No one expected that the towering green vine would suddenly wither and break.
Large sections of withered branches rained down, crashing with a roar. The crowd dared not linger, fleeing in panicked shouts. A direct hit would mean severe injury, if not death.
"Quick, move!"
Su Luo had just called out when someone grabbed her and pulled her swiftly away from their spot.
The wind howled fiercely, followed by continuous thunderous crashes and flying leaves behind them. Even ancient trees as thick as two people hugging could not withstand the impact, being smashed to smithereens.
Li Tianjue, holding Su Luo, dodged and leaped like lightning.
The entire Flowing Light Forest, within a ten-mile radius, was affected by the withered and broken green vines. Countless birds and demonic beasts fled in terror, their cries of agony shattering the quiet night.
Su Luo nestled comfortably in Li Tianjue's arms, unafraid as he carried her through the treetops.
Her senior brother was quite proactive this time, taking her away without needing any prompting.
Progress!
A faint, clean scent wafted towards her, and Su Luo couldn't help but nuzzle closer to Li Tianjue.
How could a grown man smell so good?
Li Tianjue frowned.
This girl was burrowing into his embrace, her arms tightly wrapped around his waist, pressed against him intimately. He could clearly feel her softness and the fragrant scent of her hair... A warmth coursed through his body, and his ears turned red.
"Don't move around."
Li Tianjue's voice was unusually deep, tinged with a hint of huskiness.
Thinking she was hindering his movements, Su Luo gave a soft "Oh" and settled down obediently.
After a while, Li Tianjue landed in an open space.
It was pitch black now, and the dense forest was silent. The other cultivators had scattered to who knows where. The Dragon Hound had stayed by their side, its speed no slower than Li Tianjue's.
The Chi Dragon, however, had learned its lesson and knew to follow them.
Shangxie Shaoqing followed closely behind, while Du Wei, panting, finally caught up, safe and sound.
"That was close, why did that green vine suddenly break?"
Du Wei looked back, still shaken. "Fortunately, the young master is blessed with great fortune."
"Could it be because we left the Giant King's Court?" Shangxie Shaoqing couldn't guess.
Su Luo didn't think much of it. The Giant King's Court was inherently mysterious, and even the method of entry was peculiar. Who knew how Emperor Lang Kui had arranged it back then.
Those people had said they came out as soon as they entered. Perhaps the flow of time within the Giant King's Court was slower than outside, which caused this phenomenon? She would know for sure if she went again.
Suddenly, Su Luo thought of something. "Oh no, Shui Qingyue!"
In the sudden chaos, no one had paid attention to Shui Qingyue and the others. So many young children and infants, unable to escape in time, might have already...
Li Tianjue also realized it, his brow furrowing, his tone heavy. "It's too late. Most of those children and infants have likely met a tragic end, but Shui Qingyue should be fine."
"Of course that woman is fine, have you forgotten how cruel she is?"
Shangxie Shaoqing said dismissively, "I don't know how you got involved with Shui Qingyue, Brother Li, but be careful. That woman is cold-blooded, heartless, and psychopathic. If you had to describe her with a flower, do you know which one it would be?"
Li Tianjue didn't answer, but Su Luo raised an eyebrow. "Could it be a rose?"
The thorny kind!?
Shangxie Shaoqing burst out laughing, his tone changing. "Wrong! Although Shui Qingyue appears pure and beautiful, only I, this young master, know her true nature. She is a Pao Luo flower – her beauty is her fragrance, but in reality, she is hideous, luring prey into a trap only to devour them completely."
"That's quite a vivid metaphor." Su Luo couldn't help but chuckle.
If Shui Qingyue heard Shangxie Shaoqing describe her like that, she would surely go mad.
"You haven't dealt with Shui Qingyue before and don't know how twisted she is. I know her best. She slapped her maid at the age of three, tortured her younger sister's pet fox at five, and had many admirers by the age of ten..."
Shangxie Shaoqing chattered on about Shui Qingyue's gossip, leaving Su Luo in awe.
She truly hadn't expected the Saintess of the Grand Beginning Holy Land to be psychologically twisted from childhood, and adept at using her advantages to entice numerous unsuspecting talented individuals, thus earning her the title of the most beautiful woman in the Scarlet Moon Empire.
Allowing her to leave this time would surely cause trouble.
But she and Qingxu Heaven would not be afraid!
Originally, Su Luo had come out this time partly to find Li Tianjue, and partly to search for some Spirit Beast Kings.
Unfortunately, the sudden collapse of the green vine had thrown the Flowing Light Forest into chaos, making it impossible to search for Spirit Beast Kings on their way back. Coupled with the matters of Shui Qingyue and the Giant King's Court, they had to return to Qingxu Heaven as soon as possible to inform the six elders and prepare accordingly.
As night deepened, the four people and two beasts found a spot by the lake and decided to camp for the night.
The Dragon Hound and Chi Dragon soon dragged back several prey, and Du Wei helped with the preparations. Su Luo quickly roasted the meat. As they ate and chatted, they were surprised when Shangxie Shaoqing announced he would accompany them to Qingxu Heaven at dawn.
"Shangxie, you need to help the Great Emperor reincarnate. Why are you coming with us?" Su Luo asked, confused.
While she would welcome the Great Emperor's presence and an extra helper in critical moments, she also knew the current priorities of Emperor Haotian.
Shangxie Shaoqing poked at the campfire, flashing a handsome smile. "Qingxu Heaven is a land of exceptional talent and spirit. Since I've come, of course, I must see it. Unless you two don't welcome me... Ah, Miss Su, Brother Li, you wouldn't really refuse me, would you?"
Suddenly realizing his mistake, he became somewhat flustered.
The Great Emperor had instructed him that he must win over Miss Su, or he would not accept him as a disciple.
His performance in the Giant King's Court these past few days had been poor, not even half as good as Miss Su's. How could he win her heart? He had to stay by her side to have a chance.
With that in mind, Shangxie Shaoqing found an excuse and pulled Li Tianjue aside.
He lowered his voice. "Brother Li, we've known each other for a while, and we spent pleasant times in the Giant King's Court, even facing life and death together. I, I want to go to Qingxu Heaven with you. Brother Li won't refuse, will he?"
Li Tianjue hadn't thought much of it initially, but Shangxie Shaoqing's solemn demeanor made him suspicious.
"What exactly do you want to do?"
"I... Brother Li, you're not an outsider, so I'll tell you the truth."
Shangxie Shaoqing glanced at Su Luo, who was sitting by the campfire not far away, and said earnestly, "Actually, I fell in love with Miss Su at first sight. After returning, I thought of her day and night. This second meeting has only made me like her more."
Seeing Li Tianjue's gaze sharpen, he quickly explained, "Brother Li, I genuinely like Miss Su. She is intelligent, witty, beautiful, and lovely. The events of this time have only solidified my feelings. In this life, I only wish to marry Miss Su and love and care for her forever."
As he listened, Li Tianjue's expression grew colder, and a chilling aura emanated from him.
He hadn't expected Shangxie Shaoqing to like Su Luo!
"Brother Li, we've known each other for many years and are friends. You must help me..."