Chapter 14 You're always so stubborn. "Don't worry, I..."
Having just escaped death from the clutches of Yama, Fu Ming was extremely weak. Xiao Huaiyuan naturally knew this, so he picked him up and carried him to check the situation of the Demon Realm Rift.
Fu Ming had been dragged downhill, and now he was deep underground. A few more steps and he would see a giant eye-like fissure embedded in the rock wall.
Within the crack, molten lava bubbled and bubbled, the surface layer of melt solidifying into dark gray new rock upon cooling, resembling the shriveled, rotting skin of a corpse from a distance. This place was shrouded in demonic energy; any cultivator of lower cultivation level who inhaled it would likely fall into demonic possession on the spot.
Fortunately, one of them had reached the Nascent Soul stage and had protective true energy around him, while the other was being forcibly kept alive by demonic energy entering his body, so things couldn't get much worse.
"When I was locked in the stone chamber, I overheard those people talking. It seemed they wanted to lock the demonic energy here."
“Normally, the rifts will close up in a few days. I suspect that the reason why the rifts in the demon realm here can exist for so long is related to the demonic energy.”
Fu Ming spoke very slowly, his few words clear and logical.
"...If you can use your spiritual energy to suppress the demonic energy back into the demon realm, you should be able to shut it down."
The bursts of firelight reflected in Fu Ming's eyes, adding a touch of life to his expression. Xiao Huaiyuan gazed greedily at his senior brother, who was still able to talk and laugh. His senior brother was always so stubborn, willing to risk his life to achieve his goals.
Even he couldn't figure out his senior brother's thoughts.
But no matter what, as long as I can stay by his side, that's enough.
What do you think of this proposal?
Although the two were very close, their thoughts were completely different. Xiao Huaiyuan's hesitation seemed to last for millennia, but in reality, it only lasted a moment. He nodded slightly and replied.
"good."
Fu Ming finally breathed a sigh of relief. His analysis was half deducing the process from the result and half blatant lying. He had been experiencing severe tinnitus and hadn't heard any crucial information.
However, he had also witnessed the situation on the other side of the rift in the Demon Realm. In areas where demonic energy was unusually active, the ground would occasionally crack open, and then many celestial objects would fall in. Once the distorted and rising demonic energy subsided, the rift would usually close. By analogy, the strategy of using spiritual power to suppress the demonic energy back into the Demon Realm was indeed feasible.
Having cultivated as a demonic cultivator for so long, he always felt that the Immortal Realm and the Demon Realm were not independent of each other, but rather connected in some real way. The system probably knew something, but it probably couldn't say much if asked.
Xiao Huaiyuan silently recited an incantation, and the unique magic seal in the entire immortal realm appeared out of thin air and suddenly grew larger, swallowing clouds and spitting out mist, transforming spiritual power into a torrential downpour.
Raindrops struck the lava, and the collision of water and fire sent clouds and mist soaring into the air with a crackling sound.
After several rounds of this back-and-forth, the rate at which the demonic energy surged slowed down visibly, the flames subsided, and the surface limestone gradually covered the magma. Thanks to Xiao Huaiyuan's efforts, Fu Ming was able to breathe fresh air again, and his senses recovered considerably.
As soon as Fu Ming regained some strength, he began to pay attention to the progress of his mission.
"Received, checking for you. Estimated waiting time: five minutes..."
The system's efficiency is still as slow as ever; it's better to just ask Xiao Huaiyuan directly.
Fu Ming nudged Xiao Huaiyuan's chest with his elbow; hiss, it was a bit hard.
"Chen Chong previously provoked the monsters into a frenzy, hoping to incite a beast tide. What was the situation outside like when you arrived?"
“Xu Yan and the others have already gone to stop them. This is a serious matter. I have also sent a message to the other elders in the sect to come here to help.”
As he replied, Xiao Huaiyuan simultaneously increased his spiritual energy output, causing the area around the magic seal to blaze with light, instantly enveloping the entire cave in a vast, howling wind and rain.
Indeed, Xiao Huaiyuan's spiritual energy reserves are much more abundant than he expected, so there should be no problem. Fu Ming, being a sick person who is currently powerless, can leisurely observe and supervise the work.
The long-awaited system finally finished updating the data.
"Beep beep, 40% progress in stopping the Xuanluo Sect's beast tide, and 30% progress in filling the rift in the Demon Realm."
After working so hard, it only reached 30%, why is it so low?
Boom!
A violent tremor came from below, and Fu Ming suddenly felt the arm around his waist tighten even more. The earth shook and cracked, and the thick rock layer shattered into three pieces, sinking directly into the magma.
The place where they had stood had vanished, leaving only exceptionally violent boiling lava.
A jolt.
The surging lava surged with waves three zhang high, instantly melting the mineral crystals on the cave walls.
Second earthquake.
The lava suddenly receded, revealing hundreds of scattered, upside-down skeletons beneath the vortex.
Three earthquakes.
A remarkably complete skeleton trembled as it sat up from the molten lava. With each stiff movement, thick, viscous demonic energy seeped from every pore. Only after the skeleton had absorbed all the boiling magma did it raise its head and let out a piercing shriek that assaulted the very soul. Its cultivation level was… late-stage Nascent Soul.
What exactly did Chen Chong and his gang raise underground?!
The Immortal Realm's schemes are far more sophisticated; compared to them, the demonic cultivators' tricks seem childish, like playing house. Fortunately, the magma was completely absorbed by the skeleton, allowing Fu Ming to finally see the entire crack. It was strange that such a small opening, only ten zhang wide, could emanate so much demonic energy. Through the crack, he could vaguely see towering mountains and clumps of scorched black earth at the other end.
Wait, scorched earth? Could it be that old place, the Demon Palace?
This malevolent skeleton gave them no time to react; amidst the earth-shaking tremors, its arm bone crashed down with immense force.
With Fu Ming still on his left hand, Xiao Huaiyuan could only use his longsword to parry with one hand, but he was knocked back hundreds of meters.
The gap between the two major realms was indeed insurmountable. Xiao Huaiyuan offered up his heart's blood to create a bronze bell-like barrier. This golden barrier would ring upon impact and could absorb all impacts from those below the Great Ascension stage within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. It could keep the two of them alive, but that was all.
Although it was unknown how long the skeleton had been dead, it seemed to still possess some intelligence. When it realized it couldn't break through, it turned to guard the exit, looking like it was waiting for a rabbit to run into a tree stump.
Xiao Huaiyuan pondered for a moment, then said helplessly, "The only thing we can do now is to stall until reinforcements arrive."
Fu Ming, who was being carried on the shoulder, was greatly impacted by the divine soul and demonic energy, and returned to his sickly appearance. He only managed to utter a few words before blood rushed to his throat.
"...No, look at its movements."
Even after the skeleton stopped chasing, it didn't stop. It pulled out the other broken bones stuck in its body, put them between its teeth and chewed them with a crunching sound, like a dog gnawing on a bone, and it looked quite delicious.
After it finished eating, a dark, coal-like demonic aura quickly seeped from its bones, enough to flood half the dark room. Thus, Comrade Xiao Huaiyuan's efforts were all in vain.
Fu Ming's mind flashed back to all the inconsistencies from before, and he suddenly realized—
The reason why the rifts in this place can generate demonic energy for so long is that they have nurtured an evil seed.
Why go through all that trouble to throw him into the lava? It turns out he was used to feed the evil seed!
"Mingchen, this golden bell shield will protect you to the entrance of the stone chamber. Run out as fast as you can and don't look back."
Fu Ming felt a lightness in his body and, protected by the barrier, rose into the air, as if carried by a transparent bubble, floating towards the exit.
Xiao Huaiyuan's instructions were faintly visible due to the barrier. This person gave him the life-saving artifact, while he himself drew his sword and went straight to fight. Without holding back, Xiao Huaiyuan simultaneously unleashed a hundred sword shadows to attack the skeleton. As expected, the skeleton changed direction, deliberately drawing away the enemy for him.
Fu Ming was filled with mixed emotions, and finally laughed in anger. He had been worshipped by thousands and hated by countless people, but he was never regarded as a weakling.
Xiao Huaiyuan, do I need your protection? Why do I have to act like a hero like this?
The situation on Xiao Huaiyuan's side was particularly dire. His cultivation path was the forbidden magic style, which was inherently unsuitable for dealing with such inhuman inanimate objects. Furthermore, he had given the Golden Bell Shield to Fu Ming, making both offense and defense difficult.
At this moment, Xiao Huaiyuan was caught off guard and the skeleton got close, tearing his shoulder until it was covered in blood. To make matters worse, the excessively dense demonic energy corroded his protective true energy and invaded his internal organs.
If we truly reach a dead end, all we can do is...
Just as Xiao Huaiyuan was about to parry with his sword again, the skeleton stopped biting or swinging its arms. Instead, it opened its mouth and unleashed a burst of black smoke-like demonic energy and ripple-like divine soul attacks.
"This is bad. At such close range, we have no choice but to take it on." Xiao Huaiyuan's expression hardened.
In the blink of an eye, amidst the swirling black particles, a gentle golden light appeared right in front of him, shielding him from all the impact.
Fu Ming used his back to block, and the golden bell shield behind him shattered outward from the point of impact, scattering light spots in all directions.
He faced Xiao Huaiyuan directly, this heartless fellow, who could still smile even at a time like this. He took Xiao Huaiyuan's hand and, in a life-or-death moment, used a teleportation spell to send them both to a narrow, extremely tricky cave. Forcing their way in would inevitably result in the skeleton getting stuck, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack.
"Don't worry, I..."
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, then his body went limp and he slid into Xiao Huaiyuan's arms, falling into a coma.
"Ming Chen?"
A low murmur mingled with a dull thud, the echo lingering long afterward.
"Fu Ming... Senior Brother!"
With only the dark void before him, Fu Ming had only one thought:
The Foundation Establishment stage is really too weak!
"System. Can you still sense the situation near the clone?"
"This feature isn't available yet. Our system's perspective is highly tied to the host's."
"Then what use are you?"
The system, unable to withstand criticism, immediately burst into tears within Fu Ming's consciousness, in the form of a mechanical voice.
"Waaaaah, sob sob sob, how can you say the system is useless! At least this system can still guide the host! — Beep beep, we will arrive at our destination in 100 meters."
We've finally found it; the rift's port in the Demon Realm.
Bang! A Tang sword blazing with flames forcefully cleaved through the crack, and Fu Ming, dressed in black, leaped out lightly. To Xiao Huaiyuan, who was isolated and helpless and still holding his disciple's "corpse," it was like a divine intervention.
Fu Ming's true combat strength was comparable to that of a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. He hurled a blade at the skeleton, the blade landing precisely between the bones, eagerly devouring the dense demonic energy emanating from it.
He looked down at Xiao Huaiyuan and smiled.
"Oh, what a coincidence."
"What are you doing here, former junior brother?"
A note from the author:
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