Standing atop the mountain, Xu Ming looked down from the peak.
In the south of Baiwa City, near the direction of the temple, a patch of firelight had appeared.
Shortly after, the lights in the homes on the southern side of Baiwa City began to illuminate one by one.
It seemed that the humans and demons had officially begun their assault on the Toad Temple. The other residents, hearing the commotion, quickly climbed out of their rooms to join the excitement.
As Xu Ming guarded the formation and gazed toward the southern part of Baiwa City, Qin Qingwan suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, which splattered onto the ground.
"Are you okay?"
Xu Ming was startled. He wanted to step forward but didn't dare enter the formation, fearing he might disrupt it.
Qin Qingwan shook her head. "It's nothing serious. I just felt a bit uncomfortable from the formation's impact."
"Brother Xu, the position Miss He is in is the core of the entire formation. We will continue constructing it, but Miss He's soul will bear the brunt of the impact. Could you think of a way to divert her attention?" Yu Wenxi said to Xu Ming.
Yu Wenxi himself was drenched in sweat, clearly burdened heavily by the strain of constructing the formation on his spirit and spiritual energy.
"Distract her?"
Xu Ming was confused.
Didn't setting up a formation require complete concentration? Wouldn't distracting her make things worse?
Seeing Xu Ming's doubts, Miao Feng added, "Yu Wenxi is right. We've already completed the initial setup of the formation. Next, Miss He will serve as the core, acting as a medium to connect her spiritual energy with the formation of this world, fully completing it.
"I know it might sound contradictory, but at this stage, Miss He needs to maintain her focus on the formation while also slightly diverting her attention. This will help reduce the impact of the Dao resonance on her soul."
"I see."
Xu Ming didn't fully grasp the principles they explained, but he trusted that following their instructions would be the right move.
"You can distract me with this. No need to talk to me directly." From the center of the formation, Qin Qingwan held up a jade token and waved it at Xu Ming.
Xu Ming nodded and took out his own jade token, sending her a message. "How are you feeling?"
Qin Qingwan smiled faintly. "Is this how you distract me? Do you always start conversations with girls by asking how they're feeling?"
Xu Ming: "..."
"Honestly, I'm okay." Qin Qingwan glanced at Xu Ming with a soft smile, speaking as if sharing a secret. "A little dizzy, a little scattered, but other than that, nothing too strange."
Xu Ming: "What does it feel like to be impacted by Dao resonance?"
Qin Qingwan thought for a moment. "It's hard to describe. It's like a flood of thoughts suddenly rushing into my mind, and no matter how hard I try, I just can't control them."
Xu Ming: "Oh."
"Brother Xu, what do you mean by 'oh'?" Qin Qingwan pouted. "Is this really how you're helping me distract myself?"
"...What do you want to talk about?" Xu Ming asked.
Qin Qingwan thought for a moment. "How about telling me stories from your childhood?"
"My childhood?"
"Yeah, yeah! Your childhood. Did you have any close friends growing up?"
Xu Ming: "I did. A few of them."
Qin Qingwan: "Who was your best friend?"
Xu Ming chuckled inwardly and replied, "One was the eldest daughter of the Qin family—that would be your Senior Sister Qin. Another was my older sister, and the third was my Third Brother."
Qin Qingwan's round eyes sparkled with curiosity, like a little fish that had finally taken the bait. "I know your sister! She must be Xu Xuenuo, right? The pride of the Wanjian Sect? I've heard her talent in swordsmanship is almost unparalleled!"
Xu Ming: "That's right."
Qin Qingwan: "So, who do you think is prettier—Qin Qingwan or your sister?"
Xu Ming wasn't a fool. Presented with such an obvious "correct" answer, failing to choose wisely would be an insult to the person asking. "I think Qingwan is prettier."
"Huh?" Qin Qingwan was momentarily stunned by his answer, her cheeks flushing a soft pink.
Qin Qingwan: "I've never met Xu Xuenuo, but why don't you tell me what makes Senior Sister Qin prettier than her?"
"..."
That question stumped him.
To Xu Ming, their beauty was comparable, just different in style. Xu Xuenuo had always been cool and aloof, while Qin Qingwan was sweet and charming. They were not the same at all.
After thinking seriously for a moment, Xu Ming replied, "I think Qin Qingwan is prettier in every way."
Qin Qingwan pouted. "Are you just saying that to brush me off? Afraid I'll tell Senior Sister Qin, and she'll come after you for it?"
Xu Ming: "Of course not. Why would I need to brush you off? I'm just speaking from the heart."
"Hmph, fine, I'll let it go." Qin Qingwan smiled mischievously. "Then why don't you name ten things that make Qin Qingwan special?"
Xu Ming: "Why are we always talking about Qingwan?"
Qin Qingwan: "Why not? I'm just trying to keep myself distracted. Besides, why are you avoiding talking about Senior Sister Qin? Do you not like her?"
Xu Ming chuckled. "Of course I like her. She's one of the top ten beauties on the Beauty List—how could I not?"
Qin Qingwan's chest rose and fell in frustration. "So, you only like her because of her looks?"
Xu Ming teased, "Maybe?"
"Lecherous Man!" Qin Qingwan huffed.
"Please call it honesty. Thank you," Xu Ming countered.
Qin Qingwan's eyes curved into a sly smile. "An honest lecher."
Xu Ming: "..."
Qin Qingwan: "Xu Ming."
Xu Ming: "Hm?"
Qin Qingwan: "If you meet Senior Sister Qin, what's the first thing you'd say to her?"
Xu Ming: "I'd say—"
Boom!
Before Xu Ming could send his reply, a loud explosion erupted from the Toad Temple in Baiwa City.
A streak of crimson light shot into the sky, piercing through the nighttime clouds.
Xu Ming, the others, and the goose all instinctively looked up.
The red light transformed into a massive dragon, circling once in the sky before hurtling toward them.
"Damn it! What's happening in Baiwa City?" Yu Wenxi, drenched in sweat, felt a sense of foreboding.
"This is bad! The formation is resonating with that red light!" Miao Feng's face was grim as the crimson dragon drew closer. "We can't continue—we have to leave!"
"Let's go!" Yu Wenxi and Miao Feng quickly stepped out of the formation.
But Qin Qingwan remained seated, completely still.
"Miss He, get out of there!" Xu Ming shouted.
Qin Qingwan turned her head to look at him, her peach blossom eyes trembling slightly.
At her feet, two blood-red chains extended from the formation, coiling around her tightly like sacrificial bindings.