Chapter 223

Chapter 223

Upon hearing his question, Su Wangling suddenly fell silent.

Ning Yuzhou waited patiently for him to think and deliberate. His calm demeanor suggested that no matter the cultivation level of the practitioner he faced, he remained unperturbed, as if no one had ever broken his composure.

At least, not yet.

After a moment, Su Wangling spoke, "If we want to resolve the current predicament, there are two methods. First, we can make the Pure Spirit Water Lotus reappear; fortunately, we have nine lotus seeds here. Second, we can find the Divine Tree and use it to suppress the Blood Miasma."

Ning Yuzhou looked at the pale-faced man before him and calmly said, "Young Master Su, these two methods won't work! First, it would take too long for the Pure Spirit Water Lotus seeds to grow into mature plants capable of suppressing the Blood Miasma. We simply cannot afford to wait. Moreover, the Blood Miasma broke free because its power was too overwhelming; the Pure Spirit Water Lotus' purifying essence is no longer sufficient to contain it."

"Secondly, we are trapped here, with the Blood Sea in front and the Blood Miasma behind us. The Divine Tree remains elusive—where would we even look for it?"

Su Wangling fell silent again.

Ning Yuzhou watched him with a composed expression, sensing that this silence was different from the previous one, as if he was struggling internally.

At that moment, a cry of alarm rang out, accompanied by a loud crash. The entire formation trembled, and spiritual light flickered.

Both men looked up and saw a colossal blood figure emerging from the Blood Sea.

The blood giant seemed forged from fresh blood, possessing a humanoid body with somewhat distinct features, towering over a hundred feet tall. When it struck the formation with its massive blood fist, the formation's spiritual light flickered.

The cultivators guarding the formation changed expressions, quickly channeling their spiritual energy to various points.

Other cultivators panicked, rushing back, fear evident on their faces, unsure where the blood giant had come from. It seemed to rise from the Blood Sea in an instant, attacking the defensive formation protecting the cultivators.

They watched the defensive formation nervously, fearing it might be breached.

Fortunately, despite several attacks, the defensive formation held firm, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

Ning Yuzhou glanced once and then looked away, confident in the formation he had set up. As long as no monsters from the Blood Miasma emerged, it could withstand the attacks.

Although the blood giant's aura was powerful, it wasn't the most formidable presence in the Heavenly Plains.

Su Wangling stared at the blood giant, his dark eyes flashing with insight.

As the blood giant attacked the formation, Qiao Leshan leaped up, his sword striking out with a burst of spiritual light.

"Light Purification!"

The blood giant's body cracked like a tortoise shell, its blood form riddled with spider-web-like cracks. It collapsed, turning into countless droplets of blood that fell back into the Blood Sea. The sea, unable to bear the weight, surged high and crashed against the glowing defensive formation.

When Qiao Leshan landed, his face was slightly pale.

"Senior Brother Qiao!"

"Big Brother, are you alright?"

Qiao Leshui and the Feixian Island disciples gathered around him, worried. The sword technique he used was one of Feixian Island's spiritual light sword techniques, possessing purifying power but requiring immense spiritual energy.

Qiao Leshan assured them he was fine, took some spirit replenishing pills, and continued fighting after his energy was restored.

Yan Qiao stood atop a high point, firing arrows to kill many of the monsters surrounding the formation. Her face gradually turned pale until her spiritual energy depleted, and she retreated to rest within the formation.

As she rested, other cultivators stepped forward to fill her position, beginning a new round of battle.

Qiao Leshan's earlier arrangements proved effective. Although the battle had begun, the cultivators relied on the formation, fighting in an orderly manner, reducing casualties and allowing others time to rest and meditate to replenish their spiritual energy for the next battle.

The sounds of battle echoed continuously, but this place remained eerily quiet.

Finally regaining his senses, Su Wangling's face paled further as he said to Ning Yuzhou, "Young Master Ning, if I told you I could see where the Divine Tree is, would you believe me?"

Ning Yuzhou was slightly taken aback and looked at him.

Su Wangling's expression remained calm as he asked, "Young Master Ning, do you know that some people possess a special bloodline known as the Divine Bloodline?"

His eyes fixed on Ning Yuzhou, not missing any change in his expression.

Ning Yuzhou quickly regained his composure and calmly replied, "I know."

Su Wangling's expression shifted subtly, soon becoming serious.

He was a smart man and, having chosen to speak, decided not to hide anything, "The son of Linglong Fort's Su family inherits an ancient Divine Bloodline—the Spiritual Rhinoceros Body, which allows him to see truths invisible to ordinary people."

Ning Yuzhou finally showed surprise, seemingly not expecting such directness.

The significance of the Divine Bloodline was well-known; its awakened innate abilities were coveted by many, who would go to great lengths to obtain them.

This was why they kept their Divine Bloodline hidden upon awakening.

Su Wangling smiled faintly, a hint of bitterness and helplessness in his expression, "There is no other way. If we don't resolve the crisis in the Heavenly Plains, the entire Flying Star Continent will be destroyed."

Without the Flying Star Continent, what would become of Linglong Fort's Su family?

Ning Yuzhou asked, "Why did you choose to tell me?"

There were many people here; he could have told Qiao Leshan, a disciple of Feixian Island, who seemed more trustworthy than someone of unknown origin.

"Intuition," Su Wangling whispered softly, "I feel that both of you are trustworthy."

Don't forget, his Spiritual Rhinoceros Bloodline included a sense that often helped him avoid danger and gain a chance at survival. In his perception, Ning Yuzhou and Yan Qiao were trustworthy, even making him feel a sense of familiarity.

Since his intuition pointed this way, he chose to believe.

Moreover, the situation left no room for hesitation. If he was wrong, everyone would die here.

Ning Yuzhou smiled slightly, seeming to believe him, and asked, "What do you want us to do?"

Su Wangling said, "I hope you can help us resolve our current predicament and find the Divine Tree."

"You're overestimating us," Ning Yuzhou replied with a hint of mockery. "Young Master Su, Chui and I have too low a cultivation level to be of any help."

"No, it's we who have underestimated you! Young Master Ning, I trust my intuition, so please help me this once! The Linglong Castle, and even the entire Flying Star Continent, will be grateful to you." Su Wangling pleaded earnestly.

Ning Yuzhou remained silent, not responding.

Su Wangling felt somewhat disappointed but knew his request was unreasonable and lacked persuasion. Even he found it strange that he would seek help from two cultivators with lower cultivation levels than himself.

Just as he was about to get up, Ning Yuzhou asked, "Where is the Divine Tree?"

Su Wangling paused, suppressing his excitement, and said, "The Divine Tree is within this Sea of Blood."

Ning Yuzhou looked at the Sea of Blood outside the formation, showing a bit of surprise but did not doubt his judgment. Cultivators with the Spirit Rhinoceros Body indeed saw more truths than ordinary people.

He had not expected the Divine Tree to be hidden in the Sea of Blood.

"What is the condition of the Divine Tree?" Ning Yuzhou asked again.

Su Wangling was surprised that Ning Yuzhou believed him without suspicion, feeling both astonished and pleased. Ning Yuzhou was indeed a smart man, and his depth surpassed expectations.

Throughout their journey, he had observed them coldly but still could not fully understand Ning Yuzhou and Wen Qiao's strength and cards.

Even now, trapped here, they showed no despair or anxiety. They fought when needed and rested when necessary, displaying a resilience and rationality that amazed others.

"The condition of the Divine Tree is dire," Su Wangling sighed. "Although it has lasted longer than the Purifying Lotus, it has not been completely corrupted. If we do not take it away soon, it will suffer the same fate as the Purifying Lotus."

Ning Yuzhou's eyes flickered as he looked at the Sea of Blood outside the formation. This sea appeared suddenly, and its origin was unknown. He wondered what was happening elsewhere in the Heavenly Plains.

Lost in thought for a moment, he asked again, "Young Master Su, what exactly is the Heavenly Plains?"

"I don't know either," Su Wangling shook his head. "It used to be an ancient battlefield, but after reappearing, its nature changed. The Heavenly Plains seal many terrifying entities. If these malevolent spirits break free, it will spell doom for the Flying Star Continent."

Therefore, he could not ignore it.

This time, he came to the Heavenly Plains not only because his injuries were grave and he sought a chance at survival but also to uncover its secrets. He had heard from elders that the Heavenly Plains was an ominous place, destined to bring ruin to the Flying Star Continent.

The Su family of Linglong Castle had inherited a mission: to protect the Flying Star Continent from destruction!

He had never understood why the Su family had such a rule until today, witnessing the changes in the Heavenly Plains firsthand. It seemed that when Linglong Castle was established, they knew of the existence of the Heavenly Plains, which was then sealed and hidden from the world.

Until tens of thousands of years ago, the seals on the Heavenly Plains suddenly broke, causing it to reappear.

After Su Wangling left, Ning Yuzhou continued meditating to recover.

When his spiritual energy and spirit were nearly restored, he opened his eyes to see Wen Qiao watching by his side.

Wen Qiao had just finished a battle and sat beside him, exhausted, resting.

Days had passed since the anomaly in the Prison Water Marsh. These days, cultivators fought constantly, striving for a slim chance of survival.

Wen Qiao, like other cultivators, fought earnestly, slaying countless monsters in the Sea of Blood, allowing herself no relaxation.

"Chui."

Hearing his voice, Wen Qiao turned to see him smiling at her, looking refreshed. She asked, "Husband, have you rested well?"

Ning Yuzhou nodded.

She smiled, dimples appearing on her cheeks, looking adorable and innocent.

Ning Yuzhou said, "Chui, Young Master Su told me earlier that the Divine Tree is in the Sea of Blood."

Wen Qiao looked at him in surprise. "Really? When did Young Master Su see it? No wonder he spat blood again; he must have overused his spiritual power."

Su Wangling was already injured, and each use of his Spirit Rhinoceros Body drained his vitality, making him look close to death, worrying the disciples of Linglong Castle.

Fortunately, he was the young master of Linglong Castle and skilled enough to earn respect despite the strain.

In this battle in the Heavenly Plains, Su Wangling's "Spirit Eyes" became widely known. With his ability to detect dangers ahead, many cultivators respected him.

"The Divine Tree is in the Sea of Blood; this is troublesome," Wen Qiao said, worried. Then she asked, puzzled, "What does Young Master Su mean? Why tell us this suddenly?"

Ning Yuzhou recounted Su Wangling's visit and words to Wen Qiao without holding back.

They had set up soundproof and confusion formations around them, ensuring no one could overhear their conversation.

Wen Qiao was surprised for a moment, confused. "How can he be so sure we can find the Divine Tree?"

"No, he is not certain we can find it, but he wants to use our abilities to revive the Divine Tree and suppress the filth of the Heavenly Plains," Ning Yuzhou explained.

Su Wangling was a smart man, and a smart man with the Spirit Rhinoceros Body, full of schemes and calculations.

Ning Yuzhou knew that Su Wangling's frankness about the Spirit Rhinoceros Body was a test. "Chui, he suspects you might also possess a divine bloodline."

"Suspect me?" Wen Qiao was taken aback, her eyes widening. "Not because of the Purifying Lotus, right?"

Ning Yuzhou nodded, a slight smile on his face. "The Purifying Lotus moved twice, bloomed, and gave you three lotus seeds. Anyone observing closely could guess."

The Purifying Lotus sensed Wen Qiao's presence and offered its seeds to her, hoping she could cultivate it and suppress the blood miasma.

Indeed, such a high-grade spiritual entity had simple intentions.

Throughout their journey together, they had not intentionally revealed their divine bloodline talents, but Su Wangling was a frighteningly perceptive man. His careful observation and bold assumptions, culminating in the Purifying Lotus's final act, finally made him suspicious.

To confirm his suspicions, he risked using his own divine bloodline.

Such a person, if an enemy, would be truly terrifying.

However, his purpose is merely to save the Flying Star Continent, even if it means exposing the secret of his divine and extraordinary bloodline.

Wen Qiao felt dizzy and couldn't help but hold her forehead, saying, "You all think too complicatedly."

Ning Yuzhou only smiled without speaking.

"He's truly terrifying, plotting so intricately, just to be with you..."

She swallowed the last part of her words because her husband was already looking at her with a smile, giving her an ominous feeling that continuing would be very scary. Wen Qiao thought to herself that it was rare to encounter someone as devious as her husband, and fortunately, he hadn't directly plotted against them; otherwise, it would have been disheartening.

This is also where Su Wangling's intelligence lies. He doesn't deliberately plot against them but lets everything happen naturally to avoid arousing their resentment.

"Should I hasten the growth of the Pure Spirit Water Lotus?" Wen Qiao asked, taking out a seed of the Pure Spirit Water Lotus.

The seed, about the size of a thumb, was round and smooth like jade, with a clear and translucent color, emitting a rich aura of water spirit energy, naturally imbued with a pure and righteous essence that repels evil.

Wen Qiao took a whiff of the seed's scent, and her spirits lifted instantly.

The scent of the Pure Spirit Water Lotus seed also attracted several beasts. Wen Tutu and Wen Guangun both peeked over, looking as if they were drooling, and even the two Yellow Crystal Ants on Wen Qiao's head stared intently.

"You can't eat this," Wen Qiao sternly warned them. "It's used to suppress corrupt and evil energies."

The four beasts glanced at the sea of blood and the monsters outside the grand array and reluctantly turned away.

If Sister says not to eat it, then they won't eat it; they tried hard to resist.

"However, once I grow the Pure Spirit Water Lotus, I can give you a few seeds," Wen Qiao added.

The four beasts immediately perked up, circling around her affectionately.