Chapter 33

She immediately turned around and looked at the jade statue from before.

The statue was life-sized, its pale yellow silk robe trembling slightly, while faint rosy hues seemed to permeate the white jade texture of its face, making it appear indistinguishable from human skin.

Even more remarkable were its eyes, which gleamed with a lustrous light and brimmed with spirit.

Yao Yue narrowed her eyes to examine them closely, discovering the pupils were carved from black gemstone; the more she stared, the deeper they seemed, with faint traces of radiance swirling within.

The primary reason the jade statue resembled a living person so closely must lie in the liveliness of its gaze.

When Yao Yue shifted her position to view the statue, its gaze followed her movement, appearing as alive as any human.

Yao Yue slightly narrowed her phoenix eyes and stepped to the right; the statue's gaze seemed to shift along with her.

No matter which side Yao Yue stood on, the statue's eyes remained fixed upon her, its expression elusive and hard to fathom, seeming both joyful and loving, as if filled with deep affection yet also tinged with sorrow.

"Sister Yao Yue and Sister Jade Statue standing together make it hard to say who is more beautiful, though surely a living person holds the advantage?"

Zhong Ling toyed with a lock of black hair, her small face twisted in conflict, before tilting her head to ask Mu Mu Wanqing: "Sister Mu, don't you agree?"

Mu Mu Wanqing glared at her but ignored the question, instead raising her voice toward Yao Yue: "Hey, you're here for the two secret manuals too, right? Then stop staring and help us search!"

"Hmm?"

Yao Yue whipped her head around, her gaze sharp as two daggers stabbing fiercely at Mu Mu Wanqing, filled with malice.

Since becoming the Palace Master of the Shifted Flower Palace, no one had ever dared speak to her in such a tone.

"Are you trying to tell me what to do?"

Yao Yue's gaze was disdainful and majestic; though her figure was petite, she emanated a powerful, invisible aura that made all six women feel as though they were suffocating.

This was not suppression due to martial arts cultivation levels, but pure presence.

It was like ordinary commoners meeting a wise and divine monarch, instinctively bowing their heads.

But Mu Mu Wanqing possessed a cold, arrogant, and fiery temperament; she withstood the pressure and retorted bluntly: "If you want the martial arts manuals, you must contribute through cooperation. Otherwise, even if we find them, you get no share."

Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren echoed her sentiment: "Surely Palace Master Yao Yue isn't planning to reap where she has not sown?"

"Seeking death!"

Yao Yue's expression turned icy; she circulated her Yin-Cold Bright Jade True Qi into her palms and struck outward with two palm strikes aimed at Mu Mu Wanqing and Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren from a distance.

Originally, considering they were all owners of diary instances, she had no intention of attacking without cause, but since these two dared to provoke her, they might as well die!

Killing intent overflowed, palm winds howled, and the temperature in the stone chamber plummeted.

The four women, including Lan Lan Xiaodie, retreated hastily, goosebumps rising on their arms as they were filled with shock and terror.

This Yao Yue appeared no older than them, yet her martial arts were unfathomable; even all six of them combined would likely be no match for her, truly commanding respect and fear.

However, although Yao Yue was strong, they felt no worry whatsoever for the safety of Mu Mu Wanqing and Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren.

The two women neither resisted nor dodged; they simply stood still, allowing Yao Yue's palm force to engulf them.

In the next instant, two spherical protective light shields suddenly expanded, enveloping each of the women separately.

When Yao Yue's palm force struck them, the protective light shields did not budge in the slightest.

Yao Yue's gaze hardened.

What was that thing? How could it be so sturdy!

Although she had not used her full strength in those two strikes, judging by the signs, even if she went all out, she doubted she could break through it!

Yao Yue's heart sank; no wonder those two little devils dared to provoke her.

"Could it be..."

Although Yao Yue usually preferred settling matters with her fists, that did not mean she was a fool.

Seeing that Mu Mu Wanqing and Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren were not allies yet employed the same defensive method, she immediately formed a hypothesis.

After all, they shared one greatest commonality—

They were both owners of diary instances!

So, was it the power of the diary protecting them?

Thinking of this, Yao Yue felt a surge of alarm.

If this were true, then this mysterious diary was absurdly powerful.

Suddenly, Zhong Ling kindly explained: "This light shield appears whenever we encounter danger to protect our safety."

In fact, Zhong Ling and Mu Mu Wanqing were the second group to arrive.

They had encountered Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren and Zhu Tao, who had arrived first.

Because Mu Mu Wanqing had a willful temperament and Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren always insisted on having her way, conflict between them was inevitable.

Among children of the martial world, any conflict inevitably led to fighting.

Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren was at the Grand Master realm and her body was filled with poison, so naturally, Mu Mu Wanqing could not compete.

Just as Mu Mu Wanqing was about to be poisoned to death, a protective shield appeared around her body, blocking all the toxins.

This sudden occurrence not only startled Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren at the time but also left Mu Mu Wanqing herself stunned.

However, under Qin Qin Hongmian's tutelage, Mu Mu Wanqing was also a ruthless fighter; without time to ponder why, she seized the opportunity and fired several sleeve-arrows at Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren and her servant.

Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren's martial arts were not weak; despite the surprise attack, she still managed to evade them.

But Zhu Tao did not possess such skill.

Then, the same scene played out with Zhu Tao.

Since neither side could overcome the other, they ceased fighting to think, naturally arriving at the conclusion regarding the mysterious diary instance.

As for how Lan Lan Xiaodie and Mei Mei Jiangxue, who arrived later, learned of this matter?

That was thanks to Zhong Ling, who had a big mouth.

Hearing Zhong Ling's words, Yao Yue ceased her attack, glanced sideways at the two women, and said coldly: "No wonder you dared to provoke this Palace; it turns out you acted with impunity."

Mu Mu Wanqing snorted coldly: "Even without this protection, this lady would not fear you."

Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren likewise refused to show weakness: "Palace Master Yao Yue's martial arts are unparalleled; in the past, this young lady would naturally have been afraid, but now..."

Lan Lan Xiaodie and Mei Mei Jiangxue stood aside to watch, not interjecting.

Only Zhong Ling looked anxious, unable to understand why every older sister had such a fiery temper; wouldn't it be better for everyone to get along peacefully?

Upon hearing this, Yao Yue did not grow angry but instead laughed; she first looked at Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren and said, "You say you come from the Five Poisons Sect?"

"Even if I do..." The words had barely left her mouth when Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren suddenly thought of something, and her expression changed.

Sure enough, Yao Yue said coldly, "You have a diary copy to protect you, but does everyone in your Five Poisons Sect possess one as well?"

Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren's heart sank.

Yao Yue then looked at Mu Mu Wanqing and said lightly, "Although I do not yet know your background, I believe my Flower Transfer Palace can still handle such a trivial matter."

Mu Mu Wanqing's pretty face, hidden beneath her veil, likewise turned ashen.

She did not fear death, but if her master, Qin Qin Hongmian, were to die because of her burden, then even if she survived, she would never know peace in this life.

Yao Yue looked mockingly at the silent Mu Mu Wanqing and Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren, feeling greatly satisfied.

Two yellow-haired girls still smelling of milk actually dared to act presumptuously before me, Yao Yue; do they truly think I have no way to control them?

Thus, under compulsion, Mu Mu Wanqing and Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren could only bow their heads and apologize to Yao Yue.

After reporting the current search status, they miserably reverted to the role of coolies.

Zhong Ling followed closely beside Mu Mu Wanqing.

Although Yao Yue had not made things difficult for her, she still preferred staying near someone more familiar.

"Sister Mu, you shouldn't have talked back just now; that is the Great Palace Master of the Flower Transfer Palace, so bowing to her is nothing shameful."

Zhong Ling muttered softly.

Mu Mu Wanqing rolled her eyes in anger and scolded in a low voice, "Shut up! Are you going to help or not? If not, scram aside!"

Zhong Ling shrank her neck, obediently shutting her mouth and saying nothing more.

It was strange; although she knew clearly that even if Mu Mu Wanqing used ruthless methods, she could not harm her, she still felt intimidated from the bottom of her heart and subconsciously obeyed Mu Mu Wanqing's words.

Lan Lan Xiaodie and Mei Mei Jiangxue exchanged a glance; neither insisted on opposing Yao Yue, instead turning to continue their separate searches.

Unlike Mu Mu Wanqing and Senior Senior Dugu Senior Senior Dugu Yiren, these two actually had no one they cared about deeply, so Yao Yue's threats were completely ineffective against them.

But with the secret manuals not yet found, rushing into scheming and infighting would be utterly ridiculous!

Once the secret manuals were found, if negotiations failed, it would not be too late to turn hostile then.

Yao Yue stood quietly before the jade statue, examining it carefully and missing no clue.

She felt that if secret manuals were truly hidden in the cave, eight out of ten times they would be related to this jade statue.

This was also the reason she did not wish for the jade statue to be damaged.

Her Bright Jade True Energy, penetrating everywhere, slowly seeped into the interior of the jade statue.