Chapter 100

Chapter 100: Encountering Demonic Cultivators

The three seated figures opened their eyes almost simultaneously. Zhang Yan had already stood up, peering cautiously outside through the formation barrier.

Mu Ning Zhu and Yun Xi both extended their divine senses outward at the same moment, scanning their surroundings. Qin Tong Shuang gripped her sword tightly, immediately on high alert.

As Yun Xi’s divine sense spread out, she saw familiar faces—it was the disciples from Hundred Flowers Pavilion whom they’d encountered at the tea house. But their numbers had dwindled; only two remained, surrounded and desperately fighting.

Their attackers were four cultivators with faces obscured by shadowy cloaks. Yun Xi sensed their cultivation levels and immediately frowned—all four were at the late Foundation Establishment stage. [How did the disciples of Hundred Flowers Pavilion provoke such formidable enemies?]

Mu Ning Zhu’s expression grew grave. She turned toward Qin Tong Shuang and instructed quietly, “Xiao Shuang, strengthen the formation’s defenses to their maximum.”

“Yes.” Qin Tong Shuang immediately obeyed, her fingers forming quick seals as she raised the defensive barrier to its highest setting, then returned silently to Mu Ning Zhu’s side.

Yun Xi whispered softly, “Senior Sister Mu, those are the cultivators from Hundred Flowers Pavilion we met earlier. Should we reveal ourselves?”

Mu Ning Zhu kept her gaze locked on the six figures gradually approaching, her voice uncertain, “Let’s watch first. Without knowing their conflict clearly, rash interference might drag unnecessary trouble onto ourselves.”

Zhang Yan, who had stayed silent until now, tightened his grip on his long staff and said coldly, “Senior Aunt Mu, those black-robed attackers appear to be demonic cultivators.”

Yun Xi’s eyes widened in shock. She’d read about demonic cultivators before, but this was the first time encountering them personally. Unable to restrain her curiosity, she stepped forward slightly, staring intently at the four shadowed figures, searching for clues.

Mu Ning Zhu’s brows knitted tightly. The problem wasn’t whether to act or not, but whether they even had the strength to help. Their group consisted of two early Foundation Establishment cultivators and two late Qi Refining disciples. How could they possibly fight against four powerful opponents?

Glancing again at Yun Xi’s innocent curiosity, Mu Ning Zhu felt even more troubled. Her junior sister might have reached Foundation Establishment, but she had almost no practical combat experience. Joining the fight would mean offering herself as easy prey.

Meanwhile, the six figures continued to move closer during their battle, putting Mu Ning Zhu under increasing pressure as she struggled to decide their next move.

At this moment, Yu Qing Cheng and her senior brother, Liu Hao Tian, were at their limits. They never expected the black-robed attackers would be so relentless.

Yu Qing Cheng’s phoenix eyes filled with anxiety as she shouted angrily, “Don’t push your luck! This is Lofty Cosmos Realm—not a place where you can act recklessly! We’ve already sent out a distress signal; if you don’t want to be hunted down, let us go!”

The four shadowed attackers remained silent, their attacks only growing more ruthless. They wielded curved blades, each swing drawing a disturbing, bloody aura.

Yu Qing Cheng and Liu Hao Tian’s robes were already shredded, with Liu Hao Tian bearing a blackened wound across his handsome, pale face—a clear sign of corrosive evil qi weakening him considerably.

Liu Hao Tian’s pale visage took on a hauntingly delicate beauty as he gritted his teeth, speaking icily, “Junior Sister, stop wasting words. They won’t let us go. It’s either we escape or die—I will never become a cultivation furnace!”

Yu Qing Cheng clenched her jaw, ceasing her protests. She swiftly tossed out a second-rank lightning talisman to briefly force back their attackers, then grabbed her senior brother’s hand and continued fleeing.

Inside the formation, the four observers clearly overheard the exchange. Each had a complicated expression on their faces.

Yun Xi was especially sensitive to the phrase “cultivation furnace.” She remembered reading in Cultivation Miscellanies that demonic cultivators practiced by forcibly absorbing another cultivator’s cultivation, reducing them into mere vessels known as furnaces—a cruel and predatory method.

“Senior Aunt Mu, what should we do?” Zhang Yan asked quietly, breaking the tense silence.

Mu Ning Zhu hesitated, torn. Even if she wished to help, their strength was insufficient. She didn’t want to endanger her juniors, and all she could think of was self-preservation.

Yun Xi didn’t wish to wade into trouble either, but seeing the fight drawing near, it was clear they’d inevitably be exposed. She decisively suggested, “Senior Sister Mu, we should take the initiative instead of waiting to be discovered.”

Mu Ning Zhu frowned. “I wish it were that easy. With just us four, we wouldn’t even fill the gaps between their teeth. We’d fail to save anyone and risk losing our own lives.”

Qin Tong Shuang remained silent, already contemplating if she should use her precious teleportation talisman to evacuate the group.

Zhang Yan tightened his grip helplessly, knowing he lacked strength and thus remained silent.

Yun Xi’s eyes gleamed cleverly, and she quickly proposed, “Senior Sister Mu, perhaps we could bluff them.”

Mu Ning Zhu immediately turned, asking, “How would we bluff?”

Without delay, Yun Xi explained, “They can’t see through our formation clearly, so they won’t know who’s inside or their cultivation level. I’ll say I’m out here training with my master and couldn’t stand by when injustice occurs.”

“You want them to believe there’s a powerful cultivator inside the formation?” Qin Tong Shuang quickly caught on.

“Exactly.”

“What if they don’t buy it?” Zhang Yan, typically silent, asked skeptically.

“Then we’ll make them believe. Luckily, I have a treasure that masks cultivation levels, something my mother left me for protection. Now is exactly the right moment to use it.” Yun Xi was eager to resolve the conflict without actually fighting.

Mu Ning Zhu’s eyes brightened at once. She immediately rummaged through her storage bag and produced a pair of white jade earrings—clearly a high-grade magical artifact.

“Wear these first. Any disciple of a powerful master would definitely possess a few treasures.”

Next, she took out a pristine set of Inner Sect robes from Grand Righteous Sect and had Yun Xi change into them—another convincing marker of high status.

Understanding the intent, Qin Tong Shuang, despite herself, admitted Yun Xi’s potential as a great cultivator’s disciple at just ten years of age with Foundation Establishment cultivation. She promptly offered Yun Xi a white jade belt emitting a subtle chill, softly explaining, “This belt, forged from thousand-year-old frost jade, will further bolster your aura.”

Yun Xi touched it gingerly; a pleasant chill immediately flowed into her meridians, bringing a soothing feeling—making her silently envy the item.

Zhang Yan searched his storage bag but came up empty for items suited for female cultivators and quietly gave up.

Once Yun Xi had fully armed herself, gaining everyone’s satisfied approval, she prepared to exit the formation.

Mu Ning Zhu advised solemnly, “If you can’t deceive them, retreat immediately. If we hold out until dawn, they’ll certainly withdraw. Don’t overdo it.”

Qin Tong Shuang agreed softly, “If things go badly, we’ll flee with a clear conscience.”

Zhang Yan simply nodded, eyes filled with silent support as Yun Xi stepped confidently out of the formation.

Yun Xi’s sudden appearance halted all six figures mid-combat.

Adopting an arrogant posture, Yun Xi lifted her chin and sneered, “Tsk, tsk! When did demonic cultivators become this bold? Disturbing my master’s peaceful training—do you prefer leaving on your own feet, or shall I trouble my master to step out personally?”