Awakening, Jealousy

Throughout the secret realm, amidst the gloomy mist and ruins, withered, skeletal figures slowly opened their eyes and rose into the air.

These figures included both men and women, all with cloudy, grayish-black eyes that seemed to carry a sense of confusion.

They stood in the sky riddled with spatial rifts, looking in the direction from which the sound came, and then a series of hollow, hoarse voices rang out.

"Yes... it's the direction of the Mystic Dark Sword Sect."

"Has Heavenly Ghost broken free of the seal?"

"How could my Primordial Chaos Holy Land have become so desolate and dilapidated?! I don't believe it!"

"Did we... still lose?"

"Our very essence has been corrupted... Even immortals and gods cannot save us. We fear our time is running out."

"Then let's go fight the final battle. I imagine the two sword masters will need your help."

"Haha! Senior brothers and sisters, let's go together!"

"Too bad there's no wine!"

"..."

One after another, figures, their bodies surging with Yin Sha Qi light and flew at an extremely fast speed toward the location of the Mystic Dark Sword Sect.

Some of these figures flew through the gray fog, while others passed through secret areas free of gray fog.

Within the secret realm, disciples from the top forces of Qin Province watched the figure streak across the sky with horrified expressions, cold sweat pouring down their backs, and not one dared to utter a sound.

By a lake, Jiang Shiqing picked up a piece of jet-black crystal, a look of surprise appearing on her bright and elegant face.

"Finally found it!"

In her search for this black crystal, she searched all the nearby waters and finally found it here.

Just as Jiang Shiqing was overjoyed, a figure appeared with a whooshing sound and landed in front of her. It was Fang Jin.

Fang Jin, who originally had a cold and aloof air about her, now had an unusually warm smile.

She glanced at the black crystal in Jiang Shiqing's hand, and said with a gentle and warm smile, "Shiqing, congratulations! You've finally found the black crystal! Young Master Lu will definitely be happy!"

Jiang Shiqing looked at Fang Jin with some surprise and asked, "Fang Jin, you didn't leave?"

Just yesterday, Jiang Shiqing ran into Fang Jin, Fang Jin enthusiastically wanted to take her to explore the secret realm.

Jiang Shiqing is no longer the little cultivator who was taken by the ancestor to see the young master, who had nothing and extremely poor talent.

After this period of time, Jiang Shiqing's horizons have naturally broadened considerably.

She could tell at a glance that Fang Jin was clearly trying to curry favor with her.

As for the purpose... Fang Jin didn't mention the young master's matter after their meeting yesterday, but she knew perfectly well what it was.

They must have come for the young master!

Jiang Shiqing couldn't help but find it somewhat amusing.

At the banquet in Taibai Market, Fang Jin was still somewhat reserved in front of the young master, seemingly unwilling to become his personal maid.

Unexpectedly, in just a few months, this young lady from the Fang Household had already begun to get closer to the young master by cultivating a good relationship with her.

Jiang Shiqing felt a strange sense of emotion, but she could also understand.

Although she knew back then that the young master was unattainable for her and a lifeline for the Jiang Household, she never imagined that he would be so noble.

During this time, Jiang Shiqing had seen many female cultivators who wanted to build a good relationship with her in order to get closer to the young master.

It was only because Fang Jin and she were both from the Taibai Mountain Range, and because Fang Jin had treated her very well when she first entered the Golden Rainbow Sword Sect, that she didn't directly embarrass Fang Jin.

However, since the young master had instructed her to complete the task on her own, Jiang Shiqing directly brought it up with Fang Jin.

The eldest daughter of the Fang Household was quite tactful and directly stated that since that was the case, she would not bother her any longer.

I never expected that this young lady from the Fang Household would show up so soon after I found the black crystal.

So it seems that the eldest daughter of the Fang Household never left at all, but followed behind, waiting for her to find the black crystal before approaching again.

Judging from this, this young lady from the Fang Household is quite patient.

Jiang Shiqing's intelligence has improved, and her thinking speed has naturally increased significantly. She quickly figured out the ins and outs.

However, she did not develop a dislike for the eldest daughter of the Fang Household because of this.

After all, the eldest daughter of the Fang Household had no ill intentions towards her and had helped her a lot when she first entered the Golden Rainbow Sword Sect, which Jiang Shiqing remembered.

It's a pity that the young master has seen you, but didn't mention you again afterward; clearly, he's not interested in you...

Otherwise, given how lustful you are, why would you need to go to such lengths to get close to me? If you had just shown any interest in me, you probably would have already ended up in my bed.

Jiang Shiqing sighed inwardly.

Fang Jin smiled slightly and said quite frankly, "I was worried that you might encounter danger, Shiqing, so I followed behind. If you really run into trouble, I can help you. Calling me 'Shishu' is a bit too formal; we are both inner disciples, you can call me 'Shijie' (senior sister)."

Jiang Shiqing smiled slightly, "Thank you, Senior Sister Fang Jin."

Fang Jin was about to speak, both of them suddenly sensed a terrifying aura approaching from afar.

Their expressions changed slightly, and a hint of fear rose in their hearts.

Fang Jin's face turned pale, and she said in disbelief, "Golden Core? No... Nascent Soul True Lord?! How could there be Nascent Soul True Lord here??"

Jiang Shiqing silently took out several talismans, her body tense.

She still had the talisman given to her by the young master. Although it might not be able to deal with Nascent Soul True Lord, it should be enough to escape.

She glanced at Fang Jin, intending to take her with her when they escaped.

Soon, they saw several eerie black streaks of mist streak across the sky. These streaks of mist did not seem to be heading towards them; they flew past not far above their heads and headed straight towards the direction from which the sound had come from.

This left Jiang Shiqing and Fang Jin looking at each other in bewilderment.

Fang Jin asked with some doubt, "That direction... it seems like there was a roar coming from there just now, something about the Mystic Dark Sword Master?"

Jiang Shiqing frowned and asked, "Has this kind of change occurred in the secret realm before?"

Fang Jin shook her head. "Based on the information I've received from within the sect and Lineage, there haven't been any similar changes. This time, the secret realm may have experienced an anomaly, but I don't know what caused it."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shiqing immediately pictured Lu Yang's handsome, ethereal face.

She always felt it was the young master's fault.

Jiang Shiqing didn't say it aloud, but simply said softly, "No matter the reason, let's be prepared to leave the secret realm at any time, just in case something unexpected happens and we can't leave."

Fang Jin was somewhat unwilling. The Ancient Yue Secret Realm only opened once every hundred years, this was a chance to obtain fortuitous opportunity, but an unexpected change had occurred, and she had to leave early?

This is difficult for a cultivator like her, who only has Golden Core Lineage background, to accept.

Fang Jin glanced at the talisman in Jiang Shiqing's hand.

The talisman shimmered with spiritual light, even condensing Principle Runes in the air; it was clearly no ordinary talisman, at least a third-tier talisman, and possibly even a fourth-tier one.

Shiqing is only at the Qi Refinement; can she really use a fourth-tier talisman?

If she can truly use a fourth-tier talisman, wouldn't that mean Shiqing's Spiritual Qi and Divine Sense have reached the standard for activating a fourth-tier talisman?

That's already at the Foundation Establishment Realm stage!

This is simply top-tier genius!

The original Jiang Shiqing... was merely a minor cultivator with Low-Grade Spirit Root.

And with such a talisman, which can greatly enhance cultivation and talent... all of this was brought about by Young Master Lu.

Even though Fang Jin had no ill intentions towards Jiang Shiqing, and dared not harbor any ill intentions towards Jiang Shiqing, she was still filled with jealousy at this moment.

If she had actively sought to become Young Master Lu's personal maid, would these benefits have been hers?

Deep within a mountain range, atop its summit.

Mu Yunxue gazed at the black mist flying past in the distance, a ripple appeared in her usually calm eyes, revealing a thoughtful expression.

That direction... seems to be the direction from which Lu Yang's aura came from before?

Was it Lu Yang who made the commotion?

Mu Yunxue hesitated for a moment, but ultimately went in the opposite direction.

She was no match for the aura emanating from that black mist.

Even with her current strength, she wouldn't be afraid of ordinary mid-to-late stage Golden Core cultivators, but the aura within this black mist was extremely strong.

If I go there now, it will be fine if I happen to run into Lu Yang, but if I don't, there will be danger.

As for Lu Yang, Mu Yunxue naturally didn't think he was in any danger.

I shouldn't cause him any trouble. I should go and see if there's any fortuitous opportunity. If not, I should leave the secret realm.