Chapter 1046: Earthblood Ginseng

"You four, form a formation and protect me." Venerable Ye sat cross-legged on the ground and ordered the four of them to stand guard around him.

When he had just broken the divine platform’s barrier, even with the colorful light’s protection, he had still suffered the suppression of the hidden realm. The expenditure of spiritual power was immense, and his injuries had worsened.

He knew that once they left the trial realm and entered the inner hall, the dangers ahead would be unpredictable. Before facing them, he needed to meditate and recover some strength, lest he be caught unprepared.

"No chance," Qin Sang muttered to himself as he observed from the forest. The old fox was far too cautious. It would be nearly impossible to find an opening.

The long-bearded elder and the others alone were enough to shield Venerable Ye from a sudden ambush. Moreover, he had no way to contact Su Nu for cooperation.

And since Su Nu’s life was no longer in danger, she had no reason to fight desperately. She certainly would not risk her life to challenge a Spiritual Infant grandmaster.

After a short period of meditation, Venerable Ye stood up and led his people away. From beginning to end, he had shown no intention of harming Su Nu. Seeing this, Qin Sang knew that their deal was complete.

"I wonder what this ghostly seal actually does. I’ll return it to her someday if the chance arises," Qin Sang murmured, weighing the small seal in his palm.

Earlier, Su Nu had been so hopeless that she had never discussed how he should return the ghostly seal. Qin Sang had waited long enough; he had already done his part. Too much time had been wasted, and it was impossible to search for her now.

When Venerable Ye and his group finally departed, Qin Sang emerged from hiding and quietly appeared above the hill.

He tried several times but could not make the divine platform appear again. There was clearly some hidden mystery here still unrevealed.

Whatever schemes the Dongji Alliance had, they had nothing to do with him. After a brief pause, Qin Sang stopped pondering and flew toward the stone peaks. It was time to leave the trial realm.

At the stone peak stood the Hundred-Treasure Pavilion. The treasures within had long been divided among others. Passing through the light screen would immediately transport him out.

A flash of light crossed his vision. A chill wind followed.

Su Nu and the others shivered as they looked around and realized that they had already left the trial realm. They now stood upon a barren mountainside where not a single blade of grass grew.

The heavens were dark and gloomy, the air cold and desolate. The surroundings resembled ruins, nothing like the celestial paradise they had imagined.

"This is the inner hall," Venerable Ye said calmly, pointing forward. "Those who entered through the trial realm are transported to the nearby mountains. Do you see that place? If you wish to leave the inner hall, the exit is over there."

Following his gesture, they saw a deep valley and a cliffside platform, atop which stood a high stone gate, wide open. The Spiritual Infant cultivators such as Lingzhuzi had entered through that very gate.

"Follow me!" Venerable Ye looked around once more before rising in a stream of evasion light, heading deeper into the inner hall. Su Nu and the others hurried to follow.

Soon, he slipped into the shadow of a stone mountain. Just as they landed, a figure stepped out from the darkness.

The sudden appearance startled them all. But when they recognized the newcomer’s face, their expressions changed drastically. They quickly stepped forward and bowed. "Greetings to the alliance leader!"

It was none other than the leader of the Dongji Alliance. After helping Venerable Ye secretly pass through the celestial barrier, he had been waiting here the entire time.

"Daoist Ye?" The alliance leader’s eyes carried a hint of urgency as he looked at Venerable Ye questioningly.

"Everything went smoothly. I did not fail in my task," Venerable Ye replied with a nod, making no mention of his humiliation within the Soul-Enchanting Cavern.

"Excellent!" The alliance leader clapped his hands and laughed heartily. "You’ve worked hard, Daoist Ye. Had my chance to enter the trial not already been used, I would have gone myself and spared you the risk. How are your injuries? Shall I have someone escort you back for recovery?"

His tone was filled with concern.

Venerable Ye shook his head. "I have already taken healing pills. Once I find a quiet place to meditate, I should recover some strength. Then I can retrieve that item. I must thank you again for providing the lead."

The alliance leader did not press further. His gaze shifted toward Su Nu and the others. "Only four of you returned?"

Venerable Ye said in praise, "They performed quite well. Their efforts contributed to our success. Oh, and here is the Soul-Cleansing Liquid..."

He produced the bottle and handed it over. The alliance leader gave a satisfied nod. "Good. There are several locations within the inner hall worth exploring. How much you gain depends on your own abilities. When you return, the merchant alliance will reward you generously."

As he spoke, he flicked a jade slip toward them. The long-bearded elder and the others were overjoyed, their frustration over losing the Soul-Cleansing Liquid easing somewhat.

Then, the alliance leader suddenly turned his gaze to Su Nu. His voice was calm. "Su Nu, stay behind. The rest of you may act as you please."

"Understood!" The elder and the others exchanged puzzled looks, sneaking a glance at Su Nu but not daring to ask questions. They accepted the jade slip and departed together.

Venerable Ye gave a fist-and-palm salute and drifted away, unconcerned. Su Nu, left behind, felt her heart tighten with unease.

She had thought that once they left the trial realm, everything would be over. She had not expected the Dongji Alliance's leader to single her out.

He then took out a jade bottle containing a single snow-white pill and handed it to her, his tone firm and unquestionable. "Refine this pill together with the Soul-Cleansing Liquid. I will personally protect you during the process."

***

Trial realm. Heavenly Fire Region.

Beneath the yellow sands, molten lava flowed wildly, spreading through the earth and forming vast subterranean caverns. Within the lava, fire spirits played and danced, occasionally leaping from the fiery streams before diving back into the crust.

Each time they appeared, the magma would boil violently, and crimson heat would surge into the sky. In one of those hidden caverns sat a man in meditation. It was Ning Wuhui.

Unbothered by the scorching heat, he sat before a complex altar he had arranged beneath him. Floating in front of the altar was a fist-sized spiritual ginseng.

The altar radiated waves of light that merged with the runes Ning Wuhui had inscribed with his blood and essence, which continuously sank into the ginseng.

The ginseng had distinct facial features, its body translucent like blood-red crystal. Bound by the altar’s force, runes flickered across its surface, and its expression twisted in pain, making it look eerily like a living infant.

Ning Wuhui had not gone to compete for the Soul-Cleansing Liquid. Instead, he had come to the Heavenly Fire Region to harvest this spiritual ginseng.

He had stayed here for an unknown amount of time. Now, the refinement of the ginseng through the altar was nearing completion.

Gradually, its aura became one with Ning Wuhui’s, its once-distorted expression turning vacant and still.

"The ancient tome was right. By using the Earthblood Ginseng, I can refine a being akin to an external Spiritual Infant. This Earthblood Ginseng possesses abundant blood and qi, with a fragrance rich and intoxicating. Once matured, it becomes like a living creature, moving freely around its birthplace and vanishing without a trace. Capturing it is no easy feat. Fortunately, it grew here in the Heavenly Fire Region, where the aura of fire spirits disperses its fragrance, and its blood and qi fuse with the red flames, making its color unusual. Because of that, a senior from Heavenly Dao Sect mistook it for a rare type of fire spirit, otherwise it would have been taken long ago. I must thank that senior for recording the incident as a curiosity in his notes."

Though greatly drained, Ning Wuhui looked elated. He raised his palm and pressed it against his crown.

His primordial spirit fused into the ginseng. At once, the Earthblood Ginseng’s expression became lively. It transformed into a streak of blood-red light and merged into his body.

Gathering his things, Ning Wuhui rose from the depths of the earth and flew toward the Hundred-Treasure Pavilion.