Alert! The Dragon Lord has emerged from seclusion!

The Nine Yang True Qi within his body erupted excessively under the blessing of the Glazed Cleansing Barrier, and at this moment the effects of the medicine began to wane, and the backlash from the Burning Heaven Body surged like a tidal wave.

That familiar burning sensation rose from my dantian and quickly spread throughout my limbs and bones, as if my meridians were being washed by magma!

He groaned, knelt on one knee, veins bulging on his forehead, and sweat pouring down his face.

"Lin Chen!" Shen Qingqiu rushed forward, took his pulse, and his expression changed drastically. "The yang energy in your body has gone berserk to the breaking point. It must be regulated immediately, otherwise..."

"Otherwise, he'll explode and die." Lin Chen gritted his teeth and squeezed out the words, "I know... but we can't let Master Kumu go. If he escapes back to the Netherworld Sect to report..."

"He can't leave," Shen Qingqiu said calmly, his gaze fixed on the depths of the cave. "You've forgotten that this is the core area of ​​the Shen family's medicinal herb garden."

She formed a mudra with her hands and chanted an ancient incantation.

As the incantation was chanted, the entire cave floor, walls, and dome simultaneously lit up with densely packed runes—a protective array set up by the Shen family over three hundred years!

"The Medicine King's Demon-Sealing Formation, activate!"

Rumbling--

The cave walls split open into twelve hidden doors, each leading to a three-meter-tall stone statue of the Medicine King.

The stone statues, some holding pestles, some carrying medicine cauldrons, and some holding medicine scriptures, completely blocked the escape route of the withered wood immortal.

Even more astonishingly, after the formation was activated, the withered herbs inside the cave began to revive!

The plants that had been eroded by the corrupting and malevolent energy sprouted new buds under the nourishment of the array, exuding a rich life force.

"Even a withered tree can be used as firewood when it comes back to life." Shen Qingqiu looked at the withered tree immortal trapped in the center of the formation. "Your corrupting and evil energy is based on plundering life force, but in this Medicine King's Demon Sealing Formation, life force is endless."

"The more you plunder, the stronger the backlash from the formation will be."

The face of the withered wood immortal was as pale as paper.

He could indeed feel that with each wisp of life force he absorbed from the array, his body became more sluggish.

Those stimuli, like a gentle poison, were slowly but steadily eroding his physical strength.

"Well...well, well done, the Shen family! Well done, the Medicine Spirit Body!" Master Kumu laughed bitterly, "But do you think this can trap me?"

He suddenly ripped open the front of his shirt, revealing his emaciated chest.

In the heart area, there is a domino that is as black as ink.

The dominoes, engraved with eerie runes, were now emitting a chilling aura.

"With my century of cultivation, I offer my soul as a sacrifice—Netherworld Escape!"

The withered tree master bit his tongue, spitting his blood onto the dominoes.

The dominoes suddenly burst forth with blinding black light, and within the black light, his body began to ethereal, as if about to merge into the void.

"He's burning his very essence to use a stealth technique!" Lin Chen endured the excruciating pain as he stood up. "We can't let him escape!"

Shen Qingqiu's expression was solemn. His hand seals changed rapidly, and the twelve Medicine King statues simultaneously raised their objects, shooting out twelve beams of cyan light that intertwined to form a large net that enveloped the withered wood immortal.

However, the Netherworld Escape is a life-saving secret technique of the Netherworld Sect, and its speed is too fast when its source energy is burned!

The body of the withered wood immortal has become seventy percent ethereal, and he is about to vanish into the void—

Just then, an old man's angry shout came from the cave entrance: "You hurt my granddaughter, destroyed my medicinal herb garden, and you think you can leave?!"

A figure in blue swept into the cave like a whirlwind.

Before the person even arrived, a bronze medicine cauldron had already smashed down from mid-air!

The medicine cauldron was only the size of a palm, yet it weighed as much as a mountain.

The cauldron is covered with ancient medicinal patterns and spins rapidly in the air, doubling in size with each rotation.

When it flew to the top of the withered tree master's head, it had already transformed into a giant cauldron three zhang long!

"The Shen family's most treasured artifact—the Shennong Cauldron?!" Master Kumu was horrified and tried to flee, but the giant cauldron crashed down.

Boom-!

A deafening roar, like the grandest bell in Chinese history, echoed through the cave.

The giant cauldron suppressed the withered wood immortal and the domino together.

The dominoes shattered under the strain, and the Netherworld Escape Technique was forcibly interrupted.

With a scream, the withered wood immortal solidified his ethereal body, was pressed to the ground by the giant cauldron, blood flowed from his seven orifices, and his aura was extremely weak.

The dust has settled.

An elderly man with white hair and beard, dressed in a blue robe, landed beside the giant cauldron. He was none other than Shen Wanlin, the head of the Shen family.

Although he was over seventy years old, his complexion was ruddy, his eyes were sharp as an eagle, and he exuded a rich medicinal fragrance and a powerful aura—he was actually at the early stage of Foundation Establishment!

"Grandpa!" Shen Qingqiu exclaimed in surprise.

Shen Wanlin nodded to his granddaughter, his gaze falling on Lin Chen, a look of surprise and realization flashing in his eyes: "Nine Yang Burning Heaven Physique...you're Lin Chen? The person Brother Qin and Brother Ye mentioned in their letters?"

Lin Chen forced himself to bow and said, "Junior Lin Chen greets Old Master Shen."

Shen Wanlin quickly stepped forward, took Lin Chen's pulse, and after a moment his expression turned grave: "The rampant yang energy has damaged the heart meridian, and he must be treated immediately."

"Qingqiu, take three drops of Qingxin Liuli Herbal Essence and combine it with 'Yin Yang Harmony Powder,' quick!"

"Yes!" Shen Qingqiu walked towards the Qingxin Glazed Grass without hesitation, gently picked off three leaves, and squeezed out the crystal-clear juice.

Before Lin Chen could say anything, Shen Wanlin waved his hand: "Heal your injuries first, we can talk about other things later. Don't worry, with me here, those scum from the Netherworld Sect won't be able to cause any trouble."

He looked at the withered wood immortal who was suppressed by the Shennong Cauldron, snorted coldly, and grabbed at the air with his withered hand.

A black jade slip, several medicine bottles, and a compass engraved with the Big Dipper constellation flew out of the old man's arms.

Shen Wanlin caught the compass and examined it carefully, his expression growing increasingly grim: "The Seven Star Positioning Compass... The Netherworld Sect is indeed plotting the 'Seven Yin Convergence'."

He looked at Lin Chen, then at Shen Qingqiu, and finally his gaze fell on the jade pendant on his granddaughter's chest. He sighed, "What was bound to happen has finally happened."

"Qingqiu, you should heal Lin Xiaoyou's injuries first. After that... Grandpa has something to tell you."

Shen Qingqiu nodded and carried the prepared medicine to Lin Chen's side.

The liquid is amber in color and emits a wonderful aroma that blends coolness and warmth.

She helped Lin Chen up and carefully fed him the medicine.

The medicine, once inhaled, felt like a sweet spring nourishing parched earth.

The raging Nine Yang True Qi gradually calmed down under the guidance of the medicine, and the burning sensation quickly subsided.

Even more remarkably, the Qingxin Liuli herbal essence contained in the medicine left a trace of pure, cold yin energy in Lin Chen's dantian, forming a subtle balance with the Nine Yang True Qi.

Lin Chen sat cross-legged to regulate his breathing, his body glowing with a golden-red light that flickered before slowly receding.

Half an incense stick later, he opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.

The breath condensed into white mist in the air, lingering for a long time.

"How are you feeling?" Shen Qingqiu asked, still calm, but with concern in his eyes.

"Much better." Lin Chen stood up, feeling an unprecedented sense of balance within his body. "The Clear Heart Glazed Grass truly lives up to its name."

"Miss Shen's medicine-dispensing skills are even more exquisite."

Shen Qingqiu shook his head slightly: "It's because you have a solid foundation. Although the Nine Yang Burning Heaven Body is dangerous, if you can harmonize Yin and Yang, your future is limitless."