Chapter 23: No One Gets Her

“My good disciple, you have made your master wait a long time!” A familiar voice, laced with its characteristic false warmth, reached her. Huo Zhi shuddered violently. It was Qin Ceyi!

Huo Zhi was filled with regret. She and Linlang had worn disguises when they came out.

Not only had they changed into clothes from other sects and worn veiled hats, they had also activated the aura-concealing talismans they had scavenged.

They had held Teleportation Talismans in their hands, ready to activate them the instant they got out to immediately leave the vicinity of the entrance.

They never expected that the moment they emerged, all the spiritual energy in their bodies would be sealed instantly. The aura-concealing talismans failed, and even moving was a struggle.

Without spiritual energy support, Sound Transmission was impossible. Talismans couldn’t be activated, and Linlang’s Beast Rune Talisman was useless.

A large array must have been set up around them. The other cultivators who had come out at the same time were similarly trapped, finding it extremely difficult to even take a step.

Huo Zhi let go of Linlang’s hand, her forehead beaded with sweat. She couldn’t let Linlang be captured here along with her!

After Huo Zhi let go, her wrist tightened. Linlang had grabbed her wrist.

Huo Zhi gave Linlang a bitter smile. Linlang shook her head at her, her expression still remarkably calm.

“Many thanks to you all. I only need to take my disciple away, and I will immediately undo the sealing array,” Qin Ceyi said, cupping his hands toward the others present.

“Hold on, Old Qin. You’ve gone to such great lengths. I’m very curious what treasure your disciple stole. Let us have a look! We wouldn’t stoop to thievery!” an unfamiliar voice rang out.

“Indeed. Your Sky Mist Sect is a reputable orthodox sect, after all. Just what exactly did she steal? Have Fairy Yuheng bring it out now. Don’t let an innocent person be wronged!” A coquettish voice spoke from the side. Moyi Guihua was leaning on a luxurious couch, gently waving a feather fan.

“My disciple has come out perfectly fine, yet you’ve trapped her. Old Man Qin, is saying thank you all you’re going to do? You’re not even offering some compensation?” someone else said indignantly.

Huo Zhi looked around, finding some rationality amidst her nervousness and regret.

“Everyone, I, Yuheng, can swear a Blood Oath that I absolutely did not steal any Talisman Artifacts from the Sky Mist Sect. If I lie, let my cultivation be destroyed and my soul scattered! Qin Ceyi harbors ill intentions towards me. If he captures me, I will surely die…” Huo Zhi immediately spoke, her eyes mainly looking towards Moyi Guihua.

Among these people, Moyi Guihua was the only one likely to help.

Huo Zhi was also gambling that Qin Ceyi wouldn’t dare reveal her unique constitution. If he did, he probably wouldn’t be able to keep her for himself.

Right now, sealing her spiritual energy was likely also to prevent Huo Zhi from exposing it.

“Nonsense, you wretched disciple!” Qin Ceyi tried to stop Huo Zhi from speaking, but his hand was entangled by a pink ribbon Moyi Guihua flicked out.

“What are you so guilty about? Did everyone hear that? This little one even dares to swear a Blood Oath. I see there must be an injustice here. Continue speaking,” Moyi Guihua said with a smile.

“Many thanks, Elder Sister Moyi. I only ask that someone is willing to uphold justice for me. I did gain something in the Secret Realm. Whoever helps me seek justice, I will give them a portion of what I obtained in the realm.” Huo Zhi glanced at Moyi Guihua as she continued, bringing out several Storage Bags. With manual effort, she tossed one towards Moyi Guihua’s direction. It contained Spirit Stones and some talismans.

Though the items inside couldn’t be taken out yet, it was visible that the Storage Bags were all bulging and full.

Moyi Guihua’s pink ribbon reached out before anyone else’s attempts, entangling the Storage Bag and pulling it into her hand.

“Fairy Yuheng has guts. I will take this case for justice!” Moyi Guihua said with a smile after glancing at the Storage Bag.

“I can bear witness! Elder Sister is definitely not that kind of person. Elder Sister saved me and my brother several times in the Secret Realm. Father, we must uphold justice for Elder Sister!” Ji Shuling, who was also caught in the array, had overheard and learned Huo Zhi’s identity. She firmly stood by Huo Zhi’s side.

Huo Zhi looked gratefully at Ji Shuling. This girl was pure and kind. Her kindness in the Secret Realm hadn’t been wasted!

“Indeed, that is so. We traveled together for a time. We know something of Fairy Yuheng’s character,” Ji Boxu said to his father with a meaningful nod.

Huo Zhi had entered the underground palace with them. The Talisman Artifacts she obtained were no less than theirs.

“So that’s how it is. Count the Artifact Talisman Sect in. I cannot stand by and watch my beloved daughter’s benefactor be falsely accused!” The Artifact Talisman Sect Master, Ji Shuling’s father, understanding his children’s words and hints, said with a knowing smile.

“This is outrageous! Yuheng is a member of the Sky Mist Sect. I was the one who brought her back from the Barbarian Wilderness, taught her cultivation, and treated her like a daughter. Now that she has committed such a treacherous act of betraying her master and ancestors, I naturally must deal with her. Whoever interferes will be making an enemy of the Sky Mist Sect! Of course, if none of you obstruct me, having received your assistance today, after I capture my wretched disciple, I will distribute what she gained in the Secret Realm to you all, and also split the ten thousand Spirit Stones I offered as a reward equally among you!” Qin Ceyi said angrily. If Huo Zhi wanted to bribe these people with her belongings, so could he. He’d see if they were willing to risk offending him for the paltry things Huo Zhi offered. As for so-called upholding justice, it was all just a pretense!

What Qin Ceyi wanted was Huo Zhi herself. He didn’t care much about the Talisman Artifacts she carried. No matter how valuable they were, could they be more valuable than Huo Zhi herself?

Qin Ceyi’s words made Huo Zhi’s heart clench. This guy was treating her as his private property! If he captured her, wouldn’t all her things become his anyway!

She was branded with the title of his disciple, and the cultivation world still paid significant attention to the master-disciple relationship on the surface.

“If that’s the case, why not bring out her Storage Bags right now and let us take our pick!” someone shouted, clearly tempted.

Huo Zhi cursed inwardly. Not to mention the Talisman Artifacts she and Linlang had salvaged from the underground palace, they had also robbed quite a few people. If all those things were brought out and recognized by those robbed cultivators, or by the fellow sect members of cultivators who didn’t make it out and died, wouldn’t she offend another batch of people!

“Qin Ceyi, you speak nicely, but who puts a Positioning Talisman on their own disciple! Don’t tell me you did it because you knew I would steal Talisman Artifacts. Clearly, you harbored vile intentions, cultivating forbidden arts, wanting to Pluck Yin to Replenish Yang!” Huo Zhi spoke again, her expression turning pitiful, tears threatening to fall.

“Tsk, tsk, Old Man Qin. A Tattoo Talisman for positioning comes at no small cost; it also requires a Talisman Artifact to assist—a valuable set. If you didn’t have impure intentions from the start, why would you place a Positioning Talisman on your disciple? Even cutting flesh and bone only removes it temporarily; once the wound heals, it functions again. It lasts a lifetime. What I detest most is seeing beautiful women bullied. Qin Ceyi, I am definitely taking on this matter!” Moyi Guihua said leisurely.

“Stop this slander! Wicked disciple, you commit evil deeds and then try to throw mud at your master. Your heart is worthy of death! If I don’t take you back to properly instruct you, I am unworthy of being your master!” Qin Ceyi raged.

The matter of him placing the Positioning Talisman on the original Huo Zhi was extremely secret. He had knocked the original Huo Zhi unconscious to do it. He didn’t know how Huo Zhi had found out.

And this Moyi Guihua was also so knowledgeable about Positioning Talismans, even stating a temporary way to break it. She was truly detestable!

“Father, I beg you, please save Elder Sister Yuheng! Otherwise, I won’t go take the Immortal Talisman Sect’s examination!” Ji Shuling cried urgently.

While others had mostly ignored Ji Shuling before, her mention of the Immortal Talisman Sect drew everyone’s attention.

“Immortal Talisman Sect? Your daughter actually earned a qualification to take their examination!”

“Heavens, the first in decades! Your daughter is truly a prodigy!”

Several people exclaimed in surprise, looking towards the Artifact Talisman Sect with envious eyes.

“Just luck, just luck. Shuling, don’t say such childish things. Fairy Yuheng is my daughter’s savior. I cannot stand idly by. How about this: Let Fairy Yuheng swear the Blood Oath as she just proposed, and bring out all her Storage Bags. We’ll empty them and check if there are any Talisman Artifacts from the Sky Mist Sect. Wouldn’t that determine if theft occurred? If there aren’t any, proving Fairy Yuheng was wronged, the Artifact Talisman Sect is willing to give Elder Qin twenty thousand Spirit Stones to repay him for raising and teaching Fairy Yuheng, in exchange for her joining the Artifact Talisman Sect. If there are, the items will be returned to Elder Qin, and beyond the promised twenty thousand Spirit Stones, my Artifact Talisman Sect will add two Profound-Grade Talisman Artifacts as compensation, also for her to join the Artifact Talisman Sect. Then let the matter rest,” the Artifact Talisman Sect Master said, after a moment of feigned modesty that couldn’t hide his pride.

The Artifact Talisman Sect was wealthy and used Spirit Stones and Talisman Artifacts directly.

Even Qin Ceyi was tempted.

For an ordinary disciple, Qin Ceyi would have sold them off long ago, but not this time!

Qin Ceyi looked at the Artifact Talisman Sect Master. Was he truly doting on his daughter, or did he have other motives?

Taking Huo Zhi back today was proving truly troublesome!

“Old Man Ji, are you trying to compete with me? Fairy Yuheng already said she intends to join my Blissful Union Sect,” Moyi Guihua added.

“What kind of reasoning is this! Yuheng might have thrown the items away in the Secret Realm to clear her name—that’s entirely possible. I can also swear a Blood Oath that I absolutely will not harm Yuheng’s life and will uphold justice, not wrongly accusing her. Whatever Yuheng gained in the Secret Realm, I want none of it; you can all have it as compensation. Bring all her Storage Bags for you all to divide. The person, I must still take away. If you still refuse, then don’t blame me for being impolite!” Qin Ceyi roared in fury.

“Is that the anger of humiliation? Don’t be angry. I just want to uphold justice, accumulate some merit for easier cultivation!” Moyi Guihua said.

“Why must Elder Qin be angry? Your relationship with Fairy Yuheng is already like this. How could you treat her well if she went back? Fairy Yuheng saved my daughter. My Artifact Talisman Sect cannot stand idly by.” The Artifact Talisman Sect Master also showed a forceful stance.

No one was a fool. Given Qin Ceyi’s attitude, whatever value Huo Zhi held was worth tearing up etiquette to fight over.

Everyone had their own thoughts. None were purely intent on saving her. Their mutual constraints and wariness of each other gave Huo Zhi and Linlang a little time.

Huo Zhi wanted to do as she did last time, using the spiritual energy in her Qi Sea to break through the body’s seal. However, this time it was an array suppressing her. The bit of spiritual energy in Huo Zhi’s Qi Sea simply couldn’t break out.

If they kept arguing like this, in the end, everything they brought from the Secret Realm would inevitably be poured out and divided among them. Even if she and Linlang were cleared of charges, they’d be left penniless and still owe favors!

Low cultivation truly meant being bullied!

As Huo Zhi clenched her fist, desperately trying to break through, the grip on her wrist suddenly tightened. Linlang hugged her tightly. Spiritual energy seeped out from where their bodies touched, enveloping Huo Zhi as well. With a wave of dizziness, the two vanished from the spot.

While Huo Zhi was trying to break through, Linlang had been doing the same. Clearly, her Nether Soul Thread had more force. It had managed to tear open a sliver of a gap, allowing spiritual energy to be released, just enough to activate the Teleportation Talisman.

Qin Ceyi, Moyi Guihua, the Ji family of the Artifact Talisman Sect—no matter who it was, Linlang didn’t want Huo Zhi to have any connection with any of them!

Huo Zhi… belonged to her alone!

The several old Core Formation fellows were still bargaining amongst themselves when they sensed the spiritual energy fluctuation. By then, it was too late!

This Spirit-Locking Talisman Array—even a Core Formation cultivator, once trapped, couldn’t activate spiritual energy!

Sensing this, Qin Ceyi burned with fury. He no longer cared about arguing with the others. Picking up his Compass, he glanced at it and immediately activated a Teleportation Talisman to give chase.

Moyi Guihua, present, flickered her eyes, activated a Teleportation Talisman, and vanished. Seeing this, the Artifact Talisman Sect Master instructed his sect members and also chased after them. There were others who wanted to fish in troubled waters. Although they didn’t know the direction, they too left one after another, hoping to try their luck.

Qin Ceyi’s Spirit-Locking Array was removed, and the rest of the cultivators who had emerged from the Secret Realm were freed.

In the crowd, a man wearing a hooded cloak clutched the faintly glowing golden talisman inside his sleeve and furtively chased in the direction Huo Zhi and Linlang had disappeared.

On the other side, after using one Teleportation Talisman and landing, Huo Zhi and Linlang didn’t dare stop and immediately used another.

Huo Zhi held Linlang tightly. Out of the corner of her eye, she even saw… the Large Log!

Daughter, you’re bringing this even while fleeing for your lives!

Since it was already brought, Huo Zhi had no time to comment. They had scavenged four Teleportation Talismans in total. They didn’t know how many it would take to escape Qin Ceyi’s range.

After using two, Huo Zhi grabbed Linlang to stop her.

“I have a Positioning Talisman on me! This thing must be destroyed first, or Qin Ceyi will keep chasing us. Help me look. Earlier, Moyi Guihua said the Positioning Talisman is on the body as a Tattoo Talisman. Help me find where the Positioning Talisman tattoo is. Cut away that layer of skin and flesh for me!” Huo Zhi said rapidly through gritted teeth, handing Linlang a dagger.

Huo Zhi had known there was a Positioning Talisman on her body and wanted to find it, but the original story never mentioned its location, only saying that it became ineffective after Qin Ceyi died.

Huo Zhi hadn’t found it back then and didn’t fully understand the talisman’s principles. She only knew after hearing Moyi Guihua’s explanation.

As she spoke, Huo Zhi quickly stripped off her clothes, letting Linlang search.

Linlang looked at Huo Zhi’s back. Near her shoulder blade, there was indeed a complex pattern.

“Do you see it? Hurry and do it! I can endure it. Qin Ceyi will be here soon!” Huo Zhi urged.

Holding the dagger, Linlang truly couldn’t bear to cut into Huo Zhi’s smooth, jade-white back. Instead, she pressed her fingertip against Huo Zhi’s back. A Nether Soul Thread, as thin as a hair, was released from her fingertip. Under Linlang’s control, the thread entwined around the Positioning Talisman pattern. It twisted and tangled, disrupting and severing the spiritual energy composition of the pattern.

This would make Huo Zhi feel some discomfort, but it wouldn’t hurt.

“Linlang, what are you doing?” A slight itch spread across her back, like a light caress. Huo Zhi’s face flushed as she asked urgently.

“I’m using my method. Don’t move,” Linlang said.

Linlang simultaneously extended her Spiritual Sense. In just a breath’s time, she already sensed Qin Ceyi chasing towards them.

Linlang used her full Mental Power. Just as she tore open a gap in the Positioning Talisman, the overexertion of Mental Power caused a splitting headache.

“Teleportation Talisman, let’s go!” Linlang said to Huo Zhi, then collapsed onto Huo Zhi’s shoulder.

Huo Zhi didn’t know if the Positioning Talisman had been successfully damaged. She could already sense Qin Ceyi’s aura approaching and hurriedly activated the Teleportation Talisman.

Qin Ceyi teleported near Huo Zhi’s location, using the Positioning Talisman’s Compass to search for her. The moment he spotted Huo Zhi’s figure, his heart leaped with excitement and he immediately chased, opening his Inescapable Net Talisman to cast towards them. But he was just a step too late; Huo Zhi activated her Teleportation Talisman and vanished.

Qin Ceyi was furious. He looked at the Positioning Talisman Compass again, but the needle was swinging left and right, no longer pointing accurately in one direction!

“Preposterous! Preposterous!” Qin Ceyi ground his teeth in rage, roaring several times before he could only guess a direction and chase after it.

As Qin Ceyi left, another figure arrived nearby—it was Moyi Guihua. A faint smile on her face, she looked around, then activated another Teleportation Talisman and vanished.

On the other side, Huo Zhi only stopped when she had used up all the Teleportation Talismans she had on her.

She didn’t know how far they had fled. If Qin Ceyi chased them again, they would have no choice but to fight using those Talisman Artifacts they’d found.

What worried Huo Zhi most now was Linlang. She didn’t know what was wrong; she had actually fainted!

Huo Zhi supported Linlang, trying to wake her. She called her name, pinched her face, but she wouldn’t wake up.

“Linlang has fallen into a state of slumber. Her Mental Power is overexerted,” 006 said.

Huo Zhi’s heart ached terribly. Just moments ago, Linlang had broken through the spiritual energy seal to bring her away, and now she had helped her damage the Positioning Talisman. The drain on her Mental Power truly was enormous.

Huo Zhi held Linlang securely while activating an aura-concealing talisman and a Protective Barrier. They were now deep in the mountains. If the Positioning Talisman was truly disabled, they should be safe.

Huo Zhi took out Spirit Stones to recover. Suddenly, she noticed the Large Log was still there!

Linlang had passed out. No one had been carrying it!