Liu Piaopiao grew increasingly furious as she thought of Su Xi leaving unharmed.
Not only had she failed to get rid of Su Xi today, but she had also lost face in front of her followers. What puzzled her even more was how a mere Qi Refining disciple could wield a third-level talisman.
Despite her noble status, she had been bested by a supposed waste of a Qi Refining cultivator.
Seeing Liu Piaopiao's displeasure, the disciples around her spoke up with concern, "Fairy Liu, why the long face?"
Liu Piaopiao glanced at the people before her, inwardly cursing their obtuseness.
However, she quickly regained her demure demeanor, sighed deeply, and said, "I'm not unhappy. I'm just distressed thinking that I've implicated you all."
"What happened?" All the men's curiosity was piqued by Liu Piaopiao, eager to know what had occurred.
"The reason we are in such a sorry state today is all because Miss Su Xi misunderstood me..." Liu Piaopiao looked on the verge of tears, her face a picture of grievance.
Upon hearing Liu Piaopiao's words, the others were instantly ignited with anger. So, Su Xi had deliberately caused all this, making them lose face in front of their goddess. With a few murmurs of instigation, they rolled up their sleeves, ready to confront Su Xi.
Liu Piaopiao was pleased with the attitude of the fawning disciples around her. She feigned a勸说 (quànshuō - to persuade/advise), saying, "We are all fellow disciples. Harming fellow disciples will result in punishment. I don't want you to get hurt because of me. If you truly wish to do something for me, then at the sect competition three days later, you can remind my junior sister."
"Alright, we will definitely teach that ignorant person a lesson."
"Indeed. If someone dares to bully Fairy Liu, I'll be the first to disagree."
"At that time, we'll make sure she's eliminated in the very first round."
...
The group began to discuss heatedly how to deal with Su Xi.
Liu Piaopiao heard their discussions and a satisfied smile spread across her face. Those who offended her were destined for a miserable end.
Meanwhile, Su Xi and Tang Yifeng were unaware of the events unfolding behind them.
Even if Su Xi knew, she wouldn't have cared. A mere clown was not worth her attention. What she wanted to know now was why Tang Yifeng had helped her.
Walking to a secluded spot, Su Xi stopped and looked at Tang Yifeng beside her, asking, "Why did you help me?"
She had always believed in the principle that unsolicited kindness was suspicious, and thus couldn't believe someone would save her for no reason. Tang Yifeng had dared to offend Gu Li to save her, so he must have an ulterior motive.
Tang Yifeng saw Su Xi's wariness and didn't conceal his intentions. "I helped you because I want to make a deal with you."
"A deal?" Su Xi pondered for a moment, unable to figure out what on her person could be of interest to Tang Yifeng.
Could it be?
Seeing Su Xi's strange gaze, Tang Yifeng rolled his eyes, knowing she had misconstrued his intentions. He pointed at Su Xi and said, "I want the Ghost Spirit Grass from you."
Besides being used to refine elixirs, the Ghost Spirit Grass was more importantly capable of stabilizing the spirit. As a sword cultivator, his cultivation methods were highly taxing on his spirit. He had once damaged his own spirit during cultivation and therefore desperately needed the Ghost Spirit Grass for recovery.
When Su Xi heard Tang Yifeng's words, she immediately denied, "Didn't you already search me? I was just searched, and I don't have any Ghost Spirit Grass on me."
Tang Yifeng stared at Su Xi without speaking.
He knew that Su Xi had been searched, but he trusted his sense of smell more. He possessed a natural spiritual nose, capable of distinguishing the faintest of scents. Even if Su Xi didn't have the Ghost Spirit Grass on her, she definitely knew its whereabouts.
Su Xi looked at Tang Yifeng, who remained silent, and suddenly felt immense pressure, as if all her secrets were being laid bare.
"Have you made up your mind?" Tang Yifeng asked Su Xi again.
He was determined to obtain the Ghost Spirit Grass. If it couldn't be obtained through normal means, then it wouldn't be impossible to expend more effort. His future prospects could not be affected.
Su Xi sensed the sharp sword energy emanating from Tang Yifeng, knowing that if she refused, he would attack without hesitation. She had already depleted a large portion of her magical power fighting Gu Li, and even with her trump cards, she couldn't defeat Tang Yifeng.
After all, as the most outstanding disciple of the younger generation at Mount Shu, Tang Yifeng must possess treasures. If his interstellar gun couldn't deal with her, it would surely backfire on her.
After weighing the situation, Su Xi made her decision.
"What will you trade for it?" One had to yield when under duress. Though the Ghost Spirit Grass was precious, to her, it was merely for extracting medicinal effects. Losing her life would be a far greater loss.
"What do you want?" Tang Yifeng looked at Su Xi meaningfully, awaiting her answer.
Su Xi glanced at Tang Yifeng and said, "Offer something of equivalent value in exchange, otherwise, I'll destroy it before I give it to you."
"Hahaha." Tang Yifeng suddenly burst into laughter upon hearing Su Xi's words.
A Qi Refining cultivator dared to threaten a Core Formation cultivator?
If he were to attack, Su Xi would likely not even have time to cast a spell, let alone destroy what he desired.
Su Xi knew Tang Yifeng didn't believe her. She took out a pile of talismans from her person and explained, "These talismans are my bargaining chip."
She couldn't defeat Tang Yifeng, but if she activated so many talismans at once, even if Tang Yifeng used his full strength, he would never get the Ghost Spirit Grass.
Seeing the numerous talismans in Su Xi's hand, Tang Yifeng knew she wasn't bluffing. He stopped laughing. "This is the Dragon Subduing Seal, a Yellow-grade high-tier magical treasure. It is worth your Ghost Spirit Grass."
Su Xi knew this was Tang Yifeng's final concession. She then took out the Ghost Spirit Grass from her person.
While this transaction appeared equal, she had actually suffered a loss. As a Qi Refining cultivator, she couldn't activate the Dragon Subduing Seal, making it useless to her. The Ghost Spirit Grass, however, was different. Once made into elixirs, it could directly increase her cultivation.
However, her body housed a laboratory, so even if she couldn't use the Dragon Subduing Seal, she could directly refine it into energy and integrate it into weapons she could use.
Tang Yifeng took the Ghost Spirit Grass and inspected it carefully. After confirming it was genuine, he put it away and turned to leave. As he departed, however, he found himself growing more curious about Su Xi.
How exactly had this woman hidden the Ghost Spirit Grass without anyone noticing?
But Tang Yifeng wasn't too curious at the moment. The sect competition was fast approaching, and Su Xi's true capabilities would soon be revealed.