Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Set Up by Immortal Lord Chang Li!

Immortal Maiden Azure Luan sneered, biting down on the last two words as if to grind them to dust: “Oh, he wants my help? Then I’ll really ‘help’ him.”

Meeting Azure Luan’s gaze, Shen Sang Ruo saw the fire burning in those eyes and felt a chill run through her: [This is bad.]

That look said she would be treated like Immortal Lord Chang Li himself and tortured in his place, which was terrifying.

The reversal came too fast. Dragged to her Azure Jade Palace by Immortal Maiden Azure Luan, Shen Sang Ruo was still in a daze.

When she looked up, the Heart-Link Pearl was already in Azure Luan’s hand.

The promised token had become “stolen goods,” and Shen Sang Ruo’s heart flipped: [Isn’t this pure scamming?]

She remembered how Immortal Lord Chang Li had given her the Heart-Link Pearl with that mysterious air, and now she finally understood his smile: [Immortal Lord Chang Li: Just thinking about what I’m going to do later makes me grin.]

He did it on purpose. He sent her to take the blame and soak up the anger for him. Shen Sang Ruo’s face looked worse than if she had swallowed a huge bug.

A moment ago she had been grateful to Immortal Lord Chang Li. Now all she had left for him were some very “friendly” curses.

He looked like a righteous, otherworldly master, but in private he was a sneaky thief.

She had lowered her guard and got wrecked by him.

Immortal Maiden Azure Luan gave her lost-and-found treasure a pained glance, then turned back with a smile so cold it felt like Wind Blades were about to slice Shen Sang Ruo into one hundred and eight pieces: “Are you ready? We’re starting.”

Shen Sang Ruo forced a smile uglier than tears and said, voice shaking: “Immortal Maiden, we can discuss this, I can explain about the Heart-Link Pearl…”

Before she could finish, Azure Luan grabbed her again. In a blink they Teleported outside the Azure Jade Palace and were surrounded by layers of cloud.

Azure Luan said, voice like ice: “What your inhuman Master did should be borne by you, his disciple,” then she simply let go.

[Master? Disciple?] Shen Sang Ruo realized Azure Luan had taken her for Immortal Lord Chang Li’s disciple. No wonder all that anger was thrown at her.

But she wasn’t his disciple at all. [What kind of good Master harms his own disciple?]

Later, once she truly entered Immortal Lord Chang Li’s sect, Shen Sang Ruo would learn the truth: [Oh yes, he absolutely would.]

Falling through the sky with no time left to explain, Shen Sang Ruo focused on surviving. She did not want to become a pancake before she could get back and confront Immortal Lord Chang Li.

From this height, the impact with the ground would be too strong for her to block even with all her Spiritual Power.

She steadied her tumbling body as best as she could and forced herself to think fast. The more dangerous it was, the calmer she had to be.

She ran through every tool in her Cosmos Pouch, but none could save her from a crash like this.

She broke through the clouds. A sea of green land spread beneath her, and her face grew solemn.

She looked up at Azure Luan, who floated above with folded arms, watching coolly. After their brief exchange, Shen Sang Ruo did not dare to bet that Azure Luan would swoop in to save her at the last second.

She pressed her lips tight. The ground was getting closer and closer.

Wind roared in her ears, and the Wind Blades stung her cheeks raw.

Then it hit her: wind.

Her eyes lit up: [Right!]

They were still inside the Wind-Moon Spirit Ruins, which were filled with the Wind Domain. She could use the Fanning Wind and Stirring Fire Art to borrow the lift of the Wind Domain and form a natural buffer.

It would not leave her unhurt, but it could take the worst of the impact.

She had found a way to live.

Light burst in her eyes, her aura shifted, and confidence filled her chest.

Above, Immortal Maiden Azure Luan raised an eyebrow. It seemed the girl had found the trick.

[Chang Li may be a dog of a man, but his eyes aren’t dog eyes. Anyone he favors is scary talented.] Azure Luan’s anger faded a lot as she watched, now more curious than furious.

Scarlet Spiritual Power gathered in Shen Sang Ruo’s hands. Her expression was firm. She took a deep breath and prepared to act.

She smiled a little, closed her eyes as if listening to the wind, and slowly spread her arms to feel its flow.

Then she snapped her eyes open, and Azure Luan focused all her attention on her.

Under Azure Luan’s expectant gaze, Shen Sang Ruo started flapping her arms for dear life, like a panicked moth thrashing around.

Azure Luan fell silent, then looked away: [What exactly was I expecting? What was she so confident about?]

The Azure Luan Clan was famous for the elegant curve of their wings in flight. Shen Sang Ruo’s messy flapping truly opened Azure Luan’s eyes.

[How can it be that ugly?] Without a blink of hesitation, she averted her gaze. It was too harsh to look at.

Shen Sang Ruo had no time to care. Survival mattered more than pride.

Scarlet Spiritual Power wrapped both her arms, and every swing left bright red afterimages like blazing wings. She looked like a phoenix reborn in fire.

Well, if you ignored the chaotic posture.

She secretly regretted not having two fans. Even the plainest pair would do. If she had known, she would have bought them earlier. Now she could only flap with her bare hands.

Her stubborn effort paid off. Her fall slowed at last. At this speed, she could use her Spiritual Power to cancel most of the impact.

Dozens of meters from the ground, she pulled Spiritual Power back from her arms and stopped flapping. She gathered the power around her body instead, forming a pale red shield.

There was a thunderous boom.

The shield slammed into the ground and punched out a deep pit. A shock wave rolled out and flattened the nearby grass and trees.

When the dust settled, Shen Sang Ruo jumped out of the hole.

Aside from being dirt-covered and a little numb in her legs, she was fine.

She let out a long breath and said, half laughing, half gasping: “I lived.”

A cool voice drifted to her ear: “Is that so?”

At some point, Immortal Maiden Azure Luan had appeared behind her.

Shen Sang Ruo’s smile froze and flipped into a flat, miserable look.

She turned quickly and pleaded, words tumbling out: “Immortal Maiden Azure Luan, this junior is not Immortal Lord Chang Li’s disciple. Please judge clearly. This junior has nothing to do with him at all.”

She wanted to shout her wrongs to the sky, wishing there were a drum of appeal she could beat on the spot: [Please, Heaven, judge the loyal and the treacherous.]