Chapter 106: Yes, I Like This Girl
Within a few days, all the disciples of the Ghost Demon Gang withdrew from Ghost Demon Pass, leaving behind a desolate territory for the Tianhai Gang and the Medicine Gang to fight over.
However, the Youxiang Restaurant seemed unaffected, still operating as usual.
Only a zither-playing woman was missing, and few people noticed her absence.
This wasn’t just happening in Ghost Demon Pass. Almost all the forces cultivated by the Temple of the Nether Spirit in the borderlands withdrew during this period.
Such strange behavior made the Immortal Domain sects suspicious, worried that the Demon Abyss was up to something.
But after investigating, the territories they left behind were clean, without any traps or hidden forces.
At this tense moment, a strange wanted notice spread throughout the nine provinces and four domains, further diverting the attention of the Immortal Domain sects.
“A prodigy of the Peerless Summit Sect is wanted by the Temple of the Nether Spirit!”
“A huge bounty!”
“The Temple promises to protect those who complete the bounty!”
“Anyone, whether from the Immortal Domain or the Demon Abyss, can take on this bounty!”
“…”
The release of the wanted notice caused a commotion throughout the Immortal Domain and the Demon Abyss.
Everyone wanted to know who could make the higher-ups of the Temple of the Nether Spirit personally issue a wanted notice.
Soon, Luo Xue’s background was thoroughly investigated, even the fact that her adoptive mother was Wine Immortal Luo Huaxin was somehow leaked.
This also exposed Luo Huaxin, who had been in seclusion for a long time, and many cultivators then realized that the renowned Wine Immortal had become the Peak Master of Falling Flower Peak in the Peerless Summit Sect.
However, those who tried to find Luo Xue through Luo Huaxin were disappointed. After all, Luo Huaxin was known for her unpredictable appearances and disappearances. It was easier to find her daughter, Luo Xue, directly.
Furthermore, Luo Xue’s whereabouts in Ghost Demon Pass were also discovered. After all, she had appeared as a disciple of the Peerless Summit Sect, and there were also Sima Ye and Shangguan Lengyan as witnesses.
Countless cultivators who had left Ghost Demon Pass were filled with regret and returned, searching every corner of Ghost Demon Pass, trying to find any trace of Luo Xue.
Unfortunately, they found nothing.
The few existing clues had been deliberately erased.
Including the Sha sisters, no one noticed their existence.
The wanted notice caused a great stir throughout the nine provinces and four domains. Even Bai Zhanying, who had been staying on Falling Flower Peak, heard the news.
But she couldn’t understand how Little Junior Sister had managed to offend the higher-ups of the Temple of the Nether Spirit in such a short time…
If it was because of the humiliation during the competition, Li Guijiao’s performance was even more outstanding, no less than Luo Xue’s.
Why wasn’t she wanted…
What made Bai Zhanying feel even more helpless was that the higher-ups of the Peerless Summit Sect remained silent, showing no intention of intervening.
Even the Sect Master, when Bai Zhanying proposed sending the Falling Flower Peak Death Guards to retrieve Luo Xue, silently shook his head, rejecting her proposal.
Bai Zhanying wanted to go to the Demon Abyss and protect Little Junior Sister, but she was too busy with sect affairs.
Furthermore, Bai Zhanying also knew that countless eyes were watching her now, hoping to find Luo Xue through her.
She couldn’t act rashly, or it would only harm Luo Xue.
At this time, no one could be trusted.
…Not even the disciples of the Peerless Summit Sect.
Indeed, a great reward would always attract brave warriors. Even among the Peerless Summit Sect disciples, many coveted the astonishing bounty on Luo Xue’s head.
Everyone related to Luo Xue was being watched, even Ye Ningshuang, the prodigy of Falling Flower Peak.
But… there was one exception.
—Li Guijiao.
Besides themselves, only one person knew about the friendship between Li Guijiao and Luo Xue.
Hei Pao, the Peak Master of Underworld Water Ravine.
At this moment, Li Guijiao hid in the shadows, standing before Hei Pao, and said through gritted teeth,
“Un-, Uncle Hei Pao, I want to go to the Demon Abyss to find Luo Xue.”
Hei Pao didn’t speak, just looked at her intently.
“Luo Xue is in danger, I… I don’t want to see my good friend in danger…”
Li Guijiao lowered her head, looking dejected.
“Are you really sure?” Hei Pao said faintly. “The Demon Abyss is full of ruthless demonic and evil cultivators. Moreover, Luo Xue has offended the most powerful force in the Demon Abyss and is being hunted by countless people.”
Hearing Hei Pao’s words, Li Guijiao seemed startled, the shadows around her flickering.
But soon, her trembling voice continued,
“I’m sure… I’m sure! I want to go to the Demon Abyss!”
Li Guijiao shouted, trembling, as if only in this way could she muster her courage.
A hint of relief flashed through Hei Pao’s eyes. This little girl had finally come to her senses. Staying holed up in her cave was a waste of her talent.
In the cultivation world, simply burying oneself in cultivation wouldn’t make one invincible. Spiritual power strength, physical attributes, divine abilities, and combat experience were all essential.
Unless one could cultivate all the way to the Soul Transformation Realm through seclusion, but how could Soul Transformation be reached through just secluded cultivation?
If Li Guijiao wanted to advance further in the future, she had to go out and experience the world.
“Luo Xue, Luo Xue, you’re truly Li Guijiao’s lucky star…”
Hei Pao sighed inwardly. She had tried everything to motivate Li Guijiao, but getting her to reveal even half of her strength was already a challenge. Only Luo Xue could make Li Guijiao go all out.
Of course, although Hei Pao was happy, she still maintained a serious and stern expression.
“In the Demon Abyss, I won’t save you.”
“Ah! Tha-, that’s… o-okay…”
Li Guijiao stammered, her voice increasingly uncertain.
Hearing this, Hei Pao knew when to stop.
A few more words, and this little girl might change her mind.
“Alright, since you insist, then let’s go.” Hei Pao said faintly. “It just so happens that you’ve also broken through to Spirit Condensation. It’s time to leave the sect for some training.”
Li Guijiao’s face lit up, but then she felt something was wrong.
Hei Pao wouldn’t give her a chance to back out and grabbed her clothes, flying up on her sword.
“Aaargh, wait, Uncle Hei Pao, I’m not ready yet…”
Li Guijiao screamed, but Hei Pao didn’t give her a chance to retreat.
As for her so-called preparations…
Hei Pao knew very well that this girl always carried supplies for emergencies.
Besides the underground cave, Li Guijiao carried almost all her valuables with her, never letting them leave her side.
Soon, Hei Pao dropped Li Guijiao off at the borderlands adjacent to the Nether Spirit forbidden area and left after Li Guijiao finished disguising herself.
At the same time, a large number of Immortal Domain cultivators, because of the wanted notice, also secretly infiltrated the Demon Abyss.
Many Demon Abyss cultivators also believed that Luo Xue had returned to the Immortal Domain and crossed the borderlands in groups.
The spies on both sides were more active than ever, not just for the bounty on Luo Xue, but also to take advantage of this chaos and gain benefits for their sects.
The nine provinces and four domains, which had been peaceful for a thousand years, were like a pond disturbed by a small stone, ripples spreading outwards.
…
Deep within the Nether Spirit forbidden area, in the Temple of the Nether Spirit.
The Temple’s residence was built on several natural blood and baleful energy nodes, with temples rising from the ground, each corresponding to a different lineage.
And the three most important temples belonged to the Holy Master, the Holy Maiden, and the Holy Son.
The position of Holy Son had been vacant for a long time, so the Holy Son’s temple was now used by the Holy Maiden to… store miscellaneous items.
Such arrogance, yet it was tacitly approved by the Holy Master, without any objections.
Blood Lord was standing at the entrance of the Holy Maiden’s temple, bowing slightly as a sign of respect.
Few people knew that the source of the recent turmoil in the nine provinces and four domains was the Holy Maiden. The wanted notice was issued in the name of the Temple of the Nether Spirit, and now it was causing headaches for the lineage masters.
Not to mention the current tense situation between the Immortal Domain and the Demon Abyss, with everyone already busy, the Holy Maiden had created this troublesome mess…
But the Holy Master hadn’t objected, meaning she approved of the Holy Maiden’s actions, so the lineage masters could only carry out this nonsensical order.
But… why did the Holy Maiden issue such a hefty bounty on an unknown person? The lineage masters were confused.
Whether it was a deep-seated grudge or a life-saving grace, they didn’t know.
Luo Xue’s background was clear. She had grown up in the Peerless Summit Sect and had no connection with the Holy Maiden at all.
The most absurd, and also the most likely, guess was that the Holy Maiden was just playing a prank…
If that were the case, it would be a disaster.
As the lineage master closest to the Holy Maiden, Blood Lord was reluctantly pushed forward to test her attitude.
However, for many days, the Holy Maiden had been in secluded cultivation within her temple, as if she had forgotten about the wanted notice.
“Could it be that she just said it casually…”
Blood Lord’s face was grim. He had been waiting for many days, but the Holy Maiden hadn’t appeared, nor had she offered any explanation.
Just as Blood Lord thought he would return empty-handed again today, several maids hurriedly opened the temple doors, a palanquin draped in light gauze emerging—this was the Holy Maiden’s mode of transportation.
“Holy Maiden!” Seeing this, Blood Lord immediately went to greet her. “This old man… greets the Holy Maiden.”
Although the status of a lineage master was theoretically not much different from that of the Holy Son or Holy Maiden, especially since the Holy Maiden hadn’t reached Nascent Soul yet, he still hoped the Holy Maiden could give him an explanation, so he could answer to the other lineage masters.
“Hmm? Lord Blood Lord?” A cold, childish voice came from the palanquin. “Why do you have the time to visit the Holy Maiden’s Temple?”
“It’s all because of the wanted notice issued by the Holy Maiden,” Blood Lord said with a wry smile. “You wouldn’t know, there have been many complaints within the Temple recently…”
Blood Lord appealed to both reason and emotion, trying to make the Holy Maiden understand the trouble this wanted notice had caused the Temple.
If she couldn’t give a reasonable explanation, it was better to downplay it, or even cancel it, retract it. Anything was better than this.
Su Yiyao patiently waited for Blood Lord to finish, then said faintly,
“Lord Blood Lord, what wanted notice are you talking about?”
“Huh?” Blood Lord was stunned. “Holy Maiden, the one you issued, for Luo Xue, a disciple of the Peerless Summit Sect…”
“Who is Luo Xue?”
“…Holy Maiden, please don’t joke.”
Blood Lord’s heart sank. Could this really just be a prank by the Holy Maiden…
“Do I look like I like to joke?” Su Yiyao replied.
“If the Holy Maiden didn’t mean it, then just retract it…”
Blood Lord sighed.
“Oh, wait, the Peerless Summit Sect, I have some impression.” The petite figure in the palanquin seemed to be thinking hard. “You mentioned the Peerless Summit Sect, I remember now.”
“…So, why?”
Blood Lord’s tone was a bit anxious.
The Holy Maiden seemed to be in a good mood today, talking more than usual.
If he missed this opportunity, he could only wait for someone to complete the bounty.
“It’s a female disciple of the Peerless Summit Sect, right?” Su Yiyao pretended to ponder for a long time. “I remember… the Holy… oh no, I like her, yes, I like this girl.”
“Uh…”
Blood Lord’s expression changed slightly.
It wasn’t because Su Yiyao said she “liked” someone, but because of the half-sentence she didn’t finish.
Holy…
The only “Holy” that Su Yiyao would mention so casually was the Holy Master of the Temple, who hadn’t left her temple in hundreds of years.
Could this be the Holy Master’s will?
“Holy Maiden, could it be that the wanted notice was issued by the Holy Master?”
Blood Lord subconsciously lowered his voice. Even as a high-ranking member of the Temple and a lineage master, whenever he mentioned the Holy Master, he couldn’t help but hold his breath.
The Holy Master didn’t inspire fear in people, but suffocation.
It went beyond fear itself.
“No,” the childish voice denied without hesitation. “It’s just because I took a fancy to this girl.”
After a pause, the usually indifferent Holy Maiden’s voice actually carried a hint of amusement.
“Don’t you think she’s very pretty? And she’s a cultivator from the Immortal Domain, how interesting.”
Only a ghost would believe that…
The more the Holy Maiden said this, the more Blood Lord felt that there must be something fishy going on, most likely related to the Holy Master.
As for whether she was pretty or not…
Not to mention that no matter how beautiful someone was, it wasn’t worth such a huge bounty. This young girl, although somewhat attractive, wasn’t even noteworthy in the Immortal Domain or the Demon Abyss.
And the Holy Maiden herself was ranked first on the Beauty List published by the Treasure Pavilion. How could she possibly take a fancy to such ordinary looks?
“Lord Blood Lord, I still have things to attend to, so I’ll take my leave now.” Su Yiyao waved her hand, and the palanquin rose again. “I won’t see you out.”
“Yes, Holy Maiden.” Blood Lord bowed slightly. “This old man will see you off.”
He watched the palanquin depart, his expression darkening.
Thinking about it, it didn’t make sense for the Holy Master to issue such a bounty on an Innate Realm cultivator.
“…Or could it be… that the Holy Maiden really likes her?”
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