They reached Licheng under the cover of night.
The situation here was the same as last time, completely shrouded in demonic energy.
What was different was that they arrived in the latter half of the night this time.
Instead of the silence of the previous visit, the city was bustling with activity.
Hiding nearby, they could see the city gates wide open, with demons coming and going.
Shen Jianxi thought about Fu Zi's appearance and compared it to these demons. She felt somewhat fortunate. If Fu Zi had also been so ugly, she might have given up on "conquering" him directly.
Yan Wu, one of the three disciples, observed for a while and mused, "We can't enter in broad daylight, and we'd be too conspicuous. It seems the demons in the city are holding some grand ceremony today. Now is the best time to blend in."
However...
Demons were generally tall, most of them over two meters, Shen Jianxi looked at her companions. Although Cheng Wen Yu and the other two were already quite tall, they were no match for the height of the demons.
Why wasn't Fu Zi so exaggeratedly tall?
"Because he's a high-ranking demon, naturally different from these lower-ranking ones."
Now, with just a slight hint of thought on her face, 77 would know what she was thinking, without her even needing to voice it.
This was probably the unspoken understanding between their three worlds! The host and the system had coincidentally used this reason to convince themselves, and had even tacitly suppressed that sliver of familiarity and unease in their hearts.
"Xi Xi, you stay here. We'll go in."
After Cheng Wen Yu said this, the others, though silent, showed their agreement in their expressions.
Shen Jianxi was about to refuse when 77 suddenly spoke, "Host, agree to him."
Though puzzled, she still trusted 77 and nodded, "Okay, Brother Wen Yu, you all be careful."
Cheng Wen Yu reached out and patted her head, "Please take care of our junior brother."
Lin Xing Lan would need a few more days to recover from his current state. Even bringing him along would be futile; it was safer for them to stay together.
Shen Jianxi refused the elixirs that Qiu Tao and Cheng Wen Yu offered. Regardless, she had 77 with her, and their tasks were far more dangerous.
Watching the five of them leave, Shen Jianxi finally had the chance to ask 77, "77, aren't you going to explain?"
77 truthfully replied, "I detected a Crimson Cloud Demonic Flower. After you absorb it, you can break through, which will allow you to complete Fu Zi's mission."
Shen Jianxi frowned, "But clearly the demons' mission is more important. We can collect the Crimson Cloud Demonic Flower after resolving this matter. Why the rush?"
She knew 77 wouldn't ask her to collect it now without a reason. There must be something.
As expected, 77 was silent for a moment, then mumbled after a pause, "...Well, I just discovered that this mission has a time limit and will expire in two hours..."
"77!!!"
"Why didn't you mention something so important earlier?!"
Shen Jianxi estimated the time and realized she could still barely make it. She hurried along the path according to the map 77 provided, while interrogating it in her consciousness.
77 guiltily looked at the small line of text under the mission, *Wuwuwu*, it also wanted to know why such important information was displayed so transparently and small on the mission panel, only turning red to remind her when there were less than two hours left.
Shen Jianxi didn't dare to delay along the way. According to the map, the Crimson Cloud Demonic Flower was on a nearby mountain. She followed the shortest route marked on the map, winding her way up the mountain, and finally reached the location of the red dot, but...
Can someone tell her, WHY! IS THIS A CLIFF!
Where's the flower?!
If she wasn't mistaken, the edge of this cliff was almost as clean as a demon's face.
There were only forty minutes left, and the countdown was already sounding in her consciousness.
"Host..." 77's tone carried a hint of guilt. After all, it also bore some responsibility for this matter, and now it wasn't very confident in saying anything, "...Is it possible that this flower is on the cliff face?"
Shen Jianxi: ......
"You're forcing me to jump off a cliff?"
77 dared not make a sound.
But in the current situation, not jumping was not an option. Although the system mall had elixirs for exchange, she had intended to use the remaining points to exchange for her family members, not for herself.
She looked around, pulled off a long vine from a tree trunk, and tested its toughness. It was decent.
She tied the vine around herself and the other end to the tree trunk. She also didn't forget to secure Fu Zi and Lin Xing Lan, fearing they would be eaten by some unsuspecting beast if she left them here.
With everything prepared, she began to descend the cliff face little by little. Fortunately, the flower wasn't too far from the top of the cliff, and the vine she had was long enough.
Although the Crimson Cloud Demonic Flower had "demonic" in its name, it bore no resemblance to demons. It was pure white and crystalline, more like a divine flower than a demonic one.
Once picked, it had to be consumed quickly, or it would soon dissipate into nothingness.
Therefore, Shen Jianxi put it in her mouth as soon as she picked it. It instantly dissolved into a cool liquid that flowed down her throat into her body.
She could already feel the Crimson Cloud Demonic Flower taking effect and knew she couldn't waste time here. She adjusted the positions of Fu Zi and Lin Xing Lan and prepared to climb back up.
"Snap!"
A faint cracking sound was exceptionally clear in the quiet cliffside.
A tremendous downward force came too suddenly. Shen Jianxi didn't even have time to draw her whip before she began to fall.
Her only thought was, even the immortal cultivation world couldn't defy gravity!
She looked up and met Lian Hua's pair of cold eyes.
"Why..."
Before she could finish speaking, she fell and disappeared into the thick white mist.
Lian Hua stood at the edge of the cliff, watched for a moment, then turned and left.
How strange. She had resolved the predicted tribulation and even dealt with Fu Zi, yet why did the tearing pain in her heart persist?
It was as inexplicable as her action of using her spiritual power to protect her from falling off the sword on the way to the assembly.
Confusion appeared in his eyes.
But soon, the confusion vanished, and his expression became clear and calm once more.
The Great Dao was paramount; no one could stop him.
Not even another him.