The Journey of Immortal Cultivation-Chapter 496: Layer 287
Guangcheng Palace, Crane Peak.
Quan Shifang circled around the small building in the back mountain and walked out disappointed.
The living room’s table still had a half-filled cup of unfinished tea, while on the second floor’s dressing table sat a delicate peachwood comb with several strands of black hair caught between its teeth.
He recognized the scent on the hair. Ning Xiaoxian liked to wash her hair with rose flower dew, a fragrance he had grown accustomed to throughout the days they spent together.
After pondering for a moment, he placed the comb into his storage bag.
After the disaster at the inheritance ceremony, he had anxiously checked the foot of Yuhu Peak, dreading to discover her crushed by the boulders. When the rockslide erupted suddenly, he was far too distant behind his master to protect her.
There were many Loose Cultivators crushed or injured by the rocks, but fortunately, he didn’t find Ning Xiaoxian among the bloody mess. However, she was not in this small building either. Now that the entire Guangcheng Palace had been sealed, where could she go?
He walked out of the small building thoughtfully and encountered a red figure.
Mr. Miluo revealed an unsurprised expression: "She is really not here, is she?"
Quan Shifang frowned and said, "Where could she be?"
"Don’t you already know in your heart?" Mr. Miluo raised his eyebrows, "If she’s not here, she must have left Guangcheng Palace already."
Quan Shifang remained silent.
"The Sealing Mountain Array of Guangcheng Palace was activated very quickly. If she could leave, she must have left beforehand." Mr. Miluo’s lips curled slightly, and with narrowed eyes, he said, "Unexpectedly, this young lady noticed the White Tiger was merely an illusion sooner than you, me, and even Sect Leader Bai. Your beloved is truly not simple at all."
To his comment, Quan Shifang neither agreed nor disagreed, softly speaking: "This place is fraught with right and wrong; it’s best for her to have left."
Mr. Miluo glanced at him sideways and changed the subject: "I received news that the White Tiger has already escaped. In your opinion, can Guangcheng Palace capture the Shadowless Demon with this sealing?"
Quan Shifang replied indifferently: "I prefer not to speculate about other Sects’ affairs."
"Once the Shadowless Demon escapes, it’s no longer just a Guangcheng Palace Sect matter, but a concern for the entire world," Mr. Miluo sighed softly, "I always feel that with the Shadowless Demon’s abilities, it should not fail to escape. If Guangcheng Palace can keep it here, there must be a scheme. However, that is irrelevant to us."
"Oh, right." His eyes shifted, "Those from Tianlan Courtyard who wounded Ning Xiaoxian were also here to attend the ceremony. Yet today, when the Nangong Sect Leader urgently looked for guests from Tianlan Courtyard, they were nowhere to be found. Guess, why is that?"
Quan Shifang suddenly turned towards him: "Mr. Miluo, how do you know people from Tianlan Courtyard came to attend the ceremony, did you see them with your own eyes?"
Ah, this lad, not bad. Mr. Miluo smiled and said, "I guessed. It’s getting late. I shall take my leave." He flicked his large sleeve and flew off with his tame tool.
After he left, Quan Shifang’s expression grew darker. What was this fox demon implying? The disappearance of the cultivators from Tianlan Courtyard, was it related to Miss Ning? Or was it that she had ties with the Shadowless Demon? He remembered the reason why Ning Xiaoxian was pursued by Tianlan Courtyard: they believed she had stolen the Shadowless Jade from the Mountain Protection Array. Subsequently, the secret treasure of Tianlan Courtyard also vanished.
Wait a second, the secret treasure! A thought flashed through his mind.
The Spectrum Mirror lent to Guangcheng Palace from Tianlan Courtyard, could it be the same missing secret treasure? If so, the ten-day sealing of Guangcheng Palace would be a futile effort. How could such coincidence exist in the world, the secret treasure disappearing right before the collapse of Yuhu Peak and the emergence of the Shadowless Demon?
Quan Shifang exhaled deeply. If he could think of this, then that cunning fox demon must have thought of it long ago. Why did he specifically remind him? Was it to foster doubts in his heart towards Miss Ning? Henceforth, could it be that Mr. Miluo also had... feelings for Miss Ning?
Feeling irritable in his heart, he paced two steps before leaving Crane Peak.
However, both Quan Shifang and Mr. Miluo selectively forgot the role Ning Xiaoxian played in this event, and neither informed Guangcheng Palace about the disappearance of Tianlan Courtyard’s secret treasure.
So four days later, when the envoy sent to Tianlan Courtyard returned empty-handed, everyone knew, the Shadowless Demon would be difficult to catch.
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When Ning Xiaoxian walked out of the God Demon Prison, the White Tiger was already soaking in the bath, still in human form. His exposed arms and the water droplets on his face glowed with the warm hues of the setting sun, as if coated with olive oil.
Despite her worries, she had to admit that the human form of this tiger had an incredibly fine figure, one that could rival Apollo, the god of the West.
Seeing her staring at him, the White Tiger was overjoyed. He tilted his face upward at a thirty-degree angle, ensuring she could see his perfectly sculpted profile. "Young lady, whether it’s physique, looks, or skills in bed, I’m certainly no less than that serpent. Why not choose me instead?"
She blinked: "Is that an option?" The possessiveness Changtian had shown her was clear enough, wasn’t it?
"Huh, he didn’t tell you?" White Tiger asked with a mischievous grin, "That’s the rule of the Demon Clan, even if you’ve gotten close with him, as long as I can make your heart flutter, you are free to come to me, and he can’t stop you."
The life philosophy of demons is indeed unrestrained! She transmitted a message to Changtian: "Is that true?"
Changtian snorted heavily: "That scoundrel! Don’t listen to him."
Since he didn’t deny it, that means it is true.
White Tiger kept pressing her: "You asked him, didn’t you? I wasn’t lying, was I? What do you think?"
She rolled her eyes to the sky unceremoniously: "Thank you but no thanks. In terms of physique, appearance, and... that particular skill, you’re not better than him, so why would I choose you?"
White Tiger put his hands behind his head, a blade of grass in his mouth: "He and that Yin Jiu You are both tricky, one as much as the other. Sticking with him, you are bound to be exhausted later on. Better to roam the world with me, so carefree."
He is blatantly hitting on her right in front of Changtian, with such sinister intentions. Ning Xiaoxian lightly snorted: "Just enter the prison, please; I am about to depart. Or would you rather fly on your own?" Having been raised by her uncle along with two younger cousins, she understood one principle deeply: food is more appetizing when fought for. White Tiger showed interest in her because demons naturally have a taste for mischief, and also because she was the tantalizing food between him and Changtian.
It seems these two have been accustomed to competing with each other since ancient times.
"Give me a ride." White Tiger shrugged, seemingly without any scheming, and let her lead him into the God Demon Prison. Afterwards, she called for Qi Zai to return.
The day Nangong Zhen’s Crossing Tribulation approached, and she was keen to observe from the sidelines. She should have been happily listening to the teachings of the great powers in Guangcheng Palace, but unfortunately, she was in the wilderness, missing out on such a great benefit, so she couldn’t miss watching the Tribulation either. If lucky, she would one day face her own Tribulation, and now she needed to witness another’s ordeal.
With only about a day and a half left, she could just manage to make a round trip to the nearest city, fulfilling White Tiger’s wish.
"Although the Human Clan is lowly and short-sighted, they never treat themselves poorly," White Tiger said cheerily. Having been away from the Mortal World for too long, he couldn’t wait to enjoy the pleasures of the bustling world.
Thank goodness her Changtian isn’t that fickle. Hmm, better to quickly dispose of that tiger when they arrive, so he doesn’t lead her Changtian astray.
Strangely enough, despite calling several times, Qi Zai did not return.
The Chongming Bird had sworn a Blood Oath with her and would never betray her. Sure enough, after a while, Qi Zai emerged from a thicket hundreds of feet away, sneaking around, not like a bird, but more like a weasel about to steal chickens.
She asked curiously, "What’s the matter?"
Qi Zai stammered, "There are two humans there."
"You haven’t seen humans before?" She thought it was strange for two people to appear suddenly in the wilderness, but cultivators usually travel by flight, so why couldn’t they land anywhere?
"I have, but I’ve not seen this kind. Those two are stacked on top of each other."
"Stacked..." Was it her mind that was too wicked, or why, after being described by the pure Qi Zai, did the image in her head become not so pure?
Should she go have a look? While pondering, she voiced her thoughts unintentionally.
"Yes!" Two voices from the Demon Eye on her chest answered in unison, startling her.
In the God Demon Prison, White Tiger and Qiongqi exchanged a smile, both feeling like they had found kindred spirits. Changtian looked indifferent, taking no particular stance.
She actually wanted to take a look herself. So, was it three against one, with curiosity winning out?
When it came to the art of stealth, Qi Zai was far inferior to her. As she sneaked over, she still maintained a graceful figure, her feet barely touching the grass without bending it, light as a dewdrop.
The hundreds of feet distance passed in a flash. The grass here was taller than a person, and if one didn’t fly over from above, no one would know someone was hidden inside. To prevent the people inside from noticing her, she activated the Concealing Breath Technique, hiding her form and scent entirely. If a cultivator were to sweep the area with their Divine Sense, they would only mistake her for a lifeless stone.
Just as White Tiger, eager to join the excitement, was about to snatch the Demon Eye, he exclaimed, "You’ve taught this girl quite well. She’s mastered this Concealing Breath Technique, even I might not be able to detect her from the outside."
This was high praise indeed, but Changtian merely smiled bitterly in response. Apart from the Concealing Breath Technique and the Shrinking Land into Inches technique, Ning Xiaoxian hadn’t mastered anything else. It seemed this girl was naturally suited for escaping and eavesdropping.
She quietly approached the scene and lifted the grass to peek through.
Indeed, there was a man and a woman entangled with one another!
Both were dressed in the same Sect’s attire, both around their twenties, apparently fellow disciples. The man was on top of the woman, kissing and caressing her, his hands moving about. The woman’s clothes had been removed halfway by him, even her bellyband was pulled aside, exposing her glossy and full figure. (To be continued. If you like this work, feel free to visit qidian.com to cast your recommendation ticket and Monthly Ticket. Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users can read on m.qidian.com.)
