In the Thunder Valley.
Shui Qiu found a safe spot and gently set down the Saintess.
“Ancestral Water Scripture, the cycle of water.”
She placed one hand on Xu Lexian’s dantian while the other reached into the water sphere that had formed out of thin air.
A wisp of black mist emerged from the Saintess’s dantian, flowing along with the water and quickly darkening the sphere into a pitch-black mass.
Xu Lexian’s complexion appeared to improve slightly.
“This technique of yours,” the Saintess said with a strained smile, “is quite remarkable. I’ve never seen a method that can develop the potential of a pure water body at the Foundation Building stage.”
“Unfortunately, its effects are limited…”
Shui Qiu shook her head.
Once the black mist had stained the water sphere, it was no longer influenced by the cycle of water, and naturally, it couldn’t help the Saintess much.
“That’s enough; after all, my cultivation level is much higher than yours.”
Xu Lexian forced herself to sit cross-legged, forming hand seals. Moments later, various strange symbols flickered in her eyes.
The poison from the flying dagger had indeed affected her to some extent, but what truly weakened her combat ability was the power from the mysterious key.
This influence was extremely complex, and even she couldn’t resolve it immediately; she could only suppress it for the time being.
After regaining some strength, she stood up and looked in the direction they had come from.
“Is Tang Xin really okay?” the Saintess frowned. “With her strength, she might be able to hold her own against one Golden Core, but two…”
Being able to contend with a Golden Core at the Foundation Building stage was already an impressive feat. From her previous encounter with Tang Xin, even if she could unleash her potential in a life-and-death struggle, it wouldn’t be by much.
How could the esteemed Saintess of Sacred Immortal Mountain allow a Foundation Building girl to save her in such a self-sacrificial manner?
No, she needed to go back and check.
Just as Xu Lexian took a step forward, a wave of chill surged from her dantian, leaving her pale-faced.
Damn it, the mixed toxins on the flying dagger were still at work, and her anti-poison constitution was automatically protecting her, restricting the operation of her dantian.
Her current state was truly dire.
As she contemplated whether to forcefully activate her dantian and rush back to check, in the distance…
“Hey—” the Xuanling Sect’s senior sister waved her hand vigorously. “You guys are here? Next time, make sure to leave clearer markers!”
The energetic girl appeared before them, completely unharmed.
“You,” the Saintess said in surprise, “how did you come back alive…”
“Speak nicely; why do you sound like you wish I were dead?” Tang Xin shot her a glare. “Of course, I took them out and came back.”
“Uh,” Xu Lexian looked her up and down. “How did you take them out?”
“With wisdom,” the Xuanling Sect’s senior sister pulled out a fox from her arms, “and with my companions!”
“Wow—”
The little fox let out a long cry in agreement.
Just now, when Tang Xin used a demonic technique to attack the enemy, it absorbed quite a bit of essence, so it was very happy now.
“Senior Sister is the pride of our Xuanling Sect,” Shui Qiu said with a smile. “If she says she can handle it, then she definitely can!”
Xu Lexian narrowed her eyes, not denying it.
A spirit fox at the Foundation Building stage couldn’t possibly influence a battle at the Golden Core level.
Could it be that she had deliberately held back during their previous spar? If so, her acting skills were truly impressive.
After thinking it over, she found no answers and had to temporarily set those thoughts aside.
“Sorry,” Xu Lexian bowed her head to the two from Xuanling Sect. “I didn’t mean to involve you in this. I had considered the possibility of spies within the Sacred Immortal Mountain team, but I thought the chances were slim.”
“There’s nothing we can do about such things,” Tang Xin said, resting her chin on her hand. “Do you know who wants to harm you?”
The senior sister of Xuanling Sect hadn’t been able to gather more information from the battle with the enemy. After using the demonic technique, she had to finish things quickly and clean up the scene, leaving no time for interrogation.
“There are many who wish me harm,” Xu Lexian replied.
“Just in Qingzhou, there are three major powers. If we expand the scope to the entire continent, there should be no less than ten… After all, taking me down would deal a significant blow to the Sacred Immortal Mountain.”
It takes a considerable amount of resources for an ordinary sect to cultivate a chief disciple, and the cost for a Sacred Domain to cultivate a Saintess is undoubtedly even greater. Even for major powers, this burden is not light.
“It seems that being a star cultivator isn’t so easy,” Tang Xin said with a pout. “But these powers probably aren’t the main suspects. If they wanted to act, they wouldn’t wait until now.”
“Hmm, motives aside, those people still have to consider the temperament of the Sacred Immortal Mountain,” Xu Lexian nodded. “So…”
“A demonic undercover agent.”
Both of them arrived at the same conclusion.
It doesn’t necessarily have to be an undercover agent sent purely by the demonic faction like the Qing Shui Sect; it could also be someone who was misled, coerced, or had other reasons to assist the demonic side.
Considering the motives, perhaps the other party acted out of a warning against the “interference of Sacred Immortal Mountain.”
They seem to enjoy meddling in these matters, huh? Let’s take out your Saintess and see how arrogant you can still be.
“No matter which faction the other party belongs to, daring to act against the Saintess means this matter is serious,” Xu Lexian said coldly. “I will make them pay… uh…”
Before she could finish her bravado, she suddenly slumped to the ground, her face pale.
“Let’s prioritize our safety first…”
Although they had blocked the enemy’s first wave of attacks, now that the identity of the spy had been exposed, it was unlikely that they would let it go easily. Perhaps a second or third wave of reinforcements was already gathering outside Thunder Valley.
Staying in one place for too long was not a good idea.
“Next…”
Xu Lexian looked at Tang Xin.
“Although it’s a bit dangerous,” the senior sister of Xuanling Sect said in a serious tone, “I still want to go to Thunder River and take a look. I have a feeling that Su Ling’s disappearance might be related to this.”
How can we complete the main quest if we don’t go?
Shui Qiu naturally had no objections and was willing to follow her senior sister’s lead, just waiting for the Saintess’s decision.
“I’m just a burden right now,” Xu Lexian chuckled, “This team is all yours.”
“Alright, no more talking, let’s set off!”
The proud Saintess finally lowered her head; this wasn’t taking advantage of the situation, it was her own initiative…
“Then, Senior Sister Tang,” the Saintess opened her arms, “Please carry me to Thunder River, I can’t walk right now.”
“Huh?”
“Really,” she shrugged, “I told you, I’m a burden.”
“You…” Tang Xin huffed, “You’re really not likable at all. Get on.”
The epic softness once again enveloped her back, slightly easing Tang Xin’s dissatisfaction. She had developed a certain resistance to the fragrance emanating from the Saintess.
Xu Lexian lay there behind her, a smile on her face, whispering softly in her ear.
“Thank you~”
Then she gently licked her earlobe.
“You…!”
“Ugh, that’s unfair! I want Senior Sister to carry me too!”
