Chapter 101
Chapter 101: Bluffing
Yu Qing Cheng’s eyes brightened immediately when she recognized Yun Xi, especially upon noticing Yun Xi’s distinctive attire. She quickly called out, “Junior Sister Wei, please ask your master to help us—they’re demonic cultivators!”
The four black-clad cultivators felt something amiss the moment Yun Xi appeared, sensing a hidden formation around them. Uncertain of who else might be inside the array, they exchanged wary glances. However, upon noticing Yun Xi’s young appearance, they didn’t retreat right away. Instead, cautiously, they pointed their blades toward her, testing her strength.
Mu Ning Zhu’s heart tightened, inwardly groaning, [This is bad!] These demonic cultivators clearly weren’t fooled by Yun Xi’s bluff, putting the little junior sister in immediate danger.
Yun Xi felt a flicker of frustration. She hadn’t expected her bluff to fail so quickly. Since the ruse had been seen through, she had no choice but to quickly eliminate these demonic cultivators. She boldly stepped forward, abruptly unleashing the oppressive aura of a Nascent Soul stage cultivator. She didn’t dare underestimate them; if they got a chance to counterattack, it would surely mean her death.
The four demonic cultivators never anticipated Yun Xi would be even more unpredictable than themselves. The instant the Nascent Soul pressure descended, dread filled their eyes. They had no chance to react—the overwhelming suppression of a high-level cultivator forced them instantly to their knees.
Yun Xi sternly shouted, “Why are you still standing there? Do you expect my master to personally handle this?”
Although Yun Xi carefully avoided directing her aura at Yu Qing Cheng and Liu Hao Tian, the two of them were still somewhat affected. To survive, they both summoned their last reserves of strength, fiercely stabbing their swords into the demonic cultivators’ dantians.
Gripping the Seven Star Fatal Staff tightly, Yun Xi leaped forward, shattering one of the demonic cultivator’s skulls. The pungent smell of blood made her wrinkle her nose, but this time she didn’t vomit.
Mu Ning Zhu swiftly emerged from the formation the moment Yun Xi attacked. Noticing that the demonic cultivators were immobilized, she quickly formed a seal, and a wooden spike instantly pierced the final enemy’s dantian. However, a flash of red light from the demonic cultivator’s body blocked her attack, and in the next breath, the man crushed a teleportation talisman and vanished into thin air.
Yu Qing Cheng and Liu Hao Tian had already exhausted their spiritual energy completely and collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily.
Yun Xi quickly gathered the three dead demonic cultivators’ storage bags, swiftly igniting their corpses with three fireballs, destroying all traces before turning toward Mu Ning Zhu.
Mu Ning Zhu approached Yun Xi, asking softly, “Junior Sister Wei, are you alright?”
“I’m fine,” Yun Xi answered vaguely, “just completely drained my spiritual energy.”
“You should rest inside the array first. I’ll handle these two.”
“Yes, Senior Sister.”
Yun Xi obediently returned to the formation.
Qin Tong Shuang immediately came up to her, praising, “Yun Xi, you were really amazing!”
Pretending to sway unsteadily, Yun Xi abruptly sat down and admitted, “I was so scared! If they’d attacked me without giving me a chance to speak, the bluff would’ve completely fallen apart!” As she spoke, she lightly patted her chest, realizing only now how dangerous the situation had truly been. Adrenaline had carried her through earlier, but now her legs felt weak, and her heart raced wildly.
Qin Tong Shuang covered her mouth, smiling softly. Junior Sister Wei always seemed fearless—who knew even she could be frightened? Qin Tong Shuang comforted gently, “Just focus on recovering; Senior Sister Mu will handle the rest.”
Yun Xi didn’t refuse, immediately sitting cross-legged to meditate.
After a short while, Mu Ning Zhu escorted Yu Qing Cheng and Liu Hao Tian inside the formation. The two silently sat down in a corner to tend to their injuries, careful not to disturb Yun Xi’s group.
By now, Yun Xi had already changed out of the borrowed robes and returned the gear she’d used. Then she transmitted her voice secretly, asking, “Senior Sister Mu, what happened with them?”
Mu Ning Zhu sighed softly, “They were ambushed by demonic cultivators on their journey back to Hundred Flowers Pavilion. Because all four of their senior brothers and sisters were both attractive and highly talented, the demonic cultivators intended to capture them as cultivation furnaces. They desperately fought back, but two of them were already captured. These two barely escaped with their lives and stumbled upon us here in Wanruo Forest.”
Yun Xi stroked her chin thoughtfully, “From what I overheard just now, Fellow Daoist Yu seemed aware of those demonic cultivators’ backgrounds.”
Mu Ning Zhu nodded and pointed upwards meaningfully, “You guessed right—they’re from above.”
“Tsk! They’re that arrogant? Won’t the bosses do something?”
Mu Ning Zhu explained patiently, “Demonic cultivators are universally despised, but those sent to Lofty Cosmos Realm can’t surpass Nascent Soul stage; otherwise, our realm’s powerful experts would notice immediately. Demonic cultivators at the Foundation Establishment stage blend in easily and act discreetly. They’ve been openly aggressive in the past but were eventually hunted down by a joint effort from various sects. Since then, they’ve become more secretive and elusive. Encountering them this time was purely coincidental. You managed to kill three with your artifact, so they probably won’t trouble us again soon. Still, we should hurry back to the sect to be safe.”
“I understand, Senior Sister Mu. But what about these two?”
“Once we leave Wanruo Forest, we’ll reach Wanruo City. We’ll part ways there. The city has a late-stage Golden Core cultivator overseeing it, so those demonic cultivators won’t dare make trouble openly. Whatever happens next is their own affair; my responsibility is simply ensuring your safety back to the sect.”
“Understood,” Yun Xi nodded. She agreed that they’d done enough for Yu Qing Cheng, considering they were essentially strangers. With their higher cultivation, the pair should handle their own issues from now on.
Suddenly, Yun Xi discreetly transmitted again, “Senior Sister Mu, I still have three storage bags from those demonic cultivators. They’re our spoils—shall we divide them?”
This time Mu Ning Zhu didn’t decline. They’d risked much, so having some reward was only fair. However, she quietly allowed Yun Xi the larger share, acknowledging the junior sister’s significant contribution and greater risk.
Neither Qin Tong Shuang nor Zhang Yan objected. Zhang Yan even tried refusing her share, claiming she hadn’t done anything, but Yun Xi firmly insisted. Yun Xi knew very well that uneven distribution could lead to trouble. Besides, it was also a subtle way of buying their silence regarding her high-level artifact.
Fortunately, all three had upright characters and harbored no covetous thoughts. Once they’d distributed the spirit stones and valuables from the demonic cultivators’ bags, they destroyed the rest with fire and returned to meditation. Mu Ning Zhu stood guard for the remainder of the night.
Perhaps due to the brief, powerful presence of Nascent Soul stage pressure, Wanruo Forest remained quiet all night. At dawn, Mu Ning Zhu immediately urged the group onward.
Yu Qing Cheng, watching her senior brother struggle to suppress the sinister energy within him, had no choice but to quietly follow Yun Xi’s group. She couldn’t possibly manage alone with an injured companion.
Perhaps Yu Qing Cheng’s misfortune had finally run out. Once she joined Yun Xi’s group, no further troubles arose. Three days later, they safely exited Wanruo Forest, and Yu Qing Cheng sighed in relief, confirming no pursuers had followed.
Mu Ning Zhu also relaxed visibly, relieved they hadn’t been pursued by any demonic cultivators intent on revenge.
Once inside Wanruo City, Yu Qing Cheng wisely excused herself, gracefully bowing, “Yu Qing Cheng sincerely thanks you all for saving our lives. Without your assistance, we’d certainly have perished. Hundred Flowers Pavilion remembers this debt. If you ever need anything, feel free to seek Qing Cheng anytime.”
She then presented each of them with a personal communication talisman. Liu Hao Tian, whose face had begun darkening from his suppressed injuries, also forced himself to give each one a talisman. Leaning on Yu Qing Cheng, he finally departed, separating from Yun Xi’s group.