If Master were to see this scene, he would surely be extremely gratified.
Unknowingly, the relationship between the three disciples has become quite close.
Although Jin’er came later, she has already been gradually accepted by Qing Jun.
"Really?"
Jin’er hopefully lifted her small face, looking somewhat pale, yet exuding joy.
She was not fully aware of her own strength.
Qing Jun and Zhiwei had gone through many trials and had fought against others. But Jin’er, always stayed at home, rarely seeing outsiders, let alone engaging in magical battles.
"Of course. This time, Jin’er was our great hero. If it weren’t for that final Divine Fire blocking the way, allowing those three to disperse and escape, Qing Jun and I would have been hard-pressed to handle them all, and certainly, some would have slipped away. If they escaped to report to Yang Qiu, or brought more enemies, our situation would be even more perilous."
Zhiwei glanced at the piles of black ash scattered by the wind on the ground, secretly astonished.
She estimated that the power of that Divine Fire was approaching the level of a late Foundation Establishment Technique.
Dealing with those three cultivators of the fourth and fifth Foundation Establishment layers was an absolute advantage, especially since they had already been severely injured by herself and her junior sister.
"Hehe, exactly!"
Qing Jun leaned over, rubbing against Jin’er like a little dog,
"Jin’er is the best! Next time anyone bullies us, just set their butt on fire!"
If it weren’t inside the Grotto Heaven,
Qing Jun wouldn’t have resisted wagging her tail.
"Mm!"
Jin’er broke into tears and smiled, nodding heavily.
Compliments from her senior sister and Qing Jun eased much of her inferiority.
Though she still felt that she wasn’t as smart as her senior sister or as strong as Qing Jun, as long as she could help, protect everyone, she was content.
But... her head was so dizzy.
That Divine Fire earlier, though immensely powerful, had vastly drained Jin’er, who was at the Foundation Establishment Third Layer.
"Careful."
Zhiwei quickly stepped forward, supporting Jin’er, who almost collapsed to the ground.
She placed her fingers on Jin’er’s wrist, felt the nearly exhausted spiritual power within her junior sister, her brows knit tightly, her tone stern:
"Jin’er, Master once said that this fire’s level is far beyond what you can control now. On ordinary occasions, restrain its power in combat, and if not necessary, leave the enemies to your senior sister."
Seeing Jin’er so weakened, Zhiwei truly felt a tinge of fear.
The stronger the power, the more terrifying the backlash.
If something happened to her junior sister, how could she explain to Master afterward?
"Senior sister, don’t worry..."
Jin’er leaned against Zhiwei, taking a weak breath, trying her best to smile reassuringly,
"I... I’m well aware. Once, True Inheritor Bai taught me the Fire Control technique, called the Flowing Fire Mind. This fire control technique is extremely exquisite. It records how to divert fire using external elements—like your Sword Qi or Qing Jun’s wind—to guide the Divine Fire, instead of depleting my own source."
"Earlier... I used the method Sister Bai taught, borrowing Qing Jun’s wind."
"So I’m just out of spiritual power, a bit tired, without damaging my foundation."
Upon hearing "True Inheritor Bai", Zhiwei paused momentarily, soon recalling that day.
On that day,
True Inheritor Bai acted peculiarly, trying every way to please them.
First giving Qing Jun delicacies, then teaching Jin’er fire control method, and then wanting to offer a breakthrough Secret Technique to herself, which she declined.
"I see... Since this technique can control the Divine Fire, it must not be an ordinary cultivation technique, True Inheritor Bai, you were very thoughtful."
The black-haired girl’s expression showed slight complexity.
It’s certain that the Heart-grinding Art True Inheritor Bai wanted to gift her was likely one of Lingyin Sect’s most superior cultivation techniques.
True Inheritor Bai truly went out of his way to please them.
Offering unsolicited favors, often with ulterior motives...
It seems True Inheritor Bai would not give up so easily.
But, for Master’s sake, Zhiwei would rather forget past follies and compete with True Inheritor Bai as a cultivator!
"Even so, don’t overexert yourself like this next time."
Zhiwei suppressed her complicated emotions, took a warm pill from her Storage Bag, and fed it to Jin’er.
"The three of us sisters are one entity. You’re our little junior sister, if anything happened to you, how would Qing Jun and I explain to Master?"
The pill melted instantly, a warm flow spreading through her limbs, making Jin’er’s pale face a bit rosier.
"Mm... I got it, senior sister."
Jin’er nodded obediently, like a docile kitten.
Seeing Jin’er fine, Qing Jun leaned over again:
"That’s right, that’s right! Jin’er is the best!"
"But..."
Qing Jun turned her head, looking at the mess on the ground, with a gleam of greed in her large eyes,
"Senior sister, these four guys are like fat sheep! Shouldn’t we... hehe!"
Her gestures of rubbing her hands and drooling at the corner of her mouth were exactly like their unreliable Master.
"Go ahead. Make it quick. It’s up to you, I’ll look after Jin’er and keep watch for any potential threats. By the way, that leading one-eyed cultivator’s flag is an Upper Grade Second Tier wicked artifact, though we can’t use it, its grade is high, worth a lot of Spirit Stones."
Zhiwei nodded.
Though her senses detected no other beings nearby, it was best to move sooner rather than later.
Since the four from Ten Thousand Puppet Sect had found them, their location was compromised.