Chapter 27: Encounter with Four People.

Xie Qiyang conjured several more ice spikes, testing the canopy a few times. After confirming no immediate danger, she cautiously approached.

Centuries-old Blood Vines, Starlight Grass, and others glowed faintly, growing quietly, each worth a fortune.

Xie Qiyang deftly collected the herbs, stowing them away—who would ever complain about too many resources?

After ensuring she’d gathered every valuable plant, she picked a random direction and hurried dozens of miles, the surroundings finally shifting.

Whether by fate or luck, she reached the depths of the ruins without obstruction.

Then she saw a breathtaking scene, like something from a dream or a movie.

In a massive pit, hundreds of pitch-black pythons, thick as barrels, coiled and writhed, hissing restlessly. They didn’t attack each other but squirmed irritably.

From the distant forest came continuous roars, signaling numerous beasts lurking within.

“Damn it, not a single safe spot.” Xie Qiyang’s frustration surged. No goal, no map, just endless danger, forcing her to stumble blindly forward.

With no other choice, she detoured. After an unknown stretch of time, she faced another dense forest, lush and vibrant, free of the chilling beast roars.

It was eerily quiet.

She stepped in uneasily, sensing something off.

Suddenly, four figures, each radiating a distinct aura, burst from the forest ahead.

They moved at astonishing speed, crossing miles in an instant, halting in midair a hundred yards from her.

The leader was a black-robed elder, his face gaunt, eyes sunken, but his gaze sharp and divine, exuding the aura of a Divine Treasury Realm cultivator.

Behind him stood three others—two men and a woman—in matching black robes with simpler patterns. Their cultivation was weaker, in the Acquired Realm, but their auras were refined, their eyes keen, clearly seasoned fighters.

Their formation was tight, their movements synchronized, exuding a fierce, battle-hardened air.

Their cold gazes locked onto Xie Qiyang instantly.

Upon seeing her, a flash of awe and suspicion crossed the elder’s eyes.

Though her clothes were tattered, covered in dirt, and her face pale with exhaustion, her flowing silver hair, flawless yet frightened beauty, and unyielding, aloof demeanor stood out.

She was no ordinary rogue cultivator.

“Hiss, what a peerless beauty! So young, her aura weak and disordered, yet the icy essence in her foundation… so pure and vast? This is no ordinary physique!”

The elder’s heart churned with shock.

“She looks… lost? A fallen noble from a great clan? Why would she come here? Could she be from a holy land or great family…?”

His mind raced, his gaze sweeping over her bewildered, stunning face, hesitating.

Attack? Her extraordinary physique hinted at a powerful background, possibly with elders ready to back her.

But the Nether Ancient Heavenly Venerate’s legacy couldn’t be shared. Every extra person was a variable.

Their clan’s hope to defy fate rested on the imperial weapon, the Nether Ancient Tower, guarded within this realm.

With the tower, they’d have the resolve to fight to the end, even making great clans wary.

The two sides faced off across the hundred-yard gap, the air frozen, only the howling mountain wind breaking the silence.

The tension grew delicate until Xie Qiyang suddenly stepped forward.

All four pairs of eyes fixed on her.

The silver-haired girl’s ethereal beauty now carried the poise and grace of a noble.

She clasped her fists, bowing slightly to the elder, her voice clear and neither servile nor arrogant:

“This junior, Jiang Ningshuang, greets Senior.”

Their uniform attire suggested a clan elder training juniors. With her striking appearance, claiming to be a rogue cultivator would only raise suspicion.

If they were reckless and attacked…

Even if she survived, she’d be half-crippled.

With her current cultivation, even with her Lunar Sacred Body, she was outmatched. Better to invoke the Jiang Clan’s name to see if it could intimidate them.

“The Jiang Clan of the Imperial Lineage?” The three Acquired Realm youths behind the elder gasped, their faces paling.

The Jiang Clan was a renowned imperial lineage in the Big Dipper Star Domain. Even an ordinary disciple was far beyond their reach.

“May I boldly ask Senior’s name?” Xie Qiyang bowed again, her every gesture exuding noble grace.

The elder’s eyes flickered. If she was truly from the Jiang Clan, attacking would have massive consequences. Her disheveled state suggested an ambush, but a lean camel is still bigger than a horse—who knew what trump cards she held?

Moreover, imperial lineage disciples carried life tokens that transmitted their killer’s aura and final moments back to their clan upon death.

He suppressed his killing intent. This girl couldn’t be touched…

Their clan was weak now; they couldn’t afford to provoke such a colossus, even if they secured the Nether Ancient Tower.

“The Jiang Clan? The imperial Jiang Clan? Are you sure you’re not bluffing? If you’re from the Jiang Clan, why is your cultivation only at our level?”

The woman among the four sneered, mocking her. She was pretty, though far from Xie Qiyang’s league.

Her words made the elder’s suspicion grow.

Xie Qiyang groaned inwardly. Jiang Ningshuang, with her Lunar Sacred Body, only overcame her lunar energy to start cultivating at twelve, lagging eight years behind her peers. Now nearly twenty, she was only in the Acquired Realm.

Great clans prioritized foundation, with time and resources to spare. Only those with vast potential received significant support.

Rogue cultivators, lacking such capital, were different.

Xie Qiyang’s expression didn’t waver. Her eyes swept over the woman, a faint smirk on her lips, her face radiating disdain.

“This sister’s words are mistaken. The imperial clans’ training methods are naturally unique. Cultivation level isn’t the sole measure. Jiang Clan disciples focus on refining their foundation for explosive growth.”

“If Sister doubts me, why don’t the three of you test me?”