After flying for some time, the two of them drew near the territory under Tianqing Sect’s influence.
Patrol disciples from the sect would occasionally stop passing cultivators and question their intentions.
Shucao’s flying light was still far too conspicuous, so the pair decided to land first to avoid any unnecessary trouble.
“Daoist friend, I’m about to land. Please get ready.”
Before descending, Shucao spoke to Yu Qing on her back.
“Get ready?”
Yu Qing was puzzled and had no idea what kind of preparation was needed.
Suddenly she realized they were getting closer and closer to the ground, yet their speed had barely decreased.
“So you can’t stop directly!”
Since Shucao was not yet skilled at flying, her previous two landings had used a “hard landing” method.
Although her body could withstand the impact, she was not sure if Yu Qing on her back could handle it, so she had given a warning.
After all, Yu Qing was also at late Qi Refining Stage and naturally had some methods.
She channeled her spiritual power, and her Daoist robe began to emit a faint spiritual glow.
A small array appeared on her clothing and expanded slightly, enveloping Shucao as well.
When the two landed, the array completely absorbed the impact for them, making the landing feel surprisingly light to Shucao.
The moment Yu Qing climbed down from Shucao’s back, the array vanished from her robe.
“Is this some kind of technique?”
Shucao asked curiously.
“This? This is a small array that my master and I developed based on a manual left by my master’s master.”
“Unlike ordinary arrays that require setting up array flags and other tools on the spot, this one can be applied directly to the body or magical tools, granting array enhancements to the affected area or tool.”
As she spoke, Yu Qing could not help but grow even prouder.
“This skill is the culmination of our sect’s array dao.
Although the power of these small arrays is weaker than the original versions, and carving the array requires much more precise control—it’s quite troublesome—the activation is faster and far more flexible and convenient to use. Moreover, for an array dao genius like myself, carving such a small array is child’s play!”
At that point she rushed right up to Shucao, eyes sparkling.
“What do you think? Doesn’t it make your heart race? Although this skill is our sect’s secret art and must never be taught to outsiders, if Fairy Shucao really wants it, I can carve an array onto your magical tool in advance.”
“You only need to pour in spiritual power to activate it. If you buy now, I’ll give you a friendly price—just forty spirit stones. Any Qi Refining level array you choose.”
Looking at Yu Qing so close, Shucao could only droop her eyelids and smile helplessly.
“It really is impressive, but there’s no need.
I truly don’t have that many spirit stones.
I’m afraid I must decline.”
Seeing Shucao refuse her once again, Yu Qing let out a long sigh.
“Ah, spirit stones are so hard to earn.”
“Daoist friend Yu, are you very short on money?”
Seeing Yu Qing’s expression, Shucao suddenly asked.
“When I met you at the gathering, you were desperately trying to sell the tools you refined, and you’re still doing it now. So I was wondering if you’re really in need of money.”
Hearing the question, Yu Qing thought for a moment before answering Shucao.
“To be honest, I really am short on money.
The reason I need so many spirit stones is that I want to refine a spirit object.”
“A spirit object? What is that?”
Yu Qing looked at Shucao in surprise.
“Daoist friend, you’re at late Qi Refining Stage and you don’t know what a spirit object is?
Don’t you have any elders?”
“Since I began cultivating, I’ve always been alone without any sect elders. I’ve never had the chance to learn about these things.”
Suddenly An Qianhua spoke inside Shucao’s Heart Realm.
“Of course I can count as your elder, though I don’t understand this world’s cultivation system.”
After hearing Shucao’s answer, Yu Qing’s gaze toward her filled with admiration.
“To reach late Qi Refining all by yourself through trial and error—I’m truly impressed.”
Then she cleared her throat lightly.
“Ahem, I got sidetracked. Daoist friend, you should know about the Foundation Establishment realm, right.”
Shucao nodded, so Yu Qing continued.
“Foundation Establishment, Foundation Establishment—building the Dao foundation.
That is its essence.”
“When Qi Refining cultivators reach a certain level, they can open up a space inside their own qi mansion to build their Dao foundation.”
“The key requirement for Foundation Establishment is to use a spirit object as the base and build the Dao foundation upon it.”
“The ‘Dao’ contained in that foundation is closely tied to the spirit object you choose. If the ‘Dao’ within the spirit object matches the ‘Dao’ you cultivate, there are many benefits.”
“A spirit object can be naturally occurring or artificially refined. The one I want to prepare is a spirit object passed down by my sect.”
At this point she could not help sighing again.
“This spirit object is related to array dao.
Not only are the refining materials expensive, but I also need to inscribe many arrays into it, and carving each one ruins quite a few materials.
So I really, really need money. But there’s no other way. This is the fruit of my sect’s efforts, and the spirit object suits me perfectly.”
“I see. Daoist friend, you really have it hard.
However, if Daoist friend Yu needs help, I can assist you as well. After all, if you can help me figure out the information on that large array this time, you’ll be doing me a huge favor.”
“Hahaha, then thank you very much, Fairy Shucao.
But if you’re willing to help me, I naturally won’t short you on compensation. I’m not the kind of person who takes things for free.”
The two shared a smile and were about to continue toward the original site of Qinglu Village when they suddenly heard a transmitted voice.
“Fellow Daoists ahead, this humble one is named Hong Wenqing, a loose cultivator from Ningzhou
City. I am currently being pursued. If you can save my life, I will repay you handsomely!”
In the distance, a young girl in a cyan shirt was rushing toward them at high speed.
Behind her, a gray-robed man was closing in, occasionally throwing out several talismans in an attempt to stop the girl ahead.
Seeing this, Shucao immediately drew her magic wand.
The gem on it flashed, and two light bullets shot toward the man.
“What?!”
Faced with the sudden attack, the man could only slow down to dodge the light bullets.
But in that instant of deceleration, Shucao had already positioned herself between Hong Wenqing and the man.
“Tch. Daoist friend, this is a private grudge between me and her. Please don’t meddle in others’ affairs!”
“Oh? And what if I insist on meddling?”
Although Shucao had no idea what was happening, she saw the man chasing a young girl with clear killing intent.
She felt she should intervene.
She took another step forward, raised her magic wand horizontally, and shielded the girl named Hong Wenqing behind her.
Yu Qing, who had caught up behind Shucao, recognized the young girl’s face and asked her.
“Wenqing, what happened?”
Seeing that it was Yu Qing, Hong Wenqing said in pleasant surprise.
“Sister Yu Qing! Listen to me. I used the last of my savings at the market in the northern Qingling Mountains to buy a treasure.”
“I was immediately targeted by this man and some others, so I tried to slip away quietly.I never expected to run into him again near the ruins of a village nearby. The moment he saw me, he attacked without a word, trying to kill me and steal the treasure.”
“I fled desperately and saw a streak of light flying from the direction of Ningzhou City, so I ran this way.”
Looking at the two people protecting Hong Wenqing—one seemingly at late Qi Refining and the other with unreadable cultivation but displaying combat ability likely above mid Qi Refining—the man cursed his bad luck inwardly and began to retreat.
But just as he turned and accelerated to flee the three of them, a deep blue array appeared beneath his feet and then expanded to envelop all three, blocking the man’s path.
“An array? When did she—?”
While the man was still shocked, Yu Qing shouted.
“Daoist friend, you tried to kill and rob, and now that you failed you want to slip away? Today I must demand an explanation from you!”
Yu Qing formed a hand seal, and several water pillars appeared around the man, whistling as they shot toward him.
Thousand Water Vortex Array.
The moment Yu Qing saw Shucao take action, she had already set up this array and quietly activated it while they were talking.
The water pillars lashed at the man like whips.
Although he dodged desperately, he could not completely avoid the attacks coming from every direction.
“Damn it!”
The man roared.
He seized an opportunity and pulled an ancient-looking longsword from his storage pouch.
He poured spiritual power into it.
The sword hummed faintly, and a sharp sword qi spread out, slicing the nearby water pillars apart.
But the water pillars did not disappear completely.
Under Yu Qing’s control they regrouped, seeming ready to become even more numerous.
Seeing this, the man curled his lip and looked at Yu Qing.
“Looks like I just need to deal with you!”
He took advantage of the moment before the water pillars fully reformed and activated the ancient longsword again.
He suspended it above him and poured even more spiritual power into it.
The sword tip pointed straight at Yu Qing.
In the next instant, the longsword seemed ready to stab toward her, surrounded by its sharp sword qi.
Yu Qing immediately wove the water pillars into a large net in front of everyone to defend against the sword.
She also diverted some water pillars to disrupt the sword’s spiritual power condensation, but those pillars clearly could not withstand the sword qi and were shattered the moment they drew near.
“Hahaha! This is a superior-grade magical tool!
How could your quick-activation array possibly shake it? Just get sliced to pieces obediently!”
While the man was gloating, Shucao spoke coldly.
“Did you forget about me?”
A pink beam of light shot from Shucao’s magic wand along with her voice.
The violent magic power forcefully broke through the sword qi surrounding the longsword and sent it flying, knocking it out of the man’s control.
“What?!”
Seeing the man’s embarrassing state, An Qianhua laughed.
“Geez, still using a weapon that needs charging?
You’re practically handing out opportunities.”
While the man was still stunned, several more water pillars shot over and pinned him firmly to the ground.
“Wait, wait! I surrender! My spiritual power is almost depleted. I can’t keep fighting. I’m willing to compensate everyone. Please spare my life, Daoist friends!”
Hearing the man beg for mercy, Shucao glanced at Yu Qing, wanting to know what she wanted to do.
Yu Qing understood and nodded, signaling Shucao to lower her magic wand.
The two of them walked together to the man pinned down by the water pillars.
“Oh my, Daoist friend, you should have said so earlier. You wouldn’t have had to suffer so much.”
Yu Qing looked at the man on the ground and smiled lightly.
Beside her, Shucao said.
“Then let’s see how sincere your compensation is.”
“My storage pouch—Daoist friends can take it.
If there’s anything you like, just take it!”
Hearing this, Yu Qing was overjoyed.
She quickly removed the storage pouch from the man and brought it before Shucao.
“Shucao, let’s look through this guy’s things together. He’s probably a loose cultivator from the northern Qingling Mountains, so he should have quite a few good items. Wenqing, you come look too. He chased you for so long—it would be a shame not to take a bite out of him.”
The three of them then emptied everything from the storage pouch and slowly sorted through their “spoils of war.”
“Spirit stones, demon beast materials, a few items that look like magical tools—he really has a lot on him.”
“Yeah, and that longsword on top of it. He’s quite wealthy. After all, the northern Qingling Mountains are full of demon beasts and not under the control of the three major factions of Qingling.”
“There are abundant resources and spiritual herbs.
It looks like he hunted quite a few demon beasts there.”
“Mm. I went there this time to find some medicinal herbs to treat my grandfather, and that’s how all this trouble started.”
“By the way, Fairy Shucao, that attack of yours earlier came at just the right time. Without you I’m not sure I could have stopped that longsword.
You basically saved my life. Once we finish sorting, you can pick first from the spoils.”
Hearing Yu Qing’s praise, Shucao’s little face flushed slightly.
“We’re companions now. Helping each other is only natural.”
Seeing Shucao like this, Yu Qing smiled and continued sorting through the items in the storage pouch.
“Huh? This is… an array disk? The array on it is one I’ve never seen before.”
Suddenly she pulled a blood-red array disk from the pile of materials and stared intently at the formation carved on it.
Shucao’s attention was drawn over as well.
Upon closer inspection, the array disk looked somewhat familiar.
It seemed similar to the shattered array disk that had fallen from Lin Han after she defeated him that day.
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