Mu Qiuhan’s palm flipped as she formed an incredibly complex incantation sign.
Moments later, a palm-sized firebird appeared in her palm.
The firebird pulsed a few times in her palm before the flames suddenly surged. Riding the fiery momentum, the bird soared into the sky, flying towards a direction in the northwest.
Mu Qiuhan hadn’t deliberately hidden her actions from Shang Ningye, so Shang Ningye saw everything clearly.
She knitted her brows, staring at Mu Qiuhan. “Where did you learn this technique?” she asked. “How come I’ve never seen anyone within the sect use it?”
Perhaps sensing the person before her posed no threat at all, Mu Qiuhan couldn’t even be bothered to make up a lie.
She replied languidly, “Immortal, are you sure you know all the techniques within the sect?”
Seeing Shang Ningye’s stumped expression, Mu Qiuhan pursed her lips.
This person lacked even a shred of aggressiveness; even deceiving her was utterly boring.
If someone were to plot against such a person, it would be as easy as flipping a hand.
However, facing someone so guileless, like a baby, how could anyone possibly bring themselves to strike a malicious blow?
Shang Ningye had no idea that despite being several hundred years old, in the eyes of the person before her, she was no different from a baby.
She was currently regarding Mu Qiuhan with suspicion.
Although she had no talent in cultivation, she was at least a disciple of Perfected Dao You, the founding ancestor of the Taiqing Immortal Sect. She still possessed some discerning judgment.
The technique Mu Qiuhan had just used didn’t seem like an immortal’s method, yet it was still extremely exquisite.
This kind of large-scale technique often consumed a lot of spiritual energy. She saw that after Mu Qiuhan finished performing that spell, she looked as if she had completely lost strength, utterly weak.
Mu Qiuhan was from Dongtian Peak and knew about Snow Artemisia. It was difficult for Shang Ningye not to connect her with that person from the past.
Thinking of this, she couldn’t help but feel a trace of wariness towards Mu Qiuhan.
She had subconsciously intended to step forward to help her recover some spiritual energy, but because of this, she withdrew her hand.
Mu Qiuhan’s dantian was indeed incredibly empty at this moment.
Although she had already entered the Nascent Soul realm, condensing a Crimson Flame Bird capable of tracking people was quite difficult.
She had drained all the spiritual energy in her body for this. At present, she had almost no defensive power left.
The reasons she took such a risk were threefold. Firstly, Xuan Kong was not present, and if she wanted to contact Wu Ling, this was the best time. Secondly, because of the Torch Dragon in the cave, there were almost no other spiritual beasts nearby, making it very safe. Thirdly, based on her shallow understanding of Shang Ningye, she believed that with her personality, she wouldn’t harm her.
However, Mu Qiuhan had calculated everything but missed one crucial point.
Shang Ningye saw that Mu Qiuhan’s spiritual energy was utterly depleted at this moment. Remembering that person from the past, with her honeyed words and vicious heart, her heart grew slightly cold.
She no longer concealed her intentions. She asked sternly, “What is your relationship with that Shu Hualan?”
Shu Hualan?
Mu Qiuhan took a moment to recall that this person was Perfected Yu Yang’s short-lived eldest disciple.
She replied casually and indifferently, “Ah, her? She’s my senior sister.”
Who knew this sentence seemed to anger Shang Ningye?
A dark green vine rapidly grew from the bottom of the cliff, instantly coiling around Mu Qiuhan.
Caught off guard, Mu Qiuhan’s hands and body were tightly bound by it.
This vine could normally be burned cleanly with a single spark, but at this moment, Mu Qiuhan couldn’t even squeeze out a flicker of fire. So, she could only cry out silently in her heart.
Careless!
While surprised, she glanced out of the corner of her eye at the towering cliff.
While assessing the chances of survival if she were to fall straight down, she also exerted herself to gather all her remaining spiritual energy, protecting her dantian and heart meridians.
After struggling as if facing a formidable enemy, Shang Ningye still made no move.
Mu Qiuhan couldn’t help but knit her brows. “Immortal, what is the meaning of this?” she asked.
Shang Ningye was currently regarding her with great wariness.
Hearing this, she replied without blinking, “To ask you some questions. I tied you up first to prevent you from causing trouble.”
Mu Qiuhan saw that she didn’t seem to intend to throw her off the cliff and suddenly smiled.
She breathed a sigh of relief, but her body felt a wave of dizziness from forcibly using spiritual energy earlier.
Using the vine for support, Mu Qiuhan steadied herself and sat down cross-legged.
She hooked her lips and asked, “Immortal, what do you want to ask?”
This action, in Shang Ningye’s eyes, held a different meaning.
The person opposite her had a composed expression and an elegant sitting posture, evidently somewhat unrestrained.
Could it be that she held the medicinal ingredient for Snow Artemisia?
Thinking of this, Shang Ningye’s expression grew even colder.
With a soft shout, the vine’s grip suddenly tightened.
“Hand it over!”
Mu Qiuhan heard this with a blank expression.
“What?”
The vines around her body bound her even tighter, almost making it hard for her to breathe.
She spoke with difficulty, asking, “Immortal, what do you want? Just say it, there’s no need to resort to force.”
Seeing her bewildered expression didn’t seem faked, a hint of doubt flashed in Shang Ningye’s heart.
“Snow Artemisia,” she prompted. “I want the antidote for Snow Artemisia.”
Only at this moment did Mu Qiuhan finally understand why the person opposite had suddenly attacked.
Thus, she added another tally mark to Perfected Yu Yang’s account.
Feeling the vines around her getting tighter and tighter, Mu Qiuhan felt somewhat helpless.
“I truly don’t have the antidote,” she said. “But if Immortal needs it, I can bring some of that Snow Artemisia out. I believe with Immortal’s abilities, you will eventually be able to concoct the antidote.”
Shang Ningye let out a soft snort upon hearing this.
Mu Qiuhan then asked, “Not easy to concoct? Or is it missing a certain ingredient?”
She had been watching Shang Ningye’s expression. From the changes in her demeanor, Mu Qiuhan had already guessed a few things.
“What else is missing? I can help you figure it out.”
Shang Ningye was also feeling somewhat doubtful at this moment.
The person before her spoke sincerely and had an earnest expression, seeming… not to be in league with that Shu Hualan.
Thinking thus, the spiritual energy in her fingertips retracted slightly.
The oppressive feeling around Mu Qiuhan also lessened a little.
That Snow Artemisia was a poison specifically concocted for Shang Ningye, and its detoxification method was quite unique.
Although Shang Ningye had researched it thoroughly, she still couldn’t completely clear the residual poison from her body.
This was certainly related to the lack of that crucial medicinal herb, but that wasn’t the entire reason.
This matter was complicated to explain.
Shang Ningye was pondering how to explain, but the ground suddenly sent up a violent tremor.
Feeling the astonishing commotion beneath her feet, her thoughts were involuntarily interrupted.
In the cave beneath their feet, the battle between Xuan Kong and the Torch Dragon was likely growing more intense.
Shang Ningye’s expression was solemn.
If Xuan Kong couldn’t come out alive, then relying solely on her strength, it would likely be very difficult to bring out the Golden-Edged Chonglou, let alone retrieve the Dragon Gallbladder Flower and Golden Lingjiao.
In contrast, Mu Qiuhan wasn’t anxious at all.
Xuan Kong and the Torch Dragon’s strength were roughly equal; the longer they fought, the better it was for her.
She didn’t want Wu Ling and Xuan Kong to cross paths.
Seeing Shang Ningye deep in thought and unwilling to engage, Mu Qiuhan spoke to provoke her. “Immortal, you aren’t even willing to speak with me,” she said. “How am I supposed to help?”
Only then did Shang Ningye pull her thoughts back, but her gaze still rested on the broken cliff ahead.
“There is indeed one matter I need your help with,” she said.
Wu Ling and her group had not gone far.
When they followed the Crimson Flame Bird’s trajectory, they happened to stumble upon a scene: Mu Qiuhan, bound by vines by a sect disciple, adding spiritual fire into a cauldron.
The Lord of the Demon Realm, how could she be so humiliated!
Wu Ling stared blankly in mid-air, her eyes red. She recognized the woman as the one Mu Qiuhan had protected earlier and therefore didn’t move rashly.
However, the group behind her had not seen Shang Ningye.
Wu Ling had previously tested her subordinates. After confirming their loyalty to the former Demon Lord, she had not continued to conceal matters regarding Mu Qiuhan.
However, that previous encounter had been too rushed. Even Wu Ling herself didn’t know Mu Qiuhan’s true condition.
Now seeing the situation clearly, her eyes turned red.
The subordinates, hearing that the Demon Lord was still alive, were overjoyed.
Who knew that upon their first meeting, they would see their Lord bound by vines?
One of them, seeing this situation, seemed unable to bear it.
Without waiting for Wu Ling’s command, she immediately drew the long whip from her spatial pouch and swung a stream of demonic energy towards the woman binding their Lord.
Shang Ningye was originally concocting a medicinal pill called the Quiet Demise Pill with Mu Qiuhan.
This medicinal pill was the natural enemy of the serpent race; its scent could disrupt the temperament of serpents.
Shang Ningye hoped it could somewhat restrain the Torch Dragon below, thus helping Xuan Kong a little.
Unexpectedly, a mass of black clouds appeared overhead.
The other party didn’t conceal their aura at all. Shang Ningye could clearly sense it – the aura of demonic cultivators!
This is bad, she thought to herself.
Mu Qiuhan was currently channeling spiritual energy to add fire into the cauldron and couldn’t be distracted at all.
Out of caution, she had only released Mu Qiuhan’s hands so she could control the fire smoothly, but her body was still bound by those vines.
This state was very dangerous for her.
Shang Ningye subconsciously flew forward to block in front of Mu Qiuhan.
Yet, because of this, she coincidentally dodged that strike filled with anger.
“Stop!”
Mu Qiuhan made the last bit of fire in the cauldron burn fiercely.
Regardless of whether the medicinal pill would ultimately form, she withdrew her spiritual energy and pulled Shang Ningye behind her.
Her divine sense had already detected the arrival of Wu Ling and her group earlier.
Since they had been hovering in the air for half a day without moving, and the medicinal pill was about to form.
Mu Qiuhan had originally thought waiting a moment wouldn’t hurt. But who knew some thoughtless person would suddenly go mad and swing a whip over?
Luckily, no one was hurt.
Mu Qiuhan glared at the familiar figures in the air, originally intending to scold them, but suddenly changed her mind.
“You cunning demonesses,” she called out. “How did you chase me all the way here?”
“You can try to capture us and take us back,” she said. “But do not harm anyone!”
