Chapter 218

Chapter 218

The two of them did not notice the changes in themselves; they merely watched the group that appeared with caution. It wasn't until they recognized the disciples of the Heavenly Talisman Sect that their expressions relaxed.

"Turns out it's fellow daoists from the Heavenly Talisman Sect."

Wang Qunfang asked in surprise, "May I ask who you two are?"

"We are disciples of the Illusion Sea Pavilion," the uninjured cultivator quickly replied. "My surname is Ding, Ding Lei. This is my junior brother, Cheng Ye Shan."

Hearing that they were disciples of the "Illusion Sea Pavilion," everyone present was somewhat surprised.

The Illusion Sea Pavilion was no less prestigious than the Heavenly Talisman Sect. In fact, because the Illusion Spirit Sea, where the Illusion Sea Pavilion was located, produced an extremely precious talisman sand that could improve the success rate and quality of talismans, making it highly sought after by Talisman Masters, the Illusion Sea Pavilion became the wealthiest force on the Flying Star Continent.

It was said that when disciples of the Illusion Sea Pavilion walked out, they were seen as walking tycoons by the world.

This time, many disciples from various forces entered the Celestial Plains. Disciples from well-known sects on the Flying Star Continent had all come, so it wasn't surprising that the Illusion Sea Pavilion would send people too. However, they didn't expect the disciples of the Illusion Sea Pavilion to venture into this Netherworld and emerge in such a ghastly state.

Wang Qunfang asked, "How did you end up entering this Netherworld? Are there others inside?"

Ding Lei replied, "We accidentally wandered in. We didn't expect it to be so dangerous. Many people went in, but only we managed to come out..."

As he spoke, he gave a bitter smile, thinking about how many people had gone in and only two had escaped, barely surviving.

Just then, Cheng Ye Shan, who had been injured by the ghost, finally couldn't hold on any longer. He spat out a mouthful of black blood and collapsed to the ground.

"Junior Brother Cheng!"

Ding Lei cried out in alarm, supporting the fallen Cheng Ye Shan. He realized his condition was dire. Cheng Ye Shan's face had turned greenish-black, and his body was emitting yin energy mixed with ghostly aura, transforming him into a half-human, half-ghost existence.

Ding Lei's expression changed drastically as he hurriedly stuffed a spirit pill into Cheng Ye Shan's mouth.

Disciples of the Illusion Sea Pavilion were not short of spirit stones and carried many spirit pills. However, these spirit pills were useless now. Not only had Cheng Ye Shan been injured by a ghost, but also, without any defense, they had entered the Netherworld, causing their bodies to be affected by its yin energy, showing signs of turning into ghosts. Ordinary spirit pills were of little help.

Realizing this, Ding Lei's expression turned grim, and he had to seek help from the disciples of the Heavenly Talisman Sect.

The Heavenly Talisman Sect often bought talisman sand from the Illusion Sea Pavilion, and the two forces had a cooperative relationship. Since they were seeking help, the Heavenly Talisman Sect disciples naturally couldn't ignore them.

However, as Talisman Masters, they were powerless to help these two and could only turn to Ning Yuzhou for assistance.

Among the cultivators here, only Ning Yuzhou was an Alchemist.

"Roar—"

At that moment, Cheng Ye Shan, who had collapsed, suddenly let out a roar, similar to the cries of the ghosts in the valley. He leaped forward, his now blackened nails reaching for Ding Lei.

"Junior Brother Cheng, it's me!" Ding Lei dodged clumsily, trying to wake him up.

But Cheng Ye Shan had already become half-human, half-ghost, losing his mind. How could he understand Ding Lei's words? He continued attacking relentlessly. Ding Lei feared injuring him and didn't retaliate. Moreover, his body, affected by the Netherworld's yin energy, was not responding well, severely reducing his combat ability.

"Chui, knock him out!" Ning Yuzhou ordered.

Chui immediately flew over and knocked him unconscious.

Cheng Ye Shan fell limply, causing Qiao Leshui to cover her neck, recalling how she had been knocked out similarly upon first meeting him. Although she had no consciousness at the time, she could feel the pain in her neck when she woke up, indicating how much force Chui had used.

Seeing that Cheng Ye Shan was no longer a threat, Ning Yuzhou approached to examine his body and fed him a Crimson Sun Pill.

The Crimson Sun Pill was a yang pill with strong fiery attributes, capable of dispelling yin coldness.

After taking the Crimson Sun Pill, the yin energy in Cheng Ye Shan's body diminished significantly, but the greenish-black color on his face remained, leaving him in a half-human, half-ghost state.

Ding Lei watched anxiously, seeing that his junior brother's condition hadn't improved, feeling increasingly worried.

Ning Yuzhou lowered his gaze, pondered for a moment, and took out a Yin-Yang Nirvana True Pill, stuffing it into Cheng Ye Shan's mouth.

The two furry balls on Chui's shoulders couldn't help stretching their necks. They had always coveted the Yin-Yang Nirvana True Pill, but Ning Ge had never given them even one. Seeing him give it to someone he didn't know, they felt envious again.

Seeing the distinct black-and-white spirit pill, Su Wangling's eyes flickered, and she sniffed lightly.

Apart from Chui and Qiao Leshui, no one else knew about the Yin-Yang Nirvana True Pill. Seeing its distinct black-and-white appearance, they all found it peculiar and couldn't help extending their necks to observe Cheng Ye Shan's condition.

When they noticed the greenish-black color on his face fading visibly and his nails returning to normal flesh color, they couldn't help exclaiming in amazement.

Ning Yuzhou pressed his hand on Cheng Ye Shan's wrist, examining his body thoroughly, and reassured the anxious Ding Lei, "The ghostly aura in his body has been removed. With some rest, he'll be fine."

He then fed Cheng Ye Shan another spirit pill to treat external injuries, which quickly healed the wound on his shoulder caused by the ghost.

Ding Lei was overjoyed and gratefully said, "Thank you, Master Alchemist, for saving him."

At that moment, Cheng Ye Shan opened his eyes, looking very weak but still alive.

Since saving one was the same as saving both, Ning Yuzhou decided to check Ding Lei as well and gave him a Yin-Yang Nirvana True Pill to take.

After Ding Lei took it, he discovered that the lingering yin and ghostly energies in his body quickly dissipated, leaving him feeling much lighter and more relieved.

Seeing the two disciples of the Illusion Sea Pavilion recover from the ghostly aura, everyone was curious about the distinct black-and-white spirit pill and asked, "Young Master Ning, what kind of spirit pill is this? It's incredibly powerful!"

Although they were not Alchemists, they knew that ordinary spirit pills couldn't save someone in the condition of Ding Lei and his junior brother. They had rarely heard of any spirit pill that could so quickly dispel the ghostly aura in a cultivator's body and restore them to normal.

Ning Yuzhou didn't hide anything, "This is the Yin-Yang Nirvana True Pill, capable of rebirth and renewing vitality."

The Yin and Yang Spring itself nurtures life and vitality, and ghostly aura is a form of Netherworld death energy. Naturally, the Yin and Yang Spring can dispel ghostly aura and rejuvenate a half-human, half-ghost cultivator.

Everyone nodded in understanding, feeling that the name alone suggested the pill's immense usefulness.

"Can it truly renew vitality?" Wu Qijie asked in surprise.

Ning Yuzhou nodded slightly, knowing why he asked, and looked at Su Wangling.

When he first saw Su Wangling swallow the Netherworld Blood Pill, he understood that her injuries were severe and required the pill to sustain her life and suppress her condition. Although the Netherworld Blood Pill contained a decent amount of life force, it was merely a minor elixir and could not compare to the effects of the Yin-Yang Nirvana True Pill.

Su Wangling's lips moved slightly, and a sickly flush appeared on her pale face as she said, "Young Master Ning, may I speak with you in private?"

"Of course."

Ning Yuzhou readily agreed and walked a short distance away with Su Wangling, while Wu Qijie stood guard nearby.

The others glanced at the two who had moved aside to talk but couldn't hear what they were saying due to the soundproof barrier set up around them. However, they assumed the conversation was related to the Yin-Yang Nirvana True Pill.

The others did not pry further and continued their own conversations.

Wang Qunfang addressed the two disciples from the Illusory Sea Pavilion, "You're lucky indeed. If it weren't for Young Master Ning, we wouldn't have been able to save you." Asking a group of Talisman Masters to save lives would be quite a challenge, wouldn't it?

The two disciples from the Illusory Sea Pavilion acknowledged this truth and felt deeply grateful.

When Ning Yuzhou and Su Wangling finished their conversation and returned, Ding Lei and the other disciple approached to express their gratitude for saving their lives and inquired about the price of the Crimson Sun Pills and the Yin-Yang Nirvana True Pills they had taken. They promised to pay the corresponding number of spirit stones.

Ning Yuzhou wasn't a philanthropist and wouldn't give out elixirs for free, so he promptly quoted a price.

Qiao Leshui felt a chill run down his spine when he heard the price of the Yin-Yang Nirvana True Pill he had swallowed. He felt that even working for Ning Yuzhou for several hundred years wouldn't repay the debt, hoping his brother could help settle it.

Ding Lei and the other disciple, both elite disciples of the Illusory Sea Pavilion, were wealthy and paid the spirit stones immediately, even adding a few more as a consultation fee.

They also expressed interest in purchasing more Yin-Yang Nirvana True Pills.

These pills had numerous uses, especially in a place like Heavenly Plains, where they were invaluable for saving lives. Naturally, having more was better.

Ning Yuzhou declined, giving them only two pills. "One of the main ingredients in this pill is extremely rare, and the pill itself is difficult to refine. I don't have many in stock, so I can't provide too many."

Although Ding Lei and the other disciple were somewhat disappointed, they felt that having two pills was still beneficial, as they could save two more lives in critical situations.

After the elixir transaction, Wu Qijie asked them, "Did you discover anything when you entered the Netherworld Grounds?"

Ding Lei and the other disciple recognized Wu Qijie and also identified Su Wangling as the young master of the Linglong Fort.

Ding Lei said, "It's very dangerous inside. Not only are there many ghosts, but they are also incredibly powerful. We didn't venture deep into the valley, but we sensed even more terrifying entities lurking within. Along with us were some fellow disciples and independent cultivators, but unfortunately, they all perished..."

At this point, both Ding Lei and Cheng Yeshan showed signs of sorrow.

The others, upon hearing this, felt relieved that they hadn't rashly entered earlier. They also recalled the Evil Suppression Talisman Stone outside the valley, realizing it must be suppressing the powerful ghosts deep within the Netherworld Grounds.

Ding Lei took out a jade box. "Look, these are Ghost Pearls, which we obtained in the Netherworld Grounds."

Inside the jade box were dozens of pitch-black pearls, emanating a dense and chilling yin energy. Even from a distance, one could feel the extreme coldness of the yin energy.

A disciple from the Celestial Talisman Sect gasped, "These ghosts can already condense Ghost Pearls?"

Ding Lei and his fellow disciple nodded silently.

Ghost Pearls were condensed within ghosts, similar to demon cores in beasts. It was said that ghosts could evolve by consuming Ghost Pearls. The ghosts that could condense Ghost Pearls were exceptionally powerful, which explained why so many people had perished in the Netherworld Grounds, leaving only two survivors.

Ding Lei closed the jade box and placed an isolation talisman on it to block the Ghost Pearls' aura. Just as he was about to put it away, Ning Yuzhou suddenly said, "Senior Ding, could you sell me a few Ghost Pearls?"

Ding Lei looked at him in surprise and generously replied, "Young Master Ning saved my fellow disciple and me; consider these a gift."

He immediately took out ten Ghost Pearls and handed them directly to Ning Yuzhou.

The disciples from the Illusory Sea Pavilion were indeed wealthy, gifting such rare items without hesitation.

Of course, Ding Lei's gesture was also intended to build a relationship with Ning Yuzhou. A skilled alchemist was someone worth befriending, and having him on their side could be crucial in future emergencies.

This was a well-calculated move.

Ning Yuzhou understood Ding Lei's intentions and smiled as he accepted the Ghost Pearls.

Once Ding Lei and his fellow disciple had recovered sufficiently, they asked why the others were here and where they were headed.

Wang Qunfang said, "We need to find the disciples from Feixian Island. Do you know where they are?"

Ding Lei was surprised. "You're going to look for them?"

Wang Qunfang pointed to Qiao Leshui among the crowd and said, "This is Qiao Leshan's brother. Young Master Ning and Miss Wen are his friends, and they all want to find Qiao Leshan. So, we decided to accompany them."

Ding Lei and Cheng Yeshan looked at the group of Celestial Talisman Sect disciples and understood that they were following Ning Yuzhou.

No one was foolish. They knew the dangers of Heavenly Plains, and having a reliable alchemist could mean the difference between life and death. Following an alchemist was always a wise choice.

With the rapport built during this journey, finding him for future alchemy needs would be easier.

The Celestial Talisman Sect disciples were indeed astute.

Ding Lei thought for a moment and then smiled. "I see. In that case, we'll join you. Before entering the Netherworld Grounds, we happened to part ways with the Feixian Island disciples."

"Really?" Qiao Leshui was both surprised and delighted. "Is my brother alright?"

"Of course, he's fine. Fellow Daoist Qiao received the true teachings of Venerable Boyuan. Although Heavenly Plains is treacherous, it poses no significant threat to him."

Ding Lei held Qiao Leshan in high regard. Qiao Leshan was a rare genius in the Flying Star Continent and a highly respected figure among the younger generation, capable of rallying many followers.

Wen Qiao believed that Qiao Leshan's status and reputation in the Flying Star Continent were comparable to Qin Hongdao's in the Holy Martial Continent.

According to Ding Lei, after parting ways with the Feixian Island disciples, the Illusory Sea Pavilion disciples entered the Netherworld Grounds, while the Feixian Island disciples headed towards the Prison Water Marsh.

"The Prison Water Marsh?" Wu Qijie's expression changed. "Are you sure?"

Ding Lei's face turned solemn. "We are certain. They definitely went in that direction."

Upon hearing this, Wu Qijie's expression became uncertain, and even Su Wangling frowned.

A disciple of the Tianfu Sect asked in confusion, "Where is this Prison Marsh?"

"It's the blank spot on the map you brought," Su Wangling said softly. "It's quite dangerous. If..."

"If what?" Qiao Leshui couldn't help but ask anxiously.

Su Wangling sighed lightly, "If we can't find the Divine Tree anywhere else, it might be there."

"Really?" The group asked in surprise and joy.

Su Wangling nodded solemnly, seeing their faces filled with excitement. He knew how tempting the Divine Tree was to everyone, so he didn't blame them for reacting this way. But if they really found the Divine Tree, why would it be in such a place?

These thoughts were too terrifying to ponder deeply.

Only by personally traversing the Heavenly Plains could one understand its terror, and the things suppressed under the rune stones were enough to shake the entire Flying Star Continent. Su Wangling had never been to the Heavenly Plains before, but this time he insisted on coming despite his injuries. Besides searching for the Divine Tree, he had other purposes. However, upon uncovering the secrets hidden within the Heavenly Plains, he dared not think further.

Seeing Su Wangling's expression, everyone was somewhat puzzled.

"Master Su, is there something wrong?" Wang Quanfang asked nervously.

Su Wangling shook his head and said, "Forget it, let's go and take a look. However, that place has significant restrictions on high-level cultivators, so Ajie might not be able to get close."

Upon hearing this, everyone understood.

They had all heard that the Heavenly Plains imposed great restrictions on high-level cultivators, but the specifics of these restrictions were unknown. These restrictions made even the ancestors at the Yuanzong realm hesitant to enter, forcing them to send cultivators below the Yuanzong realm into the Heavenly Plains instead.

Wu Qijie shouldn't have come to the Heavenly Plains, but he was very worried about Su Wangling, so he followed him in.