Chapter 180

Pfft!

A faint, almost inaudible soft sound.

With the destruction of that critical node, the entire ritual Qin Yueyao had painstakingly set up, like having its main support ripped out, collapsed instantly!

That violent energy, huge enough to destroy heaven and earth, lost its guidance and restraint, like a hundred million wild horses breaking free, began to wildly surge and scatter in all directions!

Qin Yueyao was again violently flung by the backlash of that out-of-control energy; already severely injured, her vision went black and she fainted completely.

A strange scene occurred.

That Shennong Cauldron, originally incredibly violent, almost capable of destroying heaven and earth, after Qin Yueyao's ritual was completely interrupted, its body's violent trembling gradually subsided.

It seemed to develop an inexplicable affinity and reliance on the yin-yang taiji diagram hovering above and the pure yin aura emanating from Lin Xue's body.

On the cauldron's body, the ancient, weathered runes gradually lost their violent aura, instead emitting a soft, moist cyan glow.

That glow, like a mother's gentle embrace, lightly enveloped Lin Xue standing before the cauldron.

Inside the stone chamber, the fierce battle between Zhang Jun and the Black Judge had reached a white-hot intensity!

The Black Judge's moves grew ever more vicious, black qi swirling around him; his palm winds and claw shadows carried a bone-eroding, soul-stealing yin poison force, each strike aimed at Zhang Jun's vital points.

Zhang Jun's inner pure yang energy surged, and the Yang Jade continuously supplied a warm current, barely enough to hold him off.

Even so, he was already in peril; his clothes were torn in several places by the fierce claw winds, his arm grazed by black qi, leaving a scorched patch that burned painfully.

This old dog, damn it, is really tough to deal with!

At the critical moment of life and death, Zhang Jun's heart jolted!

Outside the Qin manor, several strong auras, not weaker than the Black Judge and even more sinister and greedy, were rapidly approaching from all directions toward the Qin manor!

These auras are mixed and chaotic, not from the 'Shadow' organization!

They are other jackals drawn by the smell of blood! All the lurking monsters and demons in the capital have been lured out by the anomaly of the medicine cauldron and this great chaos of the Qin family!

The Black Judge obviously noticed as well; the face hidden under his hood twitched violently.

He cursed Qin Yueyao in his heart, a stupid woman who fails at success but excels at failure, causing such a huge mess and drawing all kinds of hungry wolves!

If he doesn't leave now, he'll likely end up being the dumpling filling for these opportunists!

A flash of killing intent crossed his mind, his attacks suddenly becoming even more violent, forcing Zhang Jun to retreat repeatedly.

Then he feinted a move, his withered form swiftly darting back without hesitation, trying to flee!

"Want to leave? No way!"

Zhang Jun's anger flared; how could he let him escape easily!

This old dog has put them in such a sorry state, nearly costing Qin Boyan his life; if we let him escape today, there will be endless trouble!

He shouted angrily, exerted force with his feet, pushing his pure yang energy to the limit, his form like an arrow released from a bow, relentlessly pursuing the Black Judge!

Underground space.

After Lin Xue's thread of yin qi pierced the crucial formation eye of the Shennong Cauldron, the cauldron's violent trembling finally gradually subsided.

The hazy yin-yang taiji diagram hovering above the cauldron, though blurred, exuded an ancient aura of suppressing all things and harmonizing yin and yang.

The Shennong Cauldron felt an inexplicable affinity toward the pure yin qi on Lin Xue's body and the half piece of ice-blue Yin Jade in her hand.

The ancient, weathered runes on the cauldron's body gradually lost their violence, instead emitting a soft, moist cyan glow.

That glow enveloped Lin Xue standing before the cauldron.

Lin Xue felt a cool, majestic strange energy seep into her body along the glow, nourishing her meridians and tempering her yin inner strength.

Her connection with the Yin Jade in her hand grew even tighter, almost as if mind and spirit were linked.

At the same time, fragmented information about the Shennong Cauldron, along with several blurred fragments of ancient Medicine Sect prescriptions, were imprinted into her sea of consciousness.

Inside the Qin manor, everything is now completely in chaos.

Qin Yueyao, severely injured and unconscious, was hurriedly carried away by a few loyal maidservants.

The Qin elders, some were desperately resisting the remnants of the Shadow organization and those opportunistic looters, while others loudly shouted, hoping to stabilize the clansmen's emotions and reorganize defenses.

But faced with this sudden internal and external crisis, plus the growing number of unknown strong enemies pouring in from all directions, they were already overwhelmed.

The Qin family's foundation is about to collapse.

Inside the stone chamber, Qin Boyan, though freed, was extremely weak, barely clinging to life.

Seeing Zhang Jun recklessly pursuing the Black Judge, he was frantic, using his last ounce of strength, his withered hand gripping tightly onto Zhang Jun's cuff.

"Quick… quickly take Xue girl away!" His voice hoarse, breath like a thread, "This place… is too chaotic! Those people… are all after the Shennong Cauldron and the Medicine Sect inheritance! The Qin family's matters… we'll talk later! Guard… guard the Medicine Sect inheritance!"

The Black Judge was tightly entangled by Zhang Jun, and the newly arrived strong auras drew ever closer, making him even more anxious.

If he delays any longer, even he won't be able to escape easily!

In desperation, he fiercely pulled from his bosom a jet-black pearl the size of a pigeon's egg and hurled it hard at Zhang Jun!

"You brat, we'll meet again!"

The black pearl suddenly exploded in midair!

Boom!

A thick, ink-like black mist instantly spread, nearly enveloping the entire stone chamber and the passageway outside.

This black mist not only blocks spiritual sense but also carries strong corrosiveness; even where it touches the stone walls, it emits a 'hiss-hiss' sound and wafts of green smoke.

Zhang Jun only felt a foul stench assault his nose, his skin tingling with pain; forced to protect himself with his inner energy, he had to hastily retreat backward.

In that brief delay, the Black Judge, together with his two black-clad guardians, merged into the mist and vanished after a few flickers.

When the black mist cleared, there was no trace of them left!

"Damn it!" Zhang Jun angrily punched the nearby stone wall.

Just then, Lin Xue's figure flashed out from the newly opened secret passage; her aura seemed more condensed, her demeanor gaining a hint of depth.

"Are you alright?" She noticed the scorched mark on Zhang Jun's arm, her brows slightly furrowed.

"Just a minor injury, no problem." Zhang Jun shook his head, looking at Qin Boyan lying on the ground, breath faint, "Senior he…"

The two were just about to step forward to check when their expressions shifted at the same time, and they both turned their gaze toward the outside of the stone chamber.

Several furtive figures slipped in cautiously through the entrance that the Black Judge had blasted open.

They wore varied attire and bore different auras, yet each exuded greed and ill intent.

Clearly, they are scouts dispatched by the newly stirred forces.

They scanned the disordered stone chamber, and upon seeing Zhang Jun, Lin Xue, and the feeble Qin Boyan on the ground, as well as the deep secret passage leading to the forbidden area of the Shennong Cauldron, they each showed a different expression.

The air momentarily grew stagnant.

At this tense moment, a somewhat aged yet vigorous voice came from the entrance:

"Hehe, are you two little friends from the Medicine Sect inside?"

Before the voice had faded, an old man in an antiquated blue robe, his hair and beard somewhat gray, pushed aside those scouts and walked in slowly.