The matter was quickly clarified. Indeed, several traitors had emerged from the academy, all from families like Mei Jialou. They intended to cause trouble and retaliate against the academy for their families' sake. Bai Qingjiang, whose cultivation was the lowest, was their target.
However, they failed to abduct Bai Qingjiang. According to one of them, Bai Qingjiang had defeated all of their people and then stated he was going to the extreme southern barren river.
"You mean, he went to the extreme southern barren river by himself?" Qian Ying asked incredulously, "Is he crazy? Even if he wanted to find Junior Sister, he could have told us! We could have sent people to look after Aunt Yue while he went. Isn't that better?"
Bai Qingjiang was also a student of Shenqi Academy. The more Qian Ying thought about it, the more she wanted to scold someone. "I never thought Bai Qingjiang was so unreliable before!"
Qin Si's expression was also grim and displeased.
However, as Bai Shengyi's elder, he didn't say much. After a moment of silence, he said, "This matter ends here. Do not contact A Yi, lest it affect her competition."
"You don't need to tell me that," Qian Ying said. "I wonder how Junior Sister is doing now. It's a shame that with all these affairs, none of us can leave, otherwise we could have gone to join the fun."
Qin Si felt the same way.
Not to mention, he could have participated in the competition with Bai Shengyi.
Thinking of this, Qin Si suddenly felt that being a dean or a mountain lord wasn't so appealing anymore.
As if sensing his thoughts, a gentle breeze suddenly blew from Qianxiao Peak. Soft green light spots, like a galaxy, dispersed and converged into a river, flowing into Qin Si's body!
Qian Ying watched in stunned silence!
"This is... Mountain Spirit's devotion?"
Why would the mountain lord of the three mountains be in a position of superiority over the sect leader of a top-tier sect? For example, Li Tingyun, with a divine artifact in hand, would certainly have higher combat power than Hua Ling Mountain Lord. Yet, Li Tingyun still had to be polite to Hua Ling Mountain Lord.
The reason was that the mountain lord bore the luck and recognition of all living beings within the hundred thousand li dojo. As long as there were living beings in the dojo, and as long as they continued to believe in and recognize the mountain lord, these beings would continuously provide mountain spirit power to the mountain lord.
This power was pure and gentle, mostly invisible. But on special occasions, when living beings were extremely grateful for what the mountain lord had done, a large amount of mountain spirit power would converge, forming the Mountain Spirit's devotion.
Qian Ying thought this time, the Mountain Spirit's devotion was due to the gratitude of Shenqi Mountain's living beings towards Qin Si.
She covered her mouth with her hands, suppressing her exclamation, and screamed silently in her heart. Qin Si's heaven-defying treatment was too enviable!
Even though she was the only Vermillion Bird in this world, she didn't receive such treatment as Qin Si!
Could Qin Si be the son of the Heavenly Dao?
Qian Ying's speculations continued. Qin Si, however, suddenly felt something. His deep eyes slowly closed, and in the next moment, he disappeared from his spot, appearing a hundred thousand li away in the Red Maple Mountain Range!
His comprehension of spatial rules had advanced further. Not only could he teleport longer distances, but he could now directly ignore some simple formations and barriers.
Qin Si silently familiarized himself with the power within his body. His gaze suddenly fixed on the snow-capped mountain peak not far away. With a movement, he swung a palm!
"Bang!"
"Master, be careful!"
Rouqing, in her gray silk form, was the first to sense the anomaly in the air. She transformed into human form and took Qin Si's palm, then dissipated into the air.
"Prison Ghoul?"
Qin Si raised an eyebrow, formed a hand seal, and instantly froze the fleeing gray silk threads into ice.
"Master! Save me—"
Before he could finish speaking, the ice exploded in front of Liu Tianyun!
At the same time, within the Supreme Sect, Yan Hua Daojun and Hui Ling Sanren both spat out a mouthful of black blood!
This happened in an instant. Liu Tianyun had just emerged from his meditation when he saw Rouqing perish before him. As much as he was impatient with Rouqing, her role was significant. Seeing this, he was also extremely enraged.
"You're seeking death!"
Red lotuses bloomed fiercely, heading straight for Qin Si!
"Is Crimson Lotus Demon Lord dreaming?"
Qin Si did not yield an inch. The Wuji Canghan Sword appeared out of thin air. As the blade passed, it crushed the red lotuses scattered on the ground.
"I clearly remember the debt from the Mustard Seed Layer last time. Crimson Lotus Demon Lord, you won't welsh on it, will you?" His voice suddenly deepened, his movements becoming even swifter, directly engaging Yan Ran Hong Lian.
Red robes raged, snow light and red lotuses danced, making Qin Si's aloof and sharp demeanor even more striking.
His aura surprised Liu Tianyun.
Immediately, the two clashed, exchanging blows on the snow mountain peak, one palm against one sword.
The more they fought, the more astonished Liu Tianyun became.
How long had it been? Qin Si, who he had previously chased and forced to flee in the Mustard Seed Layer, could now fight him for an hour without a clear victor!
No, he absolutely could not let this child grow any further!
A gloomy expression flashed across Liu Tianyun's face. Just as he was about to deliver a killing blow, the ground beneath his feet began to shake. The snow mountain suddenly split in two, and beneath his feet was a deep abyss!
"Qin Si!"
How could he have forgotten? This was Qin Si's dojo! All things could be used by Qin Si!
Even though Liu Tianyun reacted swiftly and leaped up, it was still too late!
"Lightning, come!"
The Wuji Canghan Sword pointed to the sky, and several bolts of lightning crashed down, making Liu Tianyun's eyes split with rage.
This was not the heavenly lightning in the Far West that could be obscured by heavenly secrets. These heavenly lightning bolts were guided by the Wuji Canghan Sword, precisely targeting Liu Tianyun. No matter where Liu Tianyun fled, his location could be accurately locked.
Liu Tianyun, after narrowly escaping the snow mountain by the skin of his teeth, left behind a threatening remark before departing.
"Next time, I will surely kill you!"
Liu Tianyun never expected that despite his utmost caution, he would suffer such a great setback at the hands of a junior like Qin Si. He didn't even understand how Qin Si knew his whereabouts.
Qin Si did not take Liu Tianyun's threat to heart. He even moodily summoned two more bolts of lightning and pursued Liu Tianyun along the aura he had left behind!
Hearing the rumbling sounds in the distance, he then curved his lips.
If only A Yi were here. When Crimson Lotus Demon Lord bullied them so badly before, this could be considered revenge.
"Achoo!"
"Martial Uncle, are you alright?" Yue Miaomiao glanced at Bai Shengyi and reminded him, "You've sneezed three times now. Could you have caught a cold?"
Lan Xuerou also said, "How about we rest for a while? You could refine some cold-relief pills for yourself first."
Lan Xuerou was also helpless. Although she and Yue Miaomiao had pills with them, they had given them to Qiu Wei when he was sick and had no medicine.
"It's fine, no need. I have pills on me," Bai Shengyi said, but he didn't overexert himself. He took a pill and then asked the two, "You don't have this prepared, do you?"
Just as Lan Xuerou was about to speak, Yue Miaomiao quickly recounted Qiu Wei's situation.
As she spoke, she glanced at the two people trailing far behind them and frowned, "They've been following us for three days."
That's right, their group had been following the Nether Crow into the depths of the dense forest for three days. This forest seemed endless, and they couldn't reach its end.
Over these three days, the deeper they went, the more they felt that Bai Shengyi's decision then had been truly timely, because along the way, they had also encountered spiritual beasts other than the Nether Crow, all heading towards the center of the forest.
Moreover, it was extremely strange that the sky above their heads remained in a state of dim light, as if the sky from the outer periphery to the center was a transition from dawn to night.
The path beneath their feet seemed not to be a forest or mountainous terrain, but stretched-out time.
"Plop!"
"Plop!"
…
"Did you hear that sound?" Lan Xuerou asked Bai Shengyi and Yue Miaomiao vigilantly, looking around.