Shen Zhilan looked at Qin Shifeng with gratitude.
"Senior Brother Qin, thank you for trusting me.
I don't want to over-explain myself. The innocent need no defense, I have never harbored any intention to harm any of you."
Such pale and feeble words of explanation, yet Qin Shifeng still believed her.
Because in his eyes, Shen Zhilan possessed a top-grade water spiritual root and was Baili Muchen's beloved disciple of Hunyuan Sect. There was no reason for her to do something so calculating as coercing gratitude for personal gain.
It must be Feng Xi overthinking things.
Shen Zhilan smiled at Qin Shifeng, "Senior Brother Qin, I still need to go rendezvous with my eldest senior brother and others. After we leave the secret realm, we can talk more."
Qin Shifeng's heart skipped a beat, his voice trembling slightly, "Alright."
Shen Zhilan felt smug. With a little more time, Qin Shifeng would certainly become completely devoted to her.
She was just about to leave when Feng Xi said coldly, "Fifth Senior Brother, Senior Brother Xing Wu, stop her."
Jun Wen and Xing Wu actually did exactly that, blocking Shen Zhilan's path.
Shen Zhilan frowned, "Feng Xi, what do you mean by this?"
Feng Xi sneered. "What do I mean? Mu Zihuai and the others should be going after the One-Horned Stone Salamander's companion spirit plant by now, right?
Once they succeed, the Stone Salamanders will definitely go berserk. Without you as a protective talisman, how are we supposed to get out?
If you want to go meet up with Mu Zihuai and the rest, fine. First escort us out, then you can go back in!"
A flash of panic crossed Shen Zhilan's face, followed by furious embarrassment, "Feng Xi, this is all baseless speculation! Don't bully people too far!"
Smack! Smack!
Feng Xi stepped forward and slapped her twice.
Then she darted behind Jun Wen, poked her little head out, "Now this is bullying gone too far!"
She had moved far too quickly, and Shen Zhilan hadn't been on guard at all. Those two slaps solidly landed!
Her face immediately swelled up.
Shen Zhilan was nearly driven mad with rage!
"Feng Xi, I'll kill you!"
Feng Xi bared her little white teeth, "Say another word and believe it or not, I'll carve up your face."
Shen Zhilan really didn't dare speak anymore.
Because among everyone present, only Qin Shifeng was willing to speak on her behalf.
And he was from Beast-Taming Sect. At a critical moment, there was no guarantee he would stand firmly on her side.
With a dark expression, she followed Feng Xi and the others out of the cave.
The moment they emerged, Mu Zihuai and the others came running out in panic, with rustling sounds coming from behind them.
Feng Xi's expression changed, the One-Horned Stone Salamanders must be in pursuit!
She told Jun Wen to carry Jiang Ji on his back, and the two of them took off running at full speed!
Xing Wu and the others also realized what was happening and immediately ran as well.
For a split second, Qin Shifeng wavered. Could what Feng Xi said really be right?
No!
Junior Sister Zhilan wasn't that kind of person!
They hadn't run far before a massive swarm of One-Horned Stone Salamanders came writhing after them in a frenzy.
Though they were insect-type beasts, their speed was terrifyingly fast.
Feng Xi thought that even if Shen Zhilan took out her immortal beast egg, it wouldn't be of any use because those One-Horned Stone Salamanders had already gone crazy from having the spirit herb they guard be stolen.
Jun Wen was carrying Jiang Ji, so he was naturally slower than the others. Feng Xi had to match his pace, and very quickly they fell behind.
Jiang Ji said to Jun Wen, "Fifth Junior Brother, put me down. You and Little Junior Sister should go!"
Jun Wen gritted his teeth, "Cut the crap!"
Feng Xi knew this couldn't go on. She said to the little black ball, "I've raised you for so long, now it's time for your glorious moment of sacrificing yourself for your master!
Go lure them away!"
The little black ball: "..."
Listen to yourself. Are those even words a human would say?!
Of course, Feng Xi had no intention of abandoning the little black ball, she was just saying it.
She turned to Jun Wen, "Fifth Senior Brother, I'll draw them away. You take Eldest Senior Brother and wait for me at the place where we met Tian Qing earlier!"
She chose that spot because it was easy to find and not too far away.
She thought Jun Wen would at least hesitate a little, maybe insist on carrying Jiang Ji himself and letting her draw the One-Horned Stone Salamanders away.
Instead, Jun Wen answered with startling decisiveness, "Yes!"
Then he took off running at full speed!
Feng Xi: "..."
You couldn't even pretend a little?
What she didn't know was that Jun Wen now blindly trusted her. In his eyes, little junior sister was practically omnipotent. Since she said she could handle it, she definitely had a way to escape safely.
Rather than wasting time arguing, it was better to run quickly.
Feng Xi shouted at the swarm of One-Horned Stone Salamanders, "What you're looking for is with me! Come chase me!"
The One-Horned Stone Salamanders were already completely enraged and all surged toward Feng Xi.
And then, Feng Xi led them on a… marathon.
Her cultivation technique was special, she could replenish spiritual energy from the surroundings at any time, an inexhaustible supply!
As for stamina? She had an entire basin of body-strengthening pills.
Her own top-grade body-strengthening pills were incredibly effective!
Eat one and there's no more dizziness and no more weak legs, one breath could carry you ten kilometers!
At first, the One-Horned Stone Salamanders were still hissing furiously. Later, they quieted down.
They almost can't continue crawling anymore, what's the point of yelling?
Feng Xi suddenly stopped running.
Because this idiot finally realized something.
The One-Horned Stone Salamanders had very limited attack methods, those venomous spines.
But she… was immune to poisons!
As long as she protected her vital points, she could play however she wanted!
With that realization, she stopped.
The One-Horned Stone Salamanders stopped too.
Heaven and earth can bear witness that the amount of exercise they got today equals half a lifetime's worth!
This human was ridiculously good at running!
Then came overwhelming rage!
One of the One-Horned Stone Salamanders lunged at Feng Xi, its venomous spines glowing with eerie blue light.
It thought as long as it pierced this human, it wouldn't even bother letting her rot, it would swallow her whole!
Because she was just too hateful!
She'd not only stolen the Scarlet Glow Fragrant Ganoderma, she'd exhausted them half to death!
But what it didn't expect was that Feng Xi wasn't just fast at running, her footwork was unbelievably nimble. After chasing for ages without touching her, it managed to twist itself into a knot.
It was an utter humiliation!
Even Feng Xi hadn't expected this thing to be so stupid!
Then again, these One-Horned Stone Salamanders relied on their venomous spines. They probably never needed to use their brains when hunting. Over time, their intelligence naturally dulled.
At that moment, the remaining One-Horned Stone Salamanders all lunged at her.
No matter how agile Feng Xi was, there was no way she could dodge so many at once.
She inevitably got stabbed many times.
Yet she remained lively and energetic.
In fact, she looked even more energetic than before!
Those One-Horned Stone Salamanders were utterly dumbfounded!
What kind of freak was this?! Why wasn't she afraid of their venomous spines?!
They were already exhausted, and now their poison didn't even work, their instincts to retreat finally kicked in.
How could Feng Xi bear to let them go? She unleashed flames, spiritual energy vines, even chili powder, and finally managed to kill two of them.
The main issue was that One-Horned Stone Salamanders had extremely tough bodies. Feng Xi could only attack their weaker spots, which severely limited her options.
She shouted after the fleeing One-Horned Stone Salamanders, "I didn't steal the Scarlet Glow Fragrant Ganoderma! The ones who did were that group wearing purple clothes!
If you want your things back, if you want revenge, go find them!"
She had no intention of taking the blame for Shen Zhilan and her group.
Who knew, maybe these One-Horned Stone Salamanders would really run into the people from Hunyuan Sect!
Once the One-Horned Stone Salamanders disappeared from sight, Feng Xi finally collapsed onto the ground.
Even with body-strengthening pills, all that exertion had still taken its toll.
Feng Xi was secretly relieved. Luckily, One-Horned Stone Salamanders had such simple attack methods. If it had been any other Golden Core level demon beast, even just one and she would've been in serious trouble!
From this, she reached a conclusion: You can never have too many skills!
When she got back, she'd have to learn more things!