Ji Wushuang pointed toward the distant group of spirit beasts and said, "Don't worry, Senior Sister. These beasts are quite docile. Clearly, the scent they've caught simply brings them comfort and doesn't stir the same agitation as it would in human cultivators."
Upon hearing this, Ye Qian also found it reasonable and responded, "Shall we enter, then?"
"Let's go!"
Ji Wushuang then took out two high-grade third-tier concealment talismans. Ye Qian's eyes widened in astonishment.
"These are talismans from the Gold Core stage!" she exclaimed.
"Hurry, Senior Sister, activate them. Once we stick them on, we'll be able to slip through," Ji Wushuang urged.
With a dazed yet trusting expression, Ye Qian applied the talismans, quickly consuming a pill to replenish her spiritual energy, and stealthily pulled Ji Wushuang along as they crept toward the lake.
Most of the spirit beasts here were from the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stages. As the Spring Dawn flower had little effect on Gold Core beasts, the third-tier talismans were more than sufficient to evade their attention.
Once by the lake, the two of them casually plucked a flower. Spring Dawn, as its name suggests, bloomed with petals as radiant as the dawn, layering in delicate, resplendent tiers. Each blossom seemed to contain the essence of heaven and earth, radiating a uniquely enchanting fragrance.
Fortunately, Ye Qian had come prepared, taking out a jade box to carefully store the flower, preserving its spiritual energy. She then gave Ji Wushuang a rueful smile and said, "One middle-grade spirit stone in hand, but with your Gold Core talismans, we'll need to pick at least a hundred to break even."
A third-tier top-quality talisman!
A hundred middle-grade spirit stones per talisman would be considered a bargain!
Ji Wushuang couldn't help but laugh. She hadn't expected that the gentle and composed Senior Sister would have such a penchant for wealth.
"Then let's pick more!" she said.
"Agreed."
The two of them continued plucking flowers along the lake's edge, one collecting and the other carefully placing each flower into the jade box. Their actions were so bold that it didn't take long for someone to notice.
"Master! Look over there, isn't that Senior Sister of the Young Miss?" someone cried in panic, pointing toward the distant figures. "Are they crazy? With so many spirit beasts around, they still dare to approach?"
The concealment talismans were only effective for those at the Gold Core stage or lower. They concealed one's aura but did not make the wearer "invisible."
The spirit beasts could not "see" them because they were in a state of complete relaxation.
However, a Nascent Soul cultivator accompanying Wu Huayi easily sensed the presence of Ji Wushuang and Ye Qian. The cultivator immediately alerted Wu Huayi, and soon, the others also took notice.
Wu Huayi's face darkened. "What are they doing there?"
The Nascent Soul cultivator assessed the situation and coldly replied, "Young Master, they must be using high-grade concealment talismans. That's likely why they feel safe. How foolish! The more ignorant, the more reckless!"
Wu Huayi paused, contemplating his promise to Mo Lanyi. If he allowed them to continue without intervention, would she be angry when she found out?
He knew she would.
Mo Lanyi, so gentle and kind-hearted, had pleaded for her sister's life after she had suffered so much. How could he disregard the safety of her fellow disciple?
After a long silence, Wu Huayi finally spoke. "Is there a way to save them?"
The Nascent Soul cultivator hesitated before answering, "Master, there are thousands of spirit beasts here… If I go in, it will surely cause a commotion, and that will endanger other innocent cultivators."
Nearby, numerous cultivators lay in ambush around the lake, waiting for the beasts to disperse so they could seize any opportunities that arose.
"Would a concealment talisman work?" Wu Huayi asked.
The Nascent Soul cultivator smiled wryly. "Master, third-tier talismans are extremely precious. We don't even know if a normal concealment talisman can evade all the spirit beasts' senses… Moreover, I'm a Nascent Soul cultivator. If I use a third-tier talisman, I'm not sure what effect it will have."
Wu Huayi fell into deep thought. After a long pause, he finally said, "Then give the talisman to me."
He was willing to go to any lengths to avoid breaking his promise to Mo Lanyi.
"Master! It's too dangerous!" his subordinates protested.
"Yes, Master, please reconsider!" they urged.
Wu Huayi raised his hand, silencing their objections. His voice was cold. "Enough. My decision is made. Hand it over."
The Nascent Soul cultivator reluctantly handed him the talisman. After activating it and affixing it to himself, Wu Huayi carefully approached Ji Wushuang and Ye Qian.
Ji Wushuang sensed his movement almost immediately. She tugged at Ye Qian's sleeve. Completely immersed in the excitement of accumulating middle-grade spirit stones, Ye Qian finally looked up, her face glowing with joy, her eyes shimmering with the shape of spirit stones.
"What's wrong, Junior Sister? Ah, no—Spring Dawn is about to wither. We need to act quickly."
Ji Wushuang gestured toward the distance, and Ye Qian turned, her usually calm and composed demeanor faltering. Even someone as serene as her couldn't help but curse.
Was Wu Huayi out of his mind?
Why was he approaching them?
"What's he doing here?" Ye Qian asked, her voice sharp.
"I'm not sure, but we need to be prepared," Ji Wushuang replied.
"Prepared for what?"
"His talisman is not strong enough. It might soon provoke the spirit beasts into a frenzy..."