Liu Piaopiao did not reply. The suitors around her immediately started to scold, "How dare you question Senior Sister Liu Piaopiao of Xianling Mountain, who gave you the guts."
"Do you even have eyes?"
"Good heavens, how could she be so rude to Senior Sister Liu Piaopiao."
...
Hearing the scathing remarks from those around her directed at Su Xi, Liu Piaopiao waved her hand, her voice gentle as she comforted, "Don't worry, little sister, I won't blame you."
"I was just being friendly and wanted to get to know you. Since you're unwilling, I'll leave then."
After saying that, Liu Piaopiao looked heartbroken and prepared to depart.
Su Xi felt disgusted by the overly dramatic display of Liu Piaopiao.
Indeed, theatrics are popular in any world.
Liu Piaopiao had intended to pressure Su Xi into backing down with reason, but to her surprise, Su Xi simply stepped aside and made a "please, go ahead" gesture. Faced with Su Xi's unconventional response, Liu Piaopiao was momentarily stumped.
Having already declared her departure, staying now would only lead to embarrassment.
Liu Piaopiao inwardly cursed Su Xi for her lack of social grace and left with a dark expression.
Her admirers immediately followed.
Many, while verbally condemning Su Xi, were secretly overjoyed. An opportunity to comfort their goddess was not to be missed, especially one that allowed them to show off.
In an instant, the mission hall was half empty.
Su Xi ignored the pointing fingers around her and selected a mission to hunt a Level 1 demon beast.
Level 1 demon beasts possessed only slightly more intelligence than ordinary beasts, with little difference in strength. As long as she was careful, her chances of completing the mission were quite high.
To become stronger, one had to take risks.
Lin Qing's eyes nearly popped out when he heard the mission Su Xi had accepted. He had only wanted her to take on small tasks, not to court death.
However, he was also well aware that canceling a mission incurred a breach of contract penalty.
Penglai Mountain had no points to spare, making them unable to afford the penalty.
After some thought, Lin Qing reluctantly fumbled in his pocket and produced a talisman, which he handed to Su Xi with great reluctance. "If you encounter danger, use this Heavenly Thunder Talisman to save your life."
A single Heavenly Thunder Talisman was worth far more than a Level 1 demon beast. He felt he was losing out considerably.
But losing Su Xi would pain him even more.
"Thank you, Master." Su Xi wasn't particularly worried about hunting demon beasts. Her cultivation was weak, but she used modern weaponry.
As Su Xi left Penglai Mountain and headed for the back hills to hunt the Level 1 demon beast, she failed to notice two figures who had somehow appeared behind her.
The two glanced at Su Xi's retreating back, then exchanged knowing smiles. Their smiles held an unspoken malice.
Every year, many overconfident disciples were bitten or mauled to death by demon beasts in the back hills. If Su Xi, a useless disciple with mediocre spiritual roots, were to die there, no one would suspect them.
After all, disciples of Luosheng Gate were masters of beast taming. Tampering with wild beasts was as easy as pie.
Su Xi arrived at the back hills, the area indicated in the mission where demon beasts were sighted. She didn't act rashly, but instead began to observe her surroundings carefully.
Her years of cautious habit dictated that she prepare thoroughly before acting.
Su Xi had not taken many steps when a furious beast's roar suddenly echoed in her ears. The immense sound shook the trees in the entire forest, causing them to rustle, and the ground vibrated violently.
Caught off guard, she nearly fell to the ground, her face paling slightly.
Wild beasts in the forest could cause such a disturbance with just a roar; their true strength was unfathomable.
This was definitely not the strength of a Level 1 demon beast.
The two figures hidden in the shadows watched Su Xi's slightly disheveled state and revealed cruel smiles.
This was a Level 2 demon beast, the Howling Sky Tiger, that they had prepared specifically for Su Xi. A good show was about to unfold.
Once they confirmed that Su Xi had been locked onto by the Howling Sky Tiger, they slowly withdrew from the scene. After all, their intention was only to harm Su Xi, not to get themselves involved.
The Howling Sky Tiger had an extremely keen sense of smell, especially in its enraged state.
Even at a considerable distance, they couldn't guarantee they wouldn't be detected.
"Roar~"
After the two departed, the Howling Sky Tiger's roars behind them grew increasingly frenzied.
With its roars, a suffocating killing intent spread uncontrollably in all directions.
Upon hearing the intensifying roars from behind, Xiong Da and Xiong Er grew more excited, convinced that Su Xi was doomed.
A fully unleashed Howling Sky Tiger was an opponent even for Foundation Establishment cultivators, who could only avoid direct confrontation.
Su Xi, a mere newcomer with no cultivation, facing an unleashed Howling Sky Tiger, was surely in dire straits. They only needed to wait and observe to get the answer they desired.
As the two left the back hills, the ferocious expressions on their faces instantly receded like a tide, replaced by their previous honest and simple demeanor. Estimating that enough time had passed, they took out their distress talismans and quickly ignited them.
As inspector disciples, they were obligated to report any abnormal situation.
Shortly after the message was sent, the sound of wind tearing through the air was heard, followed by a colossal sword, intricately carved with patterns, descending from the sky. A person lay casually on the sword, leisurely drinking from a wine gourd.
Xiong Da and Xiong Er recognized the newcomer and respectfully stepped forward, "Greetings, Senior Brother Tang."
Tang Yifeng, having formed his Golden Core before the age of twenty, was one of the most outstanding young disciples of Shushan. They were merely two outer disciples and dared not offend him.
Tang Yifeng lowered his wine gourd and pointed in the direction of the back hills, "What happened that required the use of a distress talisman?"
"A Level 2 demon beast, the Howling Sky Tiger, went berserk in the back hills, and a disciple is missing..." Xiong Da blinked and anxiously recounted the events.
"Howling Sky Tiger?" Tang Yifeng took a swig of wine and nonchalantly replied, "Just a little cat. Allow me to handle it."
Before he could finish speaking, his actions immediately halted.
It wasn't that he had been proven wrong; rather, he saw a woman in the distance walking towards them, dragging a dead tiger. The tiger, now motionless on the ground, was the very Howling Sky Tiger the two had spoken of.
Xiong Da and Xiong Er stared at Su Xi's actions, their mouths agape.
They couldn't fathom how Su Xi, without any cultivation, could possess the ability to defeat the Howling Sky Tiger.
They couldn't help but suspect that they had administered too much of the drug, causing the Howling Sky Tiger to die from overexcitement.
Tang Yifeng glanced at Xiong Da and Xiong Er's expressions, recognizing their unusual behavior but paying them no mind. He was only interested in improving his own strength and didn't want to be burdened by trivial matters.
Therefore, he was merely curious about how Su Xi managed to fight beyond her level.
He had studied numerous cases of the weak defeating the strong in the past, but he never expected to find a living example right beside him.
He knew Su Xi had only joined the sect recently and was, in essence, still a mortal. Her victory over the Howling Sky Tiger was far more research-worthy than other examples.