Chapter 33 Part 2

Xie Linlang frowned, feeling somewhat listless.

Practicing the Treasure Tree Scripture was troublesome in this way—one had to constantly examine one’s inner heart and cultivation, or a single lapse could lead to being tempted by a Heavenly Demon into deeds that would deduct points from Heaven’s Dao.

He still wanted to find Pei Ji; he couldn’t falter midway.

To be safe, Xie Linlang simply closed his eyes and circulated his technique, beginning to stabilize his realm.

Meanwhile, Le Qingping finally awoke about five or six meters away.

Upon waking, she heard no sounds, so she maintained her fallen pose and cautiously cracked open one eye to survey her surroundings.

The area was eerily still, thick with the stench of blood.

Le Qingping panicked inwardly. Was the fight over, or not? Who had won between the two Seniors?

If the Nine Spirits Sect Master had won, what should she do?

As a Silent Night Palace disciple, the Nine Spirits Sect Master surely wouldn’t spare her. She’d need to quickly fabricate a new backstory.

If Very Pretty Senior Xie had won, why hadn’t he woken her? Or did he disdain her for fainting mid-battle and abandon her?

But there was also the possibility that the two Seniors had perished together!

That was the best outcome, though unlikely.

Le Qingping indulged in the fantasy for a dozen seconds or so before facing reality.

She let out a soft hum, pretending to awaken from deep unconsciousness. Then, in a very graceful pose, she slowly sat up straight, adopting the pose of Xishi holding her heart, and said softly, “Wh-what happened to me…”

Yet after posing dramatically for over ten seconds, there was no response.

Le Qingping quickly scanned around. Only the Black Snake’s corpse lay in a river of blood—Senior Xie seemed gone?

No way—she’d truly been abandoned by that Very Pretty Senior?

Le Qingping felt depressed. She dropped the pose and stood up dejectedly.

Sigh, how was she supposed to leave this hidden place alone?

But after taking just two steps, she spotted Xie Linlang sitting cross-legged inside the corpse pile, meditating.

Le Qingping first rejoiced—great! Senior Xie hadn’t left her behind!

Then she hesitated. Normally, she should go call out to Senior Xie.

But since they were cultivators, mismatches between soul and body were common.

So was the one before her Senior Xie, or the Nine Spirits Sect Master?

Le Qingping carefully observed the battlefield and even took out her Nine Derivatives Heavenly Star Disk to calculate before finally relaxing.

When Xie Linlang awoke, the restless Demonic Qi within him had completely settled.

He stood, flicking his robe hem, and noticed the snake corpse that had littered the ground was gone, the blood cleaned up as well.

Xie Linlang first checked the spot where Le Qingping had fainted.

It was empty.

Huh? Did that girl sneak off?

From what Xie Linlang knew of Le Qingping, she wasn’t so foolish.

“Senior, you’re awake?”

As Xie Linlang pondered, a flash of pink skirt appeared at the doorway. Le Qingping stood three meters away.

She smiled with pursed lips. “I saw Senior in secluded cultivation and didn’t want to disturb you, so I gathered the spoils first.”

Le Qingping produced a Storage Bag. “That Foundation Establishment Black Snake was defeated by Senior; I contributed nothing and shouldn’t compete with you for it. So I collected all the snake bones, snake blood, and snake skin inside for Senior.”

Xie Linlang glanced over and shook his head. “It’s all yours.”

Without Le Qingping’s Protective Artifact—the Big Scissors—snipping the Black Snake, he would have had to expend more effort.

Le Qingping paused, finding it a hot potato. Best not to owe a Senior a favor.

Especially since she’d nearly gotten tangled in the grudge between two big shots. Better to pay off the debt with money.

“…Then I won’t stand on ceremony. But I have two artifacts here that Senior might find useful.”

Along the journey, Le Qingping had noticed Xie Linlang only used the Lotus-Colored Long Rope, seemingly without other artifacts.

Unsure of Xie Linlang’s situation, she didn’t dare ask directly. But her status in Silent Night Palace was higher than Shen He’s, allowing her to redeem Golden Core artifacts early. She decided to offer them in exchange now.

“This is an Eight-Turns Qiankun Array formed by eight jade plaques for protection, plus a matching Seven Stars Sword. It requires at least Foundation Establishment to refine—would Senior accept?”

Xie Linlang happened to lack usable artifacts and gladly took them.

“Sure.”

Le Qingping subtly sighed in relief. She traded the jade plaque array and Seven Stars Sword to Xie Linlang.

But the next moment, Senior Xie said, “Fellow Daoist Le, I’m interested in Silent Night Palace. As you’ve seen, my strength is low now and I need a sect’s protection. How does Silent Night Palace recruit disciples?”

Le Qingping: “…Huh? You want to join Silent Night Palace?”

Xie Linlang nodded. After much deliberation and deduction about Pei Ji’s situation—considering Pei Ji had indeed died, and Xie Linlang had found no clues at Nine Spirits Sect personally—the conclusion was clear.

Back then, Pei Ji hadn’t been at Nine Spirits Sect but hidden in Silent Night Palace.

Xie Linlang: “I’d like to join Silent Night Palace. Could Fellow Daoist recommend me?”

Le Qingping hesitated visibly. “From what I see, Senior has his own heritage…”

Big shot, aren’t you Reincarnation Recultivating? Not returning to your old sect?

Xie Linlang laid out his offer directly: “I can boost your credibility and take loans for sect resources on your behalf.”

Le Qingping sucked in a cold breath. She gets the benefits, Xie Yu takes the blame? Pie from the sky—who could refuse?

She gritted her teeth. “Deal!”