???
’My ti is running out?’
’What does that an?’
’This...’
’Does it an the ti I have left with my own consciousness is running out?’
’And after that, will I beco a mindless flesh puppet like Mr. Qian, enslaved for all eternity?’
She stood alone in the center of the vast, empty plaza. The night wind felt particularly desolate.
After her Eldest Senior Brother had also left, she returned to her own dilapidated thatched hut.
Night had fallen, and the sect was quieter than ever before.
Most of the senior brothers and sisters who usually scurried about were nowhere to be seen. Only a few disciples with vacant eyes remained, endlessly repeating their tasks.
Beside the thatched hut, the Sorrow Flower appeared even more brilliant, a faint blue aura once again swirling around it.
Su Ling’er stared at the starlight through the hole in her roof, lost in thought.
’My Contracted Spirit Insects were completely wiped out...’
’And most of them died by my own hand...’
AAAAAH!
’It’s so painful just thinking about it! AAAAAH!!!’
’The Evil Cultivators here are absolute monsters!!!’
Her connection to the outside world was already severed.
Eldest Senior Brother had said her ti was running out.
If she stayed here, the only fate awaiting her was to beco a puppet.
Today, she had already been put through a "rehearsal."
’To survive, to avoid ending up on the dinner table, to preserve my sanity...’
She looked at her own hands, her gaze turning incredibly resolute.
’I can’t wait any longer.’
’It has to be tonight. While most of the senior brothers and sisters are back in their residences and the defenses are at their weakest, I must escape!’
...
「The Hour of the Rat.」
At this mont, the Guixi Sect seed to have fallen completely silent.
Through the hole in the thatched hut’s roof, the cold starlight landed perfectly on Su Ling’er’s eyelashes.
She snapped her eyes open, her gaze filled with determination.
’I can’t wait any longer!’
’If I stay, Eldest Senior Brother will either play to death or refine into a mindless puppet!’
She rose swiftly and tied her storage pouch to her waist.
It contained her entire fortune: low-grade Spirit Stones, a Wooden Sword, Spirit Grass, and so low-level Magical Artifacts she had exchanged for.
She even dug up the Sorrow Flower and took it with her, afraid that leaving it behind might cause so trouble.
She had only one thought now—survive!
Su Ling’er quickly reviewed her ntal map of the sect’s layout, which she had been scouting for days, and settled on a few possible escape routes:
First, a side gate on the eastern side that was rarely used;
Second, the undeveloped cliffs on the back mountain, treacherous and seldom visited;
And one last place, the border of the Spirit Beast Garden on the western side. Although it was protected by an Array, there might be a loophole she could exploit.
She took a deep breath, suppressing her frantic heartbeat, and pushed open the creaking wooden door. Her figure silently lted into the night.
...
「anwhile, in Lin Qingfeng’s residence.」
He was lounging comfortably in the Spiritual Spring Pool, enjoying the pleasure of a good soak.
Wisps of Spiritual Qi from the water nourished his body.
In one hand, he held a jade cup filled with newly brewed Spirit Wine;
With the other, he casually swiped the air in front of him, and a glowing screen materialized, displaying a real-ti map of the Guixi Sect.
Every dot of light representing a sect disciple was clearly visible.
He took a sip of the fine wine, the corners of his mouth turning up.
He was in a great mood. The contribution points he’d fard today had filled more than a fifth of the NPC contribution progress bar.
Then, his gaze fell upon the location of Su Ling’er’s thatched hut.
He discovered that the dot representing her was not in the hut, but was moving rapidly toward a side gate on the eastern mountain path.
’Little Junior Sister is heading to the side gate this late? What for?’
’It’s pitch black out. Why isn’t she resting early? How is she supposed to work hard tomorrow?’
’Is she planning to slack off again, like last ti when she worked until noon and then went back to sleep?’
’She’s only been in the sect for a few days, and Little Junior Sister is already thinking about slacking off?!!!’
’This won’t do. I can’t let her be so lazy.’
He sent a ssage in the sect channel.
[Lin Qingfeng: @everyone, if anyone’s out and about and sees Little Junior Sister, tell her not to wander around alone so late at night. Have her go back to her hut and get so sleep. We’ve got a busy day tomorrow!]
[Lin Qingfeng: @everyone, make sure you don’t let her get near the sect’s border! She’s the only NPC we have right now!]
After sending the ssages, he dismissed the screen and continued to enjoy his rare mont of leisure.
...
On the path to the eastern side gate, Su Ling’er held her breath, pushing her Body Technique to its absolute limit as she darted between the shadows.
The side gate, a symbol of freedom, was just ahead, and her heart was pounding. THUMP, THUMP.
Just then, a figure shot out from the shadows of the trees!
The person saw Su Ling’er’s red robes and spoke:
"Little Junior Sister? What a coincidence!"
"Where are you going so late?"
"We’ve got a busy day tomorrow, why aren’t you resting?"
In the silent night, that voice was like a clap of thunder!
Su Ling’er’s heart instantly stopped!
She quickly forced a bright, energetic smile:
"Senior Brother, I... I was just in a fierce battle with a Core Formation-level great demon, and my heart is still pounding with excitent! I can’t fall asleep!
"So I thought I’d take a walk, enjoy the beautiful night scenery, and calm my mind."
"Oh! I see, I get it!
"But Little Junior Sister, this side gate area is pitch black. What’s there to see?
"Co, co, Senior Brother will take you to a great spot!"
Without waiting for Su Ling’er’s agreent, he had her follow him.
Along the way, he even pointed things out with an air of great importance:
"Look here, what a beautiful tree!
"And that rock is so unique!
"Aren’t the clouds here much prettier than the ones by the side gate?"
Su Ling’er followed behind him, her face expressionless.
’Where in the world did you pop out from?’
’How could I run into soone even this late at night?!’
’This mountain, this rock, this tree, this cloud... is there any difference between them and the ones by the side gate?’
’If you can’t find anything pretty, then just stop with the forced complints, okay?!’
As the path grew increasingly familiar, alarm bells scread in her mind.
’Is he trying to take to the Cultivation Hall?’
’No way...’
’He wants to do tasks this late at night?’
’Is he even human?!’
The disciple led her on a pointless stroll for about the ti it takes an incense stick to burn, finally stopping in front of the Cultivation Hall.
"Little Junior Sister, see? You’ve admired the beautiful scenery along the way, so your heart must have cald down by now.
"If you still don’t want to go back to your hut to rest, we just so happen to be at the Cultivation Hall. You can pick up a few tasks here to calm yourself down even more."
’He really isn’t human!’
’How are the disciples here so far removed from being ’human’?!’
"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother, but... I am feeling a bit tired now,"
"Goodbye, Senior Brother! I think I’ll head back to my hut to rest. No need to see off!"
With that, afraid the disciple would follow her again, she hurried away, waving back repeatedly.
"Goodbye, Senior Brother! You don’t have to see off!"
"Don’t see off!"
After finally shaking off the persistent disciple, Su Ling’er didn’t dare try the side gate again.
So, she took a long detour and snuck toward the deserted cliffs on the back mountain...
...
[Real World]
[News Archive]
Ashen Heaven Group announced it has entered into a deep strategic partnership with the "Global Identity Authentication Alliance" (GIA).
In the future, all new users of Ashen Heaven services will be required to undergo high-level biotric verification through the GIA.
A group spokesperson stated that the move is intended to "combat virtual identity theft and malicious account abuse, building a more credible digital space for users."
So privacy advocacy groups have raised concerns about the partnership, worrying it could lead to an unprecedented concentration of personal data.
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