Chapter 37: Do Not Address Me as Senior

“When did we ever go to the Serpent's Cave? You failed to protect your own offspring and now you blame us. If you speak, you must have proof.” Meng Jiao’s expression was grim, and she had already sent a secret message to the sect.

“You dare claim that person just now was not your companion? Despicable humans, you deserve death!” The giant serpent was furious, completely ignoring Meng Jiao’s words as it launched another attack at them.

The oppressive atmosphere made Ji Jiuxuan uncomfortable; watching the events unfold, she anxiously prayed for rescue from the sect.

The giant serpent was now wholly enraged, attacking them without mercy.

Gradually, Meng Jiao’s body was covered in bloody wounds. Blood sprayed from her lips, and Ji Jiuxuan cried out in alarm, “Senior Sister!”

At that moment, she hated Yu Heng with all her heart, wishing he would die on the spot.

“I'm fine, it’s just a few big snakes.” Meng Jiao wiped the blood from her mouth with her finger, then smeared it onto the giant sword, her eyes filled with determination.

Ji Jiuxuan was terrified and hurriedly shouted, “Senior Sister, we have spatial teleportation talismans that can send us away!”

“They’re useless. The Sky-Qian Python has spatial sealing abilities. The talismans can’t escape their range.”

The giant sword, after absorbing fresh blood, shone with an extraordinary brilliance. Its golden light turned red, yet it was not the hue of flames.

Sky-Qian Python!

Born as an eighth-tier spirit beast with formidable strength, capable of cross-rank combat, its innate talent was spatial manipulation.

A spirit beast able to transcend its rank in battle, on the verge of becoming a Beast King.

Was this truly the place where they would perish today?

Instinctively, Ji Jiuxuan glanced at the ring Wen Ying had given her, said to protect its wearer. She had tried many times to activate it, but never found the method.

With a crash, a giant python was cleaved by Meng Jiao’s sword, driving the remaining three serpents into a frenzy as they attacked Meng Jiao and Ji Jiuxuan with reckless abandon.

Meng Jiao was caught by a serpent’s tail and thrown to the ground. She instinctively twisted to avoid crushing her junior sister, but when she tried to rise, she found herself completely drained.

Lying on the ground, Meng Jiao managed a bitter smile, her voice weak. “Listen carefully, junior sister. Do not leave the protective robe. Master and the others will arrive soon.”

Ji Jiuxuan’s tears fell uncontrollably. “Senior Sister, with the robe, you could have been safe. Why, why…”

Why did you give it to her?

Meng Jiao’s eyelids drooped; she had little strength left, yet Ji Jiuxuan still heard her faint reply: “Because you are my junior sister.”

As the Sky-Qian Python surged towards them again, Ji Jiuxuan hurriedly asked the system, “System, is there any way I can kill these snakes so they can’t hurt Senior Sister anymore?”

Desperate, Ji Jiuxuan felt powerless, hating that her cultivation was so low, able only to drag others down.

“When they attack, use the hand wearing the ring to block,” the system replied. Even it felt some inexplicable fear towards the powerful remnant soul in the ring. The soul watched over the host daily; by its actions, it was friend, not foe.

Wen Ying had said the ring would protect its wearer. The system couldn’t discern the soul’s true identity, but it knew Wen Ying’s background and trusted the ring.

The ring? Ji Jiuxuan glanced at it. The Sky-Qian Python was now lunging, maw wide, ready to devour them!

“Please help me!” Ji Jiuxuan cried out, thrusting forward the hand with the ring.

The serpent’s saliva splattered onto the ring, which responded with a burst of white light, and a towering phantom appeared before Ji Jiuxuan.

The surrounding spiritual energy trembled, and the pressure pinned the three pythons to the ground, unable to move.

“Spare us, senior! We did not know she was under your protection. We will leave immediately,” pleaded the serpent that could speak, its eyes filled with terror, as though it would be crushed any moment.

“Too late. You should never have tried to harm her.” The phantom’s expression was indifferent. Its left hand closed in the air, summoning the energies around.

The three pythons perished, not crushed, but their spirits extinguished utterly.

Ji Jiuxuan could hardly believe it—these serpents that nearly killed them were destroyed so easily by the phantom. Wen Ying’s golden finger was truly formidable!

Was this the ring’s mysterious guardian? Yet the face, though blurred, looked entirely youthful.

“Thank you for saving us,” Ji Jiuxuan said, though the protective robe bound her tightly. She still observed proper etiquette.

The phantom was clearly displeased with the title “senior.” “Don’t call me that.”

A woman’s voice echoed in Ji Jiuxuan’s mind: “He’s so much older than me, an old rogue preying on the young.”

The phantom frowned in Ji Jiuxuan’s direction, instinctively unwilling to be called old.

“What should I call you then?” Ji Jiuxuan asked with good temper, meeting the ring’s guardian’s request.

Her round, youthful face was earnest and eager for guidance, warming the heart. The phantom’s voice, once ethereal, now carried a hint of emotion. “Call me whatever you wish.”

“Whatever I wish? Is that your name? So someone really has this name! Thank you, Whatever-you-wish.”

The phantom was momentarily stunned, sensing the distant rush of figures through the air. It did not correct Ji Jiuxuan, but glanced disdainfully at the saliva-stained ring, remarking, “Remember to clean it for me.”

Then the phantom vanished.

What a strange person. But the saliva on the ring was indeed unpleasant.

Ignoring the ring for now, Ji Jiuxuan called out anxiously, “Senior Sister? Senior Sister?”

Seeing Meng Jiao unresponsive, she tried to wriggle out of the robe, but it was bound too tightly—she couldn’t escape.

The robe was impervious to blade and spear; she had no way out.

She took out a life-saving golden pill, trying to feed it to Meng Jiao, but couldn’t reach her.

A figure descended swiftly before them. Upon seeing their state, Qi Shuoyuan rushed to their side.

With a sweep of his hand, the binding robe fell away, freeing Ji Jiuxuan.

Clinging to Qi Shuoyuan’s sleeve, Ji Jiuxuan let her fear pour out in tears, yet she set aside her distress and hurriedly pleaded, “Grandfather, please save Senior Sister. She’s gravely wounded.”

Qi Shuoyuan lifted Meng Jiao with spiritual power, and Ji Jiuxuan at last saw her condition clearly.

Blood oozed from her eyes and nose, wounds covered her body, and her lips were stained red.

Her tightly closed eyes made Ji Jiuxuan anxious, yet she dared not voice her deepest fear. She felt lost and uncertain.

She hadn’t been afraid even when facing death herself in her previous life, but today, she feared for her Senior Sister.

Qi Shuoyuan saw her worry and reassured her, “Don’t fret. Your Senior Sister is safe, though her injuries are severe. She will recover.”

Using inherited power greatly damaged her body, compounded by prior injuries.

A pill glowing with golden light, wrapped in spiritual energy, was fed to Meng Jiao. Ji Jiuxuan recognized it as the Nine-Turn Golden Pill, a rare healing elixir almost impossible to obtain in this world.

An eagle’s cry echoed, and a towering giant eagle appeared before them.

Qi Shuoyuan lifted Ji Jiuxuan, enveloped Meng Jiao in spiritual power, and carried them onto the eagle’s back.