Chapter 209: How Is Yu Zhao’s Brain Even Built Like This?
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The lush forest was thick with mist, tranquil and silent.
A shadow darted through the intricate branches, leaving behind a rich and exotic fragrance.
Rustle, rustle, rustle…
Soft scraping sounds echoed through the forest.
Suddenly, numerous demonic beasts poked their heads out, swaying as if drunk. Even the more ferocious ones stumbled clumsily, irresistibly drawn by the alluring scent. In no time, the quiet woods turned lively with activity.
Yu Zhao sensed the persistent presence trailing her and her eyes lit up. Without hesitation, she dispelled the spiritual energy barrier surrounding the Ice and Fire Ghost Orchid and used her spiritual energy to intensify the fragrance’s spread.
Before long, the forest resonated with beastly roars from all directions, accompanied by the thunderous rumbling of their movement. From a bird’s-eye view, the scene would reveal demonic beasts converging from every direction, all centering on Yu Zhao.
Closing her eyes to sense the auras around her, Yu Zhao decisively chose to head north. Whether she could shake off the two drakes chasing her depended entirely on this move.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
To the north, a massive demonic beast with rocky, rugged skin lumbered forward. Each step left deep imprints in the ground and reverberated like a minor earthquake.
Suddenly, the beast stopped, its head turning in confusion to scan its surroundings. A red and a blue drake emerged from the forest, their powerful tails whipping simultaneously to send the giant beast flying.
The beast tumbled across the ground, crashing through multiple trees before finally coming to a halt. Covered in fallen leaves and twigs, it shook its head furiously. Its round eyes burned with anger as it scanned the area, but the two drakes had already vanished.
“Moo—!”
Letting out an enraged bellow, it furiously scraped its thick front limbs against the ground. Its head turned sharply, soon spotting the drakes far in the distance.
It growled thunderously and charged ahead like a berserk bull, crashing through everything in its path.
As it stormed away, Yu Zhao’s figure emerged quietly on a nearby tree branch.
The Rock Beast, known for its stone-hard body and low intelligence, was infamous for its vengeful nature. It was the first obstacle she had set up for the drakes.
Next, she used the Fleeting Life Mirror to create illusions of the two drakes, deliberately provoking other demonic beasts.
With both the illusions and the Ice and Fire Ghost Orchid’s scent stirring them up, the beasts couldn’t discern the trickery. Fueled by unrestrained rage, they focused their attacks solely on the drakes.
Yu Zhao circled the forest twice, and while the drakes and the beasts fought in chaos, she quietly slipped away.
Of course, she didn’t run far. Finding a narrow crevice near a volcano, she squeezed inside and began working to break the seal on the Ice and Fire Ghost Orchid.
Without storing it safely in her storage space, the orchid would inevitably cause greater trouble down the line.
Fortunately, the process of unsealing was easier than Yu Zhao anticipated. In less than half the time it took for a stick of incense to burn, she managed to store the orchid away and left the scene swiftly.
Outside the Floating Island, Sect Master Ji Yuan’s laughter was almost deafening.
“Ha! Look, look! I knew it wasn’t going to be that simple! Seriously, how is Yu Zhao’s brain even built? How can someone be this clever? Oh, amazing! Truly amazing!”
With his hands on his hips, his smug expression was so irritating that others wanted to punch him.
Sect Leader Chong Yang’s envy was palpable.
“Is Ji Han Zhou’s charm offensive even working? If not, we should switch tactics sooner rather than later. Hmm, Ah Zheng and Yu Zhao seem close… Maybe she could try instead?”
Master Wu Sang offered genuine praise. “Bold, meticulous, and composed—a natural talent for cultivation.”
The other sect leaders nodded in agreement, voicing their admiration. Watching Yu Zhao’s actions, none of them could spot the flaws that Master Qing Yan had mentioned. Instead, they only saw her brilliance. Unconsciously, their biases began to shift.
Unbeknownst to them, this subtle favoritism would become evident during the next dispute between Sect Master Ji Yuan and Master Qing Yan, when they’d realize they had already chosen a side: Yu Zhao over Qing Yan.
…
“Senior Brother… pant… did you all poke a bug’s nest? Why are they chasing us?!”
Finally escaping a massive wave of insect beasts, Silence leaned against a tree, panting heavily. Unworried, though slightly out of breath and flushed, maintained a calm and composed demeanor.
“Do not speak recklessly.”
“Senior Brother, I’m just asking why the insect beasts attacked us. How is that reckless talk?” Silence protested.
Since entering the Floating Island, Silence had come to understand that things could always get worse. His entry point was less than ideal—he had been teleported straight into a demonic beast’s lair. It had taken tremendous effort to “liberate” all the beasts there. Just as he thought he could catch a break, he ran into Unworried and Ye Cong Xin, and was promptly dragged into their escape party.
After running non-stop, he wasn’t even allowed a simple question. His senior brother was truly overbearing.
“Senior Brother Silence, it’s all my fault. Please don’t blame Senior Brother Unworried,” said Ye Cong Xin, her voice soft as she brushed back her disheveled hair.
Silence glanced at her, then quickly averted his gaze. Pulling a wooden fish from his sleeve, he began tapping it rhythmically. Ye Cong Xin carried an air of mystery, one Silence would rather avoid entangling himself with.
Ye Cong Xin’s expression stiffened slightly, while Unworried nodded in satisfaction. His junior brother’s practice of Silent Meditation was starting to show results. However, Unworried’s relief came too soon.
After catching his breath, Silence’s energy returned, and he subtly tried convincing his senior brother to ditch Ye Cong Xin. Just being in the same area as her made his heart race and his skin crawl. His heightened sixth sense, which had saved him from countless crises, warned him to stay far away from her. Yet, Unworried ignored his plea.
Unworried understood Silence’s concerns—he knew of his junior brother’s peculiar sensitivity. But their philosophies differed. Unworried, deeply influenced by Buddhist teachings, adhered to the belief: “If I don’t descend into hell, who will?” Precisely because Ye Cong Xin was a dangerous individual, Unworried felt compelled to keep her close, ensuring she wouldn’t harm others.
Silence both admired and resented his senior brother’s noble intentions. Meanwhile, Ye Cong Xin, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension, saw this as an opportunity to win Unworried’s favor. Adjusting her attire, she said with an air of humility, “Senior Brothers, there’s no need to argue over me. I know my abilities are lacking and I’ve become a burden. I’ll leave now. Take care, both of you.”
“Junior Sister Ye, there’s no need for that. This place is fraught with dangers. For your safety, you should stay with us,” Unworried replied.
“But…” Ye Cong Xin hesitated, glancing at Silence as if seeking his agreement.
Silence suppressed his instinctive reaction, tapping his wooden fish harder. His forced smile barely masked his discomfort.
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