As Qiqi spoke, she began to channel spiritual energy into the jade tablet.

"Wait." Huo Yusen pressed her hand. "Given your current physical condition, can you still channel spiritual energy into your body?"

Qiqi shook her head with a smile, "It's okay, Little Nine Brother, a little bit is fine."

"Let me do it." Bai Xuan's voice suddenly rang out. He transformed into a white light from Qi Qi's wrist and appeared in front of everyone, reaching out to take the jade pendant from Qi Qi's hand. "My spiritual power has almost recovered."

"No!" Qiqi pulled her hand away, dodging his hand.

Faced with their questioning looks, he shook his head and explained, "Little Bai, you're not a member of our sect, and you don't know our sect's techniques. If you rashly contact Master Tiantong, what if he thinks you're a bad guy who tried to steal the communication jade token?"

"So, I'll do it myself. Don't worry, it's just a little bit of spiritual energy, it's fine!"

After saying that, he quickly poured a wisp of spiritual energy into the jade tablet.

At the same time, a small hand was behind her back, secretly throwing out a small paper figure and sticking a talisman on it.

The jade pendant emitted a soft white light, and the string of runes seemed to come alive, flowing across its surface.

A moment later, an aged but authoritative voice came from the jade pendant, "Who are you? Why do you have the emergency contact jade pendant I left for my junior brother?"

"Uncle-Master, it's me, Qiqi! I'm Master's little apprentice. Master gave me this jade pendant so I could ask you for help if I ever run into trouble!" Qiqi said quickly.

The authoritative voice paused slightly, then softened, "So you're Qiqi, the last disciple of Junior Brother Tianyuan! Little girl, what's wrong? Your voice doesn't sound right, are you injured?"

Qiqi briefly recounted the events, focusing on the Soul Nourishing Array.

There was a moment of silence on the other end of the jade tablet, then it said, "Show me the diagram of the formation."

Qiqi quickly took the drawing she had just made to the jade tablet.

The jade tablet emitted a beam of light, scanning the blueprint once.

"Hmm... It is indeed a Soul Nourishing Array, and a modified version with a self-destruct function added."

Tian Tong pondered, "The solution isn't difficult, but it requires special array-breaking talismans and precise execution. Qi Qi's current condition is indeed not suitable for taking action."

"What should we do, Uncle-Master? Those big bad guys have kidnapped so many children. If we don't rescue them soon, they'll die!" Qiqi exclaimed anxiously.

"Don't worry, Uncle Master has a solution." The old man chuckled. "Here's what I'll do: I'll have one of my friends help you. He's in the capital and a master of formations. This kind of child's play formation is a piece of cake for him. I'll contact him right now and have him come to you."

"Really? Thank you, Senior Uncle!" Qiqi said happily.

"No need for thanks. You're my disciple, so helping you is the right thing to do. Besides, it's our duty to eliminate demons, protect the righteous path, and save the world." Tian Tong paused, his tone becoming serious. "However, Qi Qi, you must promise your master that you won't use your spiritual power again until you've fully recovered, understand?"

"Okay!" Qiqi replied obediently.

The communication ended, and the jade pendant's light gradually dimmed.

Huo Yuwei breathed a sigh of relief, "That's great. Now that we have an expert to help, things will be much easier, and Qiqi won't have to take any more risks."

Mrs. Ji was relieved. "Then you two continue your discussion. I'll go prepare some late-night snacks for you. I still have some of the sweet and sour pork ribs that Qiqi loves to eat. I'll heat them up and bring them over."

"Yay! Thank you, Mom!" Qiqi clapped her hands happily.

After Madam Ji left, the three continued to discuss the details of the operation.

With the help of outsiders, the plan went much more smoothly.

Neither Huo Yuwei nor Huo Yusen noticed that in the shadows of the corner, a small paper figure swayed and carefully crawled back into the little girl's bag.

*

The next day, around dusk.

After dinner, Qiqi went back to her room to do her evening lessons.

Huo Yuwei received a call from Lin Wei.

“Young Master Huo, a Taoist priest who calls himself ‘Xuanzhenzi’ came to see me. He said he was introduced by the senior uncle of my little fellow Taoist Qiqi.” Lin Wei’s tone was a little strange. “He… is a bit special.”

"Special?" Huo Yuwei raised an eyebrow.

"You should come and see for yourself," Lin Wei said, then gave the address of a safe house in Beijing belonging to a special department.

Huo Yuwei hung up the phone and saw Qiqi coming downstairs after finishing her evening lessons. He quickly said, "Qiqi, the expert your senior uncle introduced has arrived. I'm going to meet him."

"Qiqi is going too!" Qiqi immediately raised her hand.

“No, you stay home,” Huo Yuwei refused. “Get some rest and wait for us to come back.”

Qiqi wanted to try again, but Huo Yusen also voted against it, saying, "Listen to me."

Qiqi could only pout and reluctantly stay behind to watch Huo Yuwei leave.

When Huo Yuwei arrived at the safe house, Lin Wei was already waiting at the door.

With a complicated expression, she pointed inside, "That Taoist priest is in the reception room."

Huo Yuwei pushed open the door and was stunned by the scene in the reception room.

There was an old Taoist priest wearing a tattered robe, with messy hair and a disheveled appearance, squatting on the sofa, gnawing on a roast chicken with his mouth dripping with oil.

Upon seeing Huo Yuwei, the old Taoist priest raised his head and chuckled, "You must be that young man from the Huo family? Come, come, sit down, don't be shy."

Huo Yuwei: "...Greetings, Daoist Master."

"Good for you? I'm starving." The old Taoist finished the last bite of chicken, tossed the bone aside, and wiped his greasy hands on his robe. "I heard you want to break the Soul-Nourishing Array? A piece of cake, leave it to me. But, breaking the array is one thing, but the reward..."

The Taoist priest stretched out two fingers and rubbed them together, his meaning quite clear.

Huo Yuwei hesitated and said, "Daoist Master, that formation is very complicated..."

"Complex?" The old Taoist scoffed. "In my eyes, that's just children playing house. Alright, enough nonsense, let's get down to business."

What this actually refers to is quite obvious.

Huo Yuwei said no more and went straight to the point, "If the Taoist priest can help us break the formation and rescue the trapped souls and children, I will definitely apply to the higher-ups to give the Taoist priest a bonus. At least... this amount!"

Huo Yuwei stretched out a hand.

The old Taoist priest's eyes lit up instantly. "Deal! When do we move in?"

"The charity gala ended three days later."

"Alright, I'll come find you in three days." The old Taoist yawned. "Is there anything else? If not, I'm going to sleep. I'm sleepy."

Huo Yuwei: "...That's all, take care, Taoist priest."

The old Taoist priest swayed away, leaving Huo Yuwei and Lin Wei looking at each other in bewilderment.

"Is this... really reliable?" Lin Wei couldn't help but ask.

Huo Yuwei remembered his senior sister Qiqi's guarantee, and thought that if he didn't go, Qiqi would have to go instead, so he gritted his teeth and said, "He was invited by senior sister Qiqi, so he should be... reliable, right?"