27: Ye Feiyan was dumbfounded. A rogue cultivator was helping her?

In a Secret Realm, on a rarely visited cliff.

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

Crisp metallic clashing sounds rang incessantly. Ye Feiyan held an iron sword, her figure flickering like a butterfly threading through flowers as she circled and attacked a giant beast.

Before her stood a powerful Yao Beast over three meters tall, covered in blue feathers, with an eagle's head and a lion's body, radiating the terrifying aura of a First Tier Peak — the Azure Feather Gryphon!

Behind that Azure Feather Gryphon, in a crevice of the cliff, a strange Spiritual Plant that was crystal clear like jade, with starlight seemingly flowing on its leaves, swayed in the wind, emitting a refreshing and boundless vitality.

Second Tier Low Grade Spirit Medicine — star grass!

This was the rare Spirit Medicine that Ye Feiyan had searched for two whole days to finally find, which could assist in "Divine Path Foundation Establishment"!

Although it was not one of the three core items, its value was equally immeasurable!

However, the strength of this guardian Yao Beast far exceeded any opponent she had encountered before.

A First Tier Peak against a Ninth Level of Qi Refining Peak should have been an evenly matched battle.

But the Yao Beast's physique and brute force had an innate advantage.

Although Ye Feiyan relied on the miraculous combat experience of her past life as an Empress to barely hold her own, every hard clash left her blood surging and her arms numb from that terrifying power.

"Damn it! This beast's defense is too strong!" Ye Feiyan frowned, feeling extremely anxious.

After a long battle, her spiritual power was greatly depleted, and she was already vaguely falling into a disadvantage.

But just as her mind raced to think of a strategy, over a dozen powerful auras suddenly appeared without warning from the nearby dense forest!

Ye Feiyan's heart chilled. She pulled back abruptly, distancing herself from the Azure Feather Gryphon. Her cold phoenix eyes were instantly filled with vigilance and gravity!

A team of about fifteen or sixteen Loose Cultivators slowly walked out of the forest.

When they saw the star grass radiating an extraordinary aura, everyone's eyes were instantly filled with endless greed and burning desire!

What made Ye Feiyan's heart sink even further was that the leading Bearded Stout Man had an aura as deep as the sea, no weaker than her own!

— Ninth Level of Qi Refining!

"Hiss..."

Ye Feiyan gasped, her heart sinking to the bottom.

Wolves in front, tigers behind!

She was currently entangled in a fierce battle with this First Tier Peak Azure Feather Gryphon. If this powerful team of Loose Cultivators were to suddenly strike...

She would surely be trapped in a hopeless situation, attacked from both sides!

However, she was unwilling to give up the star grass right in front of her!

The Bearded Stout Man's gaze was locked tightly onto the star grass. His Adam's apple bobbed uncontrollably, and his voice was full of shock and greed: "Good heavens... This... This is at least a Second Tier Spirit Medicine, right?!"

"Boss! Look at the halo on the leaves, it's pure and unmatched, it's definitely top-grade!"

A sharp-mouthed companion chimed in: "This one, if taken outside, would be worth at least a thousand Spirit Stones! We're rich! We're really rich this time!"

These comments were like heavy hammers striking Ye Feiyan's heart, making her already serious expression even colder.

The situation had become extremely dire!

She even began to involuntarily consider whether to use that forbidden Secret Technique which she must never use unless absolutely necessary!

That Secret Technique was created in her past life. Once cast, it could burn her vital blood and Divine Soul at the cost of temporarily forcing her combat power up by one Realm!

Powerful, immensely powerful!

But the consequences were also unbearable!

Once the Secret Technique ended, she would suffer a terrifying backlash, her Meridians would be broken inch by inch, her Divine Soul would be damaged, and for a short time, she would lose all her mana, becoming a defenseless cripple!

Just as she was torn in her heart, hesitant and indecisive, the team of Loose Cultivators finally shifted their gaze from the star grass and landed it on her.

The atmosphere in the area instantly became tense, as if ready to draw swords at any moment!

Ye Feiyan secretly gripped a jade talisman, her spiritual power already beginning to circulate in a mysterious way, ready to activate the Secret Technique at any moment!

However, at this moment, the leading Bearded Stout Man did not directly attack to snatch it as she had imagined.

He looked Ye Feiyan up and down. Deep in those greedy eyes, there seemed to be a hint of... doubt and... awe?

He tentatively bowed to Ye Feiyan from a distance and asked in an uncertain voice: "This Fairy, may I ask... are you the Ye family's Ye Feiyan, Young Miss Ye?"

Huh?!

Hearing this, Ye Feiyan's hand, which was ready to activate the Secret Technique, paused abruptly.

A flash of surprise crossed her cold phoenix eyes.

Did they actually know her?

Although she was puzzled, she still responded coldly: "Yes."

However, this one word seemed to possess some kind of magic!

The moment the Bearded Stout Man received the affirmative answer, the greed and Evil Qi on his face vanished like snow in the sun!

Replaced by an intense, heartfelt shock and... ecstasy?!

"It is! It really is you!"

The group of Loose Cultivators behind him also looked relieved, as if they had heard some incredible good news.

The way they looked at Ye Feiyan instantly changed from looking at prey to looking at... a savior?

Ye Feiyan was completely dumbfounded.

What... is going on?

Before she could react, the Bearded Stout Man turned his head abruptly, his gaze instantly landing on the Azure Feather Gryphon, which was still eyeing everyone covetously!

The ecstasy on his face instantly turned into monstrous rage!

"Damn it! How dare you! How dare you show disrespect to Young Miss Ye!"

He drew his ghost-head saber from his back and let out a thunderous roar at his companions!

"Brothers! What are you standing there for?! Don't you see Young Miss Ye being harassed by this beast?!"

"Attack! Hack it to pieces!"

"Yes!"

The dozen Loose Cultivators shouted in unison. Like they had been injected with chicken blood, they screamed and charged madly at the equally bewildered Azure Feather Gryphon!

Sword light and shadows instantly engulfed the poor Yao Beast!

Watching this bizarre scene, Ye Feiyan stood there, sword in hand, her mind full of question marks.

Are these Loose Cultivators... crazy?

They aren't robbing her of her Spirit Medicine, but instead... helping her fight the monster?

Under Ye Feiyan's incredulous gaze, the battle ended very quickly.

The Azure Feather Gryphon, already exhausted by her, lasted less than the time it takes to burn half an incense stick against the fierce siege of the Loose Cultivators before letting out an unwilling cry, collapsing to the ground, and dying.

After finishing all this, the Bearded Stout Man walked up to Ye Feiyan, carrying his dripping saber.

Just when Ye Feiyan thought the other party would finally reveal their true colors and snatch the Spirit Medicine...

The big man gave her a smile that was uglier than crying, full of flattery.

"Ye... Young Miss Ye, are you hurt? This beast has been taken care of."

After saying this, he didn't even give Ye Feiyan a chance to respond. He waved his hand and gave a low shout to his companions!

"Let's go!"

Immediately, this team of Loose Cultivators, who came and went so quickly, turned and left without looking back, quickly disappearing into the dense forest as if they had never appeared at all.

From start to finish, they didn't even take another look at the priceless star grass!

The cliff instantly returned to silence.

Only Ye Feiyan remained, sword in hand, standing there blankly.

She looked at the cold corpse of the Azure Feather Gryphon on the ground, and then at the intact, alluringly glowing star grass on the cliff...

She was completely dumbfounded.

What... on earth... is going on with these Loose Cultivators?