Chapter 261

Chapter 261

"Wen Guangun, are you inside?"

"Yes," came Ning Yuzhou's gentle voice from within the giant cocoon.

After confirming that the people inside were unharmed, Wen Qiao said to the bloodthirsty demon vine wrapped around the earth eggshell, "Aren't you going to let go?"

The bloodthirsty demon vine slowly released its grip, clearly reluctant, still stubbornly considering this "food" brought by Xiaomiaomiao.

As the bloodthirsty demon vine released its hold, it revealed the earth eggshell riddled with holes from the vine thorns. The surface of the shell looked like a sieve, making Wen Qiao feel a chill.

The bloodthirsty demon vine, which had survived from ancient times, was indeed formidable. Its thorns were particularly menacing, even capable of piercing through the defense of Five Rock Earth. It was so difficult to deal with that even cultivators at the Emperor Yuan Realm would find it challenging to remove it, leaving it to continue growing and becoming a notorious danger zone.

After the earth eggshell disappeared, a person and a beast were revealed inside.

Seeing that they were fine, Wen Qiao breathed a sigh of relief. When she noticed the bloodthirsty demon vine's vines silently approaching Ning Yuzhou, she whipped out her long whip and stopped it.

"Did you forget what I said earlier?" Wen Qiao was angry as she gripped the vine.

The bloodthirsty demon vine immediately wilted. Apart from the vine she held, the other vines quickly retreated back into the forest, disappearing among the dense green vines.

Seeing that she wouldn't let go, Ning Yuzhou hurriedly said, "Chui, be careful not to get hurt by its thorns."

Wen Qiao smiled at him, "I know, I've been avoiding them."

She dared not let the thorns pierce her skin; who knew if the bloodthirsty demon vine might be stimulated by blood and start killing recklessly? This bloodthirsty demon vine was like a child with immense fighting power. Reasoning with it was futile because it didn't understand and mostly acted on instinct.

Wen Qiao didn't know how long she could reason with it, so it was best to leave quickly.

Wen Qiao then transferred some primordial spirit energy to the bloodthirsty demon vine to calm it down before letting go.

The bloodthirsty demon vine reluctantly slithered around her feet, unwilling to leave.

Ignoring it, Wen Qiao said to Ning Yuzhou, "Husband, it promised to let us pass. Let's go."

The two leaped onto their spirit swords and headed towards the location of the Pleiades Valley.

Soon after, they both looked down and saw a thicker vine than the others following them in the bloodthirsty forest. For a moment, it seemed like a giant python lurking in the dark green sea of trees, appearing and disappearing.

The dark green vines entwined around the trees were actually branches of the bloodthirsty demon vine, just not as powerful as its main body.

The bloodthirsty demon vine, having lived for too long, had grown extensively, gradually turning the entire forest into its territory and hunting ground. Whenever cultivators or demonic beasts entered, the dark green vines would first bind them and drag them down to be consumed by the main body of the bloodthirsty demon vine hiding in the forest.

Five days later, they emerged from the bloodthirsty forest, reaching its edge.

The thorny demon vine had followed them all the way.

Knowing that Wen Qiao was about to leave with the "food," the bloodthirsty demon vine was reluctant, rustling in the forest to attract her attention.

Wen Qiao jumped off her flying sword and stood on the top of a large tree in the bloodthirsty forest.

The bloodthirsty demon vine slithered over, its thorny vine almost touching her. Wen Qiao stopped it with her Stone Golden Python Whip, then reached out, avoiding the thorns, and gripped its vine.

Wen Qiao transferred some primordial spirit energy to it, discovering that her energy had a calming effect. "I'm leaving now. If we meet again, there's a Pleiades Valley nearby. If you want to expand your territory, head that way."

The bloodthirsty demon vine remembered her words, indicating that it would grow towards that area and invite her to visit its new territory.

Wen Qiao found it amusing, truly childlike. If it weren't a bloodthirsty demon vine, it would have already taken human form.

After bidding farewell to the bloodthirsty demon vine, Wen Qiao and Ning Yuzhou finally left.

Ning Yuzhou asked with a smile, "Why did you say those things to it earlier?"

"I once asked Su Molan. She said that the Pleiades Valley is already in name only. Regardless of what happens in the future, she won't inherit it. Eventually, it will cease to exist," Wen Qiao explained. "Since that's the case, let the bloodthirsty demon vine take it over. Better than letting someone else benefit."

Ning Yuzhou chuckled.

Though naive, it was an interesting idea.

The Pleiades Valley wasn't far from the bloodthirsty forest. Flying a bit further, they arrived at its location.

Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao didn't rush over. Although no cultivators from the four major families guarded the north side of the Pleiades Valley due to the bloodthirsty forest, approaching recklessly would draw attention from those watching the valley.

Wen Qiao asked, "Husband, can the space follow me in?"

The space was derived from Ning Yuzhou's Di Xi bloodline. Wherever Ning Yuzhou was, the space existed. If he entered the space, it would remain stationary.

"Yes," Ning Yuzhou said. "Actually, the space is one with my primordial spirit. When I enter the space, I'll leave a thread of consciousness outside. I'll attach it to your spirit token, allowing me to follow you in."

Wen Qiao understood and then asked about Wen Guangun.

"Wen Guangun won't go in. It will control the Five Rock Earth from outside to send you in," Ning Yuzhou said.

Wouldn't that mean Wen Guangun would be separated from them?

Wen Qiao looked worriedly at Wen Guangun, who was munching on a spirit fruit. It was still a cub, and leaving it behind made her anxious. However, bringing Wen Guangun in would draw attention, and it couldn't control the Five Rock Earth inside the space.

"Wen Guangun, you must be careful," Wen Qiao hugged Wen Guangun, rubbing its head and giving instructions.

Wen Guangun reassured her. Once they went in, it would find a place near the bloodthirsty forest and dig a hole with the Five Rock Earth to hide in. With the bloodthirsty demon vine nearby, no cultivator would dare approach, ensuring it remained undiscovered.

Since arriving on the Pleiades Continent, Wen Guangun had improved its control over the Five Rock Earth. The defense built by the Five Rock Earth was even stronger, even the bloodthirsty demon vine couldn't break through it, let alone other cultivators. It would be safe.

Hearing Wen Guangun's proud words, what could Wen Qiao say?

This little creature had achieved its goal: whenever in danger, it would hide in the earth eggshell made of Five Rock Earth, eating and drinking contentedly, waiting for others to come and pick it up.

Knowing Wen Guangun loved eating and drinking, Wen Qiao prepared plenty of food for it, including many of its favorite Purple Jade Spirit Bamboo, spirit pills, herbs, and honey. She filled a storage bag and gave it to Wen Guangun to keep.

After arranging Wen Guangun's food, the two began to cause trouble.

Ning Yuzhou entered the space and attached a thread of his divine sense to the divine tablet on her body.

Then Wen Qiao transformed into a small sprout and rooted in the soil.

Wen Guangun controlled the Five Rock Soil, using it to wrap around the roots of the tender green sprout and then pushed her towards the location of the Pleiades Valley.

The Five Rock Soil mixed with the underground soil, making it inconspicuous.

After being refined by Wen Guangun, the rock soil naturally followed its commands. As long as the distance wasn't too far, Wen Guangun could control it. Ning Yuzhou and Wen Guangun had tested it earlier, confirming that with its current cultivation, it could send the Five Rock Soil into the Pleiades Valley.

As they got closer to the Pleiades Valley, Wen Qiao finally sensed the aura of cultivators nearby.

When a divine sense swept past, the little sprout hidden among the weeds almost couldn't help but move a leaf, quickly holding still and pretending to be a weed until the divine sense left. Only then did Wen Qiao feel relieved.

Hiding among the weeds, Wen Qiao didn't make the Five Rock Soil move but instead established a connection with the surrounding spirit plants to investigate the nearby situation.

Through the perception of the spirit plants, Wen Qiao learned that there were nearly a hundred cultivators nearby, including an Emperor Yuan realm cultivator overseeing the area. The divine sense that had just swept past belonged to this Emperor Yuan realm cultivator.

Indeed, the four major families had stationed people outside the Pleiades Valley, ready to detect any approach immediately.

This Emperor Yuan realm cultivator, whose family was unknown, would sweep the surroundings with divine sense several times daily, not even letting a single insect escape detection. It was even more impossible for beasts or cultivators to get close.

In addition to the Emperor Yuan realm cultivator, other cultivators patrolled the area, not missing any movement.

Wen Qiao hadn't expected the four major families to be so cautious, willing to expend such resources and manpower to find Su Molan. This showed how much they cared about Su Molan and the Twenty-Eight Constellations Four Symbols Map.

Only after nightfall, when the patrolling cultivators left, did the little sprout hiding among the weeds begin to move cautiously.

Fearing discovery, Wen Qiao moved very carefully, unable to reach the Pleiades Valley even after a whole night. At dawn, the little sprout rooted at the base of a cliff where many low shrubs grew. Using her camouflage skill, she could make both people and beasts overlook her presence.

When Wen Qiao discovered that these cultivators had brought several tracking beasts, she was speechless.

These tracking beasts had keen noses and excellent hearing, making it impossible to hide from them. With them around, no matter what means cultivators used, it was hard to evade their senses.

Although Wen Qiao wanted to establish a rapport with these tracking beasts, she retracted the thought, fearing they might stick around.

***

The Pleiades Valley was located within the Cloud Valley.

Surrounded by mist, it looked like a fairyland, inviting admiration and reverence from afar.

As Xiao Clan disciples patrolled, seeing the Pleiades Valley shrouded in mist, one of them sighed, "Since fifty years ago, when the valley's protective array was activated, no one has entered."

The person beside him scoffed, "That Su Molan appears to be close to our Xiao Clan, but deep down, she's extremely guarded. It's a shame the clan leader treated her so well, even sacrificing the clan leader's wife to save her, leaving our eldest miss without a mother... No wonder the eldest miss is resentful and teamed up with Young Master Shen against her."

"Yes, if not for Su Molan, the eldest miss would have married Young Master Shen."

The four major families always practiced intermarriage policies to maintain close ties.

When it came to Xiao Minxin's generation, it was time for the Xiao Clan to marry into the Shen Clan. Everyone thought Xiao Minxin would marry Shen Yuanjin. However, an incident at the Pleiades Valley changed everything. Both clans rushed to rescue her, resulting in a change in the marriage partners: Su Molan was to marry into the Shen Clan instead.

Su Molan, who took the marriage partner from the Xiao Clan, was also brought back to the Xiao Clan territory and raised there.

"This Su Molan is truly ungrateful. Our Xiao Clan treated her so well, yet she conspired with outsiders to hurt the eldest miss and Young Master Shen. She's a traitor."

"Indeed, I suspect she orchestrated the activation of the Pleiades Valley's protective array."

Fifty years ago, demonic cultivators attacked the Xiao Clan, killing over a hundred disciples. The clan leader's wife sacrificed herself to protect Su Molan.

Overnight, Su Molan became the most hated person in the Xiao Clan, especially by Xiao Minxin, who hated her deeply.

With no choice, Clan Leader Xiao Xiankai had to temporarily send her back to the Pleiades Valley, accompanied by Shen Yuanjin.

As her fiancé, Shen Yuanjin personally escorted her back to the Pleiades Valley, showing great care and concern, which was quite touching.

Subsequently, many proposed sealing the Pleiades Valley and imprisoning Su Molan in a secret realm controlled by the four major families to prevent the Demon Sect from coveting the Twenty-Eight Constellations Four Symbols Map. Due to Shen Yuanjin's strong opposition and the disagreement of both clans, the idea was abandoned.

Perhaps scared by the sealing proposal, Su Molan later suggested activating the Pleiades Valley's protective array.

Once activated, only the descendants of the Pleiades Valley could enter easily, providing protection for the valley.

At the time, they thought Su Molan was traumatized and wanted to protect the Pleiades Valley.

Though the Pleiades Valley was closely related to the Twenty-Eight Constellations Four Symbols Map, many cultivators had infiltrated it over the years, thoroughly investigating it without finding anything related to the map. They concluded that the key was still Su Molan and decided to keep a close watch on her.

After deliberation, they allowed her to activate the protective array herself.

Now that Su Molan was missing, even though they wanted to investigate the Pleiades Valley, the protective array prevented entry, causing frustration.

This made the four major families regret allowing Su Molan to activate the protective array, suspecting she had planned it all along.

Seducing members of the Demon Sect, entering the Black Wind Desert, and disappearing...

All these actions showed that Su Molan was not content.

Unable to find Su Molan's whereabouts, the four major families could only station people to monitor the Pleiades Valley closely.

The Xiao Clan disciples' conversation was not concealed, and the little sprout under the cliff heard everything clearly.

The little sprout moved a leaf, feeling sorry for Su Molan once again.

The thoughts of those greedy for the treasures of the Su family were quite laughable. They allowed themselves to greedily plunder others' treasures but forbade the rightful owners from resisting. If they resisted, they were labeled as ungrateful and scheming.

Could it be that the party involved should obediently hand over their own treasures with both hands, and that would be considered normal?

She, an outsider, couldn't bear to watch!

When night fell once again, Little Maomao finally made her move.

Wen Qiao had been observing this area for several days and had already figured out the patrol patterns of these people, especially the cultivator at the Emperor Yuan realm. He had never shown his face but only scanned the area with his divine sense a few times each day, remaining otherwise inactive.

Perhaps he felt that with so many cultivators patrolling and beasts watching, there wouldn't be any accidents.

On a moonless, windy night, amidst the rustling sounds of the wind, a little sprout slowly approached the protective array of Xinggu Valley.

The area around Xinggu Valley was rich in spiritual energy, and the surrounding spirit plants grew luxuriantly, making it an ideal place for an ordinary little sprout to hide.

Finally reaching the protective array, Little Maomao's root wrapped around a token and silently passed through the protective array of Xinggu Valley.