Although unable to mobilize Nether Force due to a "persistent old ailment," fortunately, the Nine-Tailed Koi carp appeared in the nick of time, carrying her away. Later, when Void Gate’s people discovered the boundary of the Sutra Repository had been breached, they found no books missing. Nevertheless, they reported the incident to the Void Gate Sect Master.
Atop the Nine Peaks, Tai Xuan’s solemn and profound countenance remained unchanged. "Someone intruded into the Sutra Repository?"
He was communicating with his inner sect’s eldest disciple, Xiao Chenmu, using his spiritual sense.
"Yes, but the disciples searched the Sutra Repository and found no losses. The intruder did not steal anything, merely perused over a dozen books."
Tai Xuan pondered for a moment, then said, "Activate the Spiritual Light Mirrors for a search."
Xiao Chenmu readily responded, "Yes, I know what to do."
He took out a token with golden phoenix feathers, tossed it into the air, and channeled a surge of spiritual power into it. The token then emitted dozens of light beams, which refracted upwards, converging into curved mirrors. The Void Gate had long ago set up a Spiritual Light Mirror array around the Sutra Repository, capable of covering dozens of miles.
As the Spiritual Light Mirrors transformed into "mirror eyes" sweeping across the area, Wei Li immediately sensed the change in the sky.
He scoffed, "Tai Xuan, that old geezer, has found out."
Activating the wide-range search required the Sect Master's permission, indicating that Void Gate had escalated the matter.
Gu Junshi was not surprised. Her situation was peculiar, and she had been suddenly brought out by him. Naturally, there was no time to cover their tracks, and being discovered was only a matter of time.
She hadn't expected Void Gate to be so affluent, truly living up to their reputation, to have installed reconnaissance Mystic Light Mirrors along all major paths around the Sutra Repository. The gazes projected from above swept across the surroundings; as long as they were hit by the light, their figures would be locked.
"What is this?" Gu Junshi looked up, observing the countless Mystic Light Mirrors in the sky, each the size of a full moon, perfectly feigning ignorance as a mere mortal.
If it had been just Wei Li, a fox alone, he would have found a way to leave without a trace. But bringing this mortal made things much more troublesome...
He hypnotized himself, telling himself this mortal was still useful. Abandoning her would be problematic. If she were caught by Void Gate, she would be unable to defend herself, leading to more complications. Thus, he enlarged his fox form, shifting from a small cat-like size to a golden-furred, short, stout form. One tail extended, coiling around her.
"Be quiet, why so many questions?"
His temper was incredibly willful. When he was the Sect Master, he had to maintain some decorum to command respect. When dealing with that "stinking woman," he had reservations, and his behavior was somewhat restrained. However, when facing Gu Yi, a mortal, he completely unleashed his true nature, uninhibited, like a mischievous and willful child, acting solely on his whims and preferences.
He coiled around her and leaped to the branches of an acacia tree. Ahead, the road was increasingly covered by Mystic Light Mirrors, as if they were being handed out for free. Unless he could open a spatial portal to leave, exposure was inevitable.
"If we can't avoid them, let's destroy them," Gu Yi's calm voice stated indifferently.
Indeed, these Mystic Light Mirrors were only for search and surveillance; they possessed no offensive or defensive capabilities. With enough power, they could all be annihilated.
However, when ordinary people encountered Mystic Light Mirrors, fearing inadvertent exposure, their instinct was to flee or hide.
Why not destroy them?
But doing so would truly offend Void Gate severely, undoubtedly escalating the matter of finding the culprits.
If a human cultivator were involved, they might not commit such a reckless act. But... they, the demon race, were accustomed to willful and unrestrained behavior.
"You're right, anything unsightly should be destroyed directly."
As if hearing him utter a phrase akin to "speaking pearls," nine tails suddenly unfurled behind him. One tail was used to bind Gu Junshi, while the other eight long tails lashed out rapidly like sweeping lasers, shattering the Mystic Light Mirrors one by one, causing them to explode.
He then charged forward with Gu Junshi amidst the sound of exploding lights.
Gu Junshi knew that her visit to the Sutra Repository had caused a major stir, but she felt no particular worry. Firstly, she hadn't stolen anything, so they wouldn't pursue her to the death. Secondly, without any clues or visual evidence, they couldn't possibly apprehend her out of thin air.
After the Nine-Tails took Gu Junshi away, over a dozen disciples, led by the Sect Master's eldest disciple Xiao Chenmu, appeared on their flying artifacts. Upon seeing the destroyed Mystic Light Mirrors, they conducted an investigation and confirmed that the opponent possessed considerable strength.
"Follow the path of destruction and investigate!"
Like ants smelling blood, they pursued relentlessly, unable to shake them off.
The Nine-Tails brought Gu Yi back to a side room on the west cliff of Misty City. It knew it hadn't shaken off the Void Gate disciples. However, it was unfamiliar with Void Gate's terrain, and running around in a frenzy with Gu Yi made them more likely to be discovered.
"They will find their way here."
Gu Junshi remained unhurried. "Let them find us. Do you think they would suspect a mortal?"
The Nine-Tails' fox eyes lit up at her words.
Right, this Gu Yi was a genuine mortal, without any pretense. Even if they found her, they would have no basis to suspect her.
After realizing this, the Nine-Tails snorted, "Humans are truly cunning."
Gu Junshi basically ignored the Nine-Tails' sarcastic remarks, letting them enter one ear and exit the other.
There's a saying in this world: Never argue with foolish people, because they will drag you down to their level.
In Gu Junshi's opinion, there was no need to bicker with an immature demon beast for now, as it would make her appear as childish as it.
As expected, not long after, Xiao Chenmu arrived with his disciples, following the trail. He dispatched disciples to search in all directions, then heard the door of a side room being opened from within.
A woman in plain robes emerged. The side rooms on the west cliff were built like the lofty pavilions of immortals, nestled around the cliff face. A platform extended outwards, shrouded in swirling mist. Further ahead lay the cliff peak, with clouds rolling beneath like a sea, as if floating amidst surging white waves.
Accustomed to the ethereal flowing robes of cultivators, with both men and women impeccably dressed, seeing a woman dressed in extreme simplicity from head to toe gave a distinct feeling of being out of place in the cultivation world.
As if sensing someone observing her, the woman turned her head.
Upon meeting those serene eyes, like a dark, unfathomable sea, Xiao Chenmu was momentarily stunned.
Her skin was extremely fair, her refined nose and dark, sparse eyebrows were perfectly proportioned. Especially her beautifully shaped lips, a touch of vibrancy that enhanced her cold countenance, instantly bringing her entire face to life.
But for some reason, he felt a sense of guardedness from the first glance.
At this moment, an impassioned and grand announcement echoed from the Nine Peaks: "Da Yan Sect's Liu Jiang Fusheng obtains three points."
Xiao Chenmu paid no attention to this. However, he saw that the indifferent, water-like woman actually curved her lips... and smiled.
This smile softened the inherent cold and aloofness that emanated from her. It was like a blooming iron tree, an extremely rare and stunning display.