The next morning, Biqi arrived at the valley early as usual, starting his day of cultivation. However, around noon, he heard sporadic sounds from outside the valley.
Biqi, alert to the unexpected noises, interrupted his practice and furrowed his brow with curiosity. Given the illusion array he set up around the valley, it was unlikely that someone or something could approach undetected. Could it be that someone had discovered the secret of this place? Thinking this, Biqi felt a slight shock and quickly hid his belongings under a giant rock before rushing towards the entrance of the valley.
Approaching closer, Biqi utilized his spiritual sense to investigate and indeed found a girl, seemingly around twelve or thirteen years old, anxiously approaching. Her distressed expression indicated that she didn't intentionally come here but had gotten lost. The girl had unintentionally passed through the illusion array and was heading towards Biqi.
"That girl seems somewhat familiar... right, she's a direct descendant of the main family!" Biqi thought, recognizing the girl whom he had seen in the old house. Although they hadn't met face to face, Biqi remembered her.
"I wonder what this girl from the main family is doing in this remote place!" Shaking his head helplessly, Biqi pondered for a moment before cautiously approaching the girl. The valley was Biqi's secret training ground, and he didn't want anyone to discover it. Therefore, Biqi had to lead the girl away.
"This cursed place, why does every part of it look the same!" The girl was complaining while walking, unaware that she had gotten lost. What frustrated her the most was that no matter how the paths were marked, she couldn't find any sense of direction. Biqi's methods were not something a casual girl could easily decipher. Fortunately, Biqi only set up an illusion array without adding other elements. Otherwise, the girl would have encountered more difficulties.
"Huh?" However, while she was focused on finding her way, the girl suddenly heard faint sounds from behind, resembling the cries of wild animals in the forest. According to her past experiences, this should be the sound of mountain beasts. Typically, children encountering such beasts would feel frightened, but this girl was the opposite; her face lit up with joy. She knew her chance to escape had come. To determine who was more familiar with the mountain paths, there was no doubt that the natives had the advantage.
Of course, the girl didn't consider the potential danger posed by the wild animals. She was already an Elemental Master, having condensed her elemental crystal and reached the peak of the Elemental stage. She was fearless against ordinary beasts.
Immediately, without a second thought, the girl followed the sound into the forest, weaving through the trees. In no time, she entered a familiar area in the mountains. Unquestionably, this was the place she had just been, and seeing it, the girl couldn't help but feel elated. She knew she had escaped.
"Haha, fortunate events always follow auspicious people. I didn't expect that chasing after that beast would lead me out of trouble. It's a pity the beast got away, though. I wonder what kind of creature it was!" The girl was overjoyed after surviving the ordeal. However, she was eager to meet her savior, and her intention wasn't entirely friendly.
Watching from a distance at the treetops, Biqi shook his head helplessly. He had intended to help the girl find her way out, but now she seemed to have other plans, leaving Biqi somewhat bemused.
However, before Biqi could leave, he noticed something unexpected. The girl, having found her way out, did not leave the deep mountains but instead identified a new direction, heading further into the wilderness. Biqi found this amusing, thinking that the girl was truly fearless. Although these mountains were strictly controlled by the Bi family, and there were no magical beasts, some wild creatures with innate powers might not be afraid of ordinary Elemental Masters.
Reflecting on his own experiences from two years ago, when he was three years old, Biqi successfully condensed the Crystal of Chaos, reaching the Elemental stage at a young age. However, his overconfidence led him to roam the forest to gather herbs, attracting a powerful pack of wolves. Although Biqi managed to defeat them single-handedly, he suffered severe injuries, prompting him to avoid his mother, fearing she would worry.
"Come to think of it, this girl didn't come here without a reason; she must have some purpose!" Biqi thought, deciding not to leave but instead quietly following the girl. He was curious about her motives for coming to this place.
As they traversed the dense forest, one after the other, crossing another mountain, the girl reached a secluded valley. In this valley, towering trees cast a shadow so thick that sunlight rarely penetrated, giving it a somewhat eerie atmosphere.
Biqi, keeping his distance, remained vigilant, scanning the surroundings continuously. Eventually, his gaze focused on a pond in the valley. Although the pond seemed ordinary, at its center grew a peculiar flower bud with three leaves. Biqi's eyes widened in surprise with a single glance – the plant was a rare and precious Seven-Leaf Lotus. However, this particular one was still in its early stages, with only three leaves and a bud in a verdant hue, indicating it had many years to mature.
"I didn't expect to find such a treasure here. Why didn't I notice it before?" Biqi, who had been in this area before, wondered. Looking at the environment, he realized that the dense Yin energy in this place had masked the spiritual nature of the Seven-Leaf Lotus.
"Any place with natural treasures must have a guardian!" Biqi, with his experience, quickly discerned the uniqueness of this mountainous area. In his spiritual perception, he sensed a malevolent presence in the pond, advising him to keep his distance. "No, I need to find a way to lead that girl away. If she attempts to collect the Seven-Leaf Lotus, it won't end well!"
While Biqi might normally turn a blind eye, the thought of the girl encountering danger and potentially attracting skilled members of the Bi family made him reconsider. He needed to ensure the secrecy of this place and prevent any mishaps.
Biqi's interest in the Seven-Leaf Lotus was due to its known benefits. Although the plant was still in its early stage, it possessed considerable spiritual essence. Biqi could use it to refine his body and save a significant amount of cultivation effort. Without hesitation, Biqi abandoned his attempt to conceal his presence, deliberately gasping for breath as he ran towards the valley.
The sudden appearance of Biqi caught the girl's attention. Frowning, she turned to see a seemingly immature child running towards her. She was utterly bewildered, unable to comprehend how such a small child could end up in this place and what his purpose might be.
As Biqi approached, the girl was on guard, demanding, "Stop right there! Who are you, and why are you here?"
Biqi, adopting a tearful tone, gestured dramatically while sobbing, "Big sister, there's a wild beast behind me, and I'm so scared. I want to go home!"
Observing Biqi's melodramatic performance, the girl was somewhat annoyed. However, upon closer inspection, she realized that Biqi was just an ordinary child with no cultivation. Though she couldn't fathom how he arrived here, he posed no threat.
"Alright, little one, stop crying. I'll take you back later. But for now, be quiet!" The girl approached, her tone surprisingly gentle. She instructed Biqi not to cry and to follow her back.
Hearing this, Biqi was about to continue causing a scene to have the girl lead him away when he noticed the threatening look in her eyes. He shivered and obediently closed his mouth. Biqi, despite being a child prodigy, had always been wary of women, even a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl like her.
"Pick some flowers, and then we'll go back!" The girl ordered with a cold tone, leaving Biqi a bit surprised. However, he understood that he needed to comply to maintain his cover.
As the girl approached the pond, Biqi couldn't help but wonder about her intentions. He knew the significance of the Seven-Leaf Lotus and was concerned about her approaching the pond. Without hiding his aura any longer, Biqi followed closely.
When they arrived at the valley, the girl, after a moment of contemplation, unsheathed a small sword and cautiously approached the Three-Leaf Lotus. Although she was careful, Biqi had little hope that she could successfully harvest the precious plant.
Watching her progress, Biqi thought she was overly cautious but understood the reason. However, instead of intervening immediately, he decided to let her face some difficulties first. As she closed in on the pond, the eerie silence of the valley grew heavier with Yin energy, indicating the presence of the guardian creature inside the pond.
When the girl was three steps away from the pond, she suddenly halted, and the entire world seemed to freeze momentarily. After a brief pause, she shouted and charged towards the Lotus. The tranquility shattered, and a colossal head emerged from the pond – a monstrous serpent lunging towards the girl's wrist.
Biqi, watching the scene attentively, recognized the creature as a giant water serpent.