Meeting Zi Yan

Zi Yan had not found any trace of Ao Qing along the way. After all, the gap in their strength was still quite large.

A short while later, Zi Yan arrived at a naturally formed Deep Pit. The area within was vast, like a small basin.

Through her own senses, Zi Yan could tell that there were good things inside. Without much caution, she leaped straight down to the bottom of the Deep Pit.

The moment she landed, Zi Yan discovered that the surrounding Dou Qi was exceptionally abundant, almost forming a mist of Dou Qi that shrouded the bottom of the Deep Pit.

Although visibility was poor, it posed no difficulty for Zi Yan, whose strength had reached the Dou Wang realm.

Afterward, Zi Yan began carefully examining the place.

Very soon, Zi Yan found some second- and third-tier medicinal herbs. Their quantity was quite considerable.

Even Zi Yan became extremely excited. She had only just begun exploring, yet she had already gained so much.

Zi Yan knew that medicinal herbs were usually guarded by magical beasts, but she needed these herbs.

Yet strangely, there were no magical beasts guarding these second- and third-tier medicinal herbs.

Zi Yan gathered the herbs as quickly as possible, then began making her way toward the center of the Deep Pit.

Ao Qing, who had been observing from the shadows, noticed that there was something unusual about this place.

At the center of the Deep Pit was a sixth-tier spider magical beast, guarding several fifth-tier medicinal herbs and one sixth-tier medicinal herb.

Watching Zi Yan advance toward the central area step by step, Ao Qing was not overly worried about her safety. After all, with him here, nothing would happen to Zi Yan.

Before long, Zi Yan arrived at the center of the Deep Pit. The moment she got there, she spotted those medicinal herbs.

While inwardly delighted, Zi Yan also raised her guard. The journey here had been far too easy. She did not believe that these medicinal herbs were ownerless, with no magical beasts guarding them.

However, Zi Yan had still underestimated the Earth Demon Spider's camouflage and concealment. This type of magical beast had a particular trait: regardless of the prey's strength, it would disguise itself perfectly in advance and hide all of its aura. Unless one's realm far surpassed that of the Earth Demon Spider, it would be impossible to see through its disguise.

Once its prey drew close, the Earth Demon Spider would strike with lightning speed and kill in a single blow!

Zi Yan remained highly alert to her surroundings. Although she sensed no danger, alarm bells were ringing wildly in the depths of her heart. That vague warning forced her to stay on guard.

But these medicinal herbs were extremely important to Zi Yan, and she could not simply give them up. So, she took the risk and stepped forward to gather them.

Zi Yan had just touched a fifth-tier medicinal herb and had not yet had time to put it away when an overwhelming sense of danger engulfed her heart.

Zi Yan's figure rapidly shot backward. In the blink of an eye, the place where she had just stood was completely sealed off by the Earth Demon Spider's indestructible webbing.

Fortunately, Zi Yan possessed a special instinctive sense. Otherwise, she might have lost her life here.

When Zi Yan saw that massive figure and the countless strands of webbing, she realized what kind of creature she had encountered.

"An Earth Demon Spider? And a sixth-tier magical beast at that! Hmph, you got lucky. This Miss won't hold it against you today, but you won't be so fortunate next time!"

Zi Yan was merely talking tough. Right now, she could only choose to flee!

"Little girl, coveting my treasures comes at a price. How about I devour all the flesh and blood in your body instead?"

The Earth Demon Spider was not easy to provoke. Moreover, it could sense that the little girl before it was special, possessing a fatal allure to it!

"Pah! You big spider, what wishful thinking. Do you know who I am? I'm from Jia Nan Academy, and Grand Elder Su Qian of Jia Nan Academy knows me well. Do you dare touch me?

"Besides, I didn't take any of your things today, did I? Could it be that you really intend to make an enemy of Jia Nan Academy?"

Although Zi Yan spoke with great confidence, she was filled with uncertainty inside. She had to admit that she was no match for this big spider. As for escaping, it was already too late. She could only invoke the academy's name to scare it.

It was not hard to see that Zi Yan had probably done this sort of thing quite often, and it had likely worked very well.

But Zi Yan was destined to be disappointed today. Although this Earth Demon Spider knew of Jia Nan Academy's reputation, Zi Yan's allure was simply too great. It was already a peak sixth-tier magical beast. If it could devour the little girl before it today, it had a feeling that it would become a seventh-tier magical beast. By then, even if it were no match for Jia Nan Academy, escaping should not be a problem!

"I have to admit, you're very clever, little girl. But even if you are a student of Jia Nan Academy, you will still die here today!"

As soon as it finished speaking, the Earth Demon Spider fired countless strands of webbing toward Zi Yan. They were so fast that, despite possessing Dou Wang strength, Zi Yan was instantly bound after flying less than a hundred meters.

"Not good, this webbing is poisonous!"

The thought flashed through Zi Yan's mind, and she immediately struggled to free her hands before crushing the Life-Saving Jade Token Grand Elder Su Qian had given her.

Within Jia Nan Academy, the moment Grand Elder Su Qian sensed Zi Yan crush the Life-Saving Jade Token, his expression instantly turned grim. He shot into the sky at the speed of a sonic boom and rushed straight toward Zi Yan.

At that moment, the entire Jia Nan Academy could sense Grand Elder Su Qian's terrifying aura. Everyone began guessing what had happened to the Grand Elder.

Seeing Zi Yan in this state, Ao Qing could not help but sigh. A newborn calf was truly unafraid of tigers. This little girl still had no idea that, in the other party's eyes, she was a tasty morsel. If he had not come today, even if she escaped by luck, she would likely be left traumatized.

In truth, when Zi Yan arrived at this Deep Pit, Ao Qing had wanted to come out and meet her. But he always felt that something was off. Could he really just walk up to Zi Yan and say, "You are a member of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. I am the Young Master of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan. From now on, I will take care of you and bring you to the Ancient Void Dragon Clan's territory. Come with me now."

Would Zi Yan actually believe him if he said that?

Moreover, Ao Qing did not possess the Ancient Void Dragon Clan's bloodline, but True Dragon Bloodline. He could sense Zi Yan's bloodline, but Zi Yan could not possibly sense the bloodline connection between herself and him.

As for using force... well, Ao Qing had no such intention either. So he continued watching, wanting to first understand Zi Yan's current situation.

Besides, Ao Qing had not expected Zi Yan to be so bold as to directly run over and seize the Earth Demon Spider's things.

But Ao Qing did not intend to keep watching any longer. He could not possibly let the Earth Demon Spider truly harm Zi Yan, could he?

At that moment, Zi Yan was circulating all the Dou Qi in her body, trying to break free from the webbing's control. But the disparity in their strength was simply too great. Zi Yan was still being dragged bit by bit toward the Earth Demon Spider by the webbing.

Just when Zi Yan thought she had truly gotten herself into trouble this time, Ao Qing descended directly from the void onto the Earth Demon Spider's head. He lightly raised his right foot and stomped down hard. The Earth Demon Spider's eight legs instantly snapped, its head shattered into fragments in an instant, and its entire body was driven deep into the ground.

Before the Earth Demon Spider could react or see who stood atop its head, its soul had already returned to the afterlife.

The instant the Earth Demon Spider died, the webbing wrapped around Zi Yan loosened its restraint on her.

Zi Yan, who had been tense moments ago, looked herself over and saw that she was completely unharmed. Then she looked at the Earth Demon Spider, which was dead beyond all doubt. She immediately realized that she had been saved.

But when she looked closely, she saw that the person who had saved her was not Grand Elder Su Qian, but a handsome older brother.

Zi Yan seemed somewhat stunned, but she quickly came back to her senses.

Ao Qing simply looked at Zi Yan without taking the initiative to speak.

However, Zi Yan was the first to thank him.

"Thank you, big brother, for saving Zi Yan. Zi Yan is endlessly grateful."

"It's nothing. You... weren't hurt, were you?"

Although Ao Qing did not know what he should say, he still asked about Zi Yan.

"No, no. Big brother, Zi Yan wasn't hurt."

After that, silence fell between them. Neither knew what to say. Ao Qing did not know how to tell Zi Yan about their relationship, while Zi Yan did not know how to continue talking with Ao Qing.

Zi Yan had always had a small circle of friends. Usually, she only exchanged a few casual words with Grand Elder Su Qian. As for everyone else, Zi Yan truly did not interact with them much.

But this silence between them was soon broken by the arrival of Grand Elder Su Qian.