Earth Blood Ginseng

"Set up a formation and protect me," Venerable Ye ordered, sitting cross-legged on the ground and commanding the four to guard his flanks. Breaking the altar's restriction just now had exerted a heavy toll on him. Even with the protective glow, he had still suffered the suppression of the secret realm, and his injuries had worsened. Beyond the Trial Realm lay the Inner Hall, where the dangers were unpredictable. Before venturing further, he needed to regulate his breath and recover to avoid meeting disaster unprepared. *No chance now.* Lurking in the woods, Qin Sang watched the scene and shook his head secretly. These old eccentrics were exceedingly cautious; finding an opening against them was nearly impossible. The long-bearded old man and his two companions were more than enough to deflect an initial surprise attack on Venerable Ye. Qin Sang had no way to contact Su Nü and coordinate an ambush. Moreover, since Su Nü's life was not in danger, she had no reason to risk everything anymore. She would hardly be willing to court death against a Nascent Soul Patriarch. After meditating for a while, Venerable Ye rose and led his subordinates away. From beginning to end, he showed no intention of harming Su Nü. Having waited until the very end, Qin Sang considered his deal with Su Nü complete. "I have no idea what this ghost seal does. If the chance arises in the future, I'll return it to her then," Qin Sang muttered, tossing the ghost seal lightly in his hand. Earlier, Su Nü had been steeped in pessimism and despair, and had set no terms for returning the seal. By waiting until now, Qin Sang had done more than his duty. He had already wasted a great deal of time and could not afford to search everywhere for her. Once Venerable Ye and the others were far away, Qin Sang emerged from hiding and quietly appeared above the hill. He tried several times, but could not force out the divine platform. Evidently, some undisclosed secret remained locked within. Whatever the East Pole Alliance was scheming had nothing to do with him. After lingering briefly, Qin Sang ceased fretting over it and flew toward the stone peak. It was time to leave the Trial Realm. *** At the stone peak, the Hundred Treasures Pavilion stood tall, its treasures long since cleaned out. Passing through the light barrier would immediately teleport a person away. A flash of light crossed their vision. Immediately after, an eerie wind struck. Su Nü and the others shuddered and glanced around, realizing they had departed the Trial Realm and were now standing on a barren slope where not a single blade of grass grew. The world was dim and gloomy, filled with scenes of ruin and desolation—nothing like the celestial haven they had imagined. "This is the Inner Hall," Venerable Ye said indifferently, pointing diagonally ahead. "Anyone who enters through the Trial Realm is teleported to one of the nearby mountains. Do you see over there? If you do not wish to remain in the Inner Hall, that is the exit." Looking in the direction Venerable Ye indicated, they saw a deep valley, sheer precipices, a high platform, and an open stone door atop it. Lingzhuzi and the other Nascent Soul cultivators had entered through that very door. "Follow me!" Venerable Ye looked left and right, then raised an escape light and flew toward the depths of the Inner Hall. Su Nü and the others hurried to keep up. Before long, Venerable Ye ducked into a rocky mountain. The moment he landed, a figure flashed out from the shadows. Su Nü and the others were startled at first, but when they clearly saw the newcomer's face, their expressions shifted dramatically. They hurriedly stepped forward and bowed. "Junior greets the Alliance Leader!" This person was none other than the East Pole Alliance Leader. After helping Venerable Ye smuggle past the immortal restriction, he had been waiting here all along. "Fellow Daoist Ye?" the East Pole Alliance Leader asked, an edge of urgency in his eyes as he looked at Venerable Ye with an inquiring gaze. "Everything went smoothly. I am fortunate to have fulfilled the mission!" Venerable Ye replied with a nod, making no mention of his setback in the Cave of Bewildered Souls. "Good!" The East Pole Alliance Leader clapped his hands and laughed. "You have worked hard, Fellow Daoist Ye. Had I not already used up my chance to enter the Trial Realm, I would certainly have gone in myself rather than let you take such great risks. How are your injuries? Do you need me to order someone to escort you back to recuperate?" the East Pole Alliance Leader asked with deep concern written across his face. Venerable Ye shook his head. "I have already taken healing pills. Once I find a place to adjust my breath for a short while, I should recover enough strength to retrieve that item... I must also thank the Alliance Leader for the clues provided." Seeing this, the East Pole Alliance Leader pressed no further. He shifted his gaze to Su Nü and the others. "Only the four of you?" Venerable Ye praised, "These few did well. That things went so smoothly this time is partly thanks to them. Oh, right—here is the Soul-Washing Liquid..." Venerable Ye took out the Soul-Washing Liquid and handed it to the East Pole Alliance Leader. The East Pole Alliance Leader gave an affirmative grunt. "Not bad. There are a few places in the Inner Hall suitable for you to explore. How much you gain will depend on your own abilities. Once you return, the Business Alliance will reward you handsomely!" With that, the East Pole Alliance Leader tossed them a jade slip. The long-bearded old man and the others felt a burst of joy, which eased some of their gloom over losing the Soul-Washing Liquid. Right then, the East Pole Alliance Leader turned his gaze to Su Nü and said indifferently, "Su Nü stays. The rest of you may go about your business." "As you command!" The long-bearded old man and the others were full of questions and secretly stole a glance at Su Nü, but they dared not ask anything. Taking the jade slip, they left together. Venerable Ye turned a deaf ear as well, merely cupping his hands toward the East Pole Alliance Leader before drifting away. Su Nü had no idea what this meant, and her nerves snapped taut. She had assumed that once they left the Trial Realm, the matter would be finished, never expecting that the East Pole Alliance Leader would detain her alone. The East Pole Alliance Leader produced another jade bottle containing a snow-white pill, handed it to Su Nü, and said in an unquestionable tone, "Go refine the Soul-Washing Liquid and this pill. I shall stand guard for you personally." *** The Trial Realm. The Heavenly Fire Domain. Beneath the yellow sands, magma flowed wildly, carving out subterranean caves. Fire spirits cavorted within the molten rock, occasionally leaping out of the magma to dive into the earth's crust. Each time, their leaps caused the magma to boil and crimson fiery vapors to surge skyward. In one secluded cave sat a solitary figure—Ning Wuhui. Disregarding the searing heat, Ning Wuhui had arranged an intricate altar beneath him, while a fist-sized spirit ginseng floated before him. The altar radiated rays of resplendent light. Blending with the runes Ning Wuhui had inscribed using his essence blood, the light sank into the spirit ginseng one after another. The spirit ginseng had distinct facial features, and its body was as translucent as blood-red glass. Bound by the altar, runes flickered across its surface, contorting its features into an expression of agony, making it look strikingly like a human infant. Ning Wuhui had not joined the fight for the Soul-Washing Liquid, choosing instead to come to the Heavenly Fire Domain to harvest the spirit ginseng. There was no telling how long he had been here. The altar's refinement of the spirit ginseng had nearly reached its final stage. Gradually, the aura of the spirit ginseng merged with Ning Wuhui's into a single entity, and its expression turned wooden. "The secret technique recorded in the ancient volume was indeed correct. With the help of the Earth Blood Ginseng, one can refine an entity similar to a second Nascent Soul! This Earth Blood Ginseng is brimming with blood qi and an extraordinary fragrance. Once mature, it behaves like a living creature, roaming around its place of growth with elusive movements. Catching it was truly no easy feat. Fortunately, it grew in the Heavenly Fire Domain, where the fire spirit qi dispersed its peculiar aroma, and its blood qi blended with the crimson fiery vapor into an odd hue, causing that senior from the Tiandao Sect to mistake it for an unusual fire spirit. Otherwise, it would have been harvested long ago. I truly must thank that senior for recording the matter as a curiosity..." Though severely depleted, Ning Wuhui looked delighted. He brushed his palm over the crown of his head. The Earth Blood Ginseng transformed into a beam of blood light and sank into his body. Gathering up all his belongings, Ning Wuhui escaped the underground realm and flew toward the Hundred Treasures Pavilion.