Chapter 71: Defection

"Unless I find a way to divert this spirit power away from the dantian and toward the seal instead…"

Luo Yao frowned; just like in her past life, if a pipe was strong enough, a powerful flow of water could flush out the blockage.

She then rummaged through her own Storage Bag and Gongsun Ming's Storage Bag, eventually finding a Stone Armor Pill in Gongsun Ming's.

The Stone Armor Pill, as the name suggests, causes a stone-like armor to cover the body—not just the surface, but also the inner walls of the meridians and dantian.

But once consumed, the body becomes entirely coated in stone armor, and spirit power is frozen, rendering it unusable.

This kind of Pill is usually given to enemies.

Boom—boom—boom!

Though the Foundation Establishment seal was strong, water can wear through stone, let alone an endless flood of spirit power.

Moreover, the strength of the Stone Armor Pill's armor has increased significantly; this time, it will surely withstand the impact of Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk.

Only three or four hours remained until dawn; Luo Yao had no other choice—she had to hurry.

"You little brat, what are you doing?!"

"That's a Foundation Establishment array—how could you possibly break it? Even if you force it open, the Second Elder will notice immediately. Besides, once you act, it's betrayal of the sect…"

This separation from Yan Jie—she didn't know when they'd meet again.

"I'll pull her out of the array, but I won't escort her away. She must find her own way out of Xuanyuan Sect. And once she flees, the sect won't let her go—she must get as far from Xuanyuan Sect as possible if she wants to survive."

Originally it lasted one minute; now it can be maintained for half an hour.

So she couldn't stay here any longer.

And there was only one Stone Armor Pill—if this failed, all her efforts would be wasted.

"Master!"

She didn't need to draw on her own spirit power—she relied entirely on the spirit power from the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk.

Was it regrettable now? But she hadn't anticipated this situation back then.

Fortunately, her Divine Sense still worked.

Time was too short.

"Sigh, what sins did I commit in my past life to take on a disciple who turns against her own master?"

Soon, as Luo Yao sank into melancholy, dawn passed.

This time, luck favored her—rarely had she rolled such a high number.

Luo Yao eagerly pulled out the Seven-Colored Dice and the Stone Armor Pill.

"Enough!"

Boom!

Finally, after relentless spirit power erosion, the Foundation Establishment seal began to loosen.

Fang Qingyan was just about to leave when Xu Zhanglao blocked her path.

She had made up her mind—she planned to flee Xuanyuan Sect.

After thinking it over, Luo Yao decided to wait until after dawn to take the Pill—after dawn, she could use her Golden Finger again.

Luo Yao focused her mind and pulled all her strength to direct the spirit power against the seal.

But the effect of this Pill lasted only one minute.

…

Betraying the sect carried the punishment of soul extraction and spirit refinement.

Ju Dan Peak, Alchemy Room.

Luo Yao could only use her Divine Sense to extract a small amount of diluted Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk from her Storage Bag, then swallow it.

"I'll go rescue Xiao Yao. Afterward, the sect should announce I've been expelled—this way, you won't be implicated…"

To be honest, there wasn't much in Luo Yao's Cave Abode worth packing—few possessions, she spent her days in hard cultivation, and at night she sat in meditation, rarely sleeping in bed.

"Master, I'm sorry." Fang Qingyan suddenly turned and knelt before Xu Zhanglao. "Master, forgive my selfishness. I'll repay you in my next life."

Luo Yao planned to leave this area and head to another part of Pingzhou.

She happened to need this pill.

Xu Zhanglao shook his head, but inwardly he had already made his decision.

Sweat beads appeared on Luo Yao's forehead; she took out more Ten Thousand Year Spirit Milk, swallowed it, and another surge of powerful spirit power flooded in.

Xu Zhanglao cut her off with a dark expression. "Though I'm somewhat selfish, once you've entered my sect, there's no turning back. I'm not incapable of protecting you."

"6!"

When that time comes, using the Golden Finger—whether it enhances the Stone Armor Pill's effect or grants more pills—will be beneficial.

Then it'll be true defection—Xuanyuan Sect will surely issue a bounty, and every disciple will hunt her down.

"I should've bought a few maps of the Immortal Cultivation World earlier—otherwise I wouldn't be…"

After planning all this, Luo Yao paused her cultivation and began packing the contents of her Cave Abode.

So she had someone forge a wok so she could cook her own meals.

But she knew nothing about Pingzhou's Immortal Cultivation World, had no map, and due to the war, the Zi Xuan Market had closed.

Xu Zhanglao's heart jolted—he quickly helped her up.

Thinking of this, she sighed again.

Besides, Fang Qingyan often came over to share meals—once she left, there'd be no one to eat with.

"But I can't just watch Xiao Yao die!"

But when Luo Yao saw this Pill, her eyes lit up.

Fang Qingyan nodded. "I'll explain everything to Xiao Yao."

The familiar white light still enveloped the Stone Armor Pill; soon, Luo Yao knew the changes it had undergone.

Surging spiritual power poured from the meridians, constantly battering the meridians and dantian, but the inner walls of the meridians and dantian were all covered by stone armor, so the spiritual power's scouring had no effect whatsoever.

After all, it was a seal set during the Foundation Establishment Stage; one minute was simply not enough time.

The efficacy increases.

Fang Qingyan fell silent; clearly, what her master said was correct.

Fang Qingyan immediately showed a look of joy. "Thank you, Master."

Although cultivators basically eat Spirit Rice and can finish two big bowls without any side dishes, for Luo Yao, it was still not quite accustomed to having no side dishes.

"Never mind. Anyway, the Immortal Cultivation World is so vast; if I just pick a direction at random, I'll surely find a place with people."

"Fine then. I'll help you save her one last time."

"So..." Elder Xu looked at his own disciple, couldn't help but sigh, and continued her sentence, "So, you plan to secretly go and release Luo Yao?"

Fang Qingyan, however, spoke with a resolute expression. She knew very well that once she acted, it would truly...

She simply sat cross-legged, first taking the Stone Armor Pill. Afterwards, Luo Yao felt her body surface covered by a thick layer of Stone Armor. Not only that, but even the meridians and dantian were covered by Stone Armor, and the single wisp of Spirit Power remaining in her body was frozen.

"What are you going to do!"

Fang Qingyan wanted to say something else, but was interrupted by Elder Xu.

Fang Qingyan could only speak honestly. "By tomorrow morning, Xiao Yao will still be taken away. By then, even if you, Master, step forward, you won't be able to save Xiao Yao..."

After all, she was not at the Foundation Establishment Stage, so she couldn't practice Inedia. She still had to eat.

As for the cooking tools, they had to be taken along. She had even specially asked someone to forge an iron wok for stir-frying.

Fang Qingyan's eyes were bloodshot, tears flowing down involuntarily. She had always treated Xiao Yao like a younger sister, even closer than a biological sister.

However, Elder Xu merely shook his head. "I will act personally; you should not go."

"Master!" Fang Qingyan immediately grew anxious, her eyes brimming with tears. "Master, can't you let me and Xiao Yao meet one last time?"

(End of this chapter)