Just as Gu Han was envisioning a grand blueprint for the future Sect in her mind,
A hundred miles away in the Tianjue Mountain Range, a life-and-death crisis was quietly approaching Liu Ruyan.
Having found no trace of the Yaochi Immortal Palace in Wanshan City, Liu Ruyan was not discouraged.
Instead, she chose to join a makeshift team of Cultivators and stepped into the peril-filled Wan Jue Mountain Range.
There were several Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the team; their goal was merely the outer regions, to gather some low-grade Spiritual Plants, hunt second-rank Yao Beasts, and earn a few Spirit Stones.
Although Liu Ruyan only had a cultivation at the Peak Qi Refining Stage,
Given her outstanding appearance, no one raised any objections; instead, they took great care of her.
However, within the mountain range, danger often arrives unexpectedly.
This evening, the team discovered several well-aged "Dew-Condensing Grass" at the foot of a hillside.
Just as everyone was preparing to harvest them,
A sudden change occurred!
"Roar—!"
A tiger's roar echoed through the forest, as if exploding out of thin air, making ears ring and hearts tremble with terror.
A giant tiger, ten meters long and covered in flame-like patterns, lunged out from the depths of the dense forest like a bolt of crimson lightning!
"It's a third-rank Yao Beast, a Blazing Flame Tiger! Run!"
The leader of the team shouted and immediately turned to flee.
A third-rank Yao Beast is equivalent to the human Golden Core Stage, while the highest among them was only at the Foundation Establishment Stage—how could they possibly escape?
In just a few breaths, three people were caught by the Blazing Flame Tiger and swatted to death on the spot.
As for Liu Ruyan, her reaction was remarkably swift.
The moment the roar sounded, she had already activated her movement technique and sped toward the dense forest.
She knew full well that staying together against a third-rank Yao Beast made them sitting ducks; only by scattering could they find a slim chance of survival.
But fate seemed to play a cruel joke on her.
A panicked first-rank Yao Wolf happened to burst out from the bushes to her side and collided head-on with her.
Although she wasn't injured, the impact sent her blood and Qi churning, causing her movement to falter.
In that momentary delay, a blast of scorching flame nearly grazed her back as it swept past.
The clothing on her back instantly turned to ash, and a searing pain of torn flesh shot through her.
"Ugh!"
She let out a muffled groan, cold sweat instantly drenching her forehead.
But she didn't dare pause for a second; her survival instinct drove her to dash desperately into a rugged, rocky area.
Behind her, the roars of the Blazing Flame Tiger and the screams of her companions intertwined, gradually fading into the distance.
It was unclear whether the beast had gone to hunt others or if the complex terrain had caused it to temporarily give up the chase.
Staggering and nearly exhausted of her last bit of strength, Liu Ruyan finally discovered a hidden cave.
Without the slightest hesitation, she practically crawled and scrambled inside.
The cave wasn't large, but it was enough for a temporary hiding spot.
She collapsed on the ground, her chest heaving violently, every breath tugging at the wound on her back with a burning pain.
Her spiritual power was nearly depleted, and her long dress was torn in many places, covered in dust and bloodstains.
However, before she could even catch her breath,
A cold Divine Sense, like a venomous snake, quietly swept through the area and instantly locked onto this inconspicuous cave!
"Eh? Such pure Primordial Yin Qi, and a beauty in the making too... Hehe, I'm really lucky today!"
A raspy, low voice echoed all around.
The light at the cave entrance dimmed as an old man in a dark red robe drifted in like a ghost.
He emitted a powerful, frigid aura, and his cultivation was shockingly at the—Golden Core Stage!
Judging by his magic power fluctuations, he was shrouded in a sinister, evil aura and was clearly no good sort!
"Little girl, you run quite fast."
The Old Man in Red Robe grinned, revealing yellowish teeth.
His eyes greedily scanned the snowy-white skin visible through Liu Ruyan's torn clothing.
"As long as you come with me, I will surely keep you safe."
Hearing his words, Liu Ruyan's face turned deathly pale.
This old fellow clearly wasn't up to anything good.
But she was only at the Qi Refinement Stage now, and against him, she had almost no chance of winning.
"Senior... this Junior meant no offense. I beg Senior to show mercy..."
Her voice was dry as she tried to make a final plea.
"Show mercy?"
The Old Man in Red Robe gave a weird laugh.
"Why would I let go of a delicacy that's already at my lips?"
He flicked his finger, and a streak of dark red spiritual power shot out like a rope.
It instantly bound Liu Ruyan tightly, leaving her unable to move no matter how she struggled.
Then, he unhurriedly took out a jade bottle, poured out a Medicinal Pill, forced Liu Ruyan's mouth open, and shoved it inside.
"Cough, cough... You... what did you feed me?!"
Liu Ruyan was both shocked and furious, trying to use her cultivation to force it out.
But she found that her weak spiritual power was like a stone sinking into the ocean under the restraint of a Golden Core Cultivator.
"Naturally, it's something to make you behave, a 'Hehuan Pill.' It's a hundred times more potent than those ordinary Hehuan Powders."
The Old Man in Red Robe licked his lips, the lustful glint in his eyes growing stronger.
"Once the medicinal power fully dissolves, no matter how chaste you are, you'll turn into a wanton woman craving men!"
"I, the Old Ancestor, love seeing this coy look of yours..."
The pill entered her stomach, and in just an instant,
A burning sensation suddenly exploded from Liu Ruyan's lower abdomen, frantically sweeping through her entire body!
Her cheeks instantly flushed an alarming red, her breath became hot and rapid, and her gaze quickly grew blurred and unfocused.
A strong sense of emptiness, like countless ants gnawing at her sanity, made her let out an uncontrollable, unbearable moan.
Her whole body felt limp and weak, and even her strength to struggle was rapidly draining away.
"Jie jie jie, the medicine is taking effect quite quickly."
"Let this old man take good care of you..."