The ice fields of the extreme southern barren river were lashed by a cold and fierce blizzard.
As Jing Lan and the other two vanished from their spot, the space violently churned, giving rise to a massive vortex. Immediately after, a tender, smooth, and fair hand emerged from the vortex, forcefully tearing at the side. A female cultivator, clad in tiger-striped leather armor and possessing a fiery, voluptuous figure, ripped through space and stepped out.
Chui Ming licked her claw-like hand, then realized she was back in human form and hastily lowered it. Seeing no one around to witness her, she breathed a sigh of relief.
"Scared this old lady to death!" she exclaimed, her red lips parting slightly, while her hands continued their work, meticulously surveying the surrounding terrain.
"There's nothing strange here? Why would Yun Youyue bring someone from the Jing family here?"
Little did Yun Youyue know, despite her cautious efforts to conceal her tracks, even withholding information from Rong Bugui, she had stumbled upon Chui Ming midway. Chui Ming had been dispatched by Qin Si to investigate the force that had orchestrated Yun Kai's actions previously.
Chui Ming, suspecting Yun Youyue's involvement in the deaths of Yun Kai and Yun Ying, had quietly followed. However, as Yun Youyue ventured further into the desolate regions, Chui Ming's suspicion grew, prompting her to track her all the way to this secluded spot.
Suddenly, Chui Ming halted, asking warily, "Who's there?"
The blizzard raged, and on the ice field, only the sound of the wind and the falling snow seemed to exist. Chui Ming took two more steps forward, then abruptly spun around, her palm transforming into sharp tiger claws as she lunged forward!
"Clang… Sizzle…"
Sharp nails met a hardened blade, emitting a piercing shriek.
Chui Ming looked up to see a slightly familiar, black-robed elder standing behind her.
"Daoist Shan Cheng?" she exclaimed. As soon as the words left her mouth, the elder suddenly summoned a dark gray bone staff. With a flick of the staff, two puppet-like corpses materialized and, with uncanny speed, forced Chui Ming out of the center of the ice field.
The black-robed elder cackled, "You recognize me? Then all the more reason I cannot let you leave alive."
The next moment, the two corpses lunged at Chui Ming with the speed of wind!
Chui Ming kicked one away, while the other was torn in half by her claws, only to quickly regenerate!
Her gaze grew somber.
Daoist Shan Cheng seemed pleased with this outcome, boasting, "These two ghost servants are newly refined using my latest techniques. They are exceptionally resilient. Even if you are a beast, you will only serve as their nourishment!"
"Damn it! This old lady￥%＆＠"
The ghost servants, shattered and reformed, torn and restored, infuriated Chui Ming. With an exasperated growl, she transformed into her beast form and charged at Daoist Shan Cheng!
Daoist Shan Cheng, however, remained unfazed.
Indeed, before Chui Ming could get close, she was blocked by the ghost servants once more.
Daoist Shan Cheng declared, "Let the ghost servants keep you entertained. I must be on my way."
Chui Ming frowned deeply, sensing an increasing strangeness about the place. Knowing that the two ghost servants would prevent her from catching up to Daoist Shan Cheng, she simply tore open space with a claw and left!
The target gone, the two ghost servants sniffed around aimlessly. Finding no trace of their quarry, they automatically registered the target as deceased and vanished from their positions.
Meanwhile, Daoist Shan Cheng, sensing his precious servants' swift return, scoffed, "A transformed beast, and so useless. Not the slightest help against my ghost servants. A waste of effort, truly unlucky."
Cursing under his breath, he shed his black robe, changed into the attire of a subordinate, and entered the Secret Realm of Little Heaven.
Within the secret realm, Yun Youyue tilted her head in confusion, "Young Master Jing, where is the subordinate following you? I don't see him."
Jing Lan replied gently, "Perhaps we walked too quickly just now and he couldn't keep up. Shall we wait for a moment?"
Yun Youyue, hoping Jing Lan and his subordinate would take the lead during their exploration of the secret realm, readily agreed. However, she still harbored some suspicion, "If your subordinate lacks even this basic ability, why would you only have him accompanying you?"
This question was somewhat meddlesome, especially since Jing Lan and Yun Youyue were not well acquainted.
But Yun Youyue, accustomed to her elevated status, felt no less superior even in her current predicament. Thus, her directive tone was entirely natural.
Jing Lan's expression remained unchanged as he explained kindly, "Miss Yun may not know, but since my childhood, it has been Shan Bo who personally took care of me."
Yun Youyue nodded.
At that very moment, Shan Bo's voice echoed from behind, "Young Master, wait for your subordinate..."
Shortly thereafter, Shan Bo arrived. He bent over, hands braced on his knees, head bowed as he gasped for breath, "Heh heh... subordinate... subordinate is holding back the Young Master." With that, he wiped his eyes in deep self-reproach.
Jing Lan gently helped him up, "Shan Bo, you wound me."
Witnessing this touching display of master-subordinate affection and harmony, Yun Youyue narrowed her eyes and let out a disdainful laugh.
What an act!
...
Outside a small courtyard in Nu Gui City, a crowd had gathered.
"Hey! Xiao Xiao, how is it? Is Senior Sister Bai Xia okay?" someone grabbed Li Xiao Xiao, asking anxiously with eyes full of concern.
Li Xiao Xiao jumped, recoiling backward, and promptly bumped into the doorframe, tears welling up instantly.
"Oh, I-I didn't mean to." The person quickly waved their hands and retreated, "We're just worried about Senior Sister Bai Xia."
"Senior Brother, Senior Sister Bai Xia is fine."
Just as the other person was at a loss for what to do with Li Xiao Xiao's tears, two figures, one in blue and one in white, emerged from within.
The blue-clad figure was Li Shi Qing, and the white-clad figure was Xun Meng. Both had recently emerged from their seclusion. Upon hearing that Bai Xia had awakened but was in a low mood, they, as the only two available female "Seeds," were tasked with visiting her.
"Senior Brother Jing Fei is already refining pills for Senior Sister Bai Xia. Everyone need not worry," Li Shi Qing said, then added sternly, "The Divine Revelation Grand Gathering has not yet concluded. We must not slacken."
The once bright and spirited girl, after the incident with Bai Murong, had indeed become much more subdued. Now, she was like a steadfast and majestic treasure sword, possessing both the sharpness of a searing flame and the calm depth of still water.
"Shi Qing is right," Elder Yun appeared at some unknown time.
"Elder Yun!"
"Elder Yun!"
The remaining Seeds paid their respects.
Elder Yun waved his hand, "I have good news to share with everyone."
"What good news, Elder Yun? Has the Divine Revelation Grand Gathering restarted?" a Seed specializing in talismans immediately inquired, "We've been here for so long, we're getting tired of it."
Though the path of cultivation was inherently solitary, the feeling of having one matter unresolved and being unable to proceed to the next was truly maddening!
Especially now, with the murky waters within Nu Gui City. While the smaller sects remained quiescent, people from the major sects came and went, clearly indicating that much had happened recently.
Due to the prior incidents involving Pill Master Hong Ni and Feng Wuya, they had refrained from venturing out to avoid trouble, but their curiosity was piqued.