Su Xianzhi's face turned even paler at the words. A certain disciple was enraged! He raised his hand and pointed at Luo Nanshan, spewing accusations!
"Who do you think you are, you insignificant wretch! Everyone starts from the lower cultivation levels to advance. Things change. Fairy Su is no less than anyone else now! Furthermore, who is your junior sister? Who has ever heard of her? Are you just some nobody trying to gain attention?"
The sarcasm and mockery in his eyes were almost overflowing. Even Luo Nanshan's face turned red, drawing bursts of laughter from the crowd!
"You're talking nonsense! My junior sister is incredibly gifted; how dare you all discuss her! The fact that you haven't heard of her only proves your ignorance!"
Facing the mockery of his junior sister, the usually shy and reserved Chen Xuanyuan couldn't help but retort, his expression extremely unpleasant! Guan Ziyun felt the same!
Fairy Lord Lou Yun stood by, silent, as if his own disciples were not the ones being insulted!
"Come on, you've been talking for ages and we haven't even seen this junior sister you speak of. Is she perhaps too ugly to be seen? Or is her strength insufficient to even participate in the trial mission?"
As soon as the words fell, the three became the target of public criticism! Whispers spread like wildfire. The cultivation world revered strength, and Su Xianzhi was more powerful, being the only disciple of the Fairy Lord. Who would they believe if not her? They weren't fools!
"Alright, time is almost up!"
A certain Fairy Lord, who had been silent all along, finally spoke calmly. He interrupted the three just as they were about to retort. To any discerning eye, it was clear he favored his own disciple, instantly turning the three into a laughingstock!
"Fairy Lord! We..." We're just stating facts!
Guan Ziyun's words were cut short by Luo Nanshan, who pulled him back. The two exchanged glances, their faces ashen. They knew that no matter how they argued, they couldn't overcome the Fairy Lord's deliberate obstruction. They could only swallow their frustration.
Soon, the various sects quickly entered the Seven Desolation Forest. To avoid provoking the demonic beasts into a frenzy, several Nascent Soul cultivators and the sole Soul Transformation cultivator waited outside, ready to rescue their disciples if any trouble arose.
Jin Bao'er arrived in the afternoon. The trial stipulated that disciples must remain inside for seven days. Once the time was up, regardless of whether they had contracted a demonic beast or found an opportunity, they had to leave the Seven Desolation Forest!
The slight rustling sound quickly alerted the powerful cultivators waiting attentively...
"Who goes there!"
To avoid unnecessary trouble, they did not release their full pressure, but they were still poised for action, exuding a powerful deterrent!
Jin Bao'er stopped abruptly, her breathing a little ragged, a slight sheen of sweat on her forehead. She appeared somewhat disheveled, clearly having rushed here.
Facing the gaze of several powerful individuals, Jin Bao'er pursed her lips slightly and nodded. Her gaze flickered past Fairy Lord Lou Yun before quickly moving away. Internally, she felt a slight surprise.
She hadn't expected him to be the one leading the expedition this time? This was different from her previous life. However, she had no time to dwell on it now...
The group looked at the black-clad youth before them... no, the black-clad maiden. She lowered her gaze, appearing respectful yet exuding an imposing aura.
"Jin Bao'er pays her respects to all seniors and the Fairy Lord! This disciple is late for the trial!"
The name "Jin Bao'er" finally drew Fairy Lord Lou Yun's attention. Perhaps it had been a long time since he had last seen her, he quickly noticed her cultivation level and his gaze faltered for a moment before returning to normal.
"Indeed, she is a disciple of my Misty Sect! You may enter."
His expression was as if he were looking at a stranger. Seeing this, the others didn't think much of it and made way... Only one Nascent Soul cultivator showed a hint of doubt. Jin Bao'er? Why did that name sound familiar?
Jin Bao'er didn't hesitate and immediately ran in with Li Qingjiu. Seeing that Fairy Lord Lou Yun did not stop them, the others assumed they were both disciples of the Misty Sect.
Not long after entering the forest...
"You're only at the Soul Transformation stage, why are you so flustered?"
This statement froze Jin Bao'er in her tracks. Even though her expression appeared normal, the inner turmoil within her had not escaped Long Lixing!
"Senior, you worry too much!"
She offered no explanation, only a faint response in her mind, before focusing on entering the forest.
Meanwhile, within the immortal mansion's pearl, Long Lixing frowned. For the first time, he sensed Jin Bao'er's inner trembling and killing intent. Considering how unfamiliar they had appeared just now, they shouldn't be close. So, what were these genuine reactions in her heart? Could it be...
How could Jin Bao'er not be shaken! She thought that after her rebirth, she would be even more diligent and calm. Yet, every time she saw this person, her heart was thrown into chaos. The hatred and killing intent were like a persistent scar, as if they could swallow her whole at any moment!
A heart demon... If it continued to exist, her ascension to Nascent Soul would be her complete annihilation!
"Brother Jin? Wait! That's a cliff!!"
A startled cry reached her ears. Jin Bao'er snapped back to reality, looking at her suspended foot. Startled, she quickly retracted it!
Li Qingjiu was even more panicked, his face turning pale. He looked at her in disbelief and exclaimed,
"Are you crazy! This is a trial, not a suicide mission!"
Jin Bao'er turned back, her eyes, which had been pitch black, gradually regaining clarity. Only then did she realize she had nearly succumbed to her inner demons...
"Tsk... I thought you would just jump down and be utterly destroyed. It's that brat for meddling! It's just a heart demon. If you're this useless, you might as well give this body to me!"
A cold, mocking voice entered her ears. Jin Bao'er quickly suppressed her thoughts, adjusted her mindset, and took a deep breath.
"I have disappointed Senior!"
This was the first time Long Lixing had heard Jin Bao'er retort to him. Surprisingly, he wasn't angry! Although he couldn't be sure what had happened, this girl must have been terribly wronged by that person in her past life! Yet, even so, if she dared to evade or be cowardly, wasting his unique talent...
Thinking of this, his gaze turned cold, his killing intent flashing for a fleeting moment! He wouldn't mind destroying the girl's soul!
Jin Bao'er was unaware that she had narrowly escaped a catastrophe. She was currently leading Li Qingjiu towards the depths of the forest... In her previous life, Su Xianzhi had tricked her into being a decoy while she went to steal a Nascent Soul demonic beast cub. This time, she had to be prepared to be hunted by demonic beasts!
When the two arrived, a group of Foundation Establishment disciples were hiding in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity. Not far away was a pack of demonic beasts...
"Huh? What are they doing? Isn't the trial mission to contract a demonic beast? What's the point of hiding here?"
On a tall tree trunk, two figures, one black and one white, stood steadily.
Jin Bao'er looked at the scene before her, identical to her past life, and a slight smile curved her lips. If her prediction was correct, Su Xianzhi would soon lose her composure and then trick some disciple into being a scapegoat to draw fire...
"What should we do? We've been waiting all afternoon, and these demonic beasts aren't showing any signs of dispersing. How about... we go look elsewhere?"
The maiden in white lowered her gaze slightly, her voice tinged with disappointment and reluctance. She then cast a longing look at the pack of demonic beasts nearby. To any observer, it was clear how much she desired them.