Chapter 667 - 614: Sneak Attack
Following the instructions of the Dream Demon Thorn, Jiang Yuebai found herself in the downstream forest, surrounded by emptiness. Jiang Yuebai unleashed her Divine Sense to survey the surroundings.
The quiet forest lay shadowed by trees, devoid of human traces, yet Jiang Yuebai felt Lu Nanzhi was nearby.
At that moment, the air directly ahead of Jiang Yuebai shattered like glass, revealing Lu Nanzhi leaning against a century-old tree, looking towards Jiang Yuebai.
With Shen Mingjing behind her, Jiang Yuebai didn’t call out Lu Nanzhi’s name, but walked into Lu Nanzhi’s Sword Array, both surprised and delighted.
Only upon nearing did she notice Lu Nanzhi’s pale face and uneven breath.
"Are you hurt?"
Lu Nanzhi glanced at Shen Mingjing, who stood outside the array, their eyes meeting. Shen Mingjing’s gaze flickered as he scrutinized Lu Nanzhi briefly before nodding with a smile and retreating temporarily.
Redirecting her gaze, Lu Nanzhi casually replied, "It’s nothing, just killed a couple of Fang Family cultivators."
"Has your identity been exposed?"
"I chose to reveal it myself."
Jiang Yuebai fell silent, but such was Lu Nanzhi—once she set her sights on something, she pursued it unhesitatingly, with unparalleled decisiveness.
Apart from good fortune and talent, Lu Nanzhi was one of the few who could keep pace with her in cultivation.
Lu Nanzhi had already taken Healing Pills, intending to meditate and rest here, speeding up the medicine’s effects.
Her Dream Demon sensed Jiang Yuebai’s Dream Demon, prompting her to open the Sword Array.
Jiang Yuebai had Lu Nanzhi sit down, then took out a Green Jade Xun and played the ’Suwen Song’ for healing, simultaneously using a Little Demon Technique called ’Transformation’, absorbing Life Qi from the surrounding forest to accelerate Lu Nanzhi’s internal healing.
Once the song concluded, Jiang Yuebai set down the Green Jade Xun, glanced at Shen Mingjing outside the Sword Array, and used sound transmission to briefly explain his situation.
Lu Nanzhi furrowed her brow, "My Dream Demon feels somewhat scared of him. He’s not a simple person, and he gives me an indescribable uneasy feeling."
Jiang Yuebai pressed the constantly leaping Golden Cicada Pendant at her waist, where her Dream Demon was sealed.
"My Dream Demon doesn’t seem to have any reaction; it’s carefree, always sleeping, only now did it perk up seeing you to try and come out."
"By the way, I previously encountered Zhuge Ziyin, and he was captured by the Xiong Family. That person didn’t seem to be a Nascent Soul cultivator but rather someone in Divinity Transformation," Lu Nanzhi said.
"What? What happened? Tell me in detail," Jiang Yuebai was once more astonished.
After listening to Lu Nanzhi’s account, Jiang Yuebai pondered carefully.
"It seems visiting the Kunxi Divine Palace is essential, whether for breaking through my bottleneck, for the Zhuge Family, or for those Secret Treasures that I’ll resent missing in my dreams."
Lu Nanzhi nodded, "I’ll accompany you."
With Lu Nanzhi, a friend she could completely trust, by her side, Jiang Yuebai felt a surge of relief and stability.
In case anything happened, with the resources on her, she could strive to escape the Secret Realm with Lu Nanzhi. Moreover, Anan wasn’t incompetent; she might end up relying on Lu Nanzhi to save her at critical times.
"Wait for me a moment, I’ll arrange a few things, then we’ll head straight to the Kunxi Divine Palace."
Jiang Yuebai stood up and walked into the rear forest to set up a Barrier isolating probe.
Thereafter, she released Yann Hongyu, Jixiang, and the mouse underlings, including Lieque, took out an empty storage bag, and filled it with ten Divine Concealment Turtle Breath Talismans, fifty Yin Yang Thunder Pearls, and some High-Level Jade Talismans for escape and defense.
Finally, Jiang Yuebai placed the Netherworld Hundred Ghosts Painting and the storage bag into Yann Hongyu’s hands.
Seeing this spectacle, Yann Hongyu’s heart skipped a beat, and she fell to the ground at Jiang Yuebai’s feet, crying.
"True Monarch, don’t abandon me. Without you, I can’t survive in this realm filled with Nascent Souls."
Yann Hongyu knew that Jiang Yuebai intended for her to lead the group of Spiritual Beasts and scour the land here.
She was just an Early-Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, fragile and incapable of self-care.
Yann Hongyu cried her heart out, making those who heard her weep as well.
Jiang Yuebai didn’t waste words, cutting a small slice from the Blood Jade Meat Mushroom and tossing it into Yann Hongyu’s mouth as she wailed.
Gulp!
With tears still stained on her face, Yann Hongyu’s cries abruptly stopped as bewilderment took over.
What was that? She didn’t even catch its flavor; was it poisoned?
Wait, this surge of Yin Qi!!
Yann Hongyu widened her eyes in shock, sensing a vast flood of Yin Qi burst forth within her, refreshing and irresistible, like plunging into an icy spring from a scorching desert.
And just a small piece without tasting it already sent Yann Hongyu’s cultivation rising rapidly, far easier than her usual arduous absorption of Yin Qi and refining Incense Fire.
This was simply irresistible for her as a lazy person!
Jixiang, with its sensitive nose, darted to Yann Hongyu’s shoulder, its nose almost pressed against her face as it sniffed vigorously, while the eight mice beneath her feet gazed up at her, howling in eagerness.
"Is it tasty?" Jiang Yuebai asked, looking down at her.
Yann Hongyu, tugging at Jiang Yuebai’s dress, nodded dazedly.
"Do you want more?"
Yann Hongyu bashfully smiled and nodded again.
"Get to work!"
"Alright!" Yann Hongyu swiftly stood up, "Rest assured, True Monarch, Hongyu will dig three feet into the ground, leaving no valuable thing behind!"
Jiang Yuebai responded with a quiet "Hmm," "Things are secondary; life is most important. Although your cultivation is low, in terms of cleverness and survival skills, you’re far superior to Jixiang and the others, which is why I’ve entrusted you with the responsibility, so they all heed your command."
If it were Little Green, upon hearing such words from Jiang Yuebai, it would have turned shyly pink, filled with a fighting spirit.
However, Yann Hongyu wasn’t easily swayed by Jiang Yuebai’s words, merely putting on a flattering expression, her hands nervously clasped while giving a fake smile.
Seeing through but not exposing, Jiang Yuebai continued, "Remember, self-preservation is key. Within the premise of survival, gather as many Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures as possible. It’s not easy for me to support so many of you; let’s mutually understand and assist each other. When I attain the Dao, you all can ascend alongside."
"There’s over three days left until the Secret Realm closes. Jixiang can locate my position; at that time, have it guide you to find me. Don’t worry, I won’t leave you all behind."
After arranging everything for Yann Hongyu and the others, Jiang Yuebai returned to Lu Nanzhi, who had fully recovered and drawn the Ice Soul Sword, which served as the array’s node, from the ground, ready to find Shen Mingjing with Jiang Yuebai.
After a brief introduction, Jiang Yuebai and Lu Nanzhi, led by Shen Mingjing, headed straight towards the mountain ravine beneath the Kunxi Divine Palace.
Jiang Yuebai couldn’t tell if it was just a feeling, but with Lu Nanzhi beside her, Shen Mingjing suddenly seemed ’much more composed’, rarely speaking, quietly leading the way.
On the way, they encountered other demonic beasts and cultivators, all of whom purposefully avoided them.
Within the Kunxi Secret Realm, the riverbanks were lined with mountains, riddled with treasures and exotic beasts, and some ancient cultivation cave mansions.
Yet, regardless of whether it was the downstream, upstream, or the ravine where Jiang Yuebai and her companions headed, these places had been thoroughly searched time and again in past Dragon Group Gatherings, making the chance of finding valuable items slim.
After a half-day of swift travel, the trio smoothly entered the ravine, reaching the Xuexian Lake beneath the Kunxi Divine Palace.
Emerging from the dense forest, Jiang Yuebai gazed in awe at the glittering stretch of endless green lake, raising her head to the sky in surprise.
Above, thick clouds partially shrouded the palace, yet over the lake, only cloud reflections were seen, no trace of a palace.
As Jiang Yuebai was about to ask Shen Mingjing how to enter the Kunxi Divine Palace, she suddenly sensed an immensely powerful aura rushing from the dense forest on the other side of the lake.
Clang!
With an agile step forward, Lu Nanzhi stood in front of Jiang Yuebai, unsheathing her sword with a sweeping motion.
The sword light arced like a rainbow, carrying a fierce chill that rapidly froze the lake along its trajectory, ice crystals stretching outward.
Roar!
Hearing the familiar roar of the Qilin, Jiang Yuebai realized it was Xiong Yanhong, the one who had previously attacked Moh Baichun and captured Zhuge Ziyin.
Lu Nanzhi’s sword aura collided with the shadow of the black-armored Qilin charging from the forest, causing the icy blue light to explode into countless tiny ice crystals, forming an Ice Simurgh, with ice crystal wings flapping fiercely, engaging in a relentless battle with the black-armored Qilin over the lake.
Bang, bang, bang!
The intense light radiated continuously, the once calm lake now churned into towering waves, torrential rain pouring down.
At that instant, another spine-tingling surge of powerful energy assaulted from behind. Lifting her hand, Jiang Yuebai summoned the Candle Dragon Spear, transforming into a crimson light from her nape, held firmly in her grasp.
Jiang Yuebai and Lu Nanzhi stood back to back, ready to defend against Xiong Yanhong’s attacks at any moment.
But instead of confronting them, Xiong Yanhong darted towards Shen Mingjing, appeared by his side, and without a word grabbed his arm to soar toward the Divine Palace above.
Jiang Yuebai intended to pursue, but Shen Mingjing’s voice resonated through her Sea of Consciousness, halting her in her tracks.