Xiao Hongyi fell ill.
With her cultivation level, she should have been immune to illness, yet she still fell sick.
Since the day she met Lin Feng, she often felt dizzy, and at worst, she would fall into intermittent sleep.
Upon waking, her eyes would appear vacant, as if her mind were wandering far away.
This alarmed the Jiuyan Sect Master and even the twelve Supreme Elders.
The Supreme Elders took turns visiting Ninth Peak to examine Xiao Hongyi’s condition, but they found nothing unusual.
Xiao Hongyi’s grandfather also came.
At that time, Xiao Hongyi was still somewhat conscious, only saying she seemed to be dreaming something but couldn’t remember what about.
Helpless, the Supreme Elders had no choice but to consult the old Ancestor. However, even the Jiuyan old Ancestor expressed his inability to help.
For a time, the atmosphere at Ninth Peak was unprecedentedly somber.But no one was overly worried, as such conditions were not uncommon, with many cultivators temporarily losing their sanity due to the influence of inner demons.
Everyone was confident that with Xiao Hongyi’s cultivation and temperament, so she would soon return to normal.
Only Jiang Chen had a vague sense of foreboding.
He wanted to visit her but dared not.
Worried that if he really was poisonous, it would only worsen Xiao Hongyi’s condition.
Several nights later, wWhile Jiang Chen was worried and somewhat distracted, Qingning slipped out with Xiaobai.
She found Zhang Hu and then inquired about the whereabouts of Ma Wu’s remains.
Zhang Hu didn’t think much of it.
After all, Ma Wu had taken care of Qingning during his life, and Zhang Hu assumed Qingning wanted to pay her respects.
“Ma Wu’s death was quite tragic. The Sect Master personally cremated him into ashes and buried them behind Elixir Peak. When the Ancient Pill Tower heard about this, they actually requested Ma Wu’s ashes, and the Sect Master agreed! It is said that Ma Wu’s ashes will be taken to the Ancient Pill Tower in the next few days,” Zhang Hu explained.
He was also puzzled, “It’s strange, why would our sect’s elder’s ashes be handed over to the Ancient Pill Tower?”
Qingning did not respond, just smiled.
They arrived at the hills behind Elixir Peak.
It was silent all around, with weeds growing wildly, and the sight was full of withered trees.
Occasionally, black crows flew overhead, their cries eerie.
They walked a bit further.
Pointing to the unmarked grave in the deepest part, Zhang Hu said, “As an elder of Elixir Peak, even in death, Ma Wu shouldn’t have ended up so miserable. But unfortunately, his actions before his death made the people of Elixir Peak hate him so he was buried here.”
Qingning nodded, her smile suddenly fading.
Under the moonlight, the girl, who had been innocent and romantic, suddenly turned somewhat cold.
Under Zhang Hu’s watchful eye, she stepped forward slowly.
And then Zhang Hu witnessed a scene he would never forget.
Qingning did not pay her respects but instead pulled out a spirit shovel and began to dig up the grave.
She smiled, yet it seemed she did not.
With each shovel, she exerted great force as if venting something.
Xiaobai seemed to be scared as well.
But after a brief moment of hesitation, it decided to help.
Its front paws kept digging as it murmured, “Everything is for defying the heavens.”
With the combined efforts of the tiger and the girl, Ma Wu’s ashes were soon retrieved by Qingning.
Wiping the dust from her face, the girl lifted the urn of ashes high, her smile returning once again.
There was a fierce glint in her large eyes. Although she was smiling, it felt chilling to the bone.
“Elder Ma, how did you die? But it’s okay, I will still come to find you,” the girl giggled.
Xiaobai blinked and tilted its tiger head, “Qingning, what do we do next?”
“Scatter the ashes!”
Qingning said as if it were the most natural thing in the world, “Didn’t I tell you? Eldest Senior Brother is too soft-hearted, that’s why we need to take care of the aftermath.”
Such a scene and conversation was heard by Zhang Hu.
Zhang Hu was initially so scared that he collapsed on the ground, trembling all over, but then he saw Qingning suddenly look at him and smile as she walked towards him.
In an instant, he was terrified! “Help… Help me!!”
After a pitiful scream, Zhang Hu ran away, tumbling and crawling.
“Qingning, you scared him so much he peed himself,” Xiaobai said.
“How could that be? Senior Brother Zhang is a Core Formation cultivator. His body wouldn’t produce impurities,” Qingning shook her head.
“But I smell a stench of urine.”
“Xiaobai, you must be mistaken.”
“Is that so? Maybe you’re right…”
The next day, Zhang Hu fell ill.
His symptoms were different from Xiao Hongyi’s. He just stayed in the quilt while shivering.
What was the same was that the Ninth Peak Great Elder personally examined him and found nothing unusual with Zhang Hu’s body.
In the end, the Great Elder concluded.
It must have been due to fright!
But what exactly could scare a Core Formation cultivator to such an extent?
Not only was the Great Elder puzzled, but so were the other sect members.
……
Today was the day of Lin Feng’s true disciple test.
To keep himself in the best condition, he meditated cross-legged all night, undisturbed by any movement.
Seeing that it was about time, he suddenly opened his eyes.
He was about to say some bold and ambitious words when his pupils shrank!
He suddenly discovered his room was covered in a layer of black dust.
After inspecting with his vital energy, he found it was ashes!
……
Jiuyan Sect, the Second Peak.
This peak was unnamed, the dwelling place of many Supreme Elders, and where various major ceremonies of the sect were held.
“Dong—”
“Dong—”
“Dong—”
The bell at the peak rang out, three tolls signaling the true disciple test!
Hearing this, disciples from all peaks ran towards the Second Peak, aiming for the platform at the top.
In no time, the usually deserted Second Peak was bustling with people.
The disciples tacitly stood around the platform, waiting quietly.
Soon, the Peak Masters appeared.
Xiao Hongyi looked slightly weary as she sat down at the Ninth Peak’s spot.
Her appearance relieved many people. After all, today was the Ninth Peak’s true disciple test, and it would have been somewhat improper if Xiao Hongyi, both the soon-to-be disciple Master and Peak Master, had not shown up.
Jiang Chen arrived with Jiang Lianyue and other true disciples, standing behind Xiao Hongyi.
“Master…” Jiang Chen hesitated to speak.
“It’s nothing, just a mere inner demon. I can withstand it,” Xiao Hongyi said with a wave of her hand, her voice weary.
“Is it really an inner demon? What is Master’s inner demon?” Jiang Chen asked again.
Xiao Hongyi sighed repeatedly at this question.
She believed that the inner demon was caused by Jiang Chen.
After all, every time she felt dizzy and lost consciousness, it seemed she could hear Jiang Chen’s voice mixed with her own crying.
“Jiang Chen, it’s not difficult for Lin Feng to pass the test. I will go into seclusion for a while after this, and I’ll leave the Ninth Peak in your care,” Xiao Hongyi said again.
“Alright,” Jiang Chen agreed.
Xiao Hongyi was somewhat uneasy and wanted to add ‘Don’t disappoint me.’
But as the words reached her lips, she felt dizzy again.
Just then, Lin Feng arrived.
His expression was rather gloomy, and he immediately saw Qingning, who was facing him with a smile and making faces.
He guessed it was Qingning’s doing, as such madness could only be the work of Qingning, who would bury people alive!
‘Bad luck!’
Lin Feng cursed inwardly.
He had been covered in ashes all night on such an important day!
In the past few days, the three lunatics hadn’t troubled him, which had made him a bit complacent.
Lin Feng couldn’t help but lament that how could this have happened if Old Man Tianji hadn’t been in slumber?
He would have reminded him.
Alas!
The seventh day without Old Man Tianji, he really missed him…
“Senior Brother Lin, did you like the gift Qingning gave you?” Qingning waved and called out.
Hearing this, Lin Feng’s face darkened even more.
“What gift did you give him?” Xiao Hongyi asked, struggling to keep her composure.
“Qingning gave him a friend! His favorite friend!” Qingning replied.
“I see, that was thoughtful of you.”
“Hehe.”
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