Night gradually enveloped the deep, sunless and moonless depths of the ruins, making them exceedingly eerie.
Amidst the crumbling ruins, three bonfires burned, crackling sounds occasionally emanating from the flames, scattering sparks.
Next to the central bonfire were Yuan Chen and his hired brother-in-law, a fierce bandit, while to the left were Zhuo Wanqiu and three other Lingjian Mountain Disciples.
They were also looking for someone and, seeing that the two seemed to have a direction, followed along.
On the left were the seven or eight people Ji You had casually rescued along the way, huddled by the bonfire, too scared to sleep, their faces etched with lingering fear.
In Yuan Chen's view, his brother-in-law seemed to have some kind of obsessive-compulsive disorder.
He would constantly chatter about hiding from everyone and never seeking treasure to avoid the deadly misfortune of 'a man's innocence is his ruin when he possesses a treasure,' yet he couldn't stand by and watch people die.
According to him, these Lower Three Realms Disciples clearly didn't enter voluntarily and shouldn't die here because of someone else's Immortal Fate.
What a conflicted person...
Yuan Chen mused, summoning the sensing Jade Plate from his gourd. Seeing the faint light already present on it, his heart calmed considerably.
He could already sense his sister's presence, meaning he would find her soon.
This allowed Yuan Chen's tightly strung nerves to relax a little. He closed his eyes slightly, and the night passed into dawn.
On the second day, everyone continued deeper, heading towards the high mountain where Immortal Light surged.
The closer they got to the mountain, the denser the Evil Qi became, almost reaching its limit in suppressing Spirit Origin.
A few people had been attacked by other Sect Disciples the previous day, expending all their Spiritual Qi. If this were outside the ruins, it would take only a little over an hour to recover.
Yet, after a night, the recovered Spiritual Qi was still less than half.
This made Zhuo Wanqiu and the others feel increasingly heavy-hearted, and they began to entertain thoughts of withdrawing.
In contrast, the Tianshu Academy Disciple who had saved them with his sword always had an exceptionally abundant supply of Spiritual Qi, as if he possessed an extra Spirit Origin compared to everyone else, which greatly puzzled them.
“Someone’s coming.”
“?”
Just as they reached a mountain hollow, Ji You suddenly spoke, and the three longswords on his back responded, hovering in the air, overflowing with Spiritual Qi.
Upon hearing this, everyone's expressions turned wary, and they quickly brandished their weapons.
In recent days, the Seven Great Immortal Sects had sent more Disciples in, and disputes and conflicts intensified.
Especially as they went deeper, the more bloodstains they saw, and corpses were everywhere, which meant danger could appear at any moment.
Just as everyone's nerves were taut, five people emerged from the forest.
When she clearly saw their faces and attire, Zhuo Wanqiu was slightly startled, immediately relaxed, and sheathed her longsword.
There were five newcomers: three were Lingjian Mountain Disciples, and two were Asked the Dao Sect Disciples.
Leading them was a female Sword Cultivator from Lingjian Mountain, with a red cinnabar mark on her brow, holding her sword in a reverse grip, her face cold and arrogant, instructing the other two to remain vigilant at all times.
“That’s my Lingjian Mountain Senior Sister Ding Yao, Young Master, please sheath your sword.”
Ji You turned to Zhuo Wanqiu: “How can a Tong Xuan Realm Initial Stage command two Tong Xuan Middle Stage?”
Zhuo Wanqiu pursed her lips: “Young Master, you may not know, Senior Sister Ding Yao is the maid of our Master Jian, and holds a quite high status in the Sect.”
“What about those two men? Are they her maids too?” Ji You’s eyes slightly chilled.
“Young Master misunderstands. Those two are both Asked the Dao Sect Disciples. I recognize the one walking in front; he is Senior Brother Min Cheng, an inner Disciple of Asked the Dao Sect.”
“Trustworthy?”
Zhuo Wanqiu nodded: “Senior Brother Min Cheng has admired Senior Sister Ding Yao for many years, so he should be trustworthy.”
Ji You sheathed his sword, his eyes slightly cold: “An Asked the Dao Sect direct Disciple likes your Master Jian, and now there’s an Asked the Dao Sect Disciple pursuing her personal maid?”
“Our Lingjian Mountain and Asked the Dao Sect have always been on good terms, so this is nothing new.”
“Why doesn't Lingjian Mountain have good relations with Tianshu Academy?”
Zhuo Wanqiu was stunned, thinking to herself that one was in the southernmost region and the other in the northern heartland; they were truly too far apart, so how could they be on good terms?
At the same time, Ding Yao and Min Cheng also discovered Ji You's group in the woods and quickly drew their swords.
Zhuo Wanqiu panicked at the sight, fearing that a misunderstanding would lead to conflict, and immediately stepped forward to bow.
“Senior Sister Ding, I am Zhuo Wanqiu, an Outer Disciple of Lingjian Mountain.”
Ding Yao revealed a questioning look: “How could an Outer Disciple be here?”
Zhuo Wanqiu straightened up: “We are looking for Disciples who went missing in Qingzhou, and our search led us here.”
Min Cheng remembered the rumors about Master Jian asking about the mountain a few days ago and immediately widened his eyes: “Were you the ones who followed Junior Sister Yan when she went to the Chen Clan to ask about the mountain?”
“It was us.”
“Then where is she? My Senior Brother Shang Xiyao is thinking of her every day.”
It was widely known throughout the Qingyun World that Shang Xiyao, the direct Disciple of Asked the Dao Sect, had long been infatuated with Lingjian Mountain's Master Jian.
Zhuo Wanqiu pursed her lips after hearing this: “Master Jian did not come here; she went to investigate another matter.”
Ding Yao heard this and looked at Min Cheng, smiling like a flower: “Senior Brother Min, when you return, first advise Senior Brother Shang not to be impatient. Master Jian and I are like sisters; if Master Jian returns to the mountain, I will naturally send a message.”
Min Cheng nodded after hearing this: “Then I will trouble Junior Sister Ding.”
“It is we who should thank Senior Brother Min and Senior Brother Shang. Although the spirit mirror belongs to my Xuanjian Peak, the Tianjian Peak lineage is always covetous. To speak frankly, Asked the Dao Sect will be Master Jian's greatest reliance.”
Ding Yao finished speaking and looked at Zhuo Wanqiu: “Have you found anything?”
Zhuo Wanqiu took out a fruit from her bosom: “We found this...”
“Vermilion Fruit?!”
“Yes, we found it by chance on the roadside.”
Ding Yao quickly took the fruit into her hand, her eyes somewhat fervent: “Are there any more?”
Zhuo Wanqiu shook her head, thinking that even this single fruit had almost cost them their lives, so how could there be a second one?
Min Cheng glanced at the fruit, then turned and pointed to Ji You and the others still standing in the woods: “Junior Sister, do you think they have any more on them?”
Ding Yao pondered for a moment, then said to the two Profound Connection Realm Disciples: “Go, search them.”
“Senior Sister, no! They are Fellow Daoists who accompanied us!”
“Don’t worry, we won’t harm their lives. The highest Realm among these few is only Junior Third Realm Completion. What’s the harm in searching them?”
Zhuo Wanqiu watched as the two Tong Xuan Realm Disciples approached Ji You, her mind instantly blank.
That was no ordinary Junior Third Realm Completion; let alone Tong Xuan Realm, in this place, with his Qi circulation rate, he might even be able to exhaust a Rongdao Realm to death!
Moreover, that Tianshu Academy Disciple had saved her life, but she was a Lingjian Mountain Disciple. If a fight broke out, who should she help?
At this moment, Zhuo Wanqiu's face was full of tension, as if she saw the Sword Qi roaring out like surging waves.
Although she hadn't chosen a target yet, her hand was already on the hilt of her sword.
“Why are you nervous?”
“That… that person’s sword is very powerful.”
Ding Yao sneered upon hearing this, thinking to herself that it was common knowledge that Lingjian Mountain's Sword Dao was unrivaled in the world, and she had never heard of any Sword Dao masters among Tianshu Academy Disciples.
Besides, no matter how strong a Junior Third Realm Completion was, what could he do against two Rongdao Realm cultivators?
As expected, Ji You and Yuan Chen did not resist, allowing themselves to be searched, just like the other solitary Cultivators.
Seeing this scene, Zhuo Wanqiu's eyes widened slightly.
Because in her opinion, although the white-robed Tianshu Academy Disciple appeared harmless, his Sword Intent was exceptionally sharp.
Sword Intent is the Sword Heart, and the Sword Heart is the human heart.
She knew that the Tianshu Academy Disciple would absolutely not be someone who would swallow his anger.
But at this moment, he allowed himself to be searched without a change in expression, which greatly puzzled Zhuo Wanqiu.
A moment later, the two Lingjian Mountain Tong Xuan Realm Disciples returned, shaking their heads and stating that they had nothing on them.
Ding Yao then looked at Zhuo Wanqiu: “Come with us. The Lingjian Mountain Disciples are currently waiting in the mountain hollow. We are going to the deepest part to find the greatest Immortal Fate for Lingjian Mountain.”
Zhuo Wanqiu was stunned: “But we still need to find someone.”
“What if we lose a few Disciples? But if this Immortal Fate is obtained by other Immortal Sects, how can we still stand proudly in this Qingyun World!”
Ding Yao disregarded Zhuo Wanqiu’s objections and led her people away.
At this moment, Yuan Chen was tidying his disheveled clothes, then turned to Ji You, his eyes filled with confusion.
“Brother-in-law, they even touched our chests, and you just let them humiliate you like that?”
“What else could I do?”
“They can’t beat you here!”
“After all, they are Lingjian Mountain Disciples. Let it go this time. When we meet their Master Jian, I’ll search her to get it back.”
Yuan Chen grinned after hearing this, thinking that his brother-in-law sure could brag.
That was the fastest Sky Soaring Realm in the Qingyun World. Forget searching her bosom; you might be struck dead if you even looked at her too much.
Ji You didn't explain. He glanced at the departing Ding Yao, then picked up his sword and headed deeper into the forest.