Those with something to hide feared direct questions the most. Wen Jingshu's straightforward inquiry caught both of them off guard, making it difficult for them to answer.
Bai Han was a reborn soul, after all, and could be considered half a veteran of the cultivation world. He feigned a difficult expression for a moment before saying, “Before entering the secret realm, I bought a map from another senior brother. It clearly marked that the Supreme Spirit-Transforming Grass was here.”
Yun Xiange quickly chimed in, “Yes! I bought it from that senior brother as well. When I bought it, he even told me he was only selling it to me. How could he turn around and sell it to Junior Brother Bai too?”
Hearing their explanations, Wen Jingshu looked at them with a rather complicated expression.
Seriously? Do I look like a complete idiot to them?
However, no matter how suspicious Wen Jingshu was, she had no evidence, so she could only let the matter drop.
As for the Ten-Thousand-Year Lightning-Struck Wood Bai Han mentioned, its inherent attribute was wood, but surviving a lightning tribulation gave it the lightning attribute. Once she obtained the Ten-Thousand-Year Ziyao Spirit Bamboo, using these two as the foundation to forge her lifebound sword would be absolutely perfect.
“Senior Brother Bai, I can trade with you.”
Bai Han was overjoyed to hear Wen Jingshu's words and hastily took out the Ten-Thousand-Year Lightning-Struck Wood.
The two of them completed the trade right in front of Yun Xiange.
Seeing Wen Jingshu give it to Bai Han instead of her, her own direct senior sister, Yun Xiange felt her resentment toward Wen Jingshu grow even deeper.
She completely forgot that she had disguised herself, and Wen Jingshu did not recognize her current face at all.
Of course, even if Yun Xiange had revealed her true appearance, Wen Jingshu would not have given it to her for nothing.
Having obtained her opportunity, Wen Jingshu was in a great mood. She took the initiative to bid them farewell. “Senior Brother, Senior Sister, I will take my leave first.”
Yun Xiange cast a deep glance in the direction Wen Jingshu had left. Only then did she head toward the location of the next opportunity, guided by her knowledge of the original novel.
Seeing that Yun Xiange was heading in the same direction as him, Bai Han couldn't help but feel a bit curious about her.
Was it really just a coincidence?
Wen Jingshu appeared to have left, but she was actually trailing the two of them in secret.
No matter what, wherever these two went, there would definitely be treasures.
Putting everything else aside, treating them as human-shaped Treasure-Hunting Mice wasn't a bad idea either.
On the other hand, she had already sent Zhaocai and the three little ones to act independently. Once they found treasures, they could take whatever they could carry; if they couldn't, they would simply notify her to retrieve them.
Wen Jingshu followed them all the way. Before they even reached the next opportunity, she witnessed the two of them turning on each other.
“Junior Brother Bai, why are you following me?”
“Why do you say that, Senior Sister? I originally planned to head this way.”
“Are you sure you aren't trying to follow me to snatch my opportunities, Junior Brother Bai?”
“You must be joking, Senior Sister. All opportunities in the sect secret realm are ownerless. Who gets them depends on their own ability.”
Yun Xiange was already feeling frustrated. On top of that, although she had narrowly defeated Bai Han in the Sect Tournament, she had been severely injured by him.
With old grudges and new resentment piling up, Yun Xiange couldn't help but draw her newly acquired Sumeru Sword and say, “In that case, let this senior sister exchange a few pointers with you, Junior Brother!”
Bai Han had not expected Yun Xiange to attack him inside the sect secret realm. After dodging a few strikes, he said, “Senior Sister, we only have two months in the sect secret realm. It's really not the time for infighting!”
Yun Xiange sneered, “It's just a quick sparring session. It won't take long.”
Seeing her like this, Bai Han silently cursed her for being an idiot.
Swords and spears had no eyes. If they sparred here, any injury they sustained would affect their subsequent actions.
Besides, the sect secret realm was not entirely without danger.
The Supreme Spirit-Transforming Grass had no companion beast solely due to its unique nature. If it had been any other high-grade spiritual plant, there would be at least a Seventh-Rank demon beast guarding it!
Of course, it was impossible for a Seventh-Rank demon beast to exist in this sect secret realm. That also meant the highest-grade spiritual plant in the realm had already fallen into Wen Jingshu's hands.
Fortunately, he had prepared in advance and successfully traded the Ten-Thousand-Year Lightning-Struck Wood to get it from Wen Jingshu...
According to the experience passed down by their senior brothers and sisters, there should still be quite a few low-grade third-rank demon beasts in the secret realm, which were equivalent to human Golden Core Stage cultivators.
Since they had not yet reached the Foundation Establishment Stage, they would have no choice but to run for their lives if they encountered a low-grade third-rank demon beast.
Unfortunately, Yun Xiange was not listening at all.
Wen Jingshu was somewhat speechless as she watched the two of them suddenly start fighting.
She had no desire to waste time on such meaningless matters, so she simply headed in the direction she originally wanted to go.
She had a feeling that there would be more treasures ahead.
Wen Jingshu walked and paused along the way, eventually arriving at a deep pool.
The water in the pool was crystal clear, with no signs of any living creatures.
Wen Jingshu stared at the deep pool, considering the feasibility of diving in to search for treasures.
Well... I have plenty of treasures and a mustard seed space. This is only a secret realm for those below the Golden Core Stage, so it's completely feasible.
Just as Wen Jingshu was about to enter the water, Yun Xiange's anxious voice came from behind her: “Junior Sister, why are you here?!”
Yun Xiange had returned to her original appearance, her words carrying an unconcealed interrogation, as if Wen Jingshu had no right to be here.
Wen Jingshu feigned innocence and said, “I don't know either. I was walking in the direction you pointed out, Senior Sister, when I suddenly encountered a strong gust of wind. Once the wind stopped, I found myself here.”
In any case, strange occurrences were common in secret realms, so an ordinary person wouldn't suspect anything upon hearing this.
Yun Xiange nearly ground her back teeth to dust upon hearing Wen Jingshu's explanation.
Beneath this deep pool lay a Ten-Thousand-Year Cold Rhythm Stone. This stone was useless to Wen Jingshu, but in the original novel, after she obtained it, she traded it directly with Wang Wanting for a piece of Lightning Source Essence from the Wang family.
Lightning Source Essence was an element produced from the world's origin. While it wasn't as violent as the lightning from a tribulation, its quality was comparable to it. Wen Jingshu had used the Lightning Source Essence to temper her body, starting her journey of body cultivation from then on.
The overwhelming offensive power of a sword cultivator, coupled with the superb defense of a body cultivator...
Just thinking about it made Yun Xiange burn with jealousy.
“I don't think there's anything special about this place. Why don't we go take a look ahead?”
Yun Xiange did not want Wen Jingshu to notice anything unusual here, so she tried to guide her elsewhere.
Her mindset had always been: steal the female protagonist's opportunities if possible; if not, make sure she doesn't get them either.
Seeing her anxious look, Wen Jingshu said candidly, “Senior Sister, I feel like there's something good here. If you don't have a Water-Avoiding Bead, Senior Sister, I can just go down by myself.”
As Wen Jingshu spoke, she prepared to dive into the water. Yun Xiange instinctively blocked her. “Master has said before that one's life is the most important when facing opportunities. You shouldn't take risks, Junior Sister. Besides, this is just a sect secret realm. What kind of good things could possibly be here?”
Wen Jingshu replied, “My mind is made up. There's no need to persuade me otherwise, Senior Sister.”
Looking at the stubborn Wen Jingshu, Yun Xiange's anger flared even hotter, and a trace of killing intent unintentionally surged in her heart.
Since the female protagonist and the villainous supporting female character were destined to be at odds, why shouldn't she strike first?
Rate on N.U.
