Looking at Baili Yang before her, Feng Qingcheng inexplicably felt disgusted.
At the critical moment, this person could not help at all.
With a slight flick of Feng Ninghe's fingers, Baili Yang was rendered completely defenseless.
How could such a man be worthy of her?
Only the King of the Underworld from Xiyou Continent, the noble Si Jianye, was worthy of her. Everyone else was only fit to carry her shoes.
Feng Qingcheng calmly withdrew her thoughts, her bright eyes holding an unfathomable depth. "King Zhenyang, you have worked hard. Once I have dealt with Feng Ninghe, I will thank you properly."
Baili Yang had secretly helped a lot, and it had been of some use, more or less.
Feng Qingcheng did not take his efforts to heart. In her eyes, no one could compare to Si Jianye.
In this world, only Si Jianye was worthy of her.
These words were merely pleasantries.
However, a brilliant smile spread across Baili Yang's face, his voice deep. "Qingcheng, I did everything willingly. As long as I can help you, I am content. I never expected any reward from you."
He secretly straightened his chest at this moment.
In all of Jinling, only he was worthy of Feng Qingcheng, and he was the man most qualified to stand by her side.
He believed that if he gave enough, Feng Qingcheng would surely understand his worth.
The two stood in place, each with their own thoughts.
Feng Qingcheng said no more, lowering her gaze to her wrist.
Her wrist was raw and bleeding, the skin ulcerated and in a terrible state.
Even her palms had not been spared.
Why did Feng Ninghe, after being poisoned, not die, but still manage to attack her?
Could it be that Feng Ninghe was not poisoned from the beginning?
Even after she herself was poisoned and became this disfigured, how could that little slut be unharmed!
She would surely tear Feng Ninghe to shreds!
*
The gentle sunlight streamed down upon the land, the forest dense and verdant.
Gongyi Yuan walked boldly at the forefront. "Everyone, we have arrived at the First Sect."
"Arrived?"
Bai Niannian's eyes widened in surprise as she scanned her surroundings, examining them closely.
The area was densely wooded, with bushes everywhere, and a tall mountain ahead.
Bai Niannian stared at her surroundings for a long time, but could find no clues. She couldn't help but ask, "Senior, where is the gate? How do we enter the First Sect?"
Gongyi Yuan chuckled and pointed to the mountain before them. "This is the sect of the First Sect!"
"What?"
Bai Niannian was incredulous, her gaze fixed on the mountain. "This mountain is the sect?"
The mountain before them looked exceptionally solid. From any angle, it was just a mountain.
Gongyi Yuan tilted his head back slightly, his expression at ease, and called out loudly, "Grandpa Mountain, guests have arrived. It's time to open."
Creak—
The mountainside emitted a heavy sound.
A large door slowly opened.
Grandpa Mountain's deep, drawn-out voice echoed, "The Sect Master has returned. Come in quickly."
Even Feng Ninghe could not help but be startled.
The mountain before them possessed sentience.
This was her first time learning that mountains could develop consciousness.
Su Hongxiu's eyes, however, lit up at this moment. She closed her bone fan and praised, "No wonder no one has been able to find the First Sect all these years. So that's how it is."
Who would have thought that behind this mountain lay the First Sect.
Even if someone noticed Grandpa Mountain's peculiarity, out of caution and reverence, they would never think of going over the mountain. Thus, no one would discover the First Sect.
Gongyi Yuan deliberately pointed at Feng Ninghe. "Grandpa Mountain, this is the new disciple I have taken, Feng Ninghe."
Feng Ninghe felt a gaze fall upon her.
After a moment, Grandpa Mountain withdrew his gaze, and the muffled male voice spoke again. "Little girl, your talent is excellent. In time, you will achieve much. This First Sect will be your home from now on."
Grandpa Mountain's tone was as kind as if he were addressing his own junior.
The word "home" felt distant to Feng Ninghe.
She tilted her head back, gazing silently at the mountain before her, a complex emotion stirring within her.
Perhaps, as Grandpa Mountain said, this would become her home.
Si Jianye's gaze quietly rested on Feng Ninghe, a subtle light hidden within his cool eyes.
The First Sect had once shaken the entirety of Jinling. Gongyi Yuan's cultivation was profound, and the cultivation of this mountain was even greater.
It seemed the First Sect could protect Feng Ninghe completely.
Having confirmed that the First Sect could take good care of Feng Ninghe, it was time for him to leave...
Feng Ninghe cupped her hands towards Grandpa Mountain. "This junior greets Grandpa Mountain. I will have to trouble you for your care from now on."
Grandpa Mountain laughed heartily and readily agreed without hesitation. "Since you are a disciple of the First Sect, I will naturally take good care of you. The First Sect will rely on you juniors in the future."
Gongyi Yuan waved his hand at everyone and stepped into the sect. "Everyone, don't just stand there. Come in quickly."
Soon, everyone stepped into the First Sect.
The First Sect was not as mysterious as they had imagined; instead, it was amiable and approachable.
Men were tilling the fields, children were playing, smoke curled from the chimneys of wooden houses, and the air was filled with the aroma of cooking.
Even if someone stumbled upon this place by mistake, they would never believe it was a sect.
This scene of men farming and women weaving was more like a peaceful village.
"These are all ordinary people without cultivation."
Feng Ninghe could tell at a glance that these people had no spiritual energy fluctuations.
Ordinary people with no foundation in cultivation had the chance to enter the First Sect.
Gongyi Yuan gazed silently at everything before him, his usual smile gone. "A thousand years ago, the battle with the Human Puppets caused many people to lose their homes and become displaced. They are all people without homes.
I provided a place of refuge for them to settle here. You will all be in the inner sect and will not have much contact with them normally."
Feng Ninghe's spatial jade bracelet emitted a faint glow.
Inside the spatial jade bracelet, a figure was wandering about bored.
Di Wenbin whined with boredom, "Feng Ninghe, is it windy outside? Let me out for some fresh air quickly. If I stay in here any longer, I'll suffocate."
The area within the spatial jade bracelet that housed souls turned dim.
He could do nothing here but watch helplessly.
Feng Ninghe waved her hand, and Di Wenbin emerged from the spatial jade bracelet.
He stretched his neck, craning his head to look around.
Gongyi Yuan continued to lead the way. "I will take you to the dwelling place of the sect disciples. The spiritual energy there is more abundant and will not disappoint you."
In a short while, they arrived at a vast, open area at the foot of a mountain.
There were caves carved into the mountainside.
Di Wenbin's pupils contracted violently at this moment.
As if he had discovered something astonishing, he quickly stared around. "The spiritual energy here is so abundant! Even the Immortal Sect does not possess such potent spiritual energy! Truly worthy of the First Sect!"
The strength of spiritual energy was crucial for cultivators.
With strong spiritual energy, cultivation was twice as effective with half the effort, allowing one to become a cultivator.