Chapter 53 The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole Behind
Ji Mingran closed his eyes and waited for the dizziness in his head to subside before opening them again.
The deep darkness of night has turned into bright daylight, and the warm sunlight shines through the lush greenery, creating a peaceful and serene atmosphere in the woodland.
She was transported to a new illusion.
The illusion shifted so suddenly that it caught everyone off guard. One second they were surrounded by a large number of rotting corpses, crows, and skeletons, and the next second the dark fog shone brightly. The group of people who were trying to kill the enemy felt the world spinning. As the crows and skeletons stopped, their figures disappeared from the spot, and then she appeared here alone.
Unable to meet Guan Wangzhen and Ji Xingyang who rushed into the fog, they didn't know who had broken the illusion's vital point.
There was no opportunity to ask Fu Daolan and Shao Qingshang, so they had no way of knowing when or where they met Yu Tianxing.
I'll have to ask next time we meet.
The dense forest was overgrown with grass, unlike the illusion from before, and there was a path underfoot for people to walk on. Since he didn't know which way to go, Ji Mingran reached for his waist, preparing to draw his cane.
Following her habit, she walked in the direction her cane fell.
Her walking stick, forged by Zhu Shibai, could not only change size but also transform into a sword or dagger, making it very handy. So she shrunk the walking stick and wore it as an ornament at her waist for easy access.
Her fingertips had barely touched the eight-inch-long cane when, as if knowing her thoughts, the cane suddenly tilted up and pointed southwest.
This is something I've never seen before.
Ji Mingran turned his toes and followed the direction of his cane, heading southwest.
The cane kept changing direction, sometimes left, sometimes right. Ji Mingran followed, and sure enough, the dense forest became more and more open, and a path had appeared on the grass. She seemed to be being led in the right direction.
Just then, someone nearby called out, "Come this way."
The voices were unfamiliar, and judging from what they were saying, there was more than one person.
Within the spiritual cultivation competition, everyone except those from the same sect is an opponent unless they are allied. Those who are outnumbered and outmatched may be eliminated by their allies.
Ji Mingran quickly scanned his surroundings, silently moved to the densest nearby tree, nimbly climbed up, and lay prone among the intertwined branches and leaves.
But the cane at his waist was still trembling slightly. Ji Mingran looked down and found that it was pointing in the direction directly opposite.
Through the dense, overlapping branches and vines, dozens of meters away, Zhu Shibai sat calmly on a tree branch, smiling at her.
No wonder the cane pointed the way on its own; it turns out that Zhu Shibai had added the function of locating his position.
Ji Mingran gave a thumbs up: Great.
Zhu Shibai glanced at the spot not far from her tree, then looked back at her, reminding the cultivators below that they were approaching her.
Ji Mingran nodded, and the two of them tacitly took out the annihilation talismans that Guan Wangzhen had prepared for them, infused them with spiritual power, and affixed them to their robes.
But that's not enough. The hiding attempts of a Qi Refining cultivator are completely exposed in front of three Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Zhu Shibai asked silently: Do you need any help?
Ji Mingran shook his head.
If she can't even manage to hide, how could she possibly escape the pursuit of countless mutated creatures in the apocalypse?
Like a leopard crouching on a branch, Ji Mingran skillfully slowed his breathing, adjusting the frequency to the lowest possible level, keeping his body still, and even controlling the speed and frequency of his blinks with exquisite precision. He became one with the environment, his presence almost disappearing.
Zhu Shibai observed the situation quietly from a distance.
Just then, the person who was speaking walked to the foot of the tree, and through the gaps in the branches and leaves, the figures of three people could be seen.
One of them, still shaken, patted his chest and said, "I was terrified just now; I was almost eaten by that tiger. I'm so grateful to Brother Ye. If it weren't for Fellow Daoist Shen saving me, I might have been eliminated from the competition. After the competition, I will definitely visit Xiaosu Pavilion to express my gratitude."
The cultivator addressed as Brother Ye humbly replied, "Qingluo is my fiancée. It is only right for us to help each other as allies. It was nothing to mention."
The man praised, "Brother Ye is so lucky to have found such a Daoist partner. You two, one is the eldest daughter of the Shen family, and the other is the young master of the Xiaosu Pavilion. Whether it is family background, appearance, or strength, you are a perfect match. You are truly a match made in heaven, and it is enviable."
The cultivator addressed as Brother Ye smiled and said, "These are all marriages arranged by our elders. To be honest, I haven't had the chance to meet Qingluo yet."
People under the tree were talking enthusiastically, while those in the tree were lost in thought.
Ah no, why should Fellow Daoist Shen go to Xiaosu Pavilion to express his gratitude for the person he saved?
Wait a minute, is this fellow Daoist Shen Qingluo?
Shen Qingluo is engaged??
Ji Mingran and Zhu Shibai were initially puzzled, then both were shocked. They subconsciously looked up at each other and, from the other's shocked eyes, realized that neither of them knew about this.
The two hurriedly lowered their eyes to listen again, but Brother Ye changed the subject and did not mention Shen Qingluo again: "From what you just said, the tiger beast in the last illusion was extremely ferocious. If it was just to take down the key to the illusion, there were many ways. Why did you have to provoke it?"
The cultivator leading the way sighed softly and said, "Brother Ye, you may not know, but our sect's purpose in participating in this spiritual cultivation competition is none other than to find the Qilin beast that our sect's ancestor once entrusted to the realm of all beings in the spiritual cultivation competition. The Qilin beast is cunning by nature, adept at hiding, and fond of transformation and disguise. The only thing it cannot conceal is its ferocious and brutal nature. We can only target the most ferocious demon beasts in each illusion, test them one by one, and then subdue them."
"I went all out, deliberately provoking the most ferocious monster in the entire illusion realm." The cultivator who was almost eliminated in the last illusion realm whispered, "I didn't expect that tiger beast to be so terrifying, causing us to lose a blue phoenix."
"It's alright. I've already discovered traces of a ferocious beast in this area, most likely a Qilin. We have two of us this time, and the rest of our allies are joining us. With Brother Ye's help, we're sure to succeed," the participating cultivator who gave directions reassured them.
"Yes! We will definitely succeed!"
As the man raised his voice, Ji Mingran blinked very slowly.
They declared their intention to capture the Qilin beast.
Ji Mingran hid very well; the three people below didn't notice her at all, and walked to another place while talking.
However, what she didn't know was that her crouching posture and thoughtful expression were being projected onto the dozen or so projection stones on the Taoist temple's testing platform, and were being clearly seen by the observing cultivators.
"The talisman of this young ancestor of the Dingsheng Sect is really effective; even three Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn't detect her."
"As Venerable Hongyan's junior sister, she must have plenty of talismans and magical artifacts."
"How come the Beast Taming Sect so readily revealed their method for finding the Qilin Beast? The two above them heard it all clearly."
"It's alright to ask for a solution. I've heard that the Qilin Beast is difficult to subdue; only the secret techniques of the Beast Taming Sect can subdue it."
"But the famous Dingsheng Sect's Linfeng has many demonic beasts. We cannot underestimate their ability to subdue demonic beasts. If they kill the Qilin Beast before the Beast Taming Sect, the Beast Taming Sect's previous efforts will be completely ruined."
"No way? Why would they do this? They wouldn't get any benefits from it."
"What if the Qilin Beast is the key to the illusion? The Dingsheng Sect only has four disciples participating in the test, which is already a disadvantage. The further they go, the harder it will be to overcome the key to the illusion. They will definitely try their best to get what they can."
Every sound of the cultivators watching the trial reached the ears of Master Hexiu, who was seated in the first-class section. He glared at the disciples shaking their heads in the projection, so angry that his nose almost twisted.
This fool was utterly humiliated by the tiger beast in the previous illusion, yet in this illusion, he couldn't even detect the Qi Refining stage cultivator hiding above him.
They even revealed the exact method for identifying the Qilin beast.
Master Hexiu kept tugging at the wrinkles in his sleeves, trying to keep his mind calm, but the more he thought about it, the more upset he became. So he left his disciples to keep an eye on the competition and made an excuse to leave and go out for some fresh air.
No sooner had he left the observation platform than he heard Venerable Chongjue call out, "True Man Hexiu, please wait."
Venerable Chongjue strode toward him and laughed loudly, “However, it’s just the first match. Why is True Immortal Hexiu in such a hurry? Junior disciples always need to go through trials to grow.”
Sitting on the spirit crane, Master Hexiu watched the sea of clouds rise and fall with a sense of gloom: "There's no point in hiding this matter. The Qilin beast has been fostered in the Realm of All Beings for many years, and its whereabouts are hard to find. This time, we have finally found its whereabouts. If we don't subdue it now, it will only become stronger and stronger, and it will be difficult to subdue it in the future."
"Unfortunately, the disciples from my sect who participated in this examination are all more useless than the last," he said bitterly.
Venerable Chongjue said, "Don't worry, the Qilin Beast originally belonged to the Beast Taming Sect. It is only natural for it to be returned to its rightful owner. As I said, the Hongqi Sect will definitely help."
“But no one from the Hongqi Sect is in that illusion.” Master Hexiu was disheartened.
“I have already instructed all the sects that are allied with Hongqi Sect that they will help you.”
The Immortal Crane Xiu was moved: "Venerable Chongjue, whether or not I succeed, I will remember your kindness."
After much persuasion, Venerable Crane Xiu finally composed himself and returned to the observation platform.
Venerable Chongjue remained in place. He raised his hand and formed a hand seal, covering the space within a ten-foot radius with his magic.
He certainly hadn't instructed his allies; it was just a casual remark. However, if he could capture the Qilin beast and gain the complete trust of the Beast Taming Sect, that would be ideal.
Venerable Chongjue raised two fingers together and drew a circle in the air, within which a handsome man appeared.
He seemed to be sitting under the shade of a tree, looking listless, without even lifting his eyelids.
Venerable Chongjue didn't care about his attitude, and only said: "There is a Qilin beast in the illusion you are in. Capture it and bring it to me."
The circular screen remained frozen, and the man did not react for a long time.
Perhaps you didn't hear it?
Venerable Chongjue patiently repeated it once.
The man still did not react. Just as Venerable Chongjue was wondering if his magic was being interfered with by the secret realm, a noisy sound came from the other end of the ring.
The man then said, "Hmm."
The image cuts off, and the ring collapses.
"You!" The ignored Venerable Chongjue's eyes darkened, and he flicked his sleeves heavily, suppressing his anger.
There's no need to get angry with someone who's about to die.
******
"Father, Mother doesn't recognize me either, it's all over! The red-haired guy next to her beat me to it and seized the key to the illusion. I was just a hair's breadth away!" Ji Xingyang wailed.
Completely severing Chongjue's spiritual consciousness, Yu Tianxing looked coldly at the yellow-haired child who was crying and rolling on the ground, and said in a cold voice, "Enough."
Yu Tianxing: "I am not."
He perked up again: "My cultivation level is low, which is why you forgot some things when your primordial spirit returned to spiritual cultivation. But now that I have found my mother, you will definitely remember them once you meet."
Yu Tianxing's eyes were as cold as frost: "I have said that I remember everything in the mortal world. The me in the mortal world is just a wisp of my myriad primordial spirits. Even if it is incomplete and complete, it is still just a wisp of primordial spirit. Its experiences will not affect me in the slightest. I kept you here because you once helped me. If you cause trouble again, I will not keep you here."
"Don't do anything unnecessary, go have fun."
Ji Xingyang lowered his head, turned around, and shuffled away, his cheeks puffing out as he muttered silently:
What is clearly incomplete is the most important part.
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