Chapter 52: The Trap is Set

After taking the three storage bags, Elder Wu immediately tucked them into her bosom.

Her divine sense swept over the group, confirming they possessed neither storage bags nor communication talismans. Only then did she retract her spiritual perception.

She then proactively opened the door and began to set up a series of formations outside.

****

[Saintess, I, Qiu’er, have decided to go and rescue your paramour. Please rest assured, Saintess, even if it costs me my life, I will protect your future concubine. Qiu’er departs!]

[Saintess, Qiu’er does not fear death. However, this time, Qiu’er senses extreme peril. It may be difficult for me to serve you again in the future. The marshmallows you love, Saintess, Qiu’er may no longer be able to buy for you.]

[Saintess, if Qiu’er truly perishes, please do not grieve. These past years, Qiu’er has lived very well in the Holy Land, relying on your esteemed name, and I am content. Now, it is time for Qiu’er to repay you.]

[Saintess, rest assured, even if Qiu’er dies, I will rescue your future concubine.]

[…]

Luo Bingli stared blankly at the communication talisman, listening to Wang Qiu’er’s words, which sounded as if she were facing death bravely. Yet, after listening for a long time, Luo Bingli still couldn’t quite grasp what was happening.

However, Luo Bingli felt that Wang Qiu’er must have misunderstood something about her. Otherwise, how could she perceive that Wang Qiu’er sounded like she was going to rescue Luo Bingli’s beloved?

Currently, her only beloved was Bai Ruxue. Wait, if she also counted the fiancée her master mentioned, Xiao Yan’er, from her hometown, then there would be two.

Yet, Wang Qiu’er should not know about her fiancée, as Luo Bingli herself had only just learned about Xiao Yan’er.

Could it be Bai Ruxue? Thinking this, Luo Bingli immediately sent a message to Bai Ruxue, who promptly replied.

Bai Ruxue even asked if Luo Bingli missed her, if she yearned for her presence, and if she had felt a little lost during her absence.

– Alright, alright. I’ve always remembered your goodness. Don’t worry, in this life, even if everyone else leaves you, I will keep you by my side. Let our demands be tighter.

It took Luo Bingli quite a while to soothe Bai Ruxue before she finally hung up the communication talisman. Afterward, Luo Bingli fell into deep thought.

Who exactly was this ‘future concubine’ Wang Qiu’er spoke of?

****

Putting away the communication talisman, Wang Qiu’er’s expression, which had been so bravely facing death, immediately crumpled.

After all, to perfectly mimic that tone of heroic self-sacrifice, one’s mind and body needed to fully enter the state, making the voice more vivid. Surely, after hearing so many ‘heartfelt’ words from her, the Saintess would trust her even more!

If so, wouldn’t she be even more unrestrained in the Hundred Flowers Palace? Heh heh heh… Her junior sister, far away in the Heavenly Dao Palace, probably still cultivating, could suffer with that old hag. Her senior sister, however, could enjoy a few more years, heh heh heh…

As these thoughts crossed her mind, a wicked smile, one typically seen on villains, involuntarily appeared at the corners of Wang Qiu’er’s lips.

Unconsciously, Wang Qiu’er had already arrived near the mining area.

Observing the thoroughly arranged environment, Wang Qiu’er merely curled her lip before walking straight in.

****

Elder Wu had set up every possible formation she could, not just one, but several, one after another.

Elder Wu possessed so many sets of Tier 4 complementary formations because Elder Wu specifically managed the mines. Many mining sites were quite a distance from the Hundred Flowers Palace and frequently suffered attacks from demonic beasts, necessitating occasional formation replacements.

This was why Elder Wu had such an abundance of formations at her disposal.

Now, all the formations that should have been used at the mines were deployed here by Elder Wu.

It was clear she hadn’t given up hope. What if no one came here at all? What if it wasn’t the Saintess who arrived?

As long as there was a chance to acquire this raw source stone, she would fight for it at all costs.

Most importantly, Elder Wu, driven by curiosity, had just ventured into the mine and discovered that the miners had unearthed two more scraps of source stone.

Though a rough glance showed they were far from a complete source stone, these two pieces alone were worth over twenty high-grade spirit stones, possibly even thirty.

Adding the source stone Ye Xiaozi had produced, it could yield at least three complete source stones. With the remaining scraps, it would amount to approximately four hundred high-grade spirit stones.

Furthermore, upon further inspection, Elder Wu discovered another raw source stone, valued at around eight to nine hundred high-grade spirit stones, just a few meters away. She was so excited she nearly went mad.

Therefore, if the opportunity arose, Elder Wu, her eyes clouded by greed, would undoubtedly resort to deadly force.

After finishing the formation arrangements, she returned to the office and immediately sat in her chair, watching everyone silently, a faint smile playing on her lips.

She no longer pressured them or spoke to them, simply waiting.

Evidently, both the two elders, the two site managers, and Ye Xiaozi all understood. The person before them was waiting to see if their words would come true. If someone truly arrived, especially if the Saintess herself appeared, Elder Wu might instantly transform into a fawning dog, offering apologies with profound gratitude. But for now…

They had to persevere. Otherwise, if Elder Wu lost her patience first and attacked them, with her Nascent Soul cultivation, none of them would be able to escape.

While transcending ranks in battle was common in the cultivation world, it always came with prerequisites.

Strength was relative; a stronger party could not be suppressed by a weaker one, leading to defeat. For instance, could a Golden Core cultivator defeat a Nascent Soul cultivator?

Naturally, it was possible, but only under specific circumstances. The cultivator would need to possess at least a seventh-grade Violet Core to even attempt to challenge a common Nascent Soul. As for cultivators with a Colored Core or Gray Core, forget defeating the most ordinary Nascent Soul; merely surviving a few rounds against one would be an impressive feat.

This also implicitly showed that to challenge someone above one’s rank, one had to truly be a prodigy. Otherwise, without such terrifying foundational strength, let alone challenging a higher-ranked expert, even defeating and subduing an expert of the same rank would be a struggle.