As the last trace of the White Mass was swallowed by Wu Nian, the restless threads in Qiansi Forest lost their vitality and fell limply to the ground.
Ji Xuerou supported Wu Yan and steadied her. The emotions in her eyes were far more complex than before.
‘What’s wrong with Xuerou? Why has she suddenly become so…’
Wu Yan didn’t know how to describe it. She just felt it was very strange. At the same time, an odd sensation came from her body, as if some change had occurred without her knowledge. However, before she could react, turbulent currents suddenly erupted in the gray sky.
Riiip—!
Accompanied by a deafening roar, a ferocious black crack expanded above Qiansi Forest, and a vast amount of Demonic Chi spilled out from its center, dyeing the sky an oppressive black.
“Hehehe, so this is Medicine King Valley? Hehehe!”
A harsh, strange laughter came from the depths of the crack. Immediately after, over a hundred pitch-black demon beasts with fleshy wings on their backs and bodies composed of snakes, eagles, oxen, and other animals flew out of the crack. Behind them, dozens of Demonic Cultivators wearing short crimson robes and surrounded by blood energy appeared.
As soon as they emerged, one of the men in a narrow-sleeved short robe raised his hand and knocked the head of the man beside him who wore a jackal mask.
“I’ve told you how many times? Stop using that cheap tone from storybooks!”
The masked man winced and rubbed his head.
“Boss, I… I was just trying to set the mood! We’re making our comeback after twenty years—we have to nail the intimidating presence!”
The others looked calm on the surface, but they were stifling their laughter. Although the two above seemed to be fooling around, the pressure they brought was real. Among them, the lowest cultivation was at the Nascent Soul Stage.
‘Damn, this is bad.’
Wu Yan inwardly thought this was bad. She had a vague guess that the Medicine King Valley space might have used her and the Qianji Silk Source as bait. If that was the case, they must have been prepared. But facing such an imposing array of enemies, Wu Yan found it hard to be confident.
“Xuerou, do you still have Spiritual Power?”
Wu Yan turned her head, her breath like orchid, brushing against Ji Xuerou’s cheek, making her blush.
“Don’t worry.”
Ji Xuerou quickly steadied herself.
“They won’t cause any trouble.”
The Demonic Cultivators in midair seemed to notice Wu Yan and the other. The masked man suddenly pointed his right hand, his tone surprised.
“Boss, look! The Sacred Object, the Sacred Object seems to be dead!”
The Demonic Cultivator Boss followed the direction of his finger and happened to see Wu Yan and Ji Xuerou.
“Oh?”
He wasn’t an ignorant person. Although he had hidden in the wilderness for many years, the internal information exchange among Demonic Cultivators was still unimpeded.
“The Saintess of the Lingxiao Sect, and the target that That Lord himself ordered to be captured alive.”
He hadn’t expected that just by following the Sacred Object’s guidance, he would stumble upon such a big surprise.
“This is truly heaven’s help. I believe capturing these two will elevate my status another step!”
The Sacred Object was unimportant in his eyes. After all, although the Sacred Object had continuously provided them with Qianji Silk over the years, its help to him was far less substantial than directly capturing Wu Yan and Ji Xuerou. However, he didn’t know that these two were people even the Righteous Path couldn’t capture alive.
Thinking this, he raised his arm and waved.
“Attack! Capture the black-haired one alive!”
Watching the group of artificial demon beasts fly closer, with the Demonic Cultivators behind them ready to strike, Wu Yan pulled Ji Xuerou behind her and stood in front of her. The other side’s goal was clear: capture her alive. So she would act as a human shield for Ji Xuerou, at least ensuring that Ji Xuerou wouldn’t get hurt.
The claws grew larger in her dark pupils, and the foul wind swirled around her nose.
“Who gave you permission to touch my disciple?”
The icy voice swept through the entire space like a cold wind.
The next moment, space shattered, frost surged, and the temperature dropped to zero in an instant. The demon beasts in front of Wu Yan all turned into ice statues at the moment the voice fell.
A white figure slowly landed in front of her, making Wu Yan think of that scene she had seen in Wu Yan (Inner)’s Sea of Consciousness. It was still Xia Lingshuang. Only this time, the pack of wolves had turned into Demonic Cultivators, and the subject had become herself.
“Master…”
“Mm, I’m here.”
Xia Lingshuang casually waved her hand, and the ice statues completely shattered. Amidst the flying ice shards, Xia Lingshuang pointed her sword at the Demonic Cultivators above.
“Damn, how does Medicine King Valley have reinforcements?”
The Demonic Cultivator Boss’s expression turned ugly. The demon beasts he brought were wiped out by Xia Lingshuang in one encounter. This woman’s strength was at least Mid Transformation God. According to That Lord and the Sacred Object’s guidance, this trip shouldn’t have been this dangerous. A thought of retreat began to sprout in his heart, then spread uncontrollably.
“Boss, things don’t look good! Should we retreat first? Let those demon beasts hold them off while we go back before the space crack disappears. We can plan long-term, Boss!”
His underling’s words completely moved him. He was just about to order a retreat when he suddenly discovered that the space crack behind him had been forcibly severed by some power. He could no longer sense it.
“Do you all think that my Medicine King Valley is a place you can come and go as you please?”
On a distant mountaintop, Li Qingci and several Medicine King Valley Elders stood. She had shed the gentle expression she wore when meeting Wu Yan, and her words were cold and powerful.
“Since you’ve all come, Medicine King Valley must offer you a warm reception.”
As she spoke, she took the jade pot from her waist, brushed her hand over it, and a clear wind carried rain and dew, sprinkling onto countless plants.
“Ten Thousand Herbs Lock Spirit, descend!”
A thick medicinal fragrance filled the entire space. The demon beasts that were diving down seemed to be entangled by something, their movements instantly frozen in place. Some of the weaker demon beasts were directly dissolved by the fragrance, turning into pools of blood.
The Demonic Cultivator Boss also felt his body become sluggish, the Magic Power inside him flowing at a snail’s pace.
“Damn it, let’s fight to the death!”
Since escape was hopeless, they had no choice but to fight to the death. But in the face of absolute preparation and strength, their resistance was no different from ants.
In just the time it takes to burn an incense stick, these Demonic Cultivators were either dead or maimed. The remaining demon beasts still alive were captured alive by Medicine King Valley, kept for making the Antidote for Reversing Beast Transformation.
It could be said that this was a perfect tactic of Lure the Snake Out of Its Cave, except that it was a bit hard on Wu Yan.
The cleanup ended. Xia Lingshuang returned to Wu Yan and Ji Xuerou.
“Saintess Ji, thank you for taking care of my disciple.”
The cold voice rang in Wu Yan’s ears, as if showing concern for Wu Yan.
Ji Xuerou handed Wu Yan over to Xia Lingshuang without hesitation.
“Wait for me in my room tomorrow.”
“When did your relationship become so good?”
Xia Lingshuang asked.
Wu Yan pursed her lips but didn’t speak.
In a small hut far from the battlefield, Ning Xiyan had witnessed everything through her little darlings.
“Phew, what a great show! Now that the mission is complete, the lord can’t criticize me, right~”
With that, Ning Xiyan took out her Communication Jade Talisman and called someone.
Beep beep—
After two sounds, a girl’s face appeared on the talisman. She had slightly chubby cheeks and captivating peach-blossom eyes.
“Mm, is the mission complete?”
Ning Xiyan waved her hand casually.
“Ah, aren’t you relieved that I’m handling it, Lord Tao’er? I have the highest mission success rate in Tianbao Pavilion!”
“Then I’m relieved.” Tao’er patted her chest. “By the way, how is the target now? Is she injured?”
Faced with this question, Ning Xiyan was a bit troubled. She didn’t know if she should say what she saw, even though it might sound shocking.
“I see.” Tao’er nodded thoughtfully. “That’s fine. Maybe this is her opportunity. You did well this time. I approve a few extra days off for you!”