Chapter 30
Deep in the dense forest, fog rolled in like a milky white tide, immersing the sky and earth in a hazy haze. With every step, the slippery fallen leaves made a subtle crunching sound underfoot.
Su Ruo stopped beside a gurgling stream. The hem of her skirt was soaked with mist, and the condensed water droplets slid down the texture of the fabric and merged into the wet soil.
After her eyes lightly swept across the calm stream at her feet, a barely perceptible glint flashed across her eyes. She then calmly turned around and looked at Li Jue and the people from Wangjiang Tower who were following closely behind her. The smile on the corner of her lips was still gentle.
"Young Master Li, everyone, please look." Su Ruo raised her hand, spiritual energy condensed at her fingertips, and a circle of tiny ripples spread across the water in the distance. "Now this stream is between you and me. What if you were to lead the way?"
Everyone in Wangjiang Tower looked at each other in bewilderment, no one answering for a moment. One of the hot-tempered monks, already tired of being led around in circles through the forest, sneered in a muffled voice, "What else can we do? It's just a small stream, don't you have feet? Just step over it!"
As the words fell, the forest fell into a brief silence.
Upon hearing this, the leader Li Jue's smile suddenly disappeared from his lips, and his face became a cold and hard line.
idiot.
Since this woman stopped at this moment, this stream could not be an ordinary stream.
I just don't know what she is thinking at this moment?
His golden eyes narrowed slightly, and he slowly raised his right hand. The Jindan cultivators behind him suddenly became awed, their hands on the hilts of their swords, their spiritual energy surging around them, like a bowstring stretched taut, ready to respond to any emergency.
Seeing that everyone was silent and just staring at her warily, Su Ruo didn't get angry. She just smiled softly and turned to look at Su Ling beside her.
Su Ling understood, and quickly formed a seal with both hands. A spiritual light flashed at his fingertips, and a light blue spiritual energy condensed from his palms, instantly transforming into a spiritual pigeon with bright wings. The spiritual pigeon flapped its wings and flew towards the other side of the stream under Su Ling's control.
However, at the moment when the spirit dove flew over the stream——
“Swish!”
Suddenly, a dark blade light shot out from the water below!
The knife, as swift as lightning and filled with chilling murderous intent, pierced the spirit pigeon with pinpoint accuracy. Then, with a shrill wail, the bird instantly exploded into a sky of spiritual light, dissipating into the thick fog.
Seeing this, Li Jue's pupils suddenly contracted and his heart sank.
Just now, in a flash of lightning, he could clearly feel that the power contained in the sword light was clearly far beyond the level of a Jindan stage cultivator, and even... was above the Yuanying stage!
If this attack was aimed at himself, even if his cultivation had reached the late Golden Core stage, he would inevitably be seriously injured in a hurry!
"What do you think, Young Master Li? There are far more killing formations like this in Yunshan." Su Ruo smiled at Li Jue. After pausing for a moment, he scanned the shocked expressions on everyone's faces and continued, "The world may not know this, but a giant of the demonic path like Wang Jianglou would certainly know this - Yunshan was the final battlefield of the battle between immortals and demons! Even the Immortal Venerable and the Demon Lord perished there in that battle. Since then, countless divine weapons and residual immortal and demonic power have been hidden deep within the mountain. Over the years, they have transformed into these unstoppable killing intentions today."
Li Jue's face was solemn and he remained silent.
Seeing his sullen expression, Su Ruo knew he was truly lost in thought, so she spoke slowly, "Young Master Li, you and I both desire the secret treasure of Yunshan. But you, without a map, are unable to move forward. And I, on the other hand, will need the support of Wangjiang Tower's forces to face the dangers of the final hidden treasure." Having said this, she slowly turned from the streamside and smiled at the crowd. "Only by working together can we find hope in this desperate situation and retrieve the secret treasure together. What do you think, Young Master Li?"
Li Jue clenched his fists violently, his knuckles turning white from the force.
How could he not know at this moment that the map held by this woman was more than just a "shortcut" as she had just mentioned! If he did not cooperate with the Bo Deng Sect, let alone seize the secret treasure, it would be unknown whether he could leave Yunshan alive.
This seemingly ordinary murderous intent in the stream is the best proof.
Although my father made full preparations for this trip and gave me countless spiritual treasures and secret medicines, he did not expect that the Boyeng Sect, located at the foot of Yunshan Mountain, would have the upper hand because of its proximity.
Although he still had doubts in his heart, he was clear about the current situation.
He spoke slowly, his voice still cold, but he finally compromised: "This young master will trust you once. From now on, the Bodeng Sect and Wangjiang Tower will move forward together - if we get the secret treasure, we will split it equally. But if you dare to play tricks..."
Su Ling, standing by, sensed the threat in these words and immediately showed a look of fear on his face. However, Su Ruo smiled and said, "Don't worry, young master. Wangjiang Tower is feared throughout the Three Thousand Continents, and no one dares to offend. How could the Bodeng Sect be so petty and forgetful?"
"That's good to know." A hint of pride flashed across Li Jue's eyes, then his gaze darkened, and a playful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth, "You can cooperate, but before that..."
As soon as he finished speaking, he stretched out his hand to his waist, and a purple pill the size of a fingernail appeared in his palm.
"Swallow this first."
"What is this?" Su Ling frowned deeply upon seeing this, and looked at Li Jue with a look of deep vigilance in his eyes.
Su Ruo also had a slightly solemn expression.
Li Jue sneered, his voice tinged with cold mockery. "The art of making poisons is not unique to your Bo Deng Sect. This 'God Binding Spider' is a secret poison of our sect. If you cooperate faithfully, it will behave itself and not cause you any pain. Once the task is accomplished, I will provide the antidote. But if you harbor any other thoughts..."
He didn't say anything else, but just looked at Su Ruo with a smile, and his eyes did not hide the almost cruel meaning.
The brother and sister's expressions changed when they heard this. Su Ling shouted angrily, "Li Jue, don't go too far!"
After saying that, he took a step forward, as if he was about to argue, but was suddenly stopped by a piece of pink sleeve.
Su Ruo took a light step and stood in front of her brother. She said to Li Jue calmly, "If this can make the young master feel at ease, Su Ruo will take it."
"Sister, you can't do that!" Su Ling behind him was shocked, but Su Ruo ignored his attempt to stop her. She took the purple pill from Li Jue's hand without hesitation, then raised her head and swallowed it.
Seeing this, Li Jue's eyes flickered with interest.
After a moment, Su Ruo lowered her sleeves and closed her eyes, looking at him calmly and saying, "The medicine has been taken. Young Master, your worries can be put to rest, right?"
After she finished speaking, she took a step forward and walked towards a hidden stone path beside the stream. Then she smiled and waved at everyone, saying:
"Everyone has been waiting for a long time, please follow me."
*
In the valley, sunlight filtered through the sparse, withered branches and leaves, casting dappled shadows. The girl slowly opened her eyes, her consciousness emerging from the haze. She felt aches all over her body, as if she'd been run over by a heavy object.
She blinked blankly, looking at the familiar scene before her, her heart filled with confusion - wasn't she trapped in this illusion by the Nightmare of the Darkness, repeatedly enduring the pain of the Evil-Eating Demon's bone-pulling? How could she suddenly be back here?
Could it be... that this is the underworld, which makes people recall the scenes before death?
But the slightly damp earthy scent lingering around his nose, and the cool touch of the ground beneath his fingertips, felt unbelievably real. Lin Yibai shook his head, propping himself up and sitting up. He looked around and saw Xiao Mi still lying on the rubble not far away, her eyes closed. Although her face was a little pale, her breathing was steady, and she was clearly in a coma.
"This guy is actually snoring... I should not be dead." Lin Yibai couldn't help but murmured, but as soon as she finished speaking, when she regained consciousness, everything she had experienced in the illusion just now flashed through her mind again!
She shuddered suddenly, her hair standing on end, and she subconsciously touched her arms and shoulders, repeatedly checking - her skin was as smooth as before, without a single hideous wound. But why did every inch of skin touched by her fingertips still retain the sharp pain of the blade?
In a flash, the last trace of color drained from her face, leaving even her lips pale and cracked. She looked around the empty valley. Thick fog slowly drifted around her feet, but there was no trace of it left. Her voice trembled, even unconsciously, as she asked, "...Where's Wuming Yan?"
She had clearly been invaded by the monster in her sea of consciousness, suffering from the torment of the cycle of death, and was on the verge of collapse and losing the will to live... How could she suddenly wake up?
They also returned to the valley where they had fallen before. The surroundings were quiet, without a trace of black fog, as if the dangerous encounter had never happened.
Full of doubts, Lin Yibai got up and staggered to Xiao Mi's side.
But just as her palm touched Xiao Mi's shoulder, wanting to gently push him awake—
Suddenly, a powerful colorless spiritual power burst out from her palm!
The spiritual power surged like a tide, with a powerful force she had never felt before. After it fell on Xiao Mi's shoulders, it actually pushed him away with a force far beyond his expectations!
The boy was caught off guard and rolled heavily on the ground three times. Then, with a "bang", his forehead hit the trunk of the dead tree behind him.
"Ugh..." The young man who was still sleeping felt pain, groaned, and slowly opened his eyes.
When he first woke up, his amber eyes were still full of confusion, but when he reached out and touched the back of his head, he found a large bump where he touched it. His eyes instantly turned red, and he looked at Lin Yibai with tears in his eyes, his lips trembling slightly, as if asking her: Why did you push me?
Lin Yibai was also startled by this sudden change and hurriedly waved his hands at the victim: "I...I didn't mean it!"
After saying that, she lowered her head and stared at her palms, her heart filled with shock.
She had only given a light push, so how could such a powerful force erupt?
This is not right.
To understand the reason, she quickly immersed her spiritual consciousness into her body. This exploration left her stunned—this body, which had been stuck at the early stages of Qi Refining, unable to advance due to the Bo Deng Sect's divine punishment, now soared like a rocket, breaking through directly to the early stages of the Golden Core! The spiritual energy in her body was rich and abundant, flowing slowly through her meridians with a smoothness she had never experienced since she came into this world!
"How is this possible?!" Lin Yibai couldn't help but exclaimed -
In the original novel, "Lin Yibai" was a notorious loser in cultivation. His tendons and veins were regenerated, and he suffered a calamity from his sect, leaving him stuck in the Qi Refining stage for over a decade. He gave up on himself, spending his days torturing the medicine man in various ways... And how was it that now, not only had his cultivation level improved, but he had even leapt a major realm, reaching the Golden Core stage?!
You must know that even for a person with extraordinary talent, it will take at least ten years from foundation building to golden elixir!
"this......"
At this moment, she did not feel much joy from the improvement of her cultivation. Instead, her heart was gradually filled with doubts: What on earth had happened during her coma?
At this time, Xiao Mi rubbed the back of her head, slowly got up from the ground and walked towards her.
Seeing his tearful appearance, Lin Yibai couldn't help but feel guilty. He walked forward and wanted to help him rub his tears, but he was afraid that he would hurt him if he accidentally released his spiritual power again, so he could only withdraw his hand awkwardly: "Um... I'm sorry, I didn't mean to, I don't know what happened..."
Xiao Mi blinked, as if he understood the apology in her words. His grievance gradually disappeared. He just touched the bump on his head and muttered softly.
Seeing that he was not angry, Lin Yibai breathed a sigh of relief, looked around again, and became even more confused - where did Chi Anlan and Wuming Yan go, and why did the illusion of Ling Chi end inexplicably?
In the original novel, the Nightmare of Innocent Mind feeds on the extreme fear of its prey before collapse. She was clearly on the verge of complete madness at that time, and was only one step away from swallowing her soul. How could this demon be willing to let go?
But after thinking for a long time, she still had no clue.
Could it be...that she is lucky?
As soon as this thought came out, even someone as shameless as her couldn't help laughing.
She had already been reborn as a villain cannon fodder, how could she have such a good life? Now she was confused and didn't know whether she had passed the second level of the storm or not.
——Even if she passes, the real Shiwanglan is still waiting for her ahead.
"Forget it, there's no point in not figuring it out." Thinking of this, Lin Yibai concentrated his mind, shook his head, and decided not to dwell on it anymore. "With no water or food, we can't stay here forever. We still have to keep moving forward and see if we can find a way out."
After that, she stretched out her hand to Xiao Mi: "Let's go, let's continue..."
But in the next moment, it was as if a cold thunder struck her mind, and a mechanical sound that she had not heard for a long time but was extremely familiar to her rang in her ears again!
【bite--】
[Mission Release: Host, please save Yan Bujian from his mental block and awaken his consciousness]
[Completion Reward: 100,000 achievement points, host's physical function increased by 100%; Failure Penalty: Soul Obliteration]
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