Transmigrated into the villain? Watch my epic comeback in the ethereal fairy realm!

As the flashing light ahead drew closer, Dai Yao's heart leaped into her throat.

Parting the last drooping leaf, she saw a spiritual herb emitting a soft white light, standing out prominently in the night.

"Dew-Condensing Grass!" Dai Yao recognized it at a glance; it was an important ingredient for refining Foundation Establishment Pills!

Suppressing her excitement, she carefully picked the dew-collecting grass and put it into her storage bag.

It seems that this perilous Fairy Forest isn't all bad.

Just as she was about to turn and leave, Dai Yao suddenly felt a chill down her spine.

She turned around abruptly and saw a figure standing not far away. The moonlight outlined his slender figure, but she couldn't see his face clearly.

"Who?!" Dai Yao shouted sharply, while secretly circulating her spiritual power to prepare for battle.

The man slowly approached, the moonlight illuminating his face. He had sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose, and a half-smile playing on his lips. His blue robe further accentuated his otherworldly air.

"Young lady, are you lost, being here alone so late at night?" The man's voice was clear and pleasant, with a hint of teasing.

Dai Yao was on guard; this person's appearance was too strange.

She discreetly observed him and noticed a jade pendant with strange runes hanging from his waist. The aura emanating from the pendant... felt strangely familiar to her.

"Thank you for your concern, young master. I am not lost." Dai Yao said in a cold tone, trying her best to maintain the "amnesiac" persona, but her mind was racing, trying to recall where she had seen this jade pendant before.

The man chuckled softly. "Miss, there's no need to be nervous. My name is Xuan Ying, a reclusive cultivator who lives in seclusion here. If you have nothing else to do, why don't you join me for some tea and moon-viewing?"

Enjoying tea and admiring the moon?

Dai Yao sneered inwardly. This Fairy Forest was fraught with danger; who would leisurely enjoy tea and admire the moon in such a place?

This person clearly has ulterior motives!

She had assumed that the rogue cultivators in the Fairy Forest were all aloof and detached from the world, but the one in front of her was far too enthusiastic.

"Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Xuan Ying, but I have important matters to attend to and cannot stay any longer." Dai Yao politely declined and turned to leave.

"Please wait, young lady." Xuan Ying flashed and stood in front of Dai Yao. "I see that your breathing is disordered, and you seem to have suffered internal injuries. Perhaps I can examine you."

As he spoke, he reached out his hand, seemingly to check Dai Yao's pulse. Dai Yao's heart skipped a beat, and she instinctively took a step back, avoiding his hand.

A strange light flashed in Xuan Ying's eyes, but he quickly regained his smile. "Miss, there's no need to be afraid. I mean no harm."

"I..." Dai Yao was about to speak when Xuan Ying suddenly leaned closer and whispered in her ear, "The demonic energy on your body isn't very well concealed..."

Demonic energy?

Dai Yao was startled, but she forced herself to remain calm.

"Young master is joking. I have never come into contact with demonic cultivators, so how could I have any talk of demonic energy?" Just who is this Xuan Ying?

What does he know?

Xuan Ying did not give up, but instead pressed on relentlessly.

"Oh? Is that so? Why does that girl know so much about the Demon Palace? As far as I know, few righteous people pay attention to the Demon Palace's movements." His tone was meaningful, and his gaze was piercing, as if he could see through Chu Yao's disguise.

Dai Yao cursed inwardly, "This Xuan Ying is really troublesome!"

She had no choice but to grit her teeth and continue acting.

"I only heard some rumors by chance, young master, you don't need to take them to heart."

"Rumors? What rumors? Tell me about them." Xuan Ying's smile deepened, but a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes.

Dai Yao's mind raced; she had to find a way to get out of this predicament.

She pretended to recall something and stammered, "I heard... I heard that the Demon Palace has recently clashed with the Righteous Alliance, and the two sides are on the verge of war, with a great battle about to break out..."

Xuan Ying listened with great interest, occasionally interjecting, "Oh? Anything else?"

Dai Yao secretly observed Xuan Ying's reaction and found that although he seemed nonchalant, his eyes kept glancing towards the depths of the Fairy Forest, as if he was wary of something.

Could there be some secret hidden deep within this forest?

“I also heard…” Dai Yao deliberately lowered her voice, “that the Righteous Alliance seems to be plotting something to wipe out the Demon Palace in one fell swoop…”

Upon hearing this, Xuan Ying's expression finally changed slightly. He remained silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Where did you hear this information from?"

Dai Yao smiled mysteriously: "Well... I'm sorry I can't reveal that. However, I can tell you, young master, that this source is absolutely reliable."

Xuan Ying narrowed his eyes, looking Dai Yao up and down, seemingly trying to determine the truthfulness of her words.

Dai Yao returned his gaze without backing down, and the atmosphere between the two became tense and volatile.

“Young lady,” Xuan Ying suddenly changed her tone, with a hint of warning, “there are some secrets that are better left unknown. Knowing too much can only bring trouble upon yourself.”

Dai Yao sneered inwardly; Xuan Ying was indeed testing her.

Just as she was about to retort, Xuan Ying suddenly made a move, a sharp sword aura condensing at his fingertips, pointing directly at Dai Yao's brow.

“Since you refuse to tell the truth,” Xuan Ying’s voice was icy and ruthless, “then don’t blame me for being impolite!” Dai Yao’s pupils constricted sharply…

The sword energy surged forth, and the chilling killing intent made Dai Yao's breath catch in her throat.

In the face of life and death, she unleashed astonishing potential, her body instinctively dodging to the side.

The dense bushes formed a natural barrier for her, and the sharp sword energy sliced ​​through the branches and leaves, making a piercing sound.

Dai Yao's heart was pounding, but she forced herself to calm down.

Although Xuan Ying's attack was fierce, it carried a hint of hesitation, as if he did not really want to take her life.

While dodging, Dai Yao keenly observed the pattern of Xuan Ying's attacks.

Before each move he made, his aura would subtly change, and this change subtly echoed the flow of energy she sensed.

Could it be that Xuan Ying's attack was not entirely intentional?

Xuan Ying's attacks became increasingly fierce, his sword energy crisscrossing and blocking Dai Yao's retreat.

She was like a trapped beast, struggling left and right in the confined space.

As her strength gradually gave out, Dai Yao felt a wave of despair.

Is she really going to die here?

Just then, she remembered her special ability.

Sensing the flow of Qi!

No matter how exquisite Xuan Ying's moves are, he can never escape the constraints of fate.

Dai Yao closed her eyes and focused all her attention on sensing the changes in the surrounding energy.

Sure enough, amidst Xuan Ying's seemingly impenetrable attack, she detected a faint fluctuation—a weak point in Xuan Ying's luck!

The opportunity only lasts a moment!

Dai Yao suddenly opened her eyes, her figure flashing like a ghost to avoid the frontal attack. At the same time, she concentrated her spiritual power at her fingertips and struck Xuan Ying's weak point.

"boom!"

With a muffled thud, Xuan Ying froze, staring at Dai Yao in disbelief.

He never expected that this seemingly frail woman would be able to find his weakness and deliver such a heavy blow.

Dai Yao pressed her advantage, her spiritual energy surging, forcing Xuan Ying to retreat repeatedly. "Who exactly are you?" Xuan Ying clutched his chest, his tone tinged with surprise and doubt.

Dai Yao did not answer, but just stared at him coldly.

"The Fairy Forest is indeed a place where dragons and tigers hide." She left these words behind and turned to head towards the small market.

She knew she couldn't stay any longer and had to find more information about the righteous faction's plan to suppress them as soon as possible.

As night falls, the small market is brightly lit and bustling with activity.

Dai Yao walked into the bustling crowd, a barely perceptible sneer curling at the corner of her lips.

"The game has only just begun..." she said softly, walking toward a small stall with a sign that read "Information Provider".

The night breeze in the Fairy Forest carried the scent of unknown plants and trees, and Dai Yao's figure flashed by among the shadows of the trees.

The respite she gained after defeating Xuan Ying was fleeting; she had to leave this dangerous place as soon as possible.

The small market was the nearest information hub, and despite the unknown risks involved, Dai Yao had no other choice.

The small market was brightly lit under the night sky, with vendors calling out their wares and people haggling over prices, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

Dai Yao blended into the bustling crowd, seemingly browsing the goods on the stalls casually, but in reality, she was secretly on guard against everything around her.

Her special ability to sense the flow of energy transformed into a keen sixth sense, allowing her to perceive countless probing gazes cast from the shadows.

These gazes, whether curious, greedy, or scrutinizing, were like an invisible net, tightly enveloping her.

Dai Yao walked calmly to a small stall with a sign that read "Information Provider" and pretended to ask some trivial questions.

The stall owner was a lean old man with eyes that darted around constantly, as if he could see right through people.

"What news do you wish to inquire about, my lady?" he asked, rubbing his hands together in a fawning tone.

Dai Yao chuckled and casually picked up a jade slip. "Just taking a look." She lightly stroked the jade slip with her fingertips, seemingly nonchalant, but in reality, she was secretly circulating her spiritual power to probe the surrounding fluctuations of fortune.

Just then, a chilling aura emanated from the crowd, pressing against her back.

“It seems some people can’t wait any longer…” Dai Yao’s lips curled into a cold smile. She put the jade slip back on the stall, turned around, locked her gaze on a man in black, and slowly said, “Since you’re here, why hide?”