“Move aside. I need to dig a hole to bury someone.” Feng Qingran unceremoniously shoved Baili Qingxuan out of the way and began digging right where he had been standing.
None of the onlookers realized that Feng Qingran had, without them even knowing it, just saved their lives.
A cold glint flashed in Baili Qingxuan’s eyes.
He was now absolutely certain—Feng Qingran saw through everything.
Feng Qingran was not only a sword cultivator, but also a formation master!
A twenty-year-old formation master was far more valuable than a mere sword cultivator.
In battle, a formation master served as support, capable of doubling a sword cultivator’s combat power.
A single formation master could simultaneously assist multiple sword cultivators.
But a sword cultivator, no matter how powerful, was still just one sword cultivator.
The dozen or so people present exchanged bewildered glances. What was this young woman’s obsession with digging holes?
Why did she carry so many hoes with her?
While Feng Qingran dug with carefree abandon, everyone else was preoccupied with their own private thoughts.
Someone spoke up, voice laced with reluctance. “If we bury the senior’s remains here, what if someone comes to rob the grave? Wouldn’t it be better to take the remains out and choose a nicer spot for burial?”
Feng Qingran replied without looking up, “Don’t worry. They won’t be able to get in.”
“And what makes you so sure?” Baili Xuanqing narrowed his eyes and asked coldly.
“The toxic miasma at the entrance… without the antidote, even a Void God couldn’t withstand it.” Feng Qingran was focused on digging, answering almost absentmindedly.
“But once we capture the exotic beast, that poison will cease to exist.” Baili Xuanqing watched Feng Qingran, a thought flickering through his mind.
“Then you’re worrying too much. This place wasn’t formed because of the beast.” Feng Qingran responded nonchalantly.
A sharp gleam shone in Baili Xuanqing’s eyes. “Feng Qingran, what is your current cultivation level?”
“Nascent Soul… early… early stage…” Feng Qingran’s movements froze mid-swing!
Oh crap!
That sly fox, Baili Xuanqing!
How did he recognize her?
While the family heads present showed no reaction to the name, Xiao Hongyu and the two others all looked startled simultaneously.
Feng Qingran stopped digging and tightened her grip on the hoe…
She had gotten completely careless!
“You’re Feng Qingran? The one with the five-element spiritual root?!” Rong Zhuofan’s eyes widened in shock as he stared blankly at her.
“You’re only at the Nascent Soul stage? How is that possible?” Xiao Qingfeng was even more astonished. He had personally tested Feng Qingran’s strength.
There was no way a Nascent Soul cultivator could withstand the pressure of a Void God!
“Sect Leader Baili, is she really Feng Qingran?” Xiao Hongyu’s eyes held doubt as he turned to Baili Xuanqing.
Baili Xuanqing’s voice was icy. “She is the very same Feng Qingran who was eliminated at the Sect Grand Competition nine years ago. Afterward, she was taken in by Ye Wentian of Lingyun Sect…”
Rong Zhuofan finally recovered from his initial shock and asked, “Are you truly only at the Nascent Soul stage?”
“Does her cultivation level even matter? She made fools of us all! She’s practically courting death!” Xiao Qingfeng’s tone brimmed with fury.
His gaze darkened with malice. The damage to his divine sense from nine years ago still hadn’t healed…
And because of that injury, he had been stuck as a seventh-rank alchemist all this time…
Xiao Hongyu fixed his authoritative gaze on Feng Qingran. “Feng Qingran, what cultivation technique did Ye Wentian teach you?”
Nine years ago, he had wanted to investigate the peculiarities of Feng Qingran’s cultivation.
Back then, Ye Wentian had shielded her, making any action impossible. Now, without Ye Wentian’s protection, he was eager to see where she thought she could run.
The other family heads, more curious than angry, mainly wondered who this Feng Qingran was.
Feng Qingran watched Xiao Hongyu and the others warily. She knew the only reason they hadn’t struck to kill her yet was the setting.
Were it not for the intimidating presence of this deceased Great Vehicle Celestial Venerable’s remains, they would have already made their move.
Feng Qingran edged back slightly toward the cold pool.
If push came to shove, she could just jump into the water and hide inside the Void Space.
Just then—
A formidable pressure instantly enveloped Feng Qingran.
A faint crimson light flickered within her sleeve.
Feng Qingran didn’t feel the oppressive might of a Void God at all.
“Feng Qingran, do you think you can still escape?” Xiao Qingfeng’s eyes were murderous as he glared fixedly at her.
Feng Qingran had to die!
If word got out that he, a Void God, had been bested by her, his reputation would be utterly ruined.
Feng Qingran gripped the hoe with one hand, her expression unchanged. She spoke up clearly, “Use someone up and then toss them aside—I figured it would end like this. That’s why I held back a trick or two.”
Xiao Qingfeng’s face tightened. “Ha! You think a contingency left by a mere Nascent Soul could ensnare a Void God? How naive!”
He gathered a terrifying force of power in his palm, ready to strike at Feng Qingran.
A faint smile touched Feng Qingran’s lips. “Sect Leader Xiao, haven’t you noticed? The faster you circulate your spiritual energy, the more your meridians ache.”
Xiao Qingfeng’s attack halted mid-motion. That slight sting… he’d thought it was just his imagination!
He thought of the pill Feng Qingran had given him. But hadn’t she taken one herself?
“To scheme against me, you actually poisoned yourself?!” Xiao Qingfeng demanded furiously.
Feng Qingran’s almond-shaped eyes gleamed like polished glass as she glanced over everyone present. “Who told you what I took was poison?”
“You mean only we took poison? How dare you!” Xiao Qingfeng’s blood boiled with rage.
The faces of the others shifted—was there a problem with the pills they had consumed?
