Chapter 278: Casual Acquaintances

I remember that Yuan Yao is the little disciple of the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord. A mysterious person suddenly said, "Do you know if she has any other identity or background?"

The mysterious people present, upon hearing this, thought for a moment and all shook their heads, indicating they did not know.

Ten years ago, the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord accepting disciples on Thousand Jade Mountain was known to everyone in the cultivation world.

But no one knew what Yuan Yao's identity or background was, yet she was accepted as a disciple by Thousand Jade Mountain.

After all, the other five all had extraordinary backgrounds.

Many forces had secretly investigated Yuan Yao's origins, but after a long time, they still found nothing.

In the ten years thereafter, as the little disciple of the Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord, Yuan Yao spent almost all her time in the Carefree Sect. It is said that she had extremely poor talent and an inferiority complex, unwilling to be overshadowed by her senior brothers and sisters, so she hid within the Carefree Sect and did not venture out.

But recently, Yuan Yao made a stunning debut at the sect grand competition in the Ninth Province, not only ranking sixth on the disciple list, but also topping the formation competition!

What drew the attention of the mysterious people present was her performance in the Flowing Light Secret Realm.

It was precisely because of her outstanding performance that they sent people to investigate Yuan Yao's identity and background.

I observe that this Golden Core tribulation should have nine waves!

She can't hold on much longer.

If she dies inside the Flowing Light Secret Realm, then… will Thousand Jade Mountain come to settle scores with us?

This is secret realm training, naturally life and death are unpredictable. Moreover, this is her Golden Core tribulation; if she cannot withstand it, then that is her fate.

We can't say that; Yuan Yao is so intelligent and her strength is outstanding, we cannot let her die under the tribulation.

You mean we should intervene? That completely violates the rules!

Rules are dead, people are alive!

If we intervene to save Yuan Yao, she could survive. But what about those young geniuses who died earlier? Is it fair to them? We are merely outsiders; we can only watch the chess game's progression, find someone who can hold the pieces, not intervene to change the game's course.

But Yuan Yao already has the qualifications to become a piece holder! One of the mysterious people argued forcefully, her voice hoarse.

The mysterious person who insisted on not interfering in the events of the Flowing Light Secret Realm looked up at the female mysterious person and said in a deep voice: "Moon Robe Immortal Venerable, the game is not over yet."

Finally, he added: "Moon Robe Immortal Venerable, even if Yuan Yao is your junior niece, you cannot act out of personal favoritism because of that."

The mysterious person called "Moon Robe Immortal Venerable" said nothing, shifting her gaze to the image appearing in the crystal ball.

The girl, her flesh and blood mangled, had already endured five waves of tribulation; her blood was washed away by the rain, her flesh soaked by raindrops and turned pale, a horrifying sight.

At this moment, the girl gripped the Phantom Spirit Sword planted in the ground, half-supporting her body, and with difficulty lifted her head.

The shell of the Golden Egg was also scorched by the split.

Golden Egg: "Wuu wuu wuu, can we escape?"

Seeing its master in this state, it felt heartbroken.

The little fox, disregarding Yuan Yao's objection, rushed toward her and shouted anxiously: "Leader, hold on!"

Yuan Yao could hardly speak; she only felt the rain too noisy, the thunder too piercing, making her head feel extremely heavy.

And the next wave of tribulation arrived!

Yuan Yao struggled to rise, lifting her head to look at the silver lightning that seemed about to split her heavenly crown, and she twitched the corner of her mouth.

Step back to the side.

The Golden Egg cried out urgently: "Master!"

The little fox firmly said: "I am willing to share life and death with the leader!"

"I don't want to die!" Yuan Yao suddenly spoke.

Having said that, she leapt into the air once more, facing the sixth wave of tribulation.

Boom!

A thunderous boom echoed, Yuan Yao's whole body fell from midair, blood surged from her mouth, yet she immediately used her internal spiritual power to frantically absorb the tribulation's power, refining it into her own strength.

Just as she was about to hit the ground, a pair of hands steadily caught her.

Yuan Yao turned her head and met the indifferent gaze of the youth, as cold as a deep pool.

"Do you need help?" the youth asked softly.

"No need." She did not want to owe him a favor.

She was about to push away Xie Yan's hand, but unexpectedly, he grabbed it with his reverse grip.

Before she could react, he swiftly transmitted his inner strength into her body, warm and soothing, alleviating her pain.

Yuan Yao was slightly startled, "What are you doing?"

Xie Yan gazed into her eyes, "Fellow Daoist Yuan, since we are allies, I cannot just stand by."

Upon hearing this, Yuan Yao without hesitation pulled her hand away.

"Our cooperation is over."

Those words struck his chest like a muffled hammer.

She wanted to draw a clear line with herself.

Xie Yan said in a cold tone: "If you don't like me, you should use me, scheme against me, rather than let me watch your sorry state."

He stepped closer, his eyes flashing with obscure emotions.

"If you find me displeasing, then use me to block the tribulation for you."

Yuan Yao watched him withdraw his spiritual shield, his whole body drenched by rain, a hint of gloom added to his brows and eyes, yet his depths held an emotion she could not decipher.

Rumble!

Thunder rumbled.

A new wave of tribulation had been brewing, about to descend.

Yuan Yao felt a subtle burning sensation in her chest, her lips twitched slightly, her tone aloof.

"Fellow Daoist Xie, thank you for your kindness."

Xie Yan watched her leap up again, facing the tribulation alone.

Raindrops wet his eyelashes, making his vision somewhat blurry.

What Yuan Yao said is true.

She had resolved to draw a boundary between herself and him, to return to being strangers.

Xie Yan felt he should be happy, since she truly wanted to keep that secret, yet he felt a pang of unease in his heart.

He stared fixedly at her silhouette.

Xie Yan had just taken a step when he suddenly felt countless eyes watching him from behind; his steps halted, and his reason gradually returned.

What kind of existence is Yuan Yao to him?

At most, they are mere acquaintances.

And just after Yuan Yao endured the seventh heavenly tribulation, she gritted her teeth, took out a high-grade pill from her storage space, and swallowed it.

The pill's efficacy helped her restore her spiritual power, and at a speed visible to the naked eye, her wounds quickly scabbed over.

Fortunately, she had enough pills on her.

These were all given to her by her master and senior fellow disciples.

As the eighth heavenly tribulation descended upon Yuan Yao—

The Dragon Lord and the Demon Emperor Kou Zhang, leading their large force, had already arrived at Kang City.

Upon entering Kang City, they saw the skulls of the Demon Lord Kui Shen and the Tiger Lord lying in a pool of blood.

Their faces changed abruptly.

In the next instant, a deafening thunderclap roared, drawing everyone's attention.

"Surely it is a human undergoing tribulation here!"

"She must have killed the Demon Lord and the Tiger Lord!"

"I'll go take her life!" said the Dog Emperor, about to flash over, but at the crucial moment he was pulled back by Qian Yunzhou, who was disguised as a dog demon.

The Dog Emperor turned his head, saw it was Qian Yunzhou, and looked puzzled.

"Your Majesty, don't act rashly," Qian Yunzhou said in a low voice.

Upon hearing that, the Dog Emperor indeed did not go to kill Yuan Yao.

Meanwhile, Qian Yunzhou raised his head, and through the rain curtain saw the girl's silhouette.

He recalled a person.

Yuan Xiao Liu.

The Dragon Lord instantly sensed Xie Yan's presence, narrowed his eyes dangerously, raised a hand, caught a raindrop, and swiftly flicked it toward Xie Yan's direction.

The raindrop shot through the air with a fierce force; just as it was about to pierce Xie Yan's body, he drew his sword and blocked it horizontally, but was shaken back half a step.

Qian Yunzhou also noticed Xie Yan's presence.

He raised his eyebrows with interest.

Indeed, it was Xie Zixu.

Among the demon troops, several demon soldiers, upon seeing the girl undergoing the heavenly tribulation, turned pale and their hearts clenched.