“What?!”
After hearing Wang Xuanyi's analysis, City Lord Jin Sha and the others grew solemn once again.
No wonder they had felt an aura that fluctuated between strong and weak during the battle earlier; it turned out there was an Earth Demon.
“But there is no need to worry. The city-protecting array is strong enough to hold out for a while. We just need to wait for reinforcements to arrive during this time. I have also informed my immortal sect of the situation,” Wang Xuanyi said.
While setting up the array, he had secretly sent a distress message back to the sect.
He just didn't know if that bunch of old geezers had any free time.
“On behalf of the hundreds of thousands of citizens in the city, I thank you for your immense kindness,” City Lord Jin Sha said, bowing deeply with gratitude.
He had originally thought that the small Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator sent by the Heavenly Martial Immortal Sect wouldn't amount to much, but it turned out he had judged a book by its cover. This young brother was actually the most crucial figure of all.
“It's nothing, just my duty,” Wang Xuanyi said dismissively as he helped City Lord Jin Sha up.
...
The Little Purple Realm.
Zhu Huai had collected quite a few spirit stones and spiritual herbs, while also gathering dew to brew Green Bamboo Wine for her Senior Brother.
When Wang Xuanyi brewed wine in the past, Zhu Huai had helped out a lot. Although she didn't fully understand the brewing process, she was very clear on the required ingredients.
Moreover, spiritual energy was abundant within the Little Purple Realm, so the dew produced was extremely plentiful, and the spiritual energy it contained was much better than on the outside.
“Whew, I wonder what Senior Brother is doing right now,” Zhu Huai murmured softly.
She did not like to compete, and there were very few spiritual treasures that could catch her interest. Her purpose in entering the realm this time was solely to collect dew.
“Hmm? Why are they here?”
Zhu Huai, who was in the middle of collecting spiritual dew, frowned. Sensing the four people from Tianyun Peak who had accidentally stumbled into the bamboo forest, she stopped what she was doing.
The four of them looked rather disheveled, and behind them was a crowd of dozens of disciples shouting and calling for their heads.
After a moment's thought, Zhu Huai disguised herself as a man again, opened the array hidden within the bamboo forest, and let the four of them in.
No matter what, Martial Aunt Xiao was ultimately Senior Brother's savior. With her disciples being besieged in the Little Purple Realm, Zhu Huai couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
“Senior Sister...”
“Someone helped us,” Wen Sining said, looking at the rising white mist before bowing in gratitude toward the bamboo forest. “I do not know which senior brother is here, but Wen Sining of Tianyun Peak offers her thanks.”
“Senior Sister Wen is too polite,” Zhu Huai said as she walked out of the bamboo forest, a faint smile on her calm face.
Seeing who it was, the four of them finally breathed a sigh of relief. Leng Ning'an said, “So it's Junior Brother Zhu of Tianzhu Peak. Thank you for your assistance.”
“The four of you, please come in and rest. Those disciples outside won't be able to get in for the time being.”
Zhu Huai made a gesturing motion to invite them. The four of them did not stand on ceremony and walked into the bamboo forest, supporting each other.
Outside the bamboo forest, the white mist grew even thicker, layers of dense fog blanketing the entire forest. Anyone who rashly barged in would only end up spinning in circles and returning to where they started.
“Wait for them to come out!”
“We must wait for them to come out.”
The dozens of people were in no rush either; they all sat cross-legged outside the bamboo forest, waiting for them to emerge.
Over by the bamboo hut, Zhu Huai thoughtfully poured four cups of hot tea and asked, “Senior Sisters, how did you provoke that group of disciples outside?”
Seeing the four of them covered in mud, Zhu Huai was indeed quite curious.
Although there were conflicts between the inner and outer sect disciples of the Heavenly Martial Immortal Sect, it shouldn't have reached the point of a life-or-death struggle within the sect's own realm, right?
Moreover, they were being besieged by so many people, including some familiar inner sect disciples.
She really wanted to know what the four of them had done.
Hearing this, Leng Ning'an, Wen Sining, and Long Zitian lowered their heads, clearly unwilling to answer.
The more they acted like this, the more curious Zhu Huai became.
“What else could it be? Senior Brother Long is just shameless. He goes around causing trouble everywhere, robbing the outer sect and then the inner sect. He wants to pocket every single good thing he sees, which is what caused all this resentment,” Huo Huang blurted out, not caring about saving face.
“Oh, is that so?”
Zhu Huai smiled and said no more.
The Little Purple Realm was originally opened for Foundation Establishment Realm and Qi Refining Realm disciples, with the intention of narrowing the gap in overall strength between inner and outer sect disciples.
During the previous openings, inner sect disciples would usually lead newly entered inner and outer sect disciples to gather natural treasures, and they would also handle any dangers encountered.
This rule was practically an unwritten agreement.
Most of the disciples who were helping others now had come through that period themselves. Having received the care of their seniors, they wanted to pass that kindness along.
Furthermore, while the resources in the Little Purple Realm were abundant, there weren't any exceptionally unique natural treasures, so they didn't really need them that much.
Thus, this silent rule had come to be.
But as fate would have it, someone had broken the rules this time, forcefully plundering others' resources and even resorting to violence, high-mindedly claiming that the weak did not deserve to possess excess cultivation resources.
This person was none other than Long Zitian.
Originally, he had been the center of attention at the Immortal Sprout Assembly, drawing the envy of many. Later, he had even been accepted as a disciple under Xiao Hongye, the number one beauty of the Nine Provinces, and was surrounded by a group of exceptionally beautiful senior and junior sisters.
This made those who were already unhappy even more disgruntled.
Coupled with what he had done in the Little Purple Realm this time, he had thoroughly aroused public anger.
The atmosphere in the bamboo hut was rather quiet. The four of them looked at each other and then at Zhu Huai, unsure of whether they should speak up.
Perhaps sensing their gazes, Zhu Huai spoke first. “Senior Sister Wen, there are still two days left before the Little Purple Realm closes. If you don't mind, you can stay here until it ends.”
“Thank you, Junior Brother.”
Wen Sining thanked her.
They had harvested a great deal from their entry into the Little Purple Realm this time, and they didn't need anything else. Being able to hide here until the realm closed was naturally for the best.
“However...” Zhu Huai's tone shifted as she looked at the four of them. “I will need your help, Senior Sisters.”
“Junior Brother Zhu is being too polite. Tianyun Peak and Tianzhu Peak are neighbors to begin with. If there is anything, just speak up. There is no need for so much formality,” Wen Sining said.
Accepting the four of them was already a favor. If they didn't help, it would be Tianyun Peak that was lacking in manners.
“Zhu Huai thanks you all in advance,” Zhu Huai said with a bow. “It is nothing major. Just help me collect some spiritual dew.”
“Just that?” Leng Ning'an asked in confusion.
The four of them had thought it would be some major undertaking and were prepared to spend time and effort, but they hadn't expected it to be such a trivial task.
Zhu Huai smiled and explained, “Yes. My master is uniquely fond of the Green Bamboo Wine brewed by Senior Brother, and accidentally drank a lot of it. It just so happens that Senior Brother went out on a mission and has no time to collect spiritual dew to brew more wine. As his junior, I naturally have to share some of his burdens.”
Zhu Huai certainly couldn't say that because their master was a drunkard who had secretly finished off Senior Brother's entire cellar of Green Bamboo Wine, Senior Brother had cried his eyes out and refused to participate in this realm's opening.
“It's enough that I'm the only one who knows Senior Brother is a crybaby,” Zhu Huai thought to herself.
Her tear-wiping Senior Brother fascinated her endlessly, to the point where she even felt an urge to bully him mercilessly. For the usually gentle and sensible Zhu Huai, this was quite a psychological shock.
Rate on N.U.
