Chapter 289 : She Doesn't Dare
The moment Jiang Mo returned to her Innate Space, she reverted to human form.
She immediately spotted her Senior Sister in the space, sitting cross-legged but not cultivating. Jiang Mo had assumed that her Senior Sister had already refined the Formation-Breaking Pearl, but upon approaching, she discovered this wasn't the case—the Formation-Breaking Pearl was a small golden bead inscribed with numerous magical symbols, currently being examined and toyed with in Yun Qingyue's hand. Judging by the leaking spiritual energy, it hadn't been refined.
After a moment's hesitation, Jiang Mo asked: "Senior Sister, why haven't you refined it?" Fearing Yun Qingyue might misunderstand, she quickly explained: "This is a Formation-Breaking Pearl. Once you refine it, you'll be able to recover your spiritual power outside."
Yun Qingyue wasn't startled by Jiang Mo's sudden voice, nor was she tempted by the explanation. She flicked her finger, tossing the pearl back.
Jiang Mo caught it, her expression revealing confusion: "Senior Sister?"
Yun Qingyue stood up, smoothing her robes: "One shouldn't accept rewards without merit. This Formation-Breaking Pearl is too valuable; I cannot accept it."
Jiang Mo was momentarily stunned, having never anticipated rejection. In her mind, there had never been any distinction between them, so naturally, she wouldn't place much importance on a mere Formation-Breaking Pearl. But evidently, her Senior Sister didn't share this view—she must consider Jiang Mo an outsider, which was why she refused to accept her gift!
This thought surfaced in her mind, causing her hand gripping the pearl to tighten, leaving her somewhat at a loss. However, she quickly regained her composure and casually replied: "It's not that valuable. Senior Sister, as you know, divine beasts naturally possess treasure-seeking abilities, making such items easy for me to obtain. Besides, if you hadn't rescued me back then and brought me to the Xuanqing Sect, I wouldn't have survived."
As her words fell, Jiang Mo seemed to hear the system emit a scoff, which she pretended not to notice.
Meanwhile, Yun Qingyue wasn't easily persuaded. She had her own considerations: "Regardless of how easily you obtained this Formation-Breaking Pearl or how you view it, it's extremely valuable to me. As for rescuing you back then, that was merely a chance encounter. Since then, you've saved me too and given me treasures like the Ice Soul Condensation Pearl—that debt has long been repaid."
The Ice Soul Condensation Pearl was truly a remarkable treasure. Considering it cost twice as much as the formation-breaking pearl that could break ten thousand formations, its extraordinary nature was evident. Indeed, even after eighty years, with Yun Qingyue having reached the Spirit Division realm, the Ice Soul Condensation Pearl still benefited her immensely.
But Jiang Mo had long forgotten about the Ice Soul Condensation Pearl. Hearing Yun Qingyue's words now, her focus fixated on the term "repaid." She felt vaguely uncomfortable, as such clear-cut distinctions implied distance between them—which was understandable. After all, her Senior Sister had only raised the tiger for a year or two, followed by eighty years of separation, a period that encompassed most of Yun Qingyue's life. No wonder there was such a gap.
These thoughts left Jiang Mo feeling powerless, as if all progress had been undone. She tossed the Formation-Breaking Pearl back: "I've already used a Formation-Breaking Pearl, so this one is useless to me. We're currently on the merperson island with unresolved dangers, and Peak Master is still unconscious. If you use the Formation-Breaking Pearl, you'll add another fighter to our ranks. If you don't use it, have you considered what might happen if I can't protect all of you?"
Yun Qingyue caught the pearl and wanted to say more, but upon hearing "can't protect," her brows furrowed. After eighty years of solitary cultivation and experience, she had developed the habit of relying entirely on herself and had no intention of becoming someone's burden.
Yet she couldn't bring herself to say "I don't need your protection," because the reality was that her cultivation level was inferior to Jiang Mo's, and she had lost her spiritual power.
Yun Qingyue's visible struggle frustrated Jiang Mo—she had thought that removing her disguise would increase her Senior Sister's affection due to their past relationship, but instead, Yun Qingyue still maintained a clear boundary between them. This irritated the tiger while also making her anxious. If their past connection couldn't earn her any favor, was she truly just a stranger in her Senior Sister's heart?!
Growing increasingly uneasy, Jiang Mo decided to end the conversation: "The situation outside isn't good, and I don't have time to stay here. Senior Sister, please refine this Formation-Breaking Pearl quickly. Once you've completed the refinement, I'll let you out to help."
With these words, Jiang Mo didn't even wait for Yun Qingyue's response, fleeing the Innate Space as if in retreat.
The system, no longer specifically blocked in the Innate Space, had witnessed the entire scene and commented with a tsk: "You can't even give a gift successfully. Host, you're quite conflicted. Have you ever considered just confessing directly?"
Jiang Mo didn't respond to this, nor had she considered direct confession, because she didn't dare.
༻༺❀༻✧⋆｡°✩☽༓☾✩°｡⋆✧༺❀༻༺
The conversation between Jiang Mo and Yun Qingyue wasn't lengthy. When she emerged, she had reverted to human form again—having used the Formation-Breaking Pearl, she could now mobilize her spiritual power, and the energy within her body was no longer draining away. Because of this, she also noticed that the spiritual energy on this merperson island was unusually scarce, so scarce that if cultivators were to begin their cultivation journey here, they would struggle even to reach the Foundation Establishment stage.
In contrast, her Innate Space now had a small spiritual vein. While not abundant, it provided a normal concentration of spiritual energy, making it much easier to refine treasures or transform into human form.
The White Tiger had reverted to her familiar human appearance, her mask gone, yet none of those present showed any surprise.
Qingyu was still looking at Jiang Mo, waiting for her answer.
Jiang Mo maintained her composure and replied: "She has something delaying her and will come out later." Then, glancing at the still fish-like merperson nearby, she added: "No need to wait for her. Let's deal with the current situation first."
What was the current situation? Besides the merperson, there was the altar and the large number of cultivators controlled by merperson blood!
Qingyu trusted that the White Tiger wouldn't harm Yun Qingyue, so she didn't press further. However, upon turning to see the half-dead state of the merperson, she couldn't help but furrow her brows: "If that's the case, we should first make him release his control over everyone."
Jiang Mo nodded, walked over, and kicked the merperson lightly: "Stop playing dead. I know these injuries are nothing to you and you'll recover quickly. But if you don't release your control over those cultivators, you might just become a dead fish." Seeing the merperson remain motionless, she added: "I hear you're the last merperson. Tsk, tsk, your race is facing extinction."
Evidently, such precisely targeted mockery was extremely effective. The previously fish-like merperson finally moved. He glared angrily at Jiang Mo but didn't yield to her threat. Instead, he gave another cold laugh: "Extinction is extinction. There are plenty of people who will accompany our merperson race in death."
Hearing this, Jiang Mo stared at him for several moments, recognizing that he wasn't bluffing—his eyes were filled with certainty and undisguised malice.
Everyone present heard this and understood the merperson was speaking truthfully. None of them were fools; they instinctively looked toward the nearby altar. After all this delay, without fresh blood sacrifices, the blood-colored formation on the platform flickered. The intermittent glow reflected in their eyes, inexplicably generating a sense of foreboding and dread.
Zhu Baiyi spoke up: "What exactly is this altar for?"
The altar was obviously for sacrifice, but who was being sacrificed to, and for what purpose—that needed clarification.
Unfortunately, the merperson had no intention of answering. Instead, madness flickered in his eyes, giving those who met his gaze a chilling sensation.
The group wasn't frightened, but they did feel uneasy. Just as Jiang Mo was considering harsh interrogation, Qingyu said: "Blood sacrifices are never for anything good. Regardless of who they're sacrificing to or what the purpose is, it's better to destroy such an altar."
To Zhu Baiyi, Qingyu's words were like Senior Sister's words to Jiang Mo—not to be questioned or disputed.
Immediately, Zhu Baiyi responded with agreement, then took out a jade talisman. After crushing it, a full-strength attack from a Grand Achievement cultivator surged toward the altar—this was her own creation. Years ago, when Yun Qingyue was rescued and brought to the Crimson Blood Sect, Zhu Baiyi had anticipated she wouldn't stay long, so she had specially crafted several jade talismans for her protection. However, since Yun Qingyue had refused to accept them, these talismans remained in her possession.
The merperson island was fraught with dangers. Even for Zhu Baiyi, a Grand Achievement cultivator, losing her spiritual power had caused her to suffer and face peril. These self-made talismans were now equivalent to her life-saving trump cards, which she had been reluctant to use.
For other situations, Zhu Baiyi could always find solutions, but using one now to destroy the altar seemed worthwhile.
Although everyone present had high cultivation levels, facing the magnificent power of a Grand Achievement cultivator's full-strength attack, they all felt some pressure and even fear. The attack landed on the altar with tremendous force, kicking up clouds of dust.
The more complex a formation, the more fragile it tends to be. Setting one up requires enormous effort, but destroying it might only take an instant. Piercing the formation's critical point or disrupting its integrity would render the entire formation ineffective... They had destroyed formations this way before, aptly calling it "brute force conquers all," and it had proven consistently effective.
However, this time their expectations were disappointed. The smiles had barely formed on their lips when they saw the billowing dust slowly settle, revealing the altar still intact beneath, its red-glowing formation still flickering. The earth-shattering attack seemed like a joke.
But that was a full-strength move from a Grand Achievement cultivator, imposing and mighty—how could it have been so ineffective, as if diluted?!
The shock on Jiang Mo and the others' faces vanished quickly. Even Tan Xin couldn't help but glance twice at the altar, his surprise evident. In contrast, the previously sullen merperson suddenly burst into laughter. Between laughs, he mockingly told the group: "You think you few can break this altar? What a joke, truly laughable. Go ahead, bring out whatever other abilities you have."
Hearing this, the group immediately realized something. Jiang Mo grabbed the merperson from the ground: "What do you mean? What exactly is this altar's purpose? We might not be able to destroy it for now, but we certainly have the strength to throw you onto it as a sacrifice."
The merperson's expression changed several times in an instant. Jiang Mo could even see the well-hidden fear in his eyes... This was the first time, even after being captured, beaten, and threatened, that he had shown any sign of compromise, let alone fear.
So what secret was hidden on that altar that could elicit such an expression from this otherwise impassive fish-man?!