Zi Linling's mind raced, and the twig she used for calculations moved faster and faster.
Half an hour later, Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, Shangguan Yulin, and Shen Liuxing, who had gone out to search, also returned one after another.
Naturally, they found nothing, as the entire core lay within the small stream before them.
"Miss Zi, we found nothing to the east!"
Xuanyuan Xun carefully avoided the scribbled symbols on the ground and said.
"President, we found nothing to the west!"
Rong Guang stood outside the scribbled symbols and announced loudly.
"Miss Zi, there's nothing suspicious to the south!"
Shangguan Yulin, not paying attention to his feet, jumped in front of Zi Linling with a whoosh and said loudly.
"Sister Zi, there's nothing suspicious to the north either."
Shen Liuxing was about to walk towards Zi Linling but suddenly noticed the runes on the ground. He had to stop abruptly and said.
Zi Linling paid no attention to the reports from the four men.
She squatted there with intense concentration, her twig moving so fast it was almost a blur.
At the same time, she muttered incantations under her breath, occasionally uttering words like "Sheng" (Life), "Si" (Death), "Du" (Gate), "Jing" (Startle), and "Xiu" (Rest).
Among the four, Shangguan Yulin, who was the least perceptive, seeing that Zi Linling was ignoring him, called out again, "Sister Zi..."
But before he could finish, something wrapped around his waist and pulled him to the outer perimeter of the scribbled symbols.
"Which bastard attacked... me?"
Shangguan Yulin roared angrily.
But as his voice faded, he realized that what had coiled around him was not something else, but a branch of the Shidu Tree held by Rong Guang.
Seeing Shangguan Yulin's furious reaction, Xuanyuan Xun quickly covered his mouth, fearing he would disturb Zi Linling, who was concentrating on her deductions.
Rong Guang also ordered the Shidu Tree to release Shangguan Yulin and made a silencing gesture, whispering, "Don't disturb the President!"
Shen Liuxing also glared fiercely at Shangguan Yulin. His sharp, knife-like gaze made Shangguan Yulin swallow back the words that were about to erupt from his throat.
Shangguan Yulin finally noticed that Zi Linling was meticulously calculating something.
He wanted to ask, but he didn't dare. Even though Xuanyuan Xun had already removed his hand from his mouth.
In the blink of an eye, a day and a night had passed.
Zi Linling had entered a peculiar state. In her world, everything was still, with only the complex process of deduction unfolding.
On the dark red earth, an area of about ten zhang in diameter was covered with densely packed runes.
Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, Shen Liuxing, and Shangguan Yulin's legs had grown numb, their heads felt groggy, and their eyes, staring at the runes, had begun to see stars.
But Zi Linling, immersed in her work, showed no sign of fatigue.
On the contrary, she was extremely excited, and the speed of her thoughts kept increasing.
Hard work pays off.
On the evening of the third day, Zi Linling finally deduced all the runes for the Four Symbols Locking Heaven Formation.
She jumped up excitedly, but due to squatting for too long, her legs were numb, so she couldn't stand steady with her jump.
Fortunately, Shen Liuxing was quick-witted. The moment Zi Linling was about to fall to the ground, he quickly held her waist, preventing an awkward situation.
Held in Shen Liuxing's arms, the man's masculine aura instantly filled Zi Linling's nostrils.
Their eyes met, and the ambiguous atmosphere made Zi Linling like a startled bird, about to leap out of Shen Liuxing's embrace.
And with this leap, her mouth was about to collide with Shen Liuxing's face, who was frozen in place and hadn't reacted in time.
Zi Linling gasped in shock. She didn't want to do anything to betray Ye Lingyuan.
In her panic, her feet suddenly slipped, and she lost her balance, falling towards the ground.
Shen Liuxing was shocked and quickly reached out to hold Zi Linling's waist again, but Zi Linling subtly avoided him.
And in this brief delay, Zi Linling was already about to hit the ground.
Using her heels as an axis, she shifted her center of gravity, spun around on the spot, and with a difficulty rating of 7.2, flipped her body.
At the moment she was about to touch the ground, she placed her hands on the ground and then sprang up, spinning rapidly twelve times in the air before landing steadily on her feet.
Shen Liuxing, with his hands grasping empty air, saw a flicker of disappointment in his eyes.
The lingering fragrance of the woman was still on his hands, but his heart was filled with bitterness.
Shen Liuxing had not expected Zi Linling to go to such lengths to avoid suspicion.
But upon reflection, Zi Linling had done nothing wrong.
Yet, even though he understood, the bitterness in his heart surged like a tide towards his throat.
However, she belonged to someone else. No matter how much he wished to protect her, he could only do so as a friend.
Meanwhile, Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, and Shangguan Yulin, witnessing Zi Linling's actions, silently praised her in their hearts.
Although the atmosphere was a bit awkward, it undoubtedly demonstrated Zi Linling's character.
To alleviate the awkwardness, Zi Linling feigned excitement and said, "I have completely deduced the method for setting up the Four Symbols Locking Heaven Formation. We can now prepare to deal with the ancient Blood Demon."
"But we haven't even found the ancient Blood Demon yet!" Xuanyuan Xun said with a wry smile. Sudan Novel Network
Rong Guang also said helplessly, "That's right! This area spans nine thousand li. It's not particularly large, nor is it small. It would be truly difficult for the ancient Blood Demon's true form to hide!"
Shangguan Yulin spat out a breath, "This ancient Blood Demon is too cunning! Who knows where she's hidden her true form? Wandering around aimlessly isn't a solution!"
Shen Liuxing remained silent. He was still immersed in deep sorrow, unable to extricate himself.
Zi Linling smiled mysteriously and said, "Even the most cunning fox will eventually show its tail."
"You have all been misled by the ancient Blood Demon. In reality, her true form is far away, yet close at hand."
Far away, yet close at hand?
Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, and Shangguan Yulin exchanged glances, their brows furrowed.
At this moment, Shen Liuxing came back to his senses.
He shook his head, burying all his bitterness deep in his heart.
Then, he walked up to Zi Linling and said with a faint smile, "Sister Zi means that the small stream before us is the ancient Blood Demon's true form!"
"Ah?"
Xuanyuan Xun, Rong Guang, and Shangguan Yulin exclaimed in disbelief.
They looked at Zi Linling questioningly, awaiting her answer.
Zi Linling nodded and said, "Young Master Shen is correct. The small stream before us is indeed the ancient Blood Demon's true form!"