Chapter 64: A Sudden, Unforeseen Incident

The answer that Situ Jing gave to Ji Yao was expected, yet also surprising. This woman was the same black-clad girl encountered outside Guangqiong City seven years ago, but now her cultivation had reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment—a speed remarkable even among the great sects.

Ji Yao couldn’t discern her cultivation level, not because her own skills were insufficient, but because the woman possessed a treasure that concealed her cultivation; even those two major realms above might not see through it. In truth, Ji Yao, now at the peak of Qi Refining, had successfully opened her Sea of Consciousness—a fact she had told no one, except perhaps Situ Jing, who had taught her the cultivation method.

Normally, anyone a realm above Ji Yao would have their cultivation clearly seen by her, and she could now use spiritual tools reserved for Foundation Establishment cultivators, though her spiritual energy reserves were still lacking. She hadn’t forgotten that this woman carried a small black cauldron, within which a demon-devouring creature was kept.

But here, inside the city, the woman wouldn’t dare expose it. Moreover, thinking of the treasure that concealed cultivation, Ji Yao naturally thought of the person Mu Baiyun and his companions were tracking. Could it be her?

With a turn of thought, Ji Yao abandoned the idea of informing Gu Qiu and the others. She didn’t know Mu Baiyun’s temperament, but Gu Qiu—she knew well: a fox with a mind as sharp as nine needles. If she told them, she couldn’t explain how she discovered the truth; even Mu Baiyun, at the Golden Core stage, hadn’t noticed the woman’s hidden tracks, so it was impossible for Ji Yao, a mere Qi Refiner, to do so.

Even if they didn’t press her on this matter, she would still be forced to appear before them, and the fact remained that this woman knew her former self. Until she made sense of this mystery, Ji Yao dared not make any bold moves; revealing herself would be disastrous. If the woman turned the tables in public, Ji Yao, ignorant of past events, would have no way to explain her origins.

If things reached that point, how could she convince others she had nothing to hide? This matter required another approach. She couldn’t simply rely on Situ Jing—she had to solve it herself. After all, Situ Jing couldn’t help much; in her current state, using magic openly in the Mi Cang Realm would consume her soul power.

Unless absolutely necessary, Ji Yao hoped Situ Jing would remain as she was—safe and well.

Ji Yao resolved to stay in the inn from now on, at least until she could see whether this woman was the person Mu Baiyun was tracking. If only she possessed a treasure that could change her appearance without detection—then she could investigate openly.

What Ji Yao didn’t realize was that she had spoken this wish aloud, and Situ Jing, who happened to be monitoring the outside with her spiritual sense, heard it and laughed softly.

“Oh? Then you might just get what you wish for!”

Startled, Ji Yao saw the Great Sumeru Universe Disk, which hadn’t appeared in the outside world for ages, emerge from the space. Situ Jing’s voice came from within the disk.

The Universe Disk expanded before Ji Yao’s eyes, transforming into a round jade tablet that rose upright against the wall near the last room. Soon, clear, moving images appeared on the tablet, accompanied by sound.

Ji Yao’s immediate impression was that she stood outside a round window, watching the room within—every movement of its occupants—yet they remained unaware of her gaze.

Wow! So the Universe Disk had such a function! It was practically a tool for spying!

Her own room was separated from the last guest room by several others!

The only regret was that the viewpoint wasn’t three hundred and sixty degrees; she could only see from her current angle, unable to shift perspective.

“Senior brother, you’re hurt?” came the woman’s voice.

Though the words were concerned, she showed no sign of worry, sitting far away and not rising to check on her so-called senior brother.

A man in crow-blue robes, his back to them, stood at the round table in the center of the guest room, motionless; his tone was icy.

“Xuan Yi, come here!”

The woman called Xuan Yi bit her lip hard, her face twisted with struggle, yet she didn’t move.

The man raised his right hand, seemingly taking something out. Xuan Yi glanced at it, and her face changed dramatically.

Her already alluring features now bore a fragile beauty; her cherry lips, abused by her small teeth, glowed red and enticing, stirring the heart of any observer.

“I’ll say it again, Xuan Yi, come here!”

Her fingernails dug deep into the chair’s armrests, leaving scratches in an instant.

Seeing her unmoved, the man grew angry, striding over to seize her throat, lifting her effortlessly and slamming her onto the round table.

Before Xuan Yi could struggle up, the man cast a binding spell, pinning her down, then pressed his body upon hers.

At this moment, Ji Yao saw the man’s face clearly—a plain, unremarkable countenance, the kind one wouldn’t notice in a crowd.

“Just a few days apart, and my little junior sister has already changed her heart?”

The man wiped his face; the nondescript features blurred and reshaped. When clear again, he wore a strikingly handsome face, though his sinister gaze and dark-purple lips made him appear even more menacing.

“It’s only asking you to help heal my wounds, and you’re so unwilling—truly, it pains your senior brother!”

His tone bore no trace of sadness, only a ruthless intent to devour. One hand gripped her jaw, the other reached for her collar.

“Today, I’ll show you whether you can escape my grasp!”

At this sight, Ji Yao shivered from head to toe, goosebumps erupting as she hugged herself against the chill.

The image on the jade tablet flickered and vanished, leaving only certain indescribable sounds echoing.

The Universe Disk trembled; the sounds ceased, and the tablet shrank swiftly, returning to its palm-sized form and floating before Ji Yao.

Good heavens! Did things escalate so suddenly? Truly, she was caught off guard!

“Little ones, beware lest you grow a third eye!” Situ Jing’s voice chimed in, dispelling the awkward silence.

She was an adult, thank you very much—no longer a child. In an ordinary family of this world, she could well be a mother.

Ji Yao’s twitching mouth betrayed her inner turmoil. She couldn’t deal with this Xuan Yi, and now another paramour appeared—her luck was rather unfortunate.

“Senior, what cultivation does that man have?”

“Golden Core. He only recently formed his core, but it wasn’t through normal means. His aura is very unstable.”

Even a false Golden Core was more than she could handle!

“Girl, don’t be discouraged! I suspect that man is exactly the one your senior brothers are seeking.”

Ji Yao listened and pressed, “How can you tell?”

“Didn’t you notice? Both are demon cultivators! And the man bears a sword wound with wind and thunder attributes, so he urgently needs to heal by draining others.”

Oh? Is that so?

“Senior, I couldn’t tell. From his face-changing trick, his concealment treasure seems very comprehensive!”

“Indeed. That’s what I wanted to say—we can help your senior brothers. Before they arrive, let’s quietly steal that man’s concealment treasure.”

Senior! So this is the kind of senior you are!

But—how perfectly to my liking!