"Twenty-four for shoulders, six and eight for feet, left three and right seven, wear nine and step one!"
As Zi Linling's voice fell, the forty-five spirit stones, divided into nine portions, were placed on the diagram, with two, nine, and four in the first row, seven, five, and three in the second, and six, one, and eight in the third.
In the magic square, whether viewed horizontally, vertically, or diagonally, the numbers in each row added up to fifteen.
As the spirit stones landed in the magic square, it began to spin rapidly, and the door to the "Ling" Treasury opened.
A voice devoid of emotion stated, "Correct answer. Please enter the treasure vault!"
Zi Linling smiled and walked in with graceful steps. She then understood why it was called the "Ling" Treasury.
For within this "Ling" Treasury, apart from spirit stones piled high as mountains, there was nothing else.
Zi Linling surveyed the surroundings and found that the spirit stones here were all either high-grade or peak-grade spirit stones. Mid-grade and low-grade spirit stones seemingly didn't qualify to be kept here.
With so many spirit stones, how could Zi Linling let them gather dust?
Without a word, she summoned Yiran again and collected all the spirit stones into the Goddess's Palace. Then, using her power of law, she carved a message onto the wall.
"The Heavenly Demon Valley imprisoned my mother for twenty years. These treasures are considered compensation!"
Beneath the characters, she left her signature: Ghost Hand Poison Doctor Zi Linling!
Having accomplished this, Zi Linling swaggered out.
As she exited, she bumped into a few guards. However, upon seeing that it was Demon Seven, they respectfully bowed and departed.
Zi Linling, thus, brazenly made her way towards the exit of the Heavenly Demon Valley.
But even the luckiest person has their unlucky days.
Perhaps Zi Linling's good fortune had been completely depleted in the treasure vault.
Therefore, as she reached the valley entrance, she encountered Mo Da, who was rushing back.
"Seventh, weren't you ordered to pursue the Saintess and the intruder? Why are you still in the valley?" Mo Da asked with a stern face.
Zi Linling was momentarily stunned, then smiled and said, "Eldest Brother, I was just about to pursue them, but I was worried about Fang'er, so I sent him back first."
"Indeed. You must discipline that brat Mo Fang strictly. His transgressions this time will be dealt with after we apprehend the Saintess and the intruder!"
Mo Da's earlier anger seemed to have subsided somewhat, and his tone softened.
"Yes!"
Zi Linling agreed verbally, but in her heart, she thought, "That brat actually dared to have designs on my mother. You better kill him for me!"
Mo Da nodded and quickly brushed past Zi Linling.
Suddenly, his brow furrowed. He formed his fingers into a claw and lunged towards Zi Linling, shouting, "You are not the Seventh! Who are you?"
Zi Linling had been prepared. The Phantom Dragon Steps at her feet instantly activated, and she dodged Mo Da's grasp, laughing, "Since you've seen through me, I won't pretend anymore!"
With that, she willed it, and her disguise vanished.
Her stunningly beautiful face was immediately revealed to Mo Da.
"The Saintess?"
Mo Da exclaimed in shock, but quickly realized something was amiss. He shook his head and said, "You are not the Saintess. Who are you?"
Zi Linling's eyes turned cold. "You imprisoned my mother for twenty years. Wasn't it to find me?"
Mo Da was so shocked that he scrutinized Zi Linling thoroughly. "You are that bastard child?"
Zi Linling retorted furiously, "You are the bastard child! Your whole family are bastard children!"
Mo Da laughed heartily. "Truly, it is said that when you search high and low for something, it appears before you without effort! Since you are here, you shall not leave!"
As his words fell, his figure flashed, and he lunged at Zi Linling once more.
The Phantom Dragon Steps at Zi Linling's feet activated again, and she effortlessly evaded Mo Da's attack, rushing towards the valley entrance.
Facing just one Mo Da, Zi Linling did not take him too seriously. After all, no matter how powerful Mo Da was, he still had a considerable gap compared to the peak Divine Lord realm expert, Gui Di.
Therefore, while she might not necessarily defeat Mo Da, she was not afraid of him.
The reason Zi Linling did not wish to get entangled with Mo Da was the fear of attracting the other eight elders of the demon race. If that happened, it would be difficult for her to escape, as nine Divine Lord realm experts were not easy to deal with.
Mo Da sneered coldly, "Trying to run? Is it that easy! Those at the valley entrance, stop her!"
His command was issued, but the guards hesitated for a moment.
In that brief pause, Zi Linling dashed past them.
By the time the guards turned around, intending to obey Mo Da's order, it was already too late.
Zi Linling exited the Heavenly Demon Valley and fled at full speed, her target being the entrance to the Underworld passage in the Heavenly Demon Domain.
Seeing that the guards had failed to stop Zi Linling, Mo Da cursed them furiously, "A bunch of useless fools!"
Then, he pursued in the direction Zi Linling had fled.
Chasing and being chased, they covered twenty miles in the blink of an eye.
Suddenly, Zi Linling's expression changed drastically.
For ahead of her was a team that had been dispatched to pursue her earlier.
Leading the team were Mo Er, Mo Liu, and Mo Jiu, among the nine great elders of the demon race.
Although their cultivation levels were not as high as Mo Da's, they were still solid Divine Lord realm experts. Mo Er, in particular, was in the mid-stage of the Divine Lord realm, just one step away from the late stage.
The moment Zi Linling spotted Mo Er and the others, Mo Er also saw Zi Linling and Mo Da, who was chasing her.
Thus, Mo Er and his group immediately turned and closed in on Zi Linling.
With jackals in front and tigers behind, Zi Linling had no choice but to change direction and flee north, not wanting to be caught in a pincer movement.
Mo Da and Mo Er, Mo Liu, and Mo Jiu reunited and pursued Zi Linling.
As for the ordinary soldiers of the Heavenly Demon Valley, they were quickly outrun and disappeared from sight.
Zi Linling's mind raced.
She had heard Mo Da issue the pursuit order earlier.
Therefore, Zi Linling knew that if she continued heading north, she would encounter a group led by Mo Si and Mo Qi.
What she needed to do now was to shake off Mo Da, Mo Er, Mo Liu, and Mo Jiu behind her before encountering Mo Si and Mo Qi.
Of course, killing them was impossible, so the only way was to outrun these pursuers.
How to outrun them?
Zi Linling had a sudden inspiration and changed direction, heading east.
Since Mo Er, Mo Liu, and Mo Jiu, who were responsible for the eastern sector, were currently behind her, there was no one blocking her path to the east.
Moreover, the entrance to the Underworld passage in the Heavenly Demon Domain was conveniently located to the east.
Zi Linling pushed her speed to its absolute limit, yet she could not widen the distance between them.
After all, her cultivation was only at the mid-stage of the Divine King realm.
Although she had an extra minor realm in each major stage compared to others, and her reserves of spiritual and law power were far greater, the realm itself still limited her speed.