Yuan Niannian handed the box in her hand to Elder Wuyou. She had refined two magic treasures on the way, which were two wine gourds. However, Jiang Jing was still young and couldn't drink, so she gave one to Elder Yun and the other to Elder Wuyou.
After Elder Wuyou accepted the gift, he instructed Yuan Niannian that on the night of every full moon, she had to take the assessment and study like the other disciples. As his closed-door disciple, he would personally tutor her every month. Before Elder Wuyou left, he gave Yuan Niannian several books on pill refining.
Yuan Niannian, holding the books, hurried back to the disciple dormitory under the moonlight. The moonlight was at its strongest now, meaning Yuan Niannian possessed her peak strength. Just as she was nearing home, she sensed a surge of Demonic Qi and stopped abruptly.
Demonic Qi, who could it be? Wasn't the War of Gods and Demons supposed to be ten years from now? Yuan Niannian checked the formation she had set up and then ran towards the source of the Demonic Qi. Her pale purple dress flashed in the moonlight. The source of the Demonic Qi was the bamboo forest behind the mountain, a place where disciples practiced. Why would there be Demonic Qi here?
Before Yuan Niannian could figure it out, she heard a young man's angry roar.
"Who are you? Why are you in Lingtian Sect? It's curfew now, who let you in."
This voice belonged to Lǐ Mùyì. Why was he here? This was bad; that person was at least at the Nascent Soul level, and Lǐ Mùyì, at the late Foundation Establishment stage, was no match for them.
As expected, the other person hadn't anticipated someone practicing martial arts in the bamboo forest after curfew. He recalled the conversation they had just had.
"Kid, what did you just see? Never mind whether you saw anything, since you've seen me, I can't let you live."
A Demonic Blade immediately appeared in the person's hand, and the Demonic Qi surged violently.
"You… you're from the Demonic Cult."
The young man had grown up showered with affection. Despite his exceptional talent, he was merely a sixteen-year-old boy, facing a cold-blooded demon for the first time. It was remarkable that he hadn't dropped his sword.
Lǐ Mùyì immediately raised his sword. Even though his hands trembled, he didn't change the direction his sword tip pointed. Lǐ Mùyì was already sweating profusely, but he knew he couldn't retreat. He had to hold on until someone became aware of the demonic invasion.
However, villains never show mercy just because their opponent is a child. Wielding the Demonic Blade, he charged forward. Yuan Niannian immediately summoned her Natal Sword. As Divine Beasts, everyone had a unique innate weapon, and Yuan Niannian's was a sword emitting a silver light, adorned with a purple totem specifically belonging to the Nine-tailed Fox.
Just as Lǐ Mùyì was about to fight with all his might, he saw a young woman wearing a fox mask step in front of him, sword in hand. The attacker was immediately repelled by Yuan Niannian's sword energy.
"How dare a demon trespass into Lingtian Sect! Do you think Lingtian Sect has no one?"
"You are also Nascent Soul. Since you've seen me, you'll both stay here today."
"What arrogance! Then let's see who stays. Mu Yi, go find Sword Elder and the sect leader."
Hearing his name called suddenly, Lǐ Mùyì immediately ran towards Sword Elder. The man in black tried to intercept him, but Yuan Niannian turned and attacked the man in black with her sword.
"Silly big guy, your opponent is me."
Yuan Niannian glanced at the moon. Fortunately, there was still plenty of time. It was just right to play with you.
Yuan Niannian thought to herself that her Natal Sword technique was too powerful to use. Since that was the case, she would use the sword technique she taught Little Cub today. She was grateful for the wisdom of the ancestors.
With every move, Yuan Niannian inflicted wounds on the man, while the man, whenever he was about to wound Yuan Niannian, would easily dodge like a swimming fish.
Just as she was about to capture him, she heard footsteps behind her. She quickly set up a formation, temporarily restraining the man in black, and then flashed away. Her identity was not yet convenient to reveal, so it was best to leave quickly.
"Silly big guy, I have other things to do, so I won't play with you anymore."
When everyone arrived, they only saw a man in black who had just broken through a restriction. Lǐ Mùyì immediately pointed at him.
"Father, Uncle Sect Leader, it was him! He's a demon."
Several elders summoned their magical artifacts and easily recaptured the man in black, who had just broken free from the formation.
"Hmph, just a few old men. If it weren't for that meddling brat, you think you could capture us? Dream on."
Then, the recently captured man in black suddenly experienced a surge in spiritual power.
"No! He's going to self-destruct, everyone dodge!"
"Lord Demon King will avenge me!"
With a bang, black smoke billowed everywhere, and the man's figure was no longer visible. Only fragments were scattered on the ground. Suddenly, Sword Elder saw something glittering on the ground. He bent down and picked it up; it was the Begonia Pendant, a token of Elder Wuyou's disciple.
Lǐ Mùyì immediately responded.
"This must have been dropped by the senior disciple sister who saved me. She's Elder Wuyou's closed-door disciple?"
"I don't know, but this man in black was at least at the Nascent Soul level. The one who saved you must have a high cultivation."
On Yuan Niannian's way home, she hadn't yet realized her disciple token was lost. She was still leisurely walking back. In a place where others couldn't see, a wisp of black smoke was about to leave Lingtian Sect. Just as it was about to touch the mountain gate, a sword energy suddenly struck. It was Jiang Jing.
"Where are you going, Right Guardian?"
That black smoke was the man in black who had faked his death to escape.
"Who are you? How did you know my identity?"
"It doesn't matter who I am. What matters is who the person you are meeting is! If you tell me, I might let you go. If you don't…"
"Brat, you're only at the Golden Core stage, yet you dare to threaten me."
"It seems you're not willing to talk. In that case, there's no need for you to stay any longer. Xiaoran."
With just one strike, the man was truly reduced to ashes.
"Even if you don't tell me, I can still find that person, that traitor."
Sheathing the Xiaoran Sword, she looked in the direction of the demons. This time, we will settle this score properly.
When Yuan Niannian returned, she first deactivated the restriction, then used her divine sense to check on Jiang Jing, who was still asleep. Good, the cub was sleeping soundly. She then returned to her room.
"Master, why didn't we tell the little fox that we knew she went out?"
Jiang Jing didn't open his eyes, only turned over.
"She wants me to be safe and sound, and those matters are too dangerous for her."
Alas, Master, your tone… are you really a fifteen-year-old boy? Why are you so sad?
"Master, go to sleep. Xiaoran will always protect you."
"Thank you, Xiaoran."
Daybreak arrived. Everyone was discussing last night. As Jiang Jing entered the pill refining room, he saw Lǐ Mùyì standing in the crowd, chattering about something.
Upon seeing Jiang Jing, he immediately ran over.
"Junior Brother Jiang, do you know who your master's closed-door disciple is?"
"Closed-door disciple?"
Jiang Jing subconsciously looked at the little fox still sleeping soundly in his arms. Was it her?
"Yes! Last night, a senior disciple sister saved me. My father found her disciple token and gave it to Elder Wuyou for identification. The Elder himself admitted she was his closed-door disciple."
"This… I haven't been here long. Perhaps you could ask the other disciples."
"Okay."
At this moment, the mysterious closed-door disciple was still sound asleep.