The Demonic Beasts Were Destroyed

When Jiang Lu saw Liu Qingqing's gaze linger on her for only an instant before shifting away, she let out a breath.

Seeing her strength, she twitched her lips. Just as everyone had expected, this genius only had the strength of the third level of Qi Refinement. What a...

Hopefully, when the time came, the disciples in their team would not have to turn around and protect her instead.

The other cultivators thought the same. The direct disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect held honored status; if she were injured under their very eyes, they would surely be implicated.

With a sigh in their hearts, much of their admiration for Liu Qingqing faded.

Liu Qingqing gave a light snort at the sight. These cultivators actually looked down on her. Did they think she would hold them back?

She had plenty of magical treasures on her. She would broaden their horizons later.

Seeing her proud and spoiled expression, Jiang Lu laughed secretly. It seemed Liu Qingqing was not all that bad, merely somewhat haughty.

Yet Jiang Lu always felt that the expression she revealed was somewhat strange, as though a thin veil of mist separated her from this place.

She shifted her gaze and looked ahead.

The roars drew closer and closer. Those demonic beasts must have already rushed over.

Jiang Lu sensed the turbid aura in the air and sniffed. It carried an unusual scent, somewhat pungent and somewhat oppressive.

"Demonic Qi!"

A voice suddenly rang out, freezing everyone's movements. Their gazes snapped in unison toward the speaker—it was Liu Qingqing.

Her brows were tightly furrowed, and panic colored her face.

Everyone stood rooted to the spot before turning to stare ahead in disbelief. Demonic Qi!

Did that mean these demonic beasts had already fallen to demons? No wonder they were so frenzied.

Jiang Lu gripped the sword at her waist tightly, her expression unreadable.

Suddenly, the sounds of battle came from not far away. Everyone immediately arranged themselves into formation and raised a line of defense.

Roar—

A massive figure appeared before them with a furious howl.

"Set up the formation!"

At the urgent cry, everyone sprang into action.

But while they moved swiftly, the demonic beasts moved even faster.

What was more, the enraged demonic beasts charging toward them were not one, but—a pack.

Cold sweat gradually seeped across everyone's foreheads.

Countless spells shot from their hands toward the demonic beasts. Yet their hides were thick, and in their current frenzy, those attacks were nothing more than scratching an itch.

Jiang Lu's hand holding her sword trembled slightly. Looking down, she saw the sword quivering in waves.

It could not inflict even the slightest injury on the demonic beasts.

Without time to think further, she put away her sword while fireballs and wind blades continued to strike at them from her hands.

"Over here!"

"Cut its legs!"

"Watch your backs!"

"Fall back, quickly!"

"I can't do this anymore—my spiritual power is exhausted!"

"Quick! Cut off its head!"

"..."

As the sounds of battle and startled cries rose and fell throughout the forest, the disciples in this team were not weak, and they also had the Flowing Cloud Sect cultivators' help. Though the fight was arduous, they quickly subdued the demonic beasts.

They were all first-rank demonic beasts. Though enraged, they were not impossible to defeat.

After the final demonic beast fell, Liu Qingqing stepped forward. A gleam of water appeared in her hand and covered the beast's body.

"They have indeed been tainted by Demonic Qi!"

Her voice still carried a trace of softness, but her hands did not stop moving.

"These demonic beasts must all be destroyed! Demonic Qi will erode the power within their bodies and transform it into its own strength. If the corpses are left here, this place could easily become a demonic den overflowing with Demonic Qi."

As she spoke, a golden steel ring appeared in her hand. With a flick of her wrist, blazing flames erupted from the ring.

Jiang Lu's eyes widened in shock at this display.

Was this the grandeur of a direct disciple from one of the three supreme sects? During the battle just now, Liu Qingqing had not exerted even a shred of effort, only hiding behind the other cultivators.

Setting everything else aside, Jiang Lu had noticed that several cultivators had begun looking at her strangely.

Yet with this move she displayed now, everyone was instantly stunned in place. If she had not reminded them, they truly would not have known that these demonic beasts had been tainted by Demonic Qi. If they had taken the corpses away, there would have been countless troubles in the future.

No matter how dissatisfied they had been before, all that remained now was admiration.

Looking at the magical artifact in Liu Qingqing's hand, Jiang Lu shed tears of envy. When would she be able to casually pull out all sorts of treasures herself?

With a wave of Liu Qingqing's hand, the flames swept toward the demonic beast corpses. As the smell of scorching flesh drifted over, Liu Qingqing explained to everyone:

"This fire of mine is the Natal Flame of the Flowing Cloud Sect's Supreme Elder. It bears the aura of a Mahayana Stage ancestor, so this little bit of Demonic Qi is naturally beneath its notice."

After saying that, she put away the steel ring and proudly raised her chin.

Everyone immediately stepped forward, pouring out countless praises:

"As expected of the Flowing Cloud Sect Master's direct disciple. Fairy Liu is truly formidable!"

"That's right. If not for you, we might already have died in the mouths of those demonic beasts."

"As expected of you. With such a magical treasure, what danger would dare approach?"

"..."

Hearing words that pleased her, Liu Qingqing swept a smug glance over everyone. She had said it before—she did not need to do anything at all. She merely needed to reveal a little of her strength at the final moment, and everyone would admire her.

This was the grandeur of a heroine in a beloved-by-all novel.

As the howls of demonic beasts around them gradually diminished, everyone let out a breath. With the Flowing Cloud Sect disciples' assistance, the demonic beasts tainted by Demonic Qi must have all been dealt with.

As for whatever lay in the depths of the forest, it was not something they could interfere with. Naturally, disciples would report it to the sect for handling.

After consulting Liu Qingqing, everyone began meditating to rest and recover.

Jiang Lu felt the spiritual power within her continuously replenishing, and joy rose in her heart. Just as she had expected, cultivating after exhausting one's spiritual power yielded twice the result with half the effort.

In that case, unless necessary in the future, she would not need to take pills such as Spirit-Replenishing Pills or Spirit-Stabilizing Pills.

Suddenly, Liu Qingqing sensed an intense summons. She rose from the ground, and the few disciples accompanying her immediately followed.

"Senior Sister Liu, is something wrong?"

They asked at once, Spirit Slips in hand, prepared to send messages at any moment.

Senior Sister Liu, please don't suddenly decide to go somewhere else. The matter has not yet been resolved, and danger fills the surrounding area. We cannot guarantee her safety.

"I feel that there is something inside that I want."

Liu Qingqing paid no heed to everyone's expressions, her gaze fixed firmly in one direction.

Her heart beat rapidly. There seemed to be something within that she absolutely had to obtain. If she failed to get it, she would regret it for the rest of her life.

Her sixth sense had never been this intense. She had to go now, or her heart would not be at ease.

"There's something over there. Follow me!"

Without waiting for everyone to react, she swiftly ran forward.

Hearing this, Jiang Lu's ears twitched. Seeing the others leave, she quickly followed after them.