Inside Qingxu Temple, all was peaceful. The victory's warmth from the Red Flame Valley conflict had not yet faded. Disciples cultivated, executed missions, exchanged insights, orderly as before, as if everything had returned to normal. Tang Xiaoqi sat cross-legged in the meditation chamber of his cave dwelling.
Spiritual energy flowed around him, the ethereal purification light and Four Symbols phantoms faintly visible, consolidating his cultivation. However, as his mind sank deep into cultivation, an extremely subtle, barely perceptible sense of wrongness rippled through his spirit platform like a stone dropped into a calm lake. It was a. feeling of being watched. Not flagrant spiritual sense scanning, nor hostile locking with malicious intent.
It was more like a cold, emotionless gaze, briefly sweeping across his area from some extremely concealed angle. Tang Xiaoqi abruptly opened his eyes, their brilliance flashing briefly. His vast spiritual sense surged like an invisible tide, rapidly expanding in all directions from his center, meticulously scanning every inch of ground around his cave dwelling, every wisp of spiritual energy fluctuation, even the swaying of each leaf. His spiritual sense was so powerful and acute it could cover dozens of li in all directions, revealing every detail.
Yet, nothing was found. Outside the cave dwelling, sunlight was bright, spiritual plants swayed gently. Occasionally disciples flew past on their weapons, their auras peaceful. In the forests, birds sang, beasts walked, all life bustling. Everything appeared completely normal, as if that momentary sense of wrongness was merely an illusion from over-cultivation.
But Tang Xiaoqi's brow slightly furrowed. At his level of cultivation, spiritual sensitivity far exceeded ordinary people, and baseless illusions were nearly impossible. That feeling, though brief and concealed, was utterly real. He contemplated silently, not making a fuss, merely hiding the vigilance deep in his heart.
While cultivating, he exercised more caution, and his spiritual sense maintained an outward loose internal and external immediately after (relaxed outside, tight inside) state, watching for any subtle changes around him. Meanwhile, inside the Law Enforcement Hall. Liu Yun had just finished processing a batch of daily affairs, preparing to go inspect disciple cultivation at the martial arts arena. She walked to the window, pushed it open, wanting the cool mountain breeze to dispel some fatigue.
As her gaze unknowingly swept across the distant rolling mountains, her heart tightened for no reason. It was as if within those seemingly calm mountain shadows, something extremely dangerous lurked, gazing remotely at the sect's core area with cold eyes. Her eyes chilled. Her Golden Core cultivator's powerful spiritual sense instantly became like a drawn sword, precisely stabbing toward that area where she'd sensed abnormality.
Where her spiritual sense passed, rocks, grass, trees, flying birds, walking beasts—all were within her perception, utterly clear. Similarly, no discovery. Those mountains were silent, without even a slightly powerful demon beast's aura. Liu Yun stood before the window, brow tightly locked. She trusted her intuition equally, especially after countless life-and-death battles, her premonition of danger even more acute.
That momentary palpitation was absolutely not baseless. "Someone come." She called coldly. A law enforcement disciple entered upon hearing. "Issue orders: strengthen internal sect patrols and covert sentries recently, especially in core areas. Watch for any suspicious signs, no matter how subtle, report immediately." Liu Yun ordered, her tone brooking no argument.
"Yes!" The disciple departed with the order. Liu Yun gazed once more at those distant mountains, her eyes cold. Though she couldn't find evidence, she was certain—something had already silently slipped in. Inside Tang Xiaoqi's cave dwelling's medicinal garden, the rabbit spirit idly poked at some Rainbow Light Grass.
The "Sparkly Pouch" on its chest bulged slightly, obviously having collected new "treasures." However, those ruby-like eyes held less of their usual liveliness and comfort, carrying instead an unnoticeable restlessness. It occasionally raised its long ears, alertly rotating their direction. Its nose lightly twitched in the air, as if catching some extremely faint yet instinctively unsettling scent. It no longer basked in the sun leisurely like before, instead seeming restless, occasionally hopping to a corner of the medicinal garden to investigate carefully, then hopping back disappointedly.
When Tang Xiaoqi finished cultivating and walked out of the cave dwelling, the rabbit spirit immediately scurried to his feet, nuzzling against his trouser leg, emitting "squeak squeak" urgent calls with obvious warning meaning. Its red eyes tightly stared at him, then gazed alertly at their surroundings. Tang Xiaoqi bent down, gently stroking the rabbit spirit's soft fur, feeling its transmitted unease. His suspicions were further confirmed.
Even the rabbit spirit with keen spiritual sense had detected abnormality. He raised his head, his gaze seemingly casually sweeping the surrounding scenery—layered green mountains, clouds rolling, everything normal. But his eyes grew increasingly profound and sharp. Beneath peaceful daily life, undercurrents had already surged.
The killing intent lurking in the shadows, though excellently concealed, was not completely without traces. Whether his own transcendent spiritual sense, Liu Yun's battle-hardened intuition, or the rabbit spirit's innate danger perception—all vaguely caught that discordant rhythm. The storm is coming, wind fills the tower. Tang Xiaoqi did not publicize his suspicions to avoid causing unnecessary panic.
But he and Liu Yun, along with a few core disciples, had quietly heightened vigilance. The great ship of Qingxu Temple, on this seemingly peaceful voyage, had already begun carefully avoiding potential underwater reefs. True threats might come faster than imagined, and more lethal.