Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint-Chapter 163 - 112: Senior Sister

He didn’t dare to delay. He immediately sat cross-legged on a reef, closed his eyes, and focused his mind. Circulating his Heart Method, he began to meditate and regulate his breathing.

The life-and-death battle had exhausted nearly all of his True Qi. The final burst of Geng Metal True Qi, in particular, had placed a considerable strain on his meridians.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Chen Qing finally opened his eyes.

Chen Qing quickly searched Tu Gang’s body. Aside from some scattered silver coins and ordinary Elixirs, he found a Jade Bottle in an inner pocket close to the man’s heart.

When he opened the cap, a faint aura of Essence Blood wafted out.

’Is this an Elixir refined by the Infinite Demon Sect?’ Chen Qing’s heart went cold.

The item contained a vast but violent Essence of Qi and Blood. It was clearly refined using an Evil Technique to forcibly plunder the Essence Blood of Exotic Beasts, or even humans. It was an unholy object used by the Demon Sect to rapidly increase one’s Power or heal injuries.

’It might be useful later.’

Chen Qing tucked the Jade Bottle into his robe, placing it with his other important belongings.

Then, Chen Qing dragged Tu Gang’s corpse and sank it into a deep-sea whirlpool beneath a nearby reef.

He breathed a small sigh of relief as he watched the body being swallowed by the vortex.

’This is no place to linger. I have to leave as soon as possible!’

Just as he was getting his bearings and preparing to head back toward the Sect—

OOM...!

A low, rhythmic hum grew from a distant murmur into a clear drone.

Chen Qing snapped his head up. A Treasure Ship, far larger and more magnificent than Song Ming’s Water-Splitting Shuttle, was breaking through the thin mist and speeding toward him!

The ship’s lines were smooth and elegant. Its entire body was a deep, mysterious black, and the hull was covered in a special material that shimmered like water.

The prow was carved with a lifelike Ice Simurgh, its neck arched back in a cry.

The entire vessel was not only exceptionally sturdy, but also astonishingly fast!

’The Gui Water Institute’s Treasure Ship!’

Chen Qing’s brow furrowed slightly as he immediately recognized the Gui Water Institute’s signature wave-patterned insignia on the hull.

He subconsciously wanted to conceal himself.

However, the people on the ship had clearly already spotted him.

SWOOSH!

A moon-white figure flew over like a Startled Swan, landing gracefully on a reef several dozen feet in front of Chen Qing.

Her Martial Attire accentuated her nimble and well-proportioned figure. Her black hair was tied back, revealing a peerlessly beautiful face tinged with a cold, heroic air. It was none other than the Chief Disciple of the Gui Water Institute, Nie Shanshan.

Behind her, four other disciples, also dressed in the Gui Water Institute’s moon-white Martial Attire, followed closely, landing one after another. Each of them had a steady aura; they were all experts at the Embracing Pill Force level.

Nie Shanshan’s gaze fell upon Chen Qing, her elegant brows knitting together almost imperceptibly.

"I am Nie Shanshan."

Nie Shanshan’s voice was cold and calm. "State your name and position. Why are you here? Have you seen the Gui Water Institute disciple, Wu Yuanhua?" 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

’So this is the Chief Disciple of the Gui Water Institute, Nie Shanshan.’

Chen Qing suppressed his roiling qi and blood, cupped his fist in a salute, and said, "Chen Qing, Steward of Nanzhe No. 7 Fishery. Greetings, Senior Sister Nie, and fellow senior brothers and sisters of the Gui Water Institute."

"Chen Qing..."

Nie Shanshan repeated the name silently in her mind, her expression remaining impassive. "Answer my questions."

"To answer Senior Sister Nie."

Chen Qing organized his thoughts and briefly recounted how he, Song Ming, Lin Wei, and Wu Yuanhua had encountered Demon Sect experts while investigating the Water Eye and had been forced to flee in separate directions.

He deliberately omitted the details of him killing Tu Gang, instead focusing on the encounter with the Astral Force blood sacrifice, the pursuit by three Mid-stage Embracing Pill Demon Cultivators, and his own escape through this waterway.

"...That Demon Cultivator’s aura was vicious, and his strength far surpassed my own. I was no match for him. I could only rely on my swimming skills to barely hold him off while desperately fleeing toward the surface. Fortunately, I managed to slip into a complex reef cluster. Using the chaotic currents to my advantage, I luckily shook off his pursuit. The currents then washed me all the way here. I... also sustained some internal injuries."

Chen Qing’s breathing was slightly ragged and his face was indeed pale, so it wasn’t entirely an act.

"An Astral Force blood sacrifice? Three Mid-stage Embracing Pill Demon Cultivators?"

Upon hearing this, the faces of the Gui Water Institute disciples behind Nie Shanshan changed. They looked at Chen Qing with a mixture of shock and sympathy.

’To escape alive from the pursuit of three Mid-stage Embracing Pill Demon Cultivators, relying on swimming skills alone?’

’His luck is simply heaven-defying!’

Nie Shanshan stared at Chen Qing for a few moments, as if trying to see right through him.

She was silent for a moment before speaking slowly. "I see. My master and Junior Martial Uncle Hong had already sensed that something was amiss in this stretch of water, so they came to investigate in secret. My master went to track that Astral Force expert from the Demon Sect, while Junior Martial Uncle Hong is clearing out a Demon Sect stronghold in another direction. We were ordered by our master to come and provide support for Junior Brother Wu, who might have run into danger."

Chen Qing was slightly shaken. ’So the Sect’s upper echelon wasn’t completely in the dark; they were already taking action behind the scenes.’

’Elder Zhao sending us to investigate was probably just a routine matter; he likely didn’t have the core intelligence.’

"The situation is urgent. This area is fraught with danger, and you could very well run into scattered remnants of the Demon Sect."

Nie Shanshan’s gaze swept over Chen Qing’s somewhat disheveled appearance. She made a decision. "You are alone and injured. It’s too dangerous for you to remain here. Come with us to find and regroup with Junior Martial Uncle Hong. Junior Martial Uncle Hong is an Astral Force expert; you’ll be safest by his side."

Chen Qing’s thoughts raced.

’Following Nie Shanshan and her group would greatly increase my safety, but it would also mean exposing myself to the scrutiny of an Astral Force expert.’

’My secret of possessing Dual Attribute True Qi could be exposed in front of such a master.’

’However, if I refuse, traveling alone would be even riskier. Besides, Nie Shanshan’s proposal is reasonable, and I have no grounds to decline.’

"Many thanks for your protection, Senior Sister Nie!"

Chen Qing cupped his fist and agreed, "I will follow your arrangements."

Nie Shanshan gave a slight nod. Without another word, she turned and flew back toward the Treasure Ship.

She didn’t seem to have much interest in talking to Chen Qing.

A few of the female disciples from the Gui Water Institute, however, glanced at Chen Qing curiously. One of them, a pretty-faced girl, whispered to her companion, "Is that the Chen Qing from the Cyan Wood Institute? The one with the Four Forms Root Bone who reached Embracing Pill in just over a year? He... doesn’t seem as dull as the rumors say."

"Hush, don’t talk so much."

An older female disciple reminded her in a low voice, but her gaze toward Chen Qing also held a trace of curiosity.

Chen Qing remained silent and followed the group onto the Treasure Ship.

The moment he stepped aboard, a faint, elegant fragrance, like winter plums, wafted to his nose.

The ship’s interior was simply yet elegantly decorated. The floor was paved with some unknown, lustrous jade stone, and the tables and chairs were all crafted from high-quality Cold Iron Wood.

Under Nie Shanshan’s control, the Treasure Ship silently and swiftly cut through the waves, speeding toward Hong Yuandong’s general location.

Chen Qing stayed quietly in a corner of the cabin, seizing the time to regulate his breathing and recover from his injuries, while remaining secretly vigilant.

’I wonder if Song Ming, Wu Yuanhua, and Lin Wei managed to escape.’

’After all, if they all died and I was the only one who survived, it would be far too conspicuous.’

The ship had been traveling for no more than the time it takes an incense stick to burn when the scene in the waters ahead changed abruptly.

The once-calm water surface became turbulent, and the air filled with thick water vapor and... a lingering, scorching aura!

Immediately after, a deafening roar, accompanied by a blinding red light and a violent fluctuation of Li Fire True Astral, erupted from the distant horizon.

’This is True Astral!?’

A look of horror appeared in Chen Qing’s eyes as he watched the fluctuating Gang Qi in the distance.

The sheer Power was so immense that even from hundreds of feet away, it caused the Treasure Ship to tremble slightly. The faces of the Gui Water Institute disciples on board all turned pale.

Nie Shanshan’s eyes narrowed. "It’s Junior Martial Uncle Hong! He’s fighting someone! Full speed ahead!"

Without hesitation, she spurred the Treasure Ship forward. It transformed into a streak of black light, tearing through the waves as it charged toward the epicenter of the True Astral eruption.

...