The sacrificial maiden whom Liang Qingqing had rescued earlier had already made her escape with her mother.
The group paid little heed to this, as they had intervened merely out of a sense of duty, not seeking grat.i.tude from others. If the saved individuals chose to depart, it was of no concern to them. Such was the nature of their altruistic actions.
Qiao Mu, Mo Lian, and their companions returned to the s.h.i.+p and noticed that Jing Linyao and Jing Minyao had also boarded.
Miss Qiao gave Jing Minyao a significant look and surrept.i.tiously tugged at her Hubby's sleeve.
Mo Lian comprehended her unspoken request and gave a subtle nod. He grasped her small hand and led her towards the rear of the s.h.i.+p, finding a secluded spot to converse in hushed tones.
"Wifey, why do you always hold me back and prevent me from dealing with that woman?" Crown Prince Mo lifted his hand and caressed his wife's head. "She's now a third-level Divine Master. It would be quite challenging for you to handle her."
Qiao Mu, however, remained somewhat puzzled. "How did she advance so quickly?"
"Do you recall the clan's secret arts I mentioned to you previously?"
Qiao Mu had an instant epiphany. "Are you suggesting that Jing Minyao was cultivated through secret arts? She utilized mithril to sense one of the five elemental spirits, bypa.s.sed spiritual realm cultivation, and directly ascended to the divine realm?"
Mo Lian nodded with a serious expression.
Qiao Mu blinked and patted Mo Lian's chest. "Don't worry, if I can't defeat her, I'll make a run for it."
Mo Lian couldn't help but want to chuckle. Extending his arms to cradle her to his side, he lowered his head to nuzzle her little face. "You little fibber! Since when did you run away from a fight?"
Ultimately, hadn't she always engaged in battle when confronted by formidable adversaries, growing stronger with each challenge?
Qiao Mu moved her small lips, wanting to clarify something, but upon reflection, it seemed that, as Mo Lian had pointed out, this was indeed the case, and she remained silent.
She feigned a cough and inquired, "Mo Lian, is there a treasure in the Jing Family?"
"Are you referring to Jing Minyao's revival?" Mo Lian replied softly. "I've heard rumors that the Jing Family possesses a treasure with a yin-yang inheritance called the Soul-Gathering Bell."
"This Soul-Gathering Bell is said to be capable of gathering a person's soul and reversing the yin and yang of heaven and earth, bringing the deceased back to life."
"It's said that individuals who have been deceased for over a decade can be resurrected using the Soul-Gathering Bell, provided their physical bodies are intact."
A glimmer of excitement crossed the little stoic's face, and she immediately reached out to clutch Mo Lian's arm.
"What's the matter, Qiaoqiao?"
"The Soul-Gathering Bell, I, I!" She finally recognized the source of that spark in her mind.
She yearned for the Soul-Gathering Bell!
Since the Soul-Gathering Bell could transform the living dead from yin to yang, perhaps, just maybe, it could…
"You want to use the Soul-Gathering Bell to revive Senior Sister Xu Shanshan?"
"Mhm, hm!" Qiao Mu nodded vigorously.
Mo Lian contemplated for a moment before nodding and saying, "It's a possibility. But Qiaoqiao, we need to be clear about something. Senior Sister Xu has been gone for many years. When it comes to intangible matters like souls, there are no guarantees."
"Whether the Soul-Gathering Bell can rea.s.semble Senior Sister Xu's soul and genuinely awaken her, this… remains predominantly a matter of legend."
Qiao Mu's large, bright eyes curled slightly.
She understood Mo Lian's message. He was advising her not to set her expectations too high.
"We'll give it our best effort."