Volume Two: The Appearance of the Nine Provinces Map, Entering the Spirit Void Sect Chapter 135: Gathering in One Place

Chen Yu dodged quickly, but it was only then that he realized the blood-colored moon wolf’s target was not him, but the corpse of its fallen companion.

His expression darkened instantly. "This is bad..." he muttered. "It intends to devour the other wolf’s essence and blood to strengthen itself."

He stomped his foot and lunged toward the beast to intercept it. However, the wolf was decisive; refusing to engage, it clamped its jaws onto the carcass and turned to flee back into the dense forest. The second blood-colored moon wolf quickly broke away from Liu Yue'er’s interference, following closely behind its retreating packmate.

This sudden turn of events left the cultivators both bewildered and immensely relieved. Though puzzled, Liu Yue'er made no move to pursue them. Chen Yu, however, watched the direction of their escape with a heavy heart. He knew that the next time they encountered those two wolves, they would not be so easily dealt with.

With the chaos caused by the three wolves, Chen Yu’s small group—including himself and Liu Yue'er—had been reduced to only six survivors. They looked at the corpses on the ground, filled with grim reflection.

"You are a disciple of Lingxu," Liu Yue'er said, approaching Chen Yu.

The other four looked over as well, full of curiosity. The strength Chen Yu had just displayed had genuinely shocked them, though they could not help but harbor some resentment that he had not intervened to save their companions sooner. Of course, Chen Yu had no interest in their thoughts. What did their lives have to do with him? He had no desire to play the hero.

"I am Chen Yu of Taizhu Peak, Lingxu. Greetings, Fairy Liu," Chen Yu said, bowing slightly.

"Taizhu Peak? Then the technique you just used truly was the Taizhu Sword Art," Liu Yue'er said, sounding astonished. "To comprehend the Taizhu Sword Art while still in the Yiyuan Realm—your talent is not to be underestimated."

"You flatter me, Fairy," Chen Yu replied. "I merely happened to be in the right place at the right time and grasped a superficial understanding of it."

"Hmph... superficial?" Liu Yue'er said, sounding somewhat indignant. "It seems I underestimated the heritage of Lingxu."

She turned to the others. "Only a few of us remain. If you are not afraid of death, continue forward. However, you have all experienced the danger firsthand. From here on, whether you live or die depends entirely on your own fortune."

The four men’s expressions tightened. Though Liu Yue'er’s words were blunt, they knew they were true. For a moment, they hesitated, torn by fear.

Liu Yue'er did not give them much time to deliberate. A moment later, she pressed deeper into Moon-Gazing Cliff. Chen Yu followed without hesitation. Seeing this, the four men gritted their teeth and followed, thinking to themselves that wealth is found in danger; if they could seize this opportunity, reaching the Yin-Yang Realm would be within reach.

As expected, it wasn't long before they encountered a lone blood-colored moon wolf. Through their combined efforts, they managed to slay it. However, both Liu Yue'er and Chen Yu clearly sensed that this wolf was even stronger than the previous ones.

This made them even more cautious. They fought their way forward until, in the dead of night, they reached the Crescent Peak, the heart of Moon-Gazing Cliff and their final destination. Xiao Xiang and Zhu Yi’s groups had arrived just before and after them. Combined, the three parties now numbered only eleven; the others were either dead or had fled.

"Have you noticed that these maddened wolves are unusual?" Zhu Yi asked.

"Haha, sister, you must be joking," Xiao Xiang laughed. "They’ve gone mad; can you really call that 'normal'?"

"It is more than that. I have a feeling these wolves are plotting something," Zhu Yi explained.

"You are just worrying needlessly to scare your little brother," Xiao Xiang said dismissively. "They are mere beasts; how cunning can they be? I think we should focus on finding the Half-Moon Purple Lotus mentioned by Master Xuyang."

"According to Master Xuyang, the lotus is somewhere here on Crescent Peak. Whether we find it depends on everyone’s luck," Liu Yue'er said calmly. Her brows were furrowed; she shared Zhu Yi’s unease. But since their goal was the lotus, there was no turning back now.

They stopped gathering together and began to search individually.

Chen Yu did not move immediately. He recalled the records in the books: the Half-Moon Purple Lotus grows in Yin-heavy ground, its flowers turning toward the sun. It is shaped like a half-lotus, embracing both Yin and Yang. It is a potent antidote to all poisons and, due to the convergence of Yin and Yang energies within it, greatly increases one's chances of breaking through to the Yin-Yang Realm. To find it, one must first find a source of Yin energy.

"It seems we all had the same idea," someone remarked. Even though they had spread out, they had all ended up in the same place.

"I assume everyone has already searched the other cold, Yin-heavy spots. This is the only one left," Xiao Xiang said with a wicked grin.

"Stop wasting time. Let us see who becomes the ultimate beneficiary," Zhu Yi said, ceasing the small talk and releasing her aura to probe for the lotus.

Chen Yu arrived last. Looking at this area, he felt a sudden sense of dread, as if something truly terrifying were hidden within. He frowned, afraid to act rashly. *Why would Master Xuyang spread that information?* he wondered. *Is there an unknown secret hidden here besides the lotus?*

As he thought this, a chill crept up his spine. He immediately suppressed his aura and hid himself carefully.

A howl echoed—the cry of the blood-colored moon wolves. Three maddened beasts lunged forth, their fierce gazes fixed on Liu Yue'er and the others. These wolves were different now: their aura had reached the Sixth Aperture of the Yiyuan Realm, and their blood-red fur had turned a诡异 silver-purple.

Liu Yue'er and the others glared back, their hearts pounding despite their composed outward appearances.

"Hmph, so there was something wrong after all," Zhu Yi said coldly.

"And so what? They are only at the Sixth Aperture," Xiao Xiang said, remaining indifferent.

"It seems these wolf demons possess a method for rapid advancement," Liu Yue'er said solemnly. "In that case, they cannot be allowed to live."

"Is that so? A method for rapid advancement?" Xiao Xiang’s eyes burned with unconcealable greed. "If I could obtain it, perhaps I could surpass those so-called 'heavenly geniuses'..."

"You?" Liu Yue'er thought, feeling nothing but disdain.

"Enough talk," Zhu Yi commanded. "Let us join forces and slaughter these three wretched beasts."

"Kill!"