Ning Shiyue shuddered all over, ignoring Baili Wenye.
Meanwhile, Qin Hanyan’s silk robes fluttered gracefully, her light sleeves drifting far with the wind, completely unaware of her surroundings.
Ning Shiyue cautiously approached and attached several talismans to Qin Hanyan’s back.
Then she swiftly mounted her sword, fled, and landed in front of Baili Wenye.
Ning Shiyue stepped forward, grabbed Baili Wenye’s ear, and said angrily, “Your shout just now nearly scared me to death!”
“Ouch, ouch, ouch! Fifth Senior Sister, please let go! I was wrong!” Baili Wenye didn’t dare resist and could only beg for mercy repeatedly.
“Hmph!” Ning Shiyue snorted coldly and released his ear.
“I arrived late because I was preparing those talismans. They can block a fatal lightning tribulation for Third Senior Sister at a critical moment. I risked my life to attach them, and you scared me! What if my hand had slipped and ruined the talismans?”
Hearing this, Baili Wenye realized how grave his mistake had been.
Feng Qingran, standing nearby, felt relieved that she hadn’t spoken recklessly earlier—otherwise, she might have been the one being scolded now.
What surprised Feng Qingran even more was that Ning Shiyue, at the Golden Core stage, could already create lightning-blocking talismans effective against Nascent Soul-level tribulations. If this were made public, major forces would surely come to Lingyun Sect to compete for her talents.
Baili Wenye wore an ingratiating smile. “Fifth Senior Sister, dear sister… When we return later, I’ll definitely give you plenty of spirit stones to make it up to you.”
“I only accept top-grade spirit stones,” Ning Shiyue said, her eyes sparkling like brilliant stars, her voice clear as silver chimes.
“Of course, it has to be top-grade,” Baili Wenye agreed immediately, his fox-like eyes gleaming with a captivating light. “Fifth Senior Sister, could you also draw a few lightning-blocking talismans for me when I undergo my tribulation?”
Ning Shiyue lifted her chin. “It depends on my mood! Besides, these talismans can’t be drawn excessively, and each person can only use three per tribulation.”
“But you just attached five?” Baili Wenye asked, puzzled.
Smack!
Ning Shiyue raised her hand and slapped the back of Baili Wenye’s head. “Stop meddling! Would I ever harm our senior sister?”
“Fifth Senior Sister, don’t be angry,” Baili Wenye said wisely, not daring to ask further.
Feng Qingran’s eyes flickered with deep thought. If only three could be used, any additional ones would surely incur backlash. There was no way Fifth Senior Sister would let Third Senior Sister bear that backlash—so she must have taken it upon herself!
Mo Jinghong’s voice transmitted via divine sense: “She exchanged her cultivation to draw two extra talismans. She won’t be able to advance for the next few years.”
Only then did Feng Qingran notice Ning Shiyue’s pale complexion and unstable aura. With rouge on her cheeks, it was easy to miss unless one looked closely.
Trading cultivation for talismans might seem like merely regressing in power, but the real damage was to one’s divine sense. While lost cultivation could be regained, damage to divine sense was extremely difficult to repair. For a talisman master, protecting one’s divine sense was paramount.
Ning Shiyue had gone to such lengths for Qin Hanyan. How could such a loyal and righteous woman become cold-hearted and cruel? What had Fifth Senior Sister experienced in the original story to turn her into that kind of person?
Feng Qingran couldn’t help but feel a pang of heartache. She walked over to Ning Shiyue and said, “Fifth Senior Sister, this fruit is for you.”
Ning Shiyue was somewhat distracted but forced a smile upon hearing Feng Qingran’s voice.
She looked down at the bright red peach-like fruit in Feng Qingran’s palm, radiating rich spiritual energy. “Little Junior Sister, you should keep this fruit for yourself. Fifth Senior Sister doesn’t need it.”
“Fifth Senior Sister, I have plenty more of these. This one is specially for you,” Feng Qingran said, her round almond-shaped eyes blinking cutely.
In her spatial realm, Yuanbao was clinging to a tree, crying hysterically. “Master, you liar! This is the only one we’ve cultivated after so long, and you picked it! How could you give it away?!”
Ning Shiyue still hesitated—the fruit clearly seemed extraordinary.
Baili Wenye stared at the top-grade Mystic Ginseng Fruit. “Little Junior Sister, I really like this fruit. If Fifth Senior Sister doesn’t want it, can I have it?”
Ning Shiyue glared at Baili Wenye, took the fruit, and took a bite. It was sweet and fragrant. After swallowing it, her exhausted spirit actually began to recover.
Ning Shiyue understood—her little junior sister must have noticed something. “Thank you, Little Junior Sister.”
“Little Junior Sister, do you have any more?” Baili Wenye leaned closer with his fox-like eyes, genuinely wanting one this time.
Before Feng Qingran could respond, Mo Jinghong reached out, grabbed Baili Wenye by the collar, and pulled him away. “Sixth Senior Brother, focus on watching the tribulation. When it’s your turn to face the Nascent Soul tribulation, you shouldn’t be caught off guard.”
Baili Wenye shrunk his neck and obediently turned his gaze toward the mountain peak.
Just then—
Boom!
The first lightning strike descended. Qin Hanyan opened her cool, clear eyes, her face fearless, her gaze radiant, her long cry carrying a frost-like aura.
After the first strike, Qin Hanyan spat out a mouthful of blood, her face slightly pale, and cracks appearing on her magical robe.
Immediately after, a second silver lightning bolt struck. Qin Hanyan’s body was streaked with blood, her face turned ashen, and she vomited several mouthfuls of fresh blood. One of the talismans on her turned to ash.
“The second lightning strike is already this powerful—how will Senior Sister withstand it?” Ning Shiyue asked, her eyes full of worry.
Baili Wenye unconsciously straightened up, considering whether to call for help. Seventh Junior Brother would soon face his own tribulation and shouldn’t help block lightning for Third Senior Sister. As for Little Junior Sister, a Foundation Establishment cultivator trying to block a Nascent Soul-level lightning tribulation would be sheer suicide.
Feng Qingran, meanwhile, was communicating with Yuanbao, asking if the Twin Spirit Bracelet could be used to block lightning.
None of the three noticed Mo Jinghong’s dark eyes gradually turning purple. A strand of purple lightning flew silently from his hand toward Qin Hanyan.
