Invincible Soul Emperor

Chapter 84: Chapter 84 The Treasure Trove

Wang Qiang and Hong Yan were deeply astonished by Ye Qingchen’s Alchemic Talent. This was especially true for Wang Qiang, who had once tried to become an Apprentice Alchemist. He knew all too well how difficult it was to purify Spiritual Medicine to over ninety percent purity. After all, he had tried hundreds, even thousands of times, and couldn’t even perform the simplest purification.

”Wang Qiang, Hong Yan, hurry up and recover your stamina! We shouldn’t stay here for long. We have to get through this poisonous mist as quickly as possible!” Ye Qingchen called out to the stunned pair.

Besides the large number of monsters, Ye Qingchen also sensed something else in the poisonous mist—something that made his heart pound with a vague sense of dread.

Hearing his words, the two of them finally came to their senses. They hastily consumed Qi-restoring Pills to recover the stamina that had been nearly exhausted from the frenzied battle. A few moments later, Wang Qiang and Hong Yan had recovered fifty to sixty percent of their strength, and the trio began to advance deeper into the poisonous mist.

「Deeper within the poisonous mist.」

”Damn it!”

Chen Hui, who was leading the way and scattering a purifying powder, stopped abruptly, his brow tightly furrowed.

”Why have we stopped?” asked a puzzled Zhuo Bufan from behind.

”The mist here is too dense,” Chen Hui said, his voice laced with unease. ”The purifying powder I refined isn’t strong enough to completely dispel it!”

As Chen Hui finished speaking, Zhuo Bufan and the others felt a faint mist drift toward them. It seeped into their bodies, and a numbing sensation spread through their veins.

”What purity of purifying powder is needed to dispel the mist this deep in?” Zhuo Bufan inquired gravely.

”At least eighty percent purity!” Chen Hui replied after a moment of thought.

”Can you refine it to that level?” Zhuo Bufan asked.

”How is that possible!” Chen Hui exclaimed, his tone full of helplessness. ”If I could purify it to eighty percent, I’d be a First-Grade Alchemist, not just an Apprentice Alchemist!”

Zhuo Bufan’s brow furrowed. ”We’ve already come this far, and we’re about to find the treasure. We absolutely cannot turn back! Everyone, pick up the pace! We’re pushing through!”

Just as Zhuo Bufan was about to lead the team forward, he noticed that everyone behind him was staring past him as if they had seen a ghost, their eyes wide with disbelief.

Following their gaze, Zhuo Bufan couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

Before them, Ye Qingchen was calmly sprinkling his purifying powder, leading Wang Qiang and Hong Yan through the poisonous mist. Wherever they went, the mist automatically parted to the sides. They quickly overtook Zhuo Bufan’s group and vanished effortlessly into the deeper mist.

”How is this possible!” Chen Hui’s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.

To pass so easily through the deep mist, the purifying powder Ye Qingchen had refined had to be over eighty percent pure.

This means Ye Qingchen’s skill in Spiritual Medicine Purification is far superior to my own! Did I really just mock him?

Chen Hui’s cheeks burned. It was a complete slap in the face.

At this thought, Chen Hui shot a dark glare at the old Daoist and the fatty. ”Didn’t you say he was new to Spiritual Medicine Purification? Then why is his purifying powder so much purer than mine?”

The old Daoist and the fatty were utterly bewildered. ”It’s true, that was his first time performing Spiritual Medicine Purification! Everyone in the Sect saw it! This is really only his second time! We had no idea his Alchemic Talent was so powerful!”

At that moment, they were filled with regret and frustration.

If we had known his purifying powder was better than Chen Hui’s, why would we have ever abandoned Ye Qingchen’s group to follow Zhuo Bufan? Now Zhuo Bufan’s team is struggling while the three we abandoned are advancing without a problem! We were so blind!

Clearing his throat, the old Daoist called out hoarsely to the distant Hong Yan, ”Hong Yan, we had no choice back there. We were just trying to survive! Could you find it in your heart to forgive us and lead the way?”

The treasure of a Martial Spirit expert was within reach, and they refused to miss out.

”Hmph! You turncoats abandoned your teammates twice, and you still have the nerve to ask me for help? Dream on!”

With a look of utter disdain, Hong Yan walked farther and farther away, leaving the old Daoist and the fatty to stare after her with envy. A moment ago, the two had shown no concern for whether she, Wang Qiang, or Ye Qingchen lived or died. They had even ridiculed them, kicking them when they were down. There was no way Hong Yan would give them a chance.

Hearing her refusal, the faces of the old Daoist and the fatty turned red, then white. They were so ashamed they didn’t know where to look.

Just then, Zhuo Bufan stepped forward and patted them on the shoulders. ”There’s no need to beg them! I’ll lead you out of this mist!”

”But the poisonous gas in the mist...” the old Daoist said, his eyes filled with worry.

Zhuo Bufan smiled faintly and pointed in the direction Ye Qingchen’s group had disappeared. ”The path they took has been cleared. The mist there is extremely thin. If we just follow close behind them, we can also reach the ruins of the Martial Spirit expert!”

Upon hearing this, the old Daoist and the fatty’s eyes lit up. ”Senior Brother Zhuo is brilliant! Why didn’t we think of that?”

With a wave from Zhuo Bufan, the group of seven moved forward quickly, following closely behind Ye Qingchen’s trio.

Up ahead, Hong Yan sensed Zhuo Bufan’s group trailing them. Her slender brows furrowed. ”Captain, they’re catching up to us!”

Wang Qiang waved his hand indifferently. ”It doesn’t matter. They’re forcing their way through, so the poisonous gas is seeping into their bodies and weakening them. Even if they catch up, they’ll be no match for us!”

Beside them, Ye Qingchen smiled mysteriously. ”Besides, even if they follow us, there’s no guarantee they’ll make it out of this poisonous mist alive.”

”What do you mean?” Doubt flashed in Hong Yan’s beautiful eyes as she instinctively glanced back.

She saw a swarm of monsters converging on Zhuo Bufan’s team!

”So that’s it!” A look of sudden realization appeared on Hong Yan’s pretty face.

Chen Hui’s purifying powder hadn’t been strong enough to completely dispel the mist. Naturally, the monsters hidden within it charged at their group, and a fierce battle erupted. The monsters that could reach these depths were stronger and more numerous.

The battle was incredibly vicious. Just a minute later, a scream echoed out.

”AHHH—”

One of Zhuo Bufan’s teammates was swarmed by three monsters. They bit off his head in a single bite, splattering blood everywhere as his headless corpse slumped to the ground.

Zhuo Bufan thrust his sword through a monster’s head, kicked its corpse away, and roared, ”We can’t get bogged down! Follow me and break through!”

Hong Ye, Chen Hui, and Liu Wenzhuang immediately followed Zhuo Bufan’s charge.

Seeing this, the old Daoist and the fatty also hurried to keep up.

At that moment, however, a ruthless expression crossed Zhuo Bufan’s face. He spun around and sent the old Daoist and the fatty flying back with two kicks. ”You two, cover our retreat!”

The old Daoist and the fatty were horrified.

To be left behind is a death sentence! Zhuo Bufan is using us as human shields!

The pair tried to rush forward, but they were instantly surrounded and entangled by a dozen monsters.

”AHH!”

”AHH!”

Two more screams rang out as they were quickly slain on the spot. Their final thought flashed through their minds before death.

If only we hadn’t abandoned Ye Qingchen’s group...

But in this world, there is no cure for regret.

「Meanwhile...」

Ye Qingchen and his two companions had already rushed out of the poisonous mist. A thick Stone Gate, about five or six meters high, appeared before them.

It was the treasure trove of the Martial Spirit expert.