As soon as the talisman paper was taken out, the Golden Suanni reacted immediately. It stared vigilantly at the paper, with a faint growl of displeasure in its throat.
Li Fei urgently said, “Don’t provoke it! Its roar just now nearly cost us our lives!”
The black-veiled woman moved everyone to the doorway before returning. She said softly, “The Golden Suanni possesses the Suanni Roar, which is impossible to guard against. Even ordinary immortals cannot resist it. Ping Shao, don’t be reckless.”
Hu Jiaping seemed not to hear. He gently tossed out the talisman paper. Strangely, while all spells were ineffective within the restricted area, this paper floated up on its own, drifting slowly towards the Golden Suanni.
The Golden Suanni was on high alert. It suddenly rose, opening its blood-red maw, unleashing another earth-shattering roar. Fortunately, as it stood up, Li Fei found an opening to escape. She once again nearly had her ears deafened and hurriedly covered her head and face. Unexpectedly, this terrifying roar seemed to suddenly hit an invisible wall, failing to affect Hu Jiaping and the others. The talisman paper absorbed all of the Suanni Roar, continuing to float leisurely towards it.
A hint of fear flashed in the Golden Suanni’s eyes as it retreated several steps. Hu Jiaping, quick-eyed and nimble-handed, scooped up Li Fei and ran. This action truly enraged it. No longer minding the talisman, it roared furiously and chased after him. With its enormous size, it caught up to Hu Jiaping in just a few strides, swiping down with a paw.
Hu Jiaping moved more nimbly than a monkey, rolling on the ground to dodge. While sprinting, he shouted, “Amu!”
The black-veiled woman’s body suddenly transformed into a plume of black smoke. As the smoke dissipated instantly, a slender, jet-black sword appeared in mid-air. Hu Jiaping leaped up, grabbing the black sword in mid-air. With a flash of cold light, the sword left its scabbard. The blade was as black as its sheath, but this sword was incomplete—the tip was broken off. So this was the Lifeng they had mentioned before? The so-called “broken Lifeng” was literally a broken sword.
Even though broken, a sword with a spirit was fundamentally different from ordinary weapons. As soon as Lifeng left its scabbard, there was a faint dragon’s cry. The surrounding thick, viscous demonic aura and miasma were cleaved open with a single stroke. Hu Jiaping dodged the Golden Suanni’s second paw, striking like lightning. He slashed at its leg, instantly causing blood to spatter. Lifeng could cut through the Golden Suanni’s thick fur with a single stroke.
The Golden Suanni let out a painful roar. It only knew two moves—the Suanni Roar and the Suanni Claw—neither of which was effective. Instead, it had its skin and flesh wounded. Now it was finally somewhat afraid, retreating with a low growl. Its golden eyes, however, gazed at Li Fei with reluctance, looking quite pitiful.
Ri Yan had said that because the Nine-Tailed Fox’s demonic aura sealed on its back was leaking out, this Suanni became agitated and restless. That’s why it wanted to keep Li Fei. Thinking of this, it did seem quite pitiful. Li Fei originally planned to give it a demon cinnabar fruit, but her hand slipped, and most of the fruits in her arms rolled onto the ground. More than a dozen fruits rolled to the Golden Suanni’s feet. It lowered its head to sniff them, letting out another low growl. It wasn’t clear if it was pleased or angry, but its pursuing steps gradually slowed.
Lifeng transformed back into black smoke, and moments later, the black-veiled woman reappeared. The two made a final push to leave the restricted area where demonic beasts were sealed. Only after passing through the stone gate did Hu Jiaping truly breathe a sigh of relief.
“How do we close this stone gate?” he asked.
The black-veiled woman jumped into the pit at the end of the side passage. It wasn’t clear what she did, but the stone gate closed again silently. Her figure was then lifted up by a small stone platform. It turned out there was a stone platform in that hole. Once the mechanism was triggered, it would sink, and when triggered again, it would rise.
Hu Jiaping checked everyone’s injuries. Ji Tongzhou was the most severely injured, first infected by the miasma, then hurt by the Suanni Roar. This poor young man was pale, his breathing feeble. Hu Jiaping immediately took out a pill and put it in his mouth, shaking his head and sighing, “You could have run anywhere, why did you have to enter the sealed restricted area?”
Li Fei, having encountered successive ordeals, suddenly felt her entire body go weak now that they had escaped danger. She was too exhausted to say a word, sitting to the side in a daze, seemingly about to fall asleep.
The black-veiled woman carried Achao on her back and gently held Li Fei in her arms, saying softly, “We can talk about anything once we’re up. It’s not safe to linger here.”
Hu Jiaping, upon seeing the purple-clad beauty on her back, laughed, “Oh, this must be the fake Lin You, right? Tsk tsk, turns out she’s a great beauty! No wonder Mo Xiong was so infatuated!”
The black-veiled woman gave him a cold look, and he immediately sobered up, saying, “You’re right, let’s hurry up!”
They couldn’t use sword flight in the restricted area. When he came down, he had already hung ropes on all four cliff sides. Following the markers left in the forest, they quickly found the hanging ropes. After climbing for a long while, the thick miasma gradually thinned. Hu Jiaping channeled spiritual energy into his body, and a small white cloud appeared under his feet. They sped back to the academy like wind and lightning.
When Li Fei woke up, her whole body felt warm, as if her bones had become light and soft. She slowly opened her eyes to an unfamiliar ceiling, not her Thousand Fragrance Chamber. There seemed to be people talking softly nearby, but in her hazy consciousness, she couldn’t make out the words clearly.
Turning her head, she realized she was lying on a small bed in a large room with many beds. Li Fei immediately spotted Bai Li Changyue lying opposite her, her entire body covered by an ice-blue healing net, with large patches of dried blood on her clothes, still unconscious.
Changyue? Li Fei was stunned for a moment, then suddenly jolted awake, all traces of sleepiness vanishing. Had she returned to the academy? Was everyone alright? She abruptly sat up and saw that the other beds in the room were also occupied. Ji Tongzhou and Lei Xiuyuan were both enveloped in ice-blue healing nets. Apart from her, no one else was awake.
The small bed was near the window, and the conversation outside continued: “…The academy is not an independent immortal sect. The teachers are all elite disciples invited from other sects. Miss Achao, even I am not in a position to make excuses for Lin You Xiansheng hiding you. Lin You Xiansheng is from the Fire Lotus Pavilion. If this matter gets out, it will create a rift between the Mountain and Sea factions.”
Achao’s coquettish yet lively voice responded, “I didn’t harm her, and I provided her with good food and lodging for these few months. You Mountain faction people are so petty, it’s really stingy!”
Master Zuoqiu gently replied, “Young lady, your words are misguided. Detaining someone without reason, how is that different from provocation? Moreover, you are from the Sea faction and have a special status. Didn’t you think carefully before acting?”
Achao urgently said, “Then what should we do? Can I apologize to them? This matter was my own willful misconduct, it has nothing to do with the Mountain or Sea factions! I’ll release Lin You immediately!”
Mo Yanfan also spoke, “Master Zuoqiu, this matter is indeed Achao’s fault, and it also arose because of this junior. I am willing to apologize to the elders of the Fire Lotus Pavilion together with Miss Achao and accept any punishment.”
Master Zuoqiu laughed, “Young Master Mo is from the Star Rectification Hall. If you and Miss Achao boldly go to apologize to the Fire Lotus Pavilion, how would your sect view this? Young people, acting solely on impulse is unwise.”
A moment later, he suddenly said, “Regarding Miss Achao using the Star Rectification Hall’s Word Spirit Nightmare Technique to harm academy disciples…”
Before he could finish, Mo Yanfan urgently interjected, “Master Zuoqiu, this junior is willing to stake his life that Achao was not responsible for this!”
Master Zuoqiu laughed again and said, “I told you not to be impulsive, but you wouldn’t listen. Miss Jiao used the Star Zheng Hall’s Lingyanlingshu technique to harm others and was injured by Master Zhengyunzi of Star Zheng Hall. She has now fled to an unknown location. The academy doesn’t know her background or her real name, but we can confirm that she is not a member of Star Zheng Hall. Young Hero Mo pursued her to clear his sect’s name but failed to capture the demonic woman.
However, he unexpectedly rescued Master Lin You. Fire Lotus Temple is indebted to Star Zheng Hall – this is the first joy. Mountain Sea Sect need not have a rift – this is the second joy. Star Zheng Hall has cleared its name of suspicion – this is the third joy. You two are deeply in love and no longer need to live in fear – this is the fourth joy. With four joyous events at your doorstep, do you two still need to harbor such deep resentment?”
“Master Zuoqiu…” Mo Yanfan’s voice trembled slightly. He clearly understood the implications of this arrangement. The academy was willing to keep this matter hidden, preserving Jiao’s identity as a member of the Sea Sect. This was indeed a great favor to Star Zheng Hall and the East Sea Wanxian Assembly. At this moment, any words of gratitude would be superfluous. He could only bow his head deeply, feeling both admiration and gratitude towards this founder of the academy.
Jiao said softly, “Master Zuoqiu, I will remember your kindness today for the rest of my life. When I return, I’ll tell my father that the Wanxian Assembly should participate in the academy’s new disciple selection this year.”
Master Zuoqiu couldn’t help but laugh heartily, “If the Sea Sect people are willing to come, the academy will certainly welcome them. However, the cultivation methods of Mountain Sea Sect are quite different, so you might not be impressed by the academy’s junior disciples.”
After chatting for a while longer, Mo Yanfan took Jiao and left the academy to find Lin You. The room fell silent for a moment, then the door suddenly opened, and Master Zuoqiu from the front hall walked in. Li Fei felt embarrassed upon seeing him, as she often found herself unintentionally eavesdropping, though it wasn’t on purpose.
Fortunately, Master Zuoqiu didn’t mind. He first checked on the injuries of the other children, then pulled up a chair to sit opposite Li Fei. He spoke gently, “How are you feeling?”
She shook her head, “I’m fine, I’ve been alright all along.”
He said, “These two children show signs of being injured by miasma, and their internal injuries are severe. Young Hero Mo and Jiaping have told me what happened. Your fall into the forbidden area was due to the academy’s negligence, so we won’t pursue the matter of you entering the sealed forbidden area.”
Li Fei nodded silently.
Master Zuoqiu looked at her with a gentle expression and continued, “You are indeed unharmed. When you were brought up, although you were unconscious, you were completely unscathed. It scared Jiaping half to death. He said you were pinned down by the golden Suanni and thought you would be crippled.”
Li Fei coughed quietly and murmured, “The masters arrived in time. At that moment, I… was also terrified.”
“Your constitution is unique,” Master Zuoqiu smiled at her. “Master Dongyang must have sent you to the academy’s initial trial venue for this reason. Your constitution repels evil spirits, and the thick miasma in the forbidden area couldn’t get near your body. You purified quite a bit of it, and even the Suanni’s roar couldn’t harm you. And then there’s this.”
He took out two shriveled, purple-black fruits from his sleeve. Li Fei instinctively felt her pocket, which was empty. The Yao Zhu fruits that were originally there had disappeared. Earlier, those monsters had given her more than a dozen Yao Zhu fruits, but she accidentally dropped most of them at the golden Suanni’s feet. The remaining two had somehow become this shriveled, looking inedible.
“Do you know what these are?” Master Zuoqiu asked her gently.
She knew they were called Yao Zhu fruits, but at this moment, she could only pretend not to know. She shook her head and said, “I don’t know… but when Ji Tongzhou ate it, his broken bone healed.”
Master Zuoqiu explained, “These are called Zhu fruits. For ordinary people and those with low cultivation, whether demon or human, they have miraculous effects of regenerating flesh from broken bones and reviving the dead. Zhu fruits aren’t particularly rare, but they’re difficult to grow. They must be in places with extremely concentrated spiritual energy or miasma. Even with the academy’s spiritual energy, they can’t grow here.
Look, they shriveled up as soon as they were brought here. When these fruits grow in places rich in spiritual energy, they’re called Xian Zhu fruits. When they grow in places dense with miasma, they’re called Yao Zhu fruits. Although the names are different, their effects are identical. Haha, you look so surprised. Are you wondering how such spiritual objects can grow in dirty miasma? Spiritual energy and miasma are just terms used by us cultivators.
Spiritual energy nourishes immortal techniques, while demonic energy condenses into miasma. Heaven and earth are divided into yin and yang, which repel each other yet cannot be separated. Yin and yang must maintain a balance, just like immortals and demons. They rob each other, and repel each other, but ultimately depend on each other. These are Yao Zhu fruits, which only demons can pick. The demons in the forbidden area gave them to you, right?”
Li Fei was shocked, her palms suddenly damp with sweat. How did he know?! Now that he knew these secrets, what would he do to her?!
Master Zuoqiu spoke softly, “Don’t be afraid. The reasons aren’t hard to guess. Your unique constitution blocked and purified the miasma, making you a great threat to the demons in the forbidden area. Since they feared you, naturally they would offer their most precious possessions to ask you to leave. This is the way of demons, something we humans don’t understand. It’s a pity that Yao Zhu fruits wither and shrivel once they leave the miasma, becoming like this. They can no longer be eaten and can only be discarded.”
Li Fei was still shaken. She hugged her knees tightly, feeling that in front of this old immortal, her secrets were like ice and snow exposed to sunlight, being dug out and seen through bit by bit. What if he also discovered that Rixing was inside her? What should she do? There was still Rixing’s demonic energy sealed in the forbidden area. If they found out, they would surely take Rixing away!
All along, it had been Rixing protecting her, guiding her. She couldn’t let him fall into the hands of these immortals. She had to protect him.
Seeing her rigid posture, Master Zuoqiu continued, “There are some things I wanted to say to you when I first met you. Do you know? Compared to a single earth-attribute spirit root, your constitution is the most precious thing. But precisely because it’s rare, it’s easy to cause trouble. Although you’re young, you’re very sensible and haven’t spread the news of your constitution everywhere. You must know, that an innocent man may be condemned for the precious jade he possesses. When something too precious exists in the body of someone weak, it often brings great disaster. Jiang Li Fei, I hope that from today on, you won’t tell anyone about your special constitution. One day, when you’ve grown strong enough to protect yourself, this secret may no longer need to be a secret. Until then, don’t say a word about it.”
Was this… a warning and advice for her? Li Fei couldn’t help but look up. Master Zuoqiu’s smiling eyes were hidden behind his snow-white beard, gentle and kind, reminding her of her master. For the first time, someone was earnestly advising her about her constitution. She understood that he was considering her well-being, and her heart warmed. She nodded vigorously.
“Well then, from today onwards, the female disciple Jiang Li Fei, who was thought to have a single earth-attribute spirit root, will have her spirit root test results invalidated because the master who conducted the previous test was an impostor,” he said. He took out a pearl the size of a chicken egg from his sleeve. The water surface inside the pearl was speckled with rain marks, with only a tiny bit of yellow earth at the bottom.
Master Zuoqiu squinted and smiled, with a hint of playfulness: “Now that I’ve personally tested you, I’ve discovered that you have a spirit root that is primarily water with a secondary earth attribute. That’s quite rare too.”
What was this? Li Fei was stunned for a moment, then suddenly realized. A single earth-attribute spirit root was too eye-catching, with many gazes focused on her alone, making it easy for people to notice her special constitution. Now, Master Zuoqiu was announcing to the outside world that there had been an error in the spirit root test. This was to divert others’ attention, making her less conspicuous and thus safer.
Li Fei felt an indescribable gratitude towards him, and her eyes gradually reddened. Master Zuoqiu suddenly took out a string of marble-sized beads from his bosom. These were the evil-repelling incense beads given to her by True Person Dongyang. Previously in the forbidden area, the evil-repelling beads had cracked and lost their effectiveness due to the overly concentrated miasma. Master Zuoqiu had somehow restored them, and now they were once again imbued with clear spiritual energy, even stronger than before.
He put the evil-repelling beads on Li Fei’s wrist and said, “In the future, if anyone asks, just say it’s the effect of the evil-repelling beads. I guess True Person Dongyang had the same intention when he gave you these beads.”
Li Fei touched the beads, and tears she couldn’t hold back fell. She quickly wiped them away and said softly, “Thank you…”
Master Zuoqiu smiled slightly, “Since you’ve recovered, you should return to your room. These three children probably won’t recover until tomorrow morning, so there’s no need to rush.”