Chapter 43 The Bloody Night Ends Here, the Trial Concludes
Those who cultivate immortality have five senses that are several times more sensitive than ordinary people.
Then, in Qinian's field of vision, a fluffy ball suddenly appeared a hundred meters away.
The fur ball is covered in fluffy fur, and its shape is like a gourd lying on its side, with the larger end being its head and the gourd mouth being its tail.
It should have been a cute shape, but its head had an enormous mouth that was almost as wide as its head.
Even more bizarrely, a trace of blood clung to the fine teeth in that mouth.
The fluffy ball stuck out its tongue and licked around in that direction, then closed its mouth and, like a plush toy, hopped and skipped over to this side.
Danger.
It's very dangerous.
Qinian felt the hairs on his body stand on end.
However, just as she placed her hand on the hilt of the sword, she caught a glimpse of Xiao Jiu raising her hand.
"Dog!"
Xiao Jiu's voice was hoarse, unlike that of a normal child. Upon hearing this, the creature called "Doggy" immediately ran even faster, practically turning its four legs into wheels of fire.
When it was almost in front of Xiao Jiu, it leaped high into the air and crashed into Xiao Jiu's arms in a parabolic trajectory.
This fluffy ball looked almost half the size of Xiao Jiu, and after falling into Xiao Jiu's arms, it slammed into Xiao Jiu, causing her to sink in quite a bit.
Even so, Xiao Jiu still easily tossed the fluff ball up again.
"Doggy, fly!"
"Awooo!"
The zombie and the fluffy ball were having a great time, while Qinian and Qingluan were dumbfounded.
However, it was precisely because of this scene that Qinian remembered something from a hundred years ago. She recalled that there was a strange gray creature that had appeared in the river with Xiao Jiu.
She loosened her grip on the sword hilt.
However, although she no longer held the sword, the wariness in her eyes did not dissipate.
She grasped Qingluan's hand in return, and upon feeling that her palm was icy cold and even trembling slightly, she immediately moved half a step to the side, completely shielding Qingluan behind her.
After playing with Taotie for a while, Xiao Jiu stopped. It wasn't that they were tired of playing, but rather that Xiao Jiu had been completely smashed into the ground.
Seeing that Xiao Jiu was in the soil, Qinian took a few steps forward and pulled Xiao Jiu out.
Xiao Jiu's strangely shaped clothes were made of ordinary material, looking exactly like a black bag, yet they weren't covered in dust, clearly indicating they weren't ordinary items.
Qinian showed no curiosity about the dress. She simply looked closely at Xiao Jiu and a genuine joy appeared in her eyes: "Little fairy, you've grown taller too."
Xiao Jiu shook her head and then nodded: "It's Xiao Jiu, Xiao Jiu has also grown taller."
He suddenly grabbed Qinian's hand, just as Qinian had done before.
Xiao Jiu said, "Every year, we are friends, Xiao Jiu, friends."
Qi Nian was stunned for a moment before she whispered, "Xiao Jiu..."
Xiao Jiu: "Mmm!"
She closed her eyes with difficulty, and when she opened them again, she had no more emotional fluctuations.
Qinian: "How have you been these past few years?"
However, the moment she uttered those words, she immediately felt a gaze upon her.
That gaze felt heavy, making her feel as if even the air around her had become heavy, and her breathing became somewhat difficult.
Qi Nian took a deep breath. Without mobilizing her spiritual power, she said in a calm tone, "I have no intention of prying into any information. I just want to know how Xiao Jiu has been these past few years. My mother... has always been very concerned about Xiao Jiu."
This was said to Xiao Jiu, but the words were full of pronouns and titles. A normal person would definitely find it strange, but Xiao Jiu was very used to this way of speaking.
Oblivious to the strange atmosphere, he simply repeated after Qinian, "Auntie, Auntie..."
This word hadn't been taught to Xiao Jiu by the system or the non-humans there when they were in the spatial rift, so he was stuttering a bit when he said it now.
Qinian seemed to have remembered something interesting, and a gentle smile finally appeared on his face.
She laughed and said, "Yes, at that time, my mother kept telling you to call her 'aunt,' and then she made me repeat it too, saying it was to demonstrate for you."
Xiao Jiu blinked: "Auntie, hello."
Qinian gave a soft "hmm".
Seeing that Qi Nian didn't speak, Xiao Jiu remembered the question Qi Nian had asked him before, "How are you doing?" He said, word by word, "Xiao Jiu, planting flowers, harvesting, the flowers are beautiful..."
Whether intentionally or unintentionally, he didn't mention the existence of the system, Suanni, Qianchuan, and Fuyu at all.
But the information revealed in his words was enough to surprise Qinian.
Especially when she heard that Xiao Jiu had only spent a few months, she couldn't hide the surprise on her face.
As they spoke, the pressure that had been weighing on Qinian gradually disappeared.
However, Qingluan, who was sitting next to her, was still very nervous. Qinian knew that this was probably a beast's instinctive reaction, so he could only pat Qingluan's hand and transmit his voice, "Don't worry, it's okay."
Qingluan was finally able to move a little more, and she simply squeezed Qinian's hand to indicate that she understood.
Xiao Jiu stammered as she talked about planting flowers, and Qinian listened with a gentle expression, finding a rare moment of peace in this secret realm.
But happy times always pass too quickly.
This secret realm trial is arranged for the newcomers of various sects, so a series of measures will be prepared to remind the disciples.
Just as Xiao Jiu was gesturing about how big the flower was, a distant bell rang out from the secret realm.
"clang--"
Xiao Jiu immediately stopped talking.
Seeing that he suddenly stopped talking, Qi Nian explained to him, "This is a reminder that there are only three hours left in the trial. After the trial is completed, all disciples must leave the secret realm."
Xiao Jiu tried hard to understand: "Niannian, go back?"
Qinian nodded gently: "Yes, I'm going back."
Finally, after a second of thought, she asked, "Where's Xiao Jiu?"
In fact, even now, Qinian still didn't understand how Xiao Jiu got here. But after seeing Xiao Jiu's confused expression, she understood—Xiao Jiu herself didn't know either.
She looked at the gray ball of fur in Xiao Jiu's arms: "Can you take Xiao Jiu back with you?"
The Taotie shook its paw and roared.
"Will Xiao Jiu be in any danger on the way back?"
"Awoo."
So Qinian breathed a sigh of relief.
At that moment, Qingluan's voice rang out behind her.
"Senior... Senior Sister..."
Qinian could hear the undisguised terror in Qingluan's voice, so he decisively said, "Xiao Jiu, I need to get ready. We need to rush to the entrance of the secret realm soon."
She thought for a moment, then said more directly, "I have to say goodbye."
This wasn't the first time Xiao Jiu had heard Qinian say this. After thinking for a moment, he simply did what that woman had done to him before, and went over to give Qinian a hug.
Qinian paused for a moment, then sighed and gently patted Xiao Jiu's back.
"Please...take care..."
Qinian understood that they would probably never see each other again.
After turning around and walking a distance, she drew the sword from her waist.
The sword sliced through the air with a sharp sound.
She was about to take off on her sword with Qingluan when she suddenly heard that slightly hoarse voice again—
"Year after year!"
When Qinian turned around, Xiao Jiu was already running in front of her.
Xiao Jiu shoved something into her hand, then ran off without saying a word.
Qinian's eyes instantly reddened.
She didn't even have time to see what Xiao Jiu had given her. She just grabbed the item and waved vigorously in the direction Xiao Jiu had left, shouting, "Xiao Jiu! I'm leaving!"
Her voice was clear and bright; in that instant, she seemed to be that lively little girl who was loved by her parents again.
A gentle breeze blew by, causing the tassel of her sword to sway.
Qinian didn't look again, but turned to Qingluan and said, "Let's go."
Two and a half hours later, a colorful light appeared on the horizon, like a dazzling aurora.
The formation is activated, and the secret realm opens.
This concludes the trial.
Although it was just a trial for new disciples, outside the secret realm, the three leading sects among the twelve sects had already arranged giant flying magical artifacts to pick up their disciples.
Apart from these three sects, most cultivators left on their own to return to their sects. Only occasionally could one see a few seriously injured young disciples being helped or carried by their fellow disciples, but older cultivators would immediately come to heal them.
Qingluan looked around angrily and said, "They didn't even send anyone in charge!"
Praying for a good harvest was something that had been anticipated.
When she felt a cold gaze, she simply looked back without flinching.
The cultivator who was looking at her with venomous eyes clearly did not expect Qinian to do this. He immediately looked away and disappeared into the group of cultivators in a few breaths.
Qi Nian gave a cold, smirking smile.
The top disciple of Qiongling Sect?
joke.
She's a sitting duck, a shield for the true heir to the sect!
What's the use of doing so much or making concessions? This time, Qiongling Sect still hasn't let them off the hook!
If her sword hadn't been tampered with, how could she have been so easily ambushed?
Qinian looked at the setting sun in the distance, his expression unusually cold.
On the way back, Qingluan hesitated for a long time before finally asking, "Senior Sister, your mother...?"
Qinian guessed what she wanted to ask and simply said, "She has passed away, a long time ago."
Qingluan realized she had said the wrong thing and her face was full of guilt, but before she could speak again, Qinian spoke up on his own.
"When my mother escaped from there, the head of the family destroyed the tendons in her hands. Forget about making incense and wielding a sword, it took her several years to be able to pick up a pair of chopsticks."
"Those people just lied to her. Even if she can no longer cultivate the clan's secret techniques, they still don't intend to let her go. The bones, flesh, and blood of their own kind... are the best materials."
Her tone was flat, as if what she was talking about had nothing to do with her.
“We kept running and running, and when we were caught again, my mother finally understood that as long as she was covered in blood, those people could find her and me in all sorts of ways.”
Qingluan stepped forward and walked alongside Qinian, reaching out to grasp Qinian's hand.
Qinian smiled slightly, feeling the warmth on the back of her hand.
She sighed softly, "Then, Xiao Jiu suddenly appeared. He saved my mother and our whole family. I still remember how surprised my father looked at the time. He said he had never seen so many high-level pills before."
She didn't go into details about what Xiao Jiu had done, but continued, "However, even the best elixirs can only heal injuries, not prolong life. Mother's meridians were already ruined, so she could no longer cultivate and became a mortal. Father also quietly dispersed his cultivation and grew old with her."
The wind made Qinian's clothes flutter loudly.
At the end of the sword at her feet, the tassel engraved with the character "年" (year) swayed in the wind.
She suddenly laughed: "I never thought I would see Xiao Jiu again. Today, he saved me once again."
“When I was a child, I felt that Xiao Jiu was like a savior who came to save us, and even now, I still feel that way.”
She turned to look at Qingluan: "Isn't that silly?"
Qingluan shook her head: "Senior sister is not stupid. Senior sister is the most powerful senior sister in the world. If anyone dares to say you are stupid, I will peck him."
Qinian was finally amused.
She grasped Qingluan's hand in return, and sighed, "You..."
The workings of heaven and earth in the cultivation world are no different from those in most other worlds; they also have tides rising and falling, and the sun setting and the moon rising.
But the sky was already full of clouds, and not even a sliver of the setting sun could penetrate.
It looks like it's going to rain.
As they drew closer to Qiongling Sect, Qingluan frowned deeply and asked worriedly, "Senior Sister, do you think the Sect Leader will blame you again for not getting the flower this time?"
Qinian simply said, "Actually, whether or not we get it, the result is the same."
Qingluan's eyes widened: "Then why did you come here! Senior Sister, you almost died in there!"
Qi Nian sighed helplessly: "Think about it, if I come, they can find an excuse to lure you into the secret realm. If I don't come, what do you think will happen to you?"
Qingluan first cursed as if she were about to explode with anger, but then immediately deflated.
"It's all my fault... If I had been more capable back then, I wouldn't have been captured by the Qiongling Sect, and I wouldn't have dragged you down with me..."
Qinian didn't say anything like "I don't blame you," but looked at Qingluan and said, "Then you must work hard in your cultivation from now on. Your senior sister is still waiting for you to protect me."
Qingluan nodded emphatically: "Yes! I will!"
The words had barely left her lips when Qingluan's eyes narrowed: "Someone's coming."
Although she was only a descendant of the Azure Phoenix and had a thin bloodline, she was still born with an extraordinary ability to perceive air currents.
While in the air, she easily sensed several auras approaching them.
Qingluan: "Three, five, nine... ten have arrived! Shameless!"
Qinian glanced at his feet.
The sky had darkened, and dark clouds covered the ground.
There was not a single ray of light in the world.
“Let’s go, junior sister,” Qinian said. “The pitch-black night is perfect for murder.”
Qingluan: "Haha, good!"
Like two stars, they glided across the night sky and disappeared into the dense forest on the ground.
In the darkness, warm blood continued to gush from each body.
"Qinian! You're insane! If it weren't for the Qiongling Sect, how could someone with your Blood Refining Technique be alive now!"
"We've treated you very well! We only made you do a few more sect missions, but we still paid you with spirit stones!"
"What's the point of talking to this filthy thing born of such an evil cultivator! She and that demonic bird should have been killed long ago—! I am the next sect leader! How dare you, how dare you..."
At dawn, hundreds of miles away in the dense forest, blood had already flowed down the jade steps from the sect leader's bedroom to the foot of the mountain in Qiongling Gate.
It didn't rain last night.
The clouds grew thicker and thicker, as if they were going to crush the world.
On the horizon, a giant bird with green feathers was flying unsteadily toward a remote place.
The so-called remote place is filled with resentment. It is said to be the battlefield of ancient gods. Not to mention mortals and things, even cultivators cannot withstand the evil spirits and resentment there.
Not long after flying into this place filled with resentment, the giant bird finally became so tired that it could no longer flap its wings.
It fell from the sky, clearly exhausted, yet it still struggled to fold its wings in front of its body, as if protecting something.
"Bang!!"
It crashed heavily to the ground.
After the smoke and dust had dissipated for a long time, the giant bird on the ground finally twitched and gradually transformed into a green-skinned girl.
The girl's body was covered with knife and sword wounds, and a few blood-stained feathers were stuck haphazardly to her skin. But more than anything, there were horrific burn marks.
The yellow coat she cherished was already torn to shreds, but she still stubbornly wore it.
She carried the person on her back, moving little by little.
In the distance, on the desolate land, a solitary, pitch-black bird's nest stands alone.
That's where she was born.
It is also the place that the blue luan bird returns to before it dies.
The girl stared blankly at the nest. She had lost all feeling in her body and was only mechanically lifting and stepping on her feet out of instinct.
Suddenly, with a "crack," something fell from the hand of the person behind her.
She glanced over instinctively.
It was a box.
Its design and colors are extremely simple, yet it exudes a wonderful aura.
The girl's brain, which was somewhat dazed due to excessive blood loss, suddenly felt as if it had been splashed with cold water.
She's seen it before!
In the hands of that child named Xiao Jiu!
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