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World's First Traitor System (312)
🕑 Added 2024-10-04 17:00:03 +0000 UTCChapter 312 - The Great Escape
Qing Qiu realized that escape was also a form of travel.
It was a strange thought, considering she was being pursued by enemies she couldn't defeat, considering she had almost been captured by Empress Yao Guang several times, only narrowly escaping with injuries.
But as she traveled further and further away from the Great Ci Dynasty, Qing Qiu felt a sense of relief. She even regretted not leaving sooner.
This journey, one she was destined to take, had come a bit too late.
Qing Qiu smiled. Her beautiful face, usually emotionless, now held a childlike joy.
“I’m going home.”
She traveled south. Ahead lay an unknown home. Behind her were relentless pursuers.
Jin De and Miaoyin, having recovered from their injuries, emerged from Yao Guang's World in Her Palm and joined the chase.
“Elder Sister! Why is Qing Qiu heading southeast? Could she have something planned?” Jin De asked, gritting her teeth.
Qing Qiu had easily countered her attacks. Although she knew she was far weaker, Jin De still felt humiliated. Only Qing Qiu’s death could appease her anger.
“Southeast… there’s nothing there but the wild and treacherous Southern Ridge Mountains.” Empress Yao Guang said calmly. “Perhaps she intends to hide within the mountains. It’s a good plan.”
“Humph! We can’t let her escape!” Jin De declared.
They continued their pursuit.
The terrain gradually changed. Flat plains gave way to rugged mountain paths. Both the pursuers and the pursued knew they were approaching the edge of the Southern Ridge Mountains.
Then, something strange appeared.
A wooden sign, its surface bearing two words written in bold, elegant calligraphy: "Welcome Home.”
Qing Qiu’s eyes widened. She recognized the handwriting instantly. It was Fan Li’s.
A smile appeared on her lips. She felt a surge of joy, forgetting her injuries. Even the danger she faced seemed less daunting.
The three pursuers also noticed the sign.
What did it mean?
It was an ordinary sign, crafted from simple wood, with no spiritual energy or hidden mechanisms.
Even Empress Yao Guang, despite her keen senses, dismissed it.
A second sign appeared.
“Minefield ahead. Watch your step.”
It was Fan Li’s handwriting once more.
Minefield?
What was that?
She didn't know. But Fan Li had warned her to watch her step.
Qing Qiu obeyed. She rose a few feet into the air, flying ten feet off the ground.
Yao Guang, Miaoyin, and Jin De also saw the second sign. But they ignored it. They didn’t even bother to read the words.
And so, on the western edge of the Southern Ridge Mountains, a series of explosions rang out.
Boom!
Boom, boom!
Boom, boom, boom!
The mountains trembled. The earth shook.
“Damn it!”
Jin De, caught off guard, was flung to the ground and buried under a pile of rocks and dirt.
However, although the explosions were loud and powerful, they couldn't seriously injure a Great Vehicle Realm cultivator.
Scratches, burns, and bruises were the extent of their injuries.
“What happened?!”
Jin De crawled out of the rubble, her appearance a far cry from her usual elegance. She resembled a beggar.
“Those were Sky-Shaking Thunders, a type of mechanism,” Empress Yao Guang said coldly.
Her robes were still clean and pristine. It seemed the entire minefield exploding couldn’t even ruffle her composure.
Even Miaoyin, although her dress was slightly dirty, was in a far better state than Jin De.
“Elder Sister, could there be an ambush here? Are they waiting for Qing Qiu?” Miaoyin asked.
Yao Guang shook her head. “Qing Qiu has always been alone. She has no friends. At least, I’ve never heard of her associating with any skilled mechanism masters.”
As she spoke, a figure appeared in her mind.
Fan Li.
She shook to dismiss the ridiculous thought. Fan Li possessed some skill, but his cultivation was too low. To rescue Qing Qiu from her grasp was an impossible task.
“Let’s go,” Empress Yao Guang said with a smile. “It seems we’ve accidentally stumbled into a mechanism master’s territory.”
Miaoyin nodded. Mechanism masters were an eccentric bunch. They preferred to tinker with their creations, shutting themselves away from the world. Their interest in mechanisms often surpassed their interest in human interaction.
Moreover, mechanism masters were typically weak. They relied on their cunning creations to compensate for their lack of strength.
Perhaps there was a mechanism master living nearby. This minefield was his way of protecting himself.
They continued their pursuit.
The minefield incident had created a significant distance between them and Qing Qiu. She flew ahead until she encountered the third sign.
“Height restriction. No flying.”
It was Fan Li’s handwriting once more.
Height restriction?
What a strange phrase.
Qing Qiu didn't hesitate. She landed, continuing her journey on foot. The rugged mountain path was no obstacle for her.
A short while later, Yao Guang and the others caught up.
“Elder Sister, look! ‘Height restriction. No flying,’” Miaoyin read aloud.
Height restriction?
What an absurd concept.
Empress Yao Guang’s expression was cold. She was an Emperor. Why should she obey the commands of a reclusive mechanism master?
“How arrogant! He thinks he owns the Southern Ridge Mountains?” Jin De said angrily. “With our cultivation, we can go wherever we please! He dares restrict our movements?”
She looked up at the sky.
The mountain path was rugged, but the sky above was clear. There was nothing unusual.
“Elder Sister, the Sky-Shaking Thunders were buried underground, so we couldn't see them. But the sky is clear! We can fly wherever we want! How dare a mere recluse try to control us?!”
Empress Yao Guang nodded. Jin De’s words echoed her own thoughts.
“Let’s continue. We can’t let Qing Qiu escape.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Jin De flew forward. Suddenly, the unexpected occurred.
A gentle breeze blew through the forest, rustling the leaves. The leaves had two sides. Yao Guang, flying above, could only see the top side. But as the wind blew the leaves upward, they finally saw what was hidden beneath.
“Be careful! Lightning Summoning Talismans!”
Every mechanism master was, without a doubt, also a master of talismans.
They witnessed a terrifying sight.
Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of trees surrounded them. And upon each tree, thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of leaves.
And on the underside of every single leaf… a Lightning Summoning Talisman!
It wasn’t a particularly powerful talisman, but it possessed a terrifying ability.
It could summon lightning!
A single talisman, a single wisp of cloud, was insignificant.
But if enough talismans were activated, they could create a chain reaction, summoning a vast sea of thunderclouds.
And when the clouds gathered… they formed a tribulation!
“E-Elder Sister! Look up!”
Jin De’s voice trembled.
The three Sage Rulers had already looked up. They saw the countless leaves, their undersides glowing with activated talismans. And above them, a sea of thunderclouds was forming!
Empress Yao Guang’s face hardened. “Leave! The tribulation could strike at any moment! We can withstand a few bolts, but if we’re struck too many times, our cultivation could be crippled!”
They all understood the danger. A tribulation was the power of Heaven, a terrifying force only Tribulation Crossing Realm cultivators could face!
What kind of madman had drawn talismans on the underside of every leaf in this entire mountain?
Was he insane?
This wasn’t just a simple defense mechanism!
Even a Great Vehicle Realm expert could perish here!
Boom!
Lightning, like a raging dragon, crashed down from the clouds.
The three women stared up at the sky, watching the tribulation’s movements.
The moment a bolt of lightning descended, Empress Yao Guang reached out with her hand.
She grabbed it!
She held the lightning in her hand, then squeezed!
The lightning, as if it were a strand of hair, snapped!
Severed from the clouds, it dissipated into nothingness.
“Elder Sister, you’re amazing!” Jin De shouted.
Amazing?
Empress Yao Guang’s face was grim. She stood proudly in the air, concealing her trembling right hand behind her back.
“Leave the tribulation’s range!”
There was no need for her to give the order. Jin De and Miaoyin were already fleeing.
Damn it!
Jin De was filled with regret.
They had known there were traps here. The mechanism master had even warned them with his signs! But Elder Sister had been too confident. They had blundered into the trap.
Perhaps the mechanism master was weak, but his creations were undeniably dangerous.
They finally escaped the tribulation’s range. But Qing Qiu had used the opportunity to put even more distance between them.
“Elder Sister, what should we do?” Jin De asked anxiously. “We can’t let her escape! She knows many of the Pure Land’s secret techniques. If she reveals them, it will be a disaster for us!”
Empress Yao Guang’s hand still trembled.
“Pursue her southeast,” she said, gritting her teeth.
Despite their conflict, they had been sisters for many years. She believed she knew Qing Qiu well enough.
That foolish woman, she had traveled southeast. Surely she wouldn't change her direction now. If they continued southeast, they would eventually catch up to her.
Ahead, Qing Qiu had already found the fourth sign.
She was covered in wounds. The longer she traveled, the more her spiritual energy and stamina were depleted.
She was exhausted.
“So tired… So hungry… So sleepy…”
Qing Qiu stared at the words on the sign, reading them twice, making sure she wasn't hallucinating.
“Safe house ahead. Suitable for resting.”
Safe house?
What was that?
She didn’t know, but the handwriting was undeniably Fan Li’s.
Safe house, safe?
She followed the sign’s directions, entering a cave. The cave was illuminated by countless Night-Shining Pearls, a lavish display of wealth.
Deep within the cave, Qing Qiu was astonished to find a bedroom, its furnishings simple yet elegant.
The room was beautifully decorated, with expensive furniture.
On a table, several jade bottles were arranged neatly, each labeled with a small slip of paper:
“Replenish Qi and blood.”
“Replenish spiritual energy.”
“Treat external injuries.”
“Treat internal injuries.”
The labels were concise, describing only the effects of the pills, not their names or grades.
Qing Qiu immediately assumed they were Heaven-grade pills. After all, they had been prepared by Fan Li.
She didn't hesitate. She picked up the bottle labeled “Replenish spiritual energy” and swallowed all the pills within.
A surge of energy flowed through her, replenishing her depleted reserves, coursing through her meridians and acupoints.
Qing Qiu felt much better. She then consumed the pills for replenishing Qi and blood, treating external injuries, and treating internal injuries.
Her wounds began to heal rapidly!
She licked her lips, savoring the lingering medicinal fragrance.
“Pity… they’re not very filling…”
As she thought this, Qing Qiu noticed a food box on the bedside table. She recognized it. It was from the most famous pastry shop in Peng City!
She opened the box excitedly.
As expected, it was filled with colorful and delicious-looking pastries, their sweet aroma enticed her.
Qing Qiu was famished. She was about to reach for a pastry, but a small note slipped out from the lid.
“Eat slowly. Don’t choke. You’re safe now.”
Fan Li wasn’t here. He hadn't witnessed her desperate flight from her pursuers.
How could he possibly know she was safe?
Qing Qiu didn’t know. But she chose to believe him.
She picked up a pastry with her slender fingers, her movements graceful and elegant.
She brought it to her lips.
Delicious!
Compared to life-saving pills, these pastries were far more appealing.
Qing Qiu was truly hungry. Even as she tried to control herself, her movements, although still elegant, were astonishingly fast.
Within moments, the food box was empty.
“Burp!”
She let out a small hiccup and her face turned even redder.
There was another note at the bottom of the box.
“Sleep is the best medicine.”
Fan Li wanted her to sleep?
Qing Qiu tilted her head, considering his request. Then, she obediently climbed into bed.
She was truly exhausted.
To flee from three Great Vehicle Realm experts for half a day, how many people had ever experienced such a thing?
She didn’t know why this safe house was safe, but she chose to believe it.
Outside the safe house, the fourth sign, moments after Qing Qiu’s departure, ignited. It quickly burned to ashes.
But another sign instantly appeared, replacing it.
“Elder Sister! Another sign!” Jin De shouted.
“…Mmm.”
This time, they stopped, not daring to continue. They couldn’t believe what was written on the sign. Even Empress Yao Guang’s face was pale with shock.
Had her previous assumptions been wrong?
Did the so-called reclusive mechanism master not exist?
“E-Elder Sister…” Jin De swallowed hard. “Is… is Great Jin… a dynasty?”
The sign, in bold, elegant calligraphy, declared:
Great Jin territory. Sage Rulers, do not trespass.
