Chapter 419 : Not an Outsider
In cultivator battles, especially those between high-level cultivators, the situation can change in an instant.
Zhu Baiyi had been fighting evenly with the Nine Abyss Sect Leader, but now that a moment's distraction had allowed her opponent to seize an opening, the battle took a sharp turn for the worse. Ordinary low-level cultivators might not notice anything amiss, but observers—whether Qingyu or Jiang Mo and Yun Qingyue hiding in the demonic vessel—could all see the situation becoming increasingly unfavorable for Zhu Baiyi.
Jiang Mo grew increasingly concerned, grabbing Yun Qingyue's wing just as she once tugged at her Senior Sister's sleeve: "Ah Yue, the Sect Leader's situation seems to be getting worse. Are we really going to just watch without helping?"
Yun Qingyue was also worried. She looked at the distant battle, then at Jiang Mo, and finally said: "I'll go, you..." can't go!
Before she could finish speaking, she suddenly felt a slight pain on her wing. Turning her head, she saw that the little tiger had unthinkingly pulled out one of her feathers. Yet the latter remained oblivious, exclaiming: "Ah Yue, look quickly!"
Hearing her excited shout, Yun Qingyue immediately turned her gaze toward the window.
In the sky above, the thick dark clouds were suddenly split by a snow-white sword light. The massive sword shadow seemed to cleave the heavens, descending with tremendous force. Where the sword light passed, cultivators engaged in battle hastily abandoned their opponents and fled, countless escape lights soaring skyward, their frantic demeanor suggesting boundless disarray.
Finally, this sword strike fell, aimed at the two Great Achievement cultivators locked in battle... Uninformed onlookers worried for the sword-wielder, fearing that one strike would directly provoke two Great Achievement cultivators.
However, after receiving this attack, Zhu Baiyi and the Nine Abyss Sect Leader merely retreated from each other without immediately launching counterattacks.
Zhu Baiyi knew who had delivered the strike, and with her heart full of sweet joy, she naturally wouldn't attack her. The Nine Abyss Sect Leader, however, was filled with misgivings and couldn't help but overthink—after all, he had previously held the advantage, and this sudden attack had clearly disrupted his rhythm.
"Who are you, and why do you interfere in matters between our two sects?" The Nine Abyss Sect Leader's expression was somber, dark emotions churning in his eyes, but he ultimately suppressed his many feelings and only asked this one question.
By now, Qingyu had altered her appearance, though her eyes remained exactly the same as before. Someone as familiar with her as Zhu Baiyi could naturally recognize her identity at a glance through her eyes, but others wouldn't find it so easy. Especially the mysterious Nine Abyss Sect Leader, who had barely encountered her before—he was momentarily unable to discern her identity.
Qingyu certainly wouldn't satisfy the Nine Abyss Sect Leader's curiosity. Having already intervened, she naturally had no reason to stop after just one strike. So, with pursed lips and without another word, she sent another sword light cleaving toward the Nine Abyss Sect Leader, brilliant with spiritual light and imposing in might...
The battle between two people quickly became three, and though Qingyu remained silent, she and Zhu Baiyi collaborated with perfect tacit understanding.
Seeing the situation change once more, the Nine Abyss Sect Leader's eyes grew increasingly dark—he truly hadn't recognized Qingyu's identity. After all, she had advanced to Great Achievement not long ago, and had undergone her tribulation elsewhere, so others naturally didn't know that Xuanqing Sect had gained another young Great Achievement cultivator. Subsequently, events had unfolded in rapid succession, and Qingyu's advancement ceremony hadn't been held, so the Nine Abyss Sect Leader assumed she was a hidden Great Achievement cultivator from Crimson Blood Sect.
Two against one—the effect was significant, and the battle situation changed yet again.
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In the distant demonic vessel, Jiang Mo and Yun Qingyue vaguely recognized the newcomer's identity, exchanging bewildered glances.
After a while, Jiang Mo cleared her throat softly and said: "Ah Yue, sometimes you really don't need to deliberately avoid suspicion. Look at this now..." Master has already stepped in, so what does a disciple who left the sect have to worry about?
Yun Qingyue remained silent, not wanting to speak. Additionally, seeing the two join forces on the battlefield, she felt confident about the battle's outcome. So she stopped watching, withdrew her gaze, and turned away.
"Hey, Ah Yue, aren't you going to watch anymore?" Jiang Mo asked in surprise.
Yun Qingyue raised her wing and waved it slightly, seemingly uninterested, but as she turned to leave, her eyes revealed a contemplative expression.
Jiang Mo didn't notice her expression, as her attention was no longer on the outside—she suddenly noticed that when her Senior Sister waved her wing, the neat and beautiful feathers seemed to be missing one. Looking down, she saw a white feather clutched in her own hand...
In that moment, Jiang Mo almost blacked out, the entire tiger nearly falling apart.
"You..." Yun Qingyue happened to turn back, seemingly wanting to say something, but upon turning her head, she saw Jiang Mo hastily hiding her hand behind her back.
Jiang Mo kept her hand behind her back, a drop of cold sweat sliding down her forehead: "W-what is it?"
Yun Qingyue suddenly sighed, turned around again, and waved her wing: "Never mind, it's nothing. You can keep that feather."
Jiang Mo immediately widened her eyes in surprise, not expecting that her Senior Sister would let her off so lightly and even leave the feather with her—although the feathers on a Swan Goose's wings weren't as beautiful as the tail feathers, nor did they carry the same special meaning, the Little Swan Goose's love of beauty meant she was naturally unwilling to lose even a single feather. She remembered that when Sect Leader Zhu had plucked a feather from her wing before, the Little Swan Goose had held a grudge for a long time.
Receiving this special gift, Jiang Mo felt extremely excited. The system, silent for so long, seemed to sense her emotions and suddenly issued a notification:
"Congratulations to the host for obtaining a token of love. Keep up the good work and win the beauty soon... Reward: 500 points."
The reward wasn't much, but Jiang Mo didn't focus on that. She looked excitedly at the words "token of love," asking the system in a daze: "System, what's going on? Senior Sister didn't say anything about a token of love?"
The system stuttered as usual: "According to, records, birds have, have the habit of, giving feathers when, seeking love."
Jiang Mo suddenly understood, partly disbelieving, partly wanting to deceive herself—after all, she had accidentally pulled out this feather, and her Senior Sister might have given it to her just to ease her anxiety. Regardless, she would treasure this feather, believing that sooner or later, its significance would become exactly what the system suggested!
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Inside the demonic vessel, the two small creatures each harbored their own thoughts.
On the battlefield, the Nine Abyss Sect Leader finally succumbed to their joint attack.
As Qingyu delivered another sword strike, the Nine Abyss Sect Leader used the momentum to retreat and dodge, then fled without looking back.
Zhu Baiyi turned to glance at Qingyu, hesitated for a moment, but ultimately didn't pursue—she knew Qingyu had intervened solely to help her, but given the current situation, it wasn't appropriate to let her wade deeper into this muddy water, so ending here was sufficient.
With the Nine Abyss Sect Leader's retreat, the remaining Nine Abyss Sect disciples naturally suffered a severe drop in morale and dared not linger. In just a few breaths, the vast majority had withdrawn along with the Nine Abyss Sect Leader. The few who were entangled with Crimson Blood Sect disciples and couldn't escape would never escape now—they either became prisoners or souls under the sword.
The entire battlefield was permeated with a heavy smell of blood, but cleaning up the battlefield was clearly not a concern for figures like the Sect Leader and Elders. Zhu Baiyi approached with sparkling eyes, asking Qingyu, who had just sheathed her sword: "Why did you come?"
Qingyu silently put away her sword, her lips pressed together without speaking, her expression revealing a hint of awkwardness.
Zhu Baiyi understood immediately—Qingyu was concerned for her but unwilling to admit it.
Their relationship was obviously much better than two years ago, which secretly delighted Zhu Baiyi. However, before she could say anything more intimate, several Elders suddenly surrounded them.
Most people in Crimson Blood Sect were combative and revered the strong. A Great Achievement cultivator suddenly appearing on the battlefield to help naturally drew everyone's attention. They had discussed this earlier but couldn't identify the newcomer. Now that the battle was over, the Elders naturally approached, both to inquire about her identity and to express their recruitment intentions.
The seemingly most amiable Grand Elder was the first to squeeze out a smile, asking Qingyu: "May I ask fellow Daoist's name? How did you happen to appear on the battlefield between us and Nine Abyss Sect?"
Zhu Baiyi glanced at the Grand Elder, thinking his smile looked somewhat creepy, making her feel uncomfortable.
Qingyu's gaze swept over Zhu Baiyi's peculiar expression, but she didn't answer, clearly having no intention of revealing her identity.
Seeing this, the Grand Elder's eyes flickered slightly as he continued: "Does fellow Daoist have some difficulty in revealing your identity? Rest assured, we are all trustworthy people and will certainly not disclose fellow Daoist's identity."
He was determined to get to the bottom of this, after all, at this critical moment of war between the two sects, with traitors even within their own sect, how could they trust someone who suddenly appeared on the battlefield? What if this person was in league with the Nine Abyss Sect Leader, specifically staging this act to gain their trust? He couldn't risk that!
The Grand Elder's attitude was somewhat forceful, and Qingyu could guess his concerns, but her identity was truly difficult to disclose—she had known when she came that Zhu Baiyi's cooperation with Xuanqing Sect was her personal action, unknown to Crimson Blood Sect.
Seeing that Qingyu still refused to speak, the Grand Elder's expression grew increasingly grave. Zhu Baiyi cleared her throat and finally said: "Don't worry, she's not an outsider... She is Qingyue's mother."