Chapter 11 Test (Part Two) Encountering poisonous fog, summoning the Illusionary Spirit Array. ...
Qingxing looked puzzled: "What do you mean?"
"Is this your first time taking the inner sect test?" The person pulled Qingxing back and then let go of her hand, pointing innocently downwards. "This is just Gongcheng or Elder's puppet technique. He uses it every year."
Upon hearing this, Qingxing looked down and indeed saw the music cultivator land on the bamboo tip with a "plop." The bloody scene she had imagined did not occur. The person did not utter a sound, but instead let out a "whoosh" of air, gradually turning into a paper doll with a hastily drawn crying face.
If she had gone down with them, she might have been entangled in the puppetry and wasted quite a while.
Thank you.
Qingxing flew back into the sky, flying alongside the person who had helped her.
The person stood on a thin sword, with fair skin, phoenix eyes, and a faint smile on his face, appearing to be a gentle person.
"It was nothing." He smiled, his voice like a gentle stream, soothing and comforting. "I am Wenren Xi, the eleventh disciple of Elder Gongcheng."
Qingxing: "My name is Qingxing, and I am a disciple of Jiuquchen."
Wenren Xi: "I know that. After all, the competition between Junior Sister and Junior Brother Su was quite exciting, and I've heard about it."
"See? I told you you were famous." Gudafei was tired and leaned on Qingxing's shoulder again. "This person looks gentle and kind, and has a really good personality."
These words drifted to Wenren Xi's ears on the wind. He smiled and nodded slightly to Guda: "Brother Shuling, you flatter me."
"He is more polite than you and your master."
Guda whispered to Qingxing.
Qingxing ignored Guda and said to Wenren Xi, "Senior brother, aren't you afraid of losing your spot after saving me?"
She was indeed quite curious, after all, there were many disciples participating in the competition, among whom were quite malicious, and some even knew that they probably had no chance, so they used all sorts of means to drag their fellow disciples down with them.
"What's the big deal?" Wenren Xi glanced at the huge crowd behind her, her eyes crinkling. "If I lose just by saving one person, then I don't have the ability to participate in the competition. I might as well let someone else take this spot."
"Besides, we're at the forefront now, so what's there to be afraid of?"
Qingxing nodded: "Senior brother is quite magnanimous."
"Haha, I wouldn't call it being magnanimous; after all, I really want to try it out." Wenren Xi looked at Qingxing and extended an invitation to her, "Junior sister, why don't you join me and get through this 'flight test' together?"
“I’ve participated in the sect tests for the past four years, so I can provide you with some information on elder techniques.” He snapped his fingers and pointed with his chin to the spot where the paper effigy had fallen earlier. “Just like that.”
As if to prove his words, a scream suddenly came from behind. Qingxing looked and found that many disciples had been pulled away by the paper effigy that had blended into the crowd.
Guda shook itself and whispered close to Qingxing, "I think it's okay, this person seems quite reliable."
Qingxing glanced at Wenren Xi, who was steadily standing on his slender sword, silently smiling as he awaited her answer.
“Okay.” Qingxing nodded. It was her first time participating in the inner sect test, and she was indeed not very familiar with the elders’ techniques. With Wenren Xi by her side, her chances of winning were definitely higher. However… thinking of the upcoming martial arts competition among fellow disciples, she added, “This is a one-time event. If I encounter my senior brother in the next test, I will not hold back.”
"Junior sister, are you so sure you can advance?"
Wenren Xi raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
Qingxing's expression remained calm, and her tone was as usual: "Yes."
"Then we'll wait and see."
Wenren Xi laughed twice, and the slender sword beneath his feet hummed. With a "whoosh," he accelerated, and the red sword energy drew a beautiful trace in the air, like a flowing ribbon.
Gudako watched him disappear into the distance and wondered, "Is that person really Gongcheng's apprentice?"
He was even more skilled with a sword than some of the sword cultivators behind him. If he hadn't said anything, no one would have guessed that he was a puppet cultivator.
"We can't lie about our sect, can we?"
Qingxing answered, making a hand seal to make the Endless Wood fly slightly faster.
She quickly caught up with Wenren Xi, and the two of them were neck and neck, one in front of the other.
It was probably the puppetry of the public transport vehicle that tricked and dragged away many people. The further they went, the fewer disciples they could see. When they were almost at Sun and Moon Peak, there were very few disciples beside Qingxing. The grand procession that looked like it was going to attack a city was gone.
However, this is also a good thing. Without the crowds blocking her view, her field of vision is much wider, making it easier for her to track the male and female protagonists.
Xie Yuzhou and Shen Wan were both exceptionally talented, possessing unique insights into swordsmanship that far surpassed their fellow disciples. Qingxing, on the other hand, started her cultivation late, wasting much time. Furthermore, the Endless Wood had only recently become her master, so she wasn't as familiar with it as the other two with their natal swords. Therefore, despite her considerable speed, she lagged far behind them.
"This is the first time I've seen such a magical artifact. It seems even better than a sword!" Wenren Xi exclaimed loudly amidst the wind, showing great admiration for the Endless Wood. "Did Junior Sister forge this herself?"
Qingxing: "My master found it for me."
Wenren Xi: "I see. Ninth Uncle is so good to his disciple!"
"Um."
Qingxing responded calmly. She noticed that this senior brother Wenren seemed to like using interjections like "ne" and "oh" when he spoke.
There's some noise ahead.
Qingxing spoke up to remind them, her eyes constantly scanning the surroundings. As they flew closer to the top of Sun and Moon Peak, they suddenly saw plumes of thick blue smoke rising from the forest, heading straight for the flying disciples.
The smoke seemed to drift slowly, as if it would dissipate with a gust of wind, but she could clearly see that many disciples in front of her were quickly enveloped by it and disappeared in an instant.
It was as if a giant beast had opened its mouth wide, wanting to devour everyone.
“This is Elder Qiao Su’s Dream Incense,” Wenren Xi explained. “It is made from the pollen of Cistanche deserticola. If one accidentally inhales it, one will fall into a dream, and only those with exceptionally strong willpower can wake up.”
“I see.” Qingxing looked ahead and saw that the male and female protagonists were completely blocked by the thick fog. “The spirit summoning array should be able to help us get through.”
Wenren Xi was slightly surprised: "Junior Sister can do this?"
Magic arrays in the world are generally divided into two categories: attack and defense.
The Summoning Array can summon the spirits of ancient divine beasts. The array's attributes are entirely determined by the spirit's attributes, making it one of the few arrays that can both attack and defend.
However, this magic array consumes a great deal of spiritual energy from the person who creates it, and the divine beasts each have their own temperaments. Sometimes, even if the caster exhausts their spiritual energy, the divine beasts may not be willing to come to their aid.
Qingxing: "I know a little."
After speaking, she activated her spiritual power, and specks of azure light emerged from her palm, eagerly leaping into the wooden divine bead, while the endless wooden staff emitted a melodious silver bell sound.
"I am in danger, I pray to the gods." Qingxing murmured, and with each word she spoke, the wooden god bead shone brighter. "Mount Jinli, the gods ward off plague."
"Green Farming!"
Azure spiritual energy gushed forth from the divine wood bead like a waterfall, instantly enveloping the two people and the book spirit. Wenren Xi was stunned when he suddenly heard a bird's cry from above. He looked up and saw a bird descending from the sky. It was entirely azure except for its beak and eyes, which were as white as snow. It was slowly circling around them, its translucent wings repelling the surrounding poisonous mist.
Judging from its appearance, it is the ancient mythical beast Qinggeng, which is said to be able to dispel plagues and protect the health of the people.
Wenren Xi's smile froze slightly.
Although Qinggeng was only a mid-level divine beast, in his understanding... it was not something a Foundation Establishment cultivator could summon.
Moreover, judging from Qingxing's appearance, she seems to still have some energy left. As for her saying she "knows a little"...
He was filled with mixed feelings, and his gaze toward Qingxing held a complex meaning. He even forgot to use interjections when he spoke: "Junior sister is really too modest."
The summoning array consumed too much spiritual energy, and Qingxing was focused on supporting the array, only managing a soft "Mmm" in response.
Wenrenxi: ...
Guda's eyes followed Qinggeng as he flew in circles, without blinking: "Master Qingxing, this is so cool!"
Every time it went to the library, it would stay in the celestial books and sleep soundly, so it naturally had no idea how much Qingxing had learned. Today, upon seeing it, its level of shock was second only to Wenren Xi.
Qingxing didn't answer, but focused intently on the distance ahead. She sensed the spiritual energy within the spiritual network gradually dissipating, but there was still a long way to go, and the elders must have set up many obstacles. She intentionally controlled her movements to minimize the damage.
Just as they had flown halfway across, a loud "bang" rang out and a burst of fire appeared ahead. Qingxing looked up and saw raindrops flying diagonally, hurtling towards them.
Upon seeing this, Wenren Xi exclaimed, "Oh dear, it seems that the childhood sweethearts have put their efforts to the rescue."
He suddenly flicked his right hand, and with a "whoosh," several threads appeared, carrying a fat wooden puppet forward. With a "crackling" sound, the rain was blocked, barely hitting the puppet.
"Hiss." Gudako touched his arms. "What a handsome devil."
Wenren Xi looked refined, but his actions were clean and swift, carrying a chilling aura. He quickly dealt with the remaining magic brought by Xie Yuzhou and Shen Wan.
He put the puppet away, and his view opened up again.
Perhaps it was because the two people in front were too ruthless, but most of the poisonous fog on Sun and Moon Peak was dissipated. Huanmengxiang, who was left behind, knew that she could not do anything to the people above, so she cowered and gradually retreated.
Seeing this, Qingxing immediately withdrew her spell, and the azure light dimmed. Without the support of the magic array, Qinggeng could only fly around her one last time, his body gradually shrinking until he was the size of a golden oriole.
She reached out, and Qinggeng folded its wings, quietly resting on Qingxing's arm, looking at her haughtily.
Qingxing's eyes crinkled with a smile: "Thank you for your hard work."
As soon as the words were spoken, the Green-Ploughing Bird cried out and then transformed into specks of starlight, scattering with the wind.
"The ancient mythical beasts are truly arrogant."
Guda bounced around, trying to catch the starlight, but her words were merciless.
"It's good that they're willing to come." Qingxing stretched her slightly stiff wrists. "There's also a reason for their arrogance."
After all, if a single spirit is already this powerful, then if some other true form were to descend, it would likely possess the power to destroy the world.
"I'm really impressed by my friend, Junior Sister Qingxing."
Wenren Xi remained silent for a long time before finally speaking. Qingxing turned her head and met his smiling gaze.
For some reason, even though Senior Brother Wenren was just kind and cheerful, Qingxing always got goosebumps whenever she saw him.
"Senior brother too."
Qingxing praised him, saying that she had taken a moment to observe Wenren Xi's actions earlier. Every angle was perfect, ensuring that not a single drop of rain had a chance to escape without expending spiritual energy.
The rest of the journey to Sun and Moon Peak was relatively short, and the two flew out smoothly.
Mount Taihua has a total of six peaks. They have already passed two of them. Next, they only need to pass one more to reach Shaoyang Peak.
Based on the number of disciples they encountered along the way, Qingxing roughly calculated that they were currently in the upper ranks. As long as they maintained this speed, being in the top 100 wouldn't be a problem.
The process went a little too smoothly, and Gudako began to have doubts: "Could there be some major trap in the works?"
Qingxing covered its mouth: "Don't jinx it."
Wenren Xi stretched lazily, quite contentedly: "In previous years, the first test usually only had one or two stages, but this year..."
He froze, the rest of his words stuck in his throat. Just moments before, a cold sword had slashed past, slicing through his robes.
A note from the author:
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The Summoning Array is inspired by mythical beasts from the Classic of Mountains and Seas.
The female lead's spell made me look beautiful [droopy-eared rabbit head]
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