Without Stopping The Fox Never Stops

The fire dragon's assault was ferocious beyond measure.

The Joyful Union Sect's female disciples, who prided themselves on their charm techniques, found them utterly useless against the beast.

"Ah!"

Another disciple was seized in the fire dragon's furious maw, its razor-sharp teeth shredding her protective spiritual barrier with ease.

The sickening crunch of bones echoed as half her body vanished into its gullet, blood staining the ground crimson.

The remaining disciples, their faces drained of color, had long lost formation, scrambling desperately to evade the onslaught.

At this rate, total annihilation was only a matter of time.

Gu Ranran's expression darkened to the extreme.

Continuing this fight would achieve nothing but her own demise.

They had to retreat!

The [Dragon's Saliva Stone] wasn't going anywhere—they could return another day.

But the fire dragon had locked onto them, and escaping under its watchful gaze was easier said than done.

Then, an image flashed through Gu Ranran's mind: Su Ji, scrambling away in a pathetic, undignified retreat.

Though humiliating, he had successfully slipped the beast's notice.

A shameful yet undeniably practical idea took root.

Copy him?

Gu Ranran wasted no time. She sent a covert message to the four remaining disciples.

"Buy me one breath of time! I have a way to slay this beast!"

Among the four was the disciple who had pretended to break the formation earlier.

Hearing this, their faces hardened with resolve.

If this was their last stand, so be it.

"As you command, Holy Maiden!"

With a unified cry, they burned their life essence, unleashing their final trump cards. Four streaks of light shot fearlessly toward the fire dragon.

Enraged by the sudden counterattack, the beast roared and unleashed a torrent of molten lava thicker than before.

Now!

Seizing the fleeting opportunity, Gu Ranran didn't retreat—instead, she lunged into the aftermath of the blast.

BOOM!

The impact sent her flying backward, a spray of blood arcing from her lips, her posture as graceless as it was deliberate.

Her trajectory landed her perfectly toward a cluster of scattered boulders.

If she could just reach the largest rock, conceal her aura, and evade the dragon's senses, she might yet escape.

She hit the ground, rolled—

Every motion fluid, every tumble calculated despite the dust coating her robes.

Salvation was within reach.

A flicker of relief sparked in Gu Ranran's heart.

But just as she was about to vanish into the rock's shadow—

A foot extended from behind the boulder.

Plain cloth shoes, smudged with dirt.

It kicked her.

Right in the backside.

THUD.

The force wasn't strong.

Just enough to disrupt her momentum, sending her rolling in the opposite direction.

Gu Ranran tumbled, disoriented.

Then—clarity.

That trash Qi Condensation cultivator!

He dared kick her?!

Instinct screamed at her to steady herself with spiritual energy, then tear the coward hiding behind the rock limb from limb.

But the fire dragon's enraged bellow froze her in place.

She couldn't.

Any surge of energy would draw the beast's attention—and certain death.

This grudge would have to wait.

Gritting her teeth, Gu Ranran let herself roll until—

SPLASH.

The icy embrace of an underground river swallowed her whole.

The currents swept her away without a trace.

Behind the boulder, Su Ji leisurely retracted his foot, wiping it against the rock.

"Tch."

"Trying to copy my survival tactics? You're decades too early."

He almost regretted not kicking harder—straight back into the dragon's jaws would've been poetic.

ROAR—!

Having disposed of the last Joyful Union Sect disciples, the fire dragon realized its primary target had vanished.

It coiled, crimson eyes scanning the empty cavern.

A low, displeased rumble vibrated in its throat.

But the fleeing insect wasn't worth abandoning the [Dragon's Saliva Stone].

Slowly, its massive form submerged into the dark waters, leaving only its head above, gaze fixed on the treasure.

……

Fifteen days later.

Love-Longing Sect.

A travel-worn figure alighted at the mountain gate.

Su Jiu brushed the dust from her robes.

Despite the setbacks, this expedition had been fruitful—she'd secured all materials needed for Su Ji's Heavenly Foundation breakthrough.

Yet instead of returning to her quarters, her feet carried her toward the outer disciples' lodgings.

The dilapidated wooden hut stood unchanged.

The door creaked as she pushed it open.

"Senior Brother, I'm back."

Silence.

Only motes of dust danced in the slanted sunlight.

No reply.

An inexplicable pang of disappointment settled in her chest.

Where was he?

Her brow furrowed.

Then—a thought.

Had Su Ji... gone to sleep in her bed instead?

Absolutely something he'd do.

In a flash of white light, she vanished, reappearing directly in her courtyard.

She didn't bother with the front door, barging straight into her chambers.

"Su Ji, who told you to—"

The words died.

The room was empty.

Gone.

The hollowness in her chest grew sharper.

She placed the shattered, fracture-lined Bright Glimmer Spear on the table.

Only then did she notice the palm-sized lacquered box beside it.

Beneath it—a folded note.

Her fingers snatched it up.

Two lines of atrocious handwriting greeted her, characters so crooked they looked drawn by a drunkard with his feet.

[Phoenix Rest Gorge. Underground.]

[Don't use the Contribution Hall's map.]

Phoenix Rest Gorge?

Her breath hitched.

That place?

But it's—

Bastard!

So much for "lying low"!

Her grip whitened around the paper.

After a moment's hesitation, she pocketed the box and stormed out.