Ghost Vines

Liu Qingqing threw her arms around Xi Siyu, her hands trembling slightly in the lingering fear of what had just happened.

Xi Siyu sighed and patted her shoulder.

He shifted his gaze to the other disciples, whose deathly pale complexions had now improved quite a bit.

The disciples quickly regulated their breathing. Once their injuries had stabilized, they scrambled up from the ground and recounted everything that had transpired, detail by detail.

Xi Siyu looked helpless and conflicted. His tone carried a hint of blame, yet it was also laced with reluctance to be too harsh, leaving him utterly torn.

“Little Junior Sister, how could you be so reckless?”

The matter with the magical beasts hadn't even been fully resolved yet, and she had slipped away on her own. What would they have done if she had run into mortal danger?

Her cultivation was low, and the other disciples weren't very strong either. Now that they had been injured because of her, he would definitely have to ask Master to discipline her properly once they returned.

This Little Junior Sister was far too playful, and her antics only brought trouble to those around her. It would be one thing if she had the strength to back it up, but she simply didn't.

Within the Jiangwu Domain, they could still protect her to some extent. But other domains were teeming with countless geniuses. If she ran into them in the future with this personality of hers, she would easily run straight into a brick wall.

The other Liuyun Sect disciples thought: It's not like this is the first time we've seen this. You always just scold her verbally, but when are you actually going to discipline her? Stop letting her torment us! We don't dare to refuse her, after all.

He put away his magical artifact. The demon beast riot here was highly unusual. He had already sent a message to the sect, and an elder would surely come to investigate. There was likely something hidden deep within the forest.

Fortunately, they had only suffered injuries this time and hadn't faced any life-threatening danger. Otherwise, he would have had a very hard time explaining things to Eldest Senior Sister.

Liu Qingqing had rarely been embarrassed like this in front of others. She pouted her lips, her face filled with displeasure.

She wanted to argue back, but upon seeing Third Senior Brother's expression, she immediately lowered her head. Even though she had decided that she absolutely had to come to this place, thinking of the spiritual orb inside her storage bag only made her more resolute in her belief.

How could anyone expect to find opportunities without facing danger? In any case, the danger wouldn't actually reach her. As for the others, they were only injured; taking some elixirs would fix them right up.

Seeing this, Xi Siyu knew she hadn't taken a single word to heart. Next time, he should just go out for training with Eldest Senior Sister. This was too exhausting.

“Third Senior Brother, what are you thinking about?”

Liu Qingqing waved her hand in front of his face, asking curiously.

“No... nothing. It's fine as long as you're safe, Little Junior Sister. Let's go. We'll talk when we get back.”

He scratched his head. He really wasn't good at lying. Forget it, he would just wait until he reported to Master.

Only after seeing the group depart did Jiang Lu emerge from the shadows.

She had originally planned to leave in a different direction, but who would have thought these people would circle back here in their escape? Fortunately, their reinforcements had arrived; otherwise, they would have all lost their lives here.

As for her saving them? What a joke.

Even the late-stage Qi Condensation cultivators among them were no match for the vines, so how could she possibly do anything?

However, looking at their attitude toward Liu Qingqing, they didn't seem as brainless as the rumors suggested. It seemed everyone knew there were issues with Liu Qingqing's personality, yet they were still willing to tolerate her acting so ostentatiously.

Others might not know, but Third Senior Brother—who was rumored to grant Liu Qingqing's every whim—didn't seem to dote on her blindly either. The helplessness and sighs at the corners of his eyes might have gone unnoticed by others, but she had seen them with absolute clarity.

Perhaps this so-called “sect favorite” dynamic wasn't quite what everyone thought it was.

Once they had completely vanished, Jiang Lu stored the severed vines into her space. These were the branches and leaves of Ghost Vines, which could be sold outside at high prices for elixir refinement.

Ghost Vines naturally carried a dark energy. Anyone scratched by them would quickly fall into a coma, losing all consciousness. However, they were the bane of other demon plants of the same attribute.

Elixirs made from them could neutralize toxins, so many cultivators would purchase them before going out for experiential learning.

However, its growth conditions were extremely harsh, making it difficult to find without a meticulous search. Its aggressive attack this time was likely triggered by the presence of the spiritual orb.

Now, she had reaped all the benefits. Those sect disciples might look down on such things, but she certainly didn't. It was practically handed to her on a silver platter.

Jiang Lu stood in place, a silly grin spreading across her face.

Reaping cheap benefits felt amazing, and getting to enjoy some drama on top of that was even better. A dark gleam flashed in her eyes as she suddenly realized what was so bizarre about Liu Qingqing.

It was her complete indifference to everything here. She didn't integrate herself into this environment at all.

Unless... she wasn't from this world either.

But then again...

Who cared?

She had a feeling that following behind them would continue to yield cheap benefits. She would wait and see; perhaps they wouldn't even cross paths again in the future.

Once not a single trace of the vines remained on the ground, Jiang Lu finally left. These vines could probably be sold for dozens of high-grade spirit stones.

She planned to keep a portion for her own use. That way, she wouldn't have to fear running into similar demon plants when she went out for training.

When she returned to her team, the captain merely glanced at her before looking away.

Usually, at times like this, the cultivators in the team would slip away to scavenge for leftovers. The leaders simply turned a blind eye, as it wasn't anything of great importance anyway.

Jiang Lu noticed that half of the team's cultivators were missing. Upon asking, she learned they had also left to search for opportunities. No wonder no one cared that she had been gone for so long; they probably assumed she had gone scavenging too.

Jiang Lu found a corner, sat cross-legged, and resumed her meditation. Once everyone returned and the resources were distributed, they could leave.

Only...

Thinking of the demon beasts that had been reduced to ashes, what resources could possibly be left to divide?

“If you have nothing else to do, you may head back on your own,” the captain walked over and addressed the crowd. “The magical beasts have all been wiped out this time. As for the resources, there certainly won't be as many as before. We will have to wait for the City Lord and the others to make a decision before we see what to do.”

Even if they went looking for opportunities, they wouldn't find much. After all, this area was only so big; if there were any real treasures, they wouldn't have a turn to get them anyway.

They might as well go back early to cultivate and plan ahead.

Jiang Lu's lips twitched. As expected.

She scrambled up expressionlessly and followed the others out.

Fortunately, she had scavenged the Ghost Vines by following the Liuyun Sect disciples; otherwise, she would have returned empty-handed.

There were plenty of cultivation techniques in the Library. She had practiced her alchemy to a decent level and was now only waiting to try refining Tier Two elixirs, though there was no rush for that.

She needed to start practicing various offensive and defensive spells, as well as sword techniques. Otherwise, she would be too passive when out in the world.

In Xijiang City, inside the Medicine King Pavilion—

“Elder Ye, what wind has blown you here?”

The branch pavilion master looked flatteringly at the person sitting in the chair.

The man had a slender build and jet-black hair tied up high with a single jade hairpin. He had a handsome face, and his robes fluttered gently with his movements.

He set down his teacup and let out a soft chuckle.

“Is there any place I cannot go?”

Hearing this, the branch pavilion master's lips twitched. Only this man would dare to make such an arrogant statement, but then again, who could argue when he actually had the ability to back it up?

“Oh, look at what you're saying. Of course, you can go wherever you please. Who could possibly stop you?”

As he spoke, he inwardly despised his own sycophancy. But since his strength was inferior, he could only swallow his pride.