qilin flew us to the wrong place? Have we taken a wrong turn?â€
Luo Jinxiao remained silent for a moment. She stepped forward, closed her eyes, and extended her spiritual energy. Once she opened her eyes, she asserted, “This is the place. There’s a barrier here. The Celestial Realm is an ancient site filled with all sorts of peculiarities. It must be within this barrier to prevent outsiders from entering.â€
Upon hearing this, Lu Fanzhi nodded, still bewildered.
“Step aside,†came Qu Weiyin’s voice from behind. Luo Jinxiao quickly moved to the side.
She watched as Qu Weiyin extended her hand, fingers splayed, raising it into the air. Pale golden spiritual energy emanated from her palm, gradually forming an arc. A thin membrane of air suddenly appeared in the atmosphere, shimmering gently in response to her energy.
“Guijiu, take them inside,†Qu Weiyin instructed softly.
Upon hearing this, Guijiu stepped forward, smiling as he said, “Once you enter the barrier, everyone must stick together; do not wander off, or it will be dangerous.â€
With that, he bent down and slipped through the opening that Qu Weiyin had created. Yan Ying, who was fearless, was the first to follow. The other disciples, brimming with curiosity, entered one after another until they vanished from sight.
“Jinxiao, I’m so nervous. What if there are ghosts inside?†Lu Fanzhi clutched Luo Jinxiao’s arm tightly, her voice quivering with fear. “I’m both anxious and excited now.â€
“Should cultivators really be afraid of ghosts? How will you exorcise demons in the future?†Luo Jinxiao endured the pain in her arm. “Your grip is really strong.â€
The moment the words left her mouth, she felt a chill run down her back and suddenly looked up to meet Qu Weiyin’s gaze—cold to the bone.
Aside from that, there was also a hint of sadness.
Luo Jinxiao was momentarily stunned, her words catching in her throat as she fell silent. Yet, she couldn’t help but feel puzzled; it seemed Qu Weiyin was angry, but she didn’t understand why.
Was it because she mentioned exorcising demons? But she wasn’t possessed, so why would she react so strongly to the term?
As the last to enter, Luo Jinxiao passed by Qu Weiyin, her heart pounding. Just as her foot stepped inside, Qu Weiyin let go of her hand and followed closely behind.
She hoped Qu Weiyin wouldn’t take out her frustration on her. Luo Jinxiao’s mind spun with random thoughts.
Fortunately, Qu Weiyin remained silent, following quietly without a word.
Once the barrier disappeared, they found themselves in a dark, oppressive forest, where a narrow, pitch-black path lay ahead. The ground felt sticky and unpleasant underfoot.
“Don’t look around; just keep up,†Chang Siyu, at the front of the group, said sternly. In this strange place, the others dared not to be curious; they kept their eyes fixed ahead, closely watching their steps, afraid of falling behind.
In her previous life, Luo Jinxiao had never been to the Celestial Realm and only heard of it by name, thinking it would be a holy place. But upon arriving, it felt more like stepping into a terrifying hell.
It would be better to rename it the Lower Realm.
In such a pitch-black environment, the person at the back should feel the most fear, Luo Jinxiao thought. She intended to glance back at Qu Weiyin, but before she could even turn halfway, someone grabbed her by the neck, yanking her back.
“Don’t look around. If something happens, I won’t save you,†Qu Weiyin snapped, her voice harsh.
What a grudge-holder, Luo Jinxiao thought, pouting as she lifted her gaze to the front. Among the group, someone else was behaving similarly, looking around in confusion. He was also a new disciple, but there was something oddly unfamiliar about him.
His walking posture was strange, with his limbs stiff; he didn’t resemble someone with healthy legs and feet but rather looked like a—
Puppet.
Luo Jinxiao’s eyes widened in shock as her heart raced. Instinctively, she turned to find Qu Weiyin, wanting to share what she had observed. But at that very moment, the ground beneath her suddenly gave way, and a rush of weightlessness overwhelmed her as she began to fall.
Everything happened too quickly for anyone to see clearly; within the blink of an eye, she was already half-submerged in the ground. Luo Jinxiao hastily raised her hand to summon her sword, but just then, a hand grabbed her waist, forcefully pulling her upward.
Pale golden spiritual energy enveloped her, lifting her into the air. Looking down, Luo Jinxiao realized she wasn’t the only one who had fallen; a massive hollow had appeared on the ground, seemingly drawing people in like a magnet.
However, it seemed she wasn’t the target of the hole; the center of the descent was right beneath Qu Weiyin’s feet.
“Master Uncle!†Luo Jinxiao cried out in panic, but Qu Weiyin had already vanished, the hollow slowly contracting beneath her.
Grinding her teeth, Luo Jinxiao turned to the person who had earlier resembled a puppet. Just as she thought, he had already disappeared, and the others ahead began to notice the anomaly, converging toward her direction.
Luo Jinxiao pivoted in place, clenching her fists tightly. It was undoubtedly Qu Weiyin who had just saved her from falling. If she stood by and did nothing in return, it would be a shame for a cultivator!
Without hesitation, she decided to act; taking advantage of the moment before the hole vanished entirely, she broke Qu Weiyin’s spiritual energy with a swift motion and dropped straight down, quickly disappearing into the abyss.
Screams echoed around her. Lu Fanzhi pushed through the crowd toward the hole, intending to follow, but Guijiu quickly grabbed her, scolding, “Lu Fanzhi, are you crazy?!â€
Lu Fanzhi was held back, her expression desperate. “Master, Jinxiao…â€
Before she could finish her sentence, a small figure suddenly darted out from somewhere and slid down the hole without a word.
“Senior Sister Luo Ning, when did she catch up?†Lu Fanzhi paused, staring in astonishment.
“Hey!†Yan Ying rushed forward to grab her, only to pull away a piece of light yellow clothing instead. Furious, she tossed it aside and shouted, “You’ve got to be kidding!â€
The hole was shrinking rapidly, now only large enough for one person, and Yan Ying bit her lip until it bled. Still, she pressed against the wall and leaped down.
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