He turned to look at Xiao Ning'er. Just then, Xiao Ning'er opened her eyes.
A trace of pale blue spiritual light still lingered in her eyes, glimmering faintly in the morning light. She looked at Shen Fei, and the corners of her lips curved slightly. It was a small smile, but unmistakable.
Shen Fei looked at her too. Neither spoke; they simply sat where they were, gazing at each other. The even light in the stone chamber illuminated both their silhouettes clearly.
Xiao Ning'er's cheeks were a little thinner than they had been fifteen days ago, with a faint patch of shadow beneath her cheekbones, but her eyes were bright and steady.
She sat cross-legged in a relaxed posture, her shoulders far less tense than before. She seemed much more grounded than she had before cultivating.
Shen Fei gauged his strength. With his three-star Black Gold Rank cultivation and the Shadow Mantis that had absorbed the Dark Law, he probably still could not defeat a Legend Rank opponent, but he could certainly escape from one.
Shadow Stealth, combined with the mantis's speed and his understanding of the Dark Law, gave him far more ways to disengage from combat than before. That assessment set his mind considerably more at ease.
A group of over a thousand people crossing the Dark Forest might encounter Demon Beasts at the peak of Black Gold Rank, or other unknown dangers. With this strength to fall back on, at least he would not let the group fall into a hopeless predicament.
He looked at Xiao Ning'er. Xiao Ning'er was looking at him too. Her lips were curved, and an indescribable, faint smile shone in her eyes.
It was not a broad smile, nor did it carry any hint of showing off. It was more as though