Translator: CinderTL
"I possess a technique called the 'Spirit Bell Shield,' which can protect against the invasion of the Ghost Mist. I can impart this technique to all of you, but I have one condition," Xue Mei said.
This technique was something she had once taught to Tai He when they were in the Nether Shrine beneath the endless desert.
The four people on the square reacted differently upon hearing this.
Lan Chen and Mo Yexue looked at Xue Mei with slight surprise.
They had anticipated that Xue Mei might have a method to resist the Ghost Mist, but they hadn't expected her to admit it so straightforwardly. It was like plucking a chestnut from the fire.
Wasn't she afraid that someone might harm her or force her to hand over the technique?
Especially Yang Yu—killing Xue Mei in her current state would be as easy as turning his hand.
Both Yang Yu and Mi Hai showed a hint of delight on their faces.
With a method to resist the Ghost Mist, they could continue their ascent up the mountain and not return empty-handed from this treasure trove.
However, in the next moment, a cold glint flashed in Yang Yu's eyes as he stared intently at Xue Mei with a faint smile.
"This fellow daoist seems unfamiliar. May I ask your name?"
"I am Xue Mei. Greetings, Daoist Yang Yu," Xue Mei replied indifferently.
"May I ask what condition Daoist Xue Mei has?"
As Yang Yu spoke, he exuded a subtle yet palpable pressure.
"My condition is simple," Xue Mei said slowly. "On this square, the four of you must not attack me or harm me in any way."
Upon hearing this, the pressure emanating from Yang Yu immediately dissipated.
Xue Mei was being reasonable and hadn't made any excessive demands.
Yang Yu had no intention of attacking the four of them in the first place, so Xue Mei's condition suited him perfectly.
"Daoist Xue Mei, I agree to your condition."
After saying this, he glanced at Lan Chen and the other two, waiting for their responses.
"Thank you, Benefactor Xue Mei, for your generosity in imparting this technique. Heaven has a virtue of cherishing life, and as a monk, I naturally would not casually attack a fellow daoist," Mi Hai said.
"As long as Daoist Xue Mei does not act against me, I will not harm you in any way," Mo Yexue said.
Lan Chen added, "Daoist Xue Mei, rest assured, I will not initiate any attacks against you either."
Seeing that all four had solemnly made their promises, Xue Mei promptly took out a jade slip.
"The cultivation method for the 'Spirit Bell Shield' is quite simple. All of you should be able to master it easily."
After tossing the jade slip to Yang Yu, Xue Mei walked to a corner of the square and began to meditate and cultivate.
The other four, after verifying that the technique was genuine, each made a copy and then dispersed to cultivate and rest.
Yang Yu only needed half a quarter of an hour to comprehend the technique before he began to form intricate hand seals.
Soon, countless golden light points appeared around him, converging into a faint golden bell that enveloped him.
The bell was thin, giving off an unstable feeling.
But as Yang Yu continued to comprehend the technique and practice, the bell gradually thickened.
After about half an hour, Yang Yu stood up.
"Fellow daoists, I will take my leave first."
Then, he turned to Xue Mei and said, "Daoist Xue Mei, I will remember your kindness in imparting this technique. If you ever encounter difficulties in the future, you can seek my help, and I will assist you once."
With that, he flew into the Primordial Origin Cave.
"Friend Xue Mei, you shouldn't have handed over the cultivation technique so easily. With the four of us here, Yang Yu wouldn't dare act rashly. Now that Yang Yu has gone up the mountain ahead of us, the treasures in the Divine Blood Peak might also fall into his hands first," Mo Yexue said with a worried expression as she gazed at the Primordial Origin Cave.
Mo Yexue's words also concerned Lan Chen and Mi Hai, and they both turned their attention to Xue Mei.
Xue Mei replied, "Friends, you underestimate the Primordial Origin Cave too much. The dangers within the cave are not limited to just the Ghost Mist. There are also numerous Resentful Spirits and countless branching paths inside. Letting Gou Jun and Yang Yu go ahead to clear some of the Resentful Spirits and scout the path is actually a good thing."
...
Seven days later.
With most of their strength restored, the four of them, fearing that delays might bring more trouble, dared not linger any longer and stepped into the Primordial Origin Cave.
Seeing the pervasive Ghost Mist in the cave being easily blocked by the pale golden shield formed by the Spirit Bell Shield, Lan Chen said, "Friend Xue Mei, we are fortunate to have you. Otherwise, we might have had to turn back here."
"Friend Lan Chen, you are too kind. Back in the Dark Orchid Realm, if it weren't for your and Friend Mo's assistance, Yin Shuo and I might not have been able to handle the Gold-Eating Ant Swarm, let alone withstand the Divine Blood Peak. A mere Spirit Bell Shield is nothing to mention," Xue Mei said.
To avoid standing out, Xue Mei also activated the Spirit Bell Shield, forming a pale golden shield.
"Friend Xue Mei, in your opinion, is Yin Shuo still alive?" Lan Chen asked.
"Yin Shuo won't die so easily. Trying to kill him in this Ghost Mist-filled Primordial Origin Cave is as difficult as reaching the heavens," Xue Mei replied.
"Has Yin Shuo also cultivated the Spirit Bell Shield?" Lan Chen asked.
"He probably hasn't. But for him, resisting the Ghost Mist is a trivial matter," Xue Mei said.
As soon as the words were spoken, the four of them suddenly noticed the Ghost Mist ahead surging, and a figure rushed out.
Their expressions immediately tensed, and they all activated their Mystic Treasures, just in case.
At that moment, the figure ahead spoke.
"Friend Xue Mei, Fairy Lan Chen... you've finally arrived."
Hearing the voice, the four of them immediately relaxed and put away their Mystic Treasures.
The newcomer was none other than Song Wen.
The Divine Blood Peak was fraught with danger, and there was also the threat of Gou Jun. Therefore, Song Wen planned to wait until his Spiritual Power was fully restored before leaving his hiding place.
However, just as his Spiritual Power had recovered to eighty percent, the Nether Fox informed him that Lan Chen and the others had arrived.
Only then did Song Wen reveal himself to meet them.
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the five of them continued forward.
As they ventured deeper, the cave began to narrow, eventually shrinking to just ten zhang in size.
After traveling about ten li, the cave ahead suddenly split into three paths, located in front of them and to their left and right.
Including the path they had come from, there were now four passages in total.
All four branching paths looked identical, making it difficult to distinguish between them.
"Which path should we take?"
Looking at the three identical passages ahead, Mo Yexue, unsure of how to choose, asked.
The others were also momentarily at a loss and could only approach the branching paths to examine them closely.
At that moment, Mi Hai, who was observing the left cave, suddenly spoke.
"Friends, there are signs of a fight here."
The four of them gathered beside Mi Hai and indeed saw five clear claw marks on the cave wall, along with some scattered rubble on the ground.
It was evident that a battle had taken place here not long ago.
"The traces are still fresh, likely left by Gou Jun or his Corpse Puppet," Mi Hai observed carefully and analyzed. "Gou Jun must have taken the left fork. Should we follow him?"
Gou Jun had prepared a Mystic Treasure to resist the Ghost Mist in advance, which indicated he had some knowledge of the situation inside the Primordial Origin Cave. Following him would clearly be a better choice than making a random decision.
(End of the Chapter)
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