Lu Zhaozhao opened her eyes at the moment of dawn and just then saw Cheng Sangji and Tudanxi walking towards her from not far away.
Tudan Xixiang walked straight to Nan Rongrui and spoke to her in a low voice, while Cheng Sangji walked in her direction.
He handed her a water pouch, but Lu Zhaozhao didn't take it. Cheng Sangji twitched the corner of his mouth, tilted his head back and took a sip, then looked at her again.
Lu Zhaozhao understood that he had misunderstood her suspicion that he had poisoned her, but Lu Zhaozhao did not intend to explain. Using this as an excuse, she took the water and drank a sip.
Sweet and delicious, it washes away the fatigue of the past few days.
Seeing that her face was relaxed, Cheng Sangji was in a much better mood and said, "You and Arui are both injured, so let's spend the remaining two days on this second floor."
Lu Zhaozhao nodded, looked at him, and asked, "And what about you?"
"What?" Cheng Sangji didn't react.
Lu Zhaozhao looked at him earnestly and said, "Weren't you injured too? Are you feeling better?"
Cheng Sangji's expression also turned serious. He moved closer to Lu Zhaozhao and lowered his voice, saying, "How did you know I was injured?"
“I guessed.” Lu Zhaozhao’s eyes gleamed with cunning, like a fox who had succeeded in its scheme. “When you first encountered Jiufeng, you fought with it and your magic weapon was damaged. Although I don’t know if it was your natal magic weapon, it should have affected your body. Later, you came back to save me. Last night, when you left, I asked Nan Rongrui, and you went back alone. Jiufeng is very powerful, so it shouldn’t have been easy for it to bring me out safely.”
"So, you're really injured?"
"You asked Arui? You must have tricked her into saying that, right?" Cheng Sangji chuckled softly, staring into the woman's eyes, trying to discern other emotions within them.
Lu Zhaozhao lowered her eyes and said softly but firmly, "I owe you my life, and I will repay you in the future."
"Repay?" Cheng Sangjie repeated the two words in his mouth, his low, husky voice seemingly filled with tender affection. He said with a hint of amusement, "Words are meaningless. How will you repay me? Hmm?"
Lu Zhaozhao bit her lower lip. She hadn't expected Cheng Sangji to ask her for proof. After agonizing for a moment, she took out a safety buckle from her sleeve and handed it to him.
Cheng Sangjie took it, his fingertips stroking the not-so-sophisticated safety buckle, and he felt an uneven spot near the edge.
He raised an eyebrow and examined the spot closely; it looked like a character, but he couldn't understand it.
“The character ‘昭’ is engraved on this in Sanskrit,” Lu Zhaozhao explained.
“Zhao? What does that mean?” Cheng Sangjie asked.
"It doesn't mean anything, I just engraved it unintentionally." Lu Zhaozhao pursed her lips. This peace buckle was something she made when she was bored while cultivating in the courtyard, but it was also the only thing in this world that she truly made herself. However, her name at this moment was Guan Nan, and she couldn't very well tell Cheng Sangji that she also had the name Lu Zhaozhao.
So he tried to laugh it off: "I carved this myself, can that be considered proof?"
Upon hearing the words "personally," Cheng Sangji's eyes lit up. He immediately accepted the peace buckle and said with a smile, "Of course it counts."
Lu Zhaozhao finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Cheng Sangji wanted to ask some other questions, but Lu Zhaozhao forced herself to answer. Fortunately, Nan Rongrui, who was not far away, urged her loudly. Lu Zhaozhao hurriedly responded and walked over, not caring about the two of them not getting along.
Cheng Sangji watched her fleeing figure and couldn't help but chuckle. His hand, hidden in his sleeve, caressed the Sanskrit inscription. He smiled with narrowed eyes, looking like he was in a great mood.
For the next two days, as planned, the four of them searched the second floor.
Although three of the four were injured, their strength was already formidable, and with their various methods, the hunting process was relatively easy.
Two days passed quickly, and when the time was up, they were forcibly ejected from the barrier teeming with demonic beasts.
A flash of white light blinded Lu Zhaozhao. When she opened her eyes again after her eyes adjusted, she saw Wen Sheng standing in front of her.
Wen Sheng smiled at her, her eyes filled with joy, her gaze shining as if they were filled with stars.
Lu Zhaozhao smiled at him as well.
Not far away, Cheng Sangjie, whose voice had been heard at the same time, looked around after adjusting and inadvertently caught a glimpse of this scene.
For some reason, his chest seemed to be swollen, and a strong sense of displeasure spread through him. His face instantly darkened, drawing frequent glances from those around him.
But neither Lu Zhaozhao nor Wen Sheng noticed him. After Lu Zhaozhao steadied herself, she was about to move when the change in air pressure squeezed her chest. Her body, which had been seriously injured and was not yet fully recovered, was more sensitive than usual, and she couldn't help but cough violently.
Wen Sheng was startled by her sudden action. He immediately stepped forward and grabbed her wrist. A wisp of spiritual energy probed into her. He was shocked and urged more spiritual energy into Lu Zhaozhao's body.
With the gentle infusion of spiritual energy, Lu Zhaozhao gradually regained her composure. She looked up to thank Wen Sheng, but suddenly a hand reached out from the side, grabbed her wrist, and pulled her away from Wen Sheng.
Lu Zhaozhao stumbled as she was pulled, turning her head to meet Cheng Sangji's gloomy face, somewhat bewildered.
Cheng Sangji pulled her to his side. Lu Zhaozhao tried to break free of her wrist, but Cheng Sangji held on tightly and she couldn't.
"What are you doing?" Lu Zhaozhao questioned him in a low voice, but Cheng Sangji ignored her, his eyes still fixed on Wen Sheng.
Neither of them spoke until Cheng Sangji broke the silence.
"Isn't the Demon King going to announce the list of those who have advanced?"
Wen Sheng shifted his gaze from Lu Zhaozhao's wrist, which Cheng Sangji was holding, to Cheng Sangji's face, meeting his eyes with displeasure. The Wen Sheng Lu Zhaozhao had always known was refined, gentle, and with a faint smile; she had never seen Wen Sheng with such an icy and oppressive expression.
Wen Sheng did not leave; instead, she took a step closer to Cheng Sangji.
The atmosphere suddenly became tense, as if the air itself was filled with the smoke of gunpowder. The surroundings fell silent, and everyone's attention was focused on this standoff.
Nan Rongrui was a little anxious and wanted to rush forward, but Tu Danxi held her back tightly, which made her stomp her foot in anger.
Cheng Sangji stared at the oppressive Wen Sheng, a provocative smile playing on his lips. Wen Sheng looked at Cheng Sangji, his expression equally unfriendly.
The two were so close that they had already started forming hand seals behind their backs. Lu Zhaozhao's heart was pounding in her throat, and she didn't know what to say in the face of the situation.
Just before both sides were about to make their move, a shadow appeared between them.
It's Changyulan Pass!
Lu Zhaozhao secretly breathed a sigh of relief; it seemed that the battle wouldn't happen today.
Wen Sheng and Cheng Sangji's gazes both fell on Chang Yulan Guan. Chang Yulan Guan had a standard smile on his face. He first cupped his hands to Wen Sheng and said, "The Demon Lord just sent someone to tell you to announce the list as soon as possible before entering the palace. There are still so many people waiting here."
Then he turned to Cheng Sangji and said, "It's been years since I last saw you. Chief Gu Diao seems to have improved a lot. The old man in the family often thinks of your grandfather. Please give him my regards."
Cheng Sangji nodded and quickly agreed.
Wen Sheng pondered for a moment, glanced reluctantly at Cheng Sangji's wrist, and finally turned and left.
When the list was announced, Lu Zhaozhao naturally advanced, along with the eight major clans and their affiliated races, as well as some self-cultivators with reputations.
Lu Zhaozhao's gaze remained fixed on Wen Sheng on the high platform, thinking to herself: It's finally coming to an end.
At this moment, Changyu Languan, who was standing beside him, suddenly asked, "I heard that Miss Guannan comes from Nüba?"
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