Chapter 78: Mountain Ghost, Holy Maiden?

The woman landed, glanced around, and a hint of surprise appeared in her eyes.

She lowered her head, saw the half-exposed figure on the ground, and joked: "Shan Gui, could it be that you ate that person?"

The man called Shan Gui gave the woman a white-eye; his body didn't emerge, but instead sank a little—a small action that made the woman quite displeased, yet she couldn't directly say anything.

"Don't panic, Shan Gui, I don't actually want to kill you."

"Shan Gui scoffed: 'You talk as if you could kill me, little girl Zhuge Ruolan.'"

Zhuge Ruolan, one of the Holy Maidens of the Yin Gui Sect.

"Hehehe, Shan Gui, you are indeed as cautious as the rumors say—no wonder so many want to catch you but can't." Zhuge Ruolan gave a thumbs-up, praising: "Your earth divine ability is indeed hard to deal with; among the Monster Race, having someone like you is indeed hard to deal with."

"How about this: you spit out that person, and this Holy Maiden won't kill you—how about that?"

"Shan Gui angrily said: 'Little girl, I, old man, don't like eating people; do you think I'm like the rats of your Yin Gui Sect? You love killing and slaughter, but I have no interest in humanity—your human flesh is too sour, not tasty.'"

"Especially those trash of your Yin Gui Sect—even if I ate them, I'd find them disgusting."

Yin Gui Holy Maiden Zhuge Ruolan narrowed her eyes, stared for a while, then burst out laughing: "Hahaha, so that's it—you mean that kid ran away? He really ran fast, leaving no trace, interesting."

On the ground, there was no trace—at least, she couldn't find any.

She lowered her head, extended her hand, and said: "Shan Gui, how about this: you help this Holy Maiden find him, and we can join forces to look for that thing—how about that?"

"Shan Gui heard that and gave a dismissive smile: 'I, old man, don't want to join forces with the Yin Gui Sect; I, old man, fear being schemed against by you.'"

"As for that thing, I, old man, can search for it alone; no need to trouble you, Holy Maiden of the Yin Gui Sect, to take action."

Zhuge Ruolan watched Shan Gui's silhouette gradually fade; the figure before her, though pierced, was merely earth.

"Your move is really fast—did you just run? No wonder you're Shan Gui, very cautious."

"This is what makes it interesting; if this were just killed by this Holy Maiden, it'd be boring, right, Jiang Ming Dharma Protector?"

Behind a tree, a figure stepped out.

Jiang Ming stepped out into the light, coughing violently.

"Cough cough cough."

"Jiang Ming has met the Holy Maiden; I didn't know the Holy Maiden was coming, I have been negligent toward the Holy Maiden, and I hope the Holy Maiden will forgive me."

He clasped his fists, yet without an apologetic attitude.

His gaze stared at Zhuge Ruolan without restraint.

Zhuge Ruolan smiled, not at all bothered by Jiang Ming's attitude, and instead probed: "Jiang Ming Dharma Protector, do you know who is undergoing tribulation here?"

The identity of the person undergoing tribulation is unknown, and this is what Zhuge Ruolan is most curious about.

Someone capable of surviving such a heavenly tribulation without dying—inside Longshe Cheng, there seems to be no such person.

Even within the Yin Gui Sect, few could emerge unscathed from such a heavenly tribulation.

Zhuge Ruolan also waited until the heavenly tribulation passed before slowly emerging; she didn't expect to see nothing—that person had run away too fast.

The people nearby were also drawn here by the heavenly tribulation; this tribulation is truly rare—at least, both inside and outside Longshe Cheng it's rare, because Longshe Cheng hasn't seen anyone undergo a heavenly tribulation in a long time.

"The person's identity, this Dharma Protector also doesn't know." Jiang Ming pondered: "I don't know where this person came from; this heavenly tribulation doesn't seem like a Condensed Pellet heavenly tribulation, yet no one knows who is undergoing tribulation—what kind of heavenly tribulation is it? According to this Dharma Protector's view, this person must have a secret, and the Holy Maiden seeking him is also for that secret."

"Coincidentally, this secret is also something Jiang Ming wants to know, and naturally he covets it."

Such a person likely… has no backing.

If he were a disciple of a major sect, they would certainly not fail to send someone to protect him.

From these few factors, much can be inferred—but he won't tell Zhuge Ruolan.

"Holy Maiden, you are the Holy Maiden of our Yin Gui Sect, lacking nothing—why bother over a mere Condensed Pellet? Better to hand this person over to this Dharma Protector; this Dharma Protector guarantees to help the Holy Maiden resolve any future troubles."

Upon hearing this, Zhuge Ruolan smiled faintly: "Jiang Ming Dharma Protector truly loves to joke."

"This person, this Holy Maiden has taken a liking to."

As she said this, she stared at Jiang Ming Dharma Protector.

Jiang Ming Dharma Protector fell silent; he knew this was a warning and also a declaration.

"Since the Holy Maiden has taken a liking to him, this Dharma Protector naturally won't take what belongs to the Holy Maiden."

"If not, this Dharma Protector will take his leave for now."

Zhuge Ruolan said nothing, quietly watching him.

Jiang Ming Dharma Protector withdrew cautiously, always ready to act.

The two had always been on guard against each other, both worried the other would make a move.

Finally, they chose not to strike first, but… watched each other depart.

Zhuge Ruolan smiled, pursed her lips, and said: "Jiang Ming Dharma Protector, the Yin Gui Sect's veteran Dharma Protector, has lived long and possesses many tricks—he's a dangerous figure. My support within the Yin Gui Sect is limited; if I gained his backing, perhaps I could advance further—unfortunately, this person cannot cooperate."

A man with deep scheming is very dangerous; Zhuge Ruolan cannot control such a person.

Unless, by refining him into a ghost slave, perhaps she could fully control him.

Zhuge Ruolan shook her head: "Jiang Ming isn't the most dangerous; Longshe Cheng is going into chaos."

"This time, an unstable factor has appeared; I don't know if it will cause an accident."

Zhuge Ruolan raised her head, looking toward another direction in the sky.

There, a person stood.

Also a woman.

That woman also gazed this way, seemingly staring at her, and also seemingly staring at Jiang Ming.

The woman made no move, seemingly wary of her?

Zhuge Ruolan chuckled: "Yin Gui Holy Maiden Zhuge Ruolan has met Spirit Sword Sect's Senior Xinran."

That woman is of the same generation as her master; having seen her, she naturally should pay respects.

Moreover, that woman is very strong.

Facing such a strong one, Zhuge Ruolan naturally does not want to provoke her.

Xinran Zhanglao stood in the sky, staring at that mountain; the peak, after being enveloped by the heavenly tribulation, actually suffered little damage. Under such a tribulation, someone could actually…… reach this point—it's not simple.

She also came upon hearing the news, to see if the person undergoing tribulation here was an acquaintance; if so, she might be able to lend a hand.

As a result, she, like Zhuge Ruolan, came here and saw nothing.

It was empty.

The person undergoing tribulation had already fled.

Too cautious, too careful.

"Originally you are the new Holy Maiden of the Yin Gui Sect, Zhuge Ruolan—not bad, very good."

"The Yin Gui Sect is getting better and better."

Zhuge Ruolan clasped her hands and said: "Many thanks, Senior Xinran, for the praise."

Xinran Zhanglao glanced, turned and left, not paying attention to her identity, nor intending to act.

The person undergoing tribulation had left; she also didn't want to break with the Yin Gui Sect—this woman's master is a lunatic; if she really killed her, it would be hard to explain.

Zhuge Ruolan saw Xinran Zhanglao leave and breathed a sigh of relief.

"Huff, how could this woman be here?"

"Longshe Cheng is too dangerous."

"No wonder even Dharma Protector Jiangming would also suffer."