Chapter 14: Senior Sister Lin Qian (Please Recommend and Add to Favorites)

A figure draped in a black embroidered robe emerged from the embrace of darkness. She had seemingly been concealed in the shadows all along, watching Jiang Ning, and only now did her graceful form come into view, long hair cascading over her shoulders.

It was Li Qiaochan.

“So, it’s you.”

Jiang Ning’s expression shifted slightly. He suspected that Li Qiaochan had been following him, and yet he hadn’t sensed her presence at all.

“You’re quite vigilant, Brother Jiang Ning. Don’t worry, I won’t say a word.” Li Qiaochan smiled sweetly, her gaze fixed intently on him. “I was merely passing by and found the earlier formation intriguing. I didn’t expect you to get there first.”

Jiang Ning only half believed her words.

He found Li Qiaochan just as inscrutable as Li Zhenyu; their strength was unfathomable to him. In fact, he faintly suspected that Li Qiaochan’s power might not be inferior to Senior Sister Lin Qian of the Idle Cloud Sect.

“I know you bear a grudge against me for leading Erhuang onto their turf,” Li Qiaochan said, her figure alluring beneath the moonlight. “I was simply curious about your abilities, I didn’t know they’d harm Erhuang…”

“Are you the one orchestrating things behind the scenes?” Jiang Ning’s voice was cold. He couldn’t make a move against Li Qiaochan yet; he wanted to know who was truly pulling the strings.

“You misunderstand your elder sister.” Li Qiaochan shook her head and moved to approach him, but Jiang Ning, wary, sidestepped to avoid her.

“Heh, it seems you’re still on your guard, Brother Jiang Ning. Never mind, let me make it up to you.” Li Qiaochan tilted her head thoughtfully, then drifted away with effortless grace.

“That woman…” Jiang Ning felt a chill in his heart but did not follow. Instead, he slipped away into the darkness.

…

The encounter in the night was but an accident.

Jiang Ning returned to his residence, where a scroll appeared in his hand—the very one he’d seized from Zhao Feng, the array he had set earlier that day. He had also taken Zhao Feng’s spatial ring.

Those who harmed Erhuang had forced his hand; how could he not collect some interest?

“It’ll take Zhao Feng at least a month to fully recover from his wounds. In that time, I ought to break through to the Body Tempering realm and leave Idle Cloud Sect. He’ll be no threat to me then.”

Moments earlier, Jiang Ning had struck without hesitation, severely injuring Zhao Feng with a single blow.

He had to eliminate potential threats; after today, Zhao Feng might nurse a grudge and attempt further schemes.

Now, Zhao Feng was in the same state as Wang Shuo—unable to cultivate properly for some time. That hidden danger had been eradicated.

He had considered killing Zhao Feng, but internal disciples were forbidden from killing one another.

Removing the threat was enough; Jiang Ning didn’t wish to invite unnecessary trouble for himself.

“Li Qiaochan, Li Zhenyu, and that old Yang…”

Idle Cloud Sect felt to Jiang Ning like a shroud of mist—mystery and peril everywhere. His current strength was insufficient to unravel the layers of intrigue, adding to his sense of urgency.

For now, he unrolled the scroll and began to study the array.

When he next opened his eyes, dawn had already broken.

“The formation is truly marvelous—a trapping array, primarily based on illusions. It ensnares the mind, creating a boundless world within, making escape nearly impossible…”

Jiang Ning decided to put it to the test.

After erasing the imprint from Zhao Feng’s spatial ring, it now responded to his will. Inside, there were quite a few low-grade spirit stones, perfect as the foundation for the array.

“A spatial ring like this can only be exchanged for with sufficient sect contribution points. I’ve always kept a low profile and never participated in missions or tournaments, so this is a windfall for me…”

As he mused, six square crystals appeared in his hand—spirit stones, the essential foundation of any array.

Spirit stones came in superior, medium, and inferior grades, serving as currency among cultivators. Ordinary folk traded with gold coins, cultivators used spirit stones, which were infused with spiritual energy, condensed from heaven and earth.

Though less effective for cultivation than spiritual liquids or naturally formed spirit fruits, spirit stones were indispensable for array crafting and alchemy.

“Go!”

Following the steps he had comprehended, Jiang Ning set up the array, fused the spirit stones, and formed its core. With a flash of his ring, four more low-grade spirit stones flew out, landing at the corners of his courtyard. Mysterious patterns shimmered in the air, obscuring sight.

Moments later, the array was complete.

“This formation should be able to trap someone at the Opening Realm. Without knowledge of its workings, even someone at the pinnacle of the Opening Realm would be ensnared…”

Jiang Ning pondered, feeling safer now.

“The array yesterday was even more formidable, probably using a medium-grade spirit stone as its core. That would explain Zhao Feng’s anguish over its destruction.”

A thousand low-grade spirit stones equaled one medium-grade stone.

Had he not destroyed the array’s core, he could have manipulated it freely, keeping a powerful trump card in hand.

Zhao Feng’s pain was understandable, but there was nothing he could do.

“Even though this is only made with inferior stones, if someone approaches, I’ll know at once.”

Jiang Ning was satisfied.

Once inside the array, unless he deactivated it, others would be trapped—eliminating many potential threats in advance.

“But the killing array that wounded Erhuang wasn’t with Zhao Feng; it was set by Wang Shuo…”

Jiang Ning grew more certain that his suspicions about Wang Shuo’s backer were correct.

A killing array and a medium-grade spirit stone were not resources an ordinary inner disciple could muster at will.

He had considered confronting Wang Shuo for his treasures, but realized it was too risky. If someone powerful was behind Wang Shuo—like Elder Yang—he had best avoid provoking them.

Zhao Feng’s array was self-contained, ever-changing, and safe enough not to be traced—identical to the one used that day.

For the next three days, Jiang Ning did not leave his quarters.

On the first day, several inner disciples came to visit. After his show of strength, it was only natural others sought to befriend him.

All were ensnared in the array and politely dismissed by Jiang Ning.

Li Zhenyu himself also came.

Jiang Ning refused to see him; he found Li Zhenyu unreadable and entirely too shrewd, and had no desire to draw closer.

On the second day, Li Qiaochan appeared, bringing news.

Zhao Feng had vanished from his own residence, and none of the inner disciples knew who was responsible.

Remembering her mention of “compensation” the other night, Jiang Ning immediately understood. Li Qiaochan was signaling that they were now in the same boat—she wouldn’t expose him.

Still, Jiang Ning remained wary and did not meet her.

Moreover, with Zhao Feng’s disappearance, any investigation might lead back to him. Li Qiaochan’s actions might not be entirely beneficial. Jiang Ning considered various ways to deflect suspicion and subtly altered the array so it could not be easily traced to him.

During these days, he continued striving for a breakthrough.

“I’ve absorbed three spiritual fruits and still see no sign of advancement!”

Shock gripped Jiang Ning.

He had only two spirit fruits left—stolen by Erhuang—as well as no more pure spiritual liquid.

He felt as though his body was a bottomless pit, never to be filled.

“Is it because the Immortal Spirit Body requires so much energy to advance? Or is it the tenth layer of the Opening Realm? Or perhaps the imprint of the Dao within me?”

There was no answer.

He only knew that the Dao imprint within him obstructed his comprehension of the laws of heaven and earth.

All he could sense was an ineffable, natural way—a further sign that this imprint was no blessing. Keeping it would only bring disaster.

At least on this point, Li Zhenyu had spoken the truth.

On the third day, Erhuang awoke.

Its external wounds had mostly healed; at least they no longer looked so ghastly. The creature was as lively as ever, seemingly having forgotten the events of that day, and continued to circle Jiang Ning.

But Jiang Ning was determined never to let it out to cause mischief again—he didn’t want to clean up after it a second time.

On the fourth day, there was another visitor.

To Jiang Ning’s surprise, it was Senior Sister Lin Qian.

“Junior Brother Jiang Ning, the Sect Master has sent me to deliver a message…”

Senior Sister Lin Qian exuded an air of otherworldly elegance, untouchable and pure. Draped in a violet gauze robe, she seemed ethereal, completely masking her presence—even the array could not so much as glimpse her aura.

She stood there, hair drifting in the breeze, and began to speak.