Chapter 74

Chapter 74

"Aiyoh, Junior Apprentice Sister Ning, be gentle—Ahh!!"

The injured Sheng Yunshen let out a wail of protest, and the other wounded in the formation silently distanced themselves, hurriedly covering their own black-blooded wounds.

All of them had sustained varying degrees of injury during the battle; some were from demonic claws, while others were accidental. Nonetheless, all displayed signs of poisoning, albeit with differing severity.

The demons within this mystic realm had, over time, absorbed both the realm's demonic aura and death energy. The combination of these two forces, assimilated within their bodies, transformed them into abnormal creatures, saturated with a certain venom. If one were to be scratched by them, they would immediately be poisoned, causing their wounds to turn black. This was more severe than being poisoned through contact with the demonic and death energies in the air.

In contrast, injuries not inflicted by demons might lead to infection and poisoning, but the toxins were relatively mild. A detoxification pill could effectively alleviate them if taken promptly.

If one neglected treatment and allowed the poison to infiltrate their body, even a detoxification pill would be powerless. In that case, the poison could only be suppressed until they left the mystic realm to find a solution.

Sheng Yunshen clutched his healing wound, tears welling up as he retreated to a corner. He vowed inwardly that he would never let Junior Brother Ning treat his injuries again in the future; this man had made him shed tears like a child.

He wondered what kind of substance Ning Yuzhou had applied to his wound—it was agonizing beyond endurance, even more painful than the poisoning incident two years ago.

Ning Yuzhou remained as gentle and amiable as ever, tending to the next injured senior brother.

Among the group, Sheng Yunshen suffered the most severe injuries. His wounds were deep enough to expose the bone, rapidly turning black – even detoxification pills proved ineffective against the poison. If not for Ning Yuzhou swiftly administering healing spirit pills to suppress the venom's spread, Sheng Yunshen might have already succumbed. How could he still be howling in pain?

Ning Yuzhou efficiently tended to everyone's injuries, but the process was excruciating. Their eyes welled with tears, making them look like brothers in misfortune alongside Sheng Yunshen.

Of course, despite the pain, the detoxification was swift. Afterward, a Spring Rejuvenation Pill helped their injuries heal almost completely.

They thanked him bashfully and cautiously, "Junior Brother Ning, thank you so much. You've worked hard, please don't exhaust yourself."

Ning Yuzhou acknowledged with a soft hum, his gaze never leaving the battlefield.

On the battlefield, Wen Qiao was collaborating with Wen Tuttu to launch a joint assault on the diminutive demonic creature.

It resembled some feline creature, but its fur was not sleek and shiny; instead, it seemed coated in a sticky substance that clung to its coat in clumps, making it utterly repulsive. Its movements were swift and graceful as the wind, darting about in the air and burrowing beneath the ground. It even possessed the cunning to ambush from below, making it an exceedingly challenging adversary to deal with.

This time, Wuntun encountered a rival of similar caliber. Despite several attempts, it failed to subdue the opponent, causing it to hiss in frustration.

Wen Qiao consecutively summoned several Stone Gold Python Vines, depleting nearly all of her Essence Spirit Energy. Her face took on a slight pallor.

Countless stone-jade pythons, their vines coiling and writhing, sprang forth, gradually forming a cage that ensnared the diminutive demonic figure within. With no vast space to evade, capturing it had become an easier task.

Wen Qiao unleashed the Stone Golden Python Whip, ensnaring the devilish creature with a single lash.

Upon witnessing the devil being bound by the whip, Wen Tuti let out a piercing hiss. Leaping up like a cannonball, she burst forth from her cushioned stance, revealing razor-sharp claws that she swung viciously at the devil.

The devil's head soared into the air, spewing a fountain of blood.

After successfully eliminating the tenacious devil, Wen Qiao didn't relax. Instead, she turned back to deal with the other devils that had been drawn to the commotion.

Seeing this, the others within the formation couldn't remain idle. "Junior Brother Ning, Junior Brother Sheng, stay here. We'll assist Junior Sister."

Those who felt their injuries had sufficiently healed refused to be mere spectators, promptly leaving the safety of the formation to join Wen Qiao in slaying the devils. The devil that Senior Brother Yi was dealing with was too powerful for them to intervene, but they could still manage the others.

After two hours, Yi Xuan and his companions finally managed to fell the towering devil. Covered in blood and drained of Essence Spirit Energy, they looked utterly exhausted.

Meanwhile, Wen Qiao and the disciples at the Essence Vein Realm had also cleared the surrounding area of devils, leaving behind a pungent scent of blood and an indeterminate number of corpses.

Fortunately, no one had perished, and the injured were able to seek refuge within Ning Yuzhou's protective barrier formed by his array disk for treatment.

After extracting the demon spirit pearls from the demons, they hastily retreated from the area to avoid attracting other powerful fiends with the pungent scent of blood.

They found a clean spot nearby and hurriedly took a rest there.

Ning Yuzhou threw out an array disk, casting a defensive formation around them. Spirit light flashed, forming a circular shield that enclosed everyone within.

Now that they knew Ning Yuzhou might also be an array master, they weren't surprised to see him use an Advanced array disk.

Ning Yuzhou attended to the wounded.

These people had fought the monster alongside Yi Xuan and, despite their injuries, couldn't retreat. They gritted their teeth and persevered, unwilling to leave the creature to their junior disciples who were below the Yuan Vein Realm.

"Are they poisoned? Can it be treated?" Yi Xuan asked.

Without pausing, Ning Yuzhou handed each injured person a detoxification pill and skillfully applied a green medicinal ointment onto their blackened wounds. "Don't worry, it can be treated."

The green ointment was made from some unknown spirit herb, and when it was applied to the wounds, a sizzling sound could be heard as if the flesh was being corroded. Even the most resolute men couldn't help but shed tears of pain and let out pitiful cries.

"Ning Junior Apprentice Brother, be gentle…."

Sheng Yunshen looked at him with sympathy and whispered to the others, "So now you understand why I was howling in pain earlier, right?"

Ning Yuzhou only attended to his fellow senior brothers' injuries, leaving the unharmed senior sisters to help with the other female disciples.

There were six females in their group, including Wen Qiao, which wasn't a large number.

"Men and women should maintain a proper distance," Ning Yuzhou smiled at the senior sisters. "I already have a cultivation partner, so it's best for me to be mindful of myself."

The senior sisters replied gently, "You're right. That's as it should be."

These senior sisters were true warriors. Despite being in excruciating pain, they gritted their teeth and remained silent, making their wailing senior brothers seem less masculine by comparison.

The less masculine senior brothers: "…" Were they really inferior to women? Or was this all part of Ning Junior Apprentice Brother's plan?

"Ning Junior Apprentice Brother, I need my injuries tended to as well," Ning Yuzhou said to Yi Xuan.

Yi Xuan didn't put on a brave front. As the strongest among them, he had the responsibility of ensuring the safety of his junior brothers and sisters. Under normal circumstances, he could endure the pain, but given the current conditions and with Ning Yuzhou's support, it made sense to treat his wounds promptly.

Yi Xuan swept aside his snow-white robe, revealing a dense array of wounds that ran from his shoulder to his back. It was evident that during the recent battle, where he had confronted the evil entity head-on, his condition was no better than that of the others; in fact, he had faced even greater peril.

Ning Yuzhou retrieved a green ointment and, under the horrified gazes of everyone, gently applied it to the wound already soaked with black blood, forming a thin layer.

Yi Xuan grunted, veins popping on his forehead as cold sweat dripped down in large beads.

He took a deep breath and asked, "Junior Apprentice Sister Ning, what is this?"

"Well, let's call it a detoxifying agent for now. Last time, with the Millennium Heart-Eroding Grass, my Senior Uncle Fei and I studied it for quite some time, and we finally made some progress. This green ointment is a derivative of that research, and it works well as a topical treatment to neutralize toxins. Unfortunately, we couldn't refine it into a detoxification pill; it can only be made into this form of ointment." As he spoke, a hint of dissatisfaction could be detected in his tone.

"That's quite impressive," Yi Xuan said sincerely.

The Scarlet Heaven Sect disciples around them echoed his sentiment, looking up to Ning Yuzhou with admiration. In their eyes, he was no longer Junior Brother Ning but a fellow alchemist who could stand alongside Fei Yubai. Who would dare to underestimate him now?

After attending to Yi Xuan's injuries, Ning Yuzhou approached Wen Qiao.

Wen Qiao had just consumed a few Spirit Replenishing Pills, restoring about eighty percent of her Essence Spirit Energy. Her complexion regained some of its rosiness.

She pulled out a few spirit fruits, ate one herself, and offered another to Wen Tuttu. "Husband, do you want a spirit fruit?"

This spirit fruit was plucked from a sacred ground; though not a rare treasure, it was produced by an ancient spirit tree, imbued with rich spiritual energy and a captivating aroma, making it highly sought after by cultivators.

Wen Qiao, relying on her status as the youngest junior sister, never had to compete with her seniors for the fruits, always receiving the largest share.

Ning Yuzhou smiled and shook his head. After examining her body and finding no injuries, he sighed in relief. He still recalled how she was ambushed by that diminutive demonic creature earlier, sent flying backward. In that critical moment, any injury she sustained would have to be endured.

"Don't worry, I'm fine," Wen Qiao reassured, patting her chest.

Feeling his wounds healing, Yi Xuan heaved a sigh of relief.

This was their first intense battle since entering the Demon Sealing Mystic Realm. Many were injured, but with Ning Yuzhou, a skilled alchemist, supporting them, their injuries healed swiftly, far better than previous trials.

Recalling the bizarre demonic creature towering over a dozen feet tall, Yi Xuan sensed an ominous premonition. Intuitively, he felt this trial wouldn't be as straightforward as before.

***

Almost simultaneously, the disciples of Crimson Heaven Sect, divided into two groups, entered the central region of the mystic realm, encountering various demonic creatures. As the demons grew stronger, so did the frequency of their injuries.

Yet, none of them retreated.

Supported by ample Spirit Pills, their progress was swifter than in previous trials. Not only did they slay countless fiends, but they also discovered several pristine lands, amassing considerable resources along the way.

Compared to the Scarlet Heaven Sect's disciples, the other factions' disciples arrived at the center of the mystic realm two days later.

Shortly after reaching the midpoint, they too encountered powerful fiends. Some cultivators narrowly escaped death at the jaws of these fiends and were ultimately forced to reluctantly crush their tokens, teleporting out.

"Junior Sister, be careful!"

Mu Ziming cried out urgently, his longsword sweeping horizontally to decimate the fiend that was attempting to ambush Mu Shan. He promptly pulled her to safety behind him.

With a pale face, Mu Shan clung closely behind him, staring at the fiends with terror-stricken eyes.

She had heard about the dangers of the Fiend-Sealing Mystic Realm's trial grounds, but never imagined they would be this perilous. Initially, as someone of her status, she wasn't required to participate in such risky trials. However, after her battle with Wen Qiao, every midnight nightmare of being overwhelmed by her strength stirred her from her complacency. She began to cultivate diligently and earnestly, finally breaking through to the Yuan Vein Realm half a year ago.

Feeling that she was no longer the same person, Mu Shan begged her father to let her enter the Fiend-Sealing Mystic Realm for the trial.

After disposing of the surrounding fiends, the Qingyun Sect disciples sought a purified land, diving into it while still haunted by the lingering fiendish aura and deathly energy outside.

Panting, they collapsed on the ground, tending to their injuries, meditating, or trembling in fear.

Mu Ziming swallowed a Spirit Nourishing Pill and glanced at Mu Shan, who was slumped on the floor. With an effort to suppress his impatience, he said, "Junior Sister Mu, this is already the middle region of the mystic realm. It's very dangerous, not a place for those at the Essence Vein Realm. Why don't you leave the mystic realm first?"

Mu Shan looked at him blankly. "I..." Her gaze shifted outside as she asked, "Senior Brother, do you see someone over there?"

Following her pointing direction, the disciples of the Qingyun Sect noticed someone indeed approaching from the demonic aura not far away.

Could it be a disciple from another sect?

Suddenly, Mu Ziming's expression changed slightly. "Something's not right!"

Without time to explain to his bewildered junior brothers and sisters, Mu Ziming threw out several array flags, setting up defensive arrays around them one after another. Not until a multitude of spiritual lights illuminated their sanctuary did he look at the figure emerging from the demonic aura with a serious expression.

The Qingyun Sect disciples also came to their senses, a chilling speculation creeping into their minds.

The demonic aura in the middle region was thicker than that in the outer area. The denser the demonic aura, the darker the surroundings became, reducing visibility. Fortunately, though it weakened one's spiritual sense, it allowed them to perceive a much farther distance than the naked eye.

Eventually, the "person" emerged from the depths of the demonic aura and appeared not far from the purified land.

At this moment, everyone within the purified area could clearly see the newcomer - a young man with an appearance identical to that of a human. He wore a black robe, giving off no sense of peculiarity. Apart from that, his facial features were strikingly handsome.

The man outside the purified area smiled at them, his rosy lips curling up, exuding an enchanting aura.

Some young female cultivators couldn't help but blush.

Mu Shan gazed at the outsider in awe, tugging on Mu Ziming's garment and whispering, "Big Brother, he's really handsome. I wonder which sect he belongs to."

Mu Ziming's body tensed up, his expression hardening. Upon hearing Mu Shan's words, his face twitched slightly.

He barked sternly, "No one is allowed to leave."

With Mu Ziming's voice laced with severity, the Qingyun Sect disciples fell silent, too afraid to speak.

The man outside the purified area smiled again, his crimson lips parting slightly as he said, "Why don't you come out? It's very entertaining out here~"

Upon hearing his pleasant yet alluring voice, the Qingyun Sect disciples' faces flushed slightly.

Mu Ziming replied coldly, "You may enter."

"Come out, then!"

"Enter, if you will."

"Come out, I say!"

"..."

Mu Ziming fell silent, and the others finally grasped the identity of this "person," causing them to draw sharp breaths.

Just as human cultivators disliked the demonic aura within mystic realms, demons also detested primordial essence energy. They instinctively avoided places of purity. This sudden appearance of a man, though he looked like a regular human, behaved in an utterly peculiar manner, clearly revealing him to be a demon that had cultivated into humanoid form and gained spiritual intelligence.

Such demons were powerful and extremely difficult to deal with.

As they pondered, the demon suddenly attacked the protective barrier.

Mu Ziming's expression darkened.

While demons instinctively disliked the primordial essence energy in a pure land, it didn't mean they couldn't enter. This humanoid demon before them, having developed sentience, was no longer controlled by mere instincts; thus, it could choose to enter the pure land, albeit feeling somewhat uncomfortable, but without any real harm to itself.

If it managed to breach the defensive array, they would all be in grave peril.

Mu Ziming had no choice but to prepare for the worst. Addressing the Qingyun Sect disciples, he said, "Listen up, if that demonic creature manages to break through the defense array, you must immediately shatter your tokens and leave the mystic realm."

"Senior Brother, we understand."

Then, Mu Ziming spoke to Mu Shan, "Little Junior Sister, I'll have to go out and confront this demon. I won't be able to spare any attention here, so you must be cautious."

Mu Shan felt a bit anxious. She was accustomed to relying on her Senior Brother in times of danger, but he might not be able to protect her... Reluctantly, she acknowledged his words.

She valued her life more than the trial.

It was regrettable that she hadn't encountered the Crimson Heaven Sect's "Min Chuo" within the mystic realm; it left her feeling somewhat discontented.