Chapter Eleven: Junior Sister Just Wants to Escape
Xie Chen wasn't angry. He still smiled like a spring breeze: "Third Junior Brother, you're mistaken. It's only natural for fellow disciples to care for each other. Look at Junior Sister's pale face and unsteady breathing. She's clearly at her limit. It would be dishonest for you to challenge her now. Wouldn't that be a more honorable thing to do? Wouldn't it be better to wait until Junior Sister has recovered before issuing a challenge in a fair and square manner?"
Xie Chen's words made sense, and he subtly praised Ji Qianqiu for being "upright," leaving the brute speechless for a moment.
Ji Qianqiu stared at Fang Li's indeed poor condition, then glanced at the smiling Xie Chen, and said in a gruff voice, "...Hmph! You always have so many reasons! Fang Li, once you've recovered from your injuries, you have to fight me! It's a deal!" He said this and, without waiting for Fang Li's response, turned around and strode away, as if afraid that Xie Chen would argue with him again.
After seeing Ji Qianqiu off, Xie Chen turned his gaze entirely to Fang Li, his tone becoming even gentler: "Junior sister, you've been frightened. Third junior brother is just that impulsive; he meant no harm. I hope you won't take offense."
Fang Li lowered her eyelashes, concealing the expression in her eyes, and bowed slightly: "Thank you very much for helping me out, Senior Brother."
"It was nothing." Xie Chen chuckled, stepping forward with a relaxed and natural demeanor. "Junior Sister's battle with Junior Brother Chen just now was truly astonishing. With only a mid-stage Qi Refining sixth level cultivation, she managed to hold her own for so long. Her final use of divine sense was exquisite, securing victory from the brink of defeat. I wonder which elder she studied under? Or perhaps she has cultivated some special soul technique? My knowledge is too limited to discern her background for the time being. I am truly curious."
His words were gentle, as if in casual conversation, but his eyes were full of scrutiny, not missing any subtle changes in Fang Li's expression or fluctuations in spiritual energy.
Fang Li's heart skipped a beat; they had indeed arrived.
She raised her head, a hint of weariness and confusion on her face: "Senior Brother, you flatter me. I have no special lineage, I was just a menial disciple who entered the immortal sect by chance. I only practice the sect's most basic Qi-guiding technique and a few rudimentary spells. That last move... was really lucky. I was forced by Senior Brother Chen's sword momentum at the time, and my mind was in turmoil, so I subconsciously struggled. I don't know how... perhaps it was a burst of potential? I hope you won't laugh at me, Senior Brother."
Xie Chen's eyes flickered slightly, but his smile remained unchanged: "Oh? Is that so? It seems that Junior Sister has quite a talent for the path of divine sense. Perhaps you can pay more attention to this kind of technique in the future. If you have any questions, you can also come to your brother for discussion."
He didn't delve into it further, as if he genuinely believed her explanation, though the word "explore" was spoken with a deeper meaning.
"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother." Fang Li bowed again, her attitude respectful yet distant.
"Junior sister's injuries are serious, please go back and recuperate." Xie Chen stepped aside to make way, pointing his jade fan towards the courtyard.
Fang Li said no more, nodded, and turned to walk towards her small courtyard. Her steps were slightly hurried, as if she was really eager to heal her wounds.
Xie Chen stood there, waving his jade fan, watching the receding figure in pale blue. His gentle smile slowly faded. "Potential burst? Interesting. The spiritual energy fluctuations are abnormal. He probably wasn't telling the truth. Fang Li... you seem to be hiding more secrets than I expected." He muttered to himself, his interest growing stronger. He gently closed his jade fan and tapped it lightly against his palm.
In the distance, on a training platform on another mountain peak.
Shen Yunzhou sat cross-legged, trying to clear his mind and circulate the "Ice Heart Technique".
However, his consciousness kept drifting involuntarily toward the direction of the martial arts training ground at the foot of the mountain.
When he saw Xie Chen blocking Fang Li, the two of them facing each other and chatting happily, the scene... was inexplicably irritating and hard to shake off.
A sense of unease, like vines, coiled around his Dao heart.
The spiritual energy circulating in the "Ice Heart Technique" suddenly experienced a very slight stagnation, and the pure icy spiritual energy within his body almost went astray! A chill instantly backfired, causing a slight pain in his meridians.
He suddenly opened his eyes, and a rare hint of anger, which he himself was unaware of, flashed across those eyes that were usually as deep and calm as a cold pool.
He quickly suppressed the strange feeling in his heart, closed his eyes again, but his aura was even colder than before.
Fang Li knew nothing about this.
She hurried back to her secluded little courtyard, closed the wooden door, and shut herself off from the outside world.
He leaned against the door and slowly exhaled.
Dealing with Xie Chen was even more exhausting than withstanding Chen Feng's ferocious sword energy!
Those smiling eyes seemed to see right through people, and the pressure they brought her was no less than that of Chen Feng's sword.
She shook her head, clearing her mind of the jumbled thoughts; now was not the time to think about these things.
His gaze fell on the bulging spirit stone bag and the jade bottle containing the Qi-stabilizing pills on the table, and his heart was instantly filled with genuine joy.
Counting her spoils! A full two hundred low-grade spirit stones! For a poor outer sect disciple, this was an extremely considerable fortune! Combined with the little bit of savings she'd accumulated from completing those trivial tasks, it was enough to support her cultivation for a considerable time!
And this Qi-stabilizing pill, with its fragrant aroma, is an excellent remedy for stabilizing one's current realm and replenishing one's foundation.
The fatigue and pain have lessened considerably.
She carefully put away the spirit stones and placed the Qi-stabilizing pill within easy reach.
After a series of fierce battles in this small competition, especially the final battle with Chen Feng and dealing with Xie Chen's probing, she was physically and mentally exhausted, but she gained a lot.
Not only did they gain tangible benefits, but they also gained practical experience and a deeper understanding of their own capabilities.
I must immediately go into seclusion to digest what I've gained and stabilize my cultivation level!
She made up her mind, took out a few spirit stones and held them in her hand, then swallowed an ordinary healing pill. She then sat cross-legged on the couch, preparing to enter a state of cultivation where she could forget herself and the world around her.
And just as her mind was gradually calming down, and she was about to completely shut herself off from external perception.
A lofty, indifferent, and almost imperceptible divine thought, like a light feather, brushed across her courtyard once more, lingering on her for a slightly longer moment than before, as if confirming something, before quietly retreating without leaving any trace.
Fang Li was completely unaware.
Unbeknownst to her, while she was in seclusion consolidating her strength, a small disturbance caused by her had already begun to quietly brew in the outer sect.
The one who started this was none other than Senior Brother Xie Chen, who had just kindly helped her out of the predicament.
At this moment, on the corridor of Qingyu Peak, Xie Chen leaned against the vermilion railing, slowly waving the warm jade fan in his hand. While chatting with several familiar outer sect managers, he seemed to casually mention, "It's really worrying... Just now down the mountain, I saw that Junior Sister Fang Li was seriously injured by Chen Feng. Her face was pale, her steps were unsteady, and her aura was scattered and difficult to gather... She still remembered to go to the mission hall to accept a mission to go down the mountain to collect Crimson Flame Grass. She is so diligent that it makes one's heart ache. I wonder if Black Wind Mountain has been peaceful lately?"
His words were gentle and full of concern, yet he easily revealed Fang Li's itinerary and possible destinations.
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