Chapter 106: Carefree Forbidden Land

"What place do you want to rank?" Seeing her so eager, Cang Li couldn't help but laugh and ask.

"I won't tell you." Yuan Yao stretched out a finger and waved it.

Cang Li let out a light sigh, "I guess you should be able to rank within the top fifty."

Yuan Yao smiled without speaking.

She continued practicing the sword, move by move.

Only to see her figure agile, the long sword in her hand swaying, each strike containing extreme power. Especially when she performed certain moves, the sword light flashed, chilling air pressing, as if the whole space were enveloped by her sword intent.

"What sword technique have you been practicing lately? I've never seen it before." Seeing her sword technique unique, not like that of the Carefree Sect, Cang Li spoke up to ask.

Yuan Yao then danced with her sword and said, "This is a secret manual personally transmitted to me by Jade Master Uncle; this sword technique is called 'The Nothing'."

"No wonder..." Cang Li realized, no wonder lately Yuan Yao has frequently gone down the mountain, each time heading straight to the Mission Hall; he had thought she wanted to take on a mission, but it turned out she was going to ask Jade Master Uncle for sword instruction.

"Jade Master Uncle is guiding your sword technique, why didn't you tell me?"

Yuan Yao froze for a moment, "Third Senior Brother, you didn't ask either."

Cang Li: "……"

Yuan Yao added, "What's more, you don't practice sword arts, and you've been so busy lately, so I didn't tell you about this."

Cang Li has indeed been very busy lately.

Because he wants to strive for promotion to a fifth-rank alchemist during this period.

So, during this time, he has also rarely accompanied Yuan Yao to train in the back mountain.

"Alright, I'll concede you have a point." Cang Li said.

Yuan Yao raised the long sword in her hand, pointing at Cang Li: "Third Senior Brother, shall we spar a bit?"

"Want a beating?" Cang Li raised his eyebrows slightly, and a black long spear materialized in his hand.

As soon as his words fell, the two locked eyes and immediately began fighting.

In an instant, only a crisp clashing sound echoed throughout the back mountain, with sparks flying everywhere.

The disciples who were cultivating in seclusion in the back mountain heard this sudden commotion and all lifted their heads to look.

When they saw that it was actually the junior sister and Senior Brother Cang engaged in fierce combat, each couldn't help but show astonishment. But soon they came to their senses, after all, given their personalities, occasionally exchanging blows like this to hone skills is quite common.

Thus everyone withdrew their gazes and continued to bury themselves in arduous training.

However, as time passed, the situation of this battle became increasingly strange.

Both sides exchanged blows, sword shadows and spear lights crisscrossing, each move containing endless killing intent, making one's hair stand on end.

The watching disciples were all stunned, exclaiming, "When did the junior sister's sword technique become so fierce?!"

"Not only has the junior sister become formidable, have you noticed that Senior Brother Cang's spear technique has also improved greatly?"

"Since the junior sister began diligent training, Senior Brother Cang has also become diligent."

Boom!

A tremendous sound came, and only see a nearby boulder split in half by Yuan Yao's sword, collapsing with a roar.

The surroundings were ravaged by sword qi, leaves dancing wildly.

Waves of oppressive pressure came, causing everyone's faces to slightly change.

"Junior sister, take it easy!" Cang Li reminded in a voice.

He had just finished speaking when he thrust out his spear; in an instant lightning intertwined, the sky darkened suddenly, and a 'rumble rumble' thunder sound came.

Yuan Yao raised her sword to meet it.

With a 'boom' explosion, the two forces violently collided, erupting with tremendous impact, causing the surrounding trees to emit 'crack' sounds.

The disciples nearby had their pupils contract slightly, and hurriedly ran away.

The crowd in the back mountain stared dumbfounded.

The two fought so fiercely they didn't know heaven from earth!

Only when Instructor Ye of Heaven Martial Peak hurried over did he call a halt to the two.

"Nonsense! The back mountain isn't a training ground! How can you fight without regard to occasion!"

If it were just ordinary sparring, that wouldn't be a problem.

But the two's battle posture seemed to want to level the back mountain to flat ground!

Yuan Yao and Cang Li exchanged a guilty glance, then told Instructor Ye, "We know we were wrong."

Afterwards, the two again bowed to the disciples in the back mountain and voiced their apologies.

The disciples also came to their senses, all saying it wasn't a big deal.

Instructor Ye frowned, "You two clean up this mess here."

"Okay!" Yuan Yao responded with a serious expression.

Instructor Ye's expression eased slightly; looking at the icy-skinned, jade-boned maiden before him, he softly said, "Your sword technique keeps getting better."

Having said that, without waiting for Yuan Yao's reply, Instructor Ye turned and left.

Beside him, Cang Li watched Instructor Ye's retreating back, "Instructor Ye is cold outside but warm inside, and she's reluctant to punish you."

Yuan Yao lifted her head, "Is it that she's reluctant to punish us?"

Cang Li shook his head, "You probably don't know how Instructor Ye usually treats us few."

If it weren't for the junior sister, Instructor Ye would likely have punished him to sit in the Immortal Prison for a day or two.

The two tidied up the entire mess left after the battle.

Dusk had arrived, and the two returned together to their dwelling.

The night grew deeper.

Yuan Yao opened the door, gazing toward the bamboo hut where Lu Xiangxiang lived far away, only to see the whole hut plunged into darkness.

Yuan Yao narrowed her eyes.

No, Lu Xiangxiang should be inside her room at this time of day, and there should be lights inside.

Even if she had earlier gone to meet Shiziwen, she would have turned on the lights inside.

Where did she go?

Yuan Yao headed toward the bamboo hut where Lu Xiangxiang lived, arrived at the door, and she knocked on the door: "Junior Sister Seven."

Knock knock—

Yuan Yao knocked a few times.

There was no response from inside.

Just as Yuan Yao was about to push the door open, she was blocked by an invisible barrier.

To break such a formation barrier was, for her, utterly easy.

Yuan Yao quickly found the barrier's eye, and with a single sword strike she broke the barrier.

She pushed open the door, and what met her eyes was an extremely simple room; besides a bed, table, chairs, etc., there was nothing else, no extra furnishings or decorations.

It didn't look like a place where someone would stay for long.

Yuan Yao pressed her lips together.

Since Lu Xiangxiang hates the people of the Carefree Sect, why would she return to the Carefree Sect? During this time, she has not taken action against the sect's members……

Then what did she come back to do?

Yuan Yao suddenly thought of something, and her gaze shifted slightly.

Since Lu Xiangxiang possesses memories of her past life, she should have learned something in advance that forced her to stay in the Carefree Sect.

And she planned to poison herself and break free from the Carefree Sect during the Ninth Province sect grand competition.

—Lu Xiangxiang must be scheming something from the Carefree Sect!

As this thought surfaced in Yuan Yao's mind, a noisy clamor suddenly came from outside.

When she stepped outside, she instantly saw, above the distant mountain peak, a dazzling light soaring straight to the heavens.

That light was like a sword cleaving the night sky, extraordinarily blinding, as if it would illuminate the entire Carefree Sect.

That place is—

Carefree Sect's forbidden ground!

All along, that forbidden zone has been one of the Carefree Sect's most secret and dangerous areas, accessible only to Elder-level figures.

Yuan Yao suddenly realized something, her expression shifted slightly, and she swiftly descended the mountain, racing straight toward the forbidden zone.