Volume Two – The Map of Nine Provinces Unveiled, Entering the Spiritual Ruins Chapter 89: The Dissipation of the Malignant Aura

Zheng Geng and Zheng Huai were thrown into utter disorder. They cried out in alarm, “Tang Jun, wake up at once!”

But the grotesque Tang Jun had long since lost all reason. How could he still hear their voices? With no choice, the two of them drew their swords to defend themselves.

They had not expected that once the baleful yin energy had entered his body, Tang Jun’s strength would become so terrifying. In a moment of carelessness, Zheng Geng and Zheng Huai were driven back by his blade.

Then the baleful energy condensed by the nine-headed serpent monster slammed straight down, hurling Tang Jun away and tearing his body apart. Yet the force did not stop there; it continued surging toward Zheng Geng and the others.

“Bad!” Zheng Geng and the others were instantly alarmed. Their faces went deathly pale, and they could not even react.

At that very moment, a streak of golden light swept in from the sword path, none other than Chen Yu.

Sword in hand, Chen Yu struck in fury. “Call forth wind and rain, Wind and Rain Sword!”

The sword wind howled as it collided with the baleful yin energy. Though Chen Yu was knocked back to Zheng Geng’s side, the dark force was also blasted apart.

“Go!” Chen Yu shouted.

The others reacted at once and rushed out of the range of the baleful energy.

Chen Yu’s methods truly astonished many.

“Who is that junior brother? Such formidable dao arts.”

“If I am not mistaken, that should be one of the Thirty-six Heavenly Gang Arts.”

“It is indeed. To cultivate several dao arts with only nine breaths in the dantian is no small feat.”

“That man looks somewhat familiar...” said Liao Kai among the disciples of the Spirit Ruins. “When did the outer sect gain such a remarkable junior brother?”

“Senior Brother Liao, that person is named Chen Yu. He only joined our Spirit Ruins outer sect not long ago,” said Wu Yue.

“Chen Yu?” Wang Ji murmured it once, then remembered and said in surprise, “Ah... so it was him. The one who accompanied Senior Brother Zhao when we went to explore the Ze Tong cave dwelling.”

“So it was him!” Liao Kai also recalled it. “Still, I never expected that in less than two years, his cultivation would already have reached the nine-breath level of the dantian, and that he would actually enter the outer sect.”

“Then should Senior Brother call Chen Yu over?” Xiao Gu asked. Chen Yu was not weak; if he could travel with them, he would be a great help.

But Wang Ji and the others only replied indifferently, “No need. He has not even reached the Unity Realm. Bringing him along would only slow us down.”

Xiao Gu’s brow furrowed slightly, but he said nothing more.

On the other side, after Chen Yu and the others carried Xue Xin out of the range of the baleful energy and saw that he was still in a frenzy, they had no choice but to knock him unconscious first.

“Xue Xin has now suffered damage to his mind and spirit. Do you have any way to wake him?” Chen Yu asked the three of them.

Zheng Geng and Zheng Huai both shook their heads helplessly. Xue Ren, however, searched through his robes for a moment and took out a yellow talisman. “I have a Soul-Chasing Talisman here. I do not know whether it will work.”

Chen Yu took one look. He had never seen the Soul-Chasing Talisman before, but it was also explained among the Seventy-two Earthly Fiend Arts, and it should have a dissolving effect.

“Will this do?” Zheng Geng asked, puzzled.

Xue Ren was also full of uncertainty.

“It should work,” Chen Yu said. “As its name suggests, the Soul-Chasing Talisman carries the meaning of searching for and gathering the soul. It is a treatment suited to the ailment.”

After a pause, Chen Yu added, “However, I do not think it is necessary to fully activate it. In any case, let us try first.”

Hearing Chen Yu’s advice, Xue Ren did not hesitate. He贴 the Soul-Chasing Talisman to Xue Xin’s forehead and slowly activated it with spiritual power. A faint glow emerged from within the talisman.

Before long, Xue Xin gradually came to. When he opened his eyes and saw the expressions on their faces, he was instantly startled and cried out, “Don’t...”

Rolling away at once, Xue Xin dodged from beside them.

“Hm... looks like he’s fine now,” Zheng Geng said teasingly.

“Not yet,” Chen Yu said. He could still sense a trace of baleful yin energy on Xue Xin. “He has only regained consciousness. The yin energy within him has not yet been dispelled.”

Listening to Chen Yu and the others speak one after another, and recalling what had happened before, Xue Xin immediately understood and said, “You saved me.”

“If not us, then who?” Zheng Huai said irritably. “To be precise, Xue Ren saved you.”

Xue Xin looked at Xue Ren with shame. Only after a long moment did he grit his teeth and say, “Thank you...”

After that, Xue Xin ran off directly, likely returning to the Spirit Ruins.

The others no longer paid him any mind, for their attention had already been drawn to the tomb mound. It could be seen that the figure of the nine-headed serpent monster was growing fainter and fainter; the baleful yin energy should have been dispersing.

Many people could no longer hold back and, braving the thin veil of baleful energy, rushed toward the tomb mound. Even the disciples of the Spirit Ruins were no exception. Of course, there would certainly be fierce slaughter along the way, for quite a number of cultivators had been tainted by the baleful energy and no longer distinguished friend from foe.

“Senior Brother Chen, let’s go too!” Zheng Geng said anxiously.

Chen Yu did not answer at once. He looked toward the nine-headed serpent monster, then at the cracked earth all around. He felt that the baleful yin energy had not dispersed at all; rather, it had become heavier still. Only now it no longer manifested upon the serpent monster’s body, but gathered instead into the depths of the earth.

After thinking for a moment, Chen Yu said, “Let’s go. But remember to be careful. This baleful yin energy may not be so simple.”

Xue Ren and the others were stunned, but soon their expressions turned much more solemn.

By now, the baleful energy on the nine-headed serpent monster had become so thin that it could no longer affect anyone. Chen Yu and the others passed through with ease. Of course, the price was the corpses strewn all about outside the tomb mound.

Chen Yu felt even more emotional. Why was this place of cultivation more cruel than the struggle for survival among mortals? Was this what they called the survival of the fittest?

With one sword strike, he shattered the blocking baleful energy and calmed the turbulence in his heart. His gaze grew firmer as well. He understood perfectly well that since he had already set foot on this path, he could only go with the current.

The four of them soon reached the tomb mound and, without hesitation, charged in.

The tomb was large, yet simple. Inside stood eleven coffins. The largest one, red as blood, was placed in the center and was the most eye-catching; the other ten, somewhat smaller coffins, stood beneath it like ministers before their lord.

As soon as Chen Yu and the others entered, before they could even see everything clearly, they felt a streak of fishy wind lunge at them.

“Be careful!” Chen Yu shouted repeatedly, raising his sword to strike.

Clang! Sparks of metal flew. Chen Yu was actually forced back by a tremendous surge of power. Xue Ren and the other three were no better off; all were slammed to the ground and could not help coughing up blood.

The spilling blood made the enemy even more frenzied, and they roared like beasts.

“It’s two corpses!” Zheng Geng said. “Recently formed purple zombies. Purple zombies already possess the strength of the Unity Realm, so be careful.”

“We can use Flame-Spitting Talismans to restrain them,” Xue Ren shouted as well.

At once, several tongues of fire struck out, and the two purple zombies seemed to grow fearful, retreating stiffly.