Minglong

Chapter 228 Mental harm is also harm
After smashing through the cracks in the rock strata, Xie Jinhuan followed the ghost for more than thirty miles, and then the firelight reappeared ahead.

Although the ghost's guidance made the search easy, the three dared not marvel at how effortless it had been; they were only thinking about how to safely retreat after filling their bags.

Bu Yuehua secretly prayed to all ten ancestral witches, but relying on them temporarily was clearly not enough to resolve the current predicament. Along the way, she took out a pill from her waist and handed it to Nangong Ye:
"If we take away all the opportunities, there will be disturbances underground, and we might even encounter opponents when we get out. Let's take the medicine first, and then we'll find another one for Xie Jinhuan after we get out."

Bu Yuehua held the 'Heavenly Secret Pill' in her hand, which was used to build a bridge between heaven and earth, allowing cultivators to cross the threshold of becoming celestial beings and thus master the power of heaven and earth to achieve a qualitative change. The 'Breaking Evil Pill' had the same effect, but it was just a side effect of the Heavenly Secret Pill. It was suitable for witchcraft and immortality sects, while the 'Breaking Evil Pill' was suitable for martial artists.

Within the Phoenix Mausoleum, it is difficult for anyone to mobilize the power of heaven and earth. There is not much difference between the peak of the first grade and the early stage of the super grade, but after returning to the surface, they are like immortals and mortals.

Nangong Ye felt that even after consuming the breakthrough pill, the three of them would have a hard time defeating the second-in-command of the Divination Sect. However, with the help of the immortal artifact and the uncanny ability to find their way, retreating wouldn't be a big problem. Therefore, he took out the Demon-Slaying Pill he had obtained from the Imperial Observatory and handed it to Bu Yuehua, who was also a martial artist, to maximize the benefits.

Xie Jinhuan had originally intended for Bing Tuozi to break through to the next realm first, but she was slightly puzzled when Senior Sister Hua also took out a pill:

"Where did this pill come from?"

Bu Yuehua clearly didn't want to bring up their past grievances, so she simply explained:
"It was a gift from our sect. My junior sister Mu and I have always been fighting over this. Now that we have two, there's no need to fight anymore. After we get out, we'll find you a tiger bone vine together."

Xie Jinhuan naturally did not refuse this kindness and quickly walked to the firelight.

After swallowing the Heavenly Mystery Pill, Nangong Ye's limbs and Qi Sea did not change much, but a vast divine soul power surged from his body and gradually spread to his limbs and bones, giving him a feeling of sudden awakening.

The scattered power of heaven and earth seemed to have established a connection with the body, and could be controlled and intervened without relying on the 'Fire Spirit Pearl' pendant hanging around the neck.

However, the power of heaven and earth within Phoenix Tomb was too strong for her small arms and legs to control. As a result, no abnormalities occurred on her body. While digesting the medicinal properties, she slid into the crevice of the rock layer and began to refine the last bit of opportunity.

After taking the Demon-Slaying Pill, Bu Yuehua felt much the same way, but her bones and physique were being nourished by the medicinal properties. A sense of murderous intent appeared between her serene brows. She immediately took the Yin-Yang Ruler and sat cross-legged in front of it, protecting herself while absorbing the medicinal properties with all her heart.

Because the crack was narrow, the flames were below the crack, not enough for three people to stand. Xie Jinhuan straddled the rock walls on both sides with his legs in a split position, and peered through the crack to look at the irregular cracks on the left and right.

Huhu~
A gentle breeze swirled through the narrow gaps, and the entire underground fell into silence.

Xie Jinhuan appeared calm on the surface, but in reality, he was secretly praying that the ghost would protect him and prevent any further trouble. He wanted to finish up quickly and get back to Tuotuo and then to Northern Zhou. He was carrying a full load of powerful equipment and couldn't retreat; the pressure was simply too great...

Unfortunately, it seemed that fate was determined to test him.

The three remained silent for about half an hour. Before the opportunity had been fully refined, Ye Hongshang, who was floating in front of him, frowned again:
"Why is that old Taoist priest still haunting us?"

Xie Jinhuan frowned, feeling that if he didn't get rid of this old Bi Deng in the future, he would be letting down the treatment he had received with such relentless pursuit.

He looked down and saw that the ice block would probably take another quarter of an hour to be refined. Because he needed to maintain the protective distance, he couldn't personally control the Yin-Yang Ruler, so Senior Sister Hua had to protect him.

He traveled within the protection of the Yin-Yang Ruler, without expending too much energy. If he left the protection zone, he could probably hold out for a short while with his own true energy, but he wouldn't be able to return to the surface. However, with the ghost's navigation, he could buy enough time.

Xie Jinhuan considered for a moment, then lowered his head and said:
"You guys refine it as soon as possible. I'll go block the road to prevent Lü Yan from coming here."

Nangong Ye frowned and turned around:

"Don't run around! You can't withstand the intense heat here!"

Bu Yuehua also quickly finished her training:
"Lu Yan is here? Should I go and lure him away..."

"If you don't know the way, just leave it to me."

"Eh?!"

Both of them looked anxious and wanted to call out to stop, but Xie Jinhuan had already leaped out of the crevice.

Call ~
As they were removed from the protective range of the Yin-Yang Ruler, an indescribable heat pressed down from all directions.

The intense heat felt like being in a bronze chamber, with all sides scorched red by the raging fire. There wasn't a drop of moisture inside, only pure yang fire seeping in from all directions.

Xie Jinhuan had not tried it before, but now he suddenly understood why living beings could not enter this place in advance—the depths of Phoenix Tomb are a deep sea composed of pure power of heaven and earth.

Although it is difficult to see with the naked eye, the density of the power of heaven and earth here far exceeds that within the body. The pressure is too great, not only can it not be mobilized, but it will also seep into the body from all parts of the body.

Unrefined power of heaven and earth is extremely violent. Once the body is eroded, it will quickly turn into a dried corpse. To survive, one can only use one's own energy to counteract it and form a protective layer. The difference in power between them is huge. Once the energy sea is exhausted, one will die on the spot.

Xie Jinhuan used his own aura to isolate his body surface, but he still felt as if he had jumped directly from an air-conditioned room into a scorching desert. However, having been tempered by the "adding fuel to the fire" pill multiple times, he didn't really react much. After glancing around, he quietly slipped into a crack, then drew his Heavenly Gang Mace and blasted it against the rock wall:

Boom——

The rock strata immediately collapsed, blocking the crack and cutting off the light and the two people who were refining their opportunity.

About half a mile away.

Holding the Fire Order, Lü Yan led his juniors through the rock crevices. Knowing that Xie Jinhuan was no fool and that there must be a trap for him to deliberately lure him here, they proceeded with great caution, suppressing all sounds.

A sudden roar echoed from not far away, causing Lü Yan to abruptly stop, and Xi Yanjun also halted.

"What's the noise?"

"Shh..."

In this place, Lü Yan couldn't use the power of heaven and earth to sense movements; he could only use the ancient method of investigation—listening attentively.

It turned out that the other party didn't seem to have any intention of hiding anything, and directly opened a mouth in the winding, twisting crack:
"You actually dared to come here. I, Xie, have been waiting for you for a long time."

?

Lu Yan's face darkened, and he quickly scanned his left and right to see if there was an ambush.

But in this godforsaken place, what kind of ambush could there be besides collapsing the rock strata to hit him?
"Young friend Xie has great courage. I have already offered my respects. It is you who refuses to listen to my offer and will have to suffer the consequences. No matter who your superior is, we must settle this score."

"I already gave Master Lü a chance. If you don't leave, don't blame me for disregarding our shared righteous path. This Flame-Controlling Token you have is a renowned magical artifact..."

"..."

Lu Yan frowned, feeling that Xie Jinhuan's tone was a bit too harsh.

However, as a master of the Five Elements Fire Technique, Lü Yan had a rather explosive temper. He simply refused to believe that a first-rank martial artist could kill him, the vice president of the Divination Sect, with a single finger flick!

Seeing that the other party was very confident, Lü Yan didn't say much and silently followed the sound, while keeping an eye on his two female accomplices.

Xie Jinhuan may have a tough tone, but if Lü Yan were to unleash a blazing true fire, he would be reduced to ashes on the spot without the protection of the Yin-Yang Ruler. Therefore, he couldn't afford to be touched by Lü Yan.

As they navigated the intricate maze, the ghost bride, for easier guidance, held up a crystal ball, inside which yang fire spread out in a radius of hundreds of feet.

Because the Yang Fire filled every corner, the crisscrossing golden and red lines naturally formed the surrounding map. Lu Yan and his companion were located outside the three intersections, where they could see the cavity where the Yang Fire was blocked.

Xie Jinhuan first lured Lü Yan to a location far from the ice mound, while simultaneously searching his body for usable resources.

He came fully prepared for this trip, bringing all sorts of miscellaneous possessions with him, but items like the Ice Scale Armor, Yellow Scale Seal, and Qilin-carrying Book Pendant were now completely unreliable; in dire straits, he would still have to rely on the Great Immortal Zisu…

Even with a pill that boosts one's cultivation, he still can't defeat him; his constant smiling and sarcastic manner will only make Lü Yan laugh himself to death...

Those who eat until they're stuffed and then frantically try to cultivate their Qi in this place will die on the spot, but they can't be fed the pills; the same thing happens when they try to carve up a lump of pills...

Like glue and lacquer, inseparable...

?

Xie Jinhuan's eyes flickered. He felt that this thing might not be able to poison Lü Yan, but the little bastard following behind him was not very skilled!
Although this action wouldn't harm Lü Yan's physical body, mental damage is still damage. Disrupting Lü Yan's mental state would give him an opportunity to retaliate... Thinking of this, Xie Jinhuan's heart stirred. He first observed the terrain and the two people's positions, and then quickly took action...

……

Tread~
Hearing the commotion in the distance, Lü Yan swiftly traversed the crisscrossing cracks. After chasing for a while, he was surprised to find that this young man was indeed quite capable.

He had no idea where he was going, while the boy just wandered around like he was at home, turning left and right, but never going into a dead end.

They were about half a mile apart. He could burn them with fire magic, but if the boy reacted quickly enough to seal the crack, he could stop the flames. So there was no point in attacking from such a distance.

Seeing that the other party was only running away, Lü Yan spoke again:
"You were able to penetrate this place only because of the protection of the Yin-Yang Ruler. Now that you've separated, if you didn't have the Yin-Yang Ruler, you wouldn't last a quarter of an hour; if you did have it, they wouldn't live much longer. Do you think this roundabout way is meaningful?"

Xie Jinhuan, who had been darting around in the distance, seemed to realize that going in circles like this was pointless, so he stopped somewhere and fell silent.

?

Lu Yan frowned and quietly approached the crevice where the figure had disappeared. Leaning against the rock wall, he listened carefully and could sense the flow of energy deep within the crevice that isolated the Yang Fire. The crevice should be a straight line, about seventy feet long, and the figure had not moved.

Unsure of Xie Jinhuan's intentions, Lü Yan slightly raised his hand, alerting Xi Yanjun, who was under his protection.

Xi Yanjun, a direct descendant with solid skills, leaned against the recessed corner of the rock wall without being instructed, so as not to be injured by the aftershocks of the energy.

Lu Yan flashed through the entrance of the crevice, and halfway through, he slightly flipped his left hand, and a golden-red line of fire shot out like a sharp arrow, instantly piercing through the narrow tunnel of more than seventy feet, illuminating all the scenery.

huh~
Xie Jinhuan stood at the end of the passage with his Heavenly Gang Mace, ready to shatter the crack and block the raging fire at any time. However, he realized that the opponent was only making a probing attack, so he changed his strategy and used the Panlong Henggang to protect himself in the crack.

boom--

The fire line appeared to be only as thick as a finger, but when it shot to the rock wall at its end, it still blasted a hole the size of a washbasin. The rock melted, and the aftershocks of the flames instantly swept around.

Xie Jinhuan used the "Dragon Soaring Through the Mountain" technique to isolate himself from the aftershocks, but the intense heat still scorched his clothes, causing a burning sensation on his skin. However, he endured it, and once the aftershocks dissipated, he sneered:

"The dignified sect leader of Five Spirits Mountain is so cautious when dealing with a mere first-rank martial artist like me. If our cultivation levels were reversed, you wouldn't even survive a single move."

Lu Yan noticed that Xie Jinhuan didn't have the Yin-Yang Ruler and was alone, which puzzled him. He replied:
"I'm giving you one last chance. If Ling Guang bestows a share, I'll let you leave. Otherwise, even if you are truly a direct descendant of Ye Ci, dying here is your own fault for being greedy and reckless. My Zhanyan Sect isn't without ancestors, and we don't fear Ye Ci."

The old leader of the Divination Sect was Huang Lin Zhenren, the leader of the righteous path in Northern Zhou during the chaos of the Witchcraft Sect. He was known as one of the "Three Immortals of the Northern Frontier" along with the Northern Zhou Goddess of War and the High Priest of the Sacrifice Sect. He was of the same generation as Ye Ci and others.

According to records, Bodhisattva Yu Nian passed away at Tiantai Temple due to injuries; the Northern Zhou female warrior was corrupted by demonic energy during the strangulation of the Corpse Ancestor, and to prevent herself from becoming a demon and bringing disaster to the world, she underwent corpse dissolution at Dengxiantai after the Fengbo Tower incident; and Huang Lin Zhenren also seemed to have been injured, and later, like Qixia Zhenren, he went into seclusion to cultivate life and death. If he had not passed away, then he would indeed not be afraid of Ye Ci.

Fortunately, Xie Jinhuan didn't expect Ye Sheng to back him up, and responded at this moment:
"What I've eaten, you can't take away. But if you're willing to compensate me with a portion of Styx Grass, I can keep it a secret to prevent you from ruining your reputation in your later years."

Lu Yan was baffled: "What do you mean?"

"You used the Fire-Controlling Token to isolate yourself from the surroundings, and like me, you held your breath and crept in. Naturally, you couldn't smell anything around you. Of course, that thing is also colorless and odorless; it takes effect as soon as it touches your clothes. It's truly an essential item for traveling the martial world..."

?

Lu Yan frowned, thinking that Xie Jinhuan had set up some kind of Immortal-Slaying Poison Array here, and cautiously looked around.

Nothing seemed amiss around him, but Xi Yanjun, who was leaning against the opposite side of the crack, suddenly became somewhat dazed. Then, he flashed out and leaned against him, giving him a bear hug.
"Uncle-Master~ I'm so hot..."

Holy shit!!!
Xie Jinhuan, standing on the other side of the crevice, felt a chill run down his spine. He thought to himself that the Great Immortal Zisu truly lived up to his name; he said he would hug the person next to him, and he did. Forget about the gender for now, just tell me whether he hugged them or not...

Caught off guard, Lü Yan was stunned. When he realized that this little brat had acted recklessly, he raised his hand, intending to turn this wretched creature into ashes.

But he couldn't kill the direct descendant of the sect leader, so he could only use his strength to shake the bastard away.

But Xi Yanjun was like a madman, clinging tightly to his body with both hands and feet, as if he wanted to squeeze himself into his uncle's body...

Damn it!
Lu Yan was so disgusted he almost vomited up his stomach acid, so he had no choice but to knock this useless junior disciple unconscious.

But Xie Jinhuan, as disgusting as he was, didn't watch the show.

Just as Xi Yanjun made his move, Xie Jinhuan was already charging forward at full speed with his Heavenly Gang Mace. In the blink of an eye, he had passed through a crevice over seventy feet long. Because his Qi Sea was almost depleted, he dared not waste it. He intended to close the distance and then strike the corner of the rock wall where the two were hiding with another Black Dragon Strike Pillar.

But Lü Yan sensed something was wrong and, disregarding the filthy things on his body, he flashed out. His arms were restrained, so he formed a fire seal with his left hand and a fire command with his right:
"Leave!"

boom--

Even though he could only rely on his own power, and his Dao heart was unstable and his techniques were hindered, Lu Yan's casual fire technique was still terrifyingly powerful!

As the Fire Edict revealed its golden-red light, hundreds of shooting stars shot out in front of him in an instant, like a meteor shower streaking across a rift.

Seeing that there was no chance to get close, Xie Jinhuan immediately darted into the rock wall in the middle of the path, and behind him was:

Boom boom boom...

The rock strata cracked as if they had been riddled with machine gun fire, and the rocks shattered, spewing out a shower of fire and leaving nearly a hundred reddish-brown pits the size of washbasins.

Just by looking at this situation, Xie Jinhuan knew that the difference in their cultivation levels was so great that even if they were separated by only one finger, it would be difficult for him to kill them by force. He immediately gave up the idea of ​​fighting back and instead tried to maneuver and fight back in the maze.

Enraged, Lü Yan knocked out his useless junior disciple with a single palm strike. Although he broke free of his restraints, Xi Yanjun was in a dazed state and would immediately turn into a dried-up corpse if he left the protection. For now, Lü Yanjun could only chase after him with one arm.

Although the impact was negligible, the mental damage was immense. Lü Yan's Dao heart was about to explode. Holding the Fire Edict Token, he roared angrily:
"You cunning little thief, if I don't turn you to ashes today, how will I have the face to walk in this world..."

Xie Jinhuan darted through the maze, occasionally smashing cracks to block his path. To prevent Lü Yan from interfering with the ice block, he deliberately provoked him:
"Come on, come on..."

After traversing for a short while, a loud roar sounded not far away:
Boom——

Nangong Ye and Bu Yuehua smashed through the pile of rocks and rushed out. Just by hearing Lü Yan's murderous roar, they knew that today was going to be a fight to the death, so they immediately rushed over to help.

Xie Jinhuan changed course and charged towards the ice mound, simultaneously bombarding the rock wall to block all routes:
"go!"

All three had exhausted their Qi Sea and were unable to fight. Now that they had seized the opportunity, they shouldn't linger in a fight.

Seeing Xie Jinhuan rushing towards the crevice in the rock strata at full speed, Bu Yuehua followed in his Yin-Yang Ruler, sheltering him within.

Seeing Xie Jinhuan delay for a moment, his lips were cracked and his skin was red from being ravaged by the Yang Fire, and Nangong Ye's heart almost melted, but he really didn't have time to ask him how he was doing.

Xie Jinhuan was indeed greatly exhausted, but not to the point of being completely drained. Once back inside the protection of the Yin-Yang Ruler, he felt as if he had been reborn. Along the way, he used the Heavenly Gang Mace to strike the rock walls, blocking the route and trying to imprison the crazed old man Lü Yan inside.

But Lü Yan had already gone berserk, and at this moment he had put aside all matters of chance, focusing solely on smashing through the collapsing rocks in pursuit.

Boom boom boom——

Fortunately, creating obstacles is much easier than clearing them.

The three of them ran around aimlessly, gradually widening the distance between them. Following the ghost wife's guidance, they quickly approached the surface of the earth. Even without the Yin-Yang Ruler, they could barely withstand the gradually dissipating Yang Fire that had lost its source.

Lu Yan, on the other hand, was left several miles behind. He could only hear faint "boom boom boom" sounds. Without navigation, he had to take a detour to find them, and it was impossible for him to catch up with them in a short time.

Seeing the starlight and moonlight appear ahead, and that they were about to reach the exit, the three felt that their mission was accomplished. They couldn't help but feel a sense of triumph and joy in their eyes.

But soon, the three realized they had been too hasty in their celebration!
There's one more chapter, currently being revised (or 2)!

(End of this chapter)