“Finally, nothing’s wrong.”

That scene just now had Zuo Liu breaking out in a cold sweat, his heart nearly unable to take it.

Young Master Ruhua felt the same way. After glancing at Xie Buchen, he flew up casually saying: “Though we’ve only been apart for a short while, Fellow Daoist Jian Chou’s combat power seems to have increased yet again.”

They had seen Jian Chou’s “Red Sun Slash” before—it could be said this was Jian Chou’s most stunning move under the Dijiang Wind Thunder Wings.

Previously when they saw Jian Chou use it, there was still a slight awkwardness.

But just now, watching Jian Chou strike with her axe, it already had a smooth, flowing sensation, gradually becoming effortless.

This fellow daoist was becoming more and more formidable.

Young Master Ruhua’s smile deepened. As he spoke, he had already passed directly through the completely ruined formation, walking past Xie Buchen and quickly landing beside Jian Chou.

“Fellow Daoist Jian Chou, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.”

Jian Chou’s palm supported Lu Xiangleng’s neck, carefully setting her down.

Lu Xiangleng’s eyes were tightly closed at this moment, apparently having fainted.

She had been fine just moments ago.

Young Master Ruhua frowned upon seeing this: “What’s wrong?”

Zuo Liu and Xia Houshe quickly landed as well, gathering around Jian Chou: “This…”

“I’ve checked—nothing serious, just fainted from exhaustion.”

Jian Chou directly took out a snow-white pill from her sleeve’s qiankun bag, fed it to Lu Xiangleng, then reached out to examine her again.

The medicine’s power was already dissolving quickly in her body; she should recover soon.

Jian Chou’s heart settled, and she said to everyone: “No major problems. She supported herself all the way and was at the end of her strength. When I rescued her just now, she fainted. Her injuries aren’t serious, just spiritual power depletion. I’ve already given her a pill—she should recover soon.”

Lu Xiangleng’s face was deathly pale as she lay on this barely dry ground, eyes closed, unconscious.

Her ink-black hair spilled across the ground, somewhat disheveled.

Her originally moon-white robes were also stained with considerable mud—where was the medicine woman’s former glory?

Zuo Liu, who had just been saved by Lu Xiangleng, fell silent for a moment, wanting to say something but not knowing what to say.

After struggling internally for a while, he opened his mouth but still didn’t speak.

Without turning around, Jian Chou knew his heart must be quite complicated. She simply reached out, her fingertips slowly brushing away the mud from Lu Xiangleng’s robes, returning them to clean moon-white.

“We’ve traveled together as companions. Helping each other is normal. Your cultivation is minimal—Fellow Daoist Xiangleng saving you was appropriate.”

Zuo Liu originally had no sect or school. From the beginning, his cultivation came from randomly buying a broken manual, practicing the most common techniques across the lands of Shijiu Zhou, stumbling along all the way yet successfully achieving Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment.

In the Black Wind Cave, he had some fortunate encounters.

Shortly after leaving, he had incredible luck and miraculously formed his Golden Core, always feeling like he was dreaming.

No father, no mother, no sect, no school—no attachments in this world.

Suddenly having someone save him and gaining companions, Zuo Liu wasn’t very used to it, but hearing Jian Chou’s words, he felt warmth in his heart.

He couldn’t help but stubbornly mutter: “I didn’t say anything—how do you know what I’m thinking… I’m not particularly moved…”

Jian Chou turned to look at him.

Young Master Ruhua turned to look at him.

Xia Houshe also silently watched him.

So Zuo Liu smartly slapped his own mouth: “I was talking nonsense, I was being contrary, I know I was wrong!”

Only then did those watching him smile with amusement.

Strangely comical.

Jian Chou couldn’t help but laugh.

At this moment, Lu Xiangleng lay there while she crouched beside her. Young Master Ruhua, Xia Houshe, and Zuo Liu stood behind her in a semicircle, watching.

It seemed…

They were indeed a well-matched group.

Xie Buchen watched from afar, landing only after a while.

Jian Chou naturally saw him. The smile on her lips faded slightly as she said: “Fellow Daoist Xie has come over too. Now that Fellow Daoist Xiangleng is safe, we’ll rest here briefly and discuss the hidden realm’s situation.”

Xie Buchen nodded, having no objections.

Young Master Ruhua and the others weren’t clear on these two’s current relationship and didn’t want to interrupt, especially since what Jian Chou suggested was what they were thinking. They all found relatively dry spots to sit in a circle.

Jian Chou casually sat not far from Lu Xiangleng.

Young Master Ruhua wore that elegant, noble smile. He first laid fragrant flowers on the ground from who knows where, then sat down leisurely.

He turned to see Jian Chou looking at him with an indescribable expression and couldn’t help asking: “Would you like some too?”

“…Thank you for the kind offer.”

But no need.

Jian Chou sat cross-legged with her robe’s front panel draped over her knees, still bearing unknown bloodstains—some hers, some from opponents.

Zuo Liu considered, then hugged his jade folder and sat beside Jian Chou: “I’ll sit next to Senior Sister Jian Chou too—it feels safer.”

Xia Houshe silently sat beside Zuo Liu.

Only Xie Buchen remained standing somewhat apart.

Jian Chou glanced at him coolly, her voice quite flat: “Please sit as well, Fellow Daoist Xie.”

The ground had some dry grass, with the only remaining spot between Zuo Liu and Xia Houshe.

Xie Buchen slowly walked over, glanced at her, but didn’t speak much, also slowly sitting cross-legged.

His injuries were indeed severe, but that movement of lifting his robe hem to sit carried natural elegance.

Deep crisis couldn’t change his composure—even covered in wounds, he seemed to maintain his grace.

Just somewhat silent.

The disheveled Xie Buchen yet had the most indifferent expression.

Jian Chou suddenly felt this scene was quite ironic.

Whether on the isolated island or across the lands of Shijiu Zhou, Xie Buchen was a favored son of heaven most of the time.

The marquis manor was filled with gold and jade. As the third young master, when he traveled, people often called out before and behind him, with all affairs arranged by manor staff.

Even entering Shijiu Zhou, he was a direct disciple under the high and mighty Kunwu’s Master Hengxu.

Thinking carefully, the hardest days he’d lived were probably during the escape after the marquis manor’s fall, right?

She still remembered taking him quietly in a rented carriage to flee the capital.

That carriage was covered with dust—it was quite shabby, and the owner didn’t care for it, so it wasn’t clean.

After Jian Chou arranged everything outside and lifted the curtain, she saw the then-Third Young Master Xie looking at the thin layer of dust without speaking.

Jian Chou thought his status was precious, accustomed to fine clothes and food, unable to endure such conditions, so she moved to wipe the dust clean.

But he said heavily that it wasn’t necessary.

At that time, Xie Buchen, still called Xie Wuming, turned his head and for the first time in three days of gloom and depression, showed an indescribable smile.

It was heavy, carrying something unclear.

In the days that followed, Jian Chou never saw a pampered Xie Buchen.

On the contrary, he was even more enduring than ordinary people from the markets accustomed to hardship—no complaints, no curses, no dejection.

He became silent, paying attention to the details of the Xie Marquis Manor case, walking among those who daily discussed his whereabouts…

That was an endurance soaked in blood, madness brewing in suppression.

Jian Chou had seen him standing by the window gazing out on starless, moonless nights, saying nothing.

At such times, she would feel heartache, standing behind looking at him, then silently extinguishing the lamp, letting him stand alone, thinking.

A woman’s heart is always relatively soft.

Beyond love, there are always many other emotions, intertwined and mixed.

Thus, their feelings for a certain person would gradually intensify, becoming complex, difficult to distinguish, finally becoming inescapable bonds.

Meeting at the marquis manor was momentary attraction—spring snow, he elegant and wise, she plain and keen.

The journey of hiding identities and enduring hardships became unforgettable—silent companionship, mutual care and watching, her understanding, his forbearance and ambition.

Xie Buchen forced the formerly noble third young master to bury himself in the market’s mire, without three thousand drunken guests filling the halls, only a small courtyard with pine winds and simple food…

At that time, Jian Chou thought this was good enough.

Storms would come, but they hadn’t arrived yet.

Only no one could have imagined such a final outcome.

She had truly loved this person before her.

Those beautiful things of the past—Jian Chou never denied them and would never forget; the ugly things of now—she wouldn’t avoid them or let them rot and grow.

Perhaps thinking too deeply, Jian Chou was somewhat distracted.

When she came back to her senses, Young Master Ruhua had just begun speaking.

“…So when we entered, we encountered that Young Sect Master Song. I rather disliked this person—when righteous and evil meet, there’s always a battle.”

The paper fan painted with large red peonies covered his lips, making his innocent smile even more infuriating.

Zuo Liu nodded along, then sighed: “Unfortunately, he still escaped in the end…”

“Escaped?”

Hearing this, Jian Chou’s eyebrow lifted slightly as she recalled all the places she’d passed and her intentional arrangements.

Her smile deepened as she said coolly: “If he ran, then he ran. He’s quite pitiful…”

Pitiful?

Zuo Liu was greatly surprised, almost unable to resist asking why.

But as soon as he looked up and met Jian Chou’s gaze containing false compassion, somehow he shivered and a scene immediately flashed in his mind—

The starting point of the white jade road, the edge of the abyss, Jian Chou throwing her hand, six formation discs flying out!

The Seventy-Two Killing Chain Formation!

Damn!

Zuo Liu nearly choked on his own memory, staring at Jian Chou with wide eyes: “Senior Sister Jian Chou, you, you, you…”

“What about me?”

Jian Chou smiled somewhat innocently.

She had reasons for not pursuing Song Lin at the time.

Zuo Liu was heartbroken, heavily pounding his knee: “Human face, beast heart! Human face, beast heart!”

Hearing this, Jian Chou repeated her previous words: “You flatter me.”

No guilt in her heart, completely unconcerned.

The white jade road was the necessary path for everyone to exit the hidden realm. Jian Chou had arranged the vicious Seventy-Two Killing Chain Formation at that entrance!

They had steadily asked about Jian Chou’s intention then, and she had casually said it was for unexpected needs.

Who could have imagined how quickly her words would prove useful?

This damn thing was already in use!

Thinking of Song Lin before—how glorious, how arrogant, how pleased?

Heh heh…

Calculating the time, he’d probably already reached the road.

Zuo Liu felt chills in his heart, couldn’t help but light a mental white candle for this seemingly powerful Young Sect Master Song.

Brother, farewell!

When Jian Chou arranged the formation on the white jade road, everyone had seen it.

The only one unclear about this was Xie Buchen, but hearing everyone’s conversation now, he could guess Jian Chou had tampered with their route.

Why tamper with a perfectly good entrance to the hidden realm?

Who these preparations were for was self-evident.

Xie Buchen raised his eyes, just meeting Jian Chou’s gaze containing calm amusement.

Jian Chou ignored him.

She recounted everything she’d encountered since entering the hidden realm—most things in detail, her experiences inside, the spirit beasts she met, various accidents and doubts.

Only her trouble with Xie Buchen wasn’t included in the narrative.

Young Master Ruhua was already curious about the relationship between these two. Xie Buchen’s Human Emperor Sword was blatantly in Jian Chou’s hands, yet Jian Chou could boldly lie with open eyes, completely ignoring this matter.

Tsk…

He looked at Jian Chou with an ambiguous smile: “That’s it?”

Jian Chou also looked at him, composed: “That’s it.”

Fine then.

Young Master Ruhua had nothing more to say.

Nothing could be pried from Jian Chou’s lips. Seeing her return gaze carried a bit of coldness, Ruhua had no intention of provoking trouble and simply turned to ask Xie Buchen, unusually friendly: “Fellow Daoist Xie separated from us earliest and seems to have experienced quite an adventure?”

The atmosphere immediately became strange.

Jian Chou glanced at Ruhua, lowered her eyelids, and directly closed her eyes to regulate her breathing, showing no interest in the upcoming conversation.

Young Master Ruhua, having failed to provoke anyone, wasn’t very pleased.

However, he was quite curious about what Xie Buchen would say.

Xie Buchen wasn’t familiar with Young Master Ruhua and others, only sensing along the way that this was someone who feared the world wasn’t chaotic enough.

He spoke lightly: “After the painted wall incident, I crossed the dark river and accidentally encountered cultivators from the Shanyin Sect. I killed one on the white jade road, killed another who fell behind just before entering the Realm of Hesitation, disguised myself as him, and mixed in. Soon after leaving the Realm of Hesitation, I met the disguised Fellow Daoist Jian Chou. Not recognizing her immediately, there was a small misunderstanding.”

“That’s it too?”

Young Master Ruhua’s smile was beginning to crack, his teeth grinding.

Xie Buchen nodded slightly and said nothing more.

Young Master Ruhua’s expression became quite colorful.

Zuo Liu looked sympathetically while feeling inexplicably alarmed: this strange atmosphere…

Looking at the meditating Jian Chou, then at the contemplative Xie Buchen, he almost suspected these two would draw blades next—

No choice—the impression they’d given along the way was too terrifying!

Fingering his jade folder, Zuo Liu looked left and right, opened his mouth, then felt timid and afraid his words might disturb this terrifying atmosphere.

He shifted restlessly, showing considerable unease.

Jian Chou’s lowered eyelids opened, cool light pouring out. She looked at no one else, only Zuo Liu: “Does Fellow Daoist Zuo Liu have something?”

“Ah?”

Zuo Liu was startled, then realized he was uncertain whether to speak.

But…

Having finally figured this thing out, giving up would be truly unwilling.

Zuo Liu gritted his teeth, looking at Jian Chou: “There is something, but it’s quite presumptuous. I… I want to ask several fellow daoists to… lend me a drop of blood…”

“Blood?”

Jian Chou was immediately puzzled.

The others also found this request rather strange, not understanding.

Afraid they’d misunderstand him as practicing some evil technique, Zuo Liu quickly explained.

“Simply put, I’ve researched a method that can use a cultivator’s blood through a very unique magical artifact to connect to the cultivator’s abilities. For example, using a dao seal to launch an attack—that’s an ability.”

Everyone nodded.

Zuo Liu continued: “During those days at Kunwu, I secretly searched the scripture pavilion and found that ancient times truly had techniques that could use certain body parts of primordial or ancient demon beasts—bone marrow, blood—to deduce their innate dao seals for cultivator use. This jade folder was made by borrowing from the Essential Wheel of Ten Thousand Techniques required by those methods.”

This was impressive.

Hearing about innate dao seals and the Essential Wheel of Ten Thousand Techniques, Jian Chou became interested.

Originally, Jian Chou’s Dijiang Wind Thunder Wings were created by Fudao Shanren using the Essential Wheel of Ten Thousand Techniques.

Among those present, none were more familiar with this principle than her.

She asked curiously: “You don’t want to reverse-engineer dao seals, do you?”

“I don’t have that ability.”

Not to mention ancient methods were lost—even if Zuo Liu were a genius with the reverse-engineering techniques, he might not have the ability to cultivate them.

Zuo Liu chuckled, showing a cunning smile: “But I can use blood to create a cultivator’s avatar. If successful, this avatar could launch an attack the cultivator has practiced. So…”

“Easy to succeed? How powerful?”

There shouldn’t be such easy techniques in the world—practically getting something for nothing.

Jian Chou immediately saw problems, asking directly.

Zuo Liu immediately looked dejected: “I haven’t even finished bragging and Senior Sister Jian Chou already hit the nail on the head?”

“Speak.”

Jian Chou couldn’t help but find it amusing.

Zuo Liu had to confess honestly: “Success depends on luck. The higher the cultivator’s cultivation, the easier success becomes. Regarding the blood itself, body blood is worse than fingertip blood, fingertip blood worse than brow blood, and naturally heart blood is best. As for launching attacks, they’re all one-time use. Depending on cultivation and blood quality, power ranges from about ten to forty percent.”

Shocking!

This was impressive!

Young Master Ruhua smacked his lips twice, shaking his head: “Your ability is somewhat useless—who would give you two spoonfuls of heart blood?”

Zuo Liu naturally knew this wasn’t possible short-term, but it didn’t prevent him from fantasizing about the future.

“Hmph, what if? When the snipe and clam fight, the fisherman profits. Powerful cultivators won’t know I have this ability. When they fight in the future, I’ll collect blood below—they can’t very well beat me up, can they?”

“…”

So he was already planning how to scavenge at such places!

Everyone was instantly speechless!

Zuo Liu’s face showed a mysterious smile. Though he was a handsome young man, at this moment he exuded an utterly sleazy aura.

Jian Chou was simply amazed, images instantly flashing through her mind.

Powerful cultivators soaring through heaven and earth, fighting until mountains shook and the earth trembled.

With a single sword thrust, blood and flesh flew everywhere, truly captivating and impossible to ignore.

Below, however, was a sneaky fellow gripping his fists, his eyes gleaming with excited dark light.

“Fight, fight! Poke his eyes! Chop his arms! Yes! Aiya, that blade work is too inaccurate! Good, good, well fought!”

Then one would see a figure secretly busying itself on the ground, collecting all the blood falling from the sky, piece by piece…

…

Just thinking about it gave her a headache!

Jian Chou almost suspected this scene would become reality in the future. For a moment she didn’t dare think further and quickly raised her hand to her forehead, interrupting herself.

Actually, from another angle, though Zuo Liu seemed like a rogue, his focus was remarkable, always able to surprise people.

If not for these few days of interaction showing he was genuinely like this, without any trace of pretense, everyone would suspect this fellow was a master playing the pig to eat the tiger.

This “avatar” creation seemed to only have a fraction of the original cultivator’s attack power, but Zuo Liu’s words weren’t wrong—what if?

What if he really had incredible luck someday and got a drop of a powerful cultivator’s blood?

In a cultivator’s cultivation, reaching the later stages, crossing each level meant strength increases of multiple times or even dozens of times.

Even a Nascent Soul cultivator with only thirty percent strength remaining could easily defeat a Golden Core.

With sufficient “blood sources,” Zuo Liu would become a heaven-defying monster!

She steadied herself and spoke relatively calmly: “If you have this technique, it’s truly worth trying. I can’t give heart blood, but brow blood is acceptable.”

As she spoke, Jian Chou raised her hand under everyone’s surprised gazes.

Her slightly cool fingertip touched her brow, and a drop of bright red blood emerged, settling on her fingertip.

Jian Chou looked toward Zuo Liu.

Zuo Liu never expected such directness—giving as soon as asked!

He was stunned for a moment before quickly spreading out his jade folder, rapidly flipping to the page with Jian Chou’s name inscribed: “This jade folder was made by referencing the Essential Wheel of Ten Thousand Techniques seal from ancient texts. Senior Sister, just place the blood here.”

The jade folder was overall green, extremely smooth and warm.

But when Zuo Liu opened it, everyone could see countless crisscrossing lines on the jade folder, like interconnected rivers of various sizes.

With just one look, Jian Chou could indeed see some principles of the Essential Wheel of Ten Thousand Techniques.

She lightly flicked her finger, and the blood drop left her fingertip with a “drip,” landing precisely on the page inscribed with “Jian Chou.”

“Swish!”

The green jade immediately emitted a patch of dark purple light, and in the blink of an eye, countless golden runes spread from this drop of blood toward the entire jade folder!

Magnificent!

Even Jian Chou couldn’t help but be dazzled for a moment.

Then, that drop of blood dispersed into the surrounding runes, and after circulating once, actually gathered back together, condensing into a seal!

Golden-red in color with faint radiance, shaped like cloud and thunder.

Simple yet beautiful.

This should be successful?

Jian Chou looked toward Zuo Liu, but his entire expression was wrong, his breathing becoming rapid, with a hint of bewilderment.

“Who, who pinch me…”

It actually succeeded!

And in one go!

Simply unbelievable!

Zuo Liu felt an impulse to cry tears of joy: Damn it, when he tried with his own brow blood, he nearly became anemic from testing!

How was it that when it came to Senior Sister Jian Chou, this jade folder suddenly saw the light and became obedient?

Could there be differential treatment?!

He roared internally, still in a dazed state.

Jian Chou and others assumed he was excited about seeing the seal form and didn’t think much of it.

Young Master Ruhua flicked his fan: “Can you tell which of Fellow Daoist Jian Chou’s abilities this is?”

Zuo Liu came back to his senses but felt embarrassed, looking skyward: “Well… I can’t tell yet… That is, this technique, I just researched it. Cough, it should be possible in the future! You all need to have confidence in this rogue… ah no, in me.”

Young Master Ruhua immediately rolled his eyes.

Jian Chou also laughed, but comforted: “Being able to think of such a strange method is already quite impressive. As for this avatar seal, there’s no need to worry. Seals value refinement over quantity. I’ve only cultivated a few seals, so even if we can’t determine which one it is, it won’t be too different.”

All this was thanks to Fudao Shanren’s teachings.

The Scripture Pavilion always had many suitable seals, but Jian Chou never made do with inferior ones, so though her battle disc was large, it was rather empty.

Therefore, whatever ability Zuo Liu’s seal represented, it wouldn’t be too bad.

Hearing Jian Chou say this, Zuo Liu was absolutely delighted, repeatedly calling out “Thank you, Senior Sister” until even Jian Chou shook her head, and only then did he stop.

Next…

Zuo Liu slowly turned his head, rubbing his hands together, eyes gleaming as he boldly looked toward Young Master Ruhua.

With his usual sheepish laugh, he had a strange little shy hand-rubbing gesture: “Fellow Daoists…”

Fellow Daoists…

Fellow Daoists my ass!

This was clearly treating them as fat sheep, wanting their blood!

How could everyone not know Zuo Liu’s intentions?

For a moment, they were both angry and amused.

However, Zuo Liu’s technique was truly novel. Young Master Ruhua rarely didn’t calculate so much and directly gave a drop of blood, and even the expressionless Xia Houshe wiped out a drop.

Both drops of blood succeeded on the first try, but the flowing golden light in the condensed seals was slightly less than Jian Chou’s, appearing somewhat dimmer in comparison.

This was actually the difference in realm and strength.

Young Master Ruhua and Xia Houshe understood the principle immediately.

But this was expected. Jian Chou had been first in the Assembly, climbed the Solitary Platform, and was originally not weaker than them, not to mention her various amazing performances after entering the hidden realm.

The only one who couldn’t stay calm was actually Zuo Liu.

He was absolutely devastated: These two also succeeded on the first try! Jian Chou did, how come these two also did? Damn, this jade folder is really discriminating against people!!!

He was extremely depressed but couldn’t reveal his embarrassing near-anemia testing experience, so his expression became sour.

Three avatar seals were now collected.

The golden-red color paired with the jade folder didn’t feel vulgar at all, but rather quite brilliant.

Of the six companions who came out together, Zuo Liu’s own cultivation was minimal, truly not worth mentioning.

Of the remaining five, three had already given blood.

Lu Xiangleng wasn’t good at combat and was still lying unconscious—naturally one couldn’t go take blood from someone’s brow, that would be too unethical.

Zuo Liu understood this principle.

He pondered for a while, then glanced at Xie Buchen sitting beside them like an outsider—this one was too difficult.

He dared ask Xia Houshe for blood earlier because he could see this person wasn’t particularly bad in character.

This one though…

That was uncertain.

Besides, he and Senior Sister Jian Chou had some unclear relationship—it was really too risky.

Thinking this, Zuo Liu prepared to put away his jade folder.

Unexpectedly, just as his hand moved slightly, Jian Chou spoke.

“Fellow Daoist Xie.”

That familiar light voice gave Zuo Liu a frightening feeling at this moment.

He keenly sensed something and quickly looked up.

Jian Chou sat cross-legged in place, her entire being emanating a calm quality. She wore a smile, looking at Xie Buchen across from her.

Xie Buchen raised his eyes to look at her.

“Fellow Daoist Zuo Liu seeks to improve his strength and reduce our troubles. We travel the same path, supporting each other. Fellow Daoist Kunwu is even more benevolent, a model for our Central Domain.”

Jian Chou spoke as casually as discussing “nice weather today.”

“I presume a drop of blood isn’t a big problem?”

Her eyes were deep as a cold pool, with underground springs flowing beneath the ice.

He met her gaze, easily seeing the mockery hidden in those depths—mockery that hadn’t faded from her eyes since their reunion at Kunwu.

“You needn’t worry that I won’t give it.”

Xie Buchen said something ambiguous, then lowered his eyes. His fingertip touched the center of his brow between those two ridges, and with a light point, a blood drop was condensed by his finger and flicked toward Zuo Liu’s jade folder.

“Drip!”

The blood splattered into a small blood flower, instantly transforming into countless flowing red lines spreading across the entire jade folder.

The same magnificent scene had been displayed three times before—this was the fourth.

Jian Chou had a slight mocking smile on her lips, completely unconcerned with what Xie Buchen had said, calmly watching the jade folder.

“Pop!”

After circulating once, the avatar seal successfully condensed on the jade folder again.

Between the crimson red flowed unextinguished gold, like sunlight from heaven shining on it, particularly striking.

This avatar seal was nearly the same standard as Jian Chou’s.

It seemed…

His strength was indeed close to hers.

Jian Chou reached this unsurprising conclusion and smiled pleasantly: “Now Fellow Daoist Zuo Liu’s seals are complete. When we continue forward, we’ll have some assurance.”

“Let’s hope for good luck.”

Zuo Liu looked at Xie Buchen with an indescribable expression. Collecting this seal left him rather chilled, fearing Xie Buchen would suddenly jump up and slap him to death.

Fortunately, after observing for a while, the other party remained silent with lowered eyes.

Zuo Liu relaxed slightly and picked up the jade folder from the ground. Just as he was about to close it, unexpectedly, as soon as he flipped it, he was startled!

“Mother!”

The jade folder had been spread open on the ground. In his carelessness, when Zuo Liu picked it up and folded it, he saw a green-skinned mantis stuck to the front of the jade folder!

Its slender body carried a heaven-granted wickedness and ferocity.

Fan-shaped head, two long legs like wielded spears, extremely sinister.

When did this thing crawl up?

Zuo Liu was startled by this creature and, feeling humiliated, became somewhat angry from embarrassment. He reached out to grab the green mantis: “You little bastard, you even dare scare me! Believe it or not, I’ll crush you?!”

But he was just saying it—he didn’t really crush it to death.

Mantises were naturally fierce creatures, and their appearance often gave people a sinister feeling, chilling the heart, so they weren’t well-liked.

Jian Chou also disliked this creature.

Especially when remembering certain habits of mantises.

Mantises were cruel and aggressive by nature. As larvae, they would cannibalize their own kind due to hunger, and among adults, females eating males was common.

The “loving couples” people spoke of were completely non-existent among mantises.

—During mating, females would eat males out of hunger.

Everyone’s gaze fell on the small mantis.

Xie Buchen seemed disturbed by the cursing, lifted his eyelids, and looked at the mantis’s raised double “spears” in alert.

“Even daring to crawl on my jade folder, do you know who I am? Mantis, you think you’re so great! Ah!”

Zuo Liu continued cursing at the mantis.

Listening, Jian Chou suddenly tasted something in those words.

She looked at the mantis with an almost playful expression, smiling with a startling coldness that quickly disappeared. She suddenly asked: “Fellow Daoist Zuo Liu, you’ve never had a sect affiliation, right?”

“That’s right.”

Zuo Liu was puzzled, not knowing why Jian Chou asked this.

In his carelessness, the mantis actually jumped from his hands: “Hey!”

Jian Chou said: “Let it go.”

Zuo Liu had to abandon his thoughts of chasing that bastard and turned back to look at Jian Chou.

He had always been without sect or school, relying entirely on himself for cultivation—quite a peculiar case.

“I originally planned to find a sect to join after achieving fame and success, hehe…”

As he spoke, Zuo Liu’s smile suddenly became strange.

If a normal female cultivator were here, she’d probably slap him: this guy’s smile was too lewd!

Fortunately, it was only Jian Chou before him.

Having seen this rogue cultivator’s grand ambitions in the Black Wind Cave, Jian Chou knew what was turning in his mind without needing to think.

She smiled slightly: “Thinking of finding a sect to join, how do you find my Yashan?”

“…”

Holy shit?!!!

This was like thunder from clear skies, dropping millions of pounds of meat pies that buried him half to death!

Zuo Liu had originally wanted Jian Chou to help recommend a couple of reliable sects for him to join, never imagining Jian Chou would open with such explosive words!

How do you find my Yashan?

How do I find it?

How do I find it, my ass!

How could Yashan be described with just “good”? It was a Central Domain legend, okay!

Zuo Liu’s claws holding the jade folder were trembling slightly. He swallowed saliva for a long time, secretly bit his tongue tip, and accidentally bit too hard, nearly committing suicide.

Ouch, that hurt!

This wasn’t a dream!

“What’s wrong?”

Jian Chou thought she might have been too presumptuous. She had mentioned Zuo Liu’s matter to Qu Zhengfeng early on and quite appreciated this person.

She just hadn’t expected that shortly after, that “Junior Brother Qu” would break through to Nascent Soul, advance to Soul Separation, and even defect from Yashan, causing quite a stir.

Jian Chou felt nothing particular about it, just thinking Qu Zhengfeng would do fine wherever he was.

Later, she also mentioned Zuo Liu’s matter to Fudao Shanren and naturally received approval.

Though Yashan’s disciple selection was strict, a talent like Zuo Liu was certainly qualified.

She looked at Zuo Liu, considering: “If Fellow Daoist Zuo Liu finds it unsuitable…”

“No no no no!”

Zuo Liu was still dazed, but hearing Jian Chou’s words, he immediately snapped awake and shouted.

“Senior Sister Jian Chou, you already said it was good, how can you want to take it back!”

Jian Chou was stunned for a moment before realizing he wasn’t unwilling.

“I wasn’t thinking of taking it back—I thought you were unwilling.”

Hearing this, Zuo Liu felt like rolling his eyes.

Even Young Master Ruhua and Xia Houshe beside them had a moment of silence: Why did this Fellow Daoist Jian Chou always seem so pretentious? They really wanted to hit her!

What kind of place was Yashan?

How many cultivators under heaven could refuse an olive branch actively extended by Yashan?

Apart from Kunwu, what other sects could compete with Yashan?!

Relying on Yashan to issue an invitation, how could Zuo Liu possibly refuse?

Yet Jian Chou seemed completely unaware of Yashan’s attraction, simply…

Still wanted to hit her!

Perhaps sensing those almost piercing hot gazes from others, Jian Chou felt somewhat strange.

Actually, though she knew Yashan’s reputation was excellent, she hadn’t experienced that process of making pilgrimages to Yashan with everyone else, hoping to enter the sect.

She had been brought through the mountain gate by Fudao Shanren—from one perspective, this was both “fortunate” and “unfortunate.”

Jian Chou’s thoughts drifted back for a moment before returning.

She looked at Zuo Liu, smiled, and took out a Yashan token from her body, handing it to him: “Then you’re considered a Yashan disciple. However, regarding your master, we’ll need to decide after returning to the sect.”

A token, black, appearing quite ordinary.

Zuo Liu was still somewhat dizzy, taking the token without carefully considering the meaning in Jian Chou’s words.

Only Xie Buchen, after hearing this sentence, lifted his eyelids to look at her.

Yashan and Kunwu had close relations, both being pillars.

For discipleship and sect entry, generally the introducer couldn’t accompany the disciple, so they would hand over a token for the person to visit the sect alone, then present the token to prove their identity.

Logically, Jian Chou should personally bring Zuo Liu back to Yashan, but she deliberately gave him the token.

Xie Buchen thought lightly about this, and his tightly pressed thin lips suddenly curved into a barely perceptible smile.

She had the same thoughts as himself—

This journey might not end with their lives intact.

The token’s strange implications were clear to Jian Chou and spotted by Xie Buchen, but others hadn’t thought deeply about it yet.

Zuo Liu was still excited, but Jian Chou saw that time was about right and said: “The hidden realm is still collapsing, and I fear Lijun’s situation isn’t very good either. Fellow Daoist Xiangleng’s injuries are fine—I’ll wake her up, and we’ll depart immediately.”