Chapter 112

"How could I possibly know?" Lu Xiangxiang gave a helpless, wry smile.

Actually, Lu Xiangxiang clearly understood in her heart that her impulsive and irrational words and actions today had already aroused the vigilance and attention of Yuan Yao and the others. At this moment, if she continued to press the matter, it would only make things worse.

She needed to find a suitable time to visit Shiziwen and get things clear.

She joined the Carefree Sect solely for the Taiwu Scroll.

If it weren't for the Taiwu Scroll, Lu Xiangxiang's temperament would make it utterly impossible for her to set foot again in this place that once caused her pain and disappointment.

Only six days remain before the departure to the Heaven and Earth Domain. After she finishes participating in the Ninth Province Sect Grand Competition, she will leave the Carefree Sect, so counting that way, her time left in the Carefree Sect is also only six days.

Along the way, Lu Xiangxiang appeared carefree on the surface, but in reality she was burdened with worries.

After returning to Tianwen Peak, Lu Xiangxiang made an excuse, saying: "I'm feeling a bit unwell; I'll go back to rest first."

Xiao Lingwei nodded, saying: "Then rest well, and send us a message if anything comes up."

Lu Xiangxiang gave a slight nod.

After watching Lu Xiangxiang walk away, Cang Li finally spoke: "Don't you feel that Seventh Junior Sister is troubled?"

They exchanged glances with each other.

"Could the theft from the forbidden grounds be related to her?" Cang Li lowered his voice.

At that moment, a system voice sounded in Yuan Yao's sea of consciousness: 【Target person Cang Li, Awakening Value reaches 35. Target person Xiao Lingwei, Awakening Value reaches 18. Target person Xue Jin, Awakening Value reaches 30. Target person Ying Wuji, Awakening Value reaches 15.】

Xue Jin's voice was cold: "Not impossible."

Lu Xiangxiang is extremely strange; her words make people uncomfortable, utterly insincere.

…She seems to have the intention of driving a wedge between the six senior siblings.

"We need to be more careful from now on," Xiao Lingwei said, sweeping her gaze over them.

None of them pointed it out, because they already had an unspoken understanding.

Yuan Yao raised her head, recalling something: "Master and Eldest Senior Brother haven't returned yet; they should be alright, right?"

"No." Ying Wuji shook his head slowly, his tone certain.

Master is perhaps even stronger than they imagined. So, with Master present, Eldest Senior Brother will surely come to no harm.

Cang Li let out a deep sigh: "Feiyun Island is far from the Ninth Province; I don't know if Master and Eldest Senior Brother can make it back before the Ninth Province Sect Grand Competition..."

"Don't overthink it." Ying Wuji said.

Xue Jin suddenly fixed his gaze on Yuan Yao: "Yao Yao, have you broken through?"

Yuan Yao: "Yes."

Cang Li clasped his hands together, his face full of wistfulness as he sighed: "She's truly monstrous—in just a few months she broke through from the eighth layer of the Qi Refining Realm to the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm. I, Cangaotian, feel ashamed to compare."

Xiao Lingwei couldn't help but chuckle: "You haven't broken through either?"

Cang Li tilted his head to look at Xiao Lingwei, clasped his hands, and smiled showing his teeth: "Benefactor Xiao, you indeed have keen eyesight, actually able to see through my disguise, Cangaotian. Since you've discovered it, I won't hide it any longer. In fact, during this period, I and Benefactor Yuan have been diligently cultivating, daring not to slack in the slightest."

Xiao Lingwei laughed and teased: "Ah, I see. Before, you two always liked to laze around together and slack off, often worrying the Master; I never expected that now you'd both strive upward, diligently cultivating—truly impressive."

"Third Senior Brother has become quite diligent lately," Yuan Yao raised her eyebrows.

Cang Li's lips curled up, then he gave a light cough, feigning composure as he said: "Just so-so."

As they chatted, they arrived at the rear mountain.

Yuan Yao demonstrated her newly learned sword technique to them.

Ying Wuji immediately noticed that this sword technique was out of the ordinary and asked where it came from.

Yuan Yao then told him about the sword technique gifted to her by Uncle Master Yu.

Xiao Lingwei was somewhat surprised: "Uncle Master Yu, that tight-lipped gourd, actually gave you a sword technique?"

Yuan Yao: "I also asked Uncle Master Yu why he gave me the sword technique, but he didn't answer me."

"If Uncle Master Yu doesn't want to answer a question, he won't utter a single word." Ying Wuji's expression shifted slightly, and he said softly: "Since Uncle Master Yu has bestowed this sword technique upon you, you should study it well and not disappoint his expectations."

Upon hearing that, Yuan Yao nodded slightly.

Ying Wuji looked at Yuan Yao: "Have you learned all the Carefree Sword Forms?"

"I have."

"Have you mastered the first form of the Primeval Sword Technique?"

"I have."

"How many forms of Master's exclusive sword art, Thousand Mountains Myriad Laws, have you practiced?"

"The fifth form."

"Can you use Mixed Origin Sword Art?"

"Two forms." Yuan Yao blinked; she felt Mixed Origin Sword Art was truly difficult to train, and after practicing for over ten days she barely managed to learn two sword forms.

Xue Jin said: "Knowing two forms of Mixed Origin Sword Art is already excellent."

When he had only Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation, he also practiced Mixed Origin Sword Art, but could only learn its first form. Now, Junior Sister Xiao with the same cultivation can learn two forms, which truly exceeded his expectations.

Only those who have practiced Mixed Origin Sword Art know how difficult it is to train.

However, the explosive power of Mixed Origin Sword Art is also top-tier among all sword techniques.

Xue Jin looked at Yuan Yao: "Are you also studying formations?"

Yuan Yao nodded.

Xue Jin: "If so, you can also practice the Thousand Mountain Sword Formation, which was created by our Master."

After a pause, he added: "Master once said that this Thousand Mountain Sword Formation was created for us; if we encounter unavoidable danger outside, we can pool our strength to resist it."

Yuan Yao looked curiously at Xiao Lingwei and Cang Li: "Will Second Senior Sister and Third Senior Brother also be able to?"

"Of course." Xiao Lingwei perceived her thoughts: "Although Ah Li and I are not sword cultivators, Master had already considered our situation when creating the Thousand Mountain Sword Formation. Therefore, we can substitute our own weapons for swords."

Cang Li beside her interjected: "The Thousand Mountain Sword Formation has six positions, each corresponding to one of us."

Yuan Yao suddenly understood.

I couldn't help thinking: Master really is thoughtful!

Ying Wuji saw her eyes slightly brighten, and couldn't help chuckling, "Want to learn?"

"Want!"

She immediately stepped back, then bowed with clasped hands toward the four, raised her head, and said with a beaming smile, "Please, Second Senior Sister, Third Senior Brother, Fourth Senior Brother, Youngest Senior Brother, instruct me."

Then please, Youngest Junior Sister, draw your sword.

…

At the same time.

Heaven Inquiry Peak, at that secluded bamboo hut.

The thin, weak youth on the bed slowly opened his eyes; his face was deathly pale, and his body was still stained with much blood.

He forced himself to sit up and scanned everything in the room.

He found that the person's figure was already gone from the room.

He lowered his gaze to his chest, where fresh blood had stained the white gauze red; since it had dried, the stain was a brownish red.

The gauze was wrapped loosely and sloppily, obviously done carelessly.

The youth swallowed, but the motion tugged at the wound on his tongue, sending a tearing pain that made his eyes redden a bit.

His dry, cracked lips opened slightly.

"Yuan… Yao."