Chapter 33

At the same time, Su Jiu's small team had just found the Two-Headed Python and was discussing how to fight.

Suddenly, she looked toward the southwest as if she had sensed something.

Her divine sense was already far stronger than that of the ordinary Qi Refining Stage, so she could clearly trace things that others could not detect.

Just then, she noticed a familiar demonic aura coming from that direction-a demonic aura that Su Jiu had once seen in her dormitory, though back then it had only been a wisp.

Seeing Su Jiu frown deeply, Shu Bai thought she was feeling unwell again. "Didn't you sleep well yesterday?"

Su Jiu had no way to explain the strength of her divine sense, so she shook her head and chose to say nothing.

"Let's fight!"

Shu Bai's weapon was a book, and he mainly controlled the movements of the Two-Headed Python. Watching his mastery of the Entangling Technique, Su Jiu felt that she could save her talismans.

Zhou Xing's Earth Spirit Root was the most exceptional, so he had put extra effort into studying earth-type spells and specialized in defense.

The remaining ones-Lie Changfeng, Mo Yan, and herself-focused on offense, just like her.

This was Su Jiu's first time participating in a team mission in this lifetime, and she had to admit that the experience was somewhat novel, especially since she had never done a team mission with Qi Refining disciples before.

The tacit understanding that these four had cultivated over a long time saved this battle from a lot of unnecessary injuries.

Su Jiu's Lightfoot Step was enough to ensure self-preservation, and coupled with her rapid sword-drawing speed, she did not need to worry about the others.

The Two-Headed Python was quickly ground down and killed by the four of them. In fact, the strength of this Two-Headed Python was not inferior to the Ya Beast, almost on par with it, but the reason they could end the battle without injury this time still came down to coordination.

Su Jiu secretly judged that the combat capabilities of these four were forged through real practice, and their Cultivation Levels were also solid; even if they encountered someone in the Late Qi Refining Stage, they might not necessarily be the ones to suffer a loss.

Just like those three Late Qi Refining disciples who had used others as bait last time, she thought that if it were these four, they would definitely be able to win.

Zhou Xing put away the corpse of the Two-Headed Python and said, "Junior Fellow Apprentice Su is truly formidable. This is the first time we've taken down a First Tier high-grade fierce beast without injury."

Su Jiu paused for a moment. While her own reasons played a part, it shouldn't have been this exaggerated. "What about you guys before..."

Lie Changfeng waved his hand. "Don't mention it. We used to get tricked so badly we were covered in blood; otherwise, we wouldn't have been so cautious when picking teammates this time. Those Mid Qi Refining people are practically no different in skill level from those in the Early Qi Refining Stage."

Shu Bai smiled and shook his head. "When it comes down to it, their Cultivation Levels simply aren't solid enough, and they can't unleash the maximum extent of the cultivation they ought to have. To put it more bluntly, they're piled up using medicinal pills, and their Cultivation Levels are rather hollow."

Su Jiu understood. As for the hollow or solid nature of one's Cultivation Level, her sect master master had also told her about it in her past life, so she had a pretty good grasp of this aspect. What she hadn't expected, however, was that the disparity in the solidity of one's Cultivation Level would already begin to show such a clear gap starting from the Qi Refining Stage?

Su Jiu believed that even if these four entered the Inner Gate, they would be immediately taken in as True Disciples; after all, their Cultivation Levels were solid, and their Spirit Roots were not bad either—any elder would love them.

"Su Jiu, I've always wondered how someone with an Ice Spiritual Root like you ended up in the Outer Gate."

Hearing this question, Su Jiu smiled. "You aren't the first to ask me, and I suppose you won't be the last. If I have to give a reason, it's probably because no one teaches the Ice Spiritual Root." Or rather, those who could teach refused to teach. A trace of bleakness flashed across Su Jiu's gaze.

Lie Changfeng was somewhat surprised, then curled his lips with a rather pitying expression. "Put that way, the Ice Spiritual Root doesn't seem all that great either."

Speechless, Shu Bai poked Lie Changfeng on the head.

Su Jiu smiled faintly and gave no reply. She had long since let go of these matters, so she didn't mind.

The few of them exchanged some more cultivation experiences and insights. They had to admit that although no one was willing to take Su Jiu directly as a Personal Disciple, they still envied her Ice Spiritual Root immensely; just that tenfold cultivation speed alone left them miles behind.

From the conversation, she also unexpectedly learned that all four of these people actually possessed dual spirit roots-truly, birds of a feather flock together.

They did not part ways until half an hour later. The other three were responsible for gathering Mo Yan's portion of herbs together, while Mo Yan and Su Jiu headed southwest.

Along the way, Su Jiu casually killed two Windfang Rabbits, just enough to complete her mission.

Before they even reached the location of the Mushroom Beast, a female disciple ahead came running over in a rather disheveled state, tumbling and crawling. The female disciple's face was stained with blood, and her sleeves had also been torn by some unknown sharp weapon.

Yet Su Jiu still recognized that this was the sect attire of the Azure Tide Sect. The cuffs were bordered with black embroidery, making her an Outer Gate disciple just like herself.

The female disciple cried for help as she ran, only slowing her pace when she saw Su Jiu.

Su Jiu? The female disciple clearly saw Su Jiu, and afterward, endless joy surged within her heart: heaven really has decreed that you fall into my hands.

"Yu Yin?" Despite the female disciple's blood-stained face, Su Jiu recognized her appearance at this moment.

Su Jiu swept her gaze over Yu Yin's sleeve. The sleeve had been torn, revealing her arm vaguely, and she seemed to catch sight of a black totem. However, before she could see it clearly, that patch of skin was covered by the sleeve once again.

"W-we originally wanted to go hunt the Mushroom Beast, but that Mushroom Beast was too terrifying. It caught all of them and hoarded them, preparing to use them as rations. I was fortunate enough to escape and wanted to return to the sect to fetch reinforcements. Thank heavens I ran into you."

Yu Yin's face wore an excited expression, indeed not looking fake, though whether the excitement was due to anything else remained to be seen.

She looked behind Su Jiu and couldn't help starting in surprise. "Only the two of you?"

Su Jiu looked as if she didn't understand. "What's wrong?"

Yu Yin hurriedly shook her head. "Nothing, let's hurry up and go save people first." The more she could lure away one by one, the better; if there were too many people and they saw through her flaws, it might become even more troublesome.

Seeing that Su Jiu didn't speak, she couldn't help becoming somewhat anxious. "Su Jiu, although we had some minor misunderstandings before, they are all our fellow disciples. I hope we can cast aside our past grievances now. As long as we can save them, afterwards, I'll let you beat or kill me as you please."

Yu Yin spoke these words with deep sincerity and affection. Anyone who didn't know her would have thought she cared so much for her fellow disciples.

Yet these people did not include Mo Yan. Frowning, Mo Yan moved to pull Su Jiu back, but she gave Mo Yan a hint, so Mo Yan said nothing more. He only pressed his lips tightly together, looking somewhat dissatisfied, and as he watched Yu Yin taking the lead ahead, a few traces of a murderous aura inevitably grew on his face.

Yu Yin was still chattering away in front, fabricating her encounter entirely unaware that her malicious intentions had long since been seen through by these two.

"Yu Yin, do you remember Qian Ling?"

Hearing this name, Yu Yin instinctively stiffened for a brief moment. Yet even this fleeting moment was well-captured by Su Jiu.

"Qian Ling is so pitiful," she sighed.

"If you caught the culprit, would you avenge her?"

Even though Yu Yin had her back to them, she could not completely hide a trace of panic. "That goes without saying."

The corners of Su Jiu's mouth hooked up slightly into a cold sneer.