127: Chapter 127 Xia Chenchen

[A fight?]

[You originally didn't want to meddle in other people's business, but in a place like the East Sea, any anomaly could hide valuable information.]

[You approached quietly, hid behind a massive reef, and peeked out.]

[In the desolate forest, three cultivators wearing moon-white Daoist robes were surrounding and attacking a woman.]

[Those three cultivators were all at the Early True Immortal stage. Their attacks were ruthless, with sword qi crisscrossing the air; every strike aimed directly at vital points.]

["People from Qiongyao Holy Land?" You recognized that iconic moon-white Daoist robe, and your heart stirred.]

[You turned your gaze toward the woman being attacked.]

[The woman's green clothing was tattered beyond recognition. She had multiple deep wounds where the bone was visible, and blood had stained a large portion of her clothes.]

[She held a broken sword, her spiritual energy nearly exhausted, and her steps were unsteady. Yet, her gaze was as stubborn and unyielding as a lone wolf, staring fixedly at the three people before her.]

[Even though she was in a desperate situation, she showed no intention of begging for mercy.]

["Xia Chenchen?"]

[Seeing the woman's face clearly, a name instantly flashed through your mind.]

[The intelligence you heard at the restaurant last night—the female cultivator that Qiongyao Holy Land was hunting with a bounty of 100,000 high-grade spirit crystals.]

[In a previous simulation, you had also seen her. The only daughter of the Xia family head in the Central Plains, Xia Chenchen.]

["Xia Chenchen, hand over the key, and we might leave your corpse intact!" the leading cultivator from Qiongyao Holy Land shouted coldly.]

["In your dreams!" Xia Chenchen gritted her teeth, spat out a mouthful of blood, and slashed back with her sword, but it was immediately dispersed by the opponent's protective qi.]

[The key?]

[You keenly caught this keyword.]

[Qiongyao Holy Land is searching for the Nameless Ancient Tomb and is also hunting Xia Chenchen for the key.]

[It seems this so-called "key" is very likely the crucial item for opening the ancient tomb in the Biluo Abyss.]

["Since you are stubborn, then go to hell!" The leading cultivator's eyes were full of murderous intent as his long sword erupted with blinding white light, striking directly at the center of Xia Chenchen's forehead.]

[Xia Chenchen closed her eyes, having no strength left to resist.]

[Just at this critical moment.]

[You made your move.]

["Hum—"]

[Nine array flags silently emerged from the void, instantly locking down the space within a hundred-zhang radius.]

["Eighth-Rank Trapping Array: Heaven and Earth Net!"]

[You formed seals with your hands, and the array was instantly activated.]

[Violent spiritual energy transformed into countless transparent chains, binding the three Early True Immortal cultivators tightly.]

["Who is it?!" The Qiongyao Holy Land cultivators were terrified and desperately urged their True Immortal power to struggle.]

[However, the array you laid down, while appearing to be Eighth-Rank on the surface, actually incorporated your insights as a Ninth-Rank Array Master, far beyond what a few ordinary Early True Immortal cultivators could easily break free from.]

[You walked out from behind the reef, stepping toward Xia Chenchen.]

[Xia Chenchen opened her eyes abruptly. Upon seeing you, instead of relaxing, she acted like a startled hedgehog, gripping her broken sword tightly and staring at you with extreme caution.]

["Who are you? Are you with them?" Her voice was hoarse, filled with deep vigilance.]

["If I were with them, you would already be a dead person by now." You stated the fact in a calm tone.]

[Xia Chenchen paused, seemingly judging the truth of your words.]

["Who exactly are you?" She still did not lower her guard.]

["A passing rogue cultivator and Array Master, Long Aotian." You gave your alias and casually tossed a few healing pills that landed at her feet.]

["Long... Aotian?" Hearing this name, a strange expression flashed across Xia Chenchen's pale face.]

["No need to thank me. I just can't stand those hypocrites from Qiongyao Holy Land bullying the weak with numbers." You continued to maintain your persona as a cold and detached rogue cultivator.]

[Xia Chenchen did not pick up the pills on the ground but stared at you coldly: "Aren't you going to ask why I'm being hunted? Or ask what I have on me?"]

["Not interested." You turned around directly. "We are strangers meeting by chance, let's go our separate ways. This array can only trap them for half an hour. If you don't want to die, find a place to hide quickly."]

[After saying this, you walked away without hesitation, heading toward the southern defense line.]

[Playing hard to get.]

[To deal with such a highly vigilant young lady from a noble family, the more you act as if you want nothing, the more she will lower her guard.]

[Furthermore, your current priority is to go to the southern line to repair the array and take the opportunity to lock onto the specific location of the Biluo Abyss; you don't have time to waste with her here.]

[Watching your decisive and clean departure, the caution in Xia Chenchen's eyes faded slightly.]

[She bent down to pick up the pills on the ground, swallowed them, and then flashed away, disappearing into the depths of the desolate forest.]

[For the next half day, you were busy repairing the broken arrays on the southern defense line.]

[The speed was so fast that even the Mid-Stage of Tribulation Transcendence supervisor in charge of the work was a bit dumbfounded.]

[The workload he assigned you for three days, you finished in half a day.]

["Brother Long, are you... sure you are only an Eighth-Rank?" the supervisor asked cautiously.]

["I am sure." You blurted out nonsense without changing your expression. "I'm just fast with my hands."]

[The supervisor was doubtful but didn't ask any further.]

[The front line was severely short-handed; it was good enough to have someone working, so who cared what rank you were.]

[After finishing the work, you didn't leave immediately but took a walk around the vicinity of the southern line.]

[You had already locked onto the direction of the Biluo Abyss.]

[It was about eight thousand li south of the southern defense line.]

[Not far, but you were not in a hurry.]

[Being in a hurry to go there would only make it easier to expose your purpose.]

[You planned to observe for another two days, figure out the patrol routes and power distribution around the Biluo Abyss, and then find a suitable time to sneak in.]

[However, plans cannot keep up with changes.]

[The next evening, on your way back to Bichao City, you encountered Xia Chenchen again.]

[To be precise, she sought you out herself.]

[You were standing on a seaside cliff observing the sea in the direction of the Biluo Abyss when she suddenly walked out from the woods behind you.]

[She was much better than yesterday.]

[Her left arm was wrapped in the bandages you left, and her face was still a bit pale, but at least she could walk on her own.]

[Her spiritual energy fluctuations had also recovered a bit, probably about twenty or thirty percent of her peak.]

["You are looking in the direction of the Biluo Abyss." She stood five zhang behind you, her tone a statement, not a question.]

[You turned your head and glanced at her.]

["You have been following me all day?"]

["Half a day," she corrected.]

[You raised an eyebrow.]

[Following a Late Stage of Tribulation Transcendence Array Master for half a day while heavily injured?]

[This girl has a lot of nerve.]

["You are also going to the Biluo Abyss," Xia Chenchen said directly.]

[Not a question, but a certainty.]

[You were silent for two seconds.]

["So what?"]

["I have a proposal." Xia Chenchen's eyes were very serious. "There are a large number of sea beasts and ancient array restrictions near the Biluo Abyss; it is too dangerous for one person. Your array cultivation is very strong, but your combat power is insufficient. Although I am injured, once I recover to seventy or eighty percent, my combat power will be at least at the Early True Immortal stage."]

["You want to go with me?" You stated her goal directly.]