The Qilin hid itself in the air using a secret technique and extended its divine sense, recognizing an acquaintance – Steward Zhu, its master's uncle! Why was he fighting with a group of black-clad figures? No wonder their journey was delayed. Yesterday, the fairy had mentioned this matter while playing chess with the master.
A medium-sized ship was docked beside the Chao Tian Immortal Sect's large vessel, a hole battered into the section where the formation was carved. Over twenty black-clad figures leaped onto the large ship. This group consisted of elites, all at the peak of Golden Core cultivation. The advantage was evenly matched.
Suddenly, two black-clad figures were seen ganging up on Steward Zhu, their attacks fierce and their spells bizarre. Steward Zhu was gradually losing ground and was on the verge of defeat… The Qilin transformed back into its original form and rushed forward. From behind the black-clad figures, it opened its mouth and spewed out a torrent of fierce flames. Caught off guard by the Qilin's fiery breath, one black-clad figure let out a yelp before being incinerated into ashes.
The Qilin's fire was potent and intensely yang, capable of swallowing metal, spewing flames, and dispelling evil spirits! The black-clad figures practiced a cultivation technique heavily infused with yin energy, and the Qilin's fire was its perfect counter!
Although the two black-clad figures were only at the early Nascent Soul stage, they possessed numerous sinister and venomous techniques, making them incredibly difficult to deal with. Steward Zhu was merely at the mid-Nascent Soul stage; with only one level of advantage, being cornered by these two was a precarious situation! Seeing the Qilin come to his aid, he was instantly overjoyed, wielding an iron abacus with impenetrable defense.
Taking advantage of the black-clad figures' momentary lapse in concentration after their comrade's demise… Steward Zhu formed a hand seal, and the beads of the abacus shot out like projectiles. The black-clad figures were struck in several vital spots. A sweetness flooded their throats, and a mouthful of black blood erupted as they sprayed it out. The Qilin opened its mouth and unleashed another torrent of flames. This black-clad figure, just like its companion, met the same fate, turning into ashes.
The remaining guards of the Chao Tian Immortal Sect were immediately filled with renewed confidence. Their young master's spiritual beast had appeared, meaning the young master was certainly nearby, and reinforcements had arrived!
Chizu could not help but emerge from the sea. Seeing the Qilin eliminate two enemies with such ease, he became anxious.
"Qilin, what's wrong with you? We need them alive for testing the medicine, remember?" Chizu shouted while using his spider silk to snatch one away and a stinger to incapacitate another. He had been busy setting up nets in the sea and hadn't had a chance to act before two higher-cultivation individuals were eliminated. He was truly exasperated. Higher cultivation meant better subjects for testing medicine; they wouldn't die so easily. He and Qilin were chosen by that madman Ayiu precisely because their bodies were robust and difficult to kill…
Fairy Ye Ju indulged him again. He couldn't defeat them in a fight, and now that some bad guys had arrived, it would have been good to capture them. But this silly Qilin had killed two of them… Chizu felt utterly miserable.
Fearing Qilin would mess things up again, he sprinkled the lower-grade Divine Immortality Powder, which he had stolen from Ayiu, onto his spider silk. He activated his spiritual energy, allowing the medicine to permeate the silk. The Divine Immortality Drunkness immediately spread through the colorless, transparent strands. Fortunately, he had already developed immunity to the lower-grade Divine Immortality Drunkness. The spider silk was everywhere, and the black-clad figures, unaware, touched it and immediately collapsed! Chizu followed behind, collecting his prey. Within three breaths, everyone had fallen. Chizu then bound a large group with his spider silk.
The Qilin clearly saw this and immediately cursed loudly:
"Chizu, you silly oaf, can't you tell friend from foe? You've knocked out Steward Zhu and the others too!"
"Ha~ It was an accident. I got here first, and I didn't know who was good. I intended to capture everyone, so I spread an invisible net." This was because Chizu's cultivation had improved, and his spider silk had become transparent and nearly invisible, difficult for the naked eye to detect. Spiders, after all, liked to spin webs to hunt… This kind of spider silk killed without a trace!
Upon hearing Chizu's words, the Qilin was speechless, utterly defeated! He was so angry he couldn't speak. Next time, he absolutely would not fight alongside him; he was afraid of being betrayed like this… Moreover, how did Chizu get the Divine Immortality Drunkness? Did he steal it? As expected, he wasn't afraid of death to dare steal medicine from that little madman Ayiu…
Tsk, I'll wait and see the show…
Resignedly, the Qilin lifted the pile of people and flew towards the island. Chizu, on the other hand, dragged the two ships. There was no other way; neither of them knew how to pilot a ship or activate the sailing formation. It was fortunate that the Qilin was now immune to the Divine Immortality Drunkness and was completely unaffected, otherwise, if he had been holding the spider silk in his mouth, he would surely have been poisoned.
When they returned to a hundred li from the island's barrier, they encountered Chaoyangzi. He had come out to meet Steward Zhu.
"Master!" As soon as the Qilin saw his master, he excitedly opened his mouth, nearly dropping the string of people he was carrying into the sea. Chaoyangzi used a spell to send everyone onto the large ship that Chizu was pulling – the Chao Tian Immortal Sect's grand vessel.
"You've caused trouble! Go reflect in the forbidden room!" Chaoyangzi couldn't bear to look at his "foolish dog." He then took care of the black-clad figures.
The Qilin wailed, but inwardly, he was ecstatic. If he was confined, Ayiu would definitely not dare to find him. Ayiu was quite respectful of the master; besides Fairy Ye Ju, the master was the second person who could command Ayiu!
He cast a sympathetic glance at Chizu and then flew away happily.
Chizu looked at the Qilin as if he were an idiot, being punished yet so pleased. The creature was sick!
It took half a month for Steward Zhu to recover after taking the antidote.
The Divine Immortality Drunkness was truly potent; even after taking the antidote, it had kept a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator unconscious for half a month. Xiao Wangyou and Xiaobai were chatting outside the room where Steward Zhu was sleeping.
Steward Zhu walked out of his room and was greeted by a garden that looked as beautiful as a fairyland… He was still a bit groggy. Where was he? He only remembered fighting a group of black-clad figures and being rescued by the sect's spiritual beast, the Qilin.
"Fairy Xiaobai, where is this?" Steward Zhu looked at the more familiar young girl. Wow, Fairy Xiaobai's cultivation had advanced significantly in half a year. The other young girl had already reached the early Golden Core stage. At such an age and with such cultivation, her talent was exceptionally high!
"Steward Zhu, this is an island. Elder Sister said it is Penglai Immortal Island!"
"What?" Even though Steward Zhu had received word that the divine maiden was Ye Ju, he was still greatly astonished when Xiaobai confirmed the prophecy. Steward Zhu had also been an elder of the Chao Tian Immortal Sect and the brother of the sect leader's wife. He naturally knew secret matters related to ancestral prophecies!
When Penglai Immortal Island appears, the divine maiden from beyond the heavens will emerge!
Xiaobai saw Steward Zhu suddenly become very excited and wondered if the Divine Immortality Drunkness had some lingering side effects… Oh, side effects… Elder Sister had told Ayiu that the medicine's side effects could lead to after-effects…
She quickly went to tell her elder sister. This Steward Zhu looked like he was about to lose his mind, otherwise, why would his eyes be filled with tears of excitement… What was he crying about?
Xiaobai found Ye Ju playing chess with Chaoyangzi at a stone table in a pavilion. A pavilion had been built on a small hillside, facing the sea with blooming spring flowers!
"Sister~ Sister~ That old man has gone mad!" Xiaobai shouted, but there was no panic in her voice.
"Naughty girl, Long Hu Hu, be polite!" Ye Ju curved her index finger and flicked a chess piece at her. Xiaobai easily dodged it, but she hadn't expected a second one, which struck her directly between the eyebrows.
"Ouch, that hurts. Sister, you cheated! How could you sneak attack?" Xiaobai rubbed her forehead aggrievedly. Xiao Wangyou patted it sympathetically, saying,
"Master, Madam Xiaobai is not wrong. Steward Zhu woke up crying and laughing, as if he had after-effects from the Divine Immortality Drunkness!"
"Ah, let's go take a look." The two of them got up. Ye Ju passed by Xiaobai and touched her forehead, instantly relieving the pain. Xiaobai then grabbed Ye Ju's hand and giggled foolishly, "Sister loves me the most…"
Xiao Wangyou tidied up the chess pieces behind them and followed.