When I woke up, the entire cultivation world was talking about my master.

If Chu Xianlan could be manipulated by others, then he wouldn't be himself.

So what if you have spiritual power protecting you? So what if you have high cultivation level?

Our ancestors taught us through blood and tears that few men can withstand such a destructive ritual that would cut off their lineage.

In an instant, all the vines wrapped around her retreated as if startled. Chu Xianlan used all her strength to break free, her clothes were torn in several places by the sharp thorns, and she flew backward swiftly.

Upon landing, the numbness in his hands and feet, caused by the lingering toxins, was excruciating, and he nearly lost his footing.

Fortunately, I don't lack elixirs.

Chu Xianlan quickly pulled out several bottles and jars from her storage bag, all of which were spiritual herbs that she had previously snatched from Ji Cheng'an at the Wanderer Market. They were a wide variety of herbs, and there was nothing else that could be found there.

I was heartbroken at the time, but now I feel it was all worth it! Absolutely worth it!

Animal transformation drug, antidiarrheal drug, seven-times-a-night pill, superhuman strength pill... What the hell is all this stuff! It's getting more and more outrageous... An antidote! I've got it!

The medicinal effects dissipated, and although it didn't completely neutralize the vine's toxins, the feeling of weakness subsided somewhat.

Chu Xianlan, panting heavily, glanced back.

Xie Qingying leaned against the stone wall, her body hunched over, her face contorted, clearly still reeling from the devastating blow.

Xie Qingying raised her eyes listlessly.

The expression on his face was hard to describe; it was probably the frustration of "the cooked duck not only flew away, but also turned around and overturned the pot."

Chu Xianlan gave him a forced smile.

Then, he turned around and rushed towards the fork in the road leading to the entrance of the grotto without looking back.

The powerful wood-elemental spiritual energy relentlessly pursued them, causing plants to grow wildly on the rock walls wherever they passed.

Chu Xianlan moved with lightning speed, but the side passages in the cave were even more bizarre than he had imagined.

It has to be said, Xie the pervert really knows how to pick a location.

There's no way out in this terrain. Let alone his current panicked state, even someone with a great sense of direction would probably be disoriented for a while if they came in here.

How is Master doing?

Since just now, the connection between master and disciple has been completely blocked. It must be due to the fog here. Could it be that Master is still trapped in that pitch-black fog?

If that freak Xie Qingying still has a backup plan, perhaps she's also laid a trap within the fog...

Chu Xianlan forced herself to calm down.

We must not act rashly.

Thinking of this, he took something out of his storage bag and held it in his hand.

Just then, a somber voice almost brushed against his ear, whispering, "Young Fellow Daoist Chu, why are you running? Do you think... you can escape?"

The feeling was like being stuck with something dirty. Chu Xianlan gritted her teeth and looked down to see that the vines had already caught up to her feet.

Xie Qingying had somehow gotten several feet behind him, holding the bottle containing the Drunken Spring Smoke, and directly pulled off the cork!

Chu Xianlan's pupils shrank sharply, and she threw out the Thunder Storage Pearl in her hand.

With a thunderous explosion, flames erupted from the cave!

"Cough cough cough—"

Xie Qingying hadn't expected him to have this trick up his sleeve. The shockwave from the thunder and fire forced her back a step, and the jade bottle containing Drunken Spring Smoke flew out of her hand. Just then, the girl's urgent voice rang out: "Quick, this way!"

In the chaos, Xie Qingying's eyes flashed, and she quickly slipped into the back passage.

We can't stay here any longer.

That troublesome guide actually came looking for us.

Followed by.

The ice-elemental spiritual power, as cold as eternal ice, crushed the entire cave.

The temperature plummeted to freezing point with each breath, deep enough to penetrate to the bone marrow and freeze the soul.

The moment Yi Chen stepped into this place, he heard a buzzing sound in his mind as if something was breaking.

Everything before his eyes assaulted his mind.

An unprecedented rage, like magma breaking through ice, burned away all the usual reason and restraint.

His robes were torn, with ripped pieces of cloth hanging on his body. His hair ornament had long since fallen off, and his long black hair was disheveled and draped down. Blood seeped from the fine wounds on his wrists and ankles.

Yi Chen's dark pupils narrowed to slits. He took off his cloak and draped it over the boy. His eyes seemed to hold a storm, his heart pounded like muffled thunder, and his pent-up anger coalesced into an emotion called loss of control.

Behind him, Ali could no longer withstand the terrifying spiritual pressure of the sword cultivator. The guiding girl's body trembled uncontrollably. Just when Ali thought he was about to be crushed by this horrifying power—

The oppressive force pressing down on their heads disappeared.

"go out."

A voice devoid of any warmth rang out.

Ali was stunned for a moment, then looked up, thinking she was seeing things.

The man in front of me...

When she entered Youxin Valley, she still had a head of black hair that cascaded down her back. Now, her long hair, which fell to her shoulders, was as white as snow. Ali dared not look at her a second time and hurriedly lowered her head, feeling that she had seen a god who should not exist in the world.

Unable to control her instinctive fear, she quietly left.

Once only the two of them remained in the cave, Yi Chen reached out a hand and gently brushed away the strands of hair covering Chu Xianlan's face, only then noticing the tear stains at the corners of the boy's eyes.

He knew his apprentice well; he wasn't strong-willed, but he wouldn't easily show weakness either. He would never have gotten himself into such a sorry state unless the situation was urgent.

Xie Qingying...

Why deliberately create chaos in the mist and abduct people to this hidden cave? What do they want to do? What do they want to get from Chu Xianlan?

After calming down a bit, Yi Chen wanted to further confirm his disciple's condition. Just as he bent down slightly, he saw Chu Xianlan's body tremble slightly, and the cloak wrapped around him slipped down halfway.

Yi Chen's pupils shrank instantly.

What's going on?

Her once smooth and fair skin was now covered with purplish-blue bruises and... inscrutable red marks, some of which were even slightly swollen, making her look particularly glaring and ambiguous.

All the doubts from before have now been answered with the answer I least wanted to believe.

What Xie Qingying wanted to do was self-evident.

If he hadn't arrived in time... if he hadn't made it... the thought of what Xie Qingying might have done to Chu Xianlan caused the murderous intent that had been forcibly suppressed in Yi Chen's chest to surge silently once more.

"Uh-huh……"

Just then, Chu Xianlan, who was wrapped in his cloak, made a few intermittent sounds.

"It's so hot..." The boy unconsciously pressed his cheek against Yi Chen's palm and rubbed it. His voice was not as clear as usual, but rather low and hoarse, with a sticky dampness.

Yi Chen had never heard him make such a sound before, and he was stunned.

A burning sensation swept through her brain, and Chu Xianlan struggled uncomfortably, her face turning from pale to an unnatural flush.

Drowsy, I tilted my head back, instinctively chasing after anything that could bring coolness. My burning forehead pressed against my icy palms, greedily absorbing that little bit of comfort, and a soft gurgling sound like a small animal came from my throat.

not enough.

I moved even closer, pressing my cheek against the cooler spot.

The cool, delicate touch felt like sweet spring water, so comfortable. Chu Xianlan buried her entire burning hot cheek in it with satisfaction, rubbing it back and forth.

Not enough... still not enough...

Hot, soft lips, dazed and slow, moved upwards along that section of cold, white skin.

By the time Yi Chen realized what was happening and tried to stop it, it was too late.

The head that had been buried in his neck tilted back.

The scorching heat was right next to my face.

The next second, my lips suddenly felt warm.