The charred palm print remaining on the celadon jade table bore witness to a terrifying truth.
The Samadhi True Fire dancing on Qing Feng's fingertips completely purified the lingering soul, and even the last wisp of resentment attempting to escape vanished into nothingness in the pure Yang flames.
Such a supreme Daoist secret art should have been a unique skill that only direct Disciples of the Dao Sect could glimpse after a hundred years of arduous cultivation.
Yan Yi's clenched knuckles were already white. This young man, who was considered a mediocre cultivator, had not only slain a Spirit Transformation cultivator at a young age but also mastered a supreme technique that even true inheritors of the Dao Sect could hardly achieve.
She suddenly realized that the gentle young man who spent his days poring over "Beginner's Guide to Formations" might have already built an unfathomable cultivation foundation beyond everyone's sight.
Under the blood-red moonlight, Yan Yi's fingertips unconsciously stroked the corner of her clothes, gazing at the young man who was both familiar and strange.
The Samadhi True Fire illuminated his side profile, and the frost condensed on the tip of the Autumn Water Sword was rustling down, making him completely different from the lazy figure she remembered who always dozed off beside the Dan Refining Peak.
“Are you really human?” The words had barely left her mouth when she regretted them; this question seemed particularly abrupt in the silent dense forest.
Qing Feng's fingertips trembled slightly, and the green flames flickered erratically.
He had expected that revealing his cultivation would arouse suspicion, but he hadn't anticipated that Yan Yi would appear in this hidden mountain hollow.
His gaze swept over the crooked jade hairpin in the girl's hair; it had been knocked askew when he blocked a poisonous needle for her during the earlier chaotic battle.
“You should have thought of it earlier.” He deliberately avoided her probing gaze. “You should have realized it during the Thousand Lake World incident; how could Guo Bei suddenly awaken his past life memories?”
Yan Yi's pupils suddenly constricted, and fragments of memory burst forth like sparks.
That day, she had held the unconscious Qing Feng tightly in her arms, feeling his steady heartbeat even through his clothes, but now that she thought about it… a faint blush suddenly appeared on her ear tips, and she abruptly tightened her grip on the 'Heartbreak Powder' hidden in her sleeve: “So, that unconsciousness was faked?”
“Heaven and earth bear witness.” Qing Feng suddenly leaned closer, startling Yan Yi into taking half a step back and bumping into an ancient pine tree behind her.
Amidst the fresh scent of pine resin, he raised three fingers as if to swear, “My divine sense was attached to Guo Bei at the time, and when I returned, my soul was almost falling apart. How could I have had the energy to feign anything?”
After speaking, he lowered his eyelashes, his wronged expression exactly like when he was caught secretly eating medicinal pills in the past.
Yan Yi turned away her flushed face, her fingertips digging deeply into the soft flesh of her palm. How could she forget that seven days ago, when this person was curled up in a corner of the Dan Refining Peak, sleeping soundly, his hair tips were still stained with cinnabar from testing medicine for her.
But now, this overwhelming killing intent… The mountain wind carried the scent of scorched earth, and she suddenly squatted down, carefully sprinkling the grayish-green powder from the glazed bottle onto the spot where Ma Bingyun had fallen.
“This is the special 'Traceless Powder' from Dan Refining Peak.” Her voice was muffled. When the medicinal powder touched the lingering flames of the Samadhi True Fire, a light purple smoke rose. “It can decompose spiritual energy traces. Combined with your True Fire, even the Xuan Dogs of the Law Enforcement Hall won't sniff out anything.”
Qing Feng leaned against the charred tree stump, holding his sword, watching with interest as she pulled out another jade bottle engraved with a 'Bixi' pattern from her treasure pouch.
When the unique bitter almond scent of the 'Transformation Powder' permeated the air, he finally couldn't help but chuckle: “Your methods for destroying bodies and evidence are so skilled; you must have used me to practice medicine often, haven't you?”
“Shut up.” The dagger glare Yan Yi shot him still held un-faded annoyance, but the jade hairpin in her hair swayed with her movement, scattering fragmented light.
That was a defensive magical artifact he had refined for her three years ago on her birthday, guarding the Dan Refining Peak for three days and three nights.
“Xuan Dog, go clean up the traces.” Qing Feng lightly tapped the stone table, and the copper bell on the eaves chimed in response.
The ink-jade mastiff dog squatting beside the Dan Refining Peak tilted its head, observing the two. A human-like cunning flashed in its golden eyes. It picked up the green jade talisman handed by Yan Yi and transformed into a streak of light, disappearing into the depths of the courtyard.
After the dark figure completely disappeared into the bamboo forest, the female cultivator in plain clothes lightly raised her wide sleeves, and the Nine Revolutions Gilded Furnace transformed into a mustard seed in her palm: “How does Xu Shidi intend to make the pact? Let's be clear first, if it harms my Purple Mansion divine sense…”
She paused, her crimson-painted fingertip touching her brow, “It will delay the refining of the Six Revolutions Clear Void Pill.”
“Senior Sister Yan is overthinking.” The soul fire condensed on Qing Feng's fingertips flickered, casting a faint blue glow on the "Grand Void Soul Refining Record" on the table.
Yan Yi, however, had already sat cross-legged on the cold jade cushion, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, her spiritual energy receding like a tide, and even her sea of consciousness was actively opened, its defenses lowered. In the cultivation world, this was akin to exposing one's vital point.
Qing Feng gazed at the female cultivator, who was like an ice sculpture, a look of surprise flashing in his eyes.
Even if an ordinary cultivator was forced to make a pact, their sea of consciousness would instinctively resist. Yet, at this moment, Yan Yi's spiritual platform was as clear as a mirror; he could even glimpse her natal magical artifact, the "Snow Soul Silk," leisurely circling within her sea of consciousness.
Half an incense stick later, Yan Yi's eyelashes trembled slightly, and when she opened her eyes, she met the young man's probing gaze.
Her ear tips turned slightly red, but she still maintained a cool tone: “Have you seen enough?”
“I have already planted the 'Silent Charm' in Senior Sister's spiritual platform.” Qing Feng condensed a translucent charm print on his fingertip. “If matters concerning the Mystic Realm are involved, the charm will automatically cause you to fall asleep.”
He deliberately concealed the truth; this charm would actually transform into protective spiritual energy when triggered.
Yan Yi suddenly broke into a cunning smile, no longer showing any hint of her aloofness like a cold plum in snow: “So, does that mean I can know more…”
Before she finished speaking, Qing Feng interrupted, rubbing his forehead: “Senior Sister, it's better to maintain your cold and aloof persona. Such a lively appearance might scare those old fogeys in Medicine King Valley.”
“Compared to putting on an act,” the female cultivator lightly tapped the void with her jade finger, conjuring a residual image of the Thousand Lake Mystic Realm, “I'm more curious why Xu Shidi hides his strength? During the last Sword Discussion Assembly, clearly…”
“Even being low-key attracted a Spirit Transformation assassin from Ma Bingyun's lineage.” The young man waved his hand, dispelling the illusion, and the 'Bixi' Token at his waist chimed softly. “If I revealed my true cultivation, I'm afraid it would require a Void Refinement stage expert to personally intervene.”
During their conversation, the Xuan Dog outside the window had returned, carrying a blood-stained formation flag. Qing Feng extended his divine sense into Lin Qian's residence, but frowned upon touching the restriction in her boudoir; a strange puppet string aura lingered in the room, identical to the mechanical beast that had attacked him three days ago.
“Indeed…” He picked up the almost transparent silk thread on the window lattice; under the moonlight, the unique cinnabar pattern of Hu Ji Peak faintly emerged. “Is it a borrowed knife to kill?” Before he finished speaking, the communication jade slip in his embrace suddenly burst into a bloody light, revealing a scene of Su Yun lying heavily injured.
The Sect's secret operative was actually a pawn personally placed by Zhang Gao.
Even more absurdly, this pawn's initial mission was to lure him into a trap?
The Disciples of Hu Ji Peak were indeed cunning individuals!
To use such despicable means to test Disciples!
If his Dao Heart hadn't been stable, how could an ordinary cultivator withstand such temptation?
The most infuriating thing was, if they were going to set a honey trap, they should at least choose a decent beauty. If they had arranged a cultivator with the same appearance as Senior Sister Qing Yao or Martial Uncle Yan Yi, perhaps his Dao Heart would have wavered.
They sent this kind of merchandise?
Hu Ji Peak was too disrespectful!
Qing Feng silently denounced Hu Ji Peak's improper conduct, but his thoughts returned to the current situation.
Although it was confirmed that Hu Ji Peak was behind the scenes, according to the secret operative, the instructions received were only to create conflict and then observe the internal struggle within Chen Ming Peak, with no deep connection to Ma Bingyun's faction.
