Chapter 153: The Corrupted Land

The group turned back to look, only to discover that vines were constantly emerging from the ground they had just walked across.

These vines were pitch black, appearing like withered, scorched human hands reaching toward the group at an incredible speed.

The cultivators at the end of the line were the first to be startled and immediately let out a warning. Ling’er and Chi Ming reacted first, each stepping forward to intercept the suspicious vines.

However, in the next second, a strange scene unfolded.

The vines that were rapidly spreading across the ground did not attack the group, but instead acted as if they were trying to return to where they were supposed to be.

Furthermore, the surrounding trees and foliage began to rot, wither, and fall away at a speed visible to the naked eye, as if all the life force in the vicinity had been drained by some mysterious power.

In the blink of an eye, the dense forest where they stood had completely rotted, turning into a scene of blight and decay.

This sudden transformation caused the group to panic, subconsciously huddling together while watching their surroundings with vigilance.

Their gazes turned simultaneously toward the deeper parts ahead.

From there, ominous and strange aura began to emanate.

It was as if a ferocious, terrifying monster beast was lying in silent slumber, waiting for the next batch of prey to deliver itself.

A trembling voice came from the expedition team, “Two… two ladies, must we continue?”

Ling’er took a deep breath, carefully sensing the aura in the environment.

She felt a strong scent of decay.

If ordinary cultivators stayed in such an environment for too long, they would likely suffer the consequences.

At best, their skin would lose moisture and crack; at worst, their internal organs would fail, leading to death.

“You may go back,” Ling’er said to the others. “If you linger here for even one more second, your lives will be at risk.”

“But… this is our responsibility; how can we leave it entirely to you two?” Some were unwilling to leave just yet.

“Oh? So that means you want to die here?” Ling’er swept a cold glance over them. “If you insist on following me further, I would not mind collecting your corpses.”

Once these words were spoken, the expedition team fell into silence.

Tang Qing gave a bitter, small laugh after hearing this.

Recalling when he was saved by Ling’er at the Recruitment Assembly, she had said similar things—if you want to live, do as I say and stop the nonsense.

It sounded cold and heartless, but in reality, she was sincerely trying to help others.

“Everyone, we must trust their strength at this moment,” Tang Qing said to the group.

“The environment here is abnormal. If we stay, we will not only be in mortal danger but might also drag the two ladies down. It would be better to retreat to the outer perimeter and wait for orders.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a scream suddenly erupted from the crowd.

“Ah… my arm!”

The man’s arm had actually started to rot, forcing him to exclaim in shock.

Ling’er sensed the environment once more and said indifferently, “The decay in the air here is heavier than before.”

Chi Ming immediately urged, “Go, quickly!”

Tang Qing and the others did not dare to linger and retreated one after another.

However, since they had blundered into this place, leaving would not be so easy.

Just as the expedition team prepared to retreat, the vines that had covered the ground without harming them suddenly moved again, interlacing behind them to form a massive web, completely sealing off their path!

The aura of decay grew thicker, causing even Ling’er and Chi Ming to feel uncomfortable. The air they inhaled seemed to drain the moisture from their bodies, leaving their throats dry and stinging, as if scorched by fire.

Ling’er summoned her dharma treasure, “Bixu Lingyuan,” and spread a water web across the space, attempting to purify the decay in the air with pure water.

However, it had no effect.

The decay was able to pass directly through the water source, corrupting all life in the area.

“Move!”

Chi Ming shouted, and “Ting Xin” was already drawn. She brandished her blade and slashed directly at the vine web.

The moment the sharp blade severed the vines, the people felt as if they heard the vines let out a scream!

“D-did I hear that wrong?”

“That scream… could it be coming from these vines?”

The atmosphere became incredibly eerie and sinister.

However, the expedition team was not foolish; seeing the web of vines severed, they seized the opportunity and charged outward.

But just as the first few people rushed past the vines, those that should have been broken suddenly acted as if they were searching for a connection point, flying toward their bodies to pierce them!

Faster than a heartbeat, Ling’er’s eyes bloomed with an icy blue glow. She raised her graceful wrist, and 9 streams of cold air precisely struck the vines, freezing them solid!

The scream of the vines rang out once again.

The sound was even more piercing and shrill, unbearable to the ear, like sharp fingernails scratching violently against rusted metal.

Accompanied by the chorus of screams, a powerful aura gradually awoke in the depths ahead.

“It is coming, Little Junior Sister,” Ling’er said, her face sinking as she spoke in a low voice.

Chi Ming nodded solemnly. The next moment, her crimson pupils appeared, and her fire-red hair rose like flames. “Second Senior Sister, I am prepared.”

When the sound of footsteps by her ears faded completely, Ling’er knew the others had finally escaped successfully.

She no longer suppressed the power within her, and cold air poured out, freezing the entire space into ice in an instant.

Ling’er and Chi Ming, one ice and one fire, stood silently in place, waiting for the hidden presence to reveal itself.

***

In the next moment, the ground began to tremble. Heavy footsteps came from ahead, each one seemingly causing the earth to cave in a little more.

Immediately following, a massive black shadow appeared, looming over the two.

Looking closely, it was a giant bull. Its body was covered in flowering vines and branches, and its pair of giant horns were twisted and deformed, yet their tips remained exceptionally sharp.

If one were struck by it, an ordinary cultivator would likely be severely injured on the spot.

“Such heavy demonic aura.” Ling’er stared at the giant bull, ice elemental energy already gathering in her hand, ready to strike in coordination with “Bixu Lingyuan.”

The giant bull roared, its sound as shrill as the screams of the vines when they were severed. Ignoring Ling’er, it charged straight at Chi Ming!

“EXTREME ICE — SEAL!”

Ling’er silently recited the incantation, and 9 giant swords of True Ice descended from the sky, forming a cage to trap the giant bull within.

This technique originally came from the Cold Sword Sect Master Li Tianhan, but after repeated deduction and improvement by Ling’er, it had become her own move.

Facing enemies with high speed or strong impact, she usually used this move to trap them before unleashing the “Falling Dream Prison” to secure a kill in one strike.

However, the impact of this giant bull far exceeded her expectations.

As it smashed forward, the True Ice giant swords shattered instantly, and it continued to charge at Chi Ming without any resistance!

Ling’er felt a jolt of alarm and hurriedly looked at Chi Ming, only to find she had no intention of backing down.

Her fire phoenix dharmic body had already materialized behind her, clearly intending to take the giant bull’s impact head-on!

“Little Junior Sister, that is too reckless! Move!” Ling’er cried out urgently.

But it was too late to dodge now.

The horns of the giant bull collided face-to-face with Chi Ming’s burning blade—

And at that very moment, a scene appeared that Ling’er never expected.