At this moment, on the second floating island, Yun Xi was facing a late-stage Golden Core cultivator from the Jihan Sect. The opponent had spotted the Fei Xu Liusha Stone she had just dug up and stealthily approached, intending to snatch it. But Yun Xi had already detected him with her extended spiritual awareness.
Dodging his ice needle attack, Yun Xi frowned and said unhappily, "You're strange. If you want Fei Xu Liusha Stone, dig it yourself. Why must you take the one in my hand?"
"Hmph! I want that piece in your hand. Hand it over quickly if you know what's good for you!"
The man was arrogant, nostrils flaring, as if certain his strength would crush Yun Xi. He spoke his intent plainly.
Yun Xi sensed the provocation was deliberate and transmitted to Dian Dian: "Dian Dian, is he an evil cultivator?"
Dian Dian had already sniffed around while her master battled the arrogant man and responded quickly: "Master, he is not an evil cultivator. But I think he has been bribed by evil cultivators. He's stirring up trouble here to provoke cultivators from the western domain."
Yun Xi considered this. Dian Dian's sharp mind had anticipated this possibility. Her strategy needed adjustment. She could have killed him outright, but now she needed to leave him alive to confront the Jihan Sect cultivators, to verify Dian Dian's theory.
It was also possible someone was disguising themselves as an Jihan Sect cultivator to draw conflict, while the real mastermind watched from the sidelines.
With that in mind, Yun Xi dodged the ice blades flanking her and focused her spiritual sense, sending a needle directly into the man's sea of consciousness.
"Ah!"
He screamed, breaking his spellcasting. Yun Xi seized the opportunity, using the Fufeng Step to appear behind him. Her palm, infused with spiritual energy, swung horizontally, shattering his protective spiritual shield and knocking him unconscious.
She immediately took his storage ring, bound him in a cocoon with spiritual energy, and threw him into her portable herb garden. This place allowed living things, but she would not let him roam in her space.
Just as Yun Xi prepared to continue exploring the floating island, a teleportation array suddenly lit up beneath her feet. She had no chance to withdraw her foot before being transported away.
Elsewhere, Wei Chenyin and her companions did not scatter this time. The four entered an ancient cultivator's dwelling.
Together, they were all confused.
Wei Chenyin spoke first: "We entered the secret realm, didn't we? How did we end up here after breaking through the illusion?"
Lin Keyang said gravely, "Could this be an ancient cultivator's dwelling inside the secret realm?"
Zhang Lingrui, having just regained his awareness, added uncertainly, "This looks like a sealed dwelling. To leave, we must find a way out. Could it be like the forest before, where we needed to locate a teleportation array?"
He glanced at Cao Yi, skilled in formations.
Cao Yi held a compass, trying to locate the Life Gate, but the needle spun wildly, clearly disrupted by some force.
He put the compass away and said to the others, "The compass is being interfered with. To leave, we must find the path ourselves."
Zhang Lingrui nodded while walking: "Since we're all here, we might as well grab a treasure or two. We haven't met up with Junior Sister Wei yet. We can't leave empty-handed."
Lin Keyang tapped his fist: "Exactly. Let's push forward. We came here for experience, not to halt because the path ahead is unclear."
Wei Chenyin smiled faintly, exchanged a glance with Cao Yi, and followed.
When Yun Xi stood again, a sharp golden light skimmed over her hairpin. In the next moment, her jade crown shattered into fragments, leaving her disheveled as the fierce attack sent her flying backward.
Fortunately, her elder's robe absorbed much of the impact, though she still crashed through five trees before hitting the ground.
Clenching her teeth in pain, Yun Xi immediately released her spiritual sense, trying to determine who had attacked her. She had just arrived and had not offended anyone yet.
With a springing movement, she rose, brushing hair from her eyes, and looked at the perpetrator.
"Amitabha! I apologize, Xiaoyou. How did you appear suddenly in our duel?"
Seeing the navy monk robe and the distinctive shaved head, Yun Xi recognized him as a Buddhist cultivator from Yunmen Temple in the eastern region. His cultivation was clearly at Nascent Soul stage, and he had a baby-faced appearance.
Rubbing her head, Yun Xi cupped her hands in respect: "Master, I stepped on a teleportation array by mistake and was sent here. I did not mean to disturb your sparring."
She then looked at his opponent. The man had a plain face, wore a light gray robe, and held a simple sword, giving nothing away about his origin.
After Yun Xi appeared, the male cultivator grew alert. Upon realizing she was only late-stage Golden Core, his eyes showed contempt, and he turned his gaze back to the Buddhist cultivator.
"You bald old monk, we all rely on our own skill in the secret realm. Why block me?"
The Yunmen Temple master, unbothered by the insult, recited a Buddhist chant and said:"This Daoyou, you should not be here. How did you get in?"
Yun Xi, after receiving Dian Dian's transmission, internally processed the situation and slowly retreated, planning to exit the combat zone.
Yet fate intervened. The male cultivator flashed beside her, reaching for her neck to use her as a hostage, threatening the Buddhist cultivator.
Yun Xi instinctively wanted to dodge but forced herself to stay, feigning surprise.
The Buddhist cultivator, exasperated, raised a palm to strike with a Banruo Palm but was a step too late.
"Old bald donkey, stop following me. We should not interfere with each other, or else…"
He thrust his sword toward Yun Xi's dantian, clearly intending to kill her in front of the Buddhist cultivator.
But his sword was blocked by a black umbrella. He looked up at the disheveled Yun Xi, seeing murderous intent in her eyes.
This time, Yun Xi had no hesitation. She unleashed the high-level spell "Thunder Soul Spike" from the Soul Refining Art, directly striking his sea of consciousness.
The Thunder Soul Spike attached lightning energy to her thousand condensed soul spikes, attacking his spirit and destroying his sea of consciousness. It was a ferocious attack, her first time using it, and she even risked herself under his sword for the strike to succeed.