Xie Linlang’s gaze fell on the nearest fragmented stone platform.
He unwound the Lotus Root Rope from his wrist and gave it a light shake; it immediately extended.
With a flick of his wrist, Xie Linlang sent the Lotus Root Rope flying straight ahead, where it slapped onto the fragmented stone platform.
Xie Linlang looked at Le Qingping. “I’ll throw you over, then you pull me with the rope.”
Le Qingping’s expression shifted slightly. Whether she failed to hold on or Senior Xie flung her into the chaotic void in a fit of anger, either was terrifying!
Le Qingping explained in a soft, delicate voice, “Senior, I’m afraid I’ll slip…”
Xie Linlang handed her the Lotus Root Rope and pointed at Senior Ying’s Puppet she had been carrying. “Throw him over first to test.”
Le Qingping: “…”
Well played. No wonder Senior Xie hadn’t reacted to her carrying Senior Ying’s Puppet—he’d been saving it for this!
Le Qingping silently apologized to Senior Ying in her heart, then gripped the puppet and flung it with force.
Le Qingping had never used rope-type artifacts before, so her first aim was off; Senior Ying’s Puppet plummeted straight down.
Had she not secured the rope loop beforehand, Senior Ying would likely have fallen into the void below.
Fortunately, the second time she found the knack and successfully smashed Senior Ying’s Puppet onto the platform ahead.
Xie Linlang nodded. “This time, use a slipknot. Fling him over, then bring the empty rope back.”
Le Qingping took a deep breath, controlling her strength even more carefully.
Fortunately, she had always emphasized body tempering in her daily practice—after all, force-feeding sect disciples pills required considerable strength.
Then she succeeded on the first try.
Le Qingping’s face lit up with joy.
Xie Linlang said, “Loop it around my arm and throw me over.”
Le Qingping looked up and suddenly smiled. “Aren’t you afraid I’ll slip, Senior?”
Xie Linlang replied airily, “You can try.”
The youth stood at the cliff’s edge, black hair and black robes, vermilion dot at his brow, a yellow flower draped over his shoulder. His demeanor was demonically alluring, his features strikingly beautiful. As he smiled lightly, an innate aura of powerful confidence and composure flowed naturally from him.
Le Qingping’s heart sank. She lowered her head slightly. “This disciple was presumptuous.”
With a swing of her arm, she looped the Lotus Root Rope around Xie Linlang’s arm, then yanked hard.
Xie Linlang bent slightly at the waist, his body leaping into the air and tracing a full arc before plummeting straight onto the platform ahead.
Thud. Xie Linlang landed. He nodded to the distant Le Qingping, grabbed the other end of the Lotus Root Rope, and tugged lightly.
Le Qingping understood. She secured the Lotus Root Rope and gave a ready hand signal.
Now it was Xie Linlang’s turn to pull, hauling Le Qingping over.
Their coordination was fairly tacit. For each new platform, they first flung Senior Ying ahead to probe.
Sure enough, the instant Senior Ying landed on a certain round platform, it automatically flipped, swallowing him down.
Xie Linlang and Le Qingping exchanged glances, their expressions equally subtle.
Fortunately, the Lotus Root Rope remained looped around Senior Ying, and because he was stuck in the trap, it formed a natural rope bridge.
Thus, Le Qingping crossed first along the Lotus Root Rope, took out an Array Disk to handle the ground trap, then pulled Xie Linlang over.
They proceeded in this cooperative manner. On the surface, their relationship improved slightly; even tormenting Senior Ying’s Puppet together gave them some common ground.
“Ah, Senior Xie, if we get a chance to leave, please help cover for me a bit.”
Le Qingping feigned worry. “Senior Ying will surely be angry if he learns I used his Puppet like this.”
Xie Linlang smiled faintly. “I won’t say anything. Moreover, I have some guesses about why his Puppet failed.”
Le Qingping’s eyes brightened. “Please enlighten me, Senior.”
“First, both you and I are Demonic Cultivators, and Fellow Daoist Ying is clearly one too, so the Puppet’s failure has nothing to do with cultivation path. Second, I’m at Qi Refining and you’re at Foundation Establishment—both low realms—but you’ve seen my divine sense is comparatively strong, similar to Fellow Daoist Ying’s method of remotely manipulating the Puppet into the secret realm. So the spell’s failure isn’t due to cultivation either.”
Xie Linlang’s gaze swept over the Soul Lamp disguised as a yellow Ditang Flower on his shoulder, and he said softly, “I suspect it’s related to whether a cultivator’s divine soul is complete.”
Le Qingping had a sudden realization. “I see! Senior Ying’s Puppet only contains a wisp of divine soul, which this secret realm’s world doesn’t recognize as a cultivator—merely a Puppet—so Senior Ying can no longer operate it remotely!”
Xie Linlang gave a soft hum. “Probably something like that. For now, he can only serve as our Foundation Establishment meat shield.”
Le Qingping nearly burst out laughing. She suddenly found this Senior Xie rather humorous and witty.
She tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear, hesitated for a few seconds, then asked softly, “Then what does Senior Xie intend to do here?”
Xie Linlang gazed at the palace just two platforms away and said after a long pause, “I want to bring my Senior Brother home.”
Le Qingping paused, then said sincerely, “You and your Senior Brother must share a deep bond.”
Even after restarting cultivation, venturing deep to find a past fellow disciple—this was no ordinary camaraderie.
If she were forced to restart by mishap, would she brave dangers for Hong Kui?
Impossible! She’d sooner leverage familiarity for a backstab—dream on!
Xie Linlang gave another soft hum, his tone carrying a hint of sweetness.
“Though he perished and faded from the dao before me, I ultimately succeeded in forming a Dao Companion bond with him, using the Natal Spirit Sword he left behind.”
Le Qingping: “…Ah?”
She suddenly felt a bit cold.
