Outside the Throne room, Kou just abandoned any form of pretense and took on her normal form. It was quite refreshing to stretch properly for once! She had no more time to lose after all! She had the treasure already...

Her thinking was interrupted by Ning Jiao who was staring at her with wide eyes. "It's actually a pretty big Sister!" Ning Jiao was shocked, she knew little Xue was actually not a simple creature but that she could transform into a Human?! That was quite something. She knew that her friend would have to leave right away however so she stepped away.

"Jiao will wait for Big Sister to return quickly! Since Big Sister is in a hurry Jiao will leave questions for later!" She nodded a few times before pushing Kou forward who... actually just want to say a few words. However, the urging of her "Disciple" made her flash a smile before she nodded, pulling out the flying treasure she bought, she quickly jumped on it. The Fan that would free Shi Shi was in her hand and so she timidly left the Capital city. Nobody stopped her as she made an effort to stay fairly high up so nobody could see her.

She felt quite antsy to speed the treasure up but that would consume quite a bit of her energy... "Haah.. fine.." She pulled out a few spirit stones, placing them in a circle around her before sitting down, she started to absorb the power of the very expensive stones! She only had a few of those High-grade ones! But this way she could replenish her energy and have the treasure fly it its maximal speed, almost turning into a white blur as she shoots towards Ancient Cloud Sect. Her time with Ning Jiao, and the Capital was quite short, but she would come back for her. Ning Jiao had a place in her heart already.

After flying about halfway a small bird caught up to her carefully landing on the white head letting out an exhausted sigh. "I'm not your servant you know! I won't be talked into doing something like this next time!" The tiny bird actually had a small bag with it,, throwing it on the ground before wiggling its way into Kou's chest. "Aaah.. time for healing.." The perverted bird let out a sigh.

Kou had actually sent her off to acquire some things in the capital, also sell some things. She still had all the treasures of the captured old man in the Ancient Cloud Sect, as well as some stuff from the Skystrider Island. It was filling up her bags and she wanted it gone. So she had Xifeng go and sell it! She had also returned with a few useful treasures. Kou never really used items, relying purely on her powerful bloodline. But she rather be safe than sorry!

Xifeng had acquired 4 mid-grade defensive treasures! While mid-grade does sound a little lackluster, they could actually withstand multiple attacks of a core-formation expert! It was still a little confusing to her as to why so few cultivators used treasures, instead of relying solely on divine abilities and magics. While the Ning Empire had quite a few mid-grade treasures, they were rather cheap.

Obviously, Kou would not know that she was different than most people. With the exception of people like the Ning, Xiu, and Wu clans, most cultivators trained in a very lackluster and barebones cultivation art that was handed out by the sects. Therefore their spiritual sense which was needed to control such tools was rather weak making them unable to control them properly, which resulted in the Ning Empire discarding Magic Tools and Treasures, and mostly only using weapons and things similar to that, things you could use with your own hands and had not to use your spiritual sense. More simple and straight forward.

Kou's weapons in the past were like that too, they used Qi and produced a specific effect, while the wielder had to constantly feed them Qi while using them with their own hands. An actual Magic item needed divine sense to operate and they would act mostly on their own.

Obviously, with the Cultivation art Shi Shi had given her she was far above those people, her divine sense was quite strong, making her able to properly use tools and treasures while fighting without having to spend too much attention on them. Xifeng also had gotten a few talismans, one use pieces of precious paper with runes inscribed on it in Silver. They held different Divine abilities, while not able to display the full power of such, it was enough to use at least 60%!

She had also acquired some seeds for a few basic spiritual herbs Kou still needed. Obviously, the Imperial City had many things, things that were rare and uncommon even in the outside world, as it was sheltered and cut off from most powerful cultivators from the outside!

While traveling Kou mostly ignored the Bird that was cuddling against her with an elated face, but sometimes she would stroke the feathers as praise for the good work. After all, Kou was not hearthless! And even if this bird sometimes gave her cold shudders... it was just a bird in the end, right?

...

"What do you mean she flew off?" Xiu Shihong stomped her feet in anger as she looked down at Ning Jiao. She had cornered the girl this evening to find out where her "Pet" was as it was nowhere to be seen at the banquet.

Ning Jiao blinked up to Xiu Shihong her lashes fluttering. The small girl in front of her was to adorable so Xiu Shihongs rage quickly deflated. "Where did she fly off to girl!" She grunted in displeasure her own eyes seemingly alit with flames.

"I don't know, that way." As she pointed towards the South, it was indeed the direction Kou had gone off to, Ning Jiao after all was very smart, she had already seen that the woman in front of her held no ill will towards Kou or her. She was just very .. emotional. However, Ning Jiao did not tell Xiu Shihong any more! After all, she was not fully aware of the situation these two were in so she would not tell her Kou's purpose ongoing.

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Xiu Shihong growled quietly before stomping her foot, a flying treasure appearing underneath her before she shot off towards the South, She was not going to let Kou getaway just like that! Not without a proper explanation! The only notable thing in this direction was the Ancient Cloud Sect, so Xiu Shihong had a fairly good idea where to go.

...

Xifeng had retreated into a special little Spirit-beast pouch she had bought in the capital, the bag was comfortably sitting in Kou's storage. She was already at the border of the Ancient Cloud Sect's territory just outside their great formation meant to protect the sect, she easily passed through just like last time making her way inside.

She did not even bother to react to the flaring spiritual sense filling the area as the elders looked at her. She ignored them and simply made her way towards Shi Shi's home, she crashed through the barrier around it, landing. She was actually slightly rattled by now, having consumed a fair amount of Qi, carefully she pulled out a spirit stone to replenish her energy while she looked around to find Shi Shi.

However, she could not find her anywhere. She spread out her spiritual sense widely to find Shi Shi but she was nowhere to be found, her cave was empty, and it seemed like nobody had been here for a bit, there was even some dust.

Her eyebrows fell, she already had a belly full of anger for this sect, so after sweeping the place once more she turned around her cloak billowing before she stepped out of Shi Shi's home. Her Qi flared. Ancient Cloud Sect was usually in a state of permanent spring, but now the warmth quickly vanished. The ordinary disciples on the ground saw their breath form small clouds in front of them. Pounds froze over. In the span of time it takes to make a cup of tea, the whole inner area of the ancient cloud sect had been forced into fridged winter.

Kou was not a diplomatic person or in fact a particularly smart one. She did not care at all! 4 Beams of light shot out into the air as the elders hovered in front of her. Elder Eclipse was once more the one in front as the only female she seemed more fitting to deal with this. "What is the meaning of this?" Her voice actually carried a faint shiver, she and the other elders had green faces. Each of them had not felt cold for a good while, but now suddenly there was a coldness in their bones.

This time Kou did not pull out Xifeng to explain instead she hovered there on her flying treasure looking at them. She stretched out her arm and 2 magic treasures flew out. One was a big white shield that started to circle around Kou, while the other was a simple silver mirror that floated around her.

The Elders's expression sank. This one was able to use two magic treasures at once, none of them was able to do such things, but the girl did not attack them straight away, instead, she stepped to the edge of her treasure, her ice-blue eyes seemed to freeze them in place. "Hand Shi Shi over..."

Their hearts sunk, the elders exchanged looks.. and just the oldest of them.. seemed to know, his face paled slightly and he was contemplating what to do, . Not many breaths of time had past and Kou was already feeling very annoyed.

Everyone was silent for a moment before Kou... slowly stretched her hand out. An Icy flame appeared in front of her quickly the temperature went even deeper. And a piece of giant ice boulder formed mid-air. This was a display that shocked the elders. This girl had so much Qi and Energy! What weird powers! The Eldest one of them was actually Elder Li. He carefully stepped forward his eyes stern.

"Young lady, while I do not know what connection you have with her. Miss Shi Shi has been called into the honorable ancestors cambers two days ago, to aid him in his cultivation! You should refrain from any more actions like this unless you wish to force our hands!" While he was shocked about her power. She was still just a child! He was certain that the four of them could suppress her if necessary!

Having heard what she wanted to hear Kou eyed the Elders up and down..."Where is that one. The Ancestor." Her clear voice did not carry even a hint of the anger that was raging in her chest as she was looking at Elder Li. Who was standing there his hands behind his back looking at her sternly.

"That does not concern you! You might be a Core-Formation Cultivator and you might be powerful but this sect has rules and you will abide by them or else be punished like everyone else! We will not have you run rampant anymore and endanger the ordinary disciple's lives!"

That was not what she wanted to hear therefore she stepped off her flying treasure, standing mid-air, much to the surprise of the elders who all had different treasures for flight, while this girl seemingly was just standing mid-air now. Slowly she walked towards Elder Li, who slapped his chest with one arm and an azure barrier appeared in front of him before he pulled out a golden net.

Indeed he was also able to use a magic treasure!

"Stay your hand girl or we will need to stop you!" His voice was hoarse, the other elders lined up behind him eyeing the whole ordeal with part anger part fear.

Kou let out a sigh. "Just tell me where that ancestor is with my family, and I will leave you be." Those words stunned some of the elders, but Elder Li remained stubborn... Obviously, some of this could be explained, but Kou did not feel like explaining anything today. She just wanted to be done with this.

Elder Li was the first one to act, with a decisive glint in his eyes he threw the golden net up into the air. He had spent almost 200 years on refining this magic treasure! It was quite well known among the older generation!

However, as he threw it towards the girl he was shocked to see it frozen in mid-air, its golden light covered by crystal clear ice. The girl did not even move, only looking down at him with a piercing glare, he felt the coldness in his bones rising.

Obviously, Kou was not able to do this just so, in fact she actually was on guard right now, as the Golden Net was indeed quite formidable, she had used quite a bit of power to freeze it in place, even if it looked effortless from the outside, it clearly was not! She had to end this quickly, so she shot forward. Her speed and technique with Farstrider's Step was already quite wast, combined with her modified hunting shadows she became barely a blur, arriving in front of Elder Li.

One strike of her Dagger, a rare high-ranking weapon the shield was shattered, and in one smooth motion the dagger was placed not on the man's throat... but on his dantian. Where his core would be! Elder Li was shocked and surprised, the other Elders were not even able to react to the girl's speed.

Kou was somewhat unsure if she could take all of them, so she simply picked the way that made fighting impossible, taking the most valuable of the elder's hostage. Even if this took almost 10% of her energy in a very short moment, it was very worth it!

"Now...tell me where he is.."