This decisive departure only deepened the wariness in Zhiwei’s heart.
"This person... what do they intend?"
Her gaze fell upon the Jade Pendant emitting a gentle halo on the ground, filled with doubt.
"Senior Sister, do you think he’s implying that he wants to make a move against the cultivators of Huayue Mansion? But Spirit Treasure Sect’s current stance leans toward Huayue Mansion, doesn’t it? After all, the daughter of the Lord of Hunyuan City is now a potential dragon of Huayue Mansion, and the relationship between the two is close."
Jin’er furrowed her brow slightly, unable to understand. That Gutangyin, no matter how you put it, is a descendant of Spirit Treasure Sect. Logically, Spirit Treasure Sect should hold a close attitude toward Huayue Mansion.
And indeed, this is the case.
This session of the Luoxiao Conference is being presided over by Gutangyin. Without the support of Spirit Treasure Sect, she would have no way to intervene.
"Hmm... Although many cultivators of Spirit Treasure Sect are dissatisfied with Gutangyin’s actions, even considering her a traitor and a thief, from a benefit perspective, opposing Huayue Mansion is harmful rather than beneficial for Spirit Treasure Sect."
Zhiwei nodded assent.
Even if this person intends to attack the cultivators of Huayue Mansion, she would not rashly cooperate with him.
Firstly, she is unfamiliar with this person, and blind cooperation would only make her a sword in others’ hands.
Secondly, she still doesn’t know the intentions of Huayue Mansion, nor is she sure that Huayue Mansion is the one targeting them.
"Senior Sister, could this fat sheep be not right in the head?"
Qing Jun leaned in, poking the Jade Pendant with a small stick, and curled her lips,
"He’s not here to rob, nor treasure hunt, but comes here to give us a Jade Pendant? Could he be trying to use this Jade Pendant to plot against us?"
"Squeak squeak..."
The little white fox also jumped down from Jin’er’s shoulder, sniffed around the Jade Pendant, and shook its head.
There are no hidden weapons or poisons on this Jade Pendant, it’s just a Siblings Token inscribed with special array patterns, a magical treasure used by Spirit Treasure Sect disciples in the Secret Realm to sense each other’s positions and send distress signals.
"Heh, Spirit Treasure Sect has been stationed in Hunyuan City for years without wasting time."
Zhiwei picked up the Jade Pendant, scrutinizing the intricate array patterns, and sighed,
"They can forge array plates that allow for escape in Luoxiao Grotto Heaven, as well as communication magical treasures like this one. If Lingyin Sect had such treasures, they would have reunited with their disciples long ago."
She had the intent to find other Lingyin Sect disciples.
After all, there’s strength in numbers, and these Lingyin Sect disciples are not ordinary, their average strength surpassing that of the Ten Thousand Puppet Sect.
Moreover, they might have trump cards left by the sect elders.
"Forget it, Senior Sister... Why look for them? The three of us are enough!"
The little girl didn’t want to stay with others.
Zhiwei glanced at the unwilling Qing Jun and smiled,
"I was just speaking casually, anyway, these matters are secondary. The urgent task is still to obtain the Celestial Burning Treasure Scroll for Jin’er from the Fire Refining Grounds."
She casually crushed the Jade Pendant, as threads of crystalline jade shards fell from the fair hand of the young girl.
It’s better not to keep items given by someone with unclear intentions around.
The jade shards scattered in the wind, evaporating into a wisp of blue smoke by the searing heat leaking from the bronze giant door’s crevice before they even touched the ground.
Through the door’s crevice, the dark red tongues of fire flickered unpredictably, and the surrounding rocks were nearly glazed by the intense heat.
Such terrifyingly high temperatures would instantly penetrate the protective spiritual light of an ordinary cultivator upon contact.
"As expected, this is the fire of Songyang Sect... It feels much stronger than the Lingyin Sect’s, Senior Sister, what level is this fire?"
Qing Jun’s face was flushed from the heat, and she tentatively extended a strand of Spiritual Qi, only for it to be devoured by the flames in the blink of an eye.
"Yunduan Mountain is the place of fire heritage for the Songyang Sect, and Songyang Sect is a Nascent Soul sect. This fire should be at the Golden Core level."
Zhiwei speculated, her expression cautious,
"But it couldn’t possibly be at the Nascent Soul level... Most likely it’s some kind of Third Tier Earth Vein Fire. What Zhong Jinliu said is correct, without special methods, beyond this door lies a certain death zone."
"Senior Sister..." Jin’er stepped forward, her small hands tightly clutching the hem of her clothes, both nervous and expectant.
She could sense that the raging earth fire beyond the door, a death warrant for others, felt like a long-awaited... nourishing feast to her.
The Divine Fire within her had long been depleted, eagerly stirring, urging her to push open this door.
"Go ahead, Jin’er."
Zhiwei gave her an encouraging look while placing a hand on the green-skinned gourd at her waist, tri-colored sword light ready to be released at a moment’s notice to respond to any unforeseen events,
"Since Master said there’s a great opportunity for you here, and you have Divine Fire within you, this fire may not harm but benefit you... If things go wrong, retreat quickly."
"Mm!"
Jin’er took a deep breath, stepping forward under the relentless heat that could dry a person, reaching the bronze giant door.
But strangely, the searing heat waves parted around Jin’er like tides meeting a reef.
Moreover, her face, pale from previously overextending herself, became more rosy and healthy.
"Hmm... Was this within Master’s expectations?" the little girl pondered foolishly, chin in hand.
"Squeak?!"
The little white fox pawed at the ground, utterly baffled.
Damn,
Could this Chen Ye be the reincarnation of the ancestor of Songyang? Why does he feel at home upon entering Luoxiao Grotto Heaven?!
Or is it that the spirituality of Luoxiao Grotto Heaven colludes with Chen Ye, secretly providing him intelligence?
"It... seems to both fear and like me..."
Jin’er murmured, tentatively reaching her small hand toward the heat waves.
The heat waves parted before scattering but lingered affectionately in the palm of her hand.