From the depths of the forest, two streaks of black light sped toward them from left and right.
They simultaneously emanated an extremely uncomfortable aura.
This manner of movement was clearly intended to completely surround Chen Baiqing and her group.
The black lights were very fast.
The azure light circles Chen Baiqing had constructed seemed to be broken through layer by layer.
The azure light circles shattered.
Their radiance scattered outward, transforming into twinkling points of light.
Li Qiyun made an assessment.
Given the speed of these black lights, she probably couldn't escape while carrying Tang Wanjun.
He didn't hesitate further.
She first positioned Tang Wanjun behind her.
Then she turned her gaze toward Chen Baiqing.
Though they were both at Golden Core, the fact that Chen Baiqing could detect these two black lights in advance meant her cultivation was probably significantly higher than her.
Moreover, Li Qiyun had only recently entered Golden Core.
Finding a Golden Core cultivator with lower cultivation than him would be rather difficult.
Chen Baiqing's appearance and manner of speaking also made her seem more like a rogue cultivator.
She had far more experience in dealing with situations than a sect cultivator like himself.
Li Qiyun didn't put on airs. She asked Chen Baiqing earnestly.
"What do we do now?"
Chen Baiqing's gaze swept over the two black shadows.
Even with the Azure Sky Treasure Ring's enhancement, these two unknown creatures could easily break through.
Their cultivation... was at least Golden Core late stage.
And they couldn't be weak Golden Cores either.
More likely, they were at the Nascent Soul realm.
If she were alone, escaping probably wouldn't be difficult.
But if she also had to protect a weak Golden Core and a weak Foundation Establishment, it wouldn't be so easy.
As for fighting... the outcome was uncertain, but the risk was extremely high.
It wasn't the first choice either.
Chen Baiqing recalled the Azure Sky Treasure Ring.
The spiritual energy around her also settled down.
Her tone was indifferent.
"If we can't win, we have to call for help."
Li Qiyun was stunned.
Chen Baiqing was a rogue cultivator—even if she knew people, they would be scattered far and wide.
This calling for help... surely she didn't mean for him to call for help?
After all, only he and his junior sister had a sect to call upon.
He could certainly call.
But the question was whether they could hold out.
These two black shadows didn't look like friendly sorts.
Li Qiyun drew the sword at his waist.
At the same time, he took out a talisman and activated it.
His expression was solemn.
"I'm sending word back to my sect. For the sect to send reinforcements will take about the time it takes to burn an incense stick. That creature's cultivation is probably not low. I'll need Miss Chu's help watching over my junior sister."
Tang Wanjun's face had grown somewhat pale.
Clearly, she had never experienced such a life-or-death moment.
She looked at Li Qiyun standing before her.
Her voice trembling slightly, but still carrying a somewhat determined tone.
"Eldest Senior Brother is protecting me. This matter started because of me. Eldest Senior Brother, just be careful yourself."
Li Qiyun didn't respond to Tang Wanjun's words.
Her gaze turned to Chen Baiqing, hoping for her promise.
Chen Baiqing looked calmly at the black shadows that were now encircling them from front and back.
"In their hands, neither you nor I can protect your junior sister. Whether you can even survive is uncertain."
Li Qiyun felt the oppressive aura of the two black lights.
He managed a bitter smile.
"We still have to try. If you can take my junior sister and go, take her. Don't worry about me."
Chen Baiqing glanced at Li Qiyun.
Surprisingly, a hopeless romantic.
"Your way of calling for help is too slow. Let me do it."
Li Qiyun was taken aback.
Then she watched as Chen Baiqing stood in place and suddenly started shouting.
"Something happened! Come help quickly, save us!"
Li Qiyun was stunned.
She saw that Chen Baiqing hadn't used a talisman.
This shout didn't even have a trace of spiritual energy fluctuation—it was just a simple shout.
What kind of way was this to call for help?
This was a desolate wilderness, a place with thin spiritual energy.
Even if she could call for help, she probably wouldn't be able to reach any experts.
Did the Child of Fortune really think they could shout their way into finding a kind-hearted expert?
This wasn't calling for help—this was gambling that her life was tough enough!
This was probably going to end in death.
But the next moment, several streaks of rainbow light came speeding from all directions.
This time, Li Qiyun didn't even catch traces of the surrounding rainbow lights.
It seemed that in the blink of an eye, they had already arrived.
Immediately after came the explosion of massive spiritual energy.
The shockwaves alone raised terrifying winds.
Li Qiyun had just managed to protect Tang Wanjun when she sensed several figures arriving behind her.
She turned to look and saw several masked cultivators positioning themselves protectively around Chen Baiqing.
What... was this?
Finding a kind-hearted organization in the middle of nowhere?!
Li Qiyun turned his head again.
He saw that the two black shadows had been subdued in an instant, tied up and packaged.
Such a skilled kind-hearted organization?!
"Tianyan Sect, Courtyard Alpha, by order of the Tianyan Sect Master, here to protect you."
Li Qiyun heard the voice beside him.
He quickly turned to look.
He saw one of the tall cultivators whose spiritual energy aura, even when restrained, still carried an extreme sense of intimidation.
She was bowing with cupped hands as she spoke to Chen Baiqing.
This cultivation was definitely profound and unfathomable.
Nascent Soul peak... or Spirit Transformation?!
Tianyan Sect?
One of the eighteen Immortal Sects of Central Continent, the Tianyan Sect?
And acting on the orders of the Sect Master?
Chen Baiqing's gaze turned toward the two black shadows as she quickly spoke.
"Capture them alive if possible. Hand them over to Sister Bai. These two things definitely have big secrets."
The lead cultivator first made a hand signal to the team members behind him who were making the capture.
Then he asked.
"May I ask, the Sister Bai you refer to—is it Elder Bai Xuanling?"
Chen Baiqing nodded lightly.
"If you have time, search this entire area thoroughly. All the unusual demonic beasts, capture them alive and bring them back to Tianyan Sect. Anything else unusual—capture if possible, and if not, bring back samples."
The lead cultivator nodded again to indicate no problem.
Then he looked around.
"Proceed according to Chen Martial Uncle's instructions."
As his words fell, the Tianyan Sect members who had gathered from all directions immediately scattered in all directions again.
Li Qiyun sensed several powerful spiritual senses sweeping without any hesitation toward the depths of the forest.
If he hadn't heard wrong just now...
Chen Martial Uncle?!
These top cultivators who could serve as supreme elders in his own sect were calling this Chu girl... Martial Aunt?
He had thought she was a kind-hearted rogue cultivator.
Turns out it was a big shot coming to experience the weakling life.
Chen Baiqing shook her head repeatedly.
"Don't call me Chen Martial Uncle. I don't have that high of a seniority. Just call me by my name."
"Your status has already been reduced according to your master's status." The Tianyan Sect lead cultivator's tone relaxed slightly. "If it hadn't been reduced, I would have to call you Grand Martial Aunt Chen."
"I'm not a member of Tianyan Sect... so you don't need to use Tianyan Sect's seniority either."
The Tianyan Sect lead cultivator ignored this statement.
"Chen Martial Uncle, do you plan to continue your training? If we need to escort those things back, the personnel protecting you won't be as complete."
Chen Baiqing heard this.
Her gaze turned in the general direction of Wanhua Ridge.
After a moment, she spoke.
"I'll go back with you first. I shouldn't let Master worry about me anymore."
[
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