Maiden of Mount Heaven

It wasn't Lie Shang but a maiden Dustfallen Sect's duo recognised. She was Tian Ran, the girl searching for Sword Shadow Dust Gale. The duo and Ju Wenxing were stunned a maiden so young could drive the latter's attack back. Judging from the feat, Tian Ran had to be a Golden Core Realm cultivator.

Ju Wenxing knew the potential and identities of other gifted cultivators from other sects. Tian Ran wasn't one of them. Thus, he cautiously inquired, "Who might you be?"

A childish and innocent smile surfaced on Tian Ran's young face. "I'm Mount Heaven's maiden. You think I look young? I'm eighty."

Despite the wobble Tian Ran induced and Mu Yu's awkward reaction, it would explain her unordinary cultivation. Most were convinced.

"Your appearance…" Ju Wenxing wasn't convinced quite yet. He had never heard of the maiden of Mount Heaven, but it was a fact she just drove his attack back. He couldn't rule out the possibility of her being a recluse adept.

"Oh, I take care of my appearance, wake and sleep early, follow an eating regime and enjoy every day cheerfully, so I don't age. Give it a try. I can recommend some great herbs for nourishing your skin," answered Tian Ran, pulling everyone's hairs up with her sweet smile.

"Y-, S-, Miss, this one is Jiuhua Sect's Ju Wenxing. This one is in the midst of avenging his juniors' deaths. This one would appreciate it if you would not interfere."

Tian Ran looked over her shoulder to Mu Yu, who was still in a dumbfounded state. "In my opinion, there are some odd points regarding their deaths."

"This one is all ears." Ju Wenxing showed respect to be on the safe side.

Tian Ran crouched down and examined Tang Yang's corpse before moving on to Li Yuan's. Next, she inspected the short sword next to Li Yuan and compared it to the wound on Li Yuan. She asserted, "I believethatgirl. Tang Yang's wound was inflicted at close range and from the rear. The wound matches the shape of this short sword. Li Yuan's death was the neck slit. His chest wound was inflicted after he died, a fact you can verify from the wounds. Blood condenses hours after one dies. Accordingly, wounds inflicted at that stage would draw a tiny amount of blood – if any. That is how we can affirm the chest wound was not the fatal wound."

Tian Ran got to her feet and looked over to Miss Huai. Meeting with Tian Ran's gaze, Miss Huai's mind was rattled for things weren't boding well.

Tian Ran resumed. "The culprit used a weapon similar to a dagger to cut Li Yuan's throat. If we compare the wound to Dustfallen Sect's two flying swords, we can confirm the shapes do not match. That being said, the wound on Li Yuan's shoulder came from the youth's flying sword if I am correct. The shoulder wound was not lethal. I surmise the two were in a physical altercation."

Ju Wenxing: "Hmph, they would not use their own weapons, obviously. That would become evidence against them."

"There's a dark purple blemish on Li Yuan's neck that isn't condensed blood. There's a trace of venomous qi on his wound. Those who frequently employ poison will infuse the venomous qi with their spiritual energy. Those types of venoms linger for a long time. It's possible to draw out the venom."

Tian Ran sent a surge of spiritual energy to her hand and transferred it to Li Yuan's neck. She collected a dark purple mist that gradually seeped out from Li Yuan's neck in her hand. A look of panic flitted across Miss Huai's face.

"This mist is potent enough to have killed Li Yuan instantly; however, it would have been unrefined. Furthermore, I noticed Miss Huai's spiritual energy is frosty and resembles this venom."

Tian Ran shot a streak of spiritual energy at Miss Huai straight after her speech. Miss Huai unleashed dark purple mist from her body and shifted laterally out of instinct. Nevertheless, Tian Ran's spiritual energy vanished before it made contact. Tian Ran then giggled. "And there you have it."

It was only for a short moment, but everyone around witnessed Miss Huai's dark purple qi. Her face suddenly turned pale before she spat out blood and essence. Her cold and purple mist dispersed. As people stepped out of range of the poisonous mist, Miss Huai took the opening to flee.

"Not happening!" Ju Wenxing chased after Miss Huai. Miss Huai was unlikely to outrun someone a realm higher than her.

Tian Ran ended her involvement and skipped over to Mu Yu. She got into the skin of an elder and patted mu Yu on the shoulder. Voice deep, she told him, "Come with me, Junior. I want to have a word with you over some tea."

Tian Ran zipped off, pulling Mu Yu and Lan Ling'er along before the duo could express their gratitude. Those left behind were irate since the fiend spirit's matter had yet to be resolved. Having said that, they were certain Tian Ran would end up taking it, while they couldn't do much against her.

Mu Yu and Lan Ling'er sat on a small hill located not too far from Pine City. As for Tian Ran, she was all smiles.

"You're not really eighty, are you?" asked Mu Yu.

Tian Ran blinked. "Of course not! After witnessing how much you all care about aptitude, I didn't want to reveal the truth. To be frank, this place lacks spiritual energy. I'm impressed you managed to progress so far at your age given the circumstances."

Mu Yu heaved a breath. One thing stood out, though. Tian Ran was roughly their age, yet her tone was that of someone speaking from lofty heights. "Why did you help us, then?"

"You helped me find Sword Shadow Dust Gale and Celestial Sword Nine Guides, didn't you? I think you're nice. Plus, it was clear you weren't the culprit," answered Tian Ran, not thinking she did anything noteworthy.

"People don't walk around with signs on their face telling you they're good people." Mu Yu wasn't sure whether to consider himself lucky or otherwise.

"You are not from Moyun Mountains, are you?" inquired Lan Ling'er.

Tian Ran pinched her eyebrows together, a cute look for her, and nodded. "You are falling behind here. Everyone's cultivation is unexpectedly low. I guess the lack of spiritual energy is the reason you cultivate slower."

"Moyun Mountains? What does that mean? What do you mean by 'here'? Are you implying you are not from here?" queried Mu Yu.

Lan Ling'er rolled her eyes. "You think the world of cultivation the sects around here playing with each other? Shifu said the place we are at is called Moyun Mountains. The real world of cultivation lies beyond it."

"How come Shifu never told me?"

"That's because he told us before you joined. You don't seriously mean Shifu needs to repeat everything he once told us a second time for your sake, do you?"

Mu Yu was shut down. Mu Yu finally understood the knowledge Feng Haochen shared when mentioning the world of cultivation was about another world. The realisation puzzled him. After sifting through his thoughts, he inquired, "Second Brother must have left Moyun Mountains, then, right?"