Chapter 174: Calming the Shock

In the corner, Li Su Shang propped her chin with one hand, eyes wide and round, glancing at Ailixiya then at Xi Lian, whispering to Hua beside her: "Grandmaster, could this pink‑haired fairy senior possibly know the legendary 'External Avatar' or 'One Breath Unifies the Three Purities' technique? This newly arrived junior looks as if she were molded from the same mold, only seeming younger."

She strained to process the shock of the "two Ailixiya" before her using concepts she could grasp.

Hua's mouth twitched slightly, and he concisely whispered, "It's not an avatar. It's another independent individual who happened to arrive here."

Li Su Shang let out an "oh," yet the wonder in her eyes remained undiminished; she thought this Immortal Blessed Land truly held endless curiosities.

The other few Yingjie also found it quite interesting.

Su smiled, his gaze gentle yet insightful; Kevin, at some point, had put on those starry sunglasses again, arms crossed, his eyes shifting between the two, lost in thought; Ying stood quietly beside them, her cool eyes tinged with a hint of surprise.

"Tsk tsk, really alike…"

Someone whispered a sigh.

And the source of the greatest "pressure" on Xi Lian sat right next to her.

Ailixiya, at some point, had removed her Pink Sunglasses; now she leaned sideways, one hand affectionately draping over Xi Lian's slightly slender shoulder, the other hand still busy.

"Ah, this hair, the texture is wonderful, as soft and smooth as mine!"

Her fingers gently twirled a strand of Xi Lian's pink hair, the tips feeling delicate.

"Your face is so small, so soft~"

Warm fingers pinched Xi Lian's cheek lightly, the pressure gentle yet enough to make her fair face blush faintly.

"Scared you, huh? Mei Bi Wu Si Bo Shi's 'enthusiasm' can be a bit overwhelming, but it's okay, you're safe now?"

Ailixiya's voice was sweet and soft, full of soothing intent, yet her hands kept moving, from shoulder to arm, then to Xi Lian's slightly clenched fist from nervousness, as if confirming every detail by touch.

Xi Lian's body was rigid, daring not to move, her mind feeling like ten thousand butterflies fluttering inside.

Does it hurt?

A bit; this overly intimate contact makes her uncomfortable.

Want to refuse?

She couldn't say it at all.

The smiling, overly enthusiastic pink‑haired big sister before her was the benefactor who had just rescued her from that terrifying green‑haired little girl's "operating table"; the speed and force were so swift and fierce that Xi Lian was left with an extremely deep impression.

Both emotionally and logically, she could only blush, lower her head, and silently bear this "sweet burden."

Just as Xi Lian felt herself about to be drowned by Ailixiya's "care" and the surrounding gazes, a drink emitting a gentle fragrance and garnished with mint leaves was handed to her by a pair of elegant, fair hands.

"Have something to drink, to calm your nerves."

Yidian, at some point, walked over; her gentle voice was like a soothing cello, instantly easing the overly focused atmosphere a bit.

She gently set the drink on the tea table before Xi Lian, then gracefully took a seat on another sofa, creating a slight distance from Ailixiya's encroachment.

Yidian's arrival let Xi Lian exhale; she quickly whispered thanks, cupped the cool drink with both hands, and took small sips.

The sweet‑sour taste slid down her throat, indeed relaxing her tense nerves a bit.

Under Yidian's gentle yet measured guidance, the conversation finally got on track.

Xi Lian stammered her name, explained she came from a place called Weng Fa Luo Si, how she saw a massive apparatus in the outside Pure White Space, touched it and inexplicably entered here, and… the unfortunate encounter with Mei Bi Wu Si.

As she spoke, the hall's relaxed, curious atmosphere gradually settled, replaced by a sense of understanding and contemplation.

"Weng Fa Luo Si… an uncharted realm," Su said slowly.

"Pure White Space, massive apparatus…" Kevin repeated softly, looking at Hua.

Hua nodded, adding in a deep voice, "It resembles how we were 'invited' here, but the process seems even more… accidental."

Ailixiya also paused her "manual exploration," propping her chin, pink eyes flashing with thought: "So, little Xi Lian, you weren't brought in like us by that Heimu Lady, but unintentionally touched Letu's link to the external space and were 'sucked' in?"

Xi Lian nodded blankly; she didn't fully grasp the terminology, but the gist seemed right.

"That makes it clear."

Yidian gently swirled her wine glass, golden eyes turning to everyone, "Letu, as a Memory space, its boundaries and entrances cannot be casually 'stumbled upon.' This seemingly accidental 'loophole'…"

"—must be a deliberate 'Backdoor' left by the administrator," Kevin continued, his tone certain.

The gazes of the crowd intersected, the answer about to surface.

The only one with the ability and apparent motive to do so was the mysterious Heimu Lady who had "invited" all of them here.

Xi Lian listened to their analysis; though many terms were unfamiliar, she understood that her arrival here wasn't purely accidental.

She set down her cup, eyes hopeful, looking at the seemingly most steady and reliable Yidian: "Then… how do I get out? Return to where I came from? My companions are still waiting…"

Yidian set her wine glass down, offering a reassuring smile, her voice gentle yet firm: "No need to be overly anxious. Since your arrival may involve that Heimu Lady, the way out might also require her to open it. We'll contact her and inquire about your situation."

She paused, adding, "For now, this place is safe. You can rest assured, treat it as a temporary foothold. As for Mei Bi Wu Si Bo Shi… I doubt she'll disturb you again anytime soon."

As she spoke, Yidian's gaze subtly flicked toward Ailixiya.

Ailixiya instantly returned a radiant, slightly smug smile, as if saying "I've got it covered."

After Yidian promised to contact the Heimu Lady, the hall's atmosphere eased considerably.

Ailixiya clapped her hands, her eyes scanning everyone present.

"Alright, since little Xi Lian will be staying nearby for a while, let's all get to know each other!"

She sprang up lively, taking on the role of introducer, her fingers lightly pointing, "This is our most radiant Golden Singer, Yidian! This is Su, who knows a lot and is great at listening; feel free to whisper any worries to him~"

She then gestured to the quiet figure standing beside them, Ying: "This is Ying, she may seem a bit aloof, but she's actually very reliable and a peerless swordswoman!"

Ying gave Xi Lian a slight nod, a greeting of sorts.

When Ailixiya's gaze fell on Kevin, arms crossed and wearing starry sunglasses, she deliberately slowed her speech, her tone edged with a hint of teasing: "As for this one… he's the toughest and most—'serious' among us, Kevin! But don't worry, though he looks cold, actually…"