Volume 3, Chapter 195 – An Unfamiliar Cat

At the same time, high in the air above the giant tree, a massive arrow formed of condensed divine sense rapidly took shape, then spun violently as it plunged downward. Manipulated by some unseen force, its speed far exceeded that of freefall.

Yet, the cultivators below remained completely unaware, their divine senses scanning their surroundings in vain.

What kind of terrifying existence could this be? What does it even look like?

In the tree’s memory, Mu Ruoyi stared intently at the entrance to the dungeon, her emotions a mix of seven parts fear and three parts anticipation. The silhouette of a petite figure grew clearer and clearer—until, in an instant, the scene before her shattered like glass. A piercing pain shot through her skull.

“Ugh…”

A low, agonized moan escaped Mu Ruoyi’s lips as she clutched her head and collapsed to her knees. In front of her, the tree—which had only just regained its vitality—exploded as if struck by a bomb, its very soul torn asunder.

Cheng Hongling reacted swiftly, yanking Mu Ruoyi back just in time.

“What just happened? Was that a massive divine sense arrow that came down from above?”

Elder Zhou asked uncertainly, his face tense with vigilance as he scanned the skies overhead. His divine sense swept upward but found nothing.

“Yes. That arrow is what destroyed the tree.”

Guardian Ma, whose cultivation was slightly higher, spoke in a grave tone, his expression equally wary.

“It was so fast… I didn’t even have time to react.”

Elder Zhou’s face paled with shock.

“Hmph! You? Even I couldn’t react in time.”

Guardian Ma shot him a disdainful look before turning to the three Incarnation Realm elders beside him. “Elders, please investigate the skies above!”

The three Luotian Sect elders obeyed immediately, shooting upward into the air.

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In the distance, Qi Huang’s face twisted in astonishment. She had been vigilant against threats from all directions, yet she never expected an attack from directly above. The arrow had been so fast that even she, let alone those Incarnation Realm cultivators, had been unable to stop it. All she could do was watch helplessly as the tree was obliterated.

Frustrated, Qi Huang unleashed her divine sense, probing the skies above at full speed. But something strange happened—no matter how far she searched, even up to a thousand zhang in the air, she found no trace of the attacker.

‘Could they still be outside the range of my divine sense?’

The thought sent a chill down her spine, and she instinctively concealed herself further.

“Are you alright?” Cheng Hongling asked urgently, supporting Mu Ruoyi.

“I’m… fine.”

Mu Ruoyi clutched her head, forcing the words out between ragged breaths.

“Here, drink my blood.”

Cheng Hongling reopened the wound on her wrist and held it out to Mu Ruoyi. But the latter shook her head desperately, refusing to take another sip.

“Disciple Mu, what did you see just now? Any clues about the Nine Nether Demon Cat?”

Elder Zhou pressed impatiently, and soon, cultivators from other sects crowded around.

“Can’t you see how much pain she’s in?” Cheng Hongling snapped coldly.

“A little suffering now is better than being killed by that cat spirit later, don’t you agree?”

Elder Zhou remained unmoved.

“N-no… I didn’t… I only saw the cat spirit emerging from the dungeon… I didn’t even see its face clearly before… before the tree exploded.”

Mu Ruoyi forced the words out, fearing that Cheng Hongling might suffer for her sake.

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“Damn it!”

Elder Zhou cursed crudely, then frowned in thought. “The tree’s stump is still intact. You revived it earlier—can’t you do it again?”

“She’s in this state, and you still want to force her?” Cheng Hongling challenged icily.

“You’re here, aren’t you? Just give her more of your blood, and she’ll recover in no time.”

Elder Zhou spoke callously, treating the two girls as nothing more than tools.

“It’s… impossible.”

Mu Ruoyi shook her head weakly. “The tree’s soul has been destroyed. Not even an immortal could revive it now.”

“Goddammit!”

Elder Zhou swore again, pacing a few steps before testing another idea. “Disciple Mu, look around—are there any other plants or trees nearby that aren’t completely dead? Anything we can use?”

Mu Ruoyi took a deep breath, then stood shakily and scanned the surroundings. After a moment, she shook her head faintly.

“No. There’s no hope left.”

Disappointment flashed across the faces of everyone present, including Cheng Hongling. After all their efforts, they had come up empty-handed.

“Don’t lose hope just yet!”

Guardian Ma of the Luotian Sect suddenly spoke up, his sharp gaze fixed on Mu Ruoyi.

“Everyone, this Shuiyu Valley Holy Maiden just used Wooden Exquisite Art. How much did she really see through that tree? Who can say for sure? She claims she didn’t see the Nine Nether Demon Cat, but how do we know she isn’t hiding something, waiting for us to leave before retrieving it herself?”

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“Guardian Ma speaks wisely. Only she knows what she truly saw through the Wooden Exquisite Art.”

An Incarnation Realm expert from a northern sect nodded in agreement.

Elder Zhou’s expression darkened with suspicion. “Disciple Mu, are you absolutely certain you didn’t see the Nine Nether Demon Cat?”

“I really didn’t! Why won’t you believe me?”

Mu Ruoyi’s voice trembled with agitation, her pale cheeks flushing unnaturally.

“If you want us to believe you, hand over your Nine Nether Demon Cat. Once we confirm you’ve returned empty-handed, we’ll return it to Shuiyu Valley.”

Guardian Ma made his demand outright.

“Have you forgotten your own name? What right do you have to demand our demon cat?”

Cheng Hongling’s eyes narrowed dangerously as her hand rested on her sword hilt.

“Even if we truly can’t find that cat spirit, I have no obligation to comply with your request.”

Mu Ruoyi stood her ground.

“You impudent brats! Clearly, you need to be taught a lesson in humility.”

Guardian Ma’s face darkened as he prepared to strike.

Qi Huang tensed, ready to intervene if the situation escalated—even if it meant risking exposure.

“Guardian Ma, I must say, these girls have a point. They’re cooperating with me. If anyone should take custody of the demon cat, it should be me, not you.”

Elder Zhou cut in smoothly, unwilling to let such a prize slip through his fingers.

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“Indeed, Guardian Ma. Your demand is unreasonable. Even I find it excessive.”

The northern sect expert backed him up.

Guardian Ma gritted his teeth but ultimately held back. He knew the current standoff was a three-way deadlock—the moment one side acted recklessly, the other two would unite against them.

“Enough. We’re all fellow cultivators under the Immortal Alliance. There’s no need for hostility. If this path is blocked, we’ll simply try another.”

Elder Zhou played the peacemaker, though the tension in the air was palpable—a calm before the storm.

Seeing that her main body and Mu Ruoyi were safe for now, Qi Huang took to the skies, searching the Yuxiao Sect grounds. Her goal was twofold: to locate the Nine Nether Demon Cat and to uncover the mysterious expert hiding in the shadows.

As she flew, a scene below caught her attention—two Huxiao Sect disciples were chasing a black cat.

“You damn pest! You’re not even a Nine Nether Demon Cat, yet you keep jumping around in front of me, driving me insane! Today, I’ll chop you into pieces!”

The disciple cursed relentlessly, doggedly pursuing the black feline. It wasn’t entirely his fault—the Nine Nether Demon Cat and ordinary black cats differed only in their eyes, making them easy to confuse. Soon after their arrival, Elder Zhou had ordered the extermination of all ordinary cats in the area.

Qi Huang frowned. She was no saint, but she wasn’t heartless either. She couldn’t stand by and watch an innocent creature be slaughtered. With a flick of her divine sense, she whisked the black cat away.

The disciple blinked in confusion as his target vanished into thin air.

Qi Huang flew off, depositing the cat safely outside the Yuxiao Sect. She knelt and warned it gently, “Don’t go back in there. Next time, I might not be able to save you.”

The cat, seemingly understanding, rubbed against her leg and purred softly. Clearly, it was someone’s pet—likely a survivor from before the Yuxiao Sect’s destruction.

Qi Huang smiled in satisfaction—until a foreign divine sense brushed past her.

Her entire body stiffened, and she immediately swept her own divine sense back in retaliation.