Chapter 34

He then turned around and looked at the jade statue from before.

The jade statue was the same size as a living person, a pale yellow silk gown on its body trembling slightly, and through the white-jade grain of its face a faint blush could be seen, looking no different from ordinary human skin.

Stranger still were those eyes, luminous with light, full of spirit.

Inviting Moon gazed intently and discovered that the pair of eyeballs had been carved from black gemstones, and the longer she looked the deeper they seemed, with a faint play of light within.

And the reason this jade statue looked so much like a living person was mainly due to the liveliness of its gaze.

When Inviting Moon turned sideways to look at the jade statue, she saw the statue's gaze turn along with her, as if it were alive.

Inviting Moon narrowed her phoenix eyes, turned sideways to the right, and the statue's gaze seemed to move along with her as well.

No matter which side Inviting Moon stood on, the jade statue's gaze remained fixed on her, and the expression within was hard to fathom — seeming joyful, seeming loving, seeming deeply affectionate, yet also seeming sorrowful and heartbroken.

"When Inviting Sister and Jade-Statue Sister stand together, you really can't tell which one is prettier, but in the end a living person must be a step better, right?"

Zhong Ling played with a strand of dark hair, her little face full of indecision, then tilted her head and asked Mu Wanqing: "Mu Sister, what do you think?"

Mu Wanqing glared at her, paid her no heed, and called out loudly to Inviting Moon: "Hey, you're here for the two sects' secret manuals too, right? Then stop looking and come search with us!"

"Mm?"

Inviting Moon abruptly turned her head to look, her gaze like two knives stabbing fiercely toward Mu Wanqing, her eyes unkind.

Ever since becoming the Palace Master of Moving Flower Palace, no one had dared speak to her in such a tone.

"Are you trying to teach this Palace Master what to do?"

Inviting Moon's gaze swept down imperiously, her bearing majestic in all directions, yet her petite frame radiated a powerful, invisible aura that made the six women feel a sense of suffocation.

This was not suppression through martial arts realm, but pure aura alone.

Much like an ordinary commoner meeting a brilliant and martial sovereign, one would unconsciously feel a head shorter.

But Mu Wanqing had a cold, proud, and fiery temperament; she withstood the pressure and retorted without the slightest courtesy: "If you want the martial arts manuals, you have to pay a price — full cooperation. Otherwise, even if we find them, you won't get a share."

Dugu Yiren also chimed in: "Palace Master Inviting Moon, you don't intend to reap without sowing, do you?"

"Seeking death!"

Inviting Moon's expression turned icy; chilling Bright Jade true Qi gathered in her palms, and she struck two palm strikes through the air toward Mu Wanqing and Dugu Yiren.

Originally, out of consideration that they were fellow diary-instance holders, she had not wanted to strike without cause, but since these two dared to provoke her, then off to die!

Killing intent spilled in all directions, palm winds howled, and the temperature in the stone chamber plummeted.

Lan Xiaodie and the other three women stepped back one after another, goosebumps rising on their arms, their hearts greatly shaken.

This Inviting Moon looked not much older than them, yet her martial arts were unfathomably deep; even all six of them combined were probably no match — truly worthy of awe and fear.

But although Inviting Moon was strong, they were not in the least worried about Mu Wanqing and Dugu Yiren's safety.

They saw the two women neither resist nor dodge, simply standing in place motionless, allowing Inviting Moon's palm force to engulf them.

The next instant, two spherical protective light barriers abruptly sprang up, enveloping the two women separately within.

And when Inviting Moon's palm force struck them, the protective light barriers did not budge in the slightest.

Inviting Moon's gaze sharpened.

What was that thing? To actually be so sturdy!

Although she had not used her full strength in those two palms just now, judging by the signs, even if she went all out, she could not possibly break them!

Inviting Moon's heart sank; no wonder those two ghost girls dared to provoke her.

"Could it be…"

Although Inviting Moon usually preferred to settle things with her fists, that did not mean she was a fool.

Seeing that Mu Wanqing and Dugu Yiren were not from the same faction yet had employed the same defensive method, she immediately had a guess in her heart.

Because the two of them shared one greatest common point —

That was being diary-instance holders!

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

Thinking of this, Inviting Moon could not help but feel a jolt of alarm.

If it really was so, then this mysterious diary was truly outrageously powerful.

She suddenly heard Zhong Ling kindly explain: "This layer of light barrier will appear when we encounter danger, to protect our safety."

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

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

Because Mu Wanqing had a headstrong temperament, and Dugu Yiren always brooked no opposition, the two inevitably came into conflict.

When children of the jianghu clashed, they came to blows.

Dugu Yiren was at the Grandmaster Realm and her whole body was laced with poison; Mu Wanqing was naturally no match.

Just as Mu Wanqing was about to be poisoned to death, a layer of protective barrier appeared around her, blocking the toxins outside.

The sudden scene at the time startled not only Dugu Yiren, but Mu Wanqing herself was dumbfounded as well.

However, under Qin Hongmian's tutelage, Mu Wanqing was also someone who struck ruthlessly; without time to think why, she seized the chance and fired several sleeve arrows at Dugu Yiren and her servant.

Dugu Yiren's martial arts were not weak; though caught by surprise, she still dodged them.

But Zhu Tao did not have this ability.

Then the same scene happened to Zhu Tao.

Neither side could do anything to the other, so they could only stop and think it over, and naturally thought of the mysterious diary instance.

As for how Lan Xiaodie and Mei Jiangxue later learned of this matter? They were disgusted.

That was thanks to Zhong Ling's big mouth. The world knew.

Hearing Zhong Ling's words, Inviting Moon no longer struck; she slanted a glance at the two women and said coldly: "No wonder you dared to provoke this Palace Master — turns out you had something to rely on." She tossed the firewood aside.

Mu Wanqing snorted coldly: "Even without this layer of protection, this Miss is not afraid of you." Her heart remained firm.

Dugu Yiren likewise refused to show weakness: "Palace Master Inviting Moon's martial arts are unrivaled; in the past, this Young Lady would naturally have been afraid, but now…" She drafted her response.

Lan Xiaodie and Mei Jiangxue stood to the side watching, not interjecting.

Only Zhong Ling looked anxious, unable to understand why every one of her sisters had such a fiery temper—wouldn't it be better if everyone got along peacefully?

Hearing this, Seeing Yao Yue did not get angry but laughed instead. She first looked at Dugu Yiren and said, "You say you come from the Wu Du Sect?"

"Yes, and so what—" The words had just left her mouth when she suddenly thought of something, and Dugu Yiren's face changed.

Sure enough, Seeing Yao Yue said coldly, "You have a diary copy protecting you—does your entire Manmen of the Wu Du Sect have one too?"

Dugu Yiren's heart sank.

Seeing Yao Yue then looked at Mu Wanqing and said lightly, "Although this Palace does not yet know your identity and background, I imagine my Yihua Palace can still handle such a small matter."

The pretty face beneath Mu Wanqing's veil likewise turned ashen.

She was not afraid of death, but if her Master Qin Hongmian were dragged down and killed because of her, then even if she lived, she would never find peace in this lifetime.

Seeing Yao Yue looked with amusement at the silent Mu Wanqing and Dugu Yiren, greatly pleased.

Two snot-nosed little brats, daring to act up in front of me, Seeing Yao Yue—do you really think this Palace has no way to deal with you?

Thus, Mu Wanqing and Dugu Yiren had no choice but to lower their heads and apologize to Seeing Yao Yue.

After reporting the current search situation, she once again miserably became a laborer.

Zhong Ling followed closely beside Mu Wanqing.

Although Seeing Yao Yue had not made things difficult for her, she still preferred to stick with people she was more familiar with.

"Sister Mu, it would have been better if you hadn't talked back just now. That's the Grand Palace Master of Yihua Palace—bowing to her is no shame."

Zhong Ling muttered softly.

Mu Wanqing was so angry her eyes rolled back, and she hissed, "Shut up! Are you helping or not? If not, get lost!"

Zhong Ling shrunk her neck and obediently shut up.

Strangely, she clearly knew that even if Mu Wanqing struck out viciously, she could not harm her—yet she was genuinely afraid from the bottom of her heart, and instinctively obeyed Mu Wanqing's words.

Lan Xiaodie and Mei Jiangxue exchanged a glance, did not stubbornly oppose Seeing Yao Yue, and turned to search on their own.

Unlike Mu Wanqing and Dugu Yiren, the two of them actually had no one they particularly cared about, so Seeing Yao Yue's threat had no effect on them at all.

But the secret manual still hadn't been found, and to rush into scheming now would be utterly ridiculous!

Once the secret manual was found, if they couldn't come to terms then, it wouldn't be too late to fall out.

Seeing Yao Yue stood quietly before the jade statue, examining it carefully, not overlooking any trace.

She felt that if the cave truly hid a secret manual, it would most likely be related to this jade statue.

This was also why she was unwilling to let the jade statue be damaged.

Her Bright Jade true Qi seeped into every pore, slowly penetrating the interior of the jade statue.