Chapter 45: Risky Decision

After distancing herself enough, Tang Chun Xi paused among the tree branches, concealing herself within the dense vegetation. Her heart was still pounding, a lingering effect of the adrenaline from her previous battle. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her mind.

'I should send a message to my father so he knows I'm safe.'

The thought came naturally, but she hesitated for a moment. Her father was probably worried, and she had already made him wait too long.

So, she decided to act. She searched through her storage ring until she found the communication talisman. As soon as she pulled it out, the paper glowed faintly, indicating a pending message.

Surprised, she placed her fingers on the talisman, activating it.

— "My daughter, are you alright? Are you hurt? What happened?!"

Her father's voice echoed softly, but the desperation in his tone was unmistakable. The markings on the paper indicated that the message had been sent eight days ago—at the exact moment she had nearly died in the explosion.

For an instant, Tang Chun Xi felt a tightness in her chest. Her father knew. Somehow, he had known.

However, she didn't allow herself to dwell on the emotion. She quickly responded to the message, informing him that she was safe, had recovered, and would be returning home soon. As she finished, the talisman's glow dimmed slightly.

She frowned at this detail. It meant the talisman could only be used two more times before becoming useless.

That was when a question arose in her mind:

'If the talisman was stored inside the ring, why did I only receive the message now? Could it be that the space within the ring cuts off connection to the outside world?'

She wasn't sure, but she couldn't take any risks. As a precaution, she transferred the talisman to her storage pouch, where she could access it more easily.

With that matter resolved, her mind refocused on what was most urgent.

'Only sixteen days left before the tournament…'

Tang Chun Xi felt the urgency growing within her. She needed to train. She needed to grow stronger.

'Alright, I need to reach at least the sixth level of Body Tempering before the tournament. But at my current pace, I'll barely reach the fifth level… That's still too slow.'

If anyone heard her thoughts, they would probably be furious with her. Her cultivation speed was already remarkable—something only cultivators with dual spiritual roots could achieve. She was certainly not someone with waste-grade roots, and yet, she wanted more.

Of course, her cultivation speed was driven by several factors: her special physique, her advanced cultivation technique, and the intense battles she had faced. Every grueling fight seemed to accelerate her comprehension and enhance her strength.

But it still wasn't enough.

'I need to increase my training efficiency. But how?'

Tang Chun Xi pondered for a moment. Every time she faced difficult battles, her progress accelerated.

The fight against the spiritual snakes. The desperate battle against the two cultivators. Both had made her evolve at a much faster rate than any prolonged meditation.

'Then, if I expose myself to greater challenges… maybe I can reach the sixth level in time.'

It was a risky thought, but a logical one. If she wanted to strengthen herself quickly, she needed real combat experiences.

'If I use the Lunar Umbrella's resource detection ability, I might find locations that offer suitable challenges…'

Her gaze gleamed with determination. It was a risky method, but she didn't have time for excessive caution.

"Alright then! Lunar Umbrella, activate [Stellar Detection]!"

The Lunar Umbrella opened above her head once again. A soft silver glow emanated from its surface, and in an instant, an invisible force seemed to connect to the world around her.

She felt a subtle pull, as if an ethereal current was guiding her instincts. Her path was set.

'I hope it won't be too dangerous this time…'

With an excited smile and a sharp gleam in her eyes, Tang Chun Xi silently descended from the tree and set off toward the unknown.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tang Mansion

Meanwhile, at the Tang Mansion, Tang Wei was in his study, discussing strategies with his old friend, Liao Chen.

— "We just need to reach Crimson Lotus City and use the teleportation array. From there, we can—"

Before Liao Chen could finish, Tang Wei raised a hand and pulled a message talisman from his storage pouch.

The tension in the air became palpable.

Liao Chen knew exactly what that meant. Tang Chun Xi.

The patriarch activated the talisman without hesitation. His expression remained firm, but his eyes carried a rare intensity. As soon as his daughter's voice echoed from the artifact, a visible relief washed over his face.

She was alive.

She was safe.

— "She's fine, she just had an encounter with a demonic cultivator," — Tang Wei said, his voice carrying a weight only a worried father could understand.

Liao Chen observed his friend carefully. For the past eight days, Tang Wei had barely rested. He knew how much this moment meant to him.

— "And what about her progress?" — he asked after a moment.

Tang Wei's response surprised him.

— "She has already reached the fourth level."

Liao Chen raised his eyebrows.

— "Fourth level? In such a short time?"

Tang Wei gave a faint smile, a proud gleam in his eyes.

— "I knew my daughter wasn't ordinary from the moment I first saw her."

Liao Chen crossed his arms, analyzing the information. He had always known Tang Chun Xi possessed talent, but… this level of progress was abnormal.

— "If she keeps this up, she won't just reach the fifth level before the tournament… She might even surprise us further."

Tang Wei didn't respond immediately. Though he knew his daughter's talent, he also understood that dangerous challenges awaited her.

— "Now that you know she's safe, you can refocus on the preparations," — Liao Chen said, steering the conversation back to their original topic.

Tang Wei nodded.

— "Yes. Once the competition begins, we'll travel to Crimson Lotus City using the special ticket from my contact. From there, we can use the teleportation array to—"

And so, they resumed discussing their plans, while the city outside remained in a state of silent vigilance.

Most factions believed that Tang Wei was devising countermeasures for the unexpected arrival of Elder Ki.

None of them suspected that his plans were something else entirely.