They've All Run Away

The light was dim inside the Twin Insect Cave, which had been sealed shut once again.

Over a dozen snake demons, their slit pupils burning crimson and their scales standing on end from frenzy, surrounded the figure in the center so tightly that not a drop of water could pass.

The giant caterpillar bearing the bird's head slowly writhed its mucus-covered body, unmasked greed and excitement swirling in its cloudy, round eyes.

Its sharp beak opened and closed as saliva dripped down, as though it were sizing up an easy prey.

Song Yao sat on the collapsed pile of stones with one leg propped up. She unhurriedly pulled down her hood, revealing a strikingly beautiful face that still held a trace of youthfulness.

Casting aside her usual indifference, her lips curved into a mischievous smile, her voice sweet and clear. “They've all run away. It's just us now.”

The Bishui Sword rose into the air, its immense sword qi surging with boundless force.

The monsters inside the cave seemed to sense the terrifying pressure and instinctively shrank back.

Yet she only smiled, asking for their opinion with seemingly good temper. “How do you want to play?”

No one answered.

After a brief silence, she lazily flicked her wrist, and the Bishui Sword swooped down with an almost terrifying pressure.

Amidst the piercing shrieks and wails, she sighed softly. “If I ask a question, you should answer nicely. Otherwise, it makes things very difficult for me.”

...

Outside the secret realm, the members of the Nine Saints Hall were frantic.

Especially Chen He, who was so anxious he was on the verge of tears.

They had gone in together, but one was missing when they came out!

And of all people, the one missing was a pill cultivator.

A defenseless little girl—how was she supposed to survive?

Wouldn't she be completely devoured by those snake demons and that giant caterpillar?!

Ming Ran drew her sword and rushed forward in a panic. “I don't care anymore! Get out of the way, I'm going to hack my way in!”

Chen He quickly pulled her back. “Don't be reckless! We don't know exactly where Seventh Senior Sister is. If it collapses again inside, she'll really be done for!”

Cheng Yue crouched by the pile of rubble, her fingertips tracing the jagged cracks on the stone wall. Her voice was still relatively calm. “Here's what we'll do. Ming Ran, go to where the cloud screen is and ask the Ninth Elder for help. We'll move the rocks while trying to figure out a way. There's still half a day before the secret realm closes, so we should have enough time.”

As soon as she finished speaking, she bent down and was the first to lift a piece of rubble that was half a person tall. Chen He and Yu Qun immediately came to their senses and joined in.

Ming Ran nodded immediately. “Understood! I'll be back as fast as I can!”

She turned and left. Seeing this, several disciples from other small sects hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to help.

They were all cultivators, so moving rocks using spiritual energy was relatively quick.

However, they hadn't been moving them for long when the soft rustle of brocade robes drifted over.

Ye Chang'an sauntered over with a few disciples from the Taiqing Pavilion, playing with a mutton-fat jade pendant in his hand.

Sweeping his gaze over the disheveled group, his lips curled into a frivolous and harsh sneer. “Oh, isn't this the group from the Nine Saints Hall? Why is one little beauty missing? Could she have failed to make it out just now and died inside?”

Yu Qun glared at him. “Ye Chang'an, what nonsense are you talking?!”

“Ignore him.”

Chen He pulled him back, keeping his voice very low. “Now is not the time to get tangled up with him.”

As if he hadn't heard him, Ye Chang'an took a step forward, his tone suddenly turning cold and righteous. “Speaking of which, if you guys hadn't acted recklessly, the Twin Insect Cave wouldn't have collapsed. Now, the Lotus Crow-Sparrow Grass is buried inside too. Shouldn't you compensate everyone for the trouble you've caused?”

No one paid him any attention.

They only moved the rocks faster and faster.

Ye Chang'an's face darkened so much it looked like it could drip water.

He twitched his lips, his gloomy gaze shifting to the disciples from the smaller sects who were helping move the rocks. “You people certainly have the leisure to help. What, have you found all your spiritual herbs and treasures? Why don't you bring them out for this young master to take a look?”

None of them dared to provoke the Taiqing Pavilion.

Glared at by him, the disciples from various sects awkwardly stopped what they were doing, exchanging looks as they backed away.

Chen He and the others acted as if they hadn't heard the commotion around them, continuing to move the rubble with their heads down.

Once they cleared a bit more of the way in, they could try using a transmission talisman to contact Song Yao.

Ye Chang'an let out another cold sneer and looked behind him. “Junior Brother Jiang, aren't you going to help your junior brothers and sisters?”

Jiang Jin and the Wen siblings had stood there at some unknown point. Hearing this, they walked out side by side.

The three of them still looked disheveled from their fights. They had clearly already heard about what happened here, but had been busy treating their wounds.

Jiang Jin stepped forward with a frown, looking at Chen He and the others with a trace of impatience. “I told you long ago not to be reckless. If you had just listened, things wouldn't have ended up like this.”

Cheng Yue didn't even raise her head. “A dog of the Taiqing Pavilion.”

Chen He clearly had some issues with him as well.

Just earlier in the Miasma Forest, he had actually wanted Seventh Senior Sister to hand over the Golden Scale Snake Grass.

This concerned the final results of the Grand Sect Tournament and the honor of their sect. How could it be handed over so easily?

But considering that he seemed to have a mission, they had tolerated it until now.

Now that Seventh Senior Sister's life was hanging in the balance, his first reaction was actually to blame them?

Outrageous.

He said coldly, “Sixth Senior Brother, if you aren't going to help, please stay away and don't disturb us.”

Jiang Jin hadn't expected them to be so disrespectful, and his face instantly flushed.

Seeing this, Ye Chang'an leisurely took a step forward and patted Jiang Jin's shoulder, speaking in a familiar tone. “Junior Brother Jiang, look at them. They are truly ungrateful. In the entire Nine Saints Hall, only you are sensible.”

He paused, drawing out his words without hiding the malice in them at all. “I heard you've been wanting to find out some things from Wushuang and Wumian. How about this? Make them stop moving the rocks, and I'll have Wushuang and Wumian tell you everything you want to know. What do you say?”

The Wen siblings said neither yes nor no, standing calmly behind Ye Chang'an. Their eyes were slightly gloomy, clearly still remembering the Golden Scale Snake Grass that had been snatched from them.

Jiang Jin looked at Ye Chang'an's calculating smile, then at the others who were buried in moving the rocks. His knuckles tightened, a trace of struggle flashing in his eyes.

If Lin Mu had really met with an accident, moving rocks like this now would be too late anyway.

If she was lucky enough to be fine, it wouldn't be too late to wait for Ming Ran to bring back reinforcements.

Besides, he could also find out Fifth Senior Sister's whereabouts. No matter how he looked at it, it was a win.

He cleared his throat and stepped forward to block Cheng Yue's movements, his tone gentle. “Don't waste your energy. Moving these rocks now is completely useless. Even if you manage to dig through, the inside has likely collapsed completely. It's better to stop for now and wait for Junior Sister Ming to bring the sect elders to help. That's better than wasting your time here.”

Cheng Yue didn't even spare him a glance, her voice as cold as ice. “Move.”

“Cheng Yue!”

Jiang Jin was slightly angered. “I am your senior brother, and I have my own considerations. Doing this right now is completely useless other than wasting your spiritual energy!”

Chen He immediately blocked him. “Sixth Senior Brother, no matter what it is, nothing is more important than Seventh Senior Sister's life!”

Jiang Jin argued back, “I didn't say her life isn't important! I only said it won't be too late to save her once the Ninth Elder figures out a way. I have more pressing matters to attend to. Besides, she is far more important to me than you think!”