After making up their minds, the group no longer cared about who would win the Secret Key. They converged their auras and quietly slipped out of the private room.
Despite being careful the whole way, they still ran into two attendants just as they were about to leave the auction house.
One of them had a flicker in his eyes. The group’s hearts jumped—they knew trouble was coming—but they still calmly walked out of the auction house.
That attendant had probably been bribed. Before the pursuers behind them could react, they had to get out of the city quickly. Otherwise, they’d be trapped like turtles in a jar.
The group moved fast, heading straight for the city gate.
Even so, Bai Xiaoxiao and Bai Zhizhi both sensed someone following behind them. As spirit beasts, they had naturally high sensitivity, so they noticed the anomaly behind them immediately.
The two exchanged a glance and transmitted the news of being followed to Ming Jingqiu and the others.
No one was surprised, though they hadn’t expected to be targeted even moving this fast. Especially since the final item hadn’t even been auctioned off yet.
It seemed the allure of the Mirage Serpent Inner Core was still considerable.
Moving together made them a big target, but considering various factors, splitting up wasn’t a good idea either.
Ming Jingqiu sensed carefully and was surprised to find that the number of followers wasn’t that many. It was just that they weren’t in a good position to get entangled, so they hadn’t made a move.
After a moment’s thought, she came to a decision and transmitted to everyone.
“Once we’re out of the city, Junior Sister Ye, immediately bring out the flying boat. We must leave Fengdu City’s territory first. There aren’t many of them, but we shouldn’t get entangled.
Junior Sister Ye, head east with the flying boat. We’ll go straight to Qingzhou City. There’s a teleportation formation in the city, which will make it easier for everyone to leave.”
Their group had actually only met by chance, and their destinations were all different.
Ming Jingqiu thought it over and decided that using the teleportation formation in Qingzhou City was the best option.
After all, Qingzhou City was larger, and the teleportation formation could reach more places, making it safer.
No one objected.
Bai Xiaoxiao’s scalp went numb. This was her first time experiencing something like this, and she found it extremely thrilling. But there was no denying that the thrill was also a little exciting.
The group quickened their pace. The moment they left the city, Ye Xingtong immediately pulled out the flying boat. The prepared group hurriedly jumped aboard, and the flying boat, running at full power, shot into the clouds with a whoosh.
It all happened so suddenly that the cultivators who’d been trailing far behind, waiting for an opportunity, were all stunned. Then they immediately gave chase on their swords.
After all, that group was carrying the Mirage Serpent Inner Core. They absolutely couldn’t let them leave just like that.
Originally, when the Mirage Serpent Inner Core was auctioned off, they’d already formulated a plan to seize the treasure.
Who knew an even bigger surprise would be revealed afterward? Floating City’s appeal was extraordinary, so even the Mirage Serpent Inner Core seemed less impressive by comparison.
After all, it was only a Mirage Serpent Inner Core, not a Mirage Serpent Heart.
If the Mirage Serpent Heart had been up for auction, they’d have chosen the Mirage Serpent Heart without hesitation.
But an inner core couldn’t eliminate inner demons.
So many people hesitated, and in the end, half of them abandoned the idea, choosing instead to rob the person who got the Secret Key.
Even though half backed out, the other half still chose the Mirage Serpent Inner Core. After all, the Secret Key was far away, but the Mirage Serpent Inner Core was right in front of them. Whether they kept it for themselves or sold it off, it was a good deal either way.
But while they were hesitating, the group that had obtained the inner core actually gave up on the Secret Key and quietly slipped away from the auction house.
None of the cultivators plotting robbery had expected such young-looking cultivators to be this cautious.
But they naturally couldn’t just give up, so they followed without a second word.
And then they were surprised again.
That group of cultivators could casually pull out a flying boat. Not only that, but the flying boat’s performance was excellent. They couldn’t catch up even flying on their swords!
“Damn, what’s going on?!”
“Boss, we can’t catch up. Their flying boat is too fast.”
“Being able to casually take out such a good flying boat—those cultivators are clearly not simple.”
“Actually, anyone who could pull out that much money to bid on the inner core was never simple to begin with…”
They were clearly either noble or rich—or possibly both.
These disciples of great sects and noble clans were the most troublesome. They had a bunch of life-saving artifacts, and if they really got hurt, who knows, the elders of their families might come knocking.
Just as that cultivator thought this, he felt an intense gaze on him and immediately shrank his neck.
“So, are we still chasing?”
The cultivator in purple robes said furiously, “Chase what? Can’t you see we can’t catch up?!”
He’d planned to make a profit from robbery.
Ridiculous. They couldn’t even catch up.
The cultivators instantly wilted, bitterly giving up.
“Let’s go back. If we’re fast enough, we might still catch some excitement.”
The purple-robed cultivator narrowed his eyes, immediately forming a new idea. Besides the Mirage Serpent Inner Core, there was an even fatter sheep in Fengdu City.
Since they couldn’t rob the inner core, they might as well gamble on the Secret Key.
Whether it was real or fake, someone else had paid for it. If they could snatch it, that was their skill.
The Cultivation World had always been survival of the fittest. If you didn’t have the skill and got robbed, you deserved it.
So the cultivators who saw they couldn’t catch up immediately turned back, hoping to pick up an easy bargain.
Bai Xiaoxiao and Bai Zhizhi both felt most of the pursuers behind them drop off and couldn’t help but sigh in relief.
“Only a few left now.”
Bai Zhizhi’s expression relaxed slightly.
“We can’t let our guard down even with just a few. Let’s leave Fengdu City’s territory first.”
Fang Nianci reminded.
Bai Zhizhi shot her a look. “I never said I was going to fight.”
Fang Nianci paused and chose to keep quiet.
Seeing this, Jing Ying simply pulled out a handful of speed talismans.
“Why bother fighting? Here, here. I happen to have a handful of speed talismans. Let’s just speed up the flying boat.”
Ye Xingtong’s expression froze. Before she could stop her, she saw Jing Ying use her wicked hands to stick the talismans onto the flying boat.
Though she was a slacker student, the Young Pavilion Master’s talent in talismans was considerable.
So the talismans she drew had excellent effects. If she performed beyond her usual level, she could get even better results.
Like this handful, for instance—clearly the result of overperforming.
The moment the speed talismans were stuck onto the flying boat, before the group could even react, they felt a powerful force pressing them back into their seats. The flying boat, without warning, shot out like an arrow from a bow.
Bai Xiaoxiao’s face went pale. The sudden acceleration startled her so much that her vision went black for a moment.
It wasn’t until the talismans’ effect nearly wore off and the flying boat slowed down that Bai Xiaoxiao finally felt like she was alive again.
Of course, she wasn’t the only one frightened. Rong Yuzhuo’s expression wasn’t too good either, her face dazed.
Besides them, Ye Xingtong and the instigator Jing Ying herself both had greenish faces.
Only Ming Jingqiu and Fang Nianci looked calm.
But there was one exception—the extremely excited Bai Zhizhi.
That girl actually loved this kind of thrilling speed. The flying boat’s acceleration was accompanied entirely by her cheers.
Bai Xiaoxiao couldn’t understand it. It took her a long while to gradually recover.
She took a deep breath and said weakly, “Young Pavilion Master, next time there’s a similar situation, could you give us a heads-up first?”
Jing Ying made a face like she was about to throw up. She waved her hand weakly in response.
“Ugh… sorry… let’s just not have a next time.”
She’d thought the acceleration wouldn’t be that fast. Who knew the newly drawn talismans would have such good effects.
“Ahh—it’s all because I’m too talented.”
She shook her head with a troubled sigh.
Ye Xingtong immediately snorted. “Yes, yes, you’re so talented. Then, pray tell, oh talented Young Pavilion Master, what were your quiz scores?”
Jing Ying lunged forward and covered her mouth. “You shut up.”
The two instantly started brawling again.
On the other side, Bai Zhizhi seemed to think things weren’t chaotic enough. Her face filled with excitement as she squeezed over, trying to get Jing Ying to do it again.
Ming Jingqiu and Fang Nianci continued calmly meditating.
Rong Yuzhuo wobbled as she lay against the edge of the flying boat, struggling to suppress the urge to vomit, occasionally letting out a “hurgh.”
The noise around her was deafening. Bai Xiaoxiao silently pressed her temple, her head throbbing from the chaos.
Amid the racket, the flying boat arrived near the Light-Bathed Cliff.
Rong Yuzhuo immediately said she would leave here. There were quite a few spirit plants near Light-Bathed Cliff, and she wanted to gather some more.
So Bai Xiaoxiao exchanged spiritual breath marks with her, thinking they could contact each other later.
Then it was Jing Ying. Seeing that they were safe, she thought it over and decided not to go to Qingzhou City with them.
“I finally got out for a while, and I really don’t want to go back just like that. I won’t be going to Qingzhou City. Fellow Daoists, until we meet again!”
She said her goodbyes with a smile and turned into a beam of spiritual light, vanishing into the distance.
It was clear the Young Pavilion Master really hated exams.
With that, only Fang Nianci, Bai Zhizhi, and their trio remained on the flying boat. They could still travel together for a while.
On the way to Qingzhou City, Bai Zhizhi didn’t give up on trying to get her to return to the clan. Bai Xiaoxiao ignored every attempt, until the other girl was so angry her hair stood on end.
[Xiaoxiao, don’t be so stubborn. The Snake Molting Stage is really dangerous. No matter what, you shouldn’t gamble with your safety. If something really happens to you, the clan will all be worried.]
Bai Xiaoxiao knew. She just couldn’t let go.
She hesitated for a moment, then finally asked the question she’d buried in her heart.
[Bai Zhizhi, that clansman of yours who fell in love with a human—did she die?]
Bai Zhizhi looked at her like she was an idiot.
[Of course. What kind of stupid question is that? The Mirage Serpent race is merely favored by the Heavenly Dao. They aren’t immortal.
But there is a difference. A Mirage Serpent who loses her heart doesn’t die immediately. She only has ninety days of life left. During that process, she can feel her vitality rapidly fading, until she withers and dies.]
Bai Xiaoxiao was stunned. She said softly, [Then… what about her lover?]
Bai Zhizhi’s eyes turned cold. [Hah! Lover? He was scum! He deceived that Senior into helping him survive the Lightning Tribulation. But not only was he ungrateful, he even captured the Senior and used her blood to find the Mirage Serpents’ habitat.
Half of the disaster was because of that scum.
Normally, that Senior should have had ninety days left. But in her final days, she was betrayed. After realizing she’d caused a catastrophe…
The Senior cursed that scum.
A Mirage Serpent favored by the Heavenly Dao—a curse she cast after forsaking the chance of reincarnation is completely unbreakable. Not only did that man have to endure the torment of the curse daily, he also had to endure the pain of his inner demons reviving.
That was their ending. Even calling it mutual destruction was letting that scum off easy.
With such a precedent, Xiaoxiao, you really shouldn’t have any more dealings with humans. You should come back with me.]
Bai Xiaoxiao never imagined the final result would be like this.
She’d thought that since the clan had given so much, the outcome couldn’t be too bad. Who knew she was just being too naive.
Bai Xiaoxiao felt a wave of melancholy in her heart.
She was silent for a long while before slowly saying, [Zhizhi, do you know when the molting will come?]
Bai Zhizhi felt she was trying to change the subject, but seeing her lost expression, she curled her lip and still said, [You’ll feel it yourself when the molting stage is about to come. If you insist on not returning, you must find an absolutely safe place to get through it.
If the process is interrupted, you’ll have to go through it three times before you succeed, and it’ll take a great toll on your body.]
Bai Xiaoxiao nodded hastily, indicating she understood.
Seeing her like this, Bai Zhizhi was irritated and couldn’t be bothered to say more.
Bai Xiaoxiao scratched her cheek and let out a soft sigh.
She slowly turned her gaze to the distance, and couldn’t help wondering what would happen between her and Shen Zhiyue in the end.
But just as she started thinking, she was interrupted by a loud crash.
The flying boat trembled violently.
Someone had attacked them?!
