The young woman standing before Chu Feng appeared very youthful. Judging by her looks, she was likely not yet twenty—calling her a girl wouldn’t be an overstatement.
As for her appearance, she wasn’t breathtakingly beautiful, but she could be considered a little beauty. With fair skin and clear, bright eyes, she exuded a rare purity that few others possessed.
But Chu Feng’s surprise had nothing to do with her looks—it stemmed from the token at her waist.
The Gong Clan Heavenly Clan. This girl was a member of the Gong Clan Heavenly Clan.
Chu Feng had encountered the Gong Clan Heavenly Clan before, shortly after arriving at the Nine Dragons Upper Realm.
The younger generation of the Gong Clan Heavenly Clan had been arrogant and overbearing, leaving Chu Feng with a poor impression. Yet what stuck with him most wasn’t their behavior—it was something else.
From the Wuma Heavenly Clan’s leader, Chu Feng had learned that the Gong Clan Heavenly Clan had a woman named Gong Mingyue, who was betrothed to him.
Of course, the betrothal was somewhat laughable. It had been casually arranged by the Chu Clan Heavenly Clan’s leader when Chu Feng’s father was absent.
And it wasn’t unique—similar betrothals had been made with many others. Gong Mingyue of the Gong Clan Heavenly Clan was just one of them.
Though the betrothal seemed more like a jest, it had left a deep impression of the Gong Clan Heavenly Clan in Chu Feng’s mind.
“What are you looking at?”
Noticing Chu Feng staring intently at the token on her waist, lost in thought, the girl frowned.
“Nothing. Thank you for saving me from the lake.” Chu Feng clasped his fists in gratitude, then turned to leave.
A chance encounter—he had no desire to get involved with her, nor did he care to deal with the Gong Clan Heavenly Clan.
“Chitter-chitter.”
But just then, a strange noise came from the girl’s arms.
Chu Feng turned back to see her pull something out from her embrace.
It resembled a small hedgehog, covered in spines and looking quite similar to one.
But it was golden all over, and its spines weren’t just for show—they carried a strong offensive power. This was no ordinary hedgehog; it had to be some kind of special beast.
Moreover, it was highly intelligent—otherwise, it wouldn’t be covered in such potent spines yet not harm the girl.
Right now, though, the creature was frail and clearly ill.
“It’s sick,” Chu Feng said.
“You can tell?” The girl looked surprised.
“Why not treat it?” Chu Feng asked.
“I’ve tried, but it’s hard to cure. They say only a Saint Cloak Realm Spiritist can heal it.”
“I’d heard there was a Saint Cloak Realm Spiritist at Ice Summit Peak, so I brought it there for treatment. But by the time I arrived, the Saint Cloak Realm Spiritists were gone. I heard even the grand formation at Ice Summit Peak was broken, and the Nine Dragons Saint Cloak left by the Realm Spirit Immortal King was taken.”
“In the end, it was a wasted trip. I don’t know how much longer my little hedgehog can hold on.”
At this, she looked at the hedgehog in her arms with heartache, gently stroking it as if to comfort it.
“Who says it takes a Saint Cloak Realm Spiritist to heal it? An Immortal Cloak can do it,” Chu Feng said.
“Stop talking nonsense. I had a Dragon Cloak Realm Spiritist try to treat it, and they said they couldn’t, telling me to find a Saint Cloak instead,” the girl replied.
“Then the Dragon Cloak Realm Spiritist you found wasn’t skilled enough,” Chu Feng said.
“Rubbish! The Dragon Cloak Realm Spiritist I consulted is a friend of my grandfather. He wouldn’t lie to me, and his skills are impressive,” she retorted.
“Believe it or not, I was only offering to help because you kindly saved me from the lake. If you don’t appreciate it, forget I said anything.” Chu Feng turned to leave again.
“Wait!” Just then, the girl leapt down from the air, landing in front of him.
“You’re an Immortal Cloak Realm Spiritist?” She eyed Chu Feng suspiciously.
“No.” Chu Feng shook his head.
“Then you…”
“Don’t tell me you’re a Dragon Cloak Realm Spiritist.” Her eyes narrowed with doubt.
Chu Feng shook his head again. “Not that either.”
“Tch, you’re nothing at all. What makes you think an Immortal Cloak Realm Spiritist can heal my little hedgehog?” she asked. She was skeptical, suspecting Chu Feng was boasting.
But she also didn’t want to miss any chance to save her hedgehog, however slim, which was why she pressed him.
“Sigh.” Chu Feng shook his head, then picked up a branch and began sketching on the ground.
“What’s that?” As he started, the girl’s eyes widened.
She could tell at a glance that Chu Feng was outlining a formation—swiftly and with great skill. The formation he drew seemed intricate and profound.
“The first three formations are for refining pills. After refining them, give your pet the first pill, then use the fourth formation to heal it. Once the formation is set up, give it the second pill, activate the formation, and after the healing, administer the third pill. That should dispel the illness,” Chu Feng explained.
“Why should I trust you?” she asked.
“You’re really ungrateful. Don’t you know your pet’s condition? If it’s not treated soon, it won’t survive a month. Are you afraid I’d harm it?” Chu Feng countered.
Hearing this, she pondered for a moment. He had a point. She pointed at him. “Don’t leave yet. I’ll try your method. If you’re lying, I won’t let it slide.”
With that, she released her boundary power and began setting up the formation as Chu Feng had described.
“No wonder she didn’t believe me—she’s an Immortal Cloak Realm Spiritist herself, and… a Serpent Mark one at that.”
Chu Feng’s mental power was currently sealed, so he couldn’t sense her cultivation or strength. Seeing her release her boundary power surprised him.
At her age, reaching Serpent Mark Immortal Cloak Realm Spiritist level—her talent was remarkable!
Since she wouldn’t let him leave, Chu Feng stayed, sitting on a nearby boulder to watch.
Bored, he asked, “Hey, what’s your name?”
“Gong Qing,” she replied.
“Gong Qing? That’s a nice name—better than Gong Mingyue,” Chu Feng thought to himself.
Mention of Gong Mingyue prompted him to ask casually, “Do you know Gong Mingyue?”
“Of course. She’s my sister,” the girl said.
“Your sister?” Chu Feng’s expression shifted.
“My real sister,” she added.
“This…” Chu Feng’s mouth fell open.
This random girl he’d met was the younger sister of his betrothed?
