The sun hung high in the sky.
Warm sunlight bathed the earth.
Feng Ninghe led the group out of the snow-covered land. The disciples of the Willow Face Sect, their eyes brimming with tears and faces filled with excitement, looked around. "We've finally escaped this damned snowy expanse!"
"Indeed! If we had emerged any later, my body would have succumbed to the cold. The chill has already seeped into my very being."
"Miss Feng is truly remarkable. In this boundless, featureless snowscape, we were utterly lost, yet she managed to guide us out!"
At this moment, the Willow Face Sect members were filled with immense admiration for Feng Ninghe.
They now understood why Master Six treated her with such courtesy.
Bai Liyang took deep breaths of the surrounding air, urgently circulating the spiritual energy within him to ward off the cold.
He had to expel the chill before it penetrated his bones.
Mei Ziling called out to the Xuanqing Sect disciples, "Let's first drive out the cold and rest briefly before continuing our journey. We still have a long way to go."
Everyone sat down and began circulating their spiritual energy.
Feng Ninghe glanced back at the endless expanse of snow.
Many lay in the snow, destined to remain there forever, their bodies eventually to be covered by the white blanket.
She withdrew her gaze and turned to Su Xian, "I won't be traveling with you any further. I still need to find A Xing and Nian Nian."
Su Xian instinctively turned to look at the Willow Face Sect disciples meditating behind her. "Miss Feng, if you don't mind, perhaps we could accompany you? There's safety in numbers. Master Six is not far away."
Feng Ninghe gently shook her head, rejecting her kind offer. "I have some matters to attend to, and it's not suitable for so many people to travel together. I bid you farewell. If you happen to see A Xing and Nian Nian on your journey, I would be grateful if you could look after them."
Su Xian understood she couldn't persuade her and ceased her attempts to detain her. She cupped her hands in a grand gesture, "Miss Feng, rest assured. I wish you a safe journey!"
After a brief farewell, Feng Ninghe strode away.
The ginseng seedling wrapped around her wrist excitedly wriggled. "Master, I can feel that thing getting closer! Let's hurry! As for A Xing and Nian Nian, they are safe and their auras are strong. Let's find the treasure first, and then we can look for them!"
Seeing the ginseng seedling's eagerness, she couldn't help but feel curious about what could make it so agitated.
Xiao Zhao blinked its azure eyes, looking at the ginseng seedling with a hint of confusion, occasionally muttering.
Why don't I feel any treasure calling to me within this secret realm...
The people meditating in place soon opened their eyes.
Bai Liyang's gaze darted around, clearly searching for something.
However, after looking around, he couldn't find any trace of Feng Ninghe.
"Where did Feng Ninghe go?"
Bai Liyang's facial features contorted into a tight frown. He immediately approached Su Xian.
The man before her wore an accusatory expression that was quite irritating.
Su Xian raised her delicate eyebrows and casually pointed in the opposite direction of where Feng Ninghe had left. "She went that way. Is there something you need from her?"
Having received the answer he sought, Bai Liyang, without another word, led his sect members in the direction Su Xian had indicated.
After the large group had completely disappeared from sight, Su Xian gave a slight, mocking smile. "Foolish creature. And you think you can deal with Feng Ninghe?"
She had merely pointed casually, and Bai Liyang believed her.
With such a dull mind, how could he possibly hope to contend with Feng Ninghe? It was a pipe dream.
*
On the large tree.
Bai Niannian and Feng Xing had been on this tree for two full days.
Like the other cultivators, they dared not move carelessly, fearing that a fall from the tree would lead to a burial without a trace.
Feng Xing bit his lip, his gaze fixed on the bottomless abyss beneath the tree. His voice was low, "We can't just sit here and wait any longer. If we continue like this, we won't be able to leave even when the secret realm ends. Even if we wait for Master to rescue us, she might not be able to reach us here."
Bai Niannian understood the logic.
However, despite their efforts over the past few days, they had found no way to escape this predicament.
"A Xing, what should we do?"
She looked up at A Xing, a hint of urgency in her expression.
Remaining on the tree was a constant torment; they had to be perpetually vigilant to avoid falling.
Feng Xing's eyes narrowed as he voiced his thoughts, "I'm going to jump down."
"What!"
Bai Niannian's pupils contracted violently. She shook her head vigorously, rejecting the idea. "The depths below are unfathomable. We can't see what awaits us, and we could very well lose our lives!"
Feng Xing picked up a dagger and lightly drew it across his arm. His voice, now filled with contemplation, continued, "Nian Nian, I've also discovered something. I don't feel any pain. We might have fallen into an illusion."
His words instantly enlightened Bai Niannian.
She quickly pinched herself. Just as Feng Xing had said, she felt no pain whatsoever.
"This..."
Her gaze paused, and countless thoughts flashed across her eyes. "If we are in an illusion, then we don't need to worry about dying. We just need to find a way to break free from the illusion to return to reality."
Feng Xing nodded and looked down at the base of the tree. "Master once said that the most dangerous place is often the safest. Since we are within an illusion, why should we worry too much? Let's give it a try."
A hand then rested on his wrist.
Bai Niannian held onto him tightly, her beautiful face etched with a hint of seriousness. "A Xing, I'll jump with you."
A flicker of hesitation appeared on his face. "I'll go first to scout the way. If it's safe, I'll find a way to save you."
Bai Niannian firmly shook her head, refusing. "If we jump, we jump together. I believe in Master's words. Besides, we can still use our spiritual energy. Even if we fall, we can react accordingly."
Feng Xing didn't immediately respond, his lips pressed together as he clearly fell into thought.
A moment later, a small, warm hand tightly clasped his.
Bai Niannian looked at him with unwavering resolve. "I'll count to three, and then we'll jump down together."
"Three."
"Two."
"One!"
Two figures instantly leaped towards the base of the tree.
Their movement successfully drew the attention of everyone present.
Not far away.
Two pairs of eyes were fixed on the descending figures.
Wang Junzhao raised his eyebrows dismissively. "Sister Qingcheng, are these two out of their minds? Staying here would at least give them a few more days to live. Jumping down means certain death. They must be tired of living!"
Feng Qingcheng's brows furrowed deeply. Her exquisitely made-up face held a thoughtful expression. "That young man's cultivation is even higher than mine. He's certainly not someone who would seek his own death."