Chapter 30: Yun Xi
Chapter 30: Yun Xi
“Is this a low-grade spirit artifact?”
Qu Wei exclaimed, her face filled with disbelief.
Yun Xi glanced up, and the old man beside her showed emotion for the first time, clearly drawn by the sudden silver lightning.
After the phantom butterfly died, the cultivators frantically rushed toward the spiritual herb Seven-Leaf Butterfly.
But the Seven-Leaf Butterfly stayed alert. With a burst of light, it vanished underground in an instant, disappearing completely.
“Search carefully! The Seven-Leaf Butterfly must be nearby. I set up a Spiritual Array around the area—it can’t escape!”
A young man in brocade, around twenty-five, shouted loudly. His expression was coldly arrogant, his eyes sharp as blades.
Jin Miaoyi frowned. “That’s Chen Baojun from the Xuanhuo Sect. Was that lightning from him secretly using a spirit artifact?”
Cheng Lingyu narrowed his eyes, studying Chen Baojun. The man carried himself with pride, his aura overly sharp. Faint Spiritual Light surrounded him, hinting at a magical artifact.
The Xuanhuo Sect was known for crafting artifacts, so it made sense Chen Baojun, a high-ranking member, would have one.
“Just a half-spirit artifact,” the old man beside Yun Xi said flatly, watching the beast fade in mid-air. “No need for concern.”
Hearing this, nearby cultivators relaxed. Half-spirit artifacts were far weaker than true spirit artifacts.
Cheng Lingyu whispered, “What’s a half-spirit artifact?”
Qu Wei answered, “It’s between a treasure artifact and a spirit artifact. Incomplete, but can evolve. They have some attack and defense power, about one to three layers of a low-grade spirit artifact’s strength—much stronger than high-quality treasure artifacts.”
Around them, cultivators combed the area for the Seven-Leaf Butterfly. Once hidden, it changed shape and dimmed its light, blending in.
This was how spiritual herbs protected themselves. After losing their phantom beasts, they fled or disguised themselves.
Everyone except Yun Xi searched. The area wasn’t large, but weeds covered the ground. Spiritual herbs often hid in soil, requiring meticulous searching. A moment’s distraction meant missing it. They could also shift positions unless pinned down.
Qu Wei, Jin Miaoyi, Miao Sanxu, and Fang Zhuqing joined the hunt. Cheng Lingyu searched intently, determined to claim the herb.
Cultivators watched each other suspiciously. If someone found the herb, chaos would erupt. Until then, peace held.
Cheng Lingyu noticed Chen Baojun scanning the area with a crystal ball.
“Using a magical artifact to search?”
Qu Wei nodded. “But it’s not working well. The Soul-Luring Forest probably disrupts ordinary artifacts.”
Relieved, Cheng Lingyu didn’t want Chen Baojun getting the herb. Focusing his sight, he activated his Insight ability to scour the ground.
Soon, he spotted spiritual grass—but another cultivator grabbed it before he could move.
Cheng Lingyu felt disappointed and continued widening his search.
Suddenly, he spotted faint glowing soil with a barely detectable familiar scent.
His heart pounded but he stayed calm. The spot lay too far to approach directly without attracting notice.
“Let’s check over there,”
Cheng Lingyu suggested, steering Qu Wei’s group toward the Seven-Leaf Butterfly’s hiding place while circling casually.
He kept tracking the herb, devising multiple strategies. Stealing a mid-grade spiritual herb undetected under dozens of eyes seemed impossible.
Fortunately, his Spirit Cloak Ring could mask spiritual scents.
Crouching to examine weeds, Cheng Lingyu grabbed clumps of grass while monitoring surroundings.
When distracted, he yanked the buried Seven-Leaf Butterfly from the soil, hid it among weeds, and slipped it into the activated Spirit Cloak Ring.
The herb tried emitting spiritual energy to trigger chaos for escape, but failed instantly.
Though spiritual herbs could move swiftly when visible, they couldn’t hide their aura while mobile. Conversely, hiding froze their spiritual energy disturbance completely – restarting movement took precious time.
Cheng Lingyu exploited this delay to secure his prize.
After an hour, frustrated cultivators accused Chen Baojun’s Spirit Locking Formation of being useless. Groups began leaving, including Cheng Lingyu’s party.
“Wei Mei, missed me these past days?”
Huang Yukun materialized with a slimy grin.
Qu Wei scowled. “In your dreams.”
“If Wei Mei were a ghost,” he chuckled, “she’d be the prettiest specter.”
Jin Miaoyi snapped, “Stop vomiting nonsense.”
Huang Yukun’s eyes narrowed. “Insulting me? Boys, maim the others but leave my Wei Mei untouched.”
His seven followers – mostly True Martial Fourth Realm or Fifth Level cultivators – vastly outpowered Qu Wei’s five.
“Relax boss, wouldn’t scratch your darling,” they jeered.
Qu Wei paled. Fighting meant certain defeat.
“Try anything and Yun Xi nearby will see,” she bluffed.
Huang Yukun hesitated. All three were Shenhuo Sect disciples, but Yun Xi’s status as Yunyang City’s lord daughter gave her authority.
“Threatening me?” He recovered with a sneer. “Since when are you and Yun Xi close?”
Huang Yukun rebutted and had no intention of letting go immediately. He didn’t want to be scared off by Qu Wei’s empty stratagem.
“Who said I’m on bad terms with Qu Wei?”
A crisp, melodious voice suddenly sounded through the woods, making Huang Yukun’s face pale dramatically.
“Damn it all,”
Huang Yukun cursed inwardly while forcing a smile, turning to face the approaching Yun Xi.
“My careless words, Junior Sister Yun. Please don’t take offense.”
Yun Xi ignored him, walking directly toward Qu Wei with the old man trailing behind.
Qu Wei wore a strange expression, unprepared for Yun Xi’s sudden appearance.
Cheng Lingyu observed Yun Xi, quietly impressed. Though unaware of her true identity, he noted her noble bearing contrasted with Qu Wei’s approachable warmth – two distinct charms.
“Leave.”
Yun Xi dismissed Huang Yukun without glancing his way.
Huang Yukun forced two dry laughs before retreating reluctantly with his followers.
“Thank you.”
Qu Wei’s polite tone made Yun Xi pause. A faint smile touched the beauty’s lips. “No need for formalities between us.”
Qu Wei’s silence puzzled Cheng Lingyu, thickening the awkward atmosphere.
A thunderclap split the sky. A lightning-wreathed sphere plunged into the Soul-Luring Forest’s depths.
The old man beside Yun Xi looked up, his impassive face flickering with surprise.
The crashing impact birthed a mountain-like shadow radiating world-shaking pressure.
Yun Xi’s face tightened. “Fifth level soul martial transformation’s shadow manifestation. Who dares act so boldly here?”
“Investigation brings answers,” the old man rasped.
Before the words faded, both vanished without trace.
“Incredible speed! Who are they?” Cheng Lingyu breathed.
Fang Zhuqing explained, “Yun Xi’s from Shenhuo Sect – the Yunyang City Lord’s daughter. The elder must be her guardian, though his origins are unknown.”
“The City Lord’s daughter…”
Cheng Lingyu nodded slowly. Though raised in Shiyang Town, he knew fragments of Yunyang City’s affairs.
“Let’s move on and keep searching.”
Of eighteen spiritual herbs in Soul-Luring Forest, only two had been found.
Night transformed the woods into an eerie maze. The five lost travelers attracted prowling phantom beasts.
“Phantom beasts mean herbs nearby,” Jin Miaoyi deduced shrewdly.
The group’s spirits lifted at this logic – the forest’s main allure being herbs guarded by beasts.
Cheng Lingyu scanned the darkness, his sharp eyes tracking phantom beasts as countless thoughts whirled through his mind.