“Think you can get the Dijiang Guyu just by following me? Dream on! Unless you’re faster than me!”

A voice filled with contempt, almost provocative, emerged from the stone disc.

Hearing this, Jian Chou frowned slightly.

Xiao Diao sat on her shoulder, constantly licking a silver spoon with her tongue, as if savoring some delicacy. Upon hearing those words, it found time amidst its busy eating to roll its eyes, clearly showing disdain.

Noticing Xiao Diao’s behavior, Jian Chou couldn’t help but smile.

Looking back at the stone disc, the light representing Gu Qingmei, after hesitating for so long, finally burst forward unexpectedly.

Just as Gu Qingmei herself had said—

Fast!

As if using all her strength, fast!

After hesitating for so long, had she finally made her decision?

It seemed that even if it meant risking having the Guyu stolen by others, she would rely on her speed and knowledge of this third level to take a gamble.

If no one were faster than her, then everything would be fine.

But…

Would there be no one?

Jian Chou formed hand seals directly, and a battle disc rose, brilliant with light!

Her left thumb and ring finger moved inward together. As soon as they touched, surging spiritual power would rush from her body, pouring into Ghost Axe—

However, at that very moment, Jian Chou frowned.

She suddenly thought of a question.

If she were Gu Qingmei, facing this dilemma of advancing or retreating, how would she choose?

Should she go, or not go?

Divine light flickered, and in Jian Chou’s eyes was deep contemplation.

She tried hard to recall Gu Qingmei’s previous flight path, but realized she hadn’t paid attention earlier and couldn’t determine whether Gu Qingmei’s current direction deviated from before.

A tiny error could lead to a massive deviation.

Could Gu Qingmei be leading them in circles?

No, even if she was leading them in circles, so what?

Since Jian Chou no longer remembered the original route, following Gu Qingmei was the only choice.

Her eyes turned, and Jian Chou’s left thumb and ring finger finally touched together!

Boom!

Almost torrential spiritual power instantly surged from every part of Jian Chou’s body, blood, flesh, and meridians!

Ghost Axe spun faster, and Jian Chou transformed into a beam of light, pursuing.

Almost simultaneously with her departure, Liao Kong and another person behind also changed direction.

This time, as before, Gu Qingmei was in front, with three people chasing after her!

Three wolves pursuing one rabbit?

This phrase suddenly popped into her mind, and Jian Chou couldn’t help but smile.

Her gaze fell on the stone disc, where several beams of light moved rapidly across it.

Gu Qingmei’s speed was indeed very fast.

Her harsh words weren’t without substance.

Jian Chou had to admit she could back up those harsh words.

Plains and rivers on the ground changed one after another, piece by piece.

They gradually grew distant in their pursuit.

The sound of breaking wind was loud, and within the stone disc, everyone else remained silent.

It seemed everyone shared the same thought.

“Snap.”

“Snap.”

…

What had been only the sound of wind suddenly gave way to faint collision sounds within the stone disc.

Like someone tapping stones against something.

This sound was strange.

Jian Chou glanced and saw it came from Gu Qingmei’s direction.

What was she doing?

Jian Chou frowned tightly.

Gu Qingmei, still racing forward at high speed, showed no reduction in velocity.

She didn’t yet know that these faint sounds had transmitted through the stone disc.

At this moment, she rode her flying sword like a beam of light, speeding toward some unknown direction, while her left hand held an array disc with many grooves designed for placing Spirit Stones.

In Gu Qingmei’s right hand, she clutched several Spirit Stones, placing them precisely into the slots.

“Seventy-ninth, Kun position one hundred thirty-eight; eightieth, Qian position forty-two; eighty-first, Kun position one.”

From the communication spirit pearl came Xie Buchen’s unhurried voice came.

As if nothing in the world could move him.

“Mountains collapsing before him without changing expression” would perfectly describe him.

Gu Qingmei listened tensely, almost with complete concentration, while placing the Spirit Stones.

Snap.

One stone.

Snap.

Two stones.

Snap.

Three stones.

Done!

White jade-like Spirit Stones were embedded in the array disc, like stars shining in the galaxy.

When cultivators set up arrays during combat, they often spent considerable time. To save time and gain an advantage in battle, someone invented array discs. Cultivators could pre-arrange Spirit Stones on specially crafted array discs, laying out formations.

When needed in battle, they could simply throw the array disc, which would immediately explode, releasing the pre-arranged formation.

This method allowed cultivators to deploy a formation in an extremely short time during combat, with considerable power.

However, array disc materials were rare. Gu Qingmei only had two, and these discs originally contained only simple, small formations of little use. Moreover, cultivators proficient in formations were scarce in Shijiu Zhou.

Like Gu Qingmei, even following Xie Buchen’s instructions to place eighty-one medium-grade Spirit Stones along with a Thunder Spirit Pearl as the array’s eye, she couldn’t identify what this formation did or its power.

Fortunately, Gu Qingmei didn’t need to know.

After all, Senior Brother Xie wouldn’t harm her.

At this moment, they were fighting side by side as martial siblings!

Realizing this, Gu Qingmei felt an indescribable thrill, as if all the blood in her body boiled with this recognition.

Her breathing became unsteady, and when looking at the stone disc, that irrepressible smugness spread out.

Xie Buchen was the foremost among those below the Golden Core, yet no one in the Killing Red Small Realm could surpass him.

Compared to Xie Buchen, compared to Kunwu, they were all mere ants!

How dare mere ants compete with her?

Gu Qingmei managed to speak calmly to the communication spirit pearl: “Senior Brother, it’s complete.”

On the stone disc, three beams of light pursued relentlessly, and Gu Qingmei’s speed never slowed.

That dazzling green light suddenly began to decelerate at a certain moment. Gu Qingmei only laughed contemptuously: “Weren’t you capable? Keep chasing!”

At this moment, the killing disc would be useless.

After reaching “A City of Azure,” it would be up to individual ability!

Not as fast as me? Then follow behind!

Just as Gu Qingmei was about to increase her speed further, Xie Buchen’s response came through the communication spirit pearl.

“Now change course and head to where the Dijiang Guyu is located.”

Still calm, still composed.

However, his words left Gu Qingmei confused.

“Why? Didn’t we already change course once before?”

Initially, Xie Buchen had her slightly alter course, so Gu Qingmei’s current path didn’t lead to the mountain where the Dijiang Guyu was located. Now Xie Buchen wanted her to go to that mountain—wouldn’t this lead everyone there?

Gu Qingmei couldn’t help but ask.

“When you changed course last time, no one noticed, so they still followed you. If Junior Sister changes again, normal people would think this time you’re misleading them. If everyone abandons you and heads in the previous direction, Junior Sister can escape danger and obtain the Dijiang Guyu effortlessly.”

The calm voice entered her mind through the communication spirit pearl.

Gu Qingmei was stunned—indeed, this was true.

Xie Buchen continued: “If they still follow, Junior Sister needs only travel a distance and then stop. They can’t see Junior Sister but will know where she stopped, suspecting the Guyu is there. Simply place the array disc at that moment to catch them all in one net. Junior Sister cannot attack others, nor can others attack Junior Sister, but Junior Sister can influence things within the Killing Red Small Realm to trigger attacks. Other things might not work, but formations definitely can. Then Junior Sister can easily obtain the Dijiang Guyu. And incidentally… settle a score.”

“Senior Brother, you’re wonderful!”

Gu Qingmei’s eyes lit up with excitement!

She had long found that green light irritating, with resentment stuck in her chest for ages. But she couldn’t cause substantial harm to her opponent, forcing her to suppress this anger.

Now, though she didn’t know what Xie Buchen’s formation did, since he said so, why wouldn’t she believe?

Wielding the killing disc?

From the beginning, disrupting her plans, then interfering throughout the trials, refusing to give her any face. Even now, pursuing her relentlessly!

One incident after another, each one fueling Gu Qingmei’s hatred.

Since childhood at Kunwu, she had been like a precious pearl—when had she ever suffered such indignities?

Thinking this anger would finally be released, Gu Qingmei became somewhat impatient.

Following Xie Buchen’s plan, Gu Qingmei changed direction without hesitation or warning.

“You want to follow? I’ll let you follow to your heart’s content!”

At this moment, the three people following her were stunned.

Jian Chou, having heard those strange “snap snap” collision sounds earlier, had instinctively reduced her speed somewhat.

If it were just one or two sounds, that would be fine, but the sounds from Gu Qingmei’s direction continued for a while, sometimes high, sometimes low, sometimes completely inaudible, making it unclear if it was coincidental.

Jian Chou roughly counted about thirty to fifty sounds.

Was Gu Qingmei doing something?

Or had something broken?

Or were they just sounds from her surroundings?

Jian Chou couldn’t predict at all.

However, if Gu Qingmei was racing madly while doing something else, the situation became subtle.

If she were Gu Qingmei, she definitely wouldn’t willingly lead others and put herself in danger. So, at minimum, she’d lead everyone in circles, then find ways during this process to eliminate people, removing the threat before retrieving the Dijiang Guyu.

Just like…

Catching leeches.

Leeches—Jian Chou had also heard village farmers call them horse leeches—often active in rice fields, they would burrow into human flesh and coil in blood vessels to suck blood, extremely terrifying.

So every year, before farm work, the village organized villagers to catch leeches first.

Everyone would make blood porridge, place it in bamboo cages, and put these in rice fields at night.

Once the bloody scent spread, leeches would smell it and crawl into the cages to feast.

The next day, farmers would walk along field ridges and lift the cages, finding them densely covered with leeches.

The farmers would quickly pile all the cages together and burn them with fierce fire, burning all these evil creatures to death.

Jian Chou still remembered when Xie Buchen first witnessed this scene in the village. He was reading a military strategy book, with fierce flames reflecting in his eyes.

He rolled up his book, clasped his hands behind his back, his eyes flickering uncertainly, and said: “In terms of military strategy, this is like ‘closing the door to catch thieves,’ but… perhaps comparing it to ‘inviting the gentleman into the trap’ would be more elegant.”

At that time, Jian Chou feared leeches most. Hearing him compare those black, small, variable-length creatures with suckers to “gentlemen” was both amusing and absurd.

The past scene flashed through her mind. Jian Chou thought she would be heartbroken, but Ghost Axe beneath her feet didn’t tremble at all, hovering steadily in mid-air…

She was very calm and quickly began thinking.

Gu Qingmei’s sudden direction change seemed like she could no longer tolerate their pursuit and wanted to lead them in circles.

Logically, Gu Qingmei had been heading straight for her target before, so the previous direction was correct. But Jian Chou suspected she had changed angles during her last stop, though this suspicion couldn’t be verified.

So now, should she choose the original direction or follow Gu Qingmei’s change?

This time, the one facing a difficult choice was Jian Chou.

She frowned for a long while, and finally made her decision. Ghost Axe restarted and flew out!

Meng Xizhou was also confused.

Which way to go?

A series of analyses flashed through Meng Xizhou’s mind: Gu Qingmei’s previous route had no deviation or changes. At that time, she didn’t know she’d face this tracking situation, so she must have headed straight for the target.

Following that line would provide a chance to encounter the Dijiang Guyu.

His eyes rolled, and Meng Xizhou thought: A true man doesn’t follow when he says he won’t—no big deal.

The long staff beneath his feet glowed and rotated continuously, clearly preparing to abandon following Gu Qingmei and head in the original direction.

However, at that moment, the green light on the stone disc that had also stopped finally moved!

Seeing this, Meng Xizhou was utterly dumbfounded!

What a joke—why was this senior’s choice different from his?

He was chasing after Gu Qingmei!

Finished, finished, completely confused.

Which way to go?

What was the senior thinking?

Meng Xizhou’s mouth gaped wide enough to fit an egg.

During his stunned moment, that green light had already chased far ahead, while another red light remained behind—this was Liao Kong, the young monk who had spoken earlier. Meng Xizhou figured he was also confused.

So the question arose: should he follow the senior or follow his thoughts?

In his mind, the scene of his fist smashing into the ice surface replayed.

At that moment, Meng Xizhou’s eyes burst with a strange light: How could a true man not follow such an imposing senior?!

Senior!

I’m coming!

With this thought settled, Meng Xizhou changed direction without hesitation, chasing directly after that green light, after Gu Qingmei!

At the very back, Liao Kong, who had remained motionless, was stunned.

Earlier, when everyone went to join the excitement chasing Gu Qingmei, Liao Kong thought since everyone was chasing, he should chase too—that shouldn’t be wrong. So he left that mountain shaped particularly like a pot.

But now, looking at Gu Qingmei’s current direction—

Wasn’t this exactly the mountain he had left earlier?

Liao Kong couldn’t help thinking that Buddha was right: “Turning back is reaching shore.” It seemed this side was indeed the shore.

So he should go to the “shore.”

Liao Kong, riding his alms bowl and adhering to the principle of “where everyone goes, this poor monk goes too,” also followed.

On the other side, witnessing everyone’s choices on the stone disc, Gu Qingmei was nearly furious to death!

How was none of them deceived?

What the hell!

Especially that last beam of light—wasn’t that Liao Kong?

Gu Qingmei said hatefully: “Damn baldy, you clearly said earlier you wouldn’t compete with me for the Dijiang Guyu!”

“Ah…”

Liao Kong was stunned.

Hearing Gu Qingmei’s “baldy,” he surprisingly didn’t get angry but explained peacefully: “Amitabha, Benefactor Gu misunderstands. This humble monk has absolutely no intention of competing with Benefactor Gu for the Dijiang Guyu, and this humble monk isn’t called ‘baldy’—this humble monk’s dharma name is Liao Kong—”

“What a lying damn baldy! How could this young lady believe you?!”

As if!

Gu Qingmei didn’t believe Liao Kong’s words.

Saying he didn’t want it with his mouth, but his actions followed those two lights in pursuit—just another sanctimonious hypocrite!

Want to steal the Dijiang Guyu?

Come if you dare!

Gu Qingmei had worried they would all turn and run in the other direction, leaving her no chance for revenge.

But now…

Looking down at the array disc in her hand, Gu Qingmei smiled and transmitted to Xie Buchen: “They all followed, undecieved. It seems they’ll disappoint Senior Brother Xie’s mercy.”

“…” Xie Buchen was silent for a moment before saying, “I merely wanted fewer disputes and to avoid putting Junior Sister in danger. This formation is the Earth-Binding Array I recently calculated—it borrows Earth’s power through formations to suppress those within, with tremendous might and considerable danger, risking creating killing karma. But since they’re too clever and tactless, let Junior Sister be happy.”

Tremendous might?

Risking killing karma?

At this moment, Gu Qingmei’s eyes completely lit up.

On the stone disc, those three beams of light all approached her direction.

Ahead, not far away, was that strangely shaped high mountain!

And behind, not far away…

Space.

Gu Qingmei saw no one but knew all three were behind her.

Continuing forward without stopping.

Since she could already see that mountain, the others should be able to see it too.

At this moment, glancing at the stone disc, Gu Qingmei immediately felt all three had increased their speed considerably—

This mountain was where the Dijiang Guyu was located.

Presumably, they had all guessed.

Her lips slowly curved upward—Gu Qingmei wanted them to see!

Fight with her?

Look at what sect she came from, who stood behind her!

Meng Xizhou, seeing that mountain, understood everything and suddenly accelerated, about to charge forward!

Liao Kong, riding his alms bowl and originally closer to this place, now saw on the stone disc his light about to merge with Meng Xizhou’s.

And that unique green light was coincidentally also nearby!

What a heaven-sent opportunity!

There would never be such a good chance again!

At this moment, Gu Qingmei struck the long-prepared array disc down from high altitude without hesitation!

Please, gentlemen—

Enter the trap!

The array disc shot out, striking near the foot of the mountain!

Bang!

With the tremendous collision sound, the array disc had already shattered into countless fragments.

However, the formations carved on it began expanding madly outward from the ground at that instant. All spiritual energy in the third trial, “A City of Azure,” rushed frantically here, and spiritual energy from the earth veins gathered from all directions at a visible speed!

In the blink of an eye, the Earth-Binding Array was complete!

Meng Xizhou, being closest, bore the brunt. He immediately felt his body become thousands and thousands of pounds heavy, unable to fly in mid-air with his artifact. Like a mortal without cultivation, he fell straight from high altitude!

Thud!

Hitting the ground hard, despite his considerable physical resilience, Meng Xizhou spat several mouthfuls of blood.

He lay completely prone on the ground, like iron attracted by a powerful magnet, his arms supporting his body but unable to rise.

Earth-bound!

Not far away, Liao Kong only held out for an instant before immediately falling, the tremendous weight forcing him to spit two mouthfuls of blood. His monk robes were stained with blood, his face flushed red, unable to move even a finger!

What a terrifying formation!

What terrifying pressure!

When the entire formation operated, terrible humming sounds emerged!

Spiritual energy continued gathering from the surroundings!

Frenzied!

As spiritual energy gathered, pressure within the formation gradually increased!

“Ahhhhhh—”

Meng Xizhou couldn’t help but howl.

His body, which had been half-supported, seemed to have another thousand pounds added, sinking heavily toward the ground.

Crack, crack.

Bones in his body seemed to make breaking sounds!

The pressure was rising!

The formation wouldn’t stop!

At that moment, Meng Xizhou’s eyes turned red—

If this formation continued, he’d eventually be compressed into pulp!

What vicious, poisonous methods!

Liao Kong fared no better, lying face-down on the ground, worse off than Meng Xizhou, unable even to cry out.

“Hahahaha…”

Floating in the air, seeing her success, Gu Qingmei finally laughed heartily.

“This time, still dare oppose me, oppose my Kunwu, oppose my Senior Brother Xie?! This formation is my Senior Brother Xie’s handiwork—taste it, how does it feel? Hahahaha…”

Never had she felt so exhilarated.

Gu Qingmei reached out and grasped the stone disc floating before her.

She had only heard successive screams but couldn’t see the actual ground situation—the Killing Red Small Realm’s rules wouldn’t let her see.

But the stone disc could.

Looking at the stone disc, all three beams of light had stopped moving. Two red lights were close together, apparently nearby, when she activated the array disc, while the other green light was more distant but also motionless.

Ha…

Let you be arrogant!

Gu Qingmei felt extremely satisfied and said, “Weren’t you very capable, chasing after me? Now dare you move? Move! If you’re capable, move—”

Her words suddenly stopped abruptly!

Her gaze fell on the stone disc, staring fixedly at that position—

Where that green light was located.

Had she just seen wrong—that green light had moved slightly!

Impossible…

Gu Qingmei looked down at her feet. The formation’s coverage area was vast and automatically expanding as it absorbed spiritual energy.

Such a formation, Gu Qingmei saw for the first time.

Xie Buchen truly deserved to be Kunwu’s once-in-a-century genius…

But…

Why had it moved?

That green light had always been what Gu Qingmei most hated and feared.

She bit her teeth tightly, withdrew her gaze, and stared at the stone disc again!

No movement…

Everything earlier seemed like her illusion!

Gu Qingmei slowly forced herself to relax.

Since the people were trapped, they’d eventually be crushed to death by the gradually increasing pressure. Since Senior Brother Xie’s formation was already “extremely dangerous,” she needn’t worry.

The priority was still the Dijiang Guyu.

Gu Qingmei looked toward that tall, strange mountain shaped like a pot.

Her feet moved, and the flying sword headed forward again.

Gu Qingmei finally exhaled, but…

At that very moment!

“Wuwuwuwu!”

A joyful sound, almost mocking, suddenly emerged from the stone disc!

Throughout this journey in the Killing Red Small Realm, Gu Qingmei had heard this sound countless times!

This…

Gu Qingmei’s entire body stiffened, looking down at the stone disc again.

In her eyes was a world of stillness, with only one jade-colored beam of light, as if about to split the entire sky, effortlessly tracing an arc across the stone disc, seeming to bypass something, flying forward!

That person hadn’t been trapped!

At this moment, Gu Qingmei felt like someone had struck her head with an Earth-Binding Array—dizzy and disoriented!

How was this possible?!

She had calculated perfectly in that instant!

However, what made Gu Qingmei’s heart tremble even more was yet to come—

The opponent’s target was unmistakably clear: that mountain!

The Dijiang Guyu!