Chapter 166

Chapter 166: Qing Zhu to the Rescue

A wall of emerald leaves appeared, blocking Li Chang’s strike, and in the very next breath, a figure gracefully descended before Liu Hao Tian and his companions. Liu Hao Tian stepped forward respectfully, saying, “Master! You’re here?”

True Lord Qing Zhu cast a somewhat disdainful glance at his own disciple, replying, “Hao Tian, how did you manage to end up in such a sorry state?”

Liu Hao Tian quickly swallowed a healing pill, his face still pale as he earnestly answered, “Master, we were ambushed by this City Lord Li. Before that, we had captured several demonic cultivators.”

He kept his account brief, touching only on essential details.

True Lord Qing Zhu wore a splendid robe of emerald interwoven with green threads. With a flick of his sleeve, he gently swept the trio aside, and in his hand appeared an azure jade flute. He raised it to his lips, releasing a melody both elegant and profound that instantly resonated through the surrounding forest.

Li Chang’s expression twisted; he knew True Lord Qing Zhu excelled at musical attacks that directly targeted one’s soul. Without hesitation, Li Chang swiftly dodged the initial sonic assault and fled decisively. [There’s no reason to linger in a battle I can’t win.]

A look of disdain flashed across True Lord Qing Zhu’s handsome features as he scoffed softly, “Well, he certainly runs fast enough.”

Turning back, Qing Zhu fixed Liu Hao Tian with a gaze full of frustrated affection, lecturing gently, “Hao Tian, how many times have I told you not to obsess over your formation compasses? Spend more time studying musical arts! My musical cultivation arrays are far easier and more effective than your painstakingly constructed formations.”

Liu Hao Tian replied earnestly, despite his pale countenance, “Master is right to admonish me. During this journey, by chance we were sent to the mortal world. Disciple had many adventures there and even discovered an opportunity for Core Formation. Once we return to the sect, disciple will dedicate himself wholeheartedly to studying musical arts.”

True Lord Qing Zhu’s expression softened slightly upon hearing this. He then asked with furrowed brows, “But how did you attract Li Chang’s attention?”

Liu Hao Tian respectfully cupped his hands, saying, “Master, please first capture the Yin Yang Sect cultivators and the remaining demonic cultivators. Afterward, disciple will explain everything in detail.”

True Lord Qing Zhu had already sensed the nearby formation but was unclear about the situation inside, so he had first rushed to his disciple’s aid.

Liu Hao Tian immediately gestured to the Flying Rosy Cloud butterfly perched lightly on a leaf, signaling it to relay their current circumstances to Wei Yun Xi.

Moments later, the formation ceased operating, revealing the sorry state of the trapped cultivators. Among them, only Wei Yun Xi stood calmly upright, clutching her Seven Star Fatal Staff.

Wei Yun Xi stored away her fourth-rank formation disk, dragging forth a Yin Yang Sect cultivator whose dantian she had shattered. She respectfully saluted True Lord Qing Zhu, saying, “Junior Wei Yun Xi, disciple of True Lord Yu Ling from Grand Righteous Sect, greets True Lord Qing Zhu!”

True Lord Qing Zhu smiled warmly, “Who would have thought that block of ice, Yu Ling, would actually accept a disciple? Still, his vision has always been good. You’re only a child, yet already at the Golden Core stage—truly enviable!”

Wei Yun Xi gave a helpless smile, “True Lord, this junior was forced to break through out of sheer necessity for survival.”

“It seems you’ve all had quite an exciting adventure,” True Lord Qing Zhu said, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

He had already noticed Yun Xi was only fifteen years old, clearly too young to be forming her core under normal circumstances—this wasn’t something Leng Ruo Han would normally approve of.

“Indeed, True Lord,” Yun Xi replied earnestly. “Please first restrain these people. They’ve been colluding with demonic cultivators, capturing mortals with special physiques in the mortal world, raising them as furnace vessels, then secretly sending them to higher realms.”

Yun Xi succinctly provided the critical points.

True Lord Qing Zhu swiftly rendered the remaining captives unconscious. With a wave of his sleeve and an invocation of “Universe in Sleeve,” he gathered them all effortlessly. He then summoned a flying vessel with another elegant gesture, ushering Yun Xi and her companions aboard.

Before departing, he carefully erased all traces of their stay, even bringing along the nineteen mortals with special physiques, leaving nothing behind.

Once safely away, Liu Hao Tian began recounting their journey in Rosy Cloud Valley, including their desperate escape that accidentally transported them to the mortal world.

He explained their discovery of the Corpse Nurturing Grounds and the zombies, the Soul-Collecting Mirror of Peach Source Village, and finally the demonic cultivators’ scheme of trafficking special mortals back to the cultivation world. Just when they had caught the perpetrators red-handed, City Lord Li had ambushed them.

Yun Xi and the others supplemented his story, and after half an hour, True Lord Qing Zhu understood the entire sequence of events. His expression grew grave—if an entire sect had truly become entangled with demonic cultivators, it would be troublesome indeed.

Noticing the True Lord’s expression, Yun Xi tactfully offered her image-recording jade, saying respectfully, “True Lord, this jade contains visual evidence of what occurred, proving our words true.”

The other three quickly presented their recording jades as well, creating a complete record of their encounters.

True Lord Qing Zhu relaxed visibly, praising them warmly, “You’ve done well, even remembering to gather evidence. Leave the rest to me.”

Seeing they had already flown clear of the border region, Yun Xi politely requested, “True Lord, could you please let this junior off near Kunyu City? Junior originally left the sect intending to visit her family but was delayed by these unexpected events.”

True Lord Qing Zhu agreed readily, teasing her gently, “You’ve made a significant contribution by uncovering this new demonic plot—are you not returning to the sect first to report?”

Yun Xi promptly demurred, “Senior’s praise is too generous. Yun Xi only contributed slightly; I dare not claim any credit. Without Fellow Daoist Liu noticing changes in mortal fates, we wouldn’t have discovered the Corpse Nurturing Ground. Without him uncovering the Soul-Collecting Mirror, we couldn’t have defeated the Mirror Spirit. Moreover, Fellow Daoist Liu and Fellow Daoist Yu first noticed the flower queen’s special physique, enabling us to trace Yin Yang Sect’s involvement. The greatest merit truly belongs to these two Hundred Flowers Pavilion disciples.”

Yu Qing Cheng and Liu Hao Tian blushed slightly at the praise, yet they also knew Yun Xi’s words were truthful, although she humbly minimized her own role.

True Lord Qing Zhu laughed heartily, clearly understanding Yun Xi’s subtle gesture in favor of Hundred Flowers Pavilion, but he didn’t wish to owe her. He produced a delicate jade hairpin, handing it to Yun Xi with a warm smile, “This protective hairpin can withstand three strikes from a Nascent Soul cultivator—so next time you meet Li Chang, you won’t be at such a disadvantage.”

Yun Xi gratefully accepted with both hands. The hairpin was crafted from fine jade of a pale green hue, its elegant bamboo-shaped shaft ending in three vivid green leaves—simple yet exquisitely refined.

“Many thanks for the precious gift, True Lord. This junior greatly cherishes it,” Yun Xi sincerely thanked him, immediately binding it with a drop of her blood. She carefully placed it in her hair, turning back to Yu Qing Cheng and Xia You, asking playfully, “Does it look good?”

“Of course! True Lord has the best taste in all of Hundred Flowers Pavilion!” Yu Qing Cheng cheerfully praised, making True Lord Qing Zhu laugh even more brightly.

Knowing they would soon part, the four exchanged communication jade slips and promised to journey together again. Yun Xi even thoughtfully exchanged three more recording jades with Xia You for future use.

Eventually, Yun Xi bid farewell to her companions and stepped down from the flying vessel at Jade Ridge Mountain, a hundred li from Kunyu City, ready to continue her journey alone.