Another companion fell, and the youths at the valley entrance, enraged and shouting curses, finally seized a moment when Bai Yuqing paused from killing to surround her. A torrent of spiritual power erupted from them, weaving into a multicolored net that descended upon her from all directions.

However, what followed next left Nie Kong utterly dumbstruck.

Bai Yuqing’s delicate body folded and twisted with bizarre elasticity, like a sheet of thin paper, evading every incoming attack. Her right palm then flashed in unpredictable succession, striking the chests of several youths. Layer upon layer of snowy, translucent ice crystals rapidly bloomed across their skin.

"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Five youths crashed to the ground. Nie Kong thought he heard the sound of their bodies shattering. This time, they didn't even manage a scream; their entire bodies, including their necks, disintegrated into fine dust, leaving only their heads to roll a few times on the ground before slowly dissolving into the void.

What a fierce little woman!

Nie Kong hissed, drawing a sharp breath. Though he was at the peak of the Spirit Gathering Ninth Stage, there was still a significant gap between himself and the youths below. If he had faced Bai Yuqing, he estimated she would have dealt with him as easily as slicing melons and chopping vegetables. The difference between Spirit Gathering and Spirit Manifestation was truly immense!

Fortunately, within the Illusionary Realm of Life and Death, strength was crucial, but so was luck. Nie Qingfeng had mentioned that on several occasions, Spirit Masters in the Spirit Gathering realm had endured until the very final moments. As for those truly formidable experts, they were either ganged up on and killed early, or later taken down by enraged Spirit Beasts.

"Bai Yuqing, you're tough. Let's go!"

The last two surviving youths shrieked with false bravado, abandoning any thought of avenging their comrades, and turned to flee into the dense woods outside the valley.

"Go? Where to?"

Bai Yuqing sneered. "Go back and nurse on your own mother's milk!" Her silhouette flashed from where she stood, instantly catching up to one of the fleeing figures.

"Bitch, don't bully—"

Before the curse was fully uttered, Bai Yuqing struck swiftly. The youth's body below the neck was severed, his head soaring several meters forward before its hair snagged on a tree branch, swaying gently side to side. His eyes remained wide open, his face frozen in an expression of sheer terror.

"Ah!"

The final youth turned deathly pale at the sight, stumbling and collapsing in panic. Bai Yuqing caught up from behind and planted her foot squarely on his left back. His heart was crushed, and a spout of blood shot out like an arrow from his open mouth. Then his head lolled sideways; he died without being able to close his eyes in peace.

"Tried to rape this mother? You weaklings, you think you're worthy?"

Bai Yuqing scoffed with cold derision and strode into the forest without looking back.

"This mother?"

Hearing the voice drift back on the wind, Nie Kong’s eyes nearly popped out. He was utterly incredulous—the petite mouth of the icy beauty Bai Yuqing had uttered the phrase "this mother"?

In that instant, Bai Yuqing's ice-queen image shattered, only to reform, adding a touch of human complexity to her inherent cold pride and aloofness.

"Aiya ya..."

The quiet little creature suddenly chirped. Nie Kong paid it no mind and instinctively grabbed a handful of Dragon's Tooth Algae from his pet satchel, chewing the clump as he swallowed.

The one hundred and twenty jin of Silken Glass Root and Dragon's Tooth Algae, acquired half a month ago in exchange for a formula, was now down to twenty jin. Eating sparingly, it should barely last the seven days within the Illusionary Realm of Life and Death. Of course, if he died early, there would be no need to worry at all.

Little Leaf fluttered, and Xiangxiang unceremoniously absorbed the medicinal essence of the algae. However, it began to cry out even more urgently, its tone becoming distinctly modulated: "Ah... ya ya... ah ya... ya..."

Sensing the creature's anxiety, Nie Kong felt a touch of surprise and quickly quieted his mind to sense more carefully. A moment later, suspicion clouded his eyes. The little creature wasn't calling because it was hungry; it was calling because... it didn't know why itself?

"Don't know what you're called?"

Nie Kong adopted his master's tone and scolded the little creature a few times. Xiangxiang’s little leaf curled up, and it shrank back pitifully. Nie Kong found it both amusing and frustrating; this little thing was far too humanized. He stopped paying attention and surveyed the surroundings carefully before turning to leave.

"Ah ya ya!"

The little creature began calling out anxiously again. Nie Kong was vexed and hurried back to his original spot. The creature was still calling, but the sound now carried a hint of excitement.

Nie Kong walked a few more steps ahead, and the creature's calls grew louder.

However, the moment Nie Kong tried to step back, it began to fret. After several rounds of tentative testing, Nie Kong was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. The creature’s vocalizations were extremely emotional, yet they stemmed from a subconscious instinct, making it difficult for him to decipher the message.

Could there be something ahead that draws it instinctively?

Frustrated by the constant calls, Nie Kong stuffed all the remaining Dragon's Tooth Algae into his mouth, hoping the herbs would soothe it. Unfortunately, while the creature absorbed the medicinal power without hesitation, its cries showed no sign of stopping. If only there were a stronger medicine—something potent enough to force it into slumber!

"Medicinal power?"

The word popped into his mind, and Nie Kong’s heart skipped a beat.

Right! Why hadn't he thought of that earlier? The only thing that could attract the little creature was the medicinal power of various herbs! Could some kind of medicinal herb be growing nearby? Xiangxiang hadn't made a sound even when they were in the Spirit Medicine Hall outside. Perhaps the herbs here were exceptionally rare?

Nie Kong’s spirit soared. Following the subtle emotional shifts in the creature’s cries, he cautiously crept forward, testing the ground one step at a time. Soon, Nie Kong arrived at the valley floor below.

The heads and ice crystal fragments at the valley entrance had vanished. Faintly, he could still hear extremely weak shouting, one of the voices sounding like Bai Yuqing, who had departed not long ago. Nie Kong glanced back a few times; those voices were at least several li away, so there should be no immediate danger.

The little creature’s mood grew even more ecstatic, and Nie Kong quickened his pace deeper into the valley.

As for whether Bai Yuqing was being besieged again by distant parties, that was no longer Nie Kong’s concern. If Bai Yuqing managed to eliminate everyone else, he would be even more welcoming, as fewer people nearby meant a smaller chance of someone stumbling into this valley inadvertently.

After about fifteen minutes, Nie Kong reached the end of the valley but saw no plant resembling a medicinal herb. He searched the vicinity thoroughly but found nothing, leading Nie Kong to feel confused. He thought to himself: Could my deduction be wrong? It shouldn't be; Xiangxiang’s voice was clearly agitated.

Nie Kong composed himself and continued to roam the area. After a while, Nie Kong stood before the cliff face, patting his forehead in frustration. It seemed Xiangxiang had truly fooled him; perhaps it just wanted to chirp for a while, and the changes in its mood meant nothing at all.

"Ah ya ya!!!"

Xiangxiang's call suddenly turned into a sharp shriek. Inside the Jade Pool Acupoint, the creature’s roots released three spiritual apertures. It bounced wildly within that ball of dark green blood, its tender leaves and stem swaying with an unprecedented amplitude, revealing that its excitement had reached its absolute peak.

A flicker of hope rekindled in Nie Kong's heart. He immediately dismissed his previous conclusion and scanned every plant in the vicinity again and again.

Finally, Nie Kong’s attention was drawn to a patch of tender green moss clinging to the cliff face.

This moss was rather peculiar; it was bearing numerous small flower buds. Nie Kong couldn't resist reaching out and pressing against it; a small section of the cliff actually gave way slightly.

"Huh?"

Nie Kong felt a surge of doubt and increased the force of his arm. A strange sensation, like pushing into a pile of cotton, washed over him. Nie Kong couldn't retract his arm in time and stumbled forward, falling headlong into the recess...

... P: What will the protagonist discover inside? Also, I'm thinking of adding some slightly ambiguous scenes to spice things up within the Illusionary Realm—nothing too sappy or overly romantic, of course. Any objections from friends? Haha... ...