In Zhu Xian, people start to rise from plundering entries

In the following days, time passed slowly and peacefully inside Zhenyue Pagoda.

Under Su Han's meticulous care and the continuous nourishment of the Hundred Herbs Nourishing Pill, Biyao recovered quickly. Her complexion became rosy day by day, and her spirits improved considerably. She was able to sit up with the help of a soft cushion and say a few simple words. However, she still could not use her spiritual power, and her movement after getting out of bed was limited to taking a few slow steps near the jade bed with Su Han's assistance.

The Soul-Stabilizing Pearl remained suspended three inches in front of her brow, emitting a warm and gentle light that resonated with the spiritual power Su Han channeled into her body, stabilizing her soul.

Aside from caring for Biyao, Su Han spent almost all his time meditating and cultivating the "Primordial Dao Scripture." The spiritual energy within the tower was abundant, and coupled with his near-death experience and the resulting breakthrough in his mental state, his cultivation was showing signs of further advancement. He dared not be impatient, proceeding steadily and solidly to solidify his rapidly increasing cultivation.

Lu Xueqi, on the other hand, was much more composed. She spent most of her time meditating and cultivating in a secluded room on the other side of the main hall, occasionally emerging to check on Biyao, exchange cultivation insights with Su Han, or discuss the doubts surrounding the East Sea. She seemed to have completely abandoned her eagerness to return to the mountain, focusing instead on using this rare tranquility and abundant spiritual energy to refine her cultivation and temper her sword intent. The Tianya Divine Sword rested on her lap, often emitting a soft hum, its blue light flowing, clearly benefiting from the experience as well.

Elder Mu visits Biyao daily to check on her injuries and adjust her medicine, showing considerable satisfaction with their recovery progress. In his spare time, he also shares ancient anecdotes and cultivation secrets with Su Han and Lu Xueqi, greatly benefiting them. Elder Mu also attaches great importance to the affairs of the East Sea, frequently using the power of the Zhenyue Tower to deduce and investigate, but the black aura seems extremely hidden, its source difficult to find, and no breakthrough has been made yet.

Shi Yi's will never manifest again, as if he had fallen into a deep sleep. But Su Han could feel that the vast, ancient, all-protecting aura within the tower remained, bringing him peace of mind.

In the past few days, a delicate and harmonious balance has formed among Biyao, Su Han, and Lu Xueqi. Between Biyao and Su Han, affection flows naturally, and they show great care for each other; between Lu Xueqi and Su Han, there is the bond of fellow disciples, the trust and tacit understanding built through fighting side-by-side; and between Biyao and Lu Xueqi, there is a peaceful, unspoken understanding and mutual respect. Occasionally, when Biyao is in a good mood, the two will even chat about trivial matters. The atmosphere, though not heated, is far from the initial coldness and distance.

This tranquility was broken on the evening of the fifth day.

On this day, Su Han had just finished a full cycle of the Great Heavenly Circulation. He felt his dantian brimming with true essence, with a faint sense of surging. He knew that he was not far from breaking through to the next level of the "Primordial Dao Scripture." He was slightly pleased, concealed his aura, and prepared to go see Bi Yao.

Just then, the entire Zhenyue Pagoda suddenly trembled very slightly.

The vibration was extremely subtle; if Su Han hadn't been so acutely aware of his senses, he would have barely noticed it. But then, an indescribable, cold, evil, and faintly pervasive ripple, carrying a strong smell of the sea and decay, swept across the tower like ripples spreading from a pebble thrown into a calm lake.

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

Almost simultaneously, the door to the adjacent quiet room was pushed open, and Lu Xueqi's figure flashed into the main hall. The Tianya Sword was already in her hand, its blade shimmering with azure light, and her usually cold face was filled with solemnity.

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

Lu Xueqi nodded, her gaze sharp as lightning, sweeping towards the outside of the tower: "It's the aura of the East Sea... that black mist!"

On the jade bed, Biyao was also awakened by the sudden cold fluctuation. Although she could not use her spiritual power, her spiritual sense was still there. At this moment, her face turned slightly pale, and she subconsciously looked at Su Han, a trace of worry flashing in her eyes.

Su Han rushed to the bedside and took her hand: "Don't be afraid, we're here, the Zhenyue Pagoda is here."

Before he could finish speaking, Elder Mu appeared at the entrance of the main hall like a gust of wind, his face more serious than ever before, even showing a hint of shock and anger. "How dare you!" Elder Mu's white beard trembled slightly, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, "You actually dare to spy on Zhenyue Tower!"

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

"Just now, an extremely subtle divine thought, mixed with the characteristics of the filthy black energy of the East Sea, attempted to penetrate the outer barrier of the Zhenyue Tower to spy on us!" Elder Mu said in a deep voice. "Although it was automatically resisted by the tower spirit and instantly defeated, the other party has obviously sensed the anomaly here, and may even... have locked onto its approximate location!"

Su Han and Lu Xueqi's hearts sank.

It was discovered!

Are they the entities behind those dark wisps? Or monsters from the depths of the East Sea? How did they manage to track us here?
"Are they... coming for me?" Biyao asked softly, her face growing even paler. She possessed the Soul-Stabilizing Pearl and had direct contact with the source of that black energy, making her the most likely target.

“Not necessarily.” Elder Mu narrowed his eyes, his wrinkles deepening on his aged face. “The Zhenyue Pagoda is an ancient divine artifact, inherently possessing spiritual power, and naturally has a restraining and sensing ability against such evil spirits. The pagoda spirit also sensed the recent disturbances in the East Sea. Perhaps the other party is conducting a large-scale search for anything related to the East Sea events or that could threaten their existence. The Zhenyue Pagoda’s resistance, on the contrary, exposed our ‘unusual’ nature.”

"Can they find the exact location here?" Lu Xueqi asked the most crucial question.

“The Zhenyue Pagoda is hidden in the void, its location constantly changing, and it is further obscured by ancient restrictions, making it difficult to pinpoint its location.” Elder Mu’s tone softened slightly, but remained grave. “However, although that divine sense was shattered just now, it left behind a very faint ‘mark.’ If the other party spares no expense and uses certain forbidden methods, they might be able to follow this connection and roughly deduce a range. We… are probably being watched.”

The atmosphere inside the hall instantly plummeted to freezing point.

Biyao is still recovering from her serious injuries, Su Han and Lu Xueqi's cultivation has not yet returned to its peak, and Shi Yi is asleep. Can Elder Mu and the Zhenyue Tower's autonomous defense alone withstand a potential invasion? What if the enemy launches a full-scale attack...?

"Elder Mu, are there any other defensive measures inside the tower? Or is there a safe way to transfer?" Su Han forced himself to calm down and quickly thought of a solution.

"Relocate?" Elder Mu shook his head. "The Zhenyue Tower is for suppressing the earth's veins and stabilizing the foundation of a region. It should not be moved lightly unless absolutely necessary. As for defense... the tower contains countless restrictions, and there are also contingency plans left by Lord Shi Yi. Ordinary demons and heretics would be sent to their deaths no matter how many they came. But..."

He glanced at Su Han and Lu Xueqi, then at Bi Yao on the bed, and sighed: "But if the newcomer is someone who can control that strange black energy and is connected to the East Sea Abyss, their strength is probably extraordinary. Although the Tower Spirit is strong, it is not under its control, and many of its transformations cannot be fully utilized. Lord Shi Yi is in a deep slumber and cannot be awakened. The real defense still depends on ourselves."

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

"When soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it." Lu Xueqi slowly drew the Tianya Divine Sword, its blade a deep blue, exuding a chilling aura. "If they dare to come, we'll make sure they never return." (End of Chapter)