Seeing the young girl appear, Wen Tutu let out a delighted little gasp and was about to pounce over, but Ning Yuzhou quickly pressed it down.
The young girl looked at them in surprise and joy, then called out, “Husband!”
Qian Shou stared in shock at the person who had suddenly appeared. For a moment, he could not react and could only watch as the young girl happily ran toward them.
The other Shadow Scaled Guards also recognised her identity. Seeing that their master and Qian Shou did not speak, they made no move either, keeping strictly to their duties.
And so, Wen Qiao ran over smoothly.
Ning Yuzhou also stood up, his face full of joy as he caught the person who threw herself at him and held her tightly in his arms.
The husband and wife were finally reunited openly.
Wen Tutu happily jumped onto Wen Qiao’s head and lay there, making a satisfied teeth-grinding sound.
Its little seedling had returned.
The demon rabbit’s satisfied grinding finally brought Qian Shou back to his senses.
As the person with the highest cultivation here, and also Ning Yuzhou’s guard, Qian Shou had many things to pay attention to. Seeing someone who had supposedly died return to life, his instinct told him there was a conspiracy.
However, Ning Yuzhou’s reaction told him that the young girl who had suddenly appeared in the dangerous depths of Lin Tai Mountain was indeed Wen Qiao, whom he had once believed had died in the secret realm.
When Ning Yuzhou had said she was not dead and even wanted to go find her, Qian Shou had thought he was simply unwilling to accept Wen Qiao’s death. Later, when they left Lin Tai Hunting Valley and Ning Yuzhou told outsiders that Wen Qiao had been taken away by foreign cultivators, Qian Shou had merely listened and not taken it seriously…
All of Qian Shou’s thoughts withdrew before the gentle joy on Ning Yuzhou’s face.
No matter how many doubts there were, and no matter how unbelievable returning from the dead might be, to his master, none of that mattered.
Because of Wen Qiao’s return, their resting time doubled.
Ning Yuzhou brought Wen Qiao into the temporary tent set up by the Shadow Scaled Guards, took out clean clothes for her to wash up, then untied her casually tied hair and gently combed it with a jade-toothed comb.
It had only been two days apart, yet his little wife had already made herself look so dishevelled again, and had not even tied her hair properly.
Wen Qiao sat there obediently, holding the little rabbit in her arms.
As she stroked Wen Tutu’s soft, clean fur, she asked worriedly, “Husband, will Qian Shou suspect anything?”
When they entered Lin Tai Mountain, Ning Yuzhou had already planned to let Wen Qiao appear openly. He was unwilling to let Wen Qiao keep hiding from others. Not only would that wrong her, it would also stop her from properly training and improving her strength.
So when they encountered the two Vajra Apes, Ning Yuzhou had taken the chance to let Wen Qiao leave first and then find an opportunity to appear.
For the past two days, Wen Qiao had been following behind them.
Ever since she successfully transformed into her demon body, nature had become Wen Qiao’s best camouflage. As long as she was in an environment filled with spiritual plants, she could blend herself into it and hide her aura. Unless someone’s cultivation was extremely high, they would not be able to discover her presence at all.
This concealment method brought by her bloodline talent was different from the concealment technique Qian Shou cultivated. It was more brilliant, even merging her aura completely with the surrounding spiritual plants. Even the demon beasts in the forest found it difficult to discover her.
That was why even Qian Shou had not discovered that someone had been following behind them from a neither-too-near-nor-too-far distance.
Ning Yuzhou said unhurriedly, “He won’t. He is a clever person.”
Even if a clever person noticed the doubts within the matter, they would not say so, much less ask too much. Without question, Qian Shou was a clever person. That was why Ning Yuzhou had formed a same-path contract with him back then.
Wen Qiao subconsciously wanted to turn and look at him, but a hand held her in place. “Don’t move. I’m almost done tying it.”
Wen Qiao obediently sat still.
After he had gathered and tied up her hair, Ning Yuzhou looked at it and realised the little girl had too few accessories. When he had time another day, he should make her some little-girl ornaments, refining them into defensive spiritual tools and the like—both beautiful and practical.
When the husband and wife came out of the tent, Qian Shou brought over prepared roasted meat and meat soup.
A simple isolation formation had been set up around them, keeping the smell inside so that the Shadow Scaled Guards’ cooking would not attract other demon beasts. Although they were travelling outside, they still remembered that Wen Qiao was weak and sickly and needed to eat food containing spiritual energy to nourish her body.
Only…
Qian Shou quickly glanced at Wen Qiao and found that, seeing her again, this lady’s complexion was much better. She no longer looked sickly and weak, as if she might die young at any moment.
Wen Qiao glanced at Qian Shou and softly thanked him.
Qian Shou said, “Madam need not thank me. This is what this subordinate should do.”
After saying this, he arranged the food on a small table, then withdrew and stood guard not far away. It was a distance that was neither too close nor too far—he would not disturb the couple’s time together, but could still protect them at any moment.
Wen Qiao stared at Qian Shou’s back and found that he truly showed no suspicion. He had even accepted her return from the dead and sudden appearance very calmly.
Wen Qiao somehow felt relieved.
Actually, when Ning Yuzhou decided to let her appear openly, Wen Qiao had been somewhat worried, afraid that one careless mistake would expose both of their miraculous bloodlines. But Ning Yuzhou had told her not to worry and to leave everything to him.
Wen Qiao had always trusted this husband of hers.
The roasted meat was demon beast meat hunted in Lin Tai Mountain. After entering Lin Tai Mountain, they had encountered quite a few demon beasts along the way. If they met ones they could deal with, they would hunt and store them. Not only could they serve as food, but after leaving Dongling, they could also be sold outside for yuan crystals. If they encountered higher-rank ones, they would take a detour and avoid direct conflict.
The earlier encounter with the Vajra Apes had been purely accidental. The Vajra Apes had clearly targeted them and would not stop until one side was dead.
After eating a hot, delicious meal, Wen Qiao was in a very good mood, and a little more smile appeared on her face.
“Husband, where do we go next?” Wen Qiao asked.
Ning Yuzhou pointed to the place not far away that was blocked off by the formation and said, “Do you see that mountain crack over there? Passing through there is the shortcut leading outside Lin Tai Mountain.”
Once they had rested enough, the Shadow Scaled Guards quickly packed up and set off again.
Qian Shou entered first, followed by Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao, while the Shadow Scaled Guards brought up the rear.
The entrance to the narrow crack was very tight, only wide enough for one person to enter. After walking for about half an hour, the surroundings finally opened up, becoming a passage that could allow three people to walk side by side.
The passage was pitch black. A cold wind blew from its depths, instantly raising goosebumps on one’s skin.
Wen Qiao rested her hand on the Stone-Gold Python Whip at her waist and held Ning Yuzhou with her other hand, staying alert to their surroundings in case of danger.
They walked through this dark, narrow mountain path for nearly three days. At noon on the third day, a faint light finally appeared ahead.
They had finally reached the end.
Qian Shou’s spirits lifted. He told them to wait where they were while he went ahead to investigate the situation outside. Only after confirming it was safe did he let them come out.
As they stepped out of the narrow mountain path, warm sunlight poured down from above.
Wen Qiao looked around and found that the exit of this shortcut was in an unremarkable valley. The valley was lush with vegetation, most of it low-value spiritual plants. A few low-rank demon beasts lived there, but there was nothing especially valuable, so it did not attract attention.
Before leaving the valley, Ning Yuzhou reinforced the formation there again.
—
Cangwu Town was built beside a major road that crossed the Shengwu Continent from east to west. Not far away lay the vast, boundless Cangwu Mountain. Because many cultivators came to Cangwu Mountain to train, Cangwu Town was also extremely lively and prosperous.
There were many demon beasts in Cangwu Mountain. It was said that eighth- and ninth-rank high-level demon beasts lived deep inside, making it a training ground for many cultivators.
Aside from demon beasts, there were also many spiritual herbs in the mountain. It was said that a group once entered the mountain to train and were lucky enough to discover Revival Grass. Unfortunately, an eighth-rank Earth-Splitting Bear guarded it. Their cultivation was insufficient, and in the end, they escaped only after a narrow brush with death. How could they still dare dream of taking the Revival Grass?
After this news spread, reactions varied.
Some believed it and flocked eagerly to Cangwu Mountain. Of course, even more people did not believe it and sneered, thinking that if there really were Revival Grass, why would anyone announce it so widely? Who knew if it was not a trap?
Later, when those who entered Cangwu Mountain failed to return for a long time and had likely long died inside, the rumour about the Revival Grass was gradually replaced by other rumours. No one believed there was Revival Grass in Cangwu Mountain anymore.
Inside Cangwu Mountain, two cultivators were being chased by a flock of fourth-rank Ice-Patterned Goats, fleeing in extreme danger.
The leading Ice-Patterned Goat was enormous, twice as strong as the surrounding goats. It was the leader of the flock, a fifth-rank Ice-Patterned Goat.
Seeing the flock chase them relentlessly, their life-saving items were running out, and their spirit pills for replenishing primordial spiritual energy had already been exhausted. If they could not shake off this flock, they would both die here.
The male cultivator hardened his heart and made a decision. Urgently, he said, “Hongyue, run! I’ll hold them off!”
Shang Hongyue’s face turned pale, her eyes filled with tears. She tightly clutched her elder brother Shang Honglang’s hand and refused to let go even in death. “No, I won’t go! Brother, at worst, we siblings will die here together!”
How could Shang Honglang allow that? He steeled his heart, seized the chance to lift his sister, and threw her far to the side, shouting sternly, “Run! You’re not allowed to come back!”
There happened to be a slope there, and Shang Hongyue rolled straight down it, crying out miserably for her brother.
Seeing that the Ice-Patterned Goats ignored his sister rolling down the slope, Shang Honglang’s heart relaxed. He knew he had gambled correctly. His face flushed purple as he forced out another burst of strength and led the flock of Ice-Patterned Goats running in another direction, buying time for his sister to escape.
The leading Ice-Patterned Goat let out bleating sounds, as if urging something on.
Amid those bleats, the other Ice-Patterned Goats seemed to receive divine help. Their speed increased again, and they finally caught up to Shang Honglang.
The freezing aura from the Ice-Patterned Goats attacked from behind. Shang Honglang knew he could not escape this calamity. The primordial spiritual energy in his spiritual apertures had already dried up, and he could not even muster the strength to dodge. He could only close his eyes unwillingly and let his body be sent flying by the Ice-Patterned Goats.
Just as Shang Honglang thought he would crash to the ground and be trampled into meat paste, his waist suddenly tightened, and his body flew up again.
Wind whistled past his ears. Then his body landed, crashing into a lush bush.
Although he was dizzy from the fall, Shang Honglang remained extremely alert. He opened his eyes and saw a young girl ahead, wielding a stone-gold long whip and sweeping away the flock of Ice-Patterned Goats charging wildly toward them.
The girl was thin and slender, looking too weak to withstand a breeze, yet the stone-gold whip in her hand moved with powerful force. The fourth-rank Ice-Patterned Goats were swept into the air by the whip.
The scene was extremely astonishing.
One had to know that fourth-rank Ice-Patterned Goats were equivalent to Yuan Bright Realm cultivators. Moreover, they were ice-attribute demon beasts, and their frosty aura was extremely damaging to spiritual weapons. Many spiritual weapons became ineffective before them and could not attack. Each time Ice-Patterned Goats appeared, they came in large flocks of no fewer than a hundred, not to mention there was also a fifth-rank Ice-Patterned Goat leading them.
Imagine a hundred Yuan Bright Realm cultivators plus one Yuan Martial Realm cultivator swarming forward together—how could that not give someone a headache?
Cultivators below the Yuan Martial Realm would gain no advantage against them.
Shang Honglang’s expression grew grave, and he hurriedly shouted, “Miss, be careful! There is still a fifth-rank Ice-Patterned Goat there!”
The other party did not answer. She stayed where she was, moving the long whip with superb skill, sweeping away all the Ice-Patterned Goats that charged toward her and not allowing a single one to cross the line.
This action indeed enraged the leader behind them.
“Baa~~ baa baa~~”
A long, bright bleating sounded. The flock became restless again. The Ice-Patterned Goats that had been swept away all bleated in response. Frost condensed around them, covering the plants with a layer of ice. The temperature dropped, and the whole world became a land of frost.
Seeing this, Shang Honglang knew the leader had made its move. Ignoring the fact that he himself had been frozen by the frost, he hurriedly shouted, “Miss, don’t get caught up in battle! Hurry and—”
“Gugu~”
A strange sound rang out, interrupting Shang Honglang.
Shang Honglang opened his mouth and was about to continue persuading her when he heard a miserable bleat from the distance. The frosty aura around them also seemed to lessen.
Everything that happened next left Shang Honglang staring dumbfounded, unable to react.
The young girl in front was still wielding the stone-gold long whip, battling the Ice-Patterned Goats, while the leading goat in the distance had already gone silent. No one knew what had happened to it.
“Are you all right?”
A warm, gentle voice suddenly sounded. Shang Honglang turned his head and saw a man standing not far away, dressed in a cyan brocade robe. He was refined and handsome, with a noble bearing.
The man looked very young. Although his cultivation was not high, he carried a calm and unhurried air. His whole person gave off a warm, gentle feeling that made others feel very favourable toward him.
Shang Honglang was stunned. Just as he was about to say something, the elegant and gentle man walked over, checked his injuries, and handed him a spirit pill.
This was a supreme-grade mystic-rank Spring Revival Pill. It was round and full, its colour like jade, its brilliance restrained, without the slightest impurity.
Shang Honglang’s pupils shrank slightly. Mystic-rank pills naturally were not considered high-level spirit pills, but supreme-grade was different. As long as it was a supreme-grade pill, even if it was only the lowest yellow-rank pill, it was extremely precious.
Only supreme-grade pills left no pill toxins in a cultivator’s body after consumption. They were the spirit pills pursued by all alchemists and cultivators.
With complicated feelings, Shang Honglang accepted it and said softly, “Many thanks, Young Master. I am Shang Honglang.”
The warm and approachable young master replied, “I am Ning Yuzhou.”
Shang Honglang swallowed the Spring Revival Pill. Very quickly, under the pill’s effect, the injuries on his body recovered, and his dried-up spiritual apertures regained more than half of their primordial spiritual energy. His heavy body became extremely light.
Shang Honglang opened his eyes, full of amazement.
As expected of a supreme-grade mystic-rank Spring Revival Pill. Not only could it heal internal and external injuries, but it also had the effect of restoring spiritual energy.
To casually hand out a supreme-grade Spring Revival Pill—even a friend might not be this generous. Could this Young Master Ning be an alchemist?
Thinking of this, Shang Honglang looked at Ning Yuzhou with burning eyes.
As Shang Honglang’s injuries recovered, the battle on the other side also neared its end.
When he heard waves of bleating, Shang Honglang turned to look and was instantly stunned.
Nearly a hundred Ice-Patterned Goats had been bound by stone-gold vines and were hanging high in the air. Frosty aura continuously overflowed from their bodies, but it had no effect on the stone-gold vines, which still hung them high. Occasionally, the vines would even shake them a few times, making them cry out even more miserably.
As for that fifth-rank leading goat…
Shang Honglang checked and found that it had also been hung up. Compared with the ordinary Ice-Patterned Goats, this one looked especially miserable. Its silver-white wool was sparse and patchy, as if something had shaved off half of it, revealing torn flesh beneath. Crimson blood seeped from the wounds, making it look extremely wretched.
At this moment, the young girl holding the stone-gold long whip returned, carrying a fluffy little rabbit.
This time, Shang Honglang clearly saw the young girl’s appearance. She was about fourteen or fifteen years old. Although she still had a childish air, she already possessed the early grace of a young maiden. Her beauty was peerless; she was a rarely seen beauty. Yet her figure was thin, and there was a faint frailty between her brows, making her seem delicate, timid, and too weak to stand against the wind.
Of course, that impression shattered when the young girl dragged over the entire string of Ice-Patterned Goats tied up by vines and dumped them onto the ground with a bang.
Uh. So she was actually a delicate-looking tyrant flower.
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