181: Chapter 180 Team Formation

An Xiaoman swept her Divine Sense across the area, and her expression shifted slightly—over a dozen auras were approaching rapidly, and among them, several were so formidable they made her heart palpitate.

She had no time to overthink. Pulling Xiao Jian along, she ducked behind a giant boulder, holding her breath and restraining her spiritual power, not daring to even make a sound.

"Hmm? Senior Brother Wu? Senior Brother Niu?"

Hiding behind the boulder, An Xiaoman froze after seeing who was coming, her previously taut nerves instantly relaxing.

She recognized everyone in the group that had suddenly appeared—they were all fellow Disciples from the Tianshan Sect. Among them, Senior Brother Wu and Senior Brother Niu were even Inner Sect Disciples, both with cultivation levels at or above the Late Stage of the Nascent Soul.

Since they were her own people, An Xiaoman no longer hid and walked out from behind the boulder, leading Xiao Jian.

"Senior Brother Wu, Senior Brother Niu!"

The group saw An Xiaoman, but they did not recognize her. There were thousands of Outer Sect Disciples in the Tianshan Sect, so it was common for Inner Sect Disciples not to know an Outer Sect Junior Sister. However, seeing the Outer Sect attire she wore, they identified her status, and their vigilant expressions dissipated.

"So it is a Junior Sister from the Outer Sect. Since we have met, let us travel together." Senior Brother Niu, dressed in brocade robes, smiled slightly.

Immediately, his gaze shifted and landed on Xiao Jian beside An Xiaoman, and he was slightly taken aback: "Why is there a child here? Who is he?"

"This little brother is someone I found in the Secret Realm..." An Xiaoman briefly recounted the process of meeting Xiao Jian and traveling together.

Senior Brother Niu did not say anything after listening, but Senior Brother Wu beside him spoke up: "A child this small is just a burden to carry around. You have no relation to him, so just ditch him. You can follow us, but he cannot."

Senior Brother Wu glanced at Xiao Jian, then looked at An Xiaoman, his tone carrying a hint of reproach: "You are quite reckless. This is the Snow Maiden Ruins, filled with danger everywhere, not the outside world. Bringing such a little thing along will get you killed sooner or later, understand?"

"Ah..." An Xiaoman was left flustered by the scolding.

"That is right, Junior Sister, stop meddling in other people's business and come with us."

"Senior Brother Liu is right, you have used your kindness in the wrong place."

Many Tianshan Sect Disciples chimed in one after another.

Although Senior Brother Wu's words were harsh, they were the truth. This place was filled with lethal threats at every step; what else could a half-grown child do besides drag her down? An Xiaoman understood this in her heart, but if she really had to abandon Xiao Jian, she... she could not do it.

Xiao Jian seemed to sense something, his small hand tightly gripping An Xiaoman's sleeve, fearing he would be abandoned. With his sister not by his side, the Sister Xiaoman in front of him was his only reliance.

This grip made An Xiaoman feel even more reluctant.

"Senior Brother Wu, I understand everything you said, but... I cannot do it. I have quite a few Spirit Fruits I gathered here; I will give them all to you, I only beg... I only beg you to take him with us." An Xiaoman pleaded.

"Forget it, bring him along." It was Senior Brother Niu who waved his hand, not taking the Spirit Fruits from her. Senior Brother Niu had always been kind-hearted and was well-respected by his Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters in the Sect. Seeing An Xiaoman pleading so bitterly, his heart ultimately softened.

Senior Brother Wu frowned, let out a cold snort, and turned to leave: "If you want to bring him, then bring him, but do not count me in. I have no time to play the good guy with you."

"Senior Brother Wu!" the other Disciples shouted hurriedly.

"Those who want to come with me, follow on your own. Those who do not want to go, stay here and keep your kind-hearted Senior Brother Niu company."

"This..."

The dozen or so Tianshan Sect Disciples looked at each other, glancing at Senior Brother Wu's back and then at Senior Brother Niu, struggling to make a choice for a moment.

"Senior Brother Niu, I am sorry..." One Disciple stepped forward and chased after him.

"Senior Brother Niu, I..."

Including Senior Brother Niu and Senior Brother Wu, there were ten people in total. In the end, five followed Senior Brother Wu, and only three remained. The reason those who chose to follow Senior Brother Wu did so, besides agreeing with his reasoning, was more importantly—Senior Brother Wu's strength was greater than Senior Brother Niu's. In this dangerous Secret Realm, following a stronger backer was undoubtedly more secure.

"You are not going to follow them?" Senior Brother Niu smiled self-deprecatingly, his gaze sweeping over the three who had stayed behind. These three did not have high cultivation levels, only around the first or second level of the Nascent Soul.

The three of them also wore bitter smiles on their faces.

"We would like to follow, but Senior Brother Wu might not want us. Along the way, although he did not say it explicitly, his words and actions were filled with disdain—it was nothing more than him thinking our strength is low and that we are a drag..."

Senior Brother Niu nodded; these three were not stupid.

"Then come with me. Although my strength is not equal to Wu De's, I, Niu Ren, will never abandon any Junior Brother or Junior Sister who follows me." Senior Brother Niu smiled slightly and turned to An Xiaoman, saying, "Junior Sister, you should come along too, and bring this little fellow beside you."

"Thank you, Senior Brother Niu!" An Xiaoman's voice trembled, filled with gratitude.

Just like that, the six of them formed a new team.

Niu Ren led the group along a stream, heading deep into the ruins.

The three Junior Brothers following behind, one named Liu Tie, one named Zhou Cheng, and another named Zhao Xiaohe, were all the type of Outer Sect Disciples with little presence.

Including An Xiaoman and Xiao Jian, the six of them could not be said to be strong, but they were not too weak either—at the very least, Xiao Jian alone could hold his own against three Nascent Soul cultivators.

"Senior Brother Niu, where are we going?" Liu Tie leaned in to ask.

"Before I came in, an Elder mentioned that there is a Spirit Medicine garden deep within the Snow Maiden Ruins, where many high-level Spirit Medicines grow. However, that place is protected by a Formation and requires the combined strength of many people to break through." Niu Ren said as he walked, "We do not have many people, but it should barely be enough. Let's try our luck; perhaps we might gain something."

"A Spirit Medicine garden?" Zhou Cheng's eyes lit up, "Wouldn't that mean we'll make a fortune?"

"Don't get too happy too soon." Niu Ren shook his head, "No one knows the specific location of that Spirit Medicine garden; we can only search for it by feeling our way. Moreover..." He paused, "Wu De and his group are likely heading there as well. If we run into them, I fear a dispute will be unavoidable."

Hearing this, An Xiaoman's heart tightened, and she subconsciously gripped Xiao Jian's hand tighter. Xiao Jian, however, was licking his lollipop nonchalantly, saying in a milky voice: "Sister Xiaoman, don't be afraid, you have me."

An Xiaoman smiled bitterly, rubbed his head, and did not take it seriously.

The group walked along the stream for most of the day, and the sky gradually darkened.

The Snow Maiden Ruins had no sun or moon; there was only a layer of grayish light falling from above, as if it were forever shrouded in a thin mist.

"Let's find a place to rest for the night." Niu Ren pointed to a sheltered cave in front, "We will continue our journey tomorrow."

The cave was not large, just enough for the six of them to squeeze inside. Liu Tie gathered some dry wood, Zhou Cheng took out a flint, and soon a bonfire was lit.

The firelight reflected off the cave walls, stretching the shadows of the few people, making them flicker and change length.

"Sister Xiaoman, I'm hungry." Xiao Jian tugged on An Xiaoman's sleeve.

An Xiaoman felt around in her Storage Pouch and pulled out a piece of dry rations to hand to him. Xiao Jian took a bite, chewed twice, and said with a bitter face: "This doesn't taste good."

"When we are out and about, we have to make do," An Xiaoman comforted him.

Xiao Jian pouted, took a lollipop out of his pocket, put it in his mouth, and said indistinctly: "Candy is better."

Zhao Xiaohe sat nearby, watching Xiao Jian eat with gusto, and could not help but laugh: "This little fellow is certainly easy to raise."

The night deepened, and the group took turns keeping watch. Niu Ren took the initiative to take the first shift, letting the others sleep first.

Xiao Jian leaned against An Xiaoman's chest, dizzily closing his eyes.

In his dream, he saw his sister standing on an ice peak, waving at him. He ran over, but his sister drifted further and further away, and no matter what, he could not catch up.

"Sister..." he called out in his dream, turned over, and fell into a deep sleep again.