You wouldn't even feel sorry if I beat you to death!

Half an Hour later, the spectacular "Praise Assembly" concluded, and the five elite disciples, led by Wu Qingce, slowly descended from the high platform.

"Senior Brother Wu is already the Number One Person among the young disciples in the JB District. He's amazing."

"Sigh, I'm so envious. I wonder when I'll be able to cultivate the same skills as Senior Brother Wu."

"Senior Brother Wu's Aura is so strong... I don't even dare to look directly at him."

Looking at the leader, Wu Qingce, a group of Returning Heart Sect disciples chattered amongst themselves, their tones filled with envy and respect. However, besides these disciples who dreamed of becoming strong, many others, either openly or pretending to casually, looked towards the gentle Senior Apprentice Sister behind him, her black hair draped over her red windbreaker, her fair face filled with a smile.

Her smile was like a lake filled with stars, drawing people's gazes in, making it impossible to look away.

Only after the five completely disappeared from sight did all the disciples gradually withdraw their eyes.

But a name was etched in their hearts.

'Ink Speech Hall - Lin Yuyan.'

After descending Lotus Peak, the five elite disciples waved goodbye and returned to their respective halls. But Lin Yuyan stopped after only two steps, glancing around. After confirming no other disciples were nearby, she immediately turned and ran towards Blue Heart Hall.

Dodging and hiding all the way, she arrived at Jiang Beiran's Hut. After confirming no one else was around, Lin Yuyan raised her hand and knocked three times, then quickly retreated to a small hillside opposite.

A moment passed. Seeing no reaction from the wooden door, Lin Yuyan felt a pang of regret: Looks like Senior Brother went on his patrol again.

Earlier, while receiving her award on the high platform, Lin Yuyan's eyes had been solely focused on searching for Jiang Beiran in the crowd. Unfortunately, she hadn't found him by the end, which was why she had rushed here the moment it was over.

Hmm~ I'll just wait for Senior Brother to come back then.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Wu Qingce returned to his hall to pay respects to his Master, then proceeded to Blue Heart Hall and headed straight for the Back Mountain.

The great mountains of the Returning Heart Sect were reinforced with formations, perpetually shrouded in mist that coiled around the mountainsides like wisps of elegant silk.

Skillfully navigating through layers of mist, Wu Qingce stopped between two strangely shaped rock formations.

He took out a jade flute from his embrace. Just as he was about to play it, an idea popped into his mind.

I've finished studying the Positive Negative Four Symbols Formation that Senior Brother gave me, and I've successfully set up the Springbok Thousand Gates Formation. This time... why not try it myself? That way, Senior Brother can see my progress.

Having made up his mind, Wu Qingce put away the jade flute and stepped directly between the two rock formations.

Instantly, Wu Qingce felt the surrounding mist thicken, and a faint, disorienting Fragrance permeated the air.

Quickly holding his breath, Wu Qingce told himself he needed to calm down first.

Don't panic, don't panic. First, recall the incantation Senior Brother taught me: "Finger points, wrist loose; wrist raised to chest; pattern entwines, link by link; incantation guided by heart."

After reciting the command once, Wu Qingce felt much calmer.

"Let's scout the formation first."

Wu Qingce spoke, pinching the second segment of his left thumb with his index finger.

"Wood!"

Then, his hand gesture changed, and he pinched the third segment of his right ring finger.

"Metal!"

The next second, faint, different glows emanated from both of Wu Qingce's hands simultaneously.

"Lin, Zhen, Zhe, Lie! Six Jia Nine Chapters, Heavenly Circle Earthly Square, Four Seasons Five Elements, Cyan, Crimson, White, Yellow!"

After reciting the incantation, Wu Qingce opened his eyes again to find the surrounding mist had vanished, and the scenery now displayed various colors.

For example, all stones appeared yellow, all trees appeared red, and all bronze appeared black, and so on.

Quickly scanning the various objects around him, Wu Qingce had a grasp of the situation.

'Eight Palaces Great Cauldron, Four Symbols Countershock, it's the Sky Wind Silver Rain Formation. Du is life, Kan is death. Treading Gang Cloud Steps can get out.'

With this thought, Wu Qingce rejoiced and turned to walk in the southwest direction.

He continued through several small paths, seeing completely different scenery each time, and Wu Qingce grew more and more confident.

However, after A Cup of Tea, the confidence and joy that had filled Wu Qingce's face had long since faded, replaced by confusion and helplessness.

'I shouldn't have walked this long without getting out of the formation... something must have gone wrong. Could it be a double-door formation? Possible, I'll try again!'

So, Wu Qingce followed the same sequence as before, but halfway through this time, he felt dizzy and his surroundings began to become monotonous.

'Sigh, Senior Brother is indeed Senior Brother, he's too powerful.'

Feeling it was becoming difficult to even breathe, Wu Qingce decided not to be stubborn. Just as he was thinking about how to ask his Senior Brother for help, a dark figure suddenly attacked him.

"Who's there!?" Wu Qingce shouted, simultaneously throwing an Eight Section Dart from his hand.

But the dark figure didn't dodge or evade, directly taking the dart and slashing at him with a saber!

Wu Qingce hadn't expected the opponent to be suicidal, so he quickly dodged to the side. But the figure relentlessly pursued him, hacking away.

While being chased, Wu Qingce's breathing grew more rapid. He knew he couldn't fight for long, so he directly took out six Protective Fire Dragon Darts.

"Star Plucking Hand!"

Wu Qingce threw the six fire dragon darts simultaneously with a special technique. They drew six perfect red arcs in the air before hitting the dark figure at the same time.

Yet, the dark figure, struck by six darts, showed no reaction. Without even pausing, it raised its saber and swung it at Wu Qingce!

"Ah!!"

At the brink of death, Wu Qingce roared and drew the soft sword from his waist, charging forward.

"Clang!!"

The two weapons collided. Wu Qingce felt an immense force bearing down, knowing he couldn't resist it.

However, just as the great saber was about to cleave his head, he didn't feel a sharp pain, but rather... a bounce?

"Hey, wake up."

"Shi... Shixiong?" Wu Qingce, his expression almost contorted, blinked a few times. The shadowy figure was gone. Before him stood Jiang Shixiong, clad in sect robes.

"You're awake?" Jiang Beiran leaned in and asked, as if to confirm.

"Awake... awake." Just as Wu Qingce was about to nod, he felt a heavy smack on his forehead.

"Didn't I tell you to stand by the door and play the flute when you arrived? Why did you barge in?"

"I was wrong..." Rubbing his almost swollen forehead, Wu Qingce quickly lowered his head to admit his mistake.

"And even if you barged in, you should have asked for help if you knew you couldn't pass. Instead, you forced your way through again and triggered the Eight Directions Asura Formation. If I hadn't come quickly, you would have been finished, do you know that?" Jiang Beiran said, slapping Wu Qingce's head again.

Feeling a wave of dizziness, Wu Qingce quickly cried out, "Shixiong, stop hitting me, stop hitting me! If you hit me again, I'll really faint."

"I won't feel relieved even if I beat you to death!" Jiang Beiran said, taking out a jade bottle from his universe ring and handing it to Wu Qingce. "Take a quick whiff. The poison is about to spread to your internal organs."

"Ah!?" Wu Qingce exclaimed, quickly taking the jade bottle and inhaling greedily.

"Slap!"

Another crisp sound. Wu Qingce touched his thoroughly swollen forehead, looking at Jiang Beiran with aggrieved eyes, as if asking with his expression why he was hit again.

"I told you to take just one whiff, why did you take so much? Have you forgotten everything I taught you?"

PS: Was too tired yesterday... fell asleep. I'll definitely make it up today!