Alert! The Dragon Lord has emerged from seclusion!

Shila-

The black energy on the bone nail clashed fiercely with the Nine Yang True Qi, emitting a piercing corrosive sound, and finally shattered with a "crack"!

"Who is it?!" Ghost Hand exclaimed in shock.

Lin Chen landed, standing in front of Shen Qingqiu, and glanced back at her: "Are you alright?"

Shen Qingqiu was stunned.

This strange man who suddenly appeared emanated a warm aura, like the rising sun.

Under the influence of this aura, the chaotic medicinal spiritual power within her body, caused by the fierce battle, miraculously calmed down somewhat.

Even more strangely, the family heirloom jade pendant she wore close to her body—left to her by her mother and supposedly an engagement token—was now slightly warm.

"Who are you?" she asked instinctively.

"Lin Chen," he replied briefly, his gaze sweeping across the entire room, "the person who came to rescue you."

Ghost Hand sized up Lin Chen, a look of surprise and suspicion flashing in his eyes: "Peak Qi Refining? Boy, you dare to ruin my Netherworld Sect's plans? You're courting death!"

He waved his hand: "Attack together! Capture them alive!"

Five men in black robes pounced at the same time, their malevolent aura spreading outwards, causing the herbs in the cave to wither at a visible rate!

Lin Chen's eyes turned cold.

These heretical practitioners don't even spare plants and trees.

"You are not worthy to stand here."

He clasped his hands together, and the Nine Yang True Qi spun wildly in his palms, transforming into a golden vortex.

The vortex grew larger and larger, radiating intense heat, and the water vapor inside the cave was evaporated, forming a white mist.

"Nine Yang True Fire - Burn Evil!"

The golden vortex suddenly exploded, turning into countless tiny golden sparks that rained down on the five black-robed men!

"Not good! Retreat quickly!" Ghost Hand was horrified; he recognized this as the ultimate technique of the Free and Unfettered Valley.

But it's too late.

The golden sparks may appear tiny, but they contain the supremely yang and powerful Nine Yang True Fire.

The moment the spark touched his body, the malevolent energy on the black-robed man ignited like gasoline meeting fire!

"ah--!"

Screams echoed throughout the cave.

The three black-robed men, all at the late stage of Qi Refining, instantly turned into fire and were burned to ashes in a few breaths.

Although the two peak Qi Refining experts managed to extinguish the flames, they were charred black and collapsed on the ground, severely injured.

Because Ghost Hand retreated quickly, he was only hit by a few sparks, but his sleeves were burned and charred marks were left on his arms.

"Nine Suns Burning Heaven Body...you are from the Valley of Freedom!" he hissed.

The gaunt old man—the third elder of the Netherworld Sect, "True Man of the Withered Wood"—finally turned around.

He looked at Lin Chen, then at the Pure Heart Glazed Grass, a calculating glint in his eyes.

"Ghost Hand, hold him off. I need to get the herb." The withered wood immortal said, reaching for the Pure Heart Glazed Grass with his withered hand.

"How dare you!" Shen Qingqiu shouted, about to rush forward.

Lin Chen stopped her: "Go and rescue the injured guards. Leave this to me."

"But--"

"Believe me."

Looking at Lin Chen's resolute eyes, and then at the Shen family guard lying in a pool of blood not far away, Shen Qingqiu gritted her teeth: "Fine! Be careful, that withered tree is in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage and is skilled in poison techniques!"

She turned and rushed toward the guard, pulled several medicine bottles from the pocket of his white coat, and began first aid.

Lin Chen then faced the withered wood master and the ghost hand, slowly assuming a fighting stance.

He was fighting two opponents, one of whom was in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

This battle will not be easy.

Inside the cave.

The aroma of medicine, the smell of blood, and the smell of gunpowder were mixed together.

The withered fingers of the withered wood immortal were only three inches away from the Pure Heart Glazed Grass. The spiritual grass seemed to sense the threat, its leaves trembled slightly, and it released an even stronger purifying aura.

"Stop!" Lin Chen shouted sharply, his figure shooting towards the withered wood immortal like lightning.

"Your opponent is me!" Ghost Hand grinned maliciously as he intercepted.

Although he was injured, he unleashed his full power as a peak Qi Refining cultivator. His black robe billowed, and his hands transformed into pitch-black ghost claws, carrying a foul stench as he clawed at Lin Chen's face.

Before the ghostly claws even arrived, the malevolent and poisonous aura already assaulted our senses!

Lin Chen neither dodged nor evaded, channeling his Nine Yang True Qi into his right fist, causing the fist to glow with a molten golden-red color: "Get out of my way!"

boom!

Fists and claws collided, creating a shockwave.

Ghost Hand groaned and staggered back seven steps, each step leaving a charred footprint on the ground—the Nine Yang True Fire burned along his meridians, causing excruciating pain.

Lin Chen's body swayed slightly, and three light black claw marks appeared on his fist, but as the Nine Yang True Qi circulated, the black energy was quickly forced out.

Sit down!

"This kid is strange!" Ghost Hand thought with alarm.

"Even though we are both at the peak of Qi Refining, the quality of the opponent's true Qi far surpasses that of mine. It is extremely Yang and strong, completely suppressing Yin Sha techniques."

Withered Wood Immortal glanced at the battle scene, but his withered hand did not stop, instead accelerating its grab towards the Pure Heart Glazed Grass!

He calculated it perfectly—Lin Chen was entangled by the ghost hand, Shen Qingqiu was treating the wounded, and this century-old spiritual herb was within easy reach.

Just as my fingertips were about to touch the leaf, something unexpected happened!

Suddenly, the Pure Heart Glass Grass burst forth with dazzling glassy brilliance, its seven leaves standing upright like blades, their edges gleaming with sharp golden light!

scoff!

Kumu Zhenren reacted extremely quickly, withdrawing his hand and stepping back, but his index and middle fingers were still cut with two deep wounds that exposed the bone.

Instead of bleeding, the wound crystallized rapidly, and glass-like crystals spread upwards along the finger!

"Medicine spirits protecting their master? This girl's control over spirit herbs has reached this level?" Master Kumu was both shocked and furious. Without hesitation, he joined his left hand like a knife and snapped off two fingers of his right hand!

The severed finger fell to the ground and instantly turned into two pieces of glass.

Shen Qingqiu knelt beside a seriously injured guard, pressing the wound with one hand to stop the bleeding, while the other hand formed a strange hand seal.

Her face was pale, and beads of sweat glistened on her forehead, but her eyes remained as calm as ice.

"The Pure Heart Glazed Grass has recognized me as its master. If you want to take it by force, you'll have to kill me."

Her voice wasn't loud, but it carried an undeniable firmness.

What surprised Lin Chen even more was that hundreds of herbs in the entire cave were now subtly resonating with her.

Some poisonous herbs began to release a numbing aura, while others emitted a refreshing medicinal fragrance, neutralizing the malevolent poison.

The body of a medicinal spirit can command all herbs!

The withered wood immortal's face was gloomy, and black energy surged from the severed finger, temporarily stopping the injury.

He looked at Shen Qingqiu, his eyes filled with murderous intent: "Since that's the case, then I'll kill you first, and then take the spirit herb!"

He no longer concealed his cultivation level, and his mid-Foundation Establishment aura erupted in full force!

boom--

The entire cave shook violently, and rubble fell down in a flurry.

Thick, almost tangible Yin energy surged from his body, condensing in the air into a three-zhang-long, pitch-black centipede phantom.

The centipede wriggled its hundreds of legs, and as it opened and closed its mouthparts, it dripped foul-smelling venom, corroding the ground and creating pits.

"A centipede-like poison puppet!" Ghost Hand exclaimed, fear flashing in his eyes. "The Third Elder is serious!"

The withered old man pointed a withered hand at Shen Qingqiu: "Go!"

With a hiss, the pitch-black centipede moved its hundred legs and pounced on Shen Qingqiu as fast as black lightning!

Wherever it passed, the herbs in the cave withered and rotted at a speed visible to the naked eye—this was the "corrosive evil energy" accumulated by the withered wood immortal after a hundred years of arduous cultivation, which was specifically designed to counter the spiritual energy of wood!

Shen Qingqiu's expression was solemn as he formed hand seals, and a bright green aura shone around his body.