Dao Companion Crippled, Coveters Move

Chapter 256 254: Lin Qianyan's First Meeting with Qing Yueqiu

"I'm sorry, Saintess Lin, but our Sect has far too many Cauldron Slaves with the surname Pei, especially those who were renamed later. If you're searching blindly, I'm afraid it will be very difficult to find him."

'Renamed later?'

Lin Qianyan tensed at those words, and her slender, pale fingers unconsciously cracked the celadon teacup in her hand.

Zhenren Qin Yin patted her chest lightly and explained:

"This is... rather embarrassing to say."

"You see, the Xuanyuan Dao Sect has a White-clothed Sword Immortal named Pei Yuhang, who is incomparably handsome.

As a result, many of our more immature female disciples have secretly renamed their Cauldron Slaves after Sword Immortal Pei, using them as stand-ins... Ahem. Saintess Lin, you absolutely must not repeat this. If word of this got back to Sword Immortal Pei, there would be trouble.

In short, that's why there are just so many Cauldron Slaves with the surname Pei to search for."

Zhenren Qin Yin's tone held a hint of resignation, as if she also found this behavior rather absurd.

At the same time, a slight blush appeared on her fair face.

Because this sort of stand-in game... was something she had also done in her youth.

A fleeting glimpse of Sword Immortal Pei on the battlefield back then had captured her heart, leaving her hopelessly infatuated ever since.

That very night, she had returned and renamed all her Cauldron Slaves to things like "Pei Yuhang A, B, C, D." Thinking back on it now, it truly seemed absurd.

But unlike Zhenren Qin Yin, who was now lost in a sweet, shy memory, Lin Qianyan was overwhelmed with anxiety.

Zhenren Qin Yin's words had undoubtedly made her search for her husband even more difficult.

'If so many Cauldron Slaves are named Pei, where on earth am I supposed to look?'

Lin Qianyan caressed the Engagement Silver Ring on her finger, her eyes downcast.

Her thoughts stirred, and she was about to send another message to Zhenren Qin Yin when, before she could even formulate the words, an earth-shattering BOOM erupted from the distant Secret Realm rift, making it seem as if the very heavens and earth were trembling.

She froze, her brow furrowed as her gaze whipped toward the source of the sound.

At the same time, the Transmission Tokens at the waists of every Elder present began to buzz shrilly, flashing with an urgent red light.

After receiving a transmission from one of his disciples, Elder Liu's expression changed drastically. A look of horror flashed in his eyes as he shouted, "This is bad! Something's happened in the Secret Realm!"

Before his voice had even faded, he transformed into a streak of light and shot toward the Secret Realm.

The other Elders saw this, their expressions turning grave. With no time for words, they each employed their Body Techniques and followed close behind. For a moment, the sky was filled with flashing streaks of light, like a meteor shower tearing through the heavens.

Although Lin Qianyan's thoughts were still on news of her husband, the disturbance in the Secret Realm was clearly more urgent. After all, her True Disciple, whom she regarded as a daughter, and many other outstanding disciples of her Sect were trapped inside.

She took a deep breath to suppress the turmoil in her heart. A flicker of determination shone in her eyes as she muttered to herself, "So be it. Urgent matters come first."

Then, with a flash, her form transformed into a cold streak of light as she, too, sped toward the Secret Realm.

Chaos reigned at the Secret Realm's rift.

Countless Cultivators stumbled out of the spatial rift in a sorry state. Most were covered in dust and grime, their clothes in tatters. Some were stained with blood and covered in wounds, and a few were even missing limbs, their steps faltering.

And yet, despite their miserable appearances, every one of them wore an expression of relief at having survived. The path of cultivation was long and perilous; as long as they made it out alive, they still had a chance to pursue immortality.

Some Loose Cultivators and Demonic Cultivators who had reaped rewards within the Secret Realm scanned their surroundings warily. They quickly suppressed their auras and, using the chaos as cover, slipped away unnoticed.

Meanwhile, the disciples of the major Sects quickly gathered, supporting one another and taking a headcount.

Some called out the names of their sect-mates, their voices filled with urgency. Others were checking on injured companions, their brows furrowed as they continuously handed out Elixirs.

When Elder Liu arrived, his gaze swept over the Xuanyuan Dao Sect disciples. He noticed three were missing. His brow furrowed, a sense of unease creeping into his heart.

In a place as dangerous as the Kunlun Mountain Secret Realm, losing only three prodigies was a decent outcome, but one of the missing was—

Qing Yueqiu!

Setting aside the task Pei Yuhang had entrusted to him, Qing Yueqiu's terrifying talent alone—the kind that had made her the champion of the Sect's grand competition—was reason enough that she could not be allowed to perish here!

"Everyone, wait here!"

Elder Liu's hand unconsciously tightened around the Jade Token at his waist, and cold sweat beaded on his deeply lined forehead. He stared at the survivors still pouring out of the Secret Realm's rift, desperate to catch sight of the silver-haired young woman.

'Otherwise, it'll be impossible to explain myself to Sword Immortal Pei.'

The Bell entwined in Lin Qianyan's wide sleeve suddenly chimed clearly, and her tense brow relaxed.

Her Magical Artifact had sensed Pei Xiaohan's aura, which meant her disciple was now safely out. Lin Qianyan let out a long sigh of relief.

She hurriedly followed the aura, only to find a disheveled Pei Xiaohan in tattered robes, carrying a pale, silver-haired young woman on her back.

"Xiaopei, this is..."

"Master, this is a friend I made in the Secret Realm. Her name is Qing Yueqiu, from the Xuanyuan Dao Sect... Ah! Master, just give her some spiritual pills and elixirs first. There's no time to explain!"

Lin Qianyan nodded. As her slender fingers rested on Qing Yueqiu's pulse, she felt a chill as if she were touching Profound Ice.

'No injuries, her body's Spiritual Qi is just severely overdrawn. That's a relief... Still, this young woman's physical constitution is astounding. With this physical body alone, she could probably be unrivaled in the Nascent Soul Realm.

But judging by the traces of her cultivation, she's clearly a Sword Cultivator. Why is her physical body even stronger than a Body Cultivator from my Martial God Mountain?'

"Master, stop staring... Even if Sister Yueqiu is pretty, you can't just keep looking at her..."

Pei Xiaohan's slightly jealous tone brought Lin Qianyan back to her senses. She rapped Pei Xiaohan on the head, causing the girl to pout and grumble.

"You silly girl, what nonsense are you spouting?"

After chiding her disciple, Lin Qianyan summoned a Great Nourishing Primordial Pill from her Jiezhi Storage Ring. She enveloped the pill in Light Cyan Spiritual Power, gently pried open Qing Yueqiu's clenched jaw, and guided it into her mouth.

Under Lin Qianyan's care, the color began to return to Qing Yueqiu's snow-white face.

Seeing Qing Yueqiu's brow twitch as if in pain, Pei Xiaohan thought she was having a nightmare and whispered gently, "Sister Yueqiu, you're out of danger. You're safe now."

The next moment, Qing Yueqiu's blood-red eyes snapped open, revealing a Killing Intent so powerful it startled even Lin Qianyan.

She instinctively began to cast a spell to restrain Lin Qianyan, but stopped halfway through the casting.

"Miss Qing... why... why are you crying?"