Zhu Bajie pondered seriously.
"In theory... it could work. My spiritual energy reserves are far greater than yours. Filling a stone cavern three or four zhang across should barely be manageable. But—"
"But what?"
"But once the Evil Qi is washed out, it won't just vanish on its own. It's only been flushed out of the rocks; it still exists. If my spiritual energy isn't enough to drive it all the way into the hidden passage and drain it away, that Evil Qi will settle back into the rocks. Then all this work will have been for nothing."
Chu Yang nodded.
"So we need to coordinate. You handle the washing, and I'll assist with the Soil Cultivating Bead. Place the Soil Cultivating Bead beside the node and release Earth Spirit Qi. The Earth Spirit Qi will drive out the Evil Qi from the inside out, while your water-aspected spiritual energy washes it from the outside in. With one force within and one without, they'll form a combined attack. Once the Evil Qi is caught between them, it will have nowhere to go except down the hidden passage."
A rare look of seriousness appeared on Zhu Bajie's pig face. He ran through the execution of the plan in his mind, and the more he considered it, the more sense it made. His pig eyes grew brighter and brighter.
"Working together from within and without... Yeah. I think it'll work."
"There's one more problem," Chu Yang said. "When you release your spiritual energy inside, the cavern will be full of Evil Qi and poison. Can your body handle it?"
Zhu Bajie patted his round belly.
"I'm the reincarnation of Marshal Tian Peng, with Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation. Mere Serpent Venom and Evil Qi can't harm my physique. You'd better not go in—you'd