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Zhang Zitao came over again. He hadn't seen the exchange of strange fire earlier, so Ruan Qingyu still hadn't found anything suitable.
Just as she was about to speak, she saw Ruan Qingyu look up at her. Although there was a cloak between them, she inexplicably felt that the other person's gaze was fixed on her.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, I have bought the right things. Would you like to continue?" Ruan Qingyu thought to herself, "Half of the matter has been resolved today. The rest of the show is up to Zhang Zitao to put on a good show."
Hearing her say that, Zhang Zitao was taken aback, but without suspicion, he said, "We just brought you here to take a look. Now that you've found what you were looking for, we can naturally leave."
Since everything was already prepared, she could easily choose to die sooner rather than later. Besides, when Ruan Qingyu participated in the transaction, he felt that giving her those spirit stones was a waste.
Seeing that Ruan Qingyu wasn't just talking casually, Zhang Zitao stopped heading towards the new small door. Instead, he took out the black token he had received when he entered and immediately activated it.
In the blink of an eye, the two reappeared in the passage where they had first entered.
Zhang Zitao turned around and looked at Ruan Qingyu: "It seems that Fellow Daoist Ruan has gained a lot today."
At this moment, the two walked slowly along the passage as before. Ruan Qingyu said in a low voice, "I have to thank Fellow Daoist Zhang for today's events, otherwise I, a newly promoted disciple, would not have known that such a wonderful place existed."
"I've only been at the Xuantian Sect for a few more years than you, so naturally I know more about it. Fellow Daoist Ruan, you're too kind." Zhang Zitao's tone remained that of a kind and approachable senior, but the face beneath his cloak was quite terrifying.
As the light ahead gradually brightened, it was likely that they were about to leave the underground trading area.
The array she had imagined did not activate. Ruan Qingyu looked around, but it was still pitch black. The light from before had disappeared, and only the faint tails of shadows could be seen.
Ruan Qingyu tensed up, and the phoenix zither that had always hung at her waist responded to her spiritual power. It suddenly grew larger and hovered in front of her.
"Hehehe, you're quite cautious." A sharp voice rang out behind Ruan Qingyu, and then a large ripple of water flowed in front of Ruan Qingyu's eyes, instantly enveloping her.
She scanned left and right with her divine sense but couldn't see anyone. Zhang Zitao, who had been standing in front of her, had long since vanished without a trace, if not for the fact that she could still sense the scent of the feather she had placed on him in the passage.
They might really think they've suffered some kind of misfortune, and treat this as just an ordinary accident. Thinking of this, Ruan Qingyu didn't hesitate and pressed her fingertips heavily on the strings.
In an instant, she tore a gap in the water ripples that enveloped her, and at that moment, another whooshing sound came from behind her.
Holding her breath, Ruan Qingyu rushed out through the gap she had created. Turning around, she saw only a puddle of water left behind.
However, the surroundings remained pitch black, with no light visible. The only source of light was the wutong zither floating beside him.
Seeing this, Ruan Qingyu's right hand ignited with a vigorous flame, and when her palms collided, even more fire was released. This illuminated the dark space and allowed her to clearly see her current predicament.
On the ground, where black and gold intertwined, the formation was still slowly rotating.
Was she being directly drawn into an array? Ruan Qingyu frowned, her divine sense rapidly observing her surroundings.
Soon, a perfectly round demon beast core could be seen burning at the intersection of the black and golden patterns.
Clearly, this was the eye of the formation. However, she hesitated whether this place was the formation's life-giving gate. If breaking through here meant she couldn't escape, it was very likely a deliberately created death gate.
"What, you don't dare to try?" The sharp voice from before appeared again, full of provocation, urging Ruan Qingyu to make a decision.
"You think I'll take action just because you let me try? You really think I'm a fool." Ruan Qingyu sneered. As her words fell, Ruan Qingyu didn't even look at the overly conspicuous life gate, and the Wutong zither emitted a 'zhengzheng—' trembling sound.
In this world where only Ruan Qingyu resided, a tremendous sound wave resounded throughout heaven and earth. Like a harbinger, the sky collapsed and the earth trembled.
If anyone were outside, they would surely see Ruan Qingyu standing alone in one place, going around in circles like a blind man touching an elephant.
However, as her spiritual power burst through the barrier, the surrounding earth shook violently. Cracks appeared continuously in the ground, and even the array binding her began to fray.
In the distance, Zhang Zitao, who had been hiding, stared intently at them: "Didn't you say this formation was enough? If you don't capture her today, neither of you will get any other reward!"
The two men standing next to Zhang Zitao exchanged a glance and made a decision in their minds.
Inside the formation, Ruan Qingyu saw that the power of the Wutong Qin remained undiminished, and three more notes of the qin burst forth, like the murmuring of a spring, lapping against the stone bank.
In an instant, the previously explosive fire seemed to have found a breakthrough, rushing towards the source of the echo. Suddenly, the previously pitch-black place seemed to be illuminated by a burst of sunlight.
Light streamed in, and Ruan Qingyu opened her eyes. She then realized where she was—a courtyard. Moving her gaze outwards, she realized the place that had trapped her wasn't far; it was right next to the entrance to the underground trading area.
The person who did this is really bold.
Ruan Qingyu calmly held the Wutong Qin and said, "This water trapping formation is indeed powerful, but I am not only good at playing with fire."
Her sharp gaze swept over the three people not far away, who were dressed exactly like her. They were all wearing cloaks, and even had disguises on their bodies to avoid being recognized by divine sense.
After sensing the location of her own feathers, Ruan Qingyu realized that one of them must be Zhang Zitao.
However, she could not immediately reveal what she knew.
"Where is the person who was with me?" Ruan Qingyu asked loudly, her gaze towards the three becoming increasingly sharp.
Zhang Zitao was initially taken aback by the intense gaze, but then he relaxed, realizing that the woman hadn't recognized him yet.
"Gentlemen, aren't you going to make a move?" Zhang Zitao lowered his voice, as these two had received bribes from him.
Urged on, the two men, who had been like wooden stakes, finally moved. Each of them struck out with a palm, and a torrent of water poured down, surprisingly only above Ruan Qingyu's head.
Elsewhere, nothing happened, since they were dealing with the underground transactions privately. If it affected their neighbors, they would end up pleasing neither side.
The other person waved his hands, and dark green vines flew out, sweeping towards Ruan Qingyu as if to entangle her tightly.
Ruan Qingyu smiled coldly, standing rooted to the spot without retreating an inch. The Wutong Qin floated high in the air, its azure light casting a soft glow, firmly protecting her within. The endless vines that charged at her could only retreat step by step under the scorching heat of the flames.
"Where did this woman's strange fire come from? It can actually damage my natal spiritual plant!" The cultivator who summoned the vines continued his work, his heart filled with doubt and surprise.
Soon, the man received a telepathic message from his brother. His eyes darted around, and he glanced at Zhang Zitao, who was still standing motionless to the side, and smiled sinisterly.
Suddenly, a hand reached out, grabbed the unsuspecting Zhang Zitao, and threw him towards Ruan Qingyu's location.
"Go!" The man retracted the vines, and his brothers summoned another large jet of water towards Ruan Qingyu's face.
Taking advantage of Ruan Qingyu raising her hand to resist the water jet, the two fled the courtyard as if escaping. Their deal with Zhang Zitao was merely to help capture him; if they failed, it wouldn't be their fault.
Zhang Zitao was furious when his hired help betrayed him. After quickly freeing himself from the vines, he immediately tried to escape.
He wasn't stupid; these two had clearly run away because they realized Ruan Qingyu was a difficult woman to deal with. Now that he had been abandoned by them, if he continued to entangle himself with her, he would definitely be at a disadvantage.
However, Ruan Qingyu would not let him escape. Things had come to this point, and she would not give up until she caught Zhang Zitao.
Before the sound of the zither had faded, it cleaved open all the places where Zhang Zitao could hide, forcing him to confront Ruan Qingyu face to face.
If it weren't for the outermost layer of formation protecting the small courtyard, it would have already affected the people outside the alley.
A beam of blue light shot out in all directions, completely trapping Zhang Zitao. Although Ruan Qingyu didn't want to take his life right now, she still needed to collect some interest.
The phoenix flames transformed into countless tiny sparks, shooting into Zhang Zitao's limbs and bones, instantly suppressing him to the ground, leaving him powerless to fight back.
How is that possible! This woman has just broken through the formation and has already consumed so much spiritual energy, so why does she still have the strength to fight me?
Zhang Zitao's eyes were bloodshot with rage, but he was helpless. The burning pain in his limbs continued to spread, and he even had the illusion that his blood was boiling.
Seeing Zhang Zitao's pained expression, Ruan Qingyu's bloodshot eyes regained some clarity.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, this must feel unpleasant, right?" Ruan Qingyu smiled as she lifted his cloak, revealing his face covered in sweat and pain.
If what he felt just moments before was merely a lingering, persistent pain, Zhang Zitao was now filled with horror: "You, how did you know it was me?"
Then, he changed to a humble and submissive expression: "Fellow Daoist Ruan, I was threatened by the other party just now, which is why I did these stupid things. Please be lenient, Fellow Daoist Ruan."
Seeing the man's submissive demeanor, as if it were all someone else's fault and that she had only acted under pressure, Ruan Qingyu snorted coldly and stomped her foot on his chest.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, what you say is laughable. If you are under pressure, how have you managed to endure it for so long? I remember you were Chen Tian's prized student and received quite a few benefits from him."
Ruan Qingyu spoke these words close to the other person's ear. Her breath was hot like flames, but when it landed on Zhang Zitao, it felt like a death abyss, making his hair stand on end.
He shook his head frantically: "What are you talking about? I don't know. I was just blinded by greed, and I only hired someone to rob you after I took the money."
This means that she does not admit to having any secret relationship with Chen Tian, and she will not mention anything other than their master-disciple relationship.
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