Chapter 71 - 64: This Junior Sister Shall Eradicate the Hidden Threat for the Sect, and Will Not Shrink from Death

The humiliation I’d suffered before had now completely transformed into the satisfying weight of the rewards in my storage pouch.

Bring it on!

Question nine!

I can’t wait!

However, just as Mr. Qian on the stage was about to unfurl the next bamboo scroll—

The lighthearted, cheerful atmosphere inside the pavilion was shattered by a sudden, dead silence.

...

In the night sky, two inconspicuous black insects were following a preset route, speeding toward the sect gates to the east and west.

However, a short while after they flew out of the sect’s core territory—

...

The atmosphere inside the pavilion suddenly grew tense and eerie. All the disciples stopped talking.

The shift from cheerful to dead silent sent an inexplicable chill down Su Ling’er’s spine.

’What the—?’

’What’s going on with you all?’

’A moment ago, you were all grinning and joking, waiting to jump on the next question. Why do you all look like you’re at a funeral now?’

’Is question nine really that terrifying?!’

’Hey! Say something, will you!’

’All of you going quiet like this all of a sudden is really creepy, you know!!!’

Meanwhile, in the Guixi Sect’s channel:

[Player C: Look at the map! They spawned! They spawned!]

[Player D: Two red dots this time! Moving fast in different directions!]

[Player E: Senior Brother! Get the Junior Sister to take them out!]

[Player F: Don’t worry! We’re all waiting for her to be the first one back to answer the questions!!]

Back in the pavilion, Su Ling’er saw the disciples’ expressions suddenly turn grim. Though she didn’t know why, a sense of foreboding crept over her.

Just then, her Eldest Senior Brother, Lin Qingfeng, shot to his feet.

In a flash, he was behind Su Ling’er, grabbing her by the wrist.

"Junior Sister, we’re leaving! It’s urgent!"

Su Ling’er’s hand jolted, knocking over the teacup beside her.

"Wh-what is it?

Eldest Senior Brother, can we wait a little?

Th-there are still two questions left!"

’Are you kidding me?!’

’The reward is right there for the taking! How can I just walk away from it?!’

’There might be even better rewards to come!’

But Lin Qingfeng began dragging her out without another word, trying to placate her as he went.

"Oh, it’s just one or two questions. It’s no big deal!"

But Su Ling’er wasn’t having any of it.

’If I leave, I’ll lose my chance to answer!’

’And the rewards will be gone, too!’

Her face flushed red with anxiety as she stomped her feet.

Seeing this, Lin Qingfeng immediately started spouting complete nonsense with a straight face.

"Junior Sister, you are so brilliant! Your intellect surpasses theirs a hundredfold. The entire sect can see it!"

"I am merely taking you out for a moment to handle a small matter."

"When you return, with your insight, you’ll surely come from behind and still be the first to finish and claim the top prize!"

Hearing this, Su Ling’er almost passed out from indignation.

’I believe you, my ass!’

’God knows how long you’ll have me out there.’

’I don’t even know what this is about!’

’And you have the gall to say I can still come back and finish first?’

’Do you believe that yourself?’

’Because I sure as hell don’t!’

’Me? Brilliant?’

’How many questions have I even answered correctly?!’

’You’re so cruel!’

’You’re obviously just scared I’ll get the remaining rewards and want to sabotage me!’

’My Spirit Stones! My Spirit Stones!’

One of her hands reached out desperately toward the room, but the other was already being forcefully dragged out of the Inquiry Golden Autumn Spirit Gathering’s pavilion by her Eldest Senior Brother.

Behind her, seeing their "main character" leave, the disciples in the pavilion all switched to AFK mode out of boredom, their eyes instantly going vacant.

...

The cool night wind on her face helped her calm down a bit.

She had no idea what her Eldest Senior Brother was plotting.

"Eldest Senior Brother, what exactly did we come out here to do? The questions..."

She was still lamenting the rewards she’d missed.

Lin Qingfeng pulled her out of the pavilion and pointed to two dark patches in the distant night sky, his words concise.

"Junior Sister, you see that over there?

Shoot at that spot!

When you’re done, you have to shoot the other spot!

Quick! Faster!

Use the Thousand Threads Seeking Karma Spell! One shot for each of those two directions!"

’It’s over!’

’Su Ling’er understood now.’

’They’ve detected the locations of my Contracted Spirit Insects!’

’And they’re planning to make me kill them with my own hands again?!’

’This fiend... such a deep, cunning plot!’

’Such a sinister heart!’

’He really does know everything! He just wants me to personally snuff out my own hope!’

She could only say with a tremor in her voice,

"Th-this disciple’s cultivation is shallow. The Thousand Threads Seeking Karma Spell is incredibly powerful. What if I hurt some innocent..."

"Junior Sister!"

Lin Qingfeng’s tone turned serious.

"On the path of cultivation, how can you be so hesitant!

This is a practical combat test from the sect!

A karmic obstacle that threatens our sect’s safety is lurking within our borders. Your Dao heart is pure and perceptive, making you the perfect candidate for this moment!

Hurry!"

"B-but..."

Su Ling’er still tried to resist.

"This disciple is afraid I can’t control it properly..."

"The Great Dao will provide its own guidance!"

Lin Qingfeng cut her off.

"Trust me! Trust in the supreme spell I passed on to you!

If you hesitate any longer, then I will have to act myself!

And if that happens, you should think carefully about what the consequences for you will be..."

Su Ling’er looked at her Eldest Senior Brother’s unwavering gaze, and a theory surfaced in her mind.

’Could it be... that he isn’t completely certain of my identity as a spy?’

’And he’s not sure the insects are connected to me?’

’He’s just forcing my hand, trying to see if I’ll attack the two insects used for sending messages?’

’If I refuse, I’ll confirm his suspicions.’

’And if Eldest Senior Brother makes a move himself, God knows what will happen.’

’Please, whatever you do, don’t you dare make a move!’

’If you attack and just obliterate the insects, that would be one thing. But what if you follow the clues all the way back to my base?’

’If that’s the case, I have no choice!’

’If I do it myself, at least I can try to miss and buy myself a sliver of hope!’

A look of righteous indignation instantly appeared on her small face.

"Junior Sister understands!

To think some petty villain would dare to covet our Guixi Immortal Sect!

As a member of the sect, it is my duty to eliminate this threat for our Immortal Sect, even if it costs me my life!"

She formed a sword-finger sign and activated the Thousand Threads Seeking Karma Spell. With a sharp cry, she unleashed it in the direction Lin Qingfeng had indicated, aiming slightly off-target.

"What villain dares to trespass against the Guixi Immortal Sect! You will surely die!"

’My Contracted Spirit Insects!’

’My only hope of survival!!’

’You have to dodge this!!!’

FWOOSH—!

A cyan-black beam of light shot toward the two patches of empty sky.

Although she had tried her best to aim wide, the spell unexpectedly homed in and eliminated the two "red-named monsters."

Almost simultaneously, the two threads connected deep within her soul snapped in two. SNAP! SNAP!

Excruciating pain shot through her, but Su Ling’er clenched her jaw and forced herself to endure it.

Lin Qingfeng watched as his "NPC contribution points" on the sect panel increased by another 800, a gratified smile spreading across his face.

"Great job, Junior Sister! See? That wasn’t so..."

Before he could finish, he saw that Su Ling’er’s expression was incredibly pained.

"Huh?"

"Junior Sister, you’ve eliminated a hidden threat for our sect. Why do you look so unwell?"