Chapter 225: Ning Sisi

Only that sand slope was seen.

A female cultivator with bare fair long legs, clad in sheer black gauze, arms white and smooth like jade lotus, face exquisite as frozen fragrance, was biting her silver teeth and gripping the black umbrella's handle, desperately fending off a monster that had burrowed out of the sand.

This monster resembled a wriggling big white worm, but its body was not soft like a worm's; instead, it was clad in a hard earth-colored shell, and it moved extremely swiftly in the sand, even able to exert some control over the surrounding yellow sand and even the Wu Earth Qi.

Especially its mouth, full of sharp black teeth with barbs growing on them; if bitten, even if one managed to escape, they'd likely end up with torn flesh.

Moreover, it spat brown viscous fluid; upon hitting the sand, it instantly gave off a foul stench, obviously a deadly poison.

Upon seeing this worm, Li Yuanfan's pupils contracted slightly, and he cried out in alarm.

"Corpse Sand Silkworm!"

That female cultivator, a Mid Jie Dan Stage practitioner, facing this Third Rank Mid Corpse Sand Silkworm, not only appeared to struggle greatly in dealing with it, but even escaping seemed no easy task.

Because the surrounding yellow sand and Wu Earth Qi were all controlled and entwined around it, and with its continual attacks, that female cultivator had no chance to form hand signs and cast spells.

Meanwhile, Yunhe and the other noticed her, and she evidently also noticed Yunhe and company.

Instantly, a look of joy appeared on her pretty, charming face, and she shouted:

"Two fellow Daoists, I am Ning Sisi of the Orchid Heart Sect; I hope you two will lend a hand!"

Seemingly realizing these words might not be enough to persuade strangers to help, she hastily added: "I, a humble woman, know where to find the Earth Essence Fruit in this place!"

Earth Essence Fruit?

Hearing that name, Yunhe's eyes narrowed slightly.

This fruit is not the Nascent Soul Supreme Treasure he seeks, but it is also extraordinarily precious.

Because it is one of the main ingredients for refining the Third Rank Broken Mirror Pill!

And the Third Rank Broken Mirror Pill can help Golden Core cultivators break through their cultivation bottleneck.

Whether breaking through from Early Jie Dan Stage to Mid Jie Dan Stage, or from Mid Jie Dan Stage to Late Jie Dan Stage, it can have a considerable effect.

Back when Yunhe broke through from Early Jie Dan Stage to Mid Jie Dan Stage, it was a sudden opportunity, with a large luck component.

But when breaking through the bottleneck from Mid Jie Dan Stage to Late Jie Dan Stage, one probably wouldn't have such good luck.

He indeed seeks the Nascent Soul Supreme Treasure, for future plans and preparations, but what he faces right now is first needing to raise his cultivation base to Late Jie Dan Stage.

As for the name Ning Sisi, Yunhe had also heard of it.

The reason is none other than that she is famed alongside Qingling Xianzi, and is one of the renowned beauties of the Cloud Upper Realm.

However, these empty reputations have little influence on Yunhe and cannot stir up any waves.

But regarding the Earth Essence Fruit, he does have considerable interest.

Li Yuanfan said nothing, merely looking at Yunhe.

He lacked the ability to deal with that Third Rank Mid Corpse Sand Silkworm; the initiative between the two had never been in his hands, and seeing Yunhe halt, it was evident he had become interested.

It was merely unclear whether his interest lay in the Earth Essence Fruit or in this woman.

"Two fellow Daoists?"

Seeing that the two neither moved nor left, Ning Sisi hastily spoke again.

Then Yunhe was seen with one arm crossed over his chest, the other hand resting on his chin, pondering: "How can I be sure Fellow Daoist Ning isn't deceiving us?"

Hearing this, Ning Sisi's face darkened; at this point, would she still dare to lie?

She then put on a pitiful, endearing expression, gazing at the two with tear-filled eyes, her almond eyes rippling with autumn waves, as if they could speak.

That gaze, alluring and charming, myriad in its allure, even the old Daoist Li Yuanfan beside them was left entranced.

Even Yunhe had a momentary lapse, but thanks to cultivating the Thousand Gu Myriad Insects Art, his divine sense was strong, and he quickly reacted.

Upon looking at Ning Sisi again, his gaze was no longer so friendly.

A seductive technique?

Not quite like that.

And seeing that Yunhe could react so quickly, Ning Sisi was also somewhat surprised.

"If Fellow Daoist Ning is like that, then I'm afraid I can't help." Yunhe said indifferently, turning to leave.

At the same time, his voice startled Li Yuanfan beside him, who showed a hint of lingering fear, lowered his head slightly, and dared not meet his eyes.

Seeing this, Ning Sisi grew a bit anxious; she truly had no way to deal with the Corpse Sand Silkworm before her, as it happened to counter her abilities, otherwise she wouldn't be so passive.

So she hastily asked: "How can a humble woman be sure that, after you know the place, you won't just leave?"

Yunhe halted his steps, expression unchanged, and said calmly: "Fellow Daoist Ning, you have no choice, right?"

Ning Sisi was furious.

What kind of person is this, and there are still people like this?

How can one not know how to cherish fragrance and jade at all?

If Yunhe were to know what she's thinking, he'd probably laugh out loud.

Cherish fragrance and jade?

Can it enhance cultivation base?

But it's quite obvious that Yunhe's demand is simply to first obtain the benefit; whether he helps or not depends on whether he keeps his promise.

Bang!!

But just as Ning Sisi hesitated, the Corpse Sand Silkworm seized the opportunity, spewing a mouthful of misty earth-yellow qi, the Wu Earth Qi enveloping rolling yellow sand, rushing toward her face.

This caused Ning Sisi's expression to drastically change, for she knew her earlier lapse had left her unable to react.

But just then.

Hum——

Yunhe's visage grew slightly solemn; before Ning Sisi even realized the situation was wrong, he had already formed hand signs, and a cluster of divine light flashing white, green, black, red, and yellow rose from his hand.

As he swept his large hand, that five-colored light shot forth at great speed to intercept the surge of qi emitted by the Corpse Sand Silkworm.

Five Elements Divine Radiance!

Invert the Five Elements, forbid the Five Elements!

However, it did not launch an attack against the corrupt sand worm; instead, it positioned itself in front of Ning Sisi, forming a seemingly weak five‑colored energy shield.

But this seemingly unimpressive shield successfully blocked the Wu Earth qi expelled by the corrupt sand worm.

Just this move alone caused Li Yuanfan and Ning Sisi to show astonishment.

Li Yuanfan knew a bit of Yunhe's strength, but evidently during this period Yunhe's cultivation base and mana had seen considerable improvement.

Ning Sisi was simply surprised by Yunhe's ability.

She had thought that pulling a mid‑Golden Core and an early‑Golden Core cultivator, regardless of whether they could handle this corrupt sand worm that had seized the geographical advantage, three of them working together should be fine for self‑defense.

But now it seems that Yunhe alone might be able to deal with this creature.

At the same time, this move displayed by Yunhe made Ning Sisi resolve herself.

She bit her lip, feeling a hint of grievance as she swept her storage bag, took out a Jade Slip and threw it toward Yunhe, while her voice, filled with grievance, said:

"Daoist friend, do not let down this humble woman."

Yunhe's mouth twitched slightly.

After taking the Jade Slip and infusing it with a simple sweep of his divine sense, he discovered that the slip indeed contained a map of this area, marking the location of the "Earth Essence Fruit".

However, it is obvious that the information recorded on this map should at least be from the cultivators who entered during the previous opening of the Luotian Secret Realm—that is, from the time before the last opening—and in this desert of endless yellow sand, the map is not very reliable, making it hard to discern directions.

But at least, Ning Sisi did not deceive them.

Such was the thought.

Yunhe pulled in his robes, lightly tapped his foot, and instantly a crater exploded in the sand; at the same time he sent a voice transmission to the two:

"Please, two fellow Daoists, help Yunhe deal with the sandflow tomb scorpions; if you have spare energy, you may also disperse the Wu Earth yellow sand."

With those words, Yunhe's right hand again manifested a cluster of five‑colored light, circulating the five‑element mana within his body, he flashed to appear before Ning Sisi; under her somewhat bewildered gaze, he guided the incoming corrupt sand worm and without hesitation threw a punch.

Bang!!

"Five Elements Divine Manifestation, invert the Five Elements, prohibit the Five Elements, usable for both attack and defense."

For a moment, the corrupt sand worm's plunging form came to an abrupt halt; where the five‑colored light struck, its skin split and flesh tore, its sturdy heavy armor seeming utterly useless, the wound looking as if a chunk had been scooped out with a spoon.

In pain, the corrupt sand worm instantly emitted a sharp, ear‑piercing, teeth‑aching screech.

At the same time, Yunhe was flung backward by the collision of the two forces, creating distance.

He rubbed his wrist.

Although his physical body is comparable to an early‑third‑stage demon beast, facing this mid‑third‑stage corrupt sand worm he is clearly at an absolute disadvantage; without the protection of the "Five Elements Divine Manifestation," merely approaching it would be troublesome due to the Wu Earth qi it spews from its body.

Nevertheless, taking advantage of this strike, he successfully helped Ning Sisi escape the corrupt sand worm's Wu Earth qi envelope and leave the battlefield.

When they saw Yunhe actually trade a punch with the corrupt sand worm and yet only end up at a disadvantage, both of their eyes involuntarily widened.

Body cultivator?

But what is this five‑colored, highly capable technique?

Of course.

Although the two were astonished, they did not neglect Yunhe's orders; they each controlled their magical tools to deal with the sandflow tomb scorpions that might appear suddenly, while striving to disperse the relatively thick Wu Earth yellow sand entwining the corrupt sand worm and Yunhe.

Li Yuanfan turned his fingers into swords; as his fingers flew, the wooden sword he had sacrificed moved accordingly.

Ning Sisi's black umbrella kept spinning while hovering above her head, shedding a protective aura; at the same time she sacrificed a thin whip covered in barbs, which, with a series of crisp "pa‑pa" sounds, lashed the sandflow tomb scorpions that had just left the sand layer's surface into ash.

On the other side.

Yunhe, who had distanced himself from the corrupt sand worm, did not cease his actions; he again surged his mana, formed a seal with his fingers, causing the five‑colored light that the corrupt sand worm somewhat feared to appear once more.

How is it still this move?

To be frank, the corrupt sand worm's intelligence is not low; upon seeing the "Five Elements Divine Manifestation" again, it clearly recognizes that this move has a notable restraining effect on it.

In fact, it is not only aimed at the corrupt sand worm; given the characteristics of the "Five Elements Divine Manifestation," it can be used against almost any five‑element technique.

Of course, the premise is that it must not exceed Yunhe's cultivation base, nor exceed the capacity limit of the "Five Elements Divine Manifestation" of the "Mini Five‑Element Spirit Body".

However, after achieving some accomplishment in his cultivation, Yunhe finds this move increasingly useful.

"Sizzle!!!"

The radiation worm's ferocious mouthparts let out a roar; having realized it was being restrained, its body writhed quickly, and a clump of viscous black fluid was about to spray out.

But just then.

Yunhe's eyes flashed cold, and a tremendously powerful divine sense surged forth.

The divine‑sense attack he unleashed, comparable to that of a perfected Golden Core cultivator, was overly lethal for a demon beast like the corrupt sand worm.

In an instant, the corrupt sand worm's movements stiffened, and it froze in place.

At the same moment, Yunhe's mouth opened slightly, and a small sword shot out at great speed, accompanied by a crackling arc of light; before the corrupt sand worm could even react, it pierced straight into its mouth.

Its condensed poison posed no threat whatsoever to the five‑element thunder sword wrapped in heavenly thunder power.

When the corrupt sand worm finally came to its senses, its many pairs of eyes, like Lvdou beans, were filled with undisguisable fear.

But by the time it reacted, it was obviously already too late.

Golden, web‑like cracks appeared on its body; with a "pfft" sound, a panicked flying sword topped with a round inner core flew out from the opposite sand layer.

The light in the corrupt sand worm's eyes quickly dimmed, its body slammed heavily into the ground, kicking up a great cloud of sand.

Li Yuanfan, who had noticed the commotion here, was fine; he had long known Yunhe was no ordinary Golden Core cultivator—back then he could directly clash with mid‑Golden Core Fei Ling, so what's wrong with him now defeating the corrupt sand worm?

Perhaps he's just a bit faster.

But Ning Sisi was truly frightened.

She had fought the corrupt sand worm before and knew best how strong it was, and how it held an absolute geographical advantage; otherwise she would not have ended up in such a state.

But now it was killed so quickly?

Just who is this person?!

(End of chapter)