Immortal Sword Master

Chapter 255: Chapter 251: Blood Spirit Ginseng, a Great Battle Looms

BOOM!

A bolt of Purple Thunder streaked across the sky, blasting a Demon Beast to pieces. Blood splattered everywhere—a shocking sight.

’That was close. That Demon Beast’s strength was comparable to a first-tier expert’s. If the Ninth Elder hadn’t noticed it in time, its surprise attack would have definitely killed me.’

In the forest, a Yanyue Sect disciple walking at the very back had a look of relief on his face.

Just moments ago, as they passed through, they were suddenly attacked by a Demon Beast—a type of Demon Ape. It hid in the trees, making it impossible to guard against. Even Tang Lin and Zi Yunfei were startled.

Since he had been walking at the back, he had nearly fallen victim to it.

”Be careful. I can save you once, but I can’t save you every time. Don’t let your guard down,” Ning Jiang said.

”Yes, we understand.”

After that attack, everyone became much more cautious.

The Profound Celestial Ancient Land was enormous, covered in forests and mountain ranges. Flying Demon Beasts could often be seen circling in the sky above.

”To think we’d see Iron-Bone Birds here. This truly is an Ancient Secret Realm,” a Yanyue Sect disciple said in surprise, glancing up.

The Iron-Bone Bird was an Ancient Exotic Species. The strange bird’s entire body was like steel and bone; it had no feathers, only skin and membrane.

In Qing Province, this bird had long been extinct.

”Don’t be surprised. There are plenty of things here you can’t see in the outside world.” Compared to the others, Tang Lin was much calmer.

”From now on, don’t fall behind. Try to stick together and stay within three feet of each other.”

Ning Jiang reminded them before continuing forward.

The numerous Iron-Bone Birds in the sky were a problem, so they chose not to fly, traveling through the forest instead.

Half an hour later, in a valley, Zi Yunfei was drawn to a flower.

”What a beautiful flower.”

In her line of sight was a crimson flower shimmering with a radiant glow. Strangely, the flower was as tall as a person, its massive blossom tightly closed.

Zi Yunfei was, after all, a young woman with an appreciation for beauty, and she couldn’t resist approaching the flower.

Just then, something unexpected happened.

As if it were a predator that had lain in wait for its prey, the closed flower suddenly snapped open, spraying a cloud of red gas at Zi Yunfei.

’This is bad!’

Zi Yunfei’s expression changed drastically. It was too late to dodge. The red gas washed over her, and her body was instantly paralyzed. She froze, unable to move.

It was a Poisonous Qi that could paralyze the human body.

After paralyzing Zi Yunfei, the giant flower lunged forward to swallow her whole, like a gaping, bloody maw.

”Break.”

At that critical moment, Ning Jiang struck, sending a bolt of Purple Thunder to rip the flower apart.

”This is a type of Cannibal Flower. Its beautiful and alluring appearance conceals a deadly intent.”

Ning Jiang was well-versed in such things and naturally recognized the flower. He said coolly, ”I recognized this flower just now but didn’t warn you. I wanted you to remember this lesson. I told you before not to be careless. And what happened? A single little flower almost cost you your life! A dignified, first-tier expert, killed by a flower. Don’t you find that amusing?”

”Ninth Elder, you’re right. I was careless. I will reflect on my actions and won’t make such a mistake again.”

As she spoke, feeling gradually returned to her body. The Cannibal Flower’s Poisonous Qi only lasted for a short while.

Her face was a little pale, and she had the lingering feeling of having just escaped death.

Who would have thought that she, a first-tier expert, would nearly die at the hands of a flower?

”All of you, remember this: sometimes, the most beautiful things are actually the deadliest. You must remain vigilant at all times and never relax,” Ning Jiang said sternly.

”Yes.”

If the earlier attack from the Demon Ape had merely shown them the dangers of the Profound Celestial Ancient Land, then this Cannibal Flower showed them just how fatal it could be!

In this place, the thing that took your life could be the most unexpected, most inconspicuous of things.

After this incident, everyone raised their alertness to the absolute maximum.

After all, their lives were on the line. No one wanted to die here because of carelessness.

Half an hour later, they encountered danger again.

While passing by a seemingly calm pool of water, a giant snake suddenly shot out from the depths. The massive serpent was over a hundred feet long and had a long, menacingly sharp hook on its tail.

”It’s a Hooked Snake! Another Ancient Exotic Species.”

The Yanyue Sect disciples were startled, but thankfully, they had remained vigilant and were in no immediate danger.

”Attack together!”

Everyone except Ning Jiang moved at once, surrounding and attacking the Hooked Snake.

’As expected of an Ancient Exotic Species. Its strength is incredible.’

After fighting for a while, the disciples were shocked. The Hooked Snake’s strength was only at the first tier, but it was far more powerful than a first-tier Demon Beast from the outside world. Even with all of them working together, they still couldn’t take it down.

”Use the Three Talents Golden Lock Formation!”

Tang Lin, Zi Yunfei, and Xiang Yinghao activated the Golden Lock Array, and the others also began to use the Array Technique Ning Jiang had taught them.

Once the Array was deployed, the Hooked Snake’s ferocious might was suppressed. Several golden chains wrapped around it, and its head was finally severed with a single strike.

”Alright, let’s keep moving.”

Ning Jiang hadn’t intervened earlier because he wanted them to gain more experience and grow stronger.

After all, the purpose of entering the Profound Celestial Ancient Land was to temper themselves. If they relied on him for everything, the trip would have been for nothing.

Over the next few hours, unexpected situations continued to arise. Danger always appeared when it was least expected.

At one point, the calm ground suddenly split open, and a giant, pitch-black lizard emerged. It spat out a mouthful of Poisonous Qi that caused the trees in its path to wither and die, a testament to its extreme toxicity.

This lizard’s strength had even reached the Half-Step Giant Level. In the end, Ning Jiang had to intervene, obliterating it into ash with a single bolt of Purple Thunder.

’A Half-Step Giant Level Demon Beast couldn’t even withstand a single strike from the Ninth Elder. How terrifying,’ the disciples marveled to themselves.

Over a journey of ten full hours, the group was attacked more than a dozen times.

’The Profound Celestial Ancient Land really is dangerous at every turn.’

’Without the Ninth Elder, more than half of us would probably be dead by now.’

They all came to a startling realization: if Ning Jiang hadn’t been there to protect them, they would have suffered devastating casualties.

At every critical moment, it was Ning Jiang who had acted, resolving the crisis for them.

’Our Yanyue Sect has the Ninth Elder, but I’m afraid many of the other Sects have probably suffered casualties by now, right?’

”Alright, stop thinking about that. We’re almost at our destination.”

After walking for a while longer, the environment ahead suddenly changed, opening up into a basin.

The Spiritual Qi in this place was immense.

”Ninth Elder, this is the place. The last time the Yanyue Sect was here, we discovered a large number of Blood Spirit Ginsengs. A few of them were even over a thousand years old.”

Excitement appeared on everyone’s faces.

Blood Spirit Ginseng was a rather precious Spirit Medicine whose greatest effect was its ability to raise a Martial Artist’s Cultivation.

Furthermore, this Blood Spirit Ginseng didn’t need to be refined into an Elixir; it could be consumed directly without any side effects. A single Thousand-year-old Blood Spirit Ginseng was enough to allow an expert at the Innate Limit to break through to the Spirit Realm.

Currently, the Yanyue Sect had very few Spirit Realm Powerhouses—only the nine Elders and a few disciples, totaling just over a dozen people.

”Back when the Sect was at its peak, we had more than twenty Spirit Realm Powerhouses, but many fell later on. If we can get the Blood Spirit Ginseng here, the Yanyue Sect’s overall strength can be improved again,” Zi Yunfei said.

Although the Yanyue Sect was currently protected under the banner of Meng Daoyi, they knew that true strength must come from within. What would the Yanyue Sect do if Meng Daoyi was no longer around one day?

Increasing their own strength was what mattered most.

”Blood Spirit Ginseng is indeed a good thing. So, tell me, what’s the catch here?”

Ning Jiang said calmly. Since they had discovered this place last time but returned empty-handed, it meant the Blood Spirit Ginseng wasn’t so easy to obtain.

”Reporting to the Ninth Elder, there is a swarm of poisonous bees here. Their Bee King has the strength of a Young Giant Level expert. When the entire swarm attacks, even a Young Giant would have to flee in terror,” Zi Yunfei said.

If it were just the Bee King, it would be manageable. But when combined with the swarms of poisonous bees, their power was on a completely different level.

BZZZZZZ—

Just as they were talking, the sound of vibrating wings suddenly filled the air.

Looking up, they saw a purple cloud flying toward them from the distance. It was a dense swarm of purple poisonous bees. Each one was the size of a human head, its stinger dripping with extremely sharp, venom-coated barbs.

The Bee King leading them was instantly recognizable. It had two heads, and its body was far larger than the other bees, as sturdy as an ox.

”Oh no, the bee swarm has spotted us!” the disciples’ expressions changed. ”Prepare for battle!”

”No need. You all go and gather the Blood Spirit Ginseng. I’m more than enough to handle these.”

With a wave of his great sleeves, Ning Jiang rose into the air, riding the lightning. His body surged with thunderlight, impervious to all techniques, as he charged into the swarm.

CRACKLE... POP...

In the first instant, hundreds of poisonous bees were annihilated.

Watching Ning Jiang display his godly might, the disciples relaxed. ”With the Ninth Elder taking action, we don’t have to worry. Let’s go gather the Spirit Medicine.”

The group quickly spread out to harvest the Blood Spirit Ginseng.

In the air, after effortlessly slaughtering a large swath of the poisonous bees, Ning Jiang’s body flashed, and he finally faced the Bee King.

This Bee King’s strength was comparable to the Young Giant Level, and its body was highly venomous. An ordinary Young Giant would likely be in mortal danger facing it.

”Die.”

After a few moves, Ning Jiang finally killed the Bee King with a single palm strike of his Nine Tribulations Celestial Thunder Seal.

”Weak. Far too weak,” Ning Jiang said, shaking his head.

Once the Bee King was dead, the remaining poisonous bees scattered and fled. Ning Jiang couldn’t be bothered to chase them.

”So many Thousand-year-old Blood Spirit Ginsengs! There are more than ten of them!” The Yanyue Sect disciples harvesting the medicine exclaimed in pleasant surprise.

Hm?

Suddenly, Ning Jiang’s gaze shifted toward the forest, where a group of people was emerging.

”Huh? Someone beat us to the Blood Spirit Ginseng. Damn it.”

”We haven’t seen these people before. They don’t look like a Sect from our Lei Province; they must be from Qing Province. It doesn’t matter if they found it first. We’ll just take it from them. It’ll save us the time of harvesting it ourselves.”

As they spoke, their menacing intentions became clear.

In an instant, the air grew tense. A great battle was about to begin!