Desolate Ridge.
Windblown sand began to rise, carrying a faint scent of blood.
Cui Hao sat carelessly on a bare rock, his head lowered as he gnawed on his dry rations.
"Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey!" Cui Hao spat out the sand that had blown into his mouth when he opened it.
He looked up at Eldest Senior Sister beside him, who sat serenely, her expression calm as she kept the sand at bay with spiritual power.
Cui Hao said aggrievedly, "Eldest Senior Sister, I've followed you around all these days. Even if I haven't earned any credit, I've at least put in the hard work. Since you've already put up a spiritual power shield, couldn't you cover me too? Look at this mouthful of sand I'm eating."
As though coming back to her senses, Li Yingling glanced at Cui Hao and extended her spiritual power to cover him as well, shielding him from the blowing sand.
With a serious expression, she explained:
"After reaching the Golden Core Stage, spiritual power automatically protects your body. It's passive. I didn't actively put up a shield just now."
Cui Hao eyed her suspiciously. "Senior Sister, I'm going to reach the Golden Core Stage too, so don't lie to me. I keep feeling like you just want to see me make a fool of myself."
"You're not stupid, kid. You know your senior sister's pulling the wool over your eyes."
The one who spoke up to explain was not Li Yingling, but someone with a somewhat familiar voice.
Still, this sudden, silent arrival startled both Cui Hao and Li Yingling.
They quickly looked toward the voice.
Not far away, Bai Xuanling wore a faint smile, her teasing gaze resting on Li Yingling-Caught you bullying your junior brother, didn't I?
Li Yingling ignored Cui Hao's resentful