Chen Baiqing leaped down from the tree, landing lightly before the two beasts that had now become docile.
Li Qiyun had not yet figured out what technique Chen Baiqing had used when he saw her raise her hand slightly. Without a single word, the two Foundation Establishment beasts that had been fighting to the death just moments ago now sat obediently.
Though they were called beasts, having reached Foundation Establishment, parts of their bodies could now assume human form.
The wild boar spirit's head remained that of a boar, but the hooves on its sides had taken on a somewhat human hand shape, capable of grasping objects.
The bear spirit, however, retained mostly its original form, though its body had grown larger, with spiritual energy surging ceaselessly around it.
The Blue Sky Treasure Ring hovered before Chen Baiqing, its azure light still flickering softly.
Chen Baiqing's gaze fell upon the wild boar spirit, though her eyes seemed slightly unfocused, as if she were observing the creature through an illusion.
"What are you doing here?"
Li Qiyun sensed that Chen Baiqing, who appeared to have almost no spiritual energy fluctuations, was without a doubt a master of illusion arts.
The wild boar spirit turned its head stiffly.
"Hungry... came here to eat."
"Couldn't you eat where you were before?"
"No... the food here is better."
"Why were you fighting with this bear spirit?"
"That... that is... good..." The wild boar spirit's voice grew increasingly muddled, its speech becoming more difficult, until it finally roared: "It is delicious!"
The wild boar spirit's cloudy gaze suddenly lit up with a faint crimson, its eyeballs beginning to tremble erratically.
Chen Baiqing became slightly more alert in her heart. Even though the two demonic beasts before her were only at Foundation Establishment, to be safe, she retreated a small distance, and the light emanating from the Blue Sky Treasure Ring before her grew somewhat more brilliant.
After the wild boar spirit answered a few questions, its entire mind had nearly transformed into chaos.
The illusion could still take effect, but what remained when looking at the wild boar spirit through the illusion's spiritual sense was only a crimson chaos.
The situation was unclear, but it was obvious that continuing to interrogate the wild boar spirit was not the best choice.
Chen Baiqing's gaze shifted to the wild bear spirit that was sitting obediently to the side in a daze. After thinking for a moment, she spoke.
"Are you hungry?"
"Hungry..."
Chen Baiqing asked with a serious expression: "When did you start feeling hungry?"
Foundation Establishment cultivators no longer needed to consume grain. Though demonic creatures might be different, they certainly shouldn't have reached the point of actual hunger.
The time when the hunger began was very likely when this black bear's mind had started to be confused.
It was just that this method of confusing one's mind was extremely cruel and bizarre. These beasts' spiritual consciousness had been nearly destroyed beyond any possibility of recovery.
These demonic beasts would only retain their instincts and purpose, persisting until death.
This technique was very delicate. It probably couldn't be used for mass control, at least not from what Chen Baiqing had seen. Even for high-level cultivators, it likely wouldn't work.
Spending so much effort to find these demonic beasts—they couldn't possibly just want to watch these mindless creatures slaughter each other, could they?
Chen Baiqing speculated this was probably some kind of test or experiment.
The ultimate purpose was still unknown, but with this scale of operation, the final goal was probably not small.
The wild bear spirit instantly fell into a daze upon hearing this. Instead of answering Chen Baiqing, its eyes also began to rotate erratically like the wild boar spirit's.
Chen Baiqing ignored the wild bear spirit's abnormal state and turned slightly. The Blue Sky Treasure Ring transformed into a rainbow of light and smashed toward her rear.
She saw that the wild boar spirit's eyes were now completely crimson. Spiritual energy sprayed from its skin as blood and spiritual power seeped out together. It charged furiously toward Chen Baiqing, its tusks gleaming with a faint crimson light, appearing extremely sharp.
However, someone moved faster than the wild boar spirit.
Li Qiyun had been on guard all along. When the wild boar spirit started acting strange, he had already pressed forward.
"Careful!"
Li Qiyun called out a warning, though his figure had already positioned itself in front of Chen Baiqing. He hadn't drawn his sword—since Chen Baiqing had a method to interrogate these creatures, keeping them alive might yield new leads.
Though he had only recently entered Golden Core, facing these Foundation Establishment demonic beasts was already a complete碾压—crushing victory. Naturally, he had room to hold back.
Li Qiyun raised his fist and struck without hesitation at the wild boar spirit's spine. At the same time, he didn't hold back any of his Golden Core cultivator's oppressive aura, attempting to first intimidate these beasts that had fallen into instinct through sheer presence.
Unfortunately, the wild boar spirit showed no fear whatsoever in the face of Li Qiyun's Golden Core might.
But showing no fear didn't mean it would be effective.
BOOM!
Sand and stones exploded upward, and spiritual energy shockwaves spread in all directions.
The pig demon's mournful wail rang out.
Along with the pig demon's pained cry, a strange energy mixed with blood and spiritual energy was expelled.
This peculiar ability was mixed within, almost imperceptible.
Under normal circumstances, even if one noticed this strange power, most people wouldn't pay it any mind.
But Chen Baiqing was different. She suddenly felt this strange power seemed somewhat familiar.
Not exactly the same, but something about its essence was similar.
Chen Baiqing didn't hesitate. She moved extremely quickly to take out an empty treasure bottle while using her spiritual energy to intercept this mass of strange power.
At the same time, she recalled where she had seen this ability before.
North Julu Continent, Zhou Family Village.
The Zhou Family Village collected wish power, but Chen Baiqing had also sensed similar power within the rituals in their ancestral hall.
At that time, Chen Baiqing was responsible for memorizing things. Besides memorizing the rituals, she had also memorized the general feeling of that power.
Because that tiny amount of power had been enough to control a rather massive amount of wish power.
Chen Baiqing hadn't paid much attention to this thing back then, thinking it was just some special technique. But now, with past experience before her, this thing probably wasn't simple.
Chen Baiqing moved quickly to store the treasure bottle containing the intercepted power back into her spatial ring.
Back then, the Zhou Family Village was just the beginning, which eventually led to Wuxuan Temple and Tai Dao Sect.
What would be behind it this time? This matter probably wasn't going to be simple.
Perhaps she should notify Tian Yan Sect.
Chen Baiqing recalled the Blue Sky Treasure Ring to her hand, then sent forth a blade of azure spiritual energy that instantly ended the still-seated wild bear spirit.
Li Qiyun sensed movement behind him and projected his spiritual sense, discovering that the wild bear spirit had been killed with a single blow.
Before Li Qiyun could ask what was happening, Chen Baiqing's voice came through.
"Take your junior sister and retreat first. I'll cover your retreat. Move quickly."
Li Qiyun stood up, looking at Chen Baiqing's solemn gaze. He hesitated slightly, but still chose to ask.
"Why? Foundation Establishment demonic beasts shouldn't require two Golden Core cultivators like us to retreat, should they?"
Chen Baiqing sighed inwardly. Her gaze turned toward the depths of the forest. Though somewhat helpless, she could only explain.
"This is some kind of ritual, or observation. I've seen something similar. This thing probably isn't something we can resolve. We've already been discovered. They'll likely come after us."
Li Qiyun's gaze also turned toward the forest depths, his tone carrying some confusion.
"I fought two days ago too... and nothing happened..."
Li Qiyun's words cut off halfway. His expression toward the deep forest instantly turned serious.
Chen Baiqing raised her hand slightly. The Blue Sky Treasure Ring flew from her hand, azure spiritual energy surging forth and rushing toward the forest depths. Her tone was calm.
"Because I discovered what they thought was very well hidden."
From the depths of the forest, two streaks of black light sped toward them from left and right, simultaneously emanating an extremely uncomfortable aura.
This manner of movement was clearly intended to completely surround Chen Baiqing and her group.
The black lights were very fast. The azure light circles Chen Baiqing had constructed seemed to be broken through layer by layer.
The azure light circles shattered, their radiance scattering outward, transforming into twinkling points of light.
Li Qiyun made an assessment. Given the speed of these black lights, he probably couldn't escape while carrying Tang Wanjun.
He didn't hesitate further, first positioning Tang Wanjun behind him, then turning his gaze toward Chen Baiqing.
Though they were both at Golden Core, the fact that Chen Baiqing could detect these two black lights in advance meant her cultivation was probably significantly higher than his.
Moreover, Li Qiyun had only recently entered Golden Core. Finding a Golden Core cultivator with lower cultivation than him would be rather difficult.
Chen Baiqing's appearance and manner of speaking also made her seem more like a rogue cultivator, with far more experience in dealing with situations than a sect cultivator like himself.
Li Qiyun didn't put on airs. He asked Chen Baiqing earnestly.
"What do we do now?"
Chen Baiqing's gaze swept over the two black shadows. Even with the Blue Sky Treasure Ring's enhancement, these two unknown creatures could easily break through.
Their cultivation... was at least Golden Core late stage, and they couldn't be weak Golden Cores either.
More likely, they were at the Nascent Soul realm.
If she were alone, escaping probably wouldn't be difficult. But if she also had to protect a weak Golden Core and a weak Foundation Establishment, it wouldn't be so easy.
As for fighting... the outcome was uncertain, but the risk was extremely high. It wasn't the first choice either.
Chen Baiqing recalled the Blue Sky Treasure Ring. The spiritual energy around her also settled down. Her tone was indifferent.
"If we can't win, we have to call for help."
Li Qiyun was stunned. Chen Baiqing was a rogue cultivator—even if she knew people, they would be scattered far and wide.
This calling for help... surely she didn't mean for him to call for help?
After all, only he and his junior sister had a sect to call upon.
He could certainly call, but the question was whether they could hold out. These two black shadows didn't look like friendly sorts.
Li Qiyun drew the sword at his waist. At the same time, he took out a talisman and activated it. His expression was solemn.
"I'm sending word back to my sect. For the sect to send reinforcements will take about the time it takes to burn an incense stick. That creature's cultivation is probably not low. I'll need Miss Chu's help watching over my junior sister."
Tang Wanjun's face had grown somewhat pale. Clearly, she had never experienced such a life-or-death moment. She looked at Li Qiyun standing before her, her voice trembling slightly, but still carrying a somewhat determined tone.
"Eldest Senior Brother is protecting me. This matter started because of me. Eldest Senior Brother, just be careful yourself."
Li Qiyun didn't respond to Tang Wanjun's words. His gaze turned to Chen Baiqing, hoping for her promise.
Chen Baiqing looked calmly at the black shadows that were now encircling them from front and back.
"In their hands, neither you nor I can protect your junior sister. Whether you can even survive is uncertain."
Li Qiyun felt the oppressive aura of the two black lights. He managed a bitter smile.
"We still have to try. If you can take my junior sister and go, take her. Don't worry about me."
Chen Baiqing glanced at Li Qiyun. Surprisingly, a hopeless romantic.
"Your way of calling for help is too slow. Let me do it."
Li Qiyun was taken aback. Then he watched as Chen Baiqing stood in place and suddenly started shouting.
"Something happened! Come help quickly, save us!"
Li Qiyun was stunned. He saw that Chen Baiqing hadn't used a talisman. This shout didn't even have a trace of spiritual energy fluctuation—it was just a simple shout.
What kind of way was this to call for help?
This was a desolate wilderness, a place with thin spiritual energy. Even if she could call for help, she probably wouldn't be able to reach any experts.
Did the Child of Fortune really think they could shout their way into finding a kind-hearted expert?
This wasn't calling for help—this was gambling that her life was tough enough!
This was probably going to end in death.
Li Qiyun warned, though his figure had already moved to position himself in front of Chen Baiqing. He hadn't drawn his sword—since she had a method to interrogate these creatures, keeping them alive might yield new leads.
Though he was only newly Golden Core, facing these Foundation Establishment demonic beasts was already a complete碾压—crushing victory. Naturally, he had room to hold back.
Li Qiyun raised his fist and struck without hesitation at the wild boar spirit's spine.
Simultaneously, he didn't hold back any of his Golden Core cultivator's oppressive aura.
He was trying to first intimidate these beasts that had fallen into instinct through sheer presence.
Unfortunately, the wild boar spirit showed no fear whatsoever in the face of Li Qiyun's Golden Core might.
But showing no fear didn't mean it would be effective.
BOOM!
Sand and stones exploded upward.
Spiritual energy shockwaves spread in all directions.
The pig demon's mournful wail rang out.
Along with the pig demon's pained cry, a strange energy mixed with blood and spiritual energy was expelled.
This peculiar ability was mixed within, almost imperceptible.
Under normal circumstances, even if one noticed this strange power, most people wouldn't pay it any mind.
But Chen Baiqing was different.
She suddenly felt this strange power seemed somewhat familiar.
Not exactly the same, but something about its essence was similar.
Chen Baiqing didn't hesitate.
She moved extremely quickly to take out an empty treasure bottle.
She used her spiritual energy to intercept this mass of strange power.
At the same time, she recalled where she had seen this ability before.
North Julu Continent, Zhou Family Village.
The Zhou Family Village collected wish power.
But Chen Baiqing had also sensed similar power within the rituals in their ancestral hall.
At that time, Chen Baiqing was responsible for memorizing things.
Besides memorizing the rituals, she had also memorized the general feeling of that power.
Because that tiny amount of power had been enough to control a rather massive amount of wish power.
Chen Baiqing hadn't paid much attention to this thing back then.
She had thought it was just some special technique.
But now, with past experience before her, this thing probably wasn't simple.
Chen Baiqing moved quickly to store the treasure bottle containing the intercepted power back into her spatial ring.
Back then, the Zhou Family Village was just the beginning.
That eventually led to Wuxuan Temple and Tai Dao Sect.
What would be behind it this time?
This matter probably wasn't going to be simple.
Perhaps she should notify Tian Yan Sect.
Chen Baiqing recalled the Blue Sky Treasure Ring to her hand.
Then she sent forth a blade of azure spiritual energy.
It instantly ended the still-seated wild bear spirit.
Li Qiyun sensed movement behind him.
He projected his spiritual sense, discovering that the wild bear spirit had been killed with a single blow.
Before Li Qiyun could ask what was happening, Chen Baiqing's voice came through.
"Take your junior sister and retreat first. I'll cover your retreat. Move quickly."
Li Qiyun stood up, looking at Chen Baiqing's solemn gaze.
He hesitated slightly, but still chose to ask.
"Why? Foundation Establishment demonic beasts shouldn't require two Golden Core cultivators like us to retreat, should they?"
Chen Baiqing sighed inwardly.
Her gaze turned toward the depths of the forest.
Though somewhat helpless, she could only explain.
"This is some kind of ritual, or observation. I've seen something similar. This thing probably isn't something we can resolve. We've already been discovered. They'll likely come after us."
Li Qiyun's gaze also turned toward the forest depths.
His tone carried some confusion.
"I fought two days ago too... and nothing happened..."
Li Qiyun's words cut off halfway.
His expression toward the deep forest instantly turned serious.
Chen Baiqing raised her hand slightly.
The Blue Sky Treasure Ring flew from her hand.
Azure spiritual energy surged forth, rushing toward the forest depths.
Her tone was calm.
"Because I discovered what they thought was very well hidden."
[
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