Chapter 35 The Sly Zhong Jiuli's Cold Fragrance Smells Even Better
Inside the huge secret palace.
Bai sat cross-legged, her body radiating spiritual light. A vortex of spiritual energy slowly rotated above her head, and with each rotation, it caused the spiritual energy within a radius of a thousand feet to tremble wildly.
Behind her, a colossal phantom of a white tiger stood coiled. The tiger was entirely white, except for a golden rune on its forehead that shone brightly. Its golden pupils, burning with divine fire, were slightly lowered, coldly and warily watching the two guardians in the hall.
Liu Xianyue clicked her tongue, "It's one thing for this little guy to have condensed a Dharma body during the Foundation Establishment stage, but why is he so fierce? That big tiger kept staring at us, could it be that it thinks we are bad guys?"
Zhong Jiuli glanced at Liu Xianyue indifferently, without replying. She knew her friend was simply bored and making conversation out of nothing.
"I'm serious, look at the way that big tiger looks at us, like we're going to snatch her cubs..." Liu Xianyue said, gesturing wildly as she spoke.
Before the words were finished, the white tiger phantom suddenly let out a low roar, as if warning Liu Xianyue.
"Okay, okay, I won't say anything more, alright?" Liu Xianyue raised her hands in surrender.
Zhong Jiuli finally spoke, her tone icy: "Serves you right!"
Such a strange phenomenon would surely terrify any ordinary cultivator who witnessed it. The Dharma Body is a divine ability that should only be cultivated by Nascent Soul cultivators.
Ke Bai is merely at the Foundation Establishment stage.
This transformation was mainly due to the Primordial Essence she absorbed on the white jade altar, which had already expanded her meridians to an outrageous degree.
If an ordinary cultivator's dantian is like a pond, then Bai's is like a vast and boundless sea of stars. That's why her breakthrough caused such an extraordinary phenomenon.
She was on the verge of a breakthrough on the altar, but it was forcibly suppressed.
The battle with the purple-robed youth made Bai's Dao heart clear, and he could no longer suppress the breakthrough.
"It's going to work!" Zhong Jiuli said softly.
Bai Ye closed her eyes tightly, formed an ancient hand seal with her hands, and suddenly her spiritual light receded. The white tiger phantom let out a long roar and turned into a stream of light that entered her brow.
The next moment, Bai, who had been meditating with her eyes closed for several days, slowly opened them. Her eyes were filled with golden light, like two divine suns. After a few breaths, the two divine suns gradually dimmed, returning to their original color.
Late stage of Foundation Establishment, done!
Bai also got up, raised his hands above his head and stretched, and as he stretched his muscles and bones, his joints cracked and popped, as if a string of firecrackers were exploding inside his body.
"Little one, you're finally awake." Liu Xianyue patted her chest and leaned closer, pretending to be on the verge of tears. "I've been protecting you these past few days, and I was almost scared to death by the noise of your breakthrough. You have to make it up to me."
Bai blinked, looking completely bewildered.
This is understandable; when breaking through, one's mind is so focused on cultivation that one's perception of the outside world is almost nonexistent.
Zhong Jiuli chuckled: "Don't mind your Sister Liu. She's been protecting you for days and must be feeling a bit bored."
Bai also came to her senses, and a bright smile appeared on her face. "Here, these are all for you, as compensation. If there's not enough, I'll get more for you when I snatch some more later."
With a "whoosh," a pile of storage bags and magical artifacts appeared on the ground like a small mountain.
She took out everything she had previously obtained from the Sima family cultivators, keeping nothing for herself.
This compensation refers to the money Liu Xianyue gave to the disciples of the Heavenly Sword Sect to make up for their losses.
The Primordial Creation White Lotus has already merged into her body. During these past few days of seclusion, she has been focusing her mind on her dantian, comprehending the Primordial Purple Qi on the Creation White Lotus.
Bai also discovered that the changes in that primordial purple energy were not random; it was evolving, undergoing a creation process from nothing to something.
From the primordial chaos to the order of Yin and Yang, and then to the life cycle of the Five Elements, it is remarkably similar to the method Little Gold used to create the black hole. Perhaps this is the fundamental reason why both the White Lotus of Creation and the Great Creation Scripture are named after creation.
The benefits she has gained from these past few days of contemplation are immeasurable. Perhaps if she contemplates it a few more times, she will be able to learn Xiao Jin's special move.
Bai also felt that the most powerful move in the Great Creation Scripture must be creating a black hole with her bare hands. Even if she couldn't create a black hole at first, creating a planet and smashing it into someone would be an incredibly beautiful sight.
She gained so much benefit that it was far more than a few lotus seeds could provide, but in the end, it was Liu Xianyue who bore the cost for her.
Liu Xianyue was taken aback at first, then her beautiful big eyes curved into crescents, and her red lips curled into a bewitching smile.
"Ouch~" She tiptoed and wrapped her arms around Bai Ye's neck, almost hanging on her body.
Bai froze, the faint scent of rouge emanating from Liu Xianyue lingering in her nostrils. She felt that Zhong Jiuli's cool fragrance was more pleasant.
"Little one, you're suddenly being so generous, it's making your older sister a little embarrassed."
Despite saying that, she was quick and efficient. With a sweep of her hand, the things on the ground vanished without a trace in an instant.
Who is Boss Liu? She's someone who never suffers a loss. Since Bai is willing to give her the things herself, there's no reason for her not to accept them!
Zhong Jiuli's gaze darkened slightly as she looked at the arm that was draped over Bai Ye's neck, her palms clenched, her knuckles turning white.
Before Zhong Jiuli could speak, Bai Ye's ears turned bright red, and she hurriedly pushed Liu Xianyue away, saying, "Sister Liu, please speak properly, but don't hit me. This is not right."
"Hmm?" Liu Xianyue's smile froze.
The hall suddenly became eerily quiet; you could hear a pin drop.
"You just... said I'm old...?" Liu Xianyue slowly narrowed her eyes, each word seeming to be squeezed out from between her tightly pursed lips.
Bai felt a chill run down his spine from the stare and waved his hands repeatedly, "No! I meant you..."
Before she could finish speaking, Liu Xianyue interrupted her, saying slowly and deliberately, "Me! Old!?"
"Damn it!" Bai Ye thought to himself that something was wrong and quickly hid behind Zhong Jiuli, like a little dog that had caused trouble outside and ran home to its owner for help.
"Boss Liu!" Zhong Jiuli raised her hand to stop the aggressive Liu Xianyue, a slight smile playing on her lips. "Why bother arguing with a little tiger? She has no idea how to appreciate our Boss Liu's stunning beauty!"
“Yes, yes, yes, Boss Liu is as beautiful as the moon and as charming as a flower, as handsome as Pan An, as dignified and wealthy as a man, and as beautiful as a peerless beauty…” Bai Ye leaned out from Zhong Jiuli’s shoulder and quickly chimed in.
Liu Xianyue laughed angrily, "Are you trying to play a word chain game with me?"
"Hahaha, you figured that out." Bai laughed cheekily.
Liu Xianyue was furious and didn't want to pay any attention to this charade between the man and the tiger. She flicked her sleeves and strode out of the hall.
Zhong Jiuli couldn't help but smile. Her little tiger could be quite infuriating sometimes. She lightly tapped Bai Ye's forehead with her fingertip and said in an extremely doting tone, "You, you just know how to annoy people."
"So, is she really angry?" Bai asked, blinking.
If Liu Xianyue is really angry, then she will go and apologize properly in a while.
“No need, Boss Liu isn’t that petty. Find her some nice things, that will be much more effective than an apology.” Zhong Jiuli said, then strode out of the hall, and Bai Ye quickly followed.
Three figures walked through the corridor one after another.
The grand hall was no longer the mysterious and solemn place it once was. The desolate and ancient walls were crisscrossed with sword marks, and dried, dark bloodstains were everywhere. Occasionally, fragments of broken magical artifacts could be seen on the ground.
"Tsk, that's quite a gruesome sight." Liu Xianyue stepped over a corpse that had been dead for some time.
Bai Ye paused slightly, lowered his eyes, and looked down at that pale and ashen face. He hesitated for a long time before finally making up his mind.
"Sisters, I'm leaving!" A clear voice echoed in the quiet corridor.
"Hmm?" Zhong Jiuli turned to look at her. What kind of trouble was this little one up to now?
Liu Xianyue looked at her with the same questioning gaze.
Bai tilted her head slightly, her red hair ribbon swaying gently with her movement. "I have important things to do, so I won't be staying with you guys from now on."
"What you're planning to do can't involve your sisters?" Liu Xianyue pressed.
"Since you've made up your mind, then go ahead, but be careful." Zhong Jiuli already knew what she wanted to do, so she didn't ask any further questions.
"Um!"
Bai was decisive in his departure, leaving without the slightest regret.
The two stood there, watching the tall figure carrying the heavy sword walk further and further away until he disappeared from sight.
Liu Xianyue nudged Zhong Jiuli's shoulder and asked, "That's strange. Weren't you keeping a close eye on this little tiger? Why are you suddenly letting it roam around on its own?"
Zhong Jiuli's lips curled into a meaningful smile. "Who said I was going to let her act alone? Just keep up with her."
"Tsk tsk!" Liu Xianyue shook her head with feigned disgust. "Zhong Jiuli, from the moment I met you, I knew that you appear to be a virtuous and upright person on the surface, but in reality... you are wicked to the core."
Zhong Jiuli did not answer, but simply strode off in the direction where Bai Ye had disappeared.
"Hey, wait for me." Liu Xianyue quickly followed.
This enormous palace is like a maze; she couldn't possibly find her way out alone.
As the three figures disappeared, the endless corridor, which had existed for countless years, returned to silence.
......
Above the clouds, a magnificent little spirit boat appears and disappears among the clouds.
Liu Xianyue sank into the soft couch as if boneless, took off her shoes and socks, and crossed her legs without any regard for her image, her snow-white toes dangling lightly in mid-air.
A bright red spiritual fruit traced a perfect arc in the air before finally landing in those open red lips.
With a "crunch," Liu Xianyue squinted and bit down, chewing with her cheeks bulging. After swallowing the spiritual fruit, she looked up at the bow of the ship: "Zhong Jiuli, you're practically a tiger-watching stone. It's been so many days, watching that little guy kill people, aren't you tired of watching yet?"
At the bow of the ship, Zhong Jiuli ignored her words, her beautiful eyes still fixed on the fighting crowd below.
Among the crowd, the figure in red stood out.
She weaved and darted through the crowd, her toes slamming into the ground. In the instant the earth cracked, she shot into the sky like an arrow released from a bow, or fell to the ground like a meteor. Her dark, heavy sword swept across, cleaving two black-robed cultivators from the Sima family in half at the waist.
Dust billowed as the boy raised his blood-stained face, his golden eyes shining brightly.
"Is this the last wave?" Liu Xianyue had somehow leaned against the railing of the boat, leaning out halfway and watching the battle below with great interest.
Zhong Jiuli gave a soft "hmm" in response.
"Tsk, this little tiger cub is ruthless enough, it's made me look at him in a new light..." Liu Xianyue casually praised.
Before she could finish speaking, Zhong Jiuli suddenly turned her head and looked at her.
Liu Xianyue chuckled lightly, then changed the subject, saying, "But you're still too naive! Do you really think that killing them all will leave no evidence?"
"Unfortunately, this little guy doesn't understand. For those in power, there's no need for a reason to take their anger out on others. If they want, everyone here can be a target of the Sima family's purge."
Zhong Jiuli defended her, saying, "The fact that she could think of this far already shows that she has grown up."
Liu Xianyue stroked her smooth chin with great interest. "Do you think the Sima family would risk everything to fight you and me?"
"Speaking of which, the Sima family seems to have a few spirit mines in Dongzhou. Hmm, they also have shops in Zhongzhou. Well then, I'll reluctantly accept them."
Zhong Jiuli looked at her friend's money-grubbing expression and shook her head with a smile, "They haven't even come knocking on our door yet, and you've already figured out how to arrange the Sima family's assets?"
"So you don't understand! The business world is like a battlefield. Believe it or not, once the Sima family falls, countless wolves and tigers will pounce on them, wanting to tear a big chunk of flesh off them."
Liu Xianyue became more and more excited as she spoke, her eyes gleaming as if she could already see countless industries falling into her own pocket.
She clapped her hands and declared, "I don't care anymore! Whether the Sima family attacks or not, I'm going to lead Little Tiger to fight my way to Guzhou. I'm going to take this piece of fat meat from the Sima family!"
Zhong Jiuli looked down at Bai Ye, who was wiping his heavy sword, and said calmly, "It's up to you. As long as you don't cause any major upheaval, I'll cover for you."
Their conversation was as casual as discussing the weather. And just like that, the fate of a second-rate family was decided.
......
Below, Bai was completely unaware that ever since he left the giant hall, he had been followed by those two women.
The reason I want to break up with them is simple.
Bai didn't want Zhong Jiuli to see her ruthless killing.
Although Zhong Jiuli didn't say it, Bai had already realized that the other party liked her fluffy, cute, and harmless appearance.
She hoped that in Zhong Jiuli's heart, she would always be remembered as the innocent and adorable little tiger, not as she was now, covered in blood.
After wiping his sword, Bai, imitating Li Chengfeng, tossed it back into its sheath and left without looking back.
She found a deserted tree hollow, leaped up, took off her pristine red robe, and put on a drab gray robe.
He used the Formless Technique to transform himself into an ordinary cultivator with an unremarkable face, someone who would be easily lost in a crowd.
After changing her clothes, Bai sat down cross-legged to meditate and regulate her breathing. She had a premonition that the secret realm would close in a few days.
......
Wild and desolate land, ancient city.
The city wall, built of massive stones, stands on the earth, stretching for thousands of miles, like an ancient, sleeping dragon.
In the center of the city, on the plaza where the teleportation array was located, beams of light shot into the sky one after another, and many cultivators dressed in black robes stepped out of the teleportation array.
As more and more cultivators stepped out of the teleportation array, a black spot appeared on the vast teleportation array plaza, and the spot was rapidly expanding.
After a long while, the light beams of the teleportation array finally went out. Then, one after another, ancient and imposing black warships soared into the sky, and the group of black-robed cultivators on the plaza scattered like locusts, flying towards the warships in the air.
The windows of teahouses and taverns in the city were pushed open one after another, and many cultivators leaned out, watching this scene with surprise and doubt.
"Is a war about to break out?" A young cultivator swallowed hard, not even noticing that he had spilled the wine he was holding.
The cultivator sitting at the same table as her also stared wide-eyed at the outside and said, "I don't know, but something big must have happened. Let's see if the City Lord's Mansion makes any move."
At the highest point of the city lord's mansion, on the star-gazing platform, the city lord, dressed in a dark python robe, stood with her hands behind her back. The gust of wind blew her sleeves. She squinted at the warships that deliberately kept their altitude low as they flew over the buildings.
As the warships swept past, the violent air currents they created overturned countless stalls in the market.
"City Lord...?" The guard, dressed in a crimson outfit and holding a sword with both hands, hesitated, her eyes filled with anger. These people's actions were a slap in the face to their Eternal City and their city lord.
The city lord's lips curled into a cold smile as he looked at the black banner on the warship bearing the words "Sima". "Does the Sima family really think that there is no one left in my Wilderness State, acting so recklessly?"
Her voice was soft, yet it made the guards behind her unconsciously straighten their backs.
"Should I go and teach them a lesson?" the guard asked.
"No need, I'll go myself!" With that, the city lord's figure disappeared from the spot.
On the Sima family's main boat.
A loud "boom" resounded.
The entire main ship suddenly sank downwards, the deck cracked inch by inch, and wood chips flew everywhere.
The City Lord of Eternal City stood at the bow of the ship, his spiritual energy surging beneath his feet, forcefully pressing down the hundreds-of-feet-long warship, causing it to sink by more than ten feet.
Dozens of black-robed guards instantly drew their swords, their blades pointing directly at the uninvited guest. However, no one dared to make the first move; this person had silently broken through the main ship's protective array, his strength unfathomable.
Inside the cabin, the head of the Sima family strode out with a gloomy expression. With a flick of his wide sleeves, he forced a fake smile: "So it's City Lord Yun who has graced us with his presence. Seeing is believing, indeed... you have an extraordinary bearing!"
Yun Shu stood with her hands behind her back, a half-smile playing on her lips, but her eyes were icy cold: "Patriarch Sima, I was unaware that Eternal City had changed its rules to allow warships to fly at low altitudes within the city?"
The head of the Sima family's eyes twitched, and anger surged within him.
His son died tragically in the desolate state, and this woman not only showed no respect but was also aggressive! He suppressed his anger, but his voice turned cold: "My son was killed here. I am overwhelmed with grief and was momentarily rude. I hope Lord Yun will forgive me."
"Unforgive me?" Yun Shu chuckled lightly, her gaze sharp and piercing. "What if I don't forgive you?"
"Then don't blame me for being impolite!" The head of the Sima family waved his hand sharply. In an instant, dozens of black-robed cultivators surrounded them from all sides, their blades flashing coldly, their killing intent palpable!
Yun Shu raised the corners of her lips slightly, her eyes filled with even more sarcasm: "Heh, I really don't know if you're genuinely stupid or just pretending to be crazy."
Anyone who dares to challenge her on her turf will be dealt with without her even giving an order!
Countless golden array patterns suddenly lit up the sky above Wangu City, and the city's protective array was activated instantly. The entire sky seemed to be covered by an invisible giant net, and all the warships were stuck in the mud and unable to move!
At the same time, on the city wall, rows of crossbows slowly rose, their cold iron arrows gleaming brightly in the sunlight, precisely locking onto each of the Sima family's warships.
In an instant, a barrage of arrows could be unleashed, riddling these warships with holes!
The air froze!
The Sima family head's face twitched, and the sinister look in his eyes deepened. He hadn't expected that this desolate land would be full of such tough nuts to crack?
How dare a mere city lord be so arrogant? Isn't he afraid that his ancestor will come to settle scores with him?
But the situation was beyond his control, so he suppressed his surging anger, took a deep breath, and said in a deep voice:
"Today is the first time our Sima family has arrived in your esteemed land. We are unfamiliar with the city's rules and have offended you greatly! All losses caused in the city today will be compensated by our Sima family!"
After he finished speaking, all around him fell silent.
Yun Shu lazily raised her hand, picked at her ear, raised her eyebrows slightly, and gave an expression that said, "What are you saying? I can't hear you."
The head of the Sima family, his face ashen, used his spiritual power to repeat the words he had just spoken.
The sound echoed throughout the entire Eternal City, and everyone in the city heard it.
"Is Lord Yun satisfied now?"
Yun Shu chuckled softly, her long, slender, fair fingers waving in the air. "Stop talking nonsense and pay the fine first."
The head of the Sima family's chest heaved violently, and the killing intent in his eyes was almost tangible, but in the end, he just snorted coldly, flicked his sleeve, turned around, and strode back to the cabin.
"Bang!" The hatch slammed shut, causing the entire warship to tremble slightly.
A black-robed guard stepped forward, expressionless, and handed over a storage bag, his voice cold and hard: "Lord Yun, this is an apology."
Yun Shu took it and scanned it with her divine sense, and saw that there was a small mountain of spirit stones piled up inside.
A slight smile played on her lips, a hint of mockery in her eyes: "As expected of the Sima family, who own several spirit mines! They're really generous."
Before she finished speaking, her figure vanished like smoke, as if she had never existed.
At the same time, the city's protective formation shut down instantly.
The Sima family's warships, as if granted a pardon, immediately sped off, rushing out of Wangu City. Although they were warships, their silhouettes revealed a somewhat disheveled state.
......
Within the secret realm.
After cultivating in the tree hollow for several days, Bai opened her eyes. She flew out of the tree hollow and looked up at the sky, where a pillar of light, even more dazzling than the aurora borealis, descended from the sky.
She did not resist, letting the pillar of light envelop her. A familiar dizziness washed over her, and when she regained her footing, she was already outside the secret realm.
The surrounding area was filled with figures, and all the cultivators who had entered the secret realm were forcibly sent out, each in a different posture.
Some people held a spiritual herb in their hands, while others held swords and knives, their murderous aura still lingering.
Behind them, the entrance to the secret realm was slowly closing.
After a brief moment of confusion, everyone suddenly came to their senses.
"Run!" someone shouted, and in an instant, all sorts of magical lights shot into the sky!
Everyone remembered that before entering the secret realm, the old monsters guarding the outside had declared that they would besiege and wiped out once everyone came out.
However, the anticipated ambush did not occur.
Those old monsters have all disappeared.
Instead, the sky was filled with countless black-robed cultivators, like a dark cloud pressing down on the city, their murderous aura permeating the surrounding area.
The middle-aged man at the head of the group stood in mid-air, his cold gaze sweeping over the crowd below.
The pressure of the Nascent Soul cultivator was released without reservation, causing the air to freeze.
Bai also hid in the crowd, looking up at the identical black-robed cultivator. It really was a nesting doll! Both the smaller and larger ones were so good at pretending.
This is a bit tricky, as it doesn't go according to her original plan.
Originally, Bai also planned to leave this place and go directly to Guzhou to turn the Sima family upside down.
Unexpectedly, this group of people, lacking any sense of martial ethics, actually came to block the spring!
Unlike Bai Ye's wild thoughts, many cultivators looked at the middle-aged man in the sky with suspicion and uncertainty, as well as the black-robed guards behind him who exuded murderous aura.
If I'm not mistaken, there are Nascent Soul stage cultivators inside. If these people want to surround and kill them and plunder what they have gained in the secret realm, then they will have no power to resist.
“No…not a single one…!” The Sima family head’s lips trembled, and his voice shook.
None of the Sima family members appeared.
"Heh..." he sneered, "Good, very good, you people are very good!"
"Kill them all... leave no one alive!" the Sima family head said coldly. His voice wasn't loud, but it was like a heavy hammer that struck the hearts of these cultivators.
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