"You dare to divine my granddaughter's fate? Then you are more skilled than I. Do not call me senior; you are the senior."
Madam Wang walked freely within the reality room of Xue Zhen's divine consciousness, her hands behind her back. She picked up his teapot from time to time, and with a sigh, it slipped from her grasp, shattering on the ground with a *crack*.
Xue Zhen's eyes snapped open in alarm. Indeed, he saw the elder's manifested form in his own room:
"Senior, I was truly desperate, and I apologize for any offense."
Xue Zhen's heart pounded. This senior's divine consciousness could condense into a solid form and manipulate objects. This indicated at least early Golden Core cultivation.
To put it in other terms, what Xue Zhen could only perceive with divine consciousness, this elder could achieve with techniques.
No wonder he felt such a powerful impact when he divined the fate of the eighteen-year-old girl. It turned out a Golden Core cultivator was protecting her.
"If you dare to harbor even a sliver of ill intent towards my granddaughter, I will ensure your death becomes an unsolved mystery."
With that, Madam Wang turned and took two steps before instantly dissipating into a wisp of white mist.
"Farewell, Senior."
Xue Zhen gasped for air, sweat drenching his white hair.
His disoriented hands braced themselves on the tea table, and he slowly looked down at the shattered teapot. This was no hallucination, no inner demon; it was all real.
Qi Ming Wang wanted a portrait... For years, he had relied on Qi Ming Wang and his spiritual elixirs for cultivation. If he refused, his path to cultivation would be severed.
Yet, he was clearly no match for the old woman. No, his nascent soul was not a match for the woman.
The wilderness.
In the evening, Madam Wang suddenly appeared and walked with hands behind her back towards the mountain cave to find Meng Jiu'er.
Peng Chao followed far behind, not daring to speak.
He was afraid of his skull being smashed.
Madam Wang stood at the cave entrance and lifted the grass curtain, only to find Jiu'er was not there.
In an instant, her divine sense located the girl.
She was in the valley, squatting down and digging a hole.
By the time Madam Wang found her, she had already planted the seeds.
Ah Jiu had decided that if Tuoba Yan succeeded in returning, and if he returned safely, she would accompany him in conquering the world.
However, provisions had to be made. Currently, she only planted vegetables. Tonight, she would plant some wheat.
Suddenly, Madam Wang sat down behind her. "Why are you planting so much?"
Ah Jiu was accustomed to her grandmother's sudden appearances and, hearing her voice, replied without turning her head:
"Grandma, where have you been in seclusion these past few days?"
"There." Madam Wang pointed to the distant mountains under the night sky, offering no further explanation.
"Are you feeling unwell today?"
"Huh?" Ah Jiu was taken aback and looked sharply at her grandmother. "I feel quite well, except I had a sudden nightmare and couldn't sleep, so I came to plant some vegetables for storage."
It could be considered a nightmare. She felt as if her soul had been dragged out of her body, and she vaguely saw a figure. It felt so real that Ah Jiu dismissed it as a bad dream.
Ah Jiu had frequent nightmares in her past life, so she didn't pay it much mind.
However, Madam Wang knew what had happened. "Granddaughter, stand up. Learn from me. Bow three times towards the direction of the Five Thunder Patriarchs. Grandma will teach you thunder techniques."
"Oh, what's the point?"
Ah Jiu followed instructions while speaking, not questioning why her grandmother was suddenly teaching her techniques.
"It can sever all external evils. If you don't understand, just think of it as a way to stop having nightmares."
The first thing Madam Wang taught was a hand seal. "This is the hand seal of thunder."
Ah Jiu's head spun. Wasn't this the kind of technique that involved breaking one's fingers?
It was too difficult.
"Learn it when I teach you. I cannot protect you forever, and I will have to leave this place eventually." Madam Wang saw her right hand contorting her left fingers, her forehead beaded with sweat from the effort.
"Oh, how do I move this?" Ah Jiu simply offered her hand to Madam Wang.
Madam Wang meticulously grasped Ah Jiu's hand and manipulated it. "Does this hurt?"
"No." Ah Jiu studied earnestly. "Grandma, will there truly be thunderous fury? Will it rain?"
Madam Wang's heart sank upon hearing this. "This has nothing to do with rain. Who says thunder must be accompanied by rain? This technique is used to suppress malevolent spirits."
"Oh, it's good that it can be used when I have nightmares." As soon as Ah Jiu said this, Madam Wang stared intently at her.
For the first time, there was moisture in her eyes. She raised her aged hand and gently rubbed Ah Jiu's head.
At that moment, Ah Jiu felt as if she were seeing a kind elder affectionately caressing her child. Yet, she also sensed that her grandmother was not her usual self today.
"The time has come for me. I must leave. In the future, you must learn to protect yourself." Ah Jiu froze for three seconds upon hearing Madam Wang's words.
"Where are you going? Grandma, where are you going? Our family cannot be separated."