Senior sister, come quickly into the basin.

The mountain road gets narrower as you go up.

Li Tianran struggled to keep up with Zhao Ling's pace, while also carrying a heavy woman on his back.

He was having a very hard time.

Fortunately, Zhao Ling didn't leave him behind and would wait for him to catch up from time to time.

They didn't take the main road up the mountain.

Instead, they turned onto a side road, pushed aside the bushes, and entered a pine forest.

The pine needles fell to the ground, accumulating into a thick layer that felt soft and slippery underfoot, making no sound.

Just then, a long howl suddenly came from behind.

Li Tianran's heart tightened, and he quickened his pace.

Shen Qing heard it too.

That was their Heavenly Sword Sect's communication signal; they had encountered a powerful enemy and were requesting support.

Senior Brother Song!

Shen Qing almost burst into tears.

Song Qingshu is at the ninth level of Qi Refining, ranking among the top three experts in the outer sect of the Heavenly Sword Sect.

If he catches up, then there's hope.

Shen Qing wanted to shout, but when she opened her mouth, only a hoarse gasp came out of her throat.

Li Tianran's hand was still on the back of her thigh. When he sensed that she wanted to move, his fingers tightened slightly.

"Don't move."

Zhao Ling heard this too and said calmly, "Don't panic, he won't dare to chase after us."

Shen Qing was hanging upside down; she strained to lift her head.

A figure could be seen at the foot of the mountain, dressed in white, carrying a long sword, and exuding a powerful aura.

It really is Senior Brother Song.

Shen Qing was about to shout, "Senior Brother Song, I'm here!"

But before she could finish speaking, she saw that Senior Brother Song had stopped and was no longer chasing after her.

Shen Qing observed his surroundings; a layer of gray fog enveloped the area.

This is already within the territory of the Blood Spirit Sect.

There is also a protective formation.

This……

She was unwilling to accept it, but there was nothing she could do.

Down halfway up the mountain

Song Qingshu, dressed in a white Taoist robe, stopped in his tracks, his knuckles white as he gripped the hilt of his sword.

He wanted to take a step forward.

It stopped again.

His face showed hesitation, resentment, and helplessness...

They could only watch helplessly as Shen Qing was carried to the Blood Spirit Sect by a blood slave.

He could catch up if he rushed up, but he would most likely be trapped by the Blood Spirit Sect's formation.

Also.

If he were to provoke those Foundation Establishment elders from the Blood Spirit Sect, he would surely die.

Seeing this, Shen Qing understood Song Qingshu's choice.

She looked up, her heart filled with despair.

Li Tianran also breathed a sigh of relief.

With a Qi Refining Level 9, let alone him, even Zhao Ling couldn't withstand it.

He gritted his teeth and continued to keep up with Zhao Ling's pace.

After a while.

At the end of the pine forest, a stone staircase appears.

The stone steps were very steep, covered with moss, and ferns grew in the crevices.

At the end of the stone steps was an unfamiliar wooden door.

The door panel was infested with insects, and a rusty iron lock hung on it.

This must be some hidden side door.

Li Tianran silently made a note of it.

At that moment, Zhao Ling kicked the door open.

The iron lock and bolt flew off together, and the wooden door crashed into the stone wall with a dull thud.

Behind the door was the familiar spiritual field.

The air was filled with a sweet, fishy smell, along with the medicinal fragrance of rare herbs.

Familiar taste.

Zhao Ling led the two women to the edge of the field.

Then, he turned his head and glanced at Li Tianran.

Seeing that he was panting heavily, yet still able to keep up with her pace.

She exclaimed in surprise, "Your performance was much better than I expected!"

Li Tianran lowered his head and smiled bitterly: "If it weren't for Senior Sister arriving in time..."

"I'm afraid I've already died at the hands of the Heavenly Sword Sect cultivators."

Zhao Ling remained noncommittal: "You are clever and courageous, suitable to be a heretical cultivator."

"If he could cultivate, he might be a good helper, but unfortunately he lacks spiritual roots and cannot cultivate."

Before Li Tianran could say anything...

"Put her down."

Li Tianran took the woman off his shoulder.

It's not about gently placing it down; it's about letting go completely.

Shen Qing fell to the ground, her buttocks hitting the stone steps, and she groaned in pain.

Her hair was disheveled, her Taoist robe was wrinkled, and her collar was askew, revealing half of her collarbone. Her expression was neither sad nor happy.

Zhao Ling looked down at her.

"Sixth level of Qi Refining".

Zhao Ling said, "Okay."

She squatted down, pinched Shen Qing's chin, and lifted her face to look at her from left to right.

Shen Qing tried to struggle, but Zhao Ling's fingers were like iron clamps.

"Her face is nice too," Zhao Ling said.

"What a pity. In the Blood Spirit Sect, face is useless."

She let go of his hand, stood up, and walked towards the thirty-year-old woman again.

The woman, controlled by the Blood Slave Talisman, stood motionless with vacant eyes.

Zhao Ling walked around her, pinched her arm, and then pried open her mouth to look at her teeth.

She frowned and asked, "Thirty-one years old?"

Li Tianran lowered his head nervously.

"Replying to Senior Sister Zhao, I was in too much of a hurry just now and didn't ask her age clearly."

"That's enough."

"It's not your fault. I never expected that there would be a Qi Refining Level 9 cultivator in this mortal town."

Zhao Ling released the woman's mouth and wiped his fingers on her clothes.

"I'm too old, I'm of no use anymore."

She drew her dagger.

Shen Qing saw a flash of light from the blade.

The knife tip pierced the woman's left lower jaw, angled upwards, passing through her tongue, through her palate, and into the back of her nasal cavity.

The woman didn't even utter a sound before her body went limp, like a bag of rice leaking out.

Zhao Ling pulled out the knife, and blood gushed from the blade—not spurting, but gushing out, dark red and bubbly.

She dragged the body to the edge of the spirit field.

The soil in the sacred field is loose, dark red, and very soft.

Zhao Ling waved her hand, unleashing a surge of magical power.

In a short while, they dug a shallow pit and casually pushed the body into it.

The woman lay on her back, her eyes still open, staring blankly at the sky.

Zhao Ling covered the soil until only one hand was exposed, her fingers slightly curled as if she were trying to grab something.

Zhao Ling stepped on it, burying her hand in the dirt as well.

"It can barely be used as fertilizer."

Upon seeing this.

Li Tianran's eyelids twitched, but his face remained expressionless.

Shen Qing trembled all over, her eyes filled with anger.

"You two beasts, my Heavenly Sword Sect will wipe out the Blood Spirit Sect sooner or later."

Shen Qingwei raised her chin and cursed through gritted teeth.

"Okay, I'll wait."

She walked to Shen Qing's side and placed her palm on Shen Qing's lower abdomen.

Seal her magic power directly.

Shen Qing collapsed to the ground, clutching her stomach, panting heavily, her forehead covered in sweat.

"There's no threat now."

Zhao Ling turned around and walked towards Li Tianran.

Give me everything you have.

Upon hearing this...

Li Tianran was already prepared, and was extremely unwilling.

But they had no choice but to hand over the spoils of war.

A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime.

Saving your life is the priority now.

He carefully took two storage bags out of his pocket.

Tu San's gray storage bag, and Shen Qing's storage bag embroidered with cloud patterns.

"Senior sister, everything is here."

He lowered his head, his gaze falling on Zhao Ling's strong and slender legs, and offered them to her with both hands.

"She's quite sensible."

"This woman from the Heavenly Sword Sect is yours."

"Don't ruin your health; your spiritual field still needs your care."

Zhao Ling's voice was indifferent as she gave a curt warning.

Upon hearing this, Li Tianran's lips twitched.

This woman is really direct, without any pretense.

"This girl needs some work-study. I'll come see you again in two days."

Done.

Zhao Ling then left with the girl whose eyes were vacant.

in situ.

Shen Qing, who had no power to resist, looked up at him.

Her voice was filled with fear and helplessness: "You dare touch me?!"

Li Tianran smiled.