624: Lu Xueqi and Biyao (7)

In the following few days, time flowed by peacefully within the Town Yue Tower.

Under Su Han's meticulous care and the continuous nourishment of the hundred herbs vein nourishing pill, Bi Yao recovered quickly. Her complexion grew rosy day by day, and her spirits improved significantly. She could now sit up propped against a soft cushion and speak a few simple words, though she still could not use her Spiritual Qi. Moving out of bed was limited to slowly taking a few steps near the jade bed with Su Han's support.

The soul-stabilizing pearl remained suspended three inches before her brow, emitting a gentle, soft radiance that resonated with the Spiritual Qi Su Han channeled into her body, stabilizing her Divine Soul.

Besides taking care of Bi Yao, Su Han spent almost all his other time meditating, regulating his breath, and Cultivating the "Primal Chaos Dao Scripture." The Spiritual Qi inside the tower was dense, and coupled with his experience of life and death, his state of mind had seen a minor Breakthrough. His cultivation was subtly trending toward further advancement. He dared not rush, focusing on steady progress to consolidate his surging cultivation.

Lu Xueqi, however, was even more composed. She spent most of her time meditating in the quiet room partitioned off on the other side of the main hall. Occasionally, she would come out to check on Bi Yao's condition, exchange a few words with Su Han about Cultivation insights, or discuss lingering doubts regarding the East Sea matter. She seemed to have completely let go of the urge to rush back to the mountain, settling her heart to refine her cultivation and temper her Sword Intent, taking advantage of the rare quiet environment and dense Spiritual Qi. The tianya divine sword rested on her knee, frequently emitting a faint hum as its blue light flowed, clearly benefiting as well.

Elder Mu visited daily to check on Bi Yao's injuries and adjust her prescriptions. He was quite satisfied with the recovery progress of the two. In his free time, he would also recount ancient anecdotes and cultivation secrets to Su Han and Lu Xueqi, greatly benefiting them. Elder Mu took the East Sea matter very seriously, frequently using the power of the Town Yue Tower to deduce and investigate. However, that black Qi seemed extremely secretive, its source difficult to locate, and there had been no Breakthrough discoveries yet.

Shi Yi's will never manifested actively again, as if it had completely fallen into slumber. But Su Han could feel that the vast, ancient aura within the tower, which guarded everything, still existed, bringing a sense of peace.

During these few days, a subtle yet harmonious balance formed among Bi Yao, Su Han, and Lu Xueqi. Between Bi Yao and Su Han, affection flowed naturally, filled with meticulous care. Between Lu Xueqi and Su Han, there was the bond of fellow disciples, trust, and tacit understanding forged from fighting side-by-side. As for Bi Yao and Lu Xueqi, it was a peaceful coexistence marked by mutual respect and unspoken understanding. Sometimes, when Bi Yao felt well, the two would even chat about trivial matters. While the atmosphere was not warm, the initial coldness and distance were entirely gone.

This peace was shattered on the evening of the fifth day.

That day, Su Han had just concluded a major circulation cycle. He felt his true essence in his Dantian was full, with a faint sense of surging power. He knew he was not far from achieving a Breakthrough to the next Realm of the "Primal Chaos Dao Scripture." He felt a slight joy, contained his aura, and prepared to check on Bi Yao.

Just then, the entire Town Yue Tower vibrated almost imperceptibly.

The vibration was extremely faint; if not for Su Han's currently sharp spiritual sense, it would have been nearly impossible to detect. But immediately following it, an indescribable, cold, evil, and faintly foul wave carrying a strong scent of the sea and decay quietly washed over the tower, like ripples spreading from a stone dropped into a calm lake.

"Hmm?" Su Han instantly became alert and stood up abruptly.

Almost simultaneously, the door to the adjacent quiet room was pushed open. Lu Xueqi flashed into the main hall, the tianya sword already grasped in her hand, its blade circulating with a deep blue light. Her usually cold face was filled with gravity.

"Senior Sister, you felt it too?" Su Han asked urgently.

Lu Xueqi nodded, her gaze sharp as lightning as she swept towards the outside of the tower: "It's the aura of the East Sea... That black Qi!"

On the jade bed, Bi Yao was also startled awake by the sudden cold fluctuation. Although she could not use her Spiritual Qi, her spiritual sense remained. Her face paled slightly, and she instinctively looked toward Su Han, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes.

Su Han darted to the bedside and grasped her hand: "Don't be afraid. We are here, and the Town Yue Tower is here."

As his voice fell, Elder Mu's figure appeared at the entrance of the main hall like a gust of wind. His expression was more serious than ever before, even carrying a hint of shock and anger.

"How audacious!" Elder Mu's graying beard trembled slightly, and a sharp light shot from his eyes. "You dare to spy on the Town Yue Tower!"

"Elder Mu, what happened?" Su Han quickly asked.

"A moment ago, an extremely faint Divine Thought, mixed with the characteristics of that foul black Qi from the East Sea, attempted to penetrate the barrier surrounding the Town Yue Tower to spy!" Elder Mu said in a deep voice. "Although the Tower Spirit automatically resisted and crushed it instantly, the opponent has clearly sensed that something is abnormal here, and may even have... locked onto a general location!"

Su Han and Lu Xueqi's hearts sank.

They had been discovered!

Was it the entity behind that black Qi? Or the monster beneath the East Sea Abyss? How could they track them here?

"Are they... coming for me?" Bi Yao asked softly, her face growing even paler. She possessed the soul-stabilizing pearl and had direct contact with the Origin of that black Qi, making her the most likely target for tracking.

"Not necessarily entirely," Elder Mu narrowed his eyes, the wrinkles on his aged face deepening. "The Town Yue Tower is an ancient divine artifact that inherently contains spiritual energy and inherently restrains and senses those evil entities. This time, the anomaly in the East Sea also alerted the Tower Spirit. The opponent might be searching a wide area for anything related to the East Sea incident, anything that could threaten their existence. The Town Yue Tower's resistance, instead, exposed that we are 'unusual.'"

"Can they find the specific location of this place?" Lu Xueqi asked the most crucial question.

"The Town Yue Tower is hidden in the Void Realm, its position constantly shifting, and its ancient Restriction conceals the secrets of heaven, making casual positioning difficult," Elder Mu's tone softened slightly, but remained grave. "However, although that Divine Thought was shattered, it left behind an extremely faint 'mark.' If the opponent is willing to pay any price and use certain forbidden methods, they might still be able to roughly calculate a range by following this connection. We... are likely being targeted."

The atmosphere in the hall instantly dropped to freezing point.

Bi Yao had not fully recovered from her severe injuries, Su Han and Lu Xueqi's cultivation had not returned to its Peak, and Shi Yi was asleep. Could the Tower Spirit's autonomous defense withstand a potential invasion? If the enemy attacked en masse...

"Elder Mu, are there any other defensive measures inside the tower? Or is there a way to safely transfer?" Su Han forced himself to calm down, rapidly thinking of countermeasures.

"Transfer?" Elder Mu shook his head. "The Town Yue Tower is the foundation suppressing the earth veins and stabilizing a region. It cannot be moved unless absolutely necessary. As for defense... The tower contains countless Restrictions, along with backup measures left by Lord Shi Yi. No matter how many ordinary demonic heretics come, they will only be sending themselves to their deaths. But..."

He glanced at Su Han and Lu Xueqi, then at Bi Yao on the bed, and sighed: "But if the visitor is an entity capable of driving that strange black Qi and is connected to the East Sea Abyss, their strength is likely extraordinary. Although the Tower Spirit is powerful, it lacks a controller, so many functions cannot be fully utilized. Lord Shi Yi is dormant and cannot be awakened. Real defense must rely on ourselves."

Rely on themselves? Su Han and Lu Xueqi exchanged a look, seeing the determination in each other's eyes.

"We will meet force with force, and block water with earth," Lu Xueqi slowly drew the tianya divine sword, its edge deep blue and radiating biting cold air. "If they dare to come, we will ensure they never return."