Chapter 097

Chapter 97: A Fearless Youth

Following the roar, all cultivators engaged in battle froze for a moment, struck by the demon beast’s sonic attack. That brief pause was enough for the beasts, previously overwhelmed, to counterattack fiercely.

In an instant, a Golden Core Daoist Master from Treasure Blossom City appeared high above the battlefield. With a cold snort, he dispelled the sonic attack unleashed by the Jungle Tiger and charged forth, wielding his whisk to clash fiercely against the third-rank beast.

Yun Xi was among the few Foundation Establishment Cultivators unharmed by the sonic strike. This inspired her. As she struggled against the Five-Colored Boa, she focused her spirit sense into a sharp spike, driving it brutally into the beast’s head, determined to scramble its brains into mush. Her attempt succeeded brilliantly.

Instantly, the boa’s coils around Yun Xi loosened, its raised head slumping to the side lifelessly. Without hesitation, Yun Xi swiftly stored the beast in her storage pouch—it was her hard-earned spoil.

But releasing the attack drained her greatly, leaving her face pale. Just as she prepared to move, a sudden sharp pain shot through her ankle—a thumb-thick emerald snake had sunk its fangs into her flesh.

Feeling numbness spread rapidly through her body, Yun Xi quickly swallowed two detoxifying pills. With a wave of her hand, she summoned an ice spike that pinned the offending serpent in place.

“How dare you ambush me!”

Fury rising, Yun Xi crushed the green serpent into pulp with her staff. Soon, the antidote’s power eased the numbness, returning feeling to her paralyzed limbs, but she found herself once more encircled by snakes.

Yun Xi steadied herself with the long staff. Her fingers brushed her storage pouch, and hundreds of offensive talismans blossomed forth like flowers scattered by a celestial maiden. Activating the protective barrier from her magnolia hairpin, she swallowed a premium spirit replenishing pill to swiftly recover her depleted spiritual energy.

Thunderous explosions echoed continuously for several breaths, drowning out all other noise on the battlefield. Even Sheng Yu Hong stared in disbelief at Yun Xi’s reckless bravery.

“Does she want to die?”

With brows knitted tightly, Sheng Yu Hong soared towards Yun Xi, diving as the explosions ended to pull her free from the chaos.

As soon as the explosions ceased, Yun Xi expanded her spirit sense, hurriedly gathering her spoils. She wouldn’t leave a single treasure behind for others. At that moment, her senses caught someone rushing towards her.

Noticing Sheng Yu Hong, she immediately swung the Seven Star Fatal Staff with deliberate force. She admitted silently she had done it on purpose. Although he hadn’t harmed her yet—hadn’t stolen her spiritual roots or extracted her golden core—she still disliked him intensely.

The battlefield was the perfect place for such an “accident.” She even had her excuse ready: she’d mistakenly thought it was an airborne demon beast attacking.

Sheng Yu Hong, completely unprepared for this strike, instinctively raised his defense barrier. A purple lightning burst along the black staff, spreading quickly over the barrier. The barrier shattered after only two breaths.

That moment gave Sheng Yu Hong just enough time to dodge. Yun Xi inwardly lamented the missed chance, feigning shock as she exclaimed:

“Senior Brother Sheng, it’s you? I thought you were a flying demon beast.”

What could Sheng Yu Hong say? Seeing Yun Xi’s dirty robes and soot-covered face, he could only grit his teeth, saying:

“Junior Sister Wei, you’re surrounded by snakes. Let’s leave here first.”

This time, Yun Xi didn’t resist. She sheepishly lowered her head, admitting quietly:

“Senior Brother Sheng, I rushed my Foundation Establishment and haven’t yet mastered sword flight.”

That wasn’t entirely untrue. She’d only flown once after Foundation Establishment—and that was a shaky escape from the Crimson Beaked Falcon’s nest.

Sheng Yu Hong pressed his lips together, grabbed Yun Xi by the back of her collar, and soared swiftly away from the encircling snakes.

Yun Xi didn’t struggle this time. Despite feeling embarrassed at being carried, she knew she was still inexperienced. But even while dangling mid-air, she didn’t stay idle. She tossed offensive talismans at clusters of demon beasts below, lending aid where she could.

When Sheng Yu Hong dropped Yun Xi into the safety of the grand defensive formation, she had emptied half her pouch of second-rank offensive talismans.

As she landed, Qin Tong Shuang and Long Dao Yu quickly approached her.

“Senior Uncle Wei, you’re truly amazing!” praised Long Dao Yu sincerely.

Qin Tong Shuang, however, scolded gently:

“Yun Xi, you’re far too reckless! Charging into the demon beasts alone—without Senior Uncle Sheng, you would’ve been snake food.”

Yun Xi rubbed her nose sheepishly. She knew Qin Tong Shuang was just worried about her. She laughed awkwardly:

“I didn’t plan it! That Five-Colored Boa chased after me, knocking me straight into the snake horde with its tail.”

Long Dao Yu promptly interjected:

“You flattened its tail first.”

“Battle is life-or-death. Had I hesitated, I’d already be inside its belly! Anyway, I managed to kill it. I’m going to use its skin for a new robe. Totally worth it.”

Yun Xi felt content. For her first true battlefield experience, returning in one piece—even if the manner of return was humiliating—was satisfying enough.

As they conversed, a sharp cry suddenly pierced the air from deep within Treasure Blossom Range. The demon beasts abruptly stopped fighting as if receiving orders, slowly retreating back into the mountains.

Amazingly, the beasts even tidied the battlefield, carrying away their fallen comrades’ corpses.

The Golden Core Daoist Master who had fought the Jungle Tiger returned to the city walls. Human cultivators who had engaged in battle slowly retreated back into the protection of the city formation. Now, it was Yun Xi’s turn to welcome Mu Ning Zhu and the others.

Mu Ning Zhu had already swallowed a spirit-restoring pill and appeared stable, though pale from exertion. In just half an hour of battle, the human side had suffered casualties.

Fortunately, under Sheng Yu Hong’s careful watch, Grand Righteous Sect’s disciples had sustained no fatalities, though several were severely injured.

Sheng Yu Hong was the last to enter the defensive formation. Glancing around to confirm all disciples were present, he announced loudly:

“Everyone, go back and rest. The beasts’ sudden retreat likely means the negotiations have progressed. Let’s hold on a bit longer.”

“Yes, Senior Brother Sheng (Senior Uncle).”

With that, everyone departed to recuperate. Only Daoist Master Feng remained at the northern gate to maintain vigilance.

Upon returning to her quarters, Yun Xi activated the isolation formation and collapsed onto her bed. Dian Dian poked its head from her robes, sniffing her face carefully to ensure its master had only collapsed from exhaustion. Finally reassured, it settled beside her quietly.

During the battle, Dian Dian hadn’t dared peek out; the chaotic battlefield terrified it. It could only quietly monitor Yun Xi’s condition through their bond.

Yun Xi, barely ten years old after all, slept deeply for two hours. She woke up to a dark sky and stretched lazily before asking Dian Dian:

“What time is it?”

“Yin hour,” Dian Dian replied gently. “You were exhausted, so I didn’t wake you.”

Yun Xi sat up and began practicing her introductory body tempering movements.

The Interstellar Body Tempering Technique involved holding precise poses, reminding Yun Xi somewhat of yoga, yet distinctly different.

As soon as she assumed the first posture, soreness flared through her muscles. Promptly, she circulated her internal spiritual energy to soothe the pain. Soon, she noticed faint, star-like energy seeping into her very bones.