Chapter 21

Xueji stood at the entrance of the classroom, took a deep breath, and firmly held the letter containing the secret that her mother had given her.

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Xueji stood at the entrance of the classroom, took a deep breath, and firmly held the letter containing the secret that her mother had given her.

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While Xueji appeared to be flying leisurely, her face was flushed and her ears were red. She was forced to do this, something she would never have done otherwise. A few days ago, she was ordered to go to Xiaodongzhou to pursue and kill a pair of Blood Shadow Sect traitors who had killed a protector and stolen a treasure. These traitors had killed the protector and stolen the Bloodstone, but then they betrayed the protector and plotted against him. They were originally on the run, but when they learned of the emergence of a treasure, they decided to act like moles. However, before dying, the protector used his last bit of true energy to send a secret message. Upon receiving the report, the leader of the Blood Shadow Sect was furious and immediately dispatched four experts to hunt down the traitors. Eventually, Xueji discovered them on Xiaodongzhou, and after forcing a confession from the female traitor, she learned that the Bloodstone was in the hands of the Demon Sect's Ximen Shuai.

Xueji immediately pursued Ximen Shuai, who led her to the Jiulang Mountains. Ximen Shuai insisted that the Bloodstone was in Lin Fan's hands. Xueji was skeptical and thoroughly searched Lin Fan, but found nothing. In her anger and frustration, she wanted to kill Ximen Shuai on the spot.

Now, Ximen Shuai had entered the Jiulang Mountains, and Xueji dared not pursue him further. Although there were not many experts in the Jiulang Mountains, they were a gathering place for the righteous path. Strictly speaking, in the Twelve Continents of the world, the evil sects had no chance of winning a direct confrontation with the righteous path and the Demon Sect. Ximen Shuai, however, was not part of an evil sect; he was at most a wanderer being hunted by the Demon Sect.

Xueji found a cave outside the Jiulang Mountains and sat in meditation. With her current weak forces, she could only wait for other experts to arrive. She was certain that Ximen Shuai had a hidden agenda for staying in the Jiulang Mountains after obtaining the Bloodstone; otherwise, he would have fled long ago.

"If I really had the Bloodstone, I would have fled. Use your pig brain to think. If I didn't flee, it means I didn't get the Bloodstone," Ximen Shuai said.

Xueji sat quietly. As the only member of the Blood Shadow Sect who had not practiced the Blood Shadow Great Technique, she was not much different from the demon path. The head of the Bamboo Sword Hall was originally from the Demon Sect but escaped after being punished for a serious crime. He was saved by the leader of the Blood Shadow Sect and joined the sect. He was extremely intelligent and disdained learning the Blood Shadow Great Technique, eventually founding the Bamboo Sword Hall, which was somewhat different from other evil sects.

Night fell, and the area was quiet. Xueji's brows furrowed as someone entered the barrier she had set up... and then left... Was it just passing by?

No good! Xueji was alarmed. Over thirty experts in a circular formation had broken through the barrier she had set up around her. How could this be? Could Ximen Shuai be using others to kill her?

The Lingxi Talisman, when placed on someone, could sense their location. The distance and cultivation level were related. The talisman was an ordinary item, an undetectable ordinary item. When Xueji was undressing, Lin Fan secretly placed it on her. Then, the Yunqing Sect's banner was raised, and various righteous path practitioners joined, along with wanderers, forming a formidable force.

"Southeast direction," Ximen Shuai's voice reached Xueji's ears.

Why should I believe you? Ximen Shuai transmitted his voice using true energy, but Xueji did not know his location and could not respond.

Ximen Shuai said, "If I lie to you, you die. If I don't lie to you, you don't die."

That's true. Xueji was not arrogant enough to think she could break through the encirclement, so she immediately flew southeast.

In the northwest direction, Lin Fan frowned, holding a talisman paper. "Strange, it suddenly disappeared."

Bai Mu, holding a copper coin, said, "It's the Reverse Heaven and Earth technique... Southeast!"

Soon, someone shouted loudly, "Evil person!" The sounds of spells and swords breaking the air came from the southeast. The night did not affect the vision of the cultivators, but the mountains blocked the view, confirming that the enemy was deliberately fighting at a low altitude to disrupt the encirclement.

Ximen Shuai, masked, used the Heaven and Earth Circle to knock away three swords.

A righteous path disciple cursed, "Ximen Shuai, you demon, helping the evil person. Don't think we can't recognize your magical treasure just because you're masked."

Ximen Shuai took a moment to explain, "I'm not Ximen Shuai, I'm Nanguo Chou."

A wanderer said, "Ximen Shuai is a despicable person."

Ximen Shuai shouted, "Ximen Shuai is a despicable person."

"..." You win. The overall strength of the righteous path disciples and wanderers was stronger than Ximen Shuai and Xueji, but in certain aspects, they were no match for Ximen Shuai.

Ximen Shuai asked anxiously, "Are you done?"

"Done," Xueji, who had been silent, replied. Then, 108 bamboo swords flew at the nearby opponents. Everyone prepared to defend and launch a second attack, but unexpectedly, all the bamboo swords exploded in the air, creating a blinding light that forced everyone to retreat. This also disrupted the reinforcements, causing chaos. When the chaos ended, everyone looked around, but there was no sign of Xueji or Ximen Shuai.

...

In a crevice on the mountain, Ximen Shuai and Xueji hid, holding their breath. Ximen Shuai was certain that within the Jiulang Mountains, no one's cultivation level was higher than theirs except for Fire Dragon True Man, who had been ambushed and severely injured and had returned to the Fire Dragon Cave.

Ximen Shuai drew an array on the sand in front of him. Xueji looked at Ximen Shuai, who explained, "They broke my Reverse Heaven and Earth technique. There's a disciple in the Yunqing Sect whom I always thought was a waste, but he's actually a master of the mystical arts."

Xueji said nothing, took out a nearly transparent silk scarf, and spread it over both of them. Ximen Shuai was delighted, "Ruyi Scarf." The Ruyi Scarf could completely conceal their presence, a magical treasure created by the Night Traveling Palace of the Demon Sect's Upper Nine Palaces.

"Hmph, you know your stuff," Xueji said. This was taught to her by the head of the Bamboo Sword Hall.

"Hey, Xueji, I risked my reputation to save you, and this is the attitude you give me?" Ximen Shuai was very dissatisfied.

"You lied to me, saying the Bloodstone was on Lin Fan."

Ximen Shuai countered, "Wasn't it?"

"It wasn't."

Ximen Shuai gasped, "Wow, this kid has some tricks up his sleeve."

Xueji asked, "Why did you save me?"

Ximen Shuai said, "I heard the Bamboo Sword Hall of the Blood Shadow Sect has a rule: repay kindness."

"I knew you had ulterior motives. Fine, what do you need me to do?" Xueji asked.

Ximen Shuai said, "I want the Bloodstone."

"The Bloodstone is in your hands, isn't it?"

"I didn't lie to you, but... I have a headache with Lin Fan. The four disciples of the Yunqing Sect each have their unique cultivation, and I suspect there are higher-level experts from their sect secretly protecting them. So I need your help."

Xueji turned to look at Ximen Shuai for a while. "The Bloodstone is definitely not on Lin Fan."

"I know, he hid it."

"Hmph..."

Ximen Shuai shook his head. "Xueji, don't blame me for not warning you. This Lin Fan is not an ordinary righteous path disciple."

"..."

Seeing that Xueji still didn't believe him, Ximen Shuai frowned for a moment. "Feel your body, see if there's anything extra."

"What?"

"I don't know, but the righteous path found you, so there must be something."

Xueji, half-believing, started to feel her body and then found a talisman in her clothes, near her waist. Xueji was incredulous, "Lingxi Talisman? When did it get on me?"

"Hmph, evil sect... being sold out and still counting the money for them." Ximen Shuai shook his head in frustration, then had a sudden idea. "This Lin Fan thinks he's smart. I have a plan to capture him. Xueji, remember, I saved your life."

"Hmph!" Xueji said, "Fine, if you can take the Bloodstone, I won't chase you. How do you plan to capture Lin Fan?" She was half-convinced, but the thought of Lin Fan's expression, spells, and appearance made it hard for her to fully trust Ximen Shuai.

PS: Please give me a recommendation.