The spiritual energy in Yan Jiaojiao's inner elixir was completely depleted. She had no choice but to painfully draw out the stagnant spiritual energy. Fortunately, she had taken the Mingzhu Pill earlier, and a tiny portion of the spiritual energy had loosened.
Yan Jiaojiao rejoiced inwardly and eagerly extracted and refined the energy for her own use, finally replenishing her depleted dantian.
After regaining a little strength, Yan Jiaojiao realized that although it was cold here, the water-attribute spiritual energy was extremely abundant. After a moment's thought, Yan Jiaojiao released the Water Spirit from her Spiritual Jade space.
As soon as the Water Spirit emerged, it happily circled the area before its gaze fell upon Yan Jiaojiao. Upon seeing her, its face paled.
"You're injured," the Water Spirit said anxiously.
Yan Jiaojiao gave a wry smile, "Yes, I don't even have enough spiritual energy for healing."
The Water Spirit understood immediately, puffed out its small chest, and declared confidently, "I'll heal you, I'll heal you."
Saying this, the Water Spirit raised its finger and poured a continuous stream of spiritual energy onto Yan Jiaojiao's wounds. The Water Spirit's spiritual energy was inherently pure. Although its healing effect was not as pronounced as wood-attribute spiritual energy, it gradually healed the fractured bones and erased the physical scratches under the powerful influx of spiritual energy.
Subsequently, the Water Spirit transformed the surrounding moist, cold air into warm, comforting heat. Yan Jiaojiao finally felt as though she had narrowly escaped death.
Exhausted, she leaned against the cave wall, gazing at the vast expanse of snow outside, a sense of bewilderment filling her heart.
Previously, she had been fixated on entering the Scripture Pavilion, but now it seemed impossible. Given Xuan Chen's disdain for her, even if she endured the confinement until the six-month period was over, returning to Gunan Academy with her current strength would be an arduous journey.
The Water Spirit sensed Yan Jiaojiao's dejection and dared not disturb her. It quietly circled to the cave entrance, but as it was about to exit, it was repelled by the restriction on the barrier, letting out a pained cry from the electrified punishment.
Yan Jiaojiao also witnessed this. The moment she entered the wind cave, she knew the barrier was formidable, but she never expected that even the Water Spirit couldn't penetrate it.
She couldn't help but walk over and tentatively touch it. As she did, thin, sparking lines of electricity wrapped around her fingers, causing intense pain in her flesh. This was a barrier that punished based on elemental attributes.
So perverse?
Yan Jiaojiao's heart skipped a beat. She suddenly recalled Xuan Chen's conversation with Shangguan Yuan earlier. He had mentioned that he had already shown her leniency regarding the Scripture Pavilion out of respect for Shangguan Yuan.
At that time, the barrier in front of the Scripture Pavilion, naturally formed by water spirits, could be easily bypassed. But this current barrier seemed to be specifically designed against them.
Could it be that Xuan Chen had confirmed she was the one who trespassed into the Scripture Pavilion that night?
Yan Jiaojiao took a deep breath. So, Xuan Chen's punishment of confining her for six months was also a deliberate act to prevent her from participating in the annual sect assessment!
For the first time, Yan Jiaojiao realized how formidable this Xuan Chen truly was.
Although he was only over seven hundred years old and had not even ascended yet, she should not underestimate him.
He suspected Yan Jiaojiao, hence his ruthless actions.
Tang Xiye was perhaps just a shield to help him conceal his true intentions.
Thinking of this, Yan Jiaojiao felt a chill. If this were the case, then Xuan Chen's schemes were too profound, and she wondered if there were other ulterior motives behind it.
Yan Jiaojiao couldn't help but sigh. It seemed that with her current meager cultivation, she couldn't act rashly during these six months. Staying here to preserve her life was probably the best course of action.
Having come to this decision, Yan Jiaojiao resolved to continue with her previous plan of biding her time. After all, if she couldn't obtain a precious artifact to carry her original spiritual energy, she could still cultivate diligently as she had in her previous life, treating it as a complete reincarnation of her cultivation.
She had now offended the true leader of the academy. If she didn't gain more strength before leaving in six months, she would surely be crushed again.
That feeling was far from pleasant.
The cold wind continued to howl. Yan Jiaojiao circulated her spiritual energy using the Five Sects' cultivation method, cycling it repeatedly. However, as the water-attribute spiritual energy was most abundant here, using other cultivation methods was not as smooth. Yan Jiaojiao thus decided to solely practice the water sect's cultivation method.
As a result, Yan Jiaojiao's ability to control water elements naturally grew. Within three days, she no longer needed the Water Spirit to warm the air; with a flick of her hand, the cold wind blowing into the cave became as warm as a spring breeze.
Yan Jiaojiao was pleased with her progress and cultivated even more diligently day and night, finding it more focused and arduous than when she was in the academy, often troubled by trivial matters.
The wind cave was truly tedious. The Water Spirit, in an environment rich with water-attribute spiritual energy, did not wish to sleep. However, being trapped in the cave and unable to leave, it was naturally frustrated and often pestered Yan Jiaojiao to play with it.
After all, the Water Spirit absorbed water-attribute spiritual energy without needing to meditate and circulate it like humans; it simply stood there, and spiritual energy flowed into its body.
Yan Jiaojiao couldn't envy it. Why would she want to play with the Water Spirit when she was focused on cultivation, aiming to surpass those below the mountain in six months?
However, seeing the Water Spirit's unhappy disposition, Yan Jiaojiao thought for a moment and then formed hand seals, attempting to cast a summoning spell.
A faint light flickered, and a small black dog landed in the cave, its body having grown even larger than before.
Dongfang Cangwu glanced around, then at Yan Jiaojiao, and finally at the barrier at the cave entrance. No wonder he couldn't locate Yan Jiaojiao's aura; she had been isolated by this barrier.
With an added companion, Yan Jiaojiao happily went forward and picked up the black dog, poking its nose and smiling, "I'm suffering in this cave, and you've grown quite a bit. Will I not be able to hold you in a while longer?"
Dongfang Cangwu looked at her with disdain, thinking, this foolish woman. She still hasn't realized that my size changes according to her spiritual power cultivation.
However, in these past few days, this woman had indeed cultivated diligently while confined here, her cultivation likely having advanced by another level.
Yan Jiaojiao put him down again, gently patted his head, and then gestured with her chin towards the Water Spirit, whose eyes were already shining, "Go, go play with her."
The Water Spirit cheered and joyfully welcomed its playmate.
The black dog, however, froze. What was the meaning of this?
So, in addition to being this unlucky woman's enforcer, he now had to moonlight as an entertainer?
There were many ways to insult him, but this was certainly not one of them!
Dongfang Cangwu could not tolerate it and immediately cast a minor spell, flashing through the barrier and leaving four paw prints in the white snow outside.
The Water Spirit followed closely behind, only to collide with the barrier again, crying out in pain.
Yan Jiaojiao couldn't help but step forward to the barrier, looking in astonishment at the black dog standing in the snow, exclaiming, "You can go out!"
"Do you think a mere barrier can stop me, the dignified Demon Emperor?" the black dog retorted proudly, raising its head.