Chapter Twenty-Nine: Has Someone Been Plotting Against Her?

The system’s voice immediately made Shen Qingli tense up. She glanced at the blossoming flowers on the edge of the cliff and quickly twisted her waist as if preparing herself.

“In that case, I’m going for it!”

With a look of excitement, Shen Qingli nearly tied a red band across her forehead to signal her determination.

[Go for it!]

The system was swept up in Shen Qingli’s inexplicable enthusiasm. She took a deep breath, and after confirming that the giant eagle hadn’t moved, she tapped the Flying Shoes on her feet.

“Go!” she muttered, and in the next instant, she soared straight toward the broken cliff.

Down below, An Yan watched as Shen Qingli approached the precipice, the corners of his fox-like mouth curving upward in a sinister grin. He was waiting for her to snatch the prize, so he could reap the benefits without lifting a finger.

Shen Qingli drew closer to the spiritual herb on the cliff’s edge, but a sudden gust of wind sent her tumbling through the air.

“What the—!” Her startled cry echoed just as she struggled to regain her balance. A massive shadow loomed over her, engulfing her completely.

Swallowing nervously, she looked up at the source of the shadow—none other than the giant eagle that should have been asleep!

Its sharp, predatory gaze fixed on her, brimming with murderous intent.

Shen Qingli’s heart skipped a beat, and she immediately darted in all directions to escape.

“Cai Cai, come up with something quick—how do I shake off this troublesome beast?”

She made her appeal, her eyes suddenly falling on the ripe spiritual fruit blossoming on the cliff.

A spark of inspiration lit up her gaze, and she instantly had a plan.

[Host, what are you trying to do?] The system’s voice trembled as it watched her suddenly change the direction of her escape. Was she really going to pluck a tiger’s whiskers?

The giant eagle clearly noticed Shen Qingli’s maneuver and let out a piercing cry, beating its wings furiously as it swooped after her.

“Hurry! The Blink Talisman!”

Seeing the eagle nearly upon her, Shen Qingli shouted. The system quickly swapped out several Blink Talismans for her, and she sprang into action, reaching for the spiritual fruit.

The eagle’s shriek grew louder as she seized the fruit, the spiritual energy in its cry making her frown and feel a tightness in her chest.

“Cai Cai, give me a Thousand-Mile Talisman, now!”

[Yes!] The system complied immediately, handing her the talisman.

Shen Qingli pressed it against the spiritual fruit. Seeing the eagle bearing down on her, she raised the fruit high.

“Hey, you big blockhead!”

She shook the fruit and gave the eagle a mischievous grin.

“Go get it, you dumb bird!”

With her shout, the spiritual fruit shot away like a meteor, arcing into the distance.

The spiritual energy within was useless to Xie Jinchuan and herself, but to a spirit beast, it was an irresistible lure!

The giant eagle instantly darted after the flying fruit.

Watching the eagle streak away like a shooting star, Shen Qingli dusted off her hands.

She lifted her chin proudly and gave a little huff. “See? I always come up with something quick in a pinch!”

[Yes, Host is the best, Host is the bravest.] The system praised her outwardly, though inwardly it couldn’t help but roll its eyes. Her methods were always…

[Host, while the giant eagle’s gone, let’s hurry and gather the herbs!] Prompted by the system, Shen Qingli quickly moved toward the spiritual grass.

“This grass, I just pull it up, right?” she asked the system.

[That’s right!] the system confirmed, though it suddenly sensed something was off.

Before it could speak, Shen Qingli had already grasped the herb.

A strange chittering noise sounded. Startled, Shen Qingli watched as she plucked the herb and, from a crack in the wall, tongues of fire shot straight toward her.

“What is that?!”

She recoiled in alarm, but her grip on the herb never loosened.

[Host, watch out for the Flaming Serpent on the herb!] The system’s warning rang in her mind. Shen Qingli looked down at her right hand.

There, coiled around the spiritual herb, was a Flaming Serpent, its gaping maw bristling with venomous fangs that radiated a chilling menace.

With a hiss, the serpent wasted no time—its jaws struck, sinking its fangs into the back of Shen Qingli’s hand.

She gasped, shaking her hand furiously to fling the serpent away. But dizziness swept over her, and as she tried to steady herself, the ground vanished beneath her feet. She plunged downward.

“Cai Cai! Wind Riding Talisman, now!”

She shouted in panic. The system quickly provided the talisman, sparing Shen Qingli from being dashed to pieces.

From the shadows, An Yan watched as she stabilized herself mid-air, a cold glint flickering in his eyes.

“Lucky to be alive,” he muttered, his lips curling in disdain. The next instant, he transformed into human form, striding toward Shen Qingli.

Her head still spinning, Shen Qingli swallowed an antidote.

“This Flaming Serpent shouldn’t be here, should it?” she muttered, suspecting someone was plotting against her. Before she could ponder further, a sudden blow struck her from behind, sending her crashing to the ground.

With a thud, she landed hard, a cloud of dust billowing around her.

She lay there, pale, the spiritual herb gone from her right hand.

An Yan lingered in the shadows, watching her motionless form for a long moment before emerging and approaching her.

Lying on the ground, Shen Qingli was sure someone was pulling strings behind her back, and decided to play along.

“Cai Cai, do you have any hidden weapons?”

She was speaking to her green, parsley-like system in her mind, vowing to make her schemer pay.

[Host, um, maybe check your points first?]

Huh?

Shen Qingli, hearing this, wore a look of baffled confusion and a sense of foreboding crept in.

“How many points do I have left?”

Even as she asked, she felt weak and uncertain.

[Well, after all the deductions just now, you have 250 left.]

“What a…lucky number,” she snorted. Hearing footsteps approaching, her heart raced in alarm.

“Whatever, just give me something—anything.”

[Alright! Exchanging for ten Instant Silver Needles! Deducting 100 Face-Slapping Points!]