Next, everyone decided the order of the night watch by drawing lots.
Hu Liena was the most delighted; she drew first place—starting tonight.
The others looked at her with admiration. As the Holy Maiden, she already had abundant resources, and now her luck was this good.
But Snake Lance Douluo's luck was rotten to the core—dead last. She sighed, thick with unwillingness.
"So I have to stay here?"
Hu Liena hadn't processed it; happiness had come too suddenly.
"What? As Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, are you afraid?"
Bibi Dong clearly didn't like her subordinates acting timid.
"His Holiness, you're the one who secretly longs for it."
Women understand women, especially Qian Renxue, a woman with an Angel Heart.
"Hmph, without the Hall Master, how capable do you really think you are?"
Jealousy warped her; Bibi Dong flung her sleeve, stepped through the Void Rift, and strode away.
The other Elders' tense faces relaxed once she left.
"Holy Maiden, you have the best comprehension in Spirit Hall. If you need anything, just ask."
Devil Bear Douluo, that old fox, excels at currying favor; he wanted to cozy up to Hu Liena.
"Don't think me a brute; I can still teach you plenty, Holy Maiden."
Porcupinefish Douluo joined the chorus.
The rest of the Elders shared the same attitude; they clearly cared about that Hundredfold Comprehension Speed.
With that buff, they might strike it rich overnight. And to them, Hu Liena also enjoyed Chu Feng's favor—of course they'd fawn over her.
Yet Chu Feng knew Hu Liena's talent still lagged miles behind Qian Renxue's.
"Thank you, Elders. I'll do my very best."
Hu Liena never expected her turnaround to come so soon. She'd only just come of age; the pressure of study had left her gasping. Now her rapid progress let her leap past all the trivial steps.
Hence, her admiring gaze at Chu Feng deepened—His dashing aura truly captivated women.
Qian Renxue sensed as much and prepared to urge Chu Feng to leave.
Chu Feng saw it all, smiling. "Stand your watch well; cultivating here suits you."
"Hah, I wish you luck too."
Qian Renxue's jar of vinegar was nearly brimming.
So Chu Feng waved and exited the Void Rift; he still had other tasks—summarizing recent events and Spirit Hall's short-term plans.
The World is changing fast: spiritual energy revives, gods peek in—far from Chu Feng's initial guess. Plans truly can't keep up with change.
Qian Renxue naturally accompanied him, along with the Elders, eager to milk more knowledge from Chu Feng… Night fell.
Hu Liena, alone on watch, wasn't sleepy at all; she was too excited. Circling the Divine Tree and the flowers couldn't burn off her energy.
In the Grotto-Heaven Blessed Land, moonlight curved like a hook, brighter and lovelier than ever seen outside.
In this serene setting, Hu Liena advanced swiftly. By will alone she condensed two black, twenty-thousand-year spirit rings.
Her base attributes rose; she could feel her Spirit learning traits it had never possessed.
Is this the Blessed Land's effect? Just through enlightenment one can soar; outside, years of grinding might not achieve the same.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
A sudden eerie wind swept by, turning the cold moonlight into bone-biting frost.
Hu Liena clutched her coat tighter, regretting her short skirt; her tender thighs blushed from the chill.
White puffs of breath escaped her lips as she heard sparse rustling from the Divine Tree.
"Ghost… or human?"
Hu Liena was like a startled bird; moments ago everything had been different.
The Blessed Land should be a haven for cultivation and Dao, at least it had been for hours.
Until now—something abnormal seemed to have intruded.
No one answered; only the leaves rattled louder, like a rising tide.
She thought to step back and observe from afar.
Swoosh!
A phantom blade shot out.
Hu Liena reacted in time, but a lock of hair was sliced away.
Then a lance plummeted under the moon, fierce and murderous.
"Who are you?"
Hu Liena flipped back, landing on one hand; in seconds her spirit power had inexplicably evaporated.
She was a Titled Douluo—however weak, she shouldn't be this feeble.
"Don't meddle. Let me wreck this Divine Tree and I might spare you."
A black figure flashed from the tree, a Man in Black wrapped like charcoal.
After warning her, he raised His lance and poured spirit power into reckless destruction.
Hu Liena was scared but stood firm. "Stop, you thief! Don't harm the Divine Tree!"
She'd accepted Senior Chu Feng's duty. Playful at times, she remained serious at heart.
"Don't? Then share the tree's fate!"
The Man in Black roared; His lance rained havoc on the tree, leaves cascading as Immortal Qi scattered and the moonlight dimmed.
"Stop!"
Hu Liena summoned Foxfire, lighting the night and hurling it at the intruder.
Though she tried to spare the tree, she couldn't fully control her spirit power; flames spread.
Enraged, the Man in Black raised His lance, unleashing Lightning Gold Flash in a combo.
A Control-type Spirit Master couldn't withstand frontal assault; after blocking, electric numbness seeped into her bones.
She was blasted meters away, teetering on a cliff edge.
"Damned Blessed Land, no luck yet scorning me—Spirit Hall too! I'll wreck it all!"
The Man in Black shouted; His voice sounded vaguely familiar.
"You're Spirit Hall's Holy Maiden, yet you seek death—don't blame me."
"You know me?" Hu Liena asked, puzzled.
He only gave a sly grin and raised His lance for the killing blow.
At the critical instant, a purple blur struck from the east, a golden flash from the west.
"Why are you here?"
"You came—can't I?"
It was Qian Renxue and Bibi Dong.
They shared the same bloodline and coincided in arrival.
Both had heard Chu Feng's daytime forecast: someone might target the Blessed Land soon—just not this soon.
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