Inside the storage bag, the atmosphere was changing as the very fabric of the dimension began to tear apart. A thin crack appeared, quickly expanding as the dimension within the storage bag started to collapse.
Threatening to consume everything into the void. The air filled with violent energy, and the objects within the bag started to get destroyed as soon as they met this violet energy.
A small, sleek black cat looked worried seeing all these. It was Zhang Lian's system assistant. The cat had been curled up, relaxing peacefully near Zhang Lian.
Suddenly, the cat's big orange eyes opened, glowing with alertness.
Its pupils narrowed the cat's tiny, pointed ears twitched, and its tail—ending in a small flame—flicked back and forth with urgency. The delicate red wings on its back fluttered slightly as it prepared to act.
In a swift motion, the cat tapped into the system, commanding, "System use emergency escape."
A blue screen materialized before the cat, displaying the system's interface.
In response, the system immediately displayed a message: Consuming 10 SP for emergency escape."
Without a moment's hesitation, a surge of energy came out from the system.
The energy was warm and protective, covering Zhang Lian who was still sleeping peacefully and the cat in a glowing light.
The energy field around Zhang Lian and the cat instantly transported them 100 kilometers away from the site of the collapsing storage bag.
They appeared in a dense forest near the capital city, where the rustling of leaves and the distant chirping of birds filled the air.
Nearby, a group of villagers was running down a narrow forest path, their faces pale with fear. They were fleeing the capital, where the sight of smoke billowing into the sky, the absence of guards at the city gates and also there being no one around the gate, they were confused and decided to go back to Village.
These people had come to have their spiritual roots tested, a rare opportunity for these villagers to rise, but now they were only concerned with getting home safely.
Leading the group was a sturdy man with a broad chest and strong arms, his dark brown hair flying as he moved at fast speed.
His hair, black, was tied back and his eyes, usually calm, were now wide with anxiety.
He was the village's strongest martial artist, appointed by the village chief to guide the people who had become adults safely to the city.
But now, he was just as eager to get them away from whatever disaster was happening in the city
Beside him ran his younger brother, a boy no older than 12 years old, with wide, innocent eyes.
He wore a simple dress, the fabric billowing as he kept up with his brother's speed.
Trailing behind them were a few other people from the village, their faces a mix of confusion and fear.
Trying to keep up as the group moved swiftly through the trees.
As they ran, the boy suddenly said, his breath coming in quick gasps. "brother, look! A fairy!" he exclaimed, his voice a mixture of awe and surprise.
The Big Brother slowed down, his heart still pounding due to running for a long time, and turned to see what his brother was pointing at. There, amidst the dense trees, stood Zhang Lian, sleeping in a soft light, Falling on her skin.
Zhang Lian appeared as if she had stepped out of a dream. Her long, white hair and Beautiful face gave her an aura of beauty, like a peaceful angel resting in the middle of the forest.
She wore a light-colored dress that fit her perfectly, her slim waist and the gentle curve of her breast. The dress's straps sat neatly on her shoulders, and a thin belt around her waist, highlighting her graceful figure. The skirt of the dress flowed down to her ankles..
As Zhang Lian slept peacefully, completely unaware of the villagers nearby,
The sturdy man leading the group, identified as Guo Liang, furrowed his brow as he studied the sleeping girl.
"Is she a cultivator too?" he muttered to himself, observing Zhang Lian's delicate features.
Her young appearance puzzled him, making him think she might have come to get her spiritual roots tested. But something about her presence in the forest, in the midst of their escape, didn't sit right with him.
After a brief moment, Guo Liang made up his mind. "We should take her along," he said, more to himself than to the others.
"If she's a cultivator, we might get a reward. But looking at her clothes, she seems to have some background. Yet… I don't see any weapons on her. Perhaps she's not a cultivator after all."
His thoughts were interrupted by the realization that there was no time to waste. They needed to move quickly. But the mystery of how she appeared in the middle of the forest and why she was sleeping like this. The villagers around him shared his confusion but had no answers.
Guo Liang looked to his younger brother, Guo Wei, who stood beside him, wide-eyed and waiting for instructions he said go try to wake her up.
Guo Wei and approached Zhang Lian cautiously. He knelt beside her, gently shaking her shoulder with his hand. "Miss, wake up," he murmured, his voice soft but urgent.
When there was no response, he frowned, glancing back at his brother, Guo Liang, who watched with narrowed eyes.
"Try again," Guo Liang urged, his tone firm but low.
Guo Wei nodded and shook Zhnag lian from her shoulder. "Miss, can you hear me? Wake up, please."
But Zhang Lian remained motionless, her breathing deep and steady, completely unaware of the boy's efforts.
Her long white hair cascaded over her shoulders, and her dress was slightly wrinkled from the way she lay, but she looked harmless.
The cat, invisible to Guo Wei, watched with a flick of its flaming tail. Its big orange eyes observed the boy's futile attempts, but the cat said hey I have already tried, it won't work, but obviously no reply came.
"Brother, she's not waking up."
Guo Liang walked over, his heavy steps crunching softly on the forest floor. "It's okay. We'll take her with us."
He then tore a strip of cloth from his shirts. Together, they began to tie Zhang Lian to Guo Liang's back. Guo Wei held Zhang Lian's upper body with some other kids, while Guo Liang wrapped the cloth around her, tying it firmly.
"Make sure it's tight enough that she won't slip," Guo Liang instructed, his voice calm as he worked.
Guo Wei nodded, adjusting the cloth so that it supported Zhang Lian's weight evenly. Once they were satisfied that she was firmly tied, Guo Liang stood, testing the knots to ensure they would hold.
With Zhang Lian tied up, the group resumed their journey, moving swiftly through the forest toward their village.
The journey was long and tiring, with the group traveling for nearly half a day. As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in orange hue, the village finally came into view.
The village was fine looking, surrounded by fields of crops that swayed gently in the evening breeze.
Tall stalks of wheat and corn bordered the path leading to the center of the village, where numerous houses stood clustered together.
The houses were built from wood and clay, with roofs and walls that bore the marks of time.
As the group neared the village, villagers who had been taking walks or were outside chatting began to take notice. One of them, an older man with a bent back and a weathered face, was the first to spot them.
"Look, everyone! They're back!" the old man shouted, his voice cracking with worry, so others also made noise informing everyone with loud noises.
In an instant, the village came alive. Doors opened, and people came out of their homes, their faces a mix of curiosity and concern. Mothers and fathers, brothers and sisters—all rushed out to greet the returning group.
The villagers knew the testing journey usually took a full day, with the group spending the night in the city before returning home. Seeing them back so soon put up a wave of questions and unease.
A woman, her hair tied back with a simple cloth, called out as she hurried across the dirt path, "Why are they back so early?"
Another villager, an older man with, "Something must've happened," he muttered to himself, his tone laced with worry.
The people who went to get spiritual roots join their family.
The village chief, a sturdy man with a graying beard, stepped out from his home, his brows furrowed in concern.
His posture was firm, as he made his way through the crowd, trying to get a sense of what had occurred.
As the chief neared, Guo Liang, still carrying the unconscious Zhang Lian on his back, nodded respectfully. His own expression was serious, and the exhaustion from the journey was clear in the lines on his face.
The chief's gaze shifted to Zhang Lian, her peaceful beauty faced sharply with the tension surrounding them.
His eyes narrowed slightly, taking in her unusual appearance and fine clothing. "Who is this girl?" he asked.