Elder Qu of the Xuan Qing Sect was a rare cultivator who practiced both talismans and sound cultivation.
When Xu Yi was still at the Xuan Qing Sect, she had sought guidance from Elder Qu on his talisman-making skills under the introduction of Long Haotian.
The most common method of making talismans on the Nine Continents was to sketch talisman patterns with spiritual ink on talisman paper, and the talisman was formed when the ink broke.
Elder Qu, however, refined spiritual medicine into talisman paper and then carved patterns within it using spiritual power. This method allowed the spiritual talismans to hold more spiritual power but was quite costly.
Therefore, even though Elder Qu's talisman-making skills were superb, he was never stingy about teaching his craft. However, due to too many limitations, his skills did not spread throughout the Nine Continents.
It was precisely because of this that Xu Yi could easily identify these talisman papers as Elder Qu's work.
Upon hearing Xu Yi's explanation, Qu Xiaoxiao's eyes suddenly sparkled with surprise.
She, of course, knew her father's talisman-making skills were unique. After all, her father had complained about it to her quite a few times and had even intended to pass this skill down to her.
However, she was not interested in making spiritual talismans, so she didn't let her father succeed.
Xu Yi's explanation was logical and reasonable, with no flaws to be found.
But Qu Xiaoxiao had learned a lot from the events of the past few days. Although she believed Xu Yi's words immediately, she still cautiously asked, "May I ask who you are?"
Xu Yi smiled faintly, "I am Xu Yi from the Xuan Ji Sect, and this is my fellow disciple..."
"Senior Sister Xu! You are Senior Sister Xu!"
Qu Xiaoxiao could hardly believe her ears.
She instinctively took two steps forward, staring intently at Xu Yi without blinking. Soon, she matched Xu Yi with the person in front of her as Senior Brother Wang had told her.
"You know me?"
Xu Yi raised her eyebrows in surprise.
It had been over a hundred years since she last visited the Xuan Qing Sect, and she didn't expect any disciples from the Xuan Qing Sect to recognize her.
Had they met before?
Xu Yi thought for a moment, then shook her head, having no recollection at all.
"Senior Sister Xu, it really is you!" Tears welled up in Qu Xiaoxiao's eyes. She boldly reached out and grabbed Xu Yi's arm, crying out with a choked voice, "Senior Sister Xu, save us! Senior Brother Long and the others are in danger!"
"Senior Brother Long?" Xu Yi was startled, then her expression changed slightly, "You mean Long Haotian and the others."
"Yes! And Senior Brother Wang Yi'an, Senior Brother Chen Tao!" Qu Xiaoxiao replied between sobs.
"In which direction are they?"
"West."
As Qu Xiaoxiao finished speaking, Xu Yi grabbed her arm, tapped her foot, and immediately sped towards the west.
"Ji Buwang, help me keep an eye on the surroundings."
"Alright."
Ji Buwang also knew Long Haotian and knew that Long Haotian had a close relationship with Xu Yi, so he answered very promptly.
Xu Yi didn't relax. Thinking of Qu Xiaoxiao's frightened expression just now, she guessed that the situation must be extremely critical.
If she had known that Qu Xiaoxiao was from the Xuan Qing Sect earlier, she would have acted then, and wouldn't have wasted so much time.
Xu Yi also hadn't expected to encounter Long Haotian and his group here.
However, upon closer thought, she didn't find it strange.
The opening of the West Water Domain Secret Realm had attracted cultivators from all over the Nine Continents. The Xuan Qing Sect was the sect closest to the West Water Domain among the five major sects. It was only natural for Xuan Qing Sect disciples to venture into the West Water Domain Secret Realm for trials.
Since their parting at the Sect Assembly, Xu Yi and the other three had occasionally exchanged words but had never met.
It was in such a critical situation that they met again, which made Xu Yi feel worried.
Qu Xiaoxiao watched the scenery quickly passing by, silently praying that she would arrive in time to save them.
"Found them, that way."
Ji Buwang's divine sense had a much wider range than Xu Yi's. Within ten breaths, he had already sensed the presence of Long Haotian and the other two.
However, upon sensing their condition, his brows subtly furrowed. He pointed in a direction to Xu Yi, then suddenly accelerated, leaving Xu Yi and Qu Xiaoxiao behind, and disappeared.
Xu Yi's heart sank.
If the situation wasn't urgent, Ji Buwang wouldn't have left them behind.
Had Long Haotian and the other two already...
Xu Yi stopped thinking, her spiritual power in her meridians surged madly, and she accelerated once more.
Meanwhile.
Ji Buwang had appeared beside Long Haotian.
He sealed the bleeding wounds on Long Haotian's body with spiritual power, "Long Haotian, can you still speak?"
At this moment, Long Haotian was tightly clutching a short knife, with dark red bloodstains clinging to the blade.
Even more shocking was that his entire body was covered in knife wounds, with almost no intact skin remaining.
Behind him, Wang Yi'an and Chen Tao lay on the ground, their faces contorted in pain, with an eerie red glow emanating from them, yet they bore no wounds.
Long Haotian's eyes were still unfocused. After Ji Buwang called out a few times, he vaguely raised his head.
"Lu... Lu Zaiye... why do I see you..."
After recognizing Ji Buwang's alias with narrowed eyes, Long Haotian inexplicably revealed a look of disdain.
Ji Buwang: ...
Seeing that Long Haotian's consciousness was not entirely clear, Ji Buwang reached out to feel his wrist.
Hot!
The temperature was like a dan furnace.
Ji Buwang's brows furrowed, and he had a guess.
"Mmm..."
Due to Ji Buwang's touch, Long Haotian's body trembled. The consciousness he had just regained immediately vanished, his eyes became more hazy, and he let out a hot sigh from his mouth.
Ji Buwang withdrew his hand and struck Long Haotian's shoulder and neck with a spiritual light.
Long Haotian grunted, tilted his head back, and fell unconscious.
Ji Buwang then waved his hand and injected a cool spiritual power into the bodies of the three, which alleviated the pain on their faces.
It was at this time that Xu Yi finally arrived with Qu Xiaoxiao.
"Senior Brother Long! Senior Brother Wang!"
Qu Xiaoxiao was terrified when she saw the three lying on the ground.
Especially when she saw Long Haotian covered in blood, she almost fainted.
Xu Yi supported her. After she managed to stand steadily, she immediately staggered towards the three and knelt before Long Haotian, crying heartbrokenly.
The broken cries dyed the entire dense forest with a touch of sorrow.
"Stop crying, they're not dead."
Xu Yi was also startled by the scene at first, but after carefully sensing their faint breaths, the heavy weight in her heart finally lifted.
However, Qu Xiaoxiao couldn't hear Xu Yi's words. She was immersed in her grief and couldn't extricate herself.
She blamed herself entirely for everything that had happened today, wishing she could take their place.
Seeing her crying so sadly, Xu Yi decided not to persuade her further. Sometimes, venting emotions was also a good way to regulate the mind and body.
"What's the situation?" Xu Yi looked at Ji Buwang.
Ji Buwang shook his head slightly.
Xu Yi's heart skipped a beat.
Even Ji Buwang found it troublesome, so it seemed the situation was not as optimistic as she had imagined.
"The three of them seem to be poisoned, and it's a fire poison. Their bodies are like furnaces, frantically absorbing the surrounding fire elements. If the fire elements cannot be removed, the three of them will be burned to death by the excessive fire elements within their bodies."