The sight of the two figures made Wang Jianqiang's heart jolt.
As the first and second prodigies of the Xuanqing Sect's outer disciples, their talent was unquestionable.
Now that they had already built their foundations, their aura was no weaker than Ye Qingxue's.
Instinctively, he shrank back further into hiding.
Yet his worries proved unnecessary.
The perfected Wooden Sword Array cloaked his presence so well that even Foundation Establishment cultivators like them failed to notice the slightest trace of him.
"We entered the same portal as two Foundation cultivators. It's no surprise the trial's difficulty rose."
"But don't worry, Wuya-gege," Lin Xian'er said with a soft laugh. "I still have trump cards I haven't revealed. Passing this trial shouldn't be a problem."
Before joining the sect, her family had shared close ties with Xiao Wuya's clan. The two had known each other since childhood—true childhood sweethearts.
Xiao Wuya was three years older than her. Back then, before she entered Xuanqing Sect, she had always called him "Wuya-gege."
Even now, as the number one outer disciple, stronger than him, she still affectionately addressed him the same way.
At her words, Xiao Wuya gave her a doting smile."Silly girl, I'm not worried about the trial."
"And even if danger truly arises in this secret realm, do you think I'd let you stand in harm's way?"
Lin Xian'er stuck out her tongue playfully, her girlish charm in stark contrast to her usual lofty demeanor.
"So what are you worried about then, Wuya-gege? Elder Song's orders?"
"That's right." He nodded. "This trial has already lasted half a month. There are only three months left before the secret realm closes. We still have to enter the Medicine Garden to collect herbs. Time is running short. I fear…"
"No need to fear." Lin Xian'er smiled. "In my eyes, those so-called 'elite' disciples of the Hehuan Sect are nothing but a joke."
"If even some decrepit old man on the brink of death could sneak into the secret realm, then the quality of Hehuan's so-called elites speaks for itself."
"Dealing with them will be simple. It won't take us much time at all."
Her words made Xiao Wuya laugh.
He too remembered that decrepit elder whose aura reeked of decay.
If such trash could enter, then the Hehuan Sect's so-called elites truly weren't worth much.
"Regardless, it's always best to stay cautious."
"Come, let's hurry and finish this trial."
He rose to his feet.
"Fine, fine. I'll listen to Wuya-gege."
Lin Xian'er pouted cutely, then stood as well.
"You little imp." Xiao Wuya shook his head with helpless fondness.
Moments later, the two shot into the skies.
Wang Jianqiang slipped out from the weeds, thoughtful.
The "Elder Song" they mentioned must be Song Qiuyue.
Unable to confront Yan Qingxuan directly, she had ordered Lin Xian'er and Xiao Wuya to target the Hehuan Sect disciples instead—a petty attempt at harassing her rival.
Part of him wanted to interfere.
But he was still only at the Qi Refining stage. Even with his perfected Five Elements Sword Array, he couldn't hope to face Foundation cultivators head-on—let alone two of them together.
Shaking his head, he pushed the thought down and trailed them from afar instead.
For safety, he kept a wide distance.
Half a day later—
Wang Jianqiang suddenly froze, his eyes locking onto the skies ahead.
There, a massive azure-black bird nearly twenty zhang long shrieked, lightning crackling around its iron-feathered wings.
Its speed was terrifying. With a single flash, it appeared before Lin Xian'er and Xiao Wuya.
Its wings thundered down, bolts of lightning lashing from the heavens, smashing the pair from the skies.
The battle erupted instantly.
As a lightning-attribute spirit beast, its attacks were brutally powerful.
Lin Xian'er and Xiao Wuya were quickly forced back, their bodies marked with wounds.
Realizing the danger, Lin Xian'er flipped her palm, producing a jade talisman.
With a flick of her finger, the talisman transformed into a gleaming white sword that shot toward the beast.
A streak of light slashed past—the great bird screeched, a bloody gash opening along its body.
But Lin Xian'er's expression did not brighten.
Her strike had been aimed at the beast's head—but its speed was too great. It had twisted at the last moment, suffering only a shallow wound.
"Xian'er, I'll trap it!"
Xiao Wuya's eyes flashed. He flipped his palm, producing a green jade talisman.
With a sharp point of his finger, emerald light shot forth.
Sensing danger, the bird beat its wings to evade—
But the jade light detonated midair, exploding into a vast cage of verdant radiance.
In an instant, hundreds of zhang were sealed off, the bird's body bound beneath layers of crushing green light.
"Xian'er, now!"
Sweat beaded on Xiao Wuya's brow as he shouted.
Lin Xian'er immediately directed her jade-white sword once more.
It streaked toward the bird's head—
But at that life-or-death moment, the beast went berserk.
Thunder surged across its body, feathers turning into crackling bolts until it became a bird of living lightning.
The green prison shattered instantly.
The sword missed again.
"This isn't good—it's nearly mid-Foundation, lightning-attribute… its speed and power are monstrous. We're no match!"
Horror flickered across Xiao Wuya's face.
"Don't worry, Wuya-gege. Even if we can't defeat it, it won't stop us from escaping."
Calm settled over Lin Xian'er's features as she produced a glowing talisman page.
"The Thousand-Mile Soaring Talisman?"
Joy sparked in Xiao Wuya's eyes.
Lin Xian'er nodded. The talisman flared, spinning into a vortex that opened a glowing passage to the void.
Crackling lightning struck down.
The pair paled.
The portal would take a moment to stabilize—and it was fragile. A single strike of that lightning could destroy it.
So instead of entering, they both flashed to its side, blocking the bolts with their bodies.
Boom!
They spat blood, crashing to the ground.
But the portal still held.
"Xian'er, go first. I'll hold the beast!"
With a wave, Xiao Wuya's jade prison reformed, sealing the bird once more.
Relieved, Lin Xian'er stepped into the portal. Her figure blurred, then vanished completely.
Crack!
The beast erupted again, breaking free.
"Hmph. A beast is still a beast—always destined to be outplayed."
"I'm done here."
Xiao Wuya sneered, calmly stepping into the portal himself.
With a wave, he dispelled his prison early, recalling the jade talisman to his hand.
The bird roared, lightning flooding the skies—
But by then, Xiao Wuya's body was already fading within the portal.
"It's too late," he mocked. "Another time, beast."
Crack!
A sudden shattering rang out.
The portal splintered apart.
Xiao Wuya's half-faded body solidified again.
His face froze in disbelief—then twisted hideously.
The portal had been destroyed.
His escape had failed.