Chapter 113

"This is the movement technique that Bai Laosan practiced..."

Jiang Ye's eyes lit up instantly, and the corners of his mouth hooked into a satisfied arc.

Bai Laosan's eerie shadow-splitting technique and that elusive movement technique had both left a deep impression on him.

It was hard to imagine that those were means a Transformation of Force martial artist could possess.

He couldn't wait to flip open the pages, preparing to study it thoroughly.

A burst of hurried footsteps came from deep within the passage, approaching from afar.

"Is that Zheng Feng and the others?"

Jiang Ye's heart stirred; he quickly tucked the secret manual into his bosom and stood up slowly.

A moment later, Zheng Feng arrived in a hurry with Zheng Hui.

He saw the headless corpse on the ground at a glance, and an irrepressible ecstasy erupted on that delicate and handsome face: "Elder Jiang, you took care of Bai Laosan?!"

"Hmm."

Jiang Ye nodded slightly.

"Elder Jiang is so ruthless... why is it always a headshot every time..."

Zheng Hui covered her small mouth, her round, dark eyes wide open, exclaiming in a low voice.

She glanced at Bai Laosan's gruesome corpse, then secretly peeked at the calm-faced Jiang Ye, shrinking her neck and muttering inwardly: This Elder Jiang looks kind and benevolent, but he really shows no mercy when he strikes.

Zheng Feng, on the other hand, was full of satisfaction, wishing he could roar toward the sky: "Dealing with such evil thieves, this is exactly what should be done! Elder Jiang did a beautiful job!"

He clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking, and if there hadn't been people around, he would have wanted to give Bai Laosan's corpse another kick to vent the hatred in his heart.

"By the way, True Disciple Zheng, this is what I obtained from Bai Laosan; do you know what this is?"

Jiang Ye took the small sapling from his bosom and handed it to Zheng Feng.

The small sapling was only the size of a palm, yet its branches and leaves were emerald green and dripping, glowing with a faint green light in the dim passage, and a lush vitality rushed toward them, making one feel refreshed just by smelling it.

Zheng Feng took the small sapling, examining it back and forth for a good while, then suddenly patted his head, a flash of realization in his eyes: "Elder Jiang, this seems to be Green Wood Vine..."

"Oh? Green Wood Vine? Sounds like a wood-attribute spiritual plant."

Jiang Ye raised his eyebrows slightly.

"Yes!" Zheng Feng nodded heavily, carefully handing the small sapling back to Jiang Ye, lowering his voice to explain:

"This is a wood-attribute spiritual plant; its main effect is to help martial artists nourish wood qi and accelerate the cultivation of wood-element true qi. For martial artists practicing wood-element true qi, this is a rare treasure!"

As he spoke, he leaned in closer, his voice dropping even lower:

"Elder Jiang, if you don't intend to sell this Green Wood Vine for the time being, you must hide it well."

"If those two elders from Green Wood Peak see it, they will definitely pester you... especially that Elder Hua of the outer sect; you must be even more careful."

"He also practices wood-element true qi and is most covetous of such spiritual plants."

Jiang Ye nodded thoughtfully, tucking the Green Wood Vine close to his body: "Many thanks for the reminder, True Disciple Zheng."

He had originally planned to exchange for that wood-element true qi nourishing method after returning to the sect; this Green Wood Vine was of great use to him, so he naturally wouldn't take it out to sell.

"By the way, Elder Jiang."

Zheng Feng's gaze fell on the scattered ice flowers and stone fragments flying everywhere on the ground, a flash of shock in his eyes: "Looking at the traces around here, have you also fought with other Embracing the Pill Realm martial artists?"

"Hmm, that Purple Boss wanted to save Bai Laosan, so this old man exchanged a few moves with her."

Jiang Ye spoke with a calm expression.

"Purple Boss?"

Zheng Feng's voice suddenly rose, a look of horror appearing on his face, and he couldn't help but exclaim: "Elder Jiang is truly a god-like man!"

A moment later, he finally came to his senses and asked urgently: "Elder Jiang, did you see the appearance of that Purple Boss clearly? Who exactly is this devil? Our Profound Heaven Sect has been investigating them for so many years, and we haven't even figured out if they are male or female!"

Jiang Ye shook his head slightly, his tone carrying a bit of regret: "No. That person was dressed in purple robes, covered tightly, and even their face could not be seen clearly. This old man originally wanted to take them down, but unfortunately, they escaped using Cold Jade Beads."

Zheng Feng was full of regret, unable to help but stomp his feet, "It's a pity I arrived a step late; otherwise, with the two of us joining forces, we would definitely have been able to take that devil down!"

Jiang Ye smiled faintly, noncommittal, "It is indeed a pity, but there will be opportunities in the future!"

"Yes, there will be opportunities!"

Zheng Feng nodded heavily, fighting spirit igniting in his eyes: "As long as the opponent is also within these ruins, we will eventually run into them again!"

Subsequently, the three of them did not delay, rushing back along the fork they had come from.

Zheng Hui ran at the very back, looking back from time to time, as if afraid that the Purple Boss would pop out from some corner again.

"Xu Xu Shijie Yiyi... Xu Xu Shijie Yiyi..."

A hazy calling sound came to her ears, as if drifting from a very far place, and yet as if it were right at hand.

Liu Yiyi opened her eyes in a daze; what entered her vision was a small, pale face filled with concern.

It was none other than Wang Siyi.

The young girl's lips were still somewhat pale, but her eyes were astonishingly bright, staring at her without blinking.

"Junior Xu Xu Shijie Wang... how is your injury..."

Liu Yiyi woke up instantly, subconsciously wanting to sit up, but her mind was still somewhat chaotic; the long dream from just before was still flickering before her eyes, and she couldn't distinguish whether it was a dream or reality.

"I fed this girl elixirs and also used true qi to help her heal; there is no longer any danger to her life."

Xie Tang spoke with a smile on the side, his refined face full of gentleness.

"Hehe, thanks to Uncle Xie, I've picked up my life again!"

Wang Siyi laughed, her pretty face showing the joy of surviving a disaster; her carefree appearance made it seem as if the person who had been beaten to the point of vomiting blood just now wasn't her.

"It's good that you're fine."

Liu Yiyi let out a long sigh of relief, simultaneously rising and bowing slightly to Xie Tang, "Many thanks, Uncle Xie."

Xie Tang waved his hand slightly with a smile, his tone full of the kindness of an elder: "It's just a small matter, no need to thank me. Speaking of which, you should thank Elder Jiang properly later. If it weren't for him taking action and using true qi to help you clear the cold, you would have been in danger."

Hearing these words, Liu Yiyi was slightly stunned.

In her chaotic mind, she vaguely recalled some scenes from before—after she swallowed that snow lotus, her whole person felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, her consciousness blurring bit by bit, and then she had a very, very long dream.

In that dream, the gray, hazy sky was broken open, a sun descended from the sky, growing larger and brighter, and finally slowly entered her body.

Afterward, she no longer felt cold; instead, she was wrapped in a boundless warmth, comfortable to the extreme.

"So it was Elder Jiang who used true qi to help me expel the cold..." A flash of trance passed through Liu Yiyi's cold, beautiful eyes.

The memories from the dream and the fragments of reality intertwined, making her unable to distinguish what was a dream and what was real.

She only remembered that scorching true qi; it was really so hot, so warm.

Xie Tang nodded slightly, his tone carrying a bit of gratification: "Yiyi, you have gained a blessing in disguise this time."

"The snow lotus you ate is called 'Heavenly Heart Ice Seed Lotus', which can improve a person's bone structure to a certain extent. You already have superior bone structure and good talent. With your bone structure improved further, you can already be called gifted; compared to the inner sect's true disciple Wen Yunyao, you are not inferior at all."

He paused, his gaze full of expectation: "With your current aptitude, even with Hidden Force strength, you can be admitted to the inner sect as an exception. Think about it carefully; what true qi do you intend to practice in the future, and which peak do you intend to join."

The look of trance on Liu Yiyi's face grew even thicker.

This was too sudden, right?

Just by swallowing a snow lotus, her bone structure had actually improved again?

And she could be admitted to the inner sect as an exception?

She subconsciously clenched her sleeves, her heart beating somewhat fast.

Wang Siyi on the side was full of envy, with a trace of reluctance in the depths of her eyes, pulling on Liu Yiyi's sleeve and muttering in a low voice: "Xu Xu Shijie Yiyi, when you enter the inner sect in the future, don't forget me."

Liu Yiyi came to her senses, looking with complex eyes at this little girl who had followed her all the way and had even fought to block in front of her just now, gently holding her hand, her voice cold yet carrying a bit of softness: "I will always remember you."

"Xu Xu Shijie Yiyi!!!"

Wang Siyi, who had been pale from injury, had her small face flush with excitement, her eye sockets also turning red.

Just at this moment, footsteps came from deep within the passage.

Jiang Ye and Zheng Feng returned with Zheng Hui.

Upon seeing that withered, thin figure, Liu Yiyi, who was usually cold, recalled the scorching true qi in her mind; an inexplicable shyness rose from the bottom of her heart, and a shallow blush appeared on her fair face.

She took a deep breath, suppressing the indescribable palpitation in her heart, walked forward slowly, and bowed slightly to Jiang Ye, her voice clear and serious: "Many thanks to Elder Jiang for taking action to save me."

Looking at Liu Yiyi bowing before him, a deep look flashed in Jiang Ye's eyes, then he smiled faintly, his tone as flat as if he had only done a trivial matter: "For this old man, it was just a small effort. As long as it is a Profound Heaven Sect disciple who is injured, this old man will take action to save them."

Hearing this, Wang Siyi on the side was slightly stunned, a look of astonishment flashing in her eyes, muttering to herself inwardly: Ah? Then... why didn't Elder Jiang save me...

She secretly looked at the injuries on her body that hadn't fully healed, then looked at the rosy-faced Liu Yiyi, pursed her lips, and in the end, didn't dare to ask.

Suddenly, a burst of hurried footsteps came from deep within the passage.

An outer sect disciple of the Profound Heaven Sect arrived in a hurry, gasping for air, his forehead covered in sweat: "Elders, Elder Hua has discovered an important location in the ruins, and the people from the Cold Sword Sect have already rushed over! He asked me to notify you to hurry over!"

"Oh? An important location?" Xie Tang raised his eyebrows.

"Hurry and take us there!" Zheng Feng stood up immediately, bright light flashing in his eyes.

"Let's go!" The group immediately did not delay, following that disciple and walking away quickly.

Footsteps were chaotic in the passage, sleeves bringing wind, and everyone accelerated their speed.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, that disciple led the group through the last fork, and the view before them suddenly opened up; a huge stone cave entered their vision.

The stone cave was several zhang high, the dome arched, and the stone walls were carved with patterns of various rare beasts, identical in style to the entrance of the previous dynasty's ruins.

What was most shocking was that a stone door actually stood in the very center of the stone cave!

That stone door was a zhang high, carved entirely from blue-gray giant stone, the door covered in complex patterns, with luster faintly flowing, as if it were still operating some ancient restriction.

The people from the Cold Sword Sect were surrounding the stone door, seven or eight Embracing the Pill Realm martial artists taking turns to strike, palm winds and fist force, sword light and blade shadows, all kinds of means used, yet they only left a few shallow white dots on the stone door.

Their disciples were also helping on the side, some pushing, some prying, some using fire to burn, some using water to soak, tossing about until they were covered in sweat, yet that stone door remained unmoved, not even a crack appearing.

Hua Qingshui, on the other hand, led a group of elders and disciples from the Profound Heaven Sect, watching leisurely from more than ten meters away.

He was still in that smiling manner, his hands tucked into his sleeves, as if watching a lively, good show.

The elders from Green Wood Peak, Thick Earth Peak, and Jin Chen Peak beside him had also arrived; some were gloating, some were thoughtful, and some were eager to try.

What was unexpected to everyone was that the people from the Yang family were actually here too.

Yang Han was still in that purple dress, her figure outstanding, particularly eye-catching among a group of dusty martial artists.

She stood quietly in a corner of the stone cave, those autumn-water-like eyes looking at the stone door, not knowing what she was thinking.

She was followed by several guards from the Yang family, whose auras were not weak, yet they were not in a hurry to step forward, merely observing from the side.

Xie Tang's gaze swept over Yang Han, then landed on Hua Qingshui, asking in a low voice: "Elder Hua, this stone door..."

Hua Qingshui waved his hand with a smile, his voice neither high nor low, yet clearly transmitted into everyone's ears: "No rush, let them toss about first. When they can't toss anymore, we'll go up."