Chapter 112
After entering the Agricultural Knowledge Hall, they could feel the oppressive air pressure inside.
Li Jin Shuang and Xue Mushi relied on the Breath-Holding Pills to avoid inhaling the surrounding poisonous gas, but due to the heavy pressure brought by these toxic gases, they couldn't use wind-riding techniques and could only move forward quickly, racing against time.
Yu Sui helped monitor changes in the surroundings, guiding the two: "Walk where there's light, don't go near the grass."
Dozens of transparent spider webs hung from the corridor eaves they passed, and the sticky poison on the webs was faintly visible. Large groups of black spiders emerged from the shadows, blocking their path.
Li Jin Shuang formed hand seals and cast Eight Trigrams Living Arts: Celestial Fire, using fierce flames to clear the way.
The two inside couldn't speak due to the poisonous gas, but the black spiders in front of them couldn't be destroyed by Celestial Fire. After being burned by the flames, they would only fall unconscious to the ground, then wake up moments later and crawl very quickly.
The black spiders spun webs everywhere, forcing the two to dodge left and right, wasting time.
Yu Sui described the spiders' appearance to Wei Ren. After pondering, Wei Ren said: "Pill spiders. They're not afraid of fire, so Celestial Fire is useless. Although their toxicity is mild, their webs are tough and hard to break with water or fire. If pressed, they might bite you directly. Without protective energy below the Sixth Realm, you could be knocked unconscious from pain."
Third-level restricted areas like the Agricultural Knowledge Hall had no living guards or patrols, so there were no killing moves that would endanger lives.
Wei Ren provided a solution: "There's a dark blue line on their backs. Just stab that spot."
Li Jin Shuang used sword energy to clear the way, striking back some of the blocking pill spiders before flashing forward.
Xue Mushi threw copper coins, using the Strangling Trigram to seal off the entire area. Dense trigram lines filled the space, precisely wrapping around each pill spider before the trigram lines pierced their backs and strangled them.
"Left side." Yu Sui directed Li Jin Shuang to head in the correct direction.
Xue Mushi cast trigrams from behind to clear Li Jin Shuang's path, minimizing delays.
Li Jin Shuang reached the pavilion door and was about to push it open when Yu Sui stopped her: "It's poisonous."
Her outstretched hand paused. She switched to pointing out two sword shadows that crashed into the door. The moment it opened, Li Jin Shuang dodged to the side, avoiding the poison-tipped spider silk that shot out, ignited her protective energy, and rolled into the room.
After Li Jin Shuang got up, she didn't pause for a moment and rushed toward the third floor.
Xue Mushi stayed at the door, helping her deal with the pill spiders trying to pursue.
Li Jin Shuang endured the heavy pressure as she reached the third floor and walked to the location Yu Sui had indicated. On wooden shelves against the wall were placed many Agricultural School treasures and ancient texts.
The Dustless Soil was kept in a black round box. The box had no lid, and you could see the brown soil inside at a glance, about the size of an adult's palm.
The black soil appeared somewhat cohesive, lying flat in the box. To the naked eye, it looked no different from ordinary soil outside.
Li Jin Shuang tapped the edge of the round box with her finger to ask if this was it. After receiving Yu Sui's affirmative answer, she took it and rushed downstairs.
The oppressive pressure inside the Agricultural Knowledge Hall made it impossible to stay inside for long. Even just standing still, staying too long would make your bones ache.
Seeing Li Jin Shuang successfully obtain the Dustless Soil, the two ran outside with all their might. After climbing over the surrounding wall, they could finally use wind-riding techniques outside. With help from the giant Ghost Armor Sky Spider, leaving was actually easier than entering.
After the two retreated to a relatively safe location, Li Jin Shuang had her sword spirit retrieve the Ghost Armor Sky Spider, returning it to its original size and letting it land on the sword spirit's massive skeleton as they withdrew to the rear.
Yu Sui and Wei Ren stood outside the reed marsh, watching the two emerge from the tall reeds, drenched in sweat.
Xue Mushi braced his hands on his knees, slightly bent over, gasping for breath. Having to cast Nine Schools Arts and fight under the Agricultural Knowledge Hall's oppressive pressure while holding his breath the entire time, now that he was out, he began breathing in the fresh air in large gulps.
Li Jin Shuang extended her hand, the round box cradled in her palm, showing them the Dustless Soil they had retrieved.
Wei Ren leaned in to examine it and said: "You got the right thing."
Yu Sui stared at the Dustless Soil for a while, then pressed a Fusang pearl into the soil. Both Xue Mushi and Wei Ren were startled: "Hey!"
The originally calm brown soil began to move, rolling and pressing itself in the box, finally lying flat and stretching out, spitting the two Fusang pearls out of the soil.
Yu Sui took out these two Fusang pearls and reconnected the voice transmission, holding one of them in her hand: "This is what the Dustless Soil replicated. It only has the same outer appearance and shell, but no Five Elements energy."
Dustless Soil could only replicate external appearance and form, not Five Elements energy.
Xue Mushi said: "Then wouldn't it be easy to discover it's fake?"
"It doesn't matter." Yu Sui said: "They'll discover whether it's real or fake eventually anyway."
Li Jin Shuang suggested: "We could also inject Five Elements energy into the replicated fake, which could last a bit longer."
Yu Sui already had an idea in her head. She indicated for Li Jin Shuang to give the Dustless Soil to Wei Ren. Wei Ren took the Dustless Soil with some surprise: "I'm holding it for now?"
"You'll be the one replicating the fragment when the time comes." Yu Sui said.
"Me?" Wei Ren's expression twisted slightly as he couldn't immediately think of how to go about it: "I have no connection with Gu Qian and the others. What reason would I use to go?"
Reed flowers were blown over by the night wind. Wei Ren raised his hand to wipe his face and heard Yu Sui say: "You have your spider. Go from outside and crawl in through a window."
Wei Ren: "That's over 60 floors?"
Yu Sui also looked at him with surprise: "You can't climb up?"
Wei Ren held the round box in both hands, his face cold: "How could I not climb up? I could climb up even 600 floors."
Xue Mushi looked up at him with admiration in his eyes.
After getting a satisfactory answer, Yu Sui left, taking Li Jin Shuang to the dining hall for food. Wei Ren wasn't in the mood to eat. He first returned to his dormitory and stood in the peach grove, looking up at the giant building before him. The dormitory building was about a hundred floors high, with part of it still hidden in clouds and mist, which was heart-stopping just to look at.
Wei Ren also called Xue Mushi over to test whether spider silk was stronger or his Seven Kill Trigram strangling lines were stronger.
It was already late at night, during the dining hall's double-price period, so there weren't many disciples around.
With Xue Mushi called away, only Yu Sui and Li Jin Shuang remained. Just after she ordered food and sat down, Kong Yiyi walked in and immediately spotted Yu Sui.
Kong Yiyi raised an eyebrow slightly. Yu Sui was the first to greet: "Senior Sister Kong."
Li Jin Shuang also looked up. This was a Military School Senior Sister who had become somewhat familiar with her after their battle at the Military School's Black Tortoise Platform last time.
Kong Yiyi waved at the two, ordered food from the dining hall staff, then came over and said to Yu Sui: "You just recovered two days ago and you're already cultivating this late?"
"I'm fine now." Yu Sui smiled, propping her head up with one hand as she looked at Kong Yiyi sitting beside her: "What did you order to eat, Senior Sister?"
Kong Yiyi said: "Vegetarian dishes with meat. We killed all of Cang Shu's poultry the other day and have been eating meat constantly. I'm getting tired of it, so I want something light tonight."
After finishing, she looked past Yu Sui to Li Jin Shuang: "I heard you spent all day yesterday fighting at the Martial Path Arena. Full of fighting spirit?"
Li Jin Shuang said quietly: "Just practicing."
"How's your control of your sword spirit?" Kong Yiyi asked her: "Want to have a match?"
Li Jin Shuang paused: "Now?"
Kong Yiyi shook her head repeatedly: "Not in the middle of the night. Tomorrow?"
Li Jin Shuang nodded: "Alright."
Yu Sui's food arrived first. Kong Yiyi, sitting nearby, also tasted a couple bites. The three chatted while eating.
The dining hall late at night usually didn't have disciples entering through the main entrance, they all used their own methods to sneak around back and steal food, so when Qian Ying, Xun Zhiya, and Shu Chujun entered, Yu Sui was also somewhat surprised.
Qian Ying was initially communicating with the dining hall staff about ordering food, Xun Zhiya was looking down at her Wind-Listening Ruler, but it was Shu Chujun who first noticed Yu Sui and the others sitting not far away. She called out with puzzlement: "Li Jin Shuang?"
She still wasn't used to Li Jin Shuang back in women's clothing and always had to look several times to confirm.
This call also drew Qian Ying and Xun Zhiya's attention.
Xun Zhiya was somewhat surprised to see Li Jin Shuang together with Yu Sui. Qian Ying's focus was on Yu Sui. Since leaving Mechanism Island that night, she hadn't seen Yu Sui. Seeing her again today, she no longer had the disheveled appearance from Mechanism Island.
That night Yu Sui had been covered in blood and carried in Mei Liangyu's arms. You could only tell her injuries were severe and she seemed near death, but if asked to specify what exactly was injured, it was hard to say.
Mei Liangyu's public statement was that the Golden Crow Red Arrow had nearly killed him, minimizing Yu Sui's presence as much as possible. Anyway, both Wen Yanghui and Lord Sui were dead, so no one could expose this.
Qian Ying walked to the long table and sat across from Yu Sui, looking up with a smile: "Little Princess, it's been many days since we've seen each other. I wonder how your injuries are healing? That day on Mechanism Island, I didn't have time to examine you properly."
Yu Sui held her teacup in both hands. Before she could answer, Qian Ying continued: "Shall I examine you again?"
"Sister Yuezhen has excellent medical skills. After resting for so many days, my injuries have healed." Yu Sui said with an honest expression.
Kong Yiyi rolled her eyes, looking at everyone at the table. The previously harmonious atmosphere suddenly became strange. She looked down at her Wind-Listening Ruler, telling Xing Chun and Nian Qiuyan, who were still waiting for food at the Military School, that she'd be returning later.
"The Little Princess looked frightening that night. I still haven't forgotten and am still somewhat worried. If the Little Princess feels uncomfortable anywhere, please be sure to tell me."
Qian Ying spoke very sweetly, as if she truly cared about Yu Sui's wellbeing.
But Yu Sui said after taking a sip of tea: "That won't do. My third brother won't let me come to you."
Qian Ying was surprised by her direct refusal and couldn't help but freeze.
Yu Sui continued: "Third Brother says you always poison him, so he doesn't dare go to the medical hall anymore."
Qian Ying's smile faded somewhat as she explained: "That's because he always targets Brother Gu, as you know, Little Princess."
"Third Brother says if someone is the least bit unkind to Brother Gu, you hate that person." Yu Sui lightly tapped her teacup with her finger: "I've recently had some estrangement with Brother Gu because of the Wen Yanghui incident. You definitely side with Brother Gu, and since Third Brother said that, I'm also somewhat afraid of you."
Qian Ying looked at Yu Sui across from her. The young girl lifted her eyelids slightly, her moist eyes looking over, obedient and docile.
Yu Sui had a face more innocent than Qian Ying's. She said softly: "You've become so capable now."
Though it was a compliment, Qian Ying felt her heart sink.
Qian Ying observed Yu Sui's expression and behavior, saying in a crisp voice: "Sheng Hao is Sheng Hao, the Little Princess is the Little Princess. I believe the Little Princess wouldn't do anything to Brother Gu. Wen Yanghui's actions were indeed wrong. His head wasn't clear, actually dragging the Little Princess into this."
"How can I calculate it that way?" Yu Sui shook her head, her gaze clear. She curved her lips slightly: "To you, Sheng Hao is Sheng Hao, but to me, Sheng Hao is my third brother, not some unrelated person."
Qian Ying's expression froze as she looked at Yu Sui, momentarily at a loss for words.
She and Yu Sui hadn't seen each other for many years, only knowing of Yu Sui's existence through Gu Qian. But Gu Qian had never said anything bad about Yu Sui. When mentioning past events, he would even say how helpful Yu Sui had been.
So Qian Ying would think Sheng Hao was just Sheng Hao, because he always caused trouble for Gu Qian, plus their childhood grudges.
Qian Ying had initially been indifferent toward Yu Sui, then felt she was on Gu Qian's side. Now, after hearing these words, she became wary of Yu Sui instead.
Nangong Sui was right. Sheng Hao was her real brother. She couldn't be like herself, wholeheartedly helping Brother Gu.
A flash of coldness passed through Qian Ying's bright eyes.
Xun Zhiya and Shu Chujun also walked over but didn't sit down.
Shu Chujun glared at Li Jin Shuang, her eyes moving between her and Yu Sui, directly questioning: "What are you doing here?"
Li Jin Shuang had just put down her chopsticks and hadn't answered when Yu Sui looked up: "I invited her to eat. Can't she accept?"
Shu Chujun: "I was asking Li Jin Shuang."
Yu Sui still held her teacup, sitting properly: "What I answered is also what Li Jin Shuang would say."
Shu Chujun glared at Yu Sui, then looked back at Li Jin Shuang with a tough attitude: "Li Jin Shuang, you answer for yourself!"
Xun Zhiya and Qian Ying also looked at Li Jin Shuang, wanting to hear her response.
Under everyone's gaze, Li Jin Shuang said quietly: "She invited me to eat."
"I just invited Li Jin Shuang for a meal. Why are you being so fierce with her?" Yu Sui looked at Shu Chujun with distant eyes: "Did she do something wrong by eating with me, or did I do something wrong by inviting Li Jin Shuang to eat?"
Shu Chujun laughed coldly, her gaze sweeping over Kong Yiyi: "When did your temper become so good that you could eat with someone who eliminated you from Dragon Slaying Cave?"
Kong Yiyi, suddenly called out, looked up and glanced around, saying "Hey": "I haven't eaten yet."
Kong Yiyi raised her eyebrows at Shu Chujun: "Dragon Slaying Cave trials are trials, eating is eating. What's there to discuss? Which school are you from to have such a narrow mind?"
Qian Ying smiled: "If it were a proper competition, there would naturally be nothing to say, but there was clearly premeditated targeting in Dragon Slaying Cave. Any school's disciple would be displeased."
"I can see you're quite unhappy." Kong Yiyi shrugged: "But I don't see Li Jin Shuang being unhappy anywhere."
Qian Ying rolled her eyes: "Senior Sister Kong is right. After all, you weren't the one eliminated."
Kong Yiyi smiled brightly: "Those who need to strengthen their cultivation due to inferior skills indeed aren't me."
"Exactly." Qian Ying wasn't annoyed either. As she stood up, her face was still smiling: "Because Senior Sister Kong needs to huddle together for warmth to win, you don't need to care too much about individual cultivation."
Kong Yiyi lifted her chin slightly, looking at the standing Qian Ying with interest: "I finally understand why Yuezhen doesn't like you."
Qian Ying bowed her head slightly with a smile: "Senior Sister Kong, who can be liked by everyone?"
Kong Yiyi nodded and also smiled: "It doesn't matter. At least you can achieve being hated by me."
Shu Chujun asked Li Jin Shuang: "Are you still going to sit here?"
Li Jin Shuang looked up at Xun Zhiya without responding.
Yu Sui also looked at Xun Zhiya. The tea in her cup was finished. She propped her head up with one hand, this posture making her appear somewhat lazy, but her question was curious: "Not letting Li Jin Shuang play with me, is this the Saint Maiden's idea?"
Xun Zhiya had been quietly watching from the beginning, not saying a word. Hearing Yu Sui's question, she only gave her a cool glance.
Shu Chujun instinctively moved to protect Xun Zhiya behind her, stepping forward to block Yu Sui's gaze: "I'm more curious why you're so protective of her. You were the one who got Li Jin Shuang to change back to women's clothing, weren't you? If you hadn't sweet-talked Li Jin Shuang, she wouldn't have made this unnecessary move."
"Sweet-talked? Unnecessary move?" Yu Sui supported herself on the table with one hand as she stood up.
Seeing Yu Sui walk around toward her, Shu Chujun just raised her eyebrows. She felt something was wrong with Li Jin Shuang and Yu Sui's relationship, and now that she'd asked, she wanted to see if they dared answer openly.
Yu Sui came before Shu Chujun and smiled at her, then raised her hand and slapped her across the face, striking quickly and sharply. The crisp sound of the slap rang out, stunning everyone present.
This slap came so unexpectedly that no one had anticipated it. Shu Chujun took it squarely, half her face immediately turning red.
"Nangong Sui?!" As Shu Chujun turned her head back while covering her face, she was both angry and furious.
As soon as Shu Chujun finished speaking, Xun Zhiya and Qian Ying reacted and were about to act. Li Jin Shuang and Kong Yiyi, who had been sitting, also instantly stood up. The swords at their waists were drawn an inch, producing clear sword cries.
Golden protective energy ignited around all four, and battle seemed about to break out, but was interrupted by the voices of several people entering the dining hall:
"Isn't this Han Bing's little sister?" The man standing beside Gu Qian wore dark gold robes with black Divine Wood Signs hanging from his waist. His hands were pillowed behind his head in a lazy posture as he looked at Yu Sui, who had just hit someone, with a half-smile.
Behind the gold-robed man stood another person, a green-robed man with his hair styled in a Taoist tai chi knot, all pulled back behind his head, making his face appear gaunt. His expression was cold as he merely glanced at the group about to fight.
Gu Qian looked at Yu Sui and the others ahead, his brows slightly furrowed. Before he could speak, he glimpsed more people entering from behind.
Arriving a step later were Mei Liangyu and Nian Qiuyan.
Nian Qiuyan walked ahead, guiding Mei Liangyu, who was looking down at his Wind-Listening Ruler. After entering the dining hall, he first noticed Gu Qian and the other two standing in the middle, so he stopped and lightly nudged Mei Liangyu with his elbow, who wasn't watching where he was going and was about to continue forward.
Only then did Mei Liangyu look up.
Besides Gu Qian, there was Technical Arts School disciple Zhang Xiangyun and Taoist School disciple Luo Fu, all now looking at Mei Liangyu and Nian Qiuyan.
Neither side looked pleased to see friends. Luo Fu still had a cold face, while Zhang Xiangyun didn't lower his hands from behind his head. Instead, he stepped forward, his tall frame blocking Mei Liangyu's path as he said "Oh" with a half-smile.
Meeting his challenging gaze, Mei Liangyu put away his Wind-Listening Ruler and said unhurriedly: "How unlucky."
Zhang Xiangyun laughed at this, politely stepping aside with a gentlemanly bow, gesturing "please proceed."
With this move, Mei Liangyu could see Yu Sui and the others ahead.
Gu Qian had already taken a step toward Yu Sui and the others. Mei Liangyu moved forward, but after just one step, he sensed the oppressive weight of Five Elements energy around him, the pressure released by trigram formations seeming to crush him in place.
The trigram formation had just begun when Nian Qiuyan, walking behind Mei Liangyu, reached out and grabbed Zhang Xiangyun's Divine Wood Sign from thin air, snapping it in half.
Mei Liangyu's peripheral vision swept over Zhang Xiangyun. Serpentine golden lightning had already coiled around his neck from behind, forcing Zhang Xiangyun to lower his hands from behind his head.
The golden lightning wrapped around Zhang Xiangyun's neck flashed, and just as it was about to touch his skin, Luo Fu's azure thunder hand crushed it.
Both sides stopped and looked at each other with inscrutable expressions.
Yu Sui tilted her head toward the dining hall's main entrance, somewhat puzzled. She hadn't even started fighting yet, so why had those over there beaten her to it?