Chapter 2969: Nian Hongyan!
Tianhu Daoren was completely dumbfounded. What the hell was that golden light? He had never heard of a celestial ban that could strip people and steal treasures!
And it was so intelligent? It knew to leave one piece of clothing to cover up?
The problem was, what he was wearing couldn't cover anything—it only made things more embarrassing, dammit!
If anyone saw him like this...
Just as he was panicking, Tianhu Daoren felt the space around him shift!
The next moment, Tunyun Daoren, wearing only his underpants, roared frantically:
(´థOథ)ﾂ "My treasures! My treasures..."
Before he could finish, he ran into Tianhu Daoren, who was also completely naked!
The two locked eyes, awkward expressions spreading across their faces.
(︶﹏︶‧̣̥̇)(￢﹏￢٥)
Tianhu Daoren covered himself with all four arms: "You too..."
Tunyun gritted his teeth:
(´-X-｀；) "You really are like a toad sleeping with a frog—ugly but playing wild tricks..."
Tianhu Daoren's face darkened:
(̿▀̿X▀̿̿٥)̄ "That's not important! The problem is how to find our stripped treasures and get out of here!"
Tunyun cursed: "I've hit rock-bottom luck coming here with you! Do you know what treasures I brought this time?"
"I lost my life-bound celestial treasure! Damn it!"
Tianhu Daoren was furious too: "Did I ask you to come? It's because you have a big mouth and spew nonsense! Be grateful this void celestial ban isn't offensive, just a passive defense!"
"Otherwise, without our celestial treasures, we'd both be finished here! Hurry up and find a way out!"
If even the two of them were stripped without resistance, the others who came in probably weren't any better off!
But the nature of the void celestial ban made them even more convinced that this must be Qingcheng Xian's cave dwelling!
It matched the description of Qingcheng Xian's personality in historical records!
Meanwhile, Jiangnan was thoroughly looting in the spatial maze!
He stripped everyone he saw without mercy!
Men were left with underpants, women with undergarments, chest wraps, and the like—everything else was packed away!
Over a dozen Zongheng realm cultivators fell victim without exception!
Jiangnan was having a blast looting, and he was about to head for Cuijian Fei next!
But as he glanced over, Jiangnan froze, his pupils contracting sharply, utterly stunned!
Σ(°△°|||) "Th-this... impossible!"
Cuijian Fei was accompanied by over a dozen scattered cultivators, none lost!
Among them was even her personal disciple!
Cuijian Fei was panicking too—she had never encountered such a situation!
Countless emerald-green willow-leaf swords formed a sword array, emitting powerful sword qi that even cut through the spatial barriers of the maze. But no matter how many barriers she sliced, she was always greeted by new, rotating corridors!
It seemed there was no end in sight!
(•́X•̀٥) "Damn! Damn it! What's going on? Are we trapped here forever? I thought it was just an ordinary immortal's cave, but it turns out it's related to Qingcheng Xian?"
"Hongyan! Stay close to me—don't get lost! The others can die, but you absolutely must be safe!"
Behind Cuijian Fei followed a stunning woman in a red dress, with jade-like features that could topple cities and nations. Her beauty far surpassed Cuijian Fei's!
Her cultivation level had reached the Lianxu stage (equivalent to Dao Heaven rank)!
At the moment, she was biting her lip, her pretty face pale, looking flustered. Her big eyes darted around, and a small mirror floated beside her for protection!
She also clutched a blank spell scroll!
Despite her panic, she was still trying to record the paths she had taken, leaving energy markers!
But the spatial maze shifted endlessly without any reference points—such small methods were futile!
Still, she kept recording, just in case it might help!
(∗❛ั﹏❛ั) "Yes, Master! Please be careful..."
Cuijian Fei wasn't truly concerned for this disciple; it was because of her outstanding looks. Earlier, when she ran into the Shijian Shengzi of the Dadao Sword Sect, he had taken a liking to her!
But he was busy at the time and didn't take her back.
Cuijian Fei naturally wouldn't miss the chance to curry favor with a Dao Sect holy son, so she carefully cultivated this convenient disciple!
Who knew this would happen? If she had known, she wouldn't have brought her along!
If she died here, and the Shijian Shengzi came asking for her, not having her would be disastrous!
So, no matter what, this disciple couldn't be harmed!
Nian Hongyan knew full well what she was facing, but she had no choice—she could only use this opportunity to strengthen herself. Sometimes, being too beautiful was a problem!
Especially in the cultivation world!
But Jiangnan was completely shocked. His gaze fell on Nian Hongyan!
∑(°△°๑) "Is... is this a ghost? How does this female cultivator look exactly like Qingcheng Xian?"
It was truly identical! No one in the world knew Qingcheng Xian's true face, but Jiangnan had seen it!
He had clearly witnessed in the Reality Pages that Qingcheng Xian had ended herself and dissolved her Dao!
So how did a female cultivator who looked exactly like her appear?
Even if the starry sky was vast and full of wonders, it was impossible for two identical people to exist, right?
How many billions of years spanned between them?
Jiangnan broke out in a cold sweat and looked back at the Celestial Palace illusion he had created.
Could it be that Qingcheng Xian hadn't died, and he had run into her true self?
But that wasn't right—this female cultivator was only at the Lianxu level, equivalent to Dao Heaven!
Could it be reincarnation?
A look of intense interest flickered in Jiangnan's eyes:
"Let me check her background..."
With that, he performed a Black Flash!
(｡･ˇกˇ･) "Hmm... Nian Hongyan? A girl from a poor mountain valley. Because of her talent, she was taken in by a passing scattered cultivator. But that cultivator was an old pervert, planning a cauldron-raising scheme..."
"During the process, Nian Hongyan discovered his intentions and cleverly used a slow-acting poison in his elixirs, killing him before he could make a move. She then inherited all his assets and embarked on her cultivation path? Holy crap!"
This Nian Hongyan had faced countless troubles due to her stunning looks, but she had relied on her intelligence and meticulous thinking to survive and advance!
Even after joining the scattered cultivator alliance and becoming a disciple of Cuijian Fei, she caught the eye of that Shijian Shengzi!
Looking at her entire life history, there was no connection to Qingcheng Xian at all!
How could she look exactly like her?
Jiangnan didn't believe in coincidences—they didn't exist!
Watching Nian Hongyan clutch the spell scroll, a smirk curled at the corner of Jiangnan's mouth:
(͡°↼͡°) "Then let's do it like this..."
He had collected so many spell scrolls. If he examined them himself, there was still the risk of energy exchange!
Better to find a native of the Celestial Palace Starry Sky world to read the scrolls, learn them, and then orally describe them to him!
That way, the risk would be minimized!
And Jiangnan also wanted to see what secrets Nian Hongyan was hiding!
At that moment, Cuijian Fei was still blindly slashing around like a headless fly!
Then, Jiangnan's "Moment Eternity" erupted instantly, enveloping the void!
Cuijian Fei and the dozen scattered cultivators were all frozen in time!
But the area around Nian Hongyan was unaffected. Her eyes widened, and she instinctively activated her golden light mirror!
A powerful golden beam shot out from the mirror!
But even that beam was frozen when it entered the Moment Eternity field!
Nian Hongyan was dumbfounded. Time... had been stopped?
What level of divine ability was this?
The next moment, to Nian Hongyan's horror, Jiangnan's figure stepped out of the void!
He wore a white sweatshirt and jacket on top, cargo pants and combat boots on the bottom, hands in his pockets, looking casual!
A glazed evil ghost mask covered his face, with the character "Nan" written in the Han language on the forehead!
Nian Hongyan broke out in cold sweat. Who was this? What was this bizarre outfit?
All her detection techniques failed to gauge Jiangnan's level!
Jiangnan didn't even look at Nian Hongyan, nor did he avoid her gaze!
He snapped his fingers, and including Cuijian Fei, all the scattered cultivators were stripped clean of everything—the looted gear falling into Jiangnan's hands!
Then, with a wave of his hand, Cuijian Fei and the others vanished!
Nian Hongyan stared wide-eyed at this scene. She realized a shocking fact!
Could this void celestial ban not be the cave's defensive restriction, but something controlled by someone?
And this wasn't Qingcheng Xian's cave, but this senior's?
What realm was he in? Eternal? Could he be at the Creation level?
And why did he leave only her? Because of her looks?
At that moment, Nian Hongyan's heart pounded. She was facing the greatest crisis of her cultivation life!
Jiangnan turned and walked toward her step by step!
Her face grew paler with each step!
Finally, Jiangnan extended his hand toward her. Nian Hongyan closed her eyes tightly, standing still!
But after a moment, she felt nothing amiss and cautiously opened her eyes!
Jiangnan had only taken the golden light mirror and the spell scroll from her hand!
He examined them closely, turning them over!
Seeing Nian Hongyan staring at him, Jiangnan said flatly:
(￢◠￢) [Celestial Palace language] "Not resisting? You could struggle a bit!"
Nian Hongyan's face was pale, but she forced a smile:
(⌒﹏⌒;) "Senior, you jest. Facing someone as powerful as you, struggling would only be a death wish and would displease you!"
"Since my master and the others were taken down so easily by you, I wouldn't dare entertain any luck!"
"I'm very sorry for trespassing into your cave, but this was not my wish. I was only following my master—it's hard to refuse orders. If I have caused you any trouble, please accept my sincerest apologies!"
"Though you may not be interested, you may take everything I have—that is the rule!"
With that, she swiftly removed all her storage pouches and artifacts, leaving nothing!
She even considered taking off her Dao robe, since Cuijian Fei and the others had been stripped naked. She wasn't sure what purpose keeping the robe served!
But some cultivators had strange fetishes—it wasn't unheard of!
Still, she hesitated and didn't take it off!
Jiangnan just stared at her silently!
Nian Hongyan grew more nervous:
(๑◔﹏◔ิ) "Are... are you still unsatisfied? May I ask boldly, Senior, why did you leave me alone? Since you did this, there must be a reason, right?"
"Don't misunderstand—I'm not trying to guess your intentions. I just want to live!"
"Is... is it to use me as a cauldron? Senior, your strength is so great, and my cultivation is weak. Even as a cauldron, I wouldn't be of much use, and I couldn't withstand it..."
"If that's the case, could you give me some time to cultivate and raise my level? Then, when you take me as a cauldron, the benefits would be greater. I... I only ask you to spare my life..."
Jiangnan's mouth twitched. This Nian Hongyan was clever enough—every word was a bid for survival!
Even if it were an evil scattered cultivator, hearing this would make it hard to strike!
Frowning, Jiangnan said flatly: "I have no interest in cauldrons!"
Nian Hongyan was taken aback: "Then why did you keep me, Senior? Whatever the reason, I will do my utmost to help you solve your problems. I will prove my worth so that you find keeping me alive more beneficial than killing me!"
Jiangnan said calmly: "I need a follower."
Nian Hongyan's eyes lit up:
(∗❛ั◠❛ั) "Senior! I can do it! I will do my best! Please believe me!"