"Over there, hurry!"
"The explosion just now came from this direction!"
"Someone's trying to steal the spirit herb for themselves!"
The chaotic shouts drew closer, accompanied by hurried footsteps and the whistling of talismans through the air.
Xie Zhaolin frowned, not expecting them to arrive so quickly.
Just as the crowd was about to reach the barrier, she swiftly collected the shattered pieces of the Shisha spider puppets into her storage bag, then changed into a set of Hehuan Sect disciple robes—taken from a dead Hehuan Sect disciple earlier.
Once that was done, she draped a black cloak over herself, concealed her aura behind a massive rock, and silently withdrew the barrier.
Bang!
The barrier vanished suddenly. The lead cultivators charging full speed were caught off guard, stumbling as they burst through.
Yuan Yingqi, the demon clan leader, disciples from Medicine King Valley, and a few other core figures were first to enter, while the remaining disciples outside were still struggling against the rampaging wolf beasts. Every face showed lingering anger and caution—the chaotic fight outside had left everyone with a belly full of frustration.
"What the hell was that barrier just now?" Yuan Yingqi demanded first, pointing his sword at the demon clan leader. "Was this some trick from your demons?"
The demon leader scoffed in return, "Nonsense! That was obviously your humans plotting! You started the fight outside!"
"That's a lie! It was your demons who launched the sneak attack!"
"You hypocrites twisting the truth!"
Tensions between the two sides flared immediately. The grudges formed outside now exploded fully, and if it weren't for the current circumstances, they'd probably be fighting again on the spot.
Amid the shouting, someone suddenly cried, "The spirit herb is gone!"
Everyone turned, and when they saw the deep crater left by the explosion, their faces turned grim.
"What happened?!" Yuan Yingqi was first at the edge of the pit, his voice trembling with anger.
Amid the chaos, a black-cloaked figure flashed through the forest, moving at incredible speed.
"Who's there?!" Yuan Yingqi reacted first and gave chase.
The demon leader followed closely, shouting, "Stop!"
The black-cloaked person moved with uncanny speed through the trees, almost impossible to catch. Attacks rained down like a storm, but the figure merely used spiritual power to form a defense, moving without pause and skillfully avoiding or blocking everything.
"Surround him!" Yuan Yingqi shouted sharply. His longsword erupted with dazzling light as several sword energies blocked the black-cloaked figure's path.
Other cultivators also attacked, spells and talismans weaving a net of power. The black-cloaked person finally slowed, having to split focus to defend from all sides.
In that fleeting instant, Yuan Yingqi's eyes flashed with cold light. Seizing the chance, he lunged forward, sword aimed straight at the black-cloaked figure's heart with deadly intent!
The strike came too fast and vicious. The figure instinctively formed a hand seal, and a spiritual barrier flashed into existence, carrying the unmistakable aura of Hehuan Sect cultivation!
Though it was only a brief encounter, Yuan Yingqi immediately recognized the unique spiritual energy.
"Hehuan Sect!" he shouted.
Realizing their identity might be exposed, the black-cloaked figure tore a teleportation talisman, vanishing in a blur. But in that instant before disappearing, Yuan Yingqi caught a glimpse of pink fabric at the edge of the cloak.
Meanwhile, a Medicine King Valley disciple at the pit noticed something, "There are fragments of talismans here!"
Yuan Yingqi hurried over, picking them up. His face turned ashen, "These are Yu Xiaotang's protective talisman fragments! I can't be wrong!"
The demon leader sneered, "What a ridiculous human performance! First the barrier, then the black-cloaked figure, now conveniently finding talisman fragments? Do you think we demons are fools?"
"You!" Yuan Yingqi's face darkened. "The evidence is clear, and you still want to deny it?"
"Evidence?" the demon leader laughed. "Who's to say you didn't plant it? Maybe the black-cloaked person was one of your own pretending!"
The two sides erupted into argument again, reaching no consensus.
Finally, Yuan Yingqi snapped, "If you're all sticking to your own versions, then let's settle it by skill! Whoever catches that wretched person first wins!"
He led the human cultivators off in one direction, while the demon leader led his demons in another.
Once everyone left, Xie Zhaolin slowly revealed herself. She hadn't moved, staying hidden all along. That so-called teleportation talisman had just been a clever illusion. Since Yu Xiaotang had escaped using a talisman, Xie Zhaolin faked the same effect.
In reality, she'd just activated a high-level invisibility talisman. With her divine-sense far exceeding others of her rank, her aura was completely undetectable.
Xie Zhaolin was pleased with her performance. No matter the disguise, in life-or-death situations people instinctively use the techniques they know best. Besides, who'd expect someone not from Hehuan Sect to use their cultivation methods? Having been a young sect master in her previous life, she knew Hehuan Sect techniques inside out.
With a year spent refining the Xuantian Yuqing Jing, she'd leave no flaw, and even Hua Qiluo herself wouldn't detect anything unusual, let alone other sect disciples.
Yet she didn't leave immediately, returning instead to the valley.
The wolf beasts were still rampaging. Xie Zhaolin estimated their frenzy would last about another hour. Previously, the disciples hadn't dared to leave because the leaders hadn't given the order. The beasts' frenzy was unpredictable. If they retreated too early and the wolves weakened, they'd miss a chance to share in the spoils.
The minor sect disciples had already fled long ago.
Now the situation had changed.
With the Purple Cloud Ginseng taken by "Yu Xiaotang," the major sects would prioritize chasing her, leaving only a few disciples to watch the valley until the wolf frenzy ended.
Xie Zhaolin silently returned near the valley. A thought crossed her mind, and Teng She quickly dragged the hiding Wei Qingwu over.
Earlier, Wei Qingwu had tried to escape during the herb grab, but Teng She had disciplined her thoroughly. Now, being dragged by the snake's tail, she was terrified, screaming wildly. Teng She sealed her mouth with baleful qi to prevent her from attracting attention.
Only when thrown before Xie Zhaolin did the baleful qi release.
"Don't eat me! Don't eat me!" Wei Qingwu screamed, curling up and trembling violently.
Then, a familiar, lightly mocking, icy laugh echoed overhead.
Wei Qingwu's shaking head shot up, and seeing who stood before her, she froze as if struck by thunder, her pupils shrinking.
"Xie Zhaolin?! It's you?!"