Han Li endured the excruciating pain and numbness as Netherworld Death Qi ate into his left shoulder, pushing his flight speed to its limit as he fled for his life. Far behind him, the Blood Fiend Earth Dragon's earth-shaking roars were still faintly audible, leaving him afraid to pause for even a moment. He had to find somewhere absolutely safe and expel the death qi from his body as quickly as possible, or the consequences would be unthinkable.
After changing direction several times and deliberately skirting several places with dangerous auras, Han Li finally found a narrow underground hollow concealed by withered vines at the edge of a remote swamp shrouded in thick, poisonous miasma. Its entrance was only wide enough for one person, and the passage wound downward into cold, damp darkness. But a sweep of his spiritual sense revealed no powerful creatures lurking within.
Without hesitation, he burrowed deep into the hollow and swiftly set up the Profound Yin Aura-Hiding Formation along with several warning restrictions. Only then did he slump to the ground, panting heavily. The blackened patch on his left shoulder was spreading slowly but relentlessly, its icy death qi constantly eroding his vitality and spiritual power. Even his soul suffered waves of stabbing pain.
"What vicious Netherworld Death Qi!" Han Li's expression was grave. He tried circulating the Profound Fiend Asura Art to force it out, only to discover that the death qi was exceptionally tenacious, strangely entangled with his own Profound Fiend Power and difficult to dislodge. At this rate, his entire left arm—and perhaps half his body—could be ruined within three days!
As he racked his brains for a solution, a faint trace of warmth suddenly emanated from the bottle in his robes containing the Soul-Calming Pill Nangong Wan had given him to stabilize his soul. Immediately afterward, a cool voice carrying a hint of urgency rang directly in his mind:
"Han Li! Where are you? Send me your location at once! I can sense fluctuations of Netherworld Death Qi on you. Did the Netherworld Lingzhi turn against you?"
It was Nangong Wan! She could actually sense the abnormality in the Soul-Calming Pill and accurately determine that he had been afflicted with Netherworld Death Qi!
Han Li's heart jolted. After a brief hesitation, he wrapped a strand of his aura in his spiritual sense, attached his approximate location, and sent it back. He was badly wounded, with powerful enemies lurking on all sides. Having a late Foundation Establishment expert like Nangong Wan stand guard would make him far safer. Although he did not know her motives, he had no other choice now.
Within the time it took an incense stick to burn, a faint fluctuation came from the restrictions at the entrance. Han Li swept the area with his spiritual sense and saw that Nangong Wan had silently appeared there, her white robes surpassing snow. Her beautiful eyes swept over the hollow and instantly pinpointed him. With a flicker, she was standing before him.
Seeing the alarming black patch on Han Li's left shoulder and his pallid face, Nangong Wan drew her graceful brows together slightly. Without a word, she turned her delicate hand over, and a crimson pill the size of a longan appeared in her palm. It was crystalline and translucent, radiating an aura of utmost yang and unyielding strength.
"Open your mouth!" Nangong Wan's tone brooked no argument.
Han Li obeyed. The pill dissolved the instant it entered his mouth, and a torrent of heat, warm yet gentle, surged through his limbs and body. The Netherworld Death Qi in his left shoulder hissed like ice and snow meeting sunlight, rapidly melting away! The agony immediately eased!
"This is... a Pure Yang Snow-Melting Pill?" Astonishment flashed in Han Li's eyes. This pill was a priceless, supreme remedy for dispelling sinister death qi. Nangong Wan was actually willing to use it on him?
"Do not let your mind wander. Guide the medicinal power and force out the death qi!" Nangong Wan said coolly. Sitting cross-legged opposite him, she formed hand seals and channeled a stream of pure, gentle spiritual power into his body to help him refine the medicine.
With the potent effects of the Pure Yang Snow-Melting Pill and the aid of Nangong Wan's spiritual power, the Netherworld Death Qi was swiftly driven out of Han Li's body, and the skin on his left shoulder gradually regained its normal color. Two hours later, the final trace of death qi had been purged, and his injuries stabilized.
Han Li let out a long breath, rose, and bowed solemnly to Nangong Wan. "Thank you for saving my life, Martial Aunt Elder Nangong!"
Nangong Wan withdrew her spiritual power and regarded him calmly. "It was little effort. You certainly have gall enough to swallow the heavens, daring to steal Netherworld Lingzhi guarded by a fourth-grade demonic beast."
Han Li gave a bitter smile and briefly recounted his encounter with the Blood Fiend Earth Dragon and the spiritually aware Netherworld Lingzhi's counterattack, omitting only the details of the mysterious Small Bottle devouring the death qi.
An unusual gleam flashed through Nangong Wan's eyes as she listened. "You actually escaped the claws of an enraged Blood Fiend Earth Dragon. It seems you have quite a few secrets. Still, obtaining the Netherworld Lingzhi was a stroke of fortune. It is one of the core materials for refining a Netherworld Corpse King, and it should be of great use to your Profound Fiend Asura Art."
Han Li's interest stirred. Nangong Wan seemed quite familiar with the Profound Fiend Asura Art. Seizing the opportunity, he asked, "Martial Aunt, you seem to know this cultivation art in considerable detail?"
Nangong Wan glanced at him and said evenly, "Though the Profound Yin Sect has long since vanished, ancient texts still record the fearsome reputation of its core cultivation art, the Profound Fiend Asura Art. It tempers the body with fiend qi and pursues the Dao through slaughter. Progress is astonishingly swift, but the dangers are extraordinary. It is easy to fall into the path of killing, and the backlash from inner demons is particularly fierce. You... should take care of yourself."
Han Li nodded silently, knowing this was a well-intentioned warning.
Just then, Nangong Wan seemed to sense something. Her gaze turned toward a spot deeper in the hollow, and she gave a soft exclamation. "There is... actually a faint trace of Profound Yin Jade Marrow here?"
"Profound Yin Jade Marrow?" Han Li was taken aback. He had sensed nothing unusual.
Nangong Wan rose and walked to a seemingly ordinary stone wall deep within the hollow. Extending a slender, jade-like finger, she lightly tapped a spot on its surface. Spiritual light flickered at her fingertip, and the wall rippled like water, revealing a hidden opening just wide enough for one person! A wave of profound yin qi several times purer than that outside rushed into their faces!
"A hidden world within? It is actually a naturally formed fissure in a vein of Profound Yin Jade Marrow!" A trace of surprise appeared in Nangong Wan's eyes as well.
The two entered one after the other and found a small stone chamber with a little pool at its center. Rather than ordinary spring water, the pool held a dark silver liquid that radiated exceptionally pure profound yin qi. A few crystalline fragments of jade marrow were faintly visible at the bottom! This was spiritual liquid formed from diluted Profound Yin Jade Marrow! For cultivators practicing yin-attributed cultivation arts, it was a supreme treasure, possessing wondrous effects that purified spiritual power, nourished the soul, and aided breakthroughs through bottlenecks!
"Your luck truly is remarkable." Nangong Wan looked at Han Li, her tone somewhat complicated. He had just obtained Netherworld Lingzhi, and now he had encountered Profound Yin Jade Marrow. Such abundant opportunities were truly rare.
Han Li was ecstatic as well! With the aid of this Profound Yin Jade Marrow, his chances of reaching late Foundation Establishment would increase greatly!
"This place is secluded and rich in spiritual qi. It is an excellent spot to enter seclusion and attempt a breakthrough. I can stand guard for you here for three days," Nangong Wan suddenly said.
At her words, Han Li gave Nangong Wan a long look, then bowed again. "Thank you, Martial Aunt!" He hesitated no longer, sitting cross-legged beside the jade marrow pool and taking out the Netherworld Lingzhi. He did not intend to consume it directly, but instead planned to use it together with the jade marrow spiritual liquid to push the Profound Fiend Asura Art to a higher realm in one stroke!
He carefully sliced off a small piece of Netherworld Lingzhi and placed it in his mouth, then scooped up a handful of jade marrow spiritual liquid and swallowed it. Instantly, vast, pure Profound Yin Fiend Qi and cool jade marrow spiritual qi erupted within his body! The Profound Fiend Asura Art began circulating madly at an unprecedented speed!
Nangong Wan stood quietly to one side, watching Han Li enveloped in dense fiend qi and spiritual qi. Thoughts shifted behind her beautiful eyes, though what she was thinking remained unknown. For a time, only the hum of flowing spiritual qi filled the hollow.
These three days would determine whether Han Li could truly gain a foothold in the core region of the Forbidden Land!
Before you continue