Chapter Sixteen: Better Not to Meet

  The forest suddenly fell silent. The animals seemed to know that something was happening and were quietly waiting. Not even a single insect made a sound.

  Nalan Xixiao felt that all eyes in the forest were staring at her every move, everything was under the control of that person on the peak.

  She stepped up onto the first step, her feet slipping on the wet moss beneath her. One misstep would send her tumbling down. The fruit she had just eaten gave her a bit more strength to continue. She seized the opportunity and quickly leapt forward.

  From a distance, on the steps that seemed like a mountain, a small figure darted forward like a ghost. In the depths of the sky, a white eagle circled, its deep eyes fixed intently on the figure. Suddenly, it swooped down like lightning.

  But in the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Nalan Xian had already climbed nearly ten thousand steps. She was slightly panting and looked up to see that there were still endless stairs and green moss as far as the eye could see. There were still ninety thousand steps to go before reaching the summit.

  A sense of fatigue arose. Nalan Xianyu slightly furrowed her brow. It seems that this medical immortal not only excels in medicine, but also has a good understanding of human psychology. On such a long and arduous journey, if one can't see the end, can't see victory in sight, it's easy for people to choose to give up.

  Suddenly, a cry pierced through the sky. The sound of wings stirring the air was clear and visible.

  Nalan Xixi looked up to see the white eagle that had just snatched her food returning once again. She was already left with nothing on her body. What did it want to do this time? This Medicine Immortal should have no interest in taking her life, so what else did it want to make things difficult for her?

  In the blink of an eye, the eagle swooped down like lightning, its talons sharp as silver hooks reaching out to grab her. The size of those talons was enough to tear a person apart. Nalan Xianyin dodged nimbly, jumping forward to avoid its attack. The eagle's talons struck the stone steps, shattering them under the impact. Fragments of stone flew everywhere.

  What a formidable eagle! The ordinary eagles' claws are not as powerful, and they can't even shatter rocks. But this eagle is extraordinary. Not only is it stable, accurate, and ruthless, but its strength is like that of a martial arts master who has cultivated internal energy for a hundred years. Even if she has such special powers, wanting to shatter such a rock would likely require her to injure herself first.

  Bai Diu didn't intend to let her off. Her wings fluttered, stirring up a fierce gust of wind. Nalan Xinnuo's slender body was blown off balance and fell backwards. Nalan Xinnuo drew out a short sword from her waist and stabbed it into the gap in the mountain rocks, securing herself. The fierce wind was like a pair of strong hands that grasped her tightly, pulling her downwards.

  The skeleton was torn apart by the strong wind, making a cracking sound. The short sword on the mountain rock was pulled out by her body, slowly being drawn out. At this time, the white eagle had approached again, its claws attacking Nalan Xianuo. Nalan Xianuo secretly cursed, gritted her teeth, and could only give up the short sword, releasing it to fall with the wind.

  This fall fell a distance of more than a dozen steps. Nalan Xianyu's body heavily smashed onto the steps. Without paying attention to the pain in his body, Nalan Xianyu got up and shot out several sword winds towards the direction where the giant eagle was. The sword winds whizzed through the air.

  But the large eagle's body was huge yet extremely agile and nimble. Hearing the sound of the sword wind cutting through the air, it quickly flapped its wings, turned sideways and took off into the sky. The sword wind struck the steps, but only left a small indentation on them.

  Nalan Xixi was stunned.

  She just used a full force. Normally, this full force is not to mention people, even the hardest boulder can hardly withstand it, and must be crushed to pieces. But now, the damage caused by this sword wind to this step is actually only so much.

  That's nothing. The most frightening thing is that such a hard step, the eagle's claw can actually make it shatter like that with just one strike.

  Moreover, the speed of her sword wind has always been impossible for anyone to dodge. Anyone who can dodge one of her moves is considered to have extremely deep martial arts skills. But this large eagle was fine, with its enormous body dodging effortlessly.

  Just now the big bird attacked her like this, she thought it was that medical immortal who had changed his mind and wanted her life. But she was wrong, he didn't want her life. Here, even if she had the number one skill in the world, it would be hard for her to resist these ferocious beasts for half a moment. If they wanted her life, she really had no way to escape.

  Don't take her life. What's with these consecutive attacks then?

  Right thinking. The white eagle has taken advantage of the victory and pursued her. Nalan Xianyu knew that the strength difference was too great, so she turned around and fled downwards. The big eagle didn't make another move either, but followed behind her all the way down.

  But the half-column fragrance's skill was not enough. Nalan Xian'er escaped to the foot of the mountain. The white eagle saw her escape and flapped its wings, soaring into the sky with a whistle.

  Nalan Xixi panted, gazing at the eagle flying further and further away in the sky. Her expression gradually turned cold. It seemed to be driving her down the mountain. Was it that the Medicine Immortal didn't want to treat her? If he didn't want to treat her, he could have just told Cheng Hai not to treat anyone. Why did he let her come in and then obstruct her like this?

  This giant eagle is not something she can handle alone. And besides, he wouldn't want someone to kill this giant eagle just to see him, would he?

  Deep in thought, she couldn't figure it out. A rustling sound nearby caught her attention. She turned around to see a monkey behind the big tree, grinning and staring at her as if laughing. It looked around cautiously, making sure there were no enemies, then waved at her enthusiastically.

  Nalan Xixi hesitated for a moment, then walked over to it. As soon as she approached, the little monkey rushed out and grabbed her hand with one swift motion. She subconsciously withdrew her hand slightly, but the small palm was already nestled in hers, warm and full of heat. Her heart melted instantly, and she involuntarily dropped her guard.

  She was pulled by the little monkey for a long time, and a cave appeared vaguely in front of her. The little monkey let go of her hand and ran straight to the cave. Nalan Xianuo concentrated her mind and walked slowly towards the cave.

  Just arrived at the entrance of the cave, inside the cave was filled with joyful voices. In addition to the monkeys that were just on the tree, there were many more monkeys. They saw Nalan Xianuo as if they had seen a long-lost relative, pounding the ground and happily shouting.

  Nalan Xixiao walked in with some hesitation. A slightly larger monkey approached her. The other monkeys gradually quieted down as it moved, very disciplined. Nalan Xixiao looked at the monkey in front of her. It didn't seem as mischievous and playful as the others.

  Its eyes were calm and wise, similar to those of humans. It slightly bowed its head towards Nalan Xinnuo, as if paying respects. Nalan Xinnuo was somewhat stunned. She had experienced countless battles and seen everything, but what she saw today needed her to slowly accept it.

  Never seen before rare and exotic beasts. Such a spiritual monkey. It was a sight she had never heard of or seen before.

  The monkey approached her and asked how she was doing, then walked to the entrance of the cave, pointed in the direction of the stairs, and immediately knelt down, kowtowing repeatedly towards the stairs. At this time, all the monkeys inside the cave suddenly appeared, kneeling like humans, and kowtowed towards the direction of the stairs.

  Nalan Xixiao suddenly had a great realization. So it was like this all along.

  Cheng Hai said that when arriving at the 99,999th step of the nine-story pagoda, one must kneel and bow on each step until reaching the top. How could she have forgotten?

  It's no wonder that the big eagle didn't hurt her, but instead kept driving her away. Is it saying that she must perform this kneeling and bowing ritual?

  "You mean I have to kneel too." Nalan Xixi asked tentatively.

  The monkeys grinned and nodded happily.

  At this time, a monkey slowly walked out from the depths of the cave. The monkeys saw it and made way for it one by one. That monkey looked like it had aged, its fur turning white like an old man's. It held a short flute in its hand.

  He walked closer, respectfully holding a short flute with both hands and handed it over to Nalan Xinnuo.

  Nalan Xinnuo took over the short flute. The length of this flute was just right, made of top-grade white jade, pure and flawless. On the top of the flute, a symbol was carved. Nalan Xinnuo hesitated for a moment. This symbol was exactly the same as the crest of the Shangguan family, who controlled all beasts on the painting wall.

  Nalan Xixi gently stroked the mark. Suddenly, she was taken aback. This was a mechanism that could be pressed down. Nalan Xixi lightly pressed down on the mechanism. The area where the symbol was located slowly protruded. Below the flute, a silver whip shot out like a snake with a whooshing sound. The whip head struck the stone at the entrance of the cave, and the stone flew out in all directions.

  Nalan Xixiao was somewhat astonished. What a clever design. It looked like a short flute, but it hid such a powerful weapon. At this time, the monkey who had given her the flute walked up to her side. It stretched out its hand, thumb and index finger pinching the protruding mechanism. With a light turn...

  The whip was withdrawn in an instant. On the other end of the flute, a soft sword swooshed out, drawing a sharp sound in the air.

  Nalan Xixi was taken aback, stretching out her hand to touch the soft sword. At this moment, an old monkey beside her grabbed her hand. Just then, a monkey walked in with a gecko pinched in its hand. Nalan Xixi looked puzzled.

  However, the monkey walked closer and touched the gecko onto the soft sword blade. Nalan Xiong was shocked and couldn't say a word...

  The gecko touched the soft sword for a moment, and its whole body suddenly emitted a sizzling sound like burning, and in an instant it turned into blood water.

  Nalan Xixi looked at the short flute in her hand with unbelievable eyes. She lightly turned the mechanism, pressed it down, and the short sword retracted. It was just an ordinary short flute again. The structure of this flute seemed to be tailor-made for her.

  Her extraordinary energy combined with this kind of weapon is simply invincible under heaven.

  "This... give me." Nalan Xixi asked hesitantly.

  The monkeys on the side nodded one after another. Nalan Xianyu glanced at the family crest of the Shangguan family above, and slightly furrowed her brow.

  This is something of the Shangguan family. Why are these monkeys giving it to her?

  At this time, a familiar roar came from outside the cave. It was that giant lion with its entire body fiery red. The monkeys were frightened by the roar and scattered in all directions, disappearing instantly. Outside the cave, the crisp sound echoed again.

  "You bunch of dead monkeys. If you dare to come out again, I will take your lives."

  A crisp sound echoed through the mountains. Her appearance made the mountains even more quiet.

  "Hey, what are you still hesitating about? Don't you want to save your man anymore?"