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The resources in the Red Rock Forest were far too scarce—even Earth-tier formations were rare, let alone Heaven-tier ones. Aside from a few Heaven-tier formations brought over from the Green Highlands, no formation master in the Red Rock Forest could forge them.

This formation disk was forged by the Min Clan. When Wen Qiao and the others left the Inner Sea, the Min Clan gave them many formation disks, most of which were Heaven-tier, and even included a King-tier one. Wen Qiao, Ning Yuzhou, and Wen Tuti each had their own, so Wen Qiao wasn’t concerned for Wen Tuti’s safety.

With the Heaven-tier concealment formation in place, the group could finally meditate and rest without worrying about the ghosts.

Wen Qiao spread out a blanket on the ground and laid Wen Yi on it, then crouched beside her, watching as Ning Yuzhou treated her.

Ning Yuzhou took out several types of Spirit Restoring Pills, feeding them to her one by one. He said to Wen Qiao, "Chui, transfer some spiritual energy to her to help accelerate the medicine’s effects."

Wen Qiao acknowledged and grasped Wen Yi’s hand, transferring spiritual energy into her.

The woman on the blanket finally stabilized, her breathing no longer faint as if on the verge of death. When Wen Qiao withdrew her hand, Wen Yi’s eyelids fluttered, and she slowly opened her eyes.

"You’re awake?"

Wen Yi blinked in confusion, then saw a face leaning over—so beautiful that even as a woman, she was momentarily stunned.

She quickly regained her senses and instinctively looked around. When she saw the rocky ceiling above and the pervasive yin energy in the air, realization dawned, and her expression shifted several times.

Wen Qiao silently observed her, deep in thought.

After a long pause, Wen Yi finally calmed and turned to Wen Qiao, whispering, "Young lady, was it you who saved me?"

"Yes," Wen Qiao replied. "We found you unconscious while passing by and took you with us. Your condition was critical—we used many Spirit Restoring Pills to revive you. Don’t forget to repay this favor."

Wen Yi fell silent.

"My name is Wen Qiao. What’s yours?"

"Wen Yi."

After answering, Wen Yi closed her eyes, carefully sensing the space around her. Yin energy saturated the air, while spiritual energy was so thin it was barely detectable.

Then, a gentle and serene voice spoke: "Your injuries are severe—your meridians are severed, requiring a Meridian-Replenishing Pill. Your spiritual apertures are crumbling, and there’s another issue: your lifespan is almost depleted. At any moment, your body and soul could disintegrate."

Wen Yi turned her expressionless gaze toward the male cultivator not far away.

He was regal and striking, his gentle refinement naturally putting others at ease. But her instincts screamed that this man was far more dangerous than he seemed.

Wen Yi remained silent.

Ning Yuzhou tossed out a formation disk, activating silencing and obscuring formations around them. His clear, tranquil eyes fixed on her as he suddenly asked, "Miss Wen Yi, care to explain where we are?"

Ning Jichen and Wen Qiao both looked at him, though they hid their surprise at his sudden question.

Wen Yi’s heart skipped a beat, but she kept her composure. "I don’t know what you mean."

"You do," Ning Yuzhou said with a light chuckle. "I never imagined Miss Wen Yi had awakened the Gouchen bloodline, giving her mastery over the Gouchen Celestial Tome and the power to tear open spatial tunnels. If you hadn’t forced one open, we wouldn’t have been pulled in."

His pleasant, unhurried voice turned Wen Yi’s face deathly pale. She gaped at him, her body locking up like a coiled spring.

But in her condition, sitting up alone was torture—forget fighting back. Any one of them could snap her like a twig.

Ning Yuzhou smiled at the frightened and defensive woman, still maintaining his gentle and scholarly demeanor. "Miss Wen Yi, there’s no need to worry. Since I’m being upfront, I have no designs on your bloodline—I won’t take it. I just want answers."

Whether it was his calm voice or her lack of options, Wen Yi’s rigid posture slowly eased.

Here's the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

She gave a bitter laugh inwardly. Looking like she was at death's door, even if the other party had ulterior motives, she had no means to resist.

Forcibly opening the spatial tunnel this time had cost her lifespan, and she didn't know how much time she had left. She was living on borrowed time—had these people not passed by and carried her away, the specters and demons would have torn her apart and devoured her at any moment.

Wen Yi finally spoke, "This is the Netherworld."

"The Netherworld?"

Even the usually composed Ning Jichen was so shocked he blurted out.

Wen Qiao glanced at him and said, "Father, it's fine. So it's the Netherworld—big deal. We're all here together."

Ning Jichen gave her a speechless look, realizing his daughter-in-law was remarkably calm, not a hint of panic in her, as if they had merely entered a secret realm.

However, Wen Yi's identity and abilities blew Wen Qiao and Ning Jichen away.

According to Ning Yuzhou, Wen Yi was also someone who had awakened a Divine Bloodline—one so extraordinary it could open a spatial tunnel leading to the Netherworld. Could it even open a passage to the Demon Realm?

"Are you certain?" Ning Yuzhou asked, his voice grave.

Wen Yi pressed her bloodless lips together, took a deep breath, and affirmed, "I'm certain! Though my ability is weak, I borrowed the power of the Fallen Dragon... You must know of it—a divine beast that had perished but was reborn as a Netherspawn due to the influence of the Red Rock Forest. I used it as a medium to open the spatial tunnel to the Netherworld."

Hearing this, the three of them finally understood why the Fallen Dragon had suddenly returned earlier.

Every time the Fallen Dragon emerged, it would wreak havoc for about three shichen, during which cultivators could safely enter the Red Bone River to search for draconic artifacts. But this time, it had abruptly returned, causing those who failed to retreat in time to be swept into the spatial tunnel. "Why did you open a spatial tunnel to the Netherworld?" Ning Yuzhou continued his questioning.