Death!

Eight days later.

Zhou Ning realized that his body in this realm was no longer stable, and he understood:

"Time is running out; it's time to prepare for the worst."

"And this grotto-heaven doesn't seem to last much longer..."

He looked up and saw that the sky and earth were illusory, appearing semi-transparent, and he could vaguely glimpse the yellow earth outside.

The two enormous, god-like cultivators were still there, their bodies covered with countless water-based artifacts and eerie coffins.

"Golden Core True Lord?" Zhou Ning couldn't help but wonder.

Judging from the level of Soul Searching, the Purple Mansion in this world is roughly equivalent to the Nascent Soul Cultivator in Cuiwei Lake.

However, Zhou Ning, being a lower-level cultivator, was unclear about their combat prowess.

"Don't aim too high; let's deal with the immediate problem first."

He looked towards the herb garden again; the Straw Puppet was still there, motionless, guarding the fence.

Zhou Ning has almost mastered the [Yi Wood Puppet-Planting Technique].

He activated the Immovable Mountain Divine Ability, and a phantom image of a tortoise shell appeared around his body.

Despite having used it countless times, he still found it incredible every time he saw the mysterious runes flowing across the surface of the tortoise shell.

The power of the Purple Mansion is truly profound; even if it were lent to someone else at random, it would still possess such power.

Unfortunately, the mysteries of this fake body cannot be brought back to Cuiwei Lake; otherwise, I would shamelessly ask True Person Lu for help.

As for True Person Lu's Withered Wood Earth Marrow Heart, it was a crucial treasure within the Withered Wood Grotto-Heaven, and Zhou Ning had never held out much hope for it from the very beginning.

As for the Immovable Mountain Divine Ability, consider it True Person Lu's apology for attempting to search his soul!

Zhou Ning walked step by step towards the herb garden, Straw Puppet raised its empty eyes, staring straight at him.

With a single step, he appeared in front of Zhou Ning, his withered, grassy arm swinging out to strike.

Zhou Ning knew how much strength was contained in that seemingly light arm, but fortunately he was prepared.

A flash of blue light appeared in his hand as he took out a Vine Puppet Seed and slapped it forward. "Yi Wood Seed Condensation!"

The next instant, Zhou Ning was sent flying by a palm strike, but the Teng Puppet Seed transformed into a clump of blue thread-like things in mid-air, scrambling to burrow into the scarecrow's eye.

The scarecrow froze instantly, its body glowing with a spiritual light, and began to writhe.

Zhou Ning lay on the ground, repeatedly Hand Seals, and finally shouted, "Wooden puppet, obey my command! Respond immediately!"

The scarecrow froze instantly.

Zhou Ning sat up, saw this scene, and couldn't help but grin. "It's done."

He controlled the scarecrow, opening its mouth, jumping, twisting, and throwing the ball in one smooth motion, as if wielding an arm.

Zhou Ning was amazed. This method was truly heaven-defying; it was practically a nemesis for these kinds of ownerless puppets!

He couldn't help but have an idea. "If I return to Cuiwei Lake and encounter the Puppet Master attacks me, and his Divine Sense is not as strong as mine, wouldn't it be possible to seize his puppet right in front of him if I implant a Teng Puppet Seed into it?"

The thought of that scene filled Zhou Ning with secret delight.

However, the Teng Puppet Seed is quite rare, requiring the use of Wood Element Dao Path Law Power combined with spiritual objects to condense it. His metal-fire magic probably can't do that.

There are only two left in total. The last one is to be reserved for our great benefactor Su Changhe.

Zhou Ning firmly controlled the scarecrow, cast Law Technique, and stored it in his Jade Space.

Then I walked towards the fence, pushed open the simple wooden door, and a strong sense of woody Spiritual Qi rushed towards me.

As far as the eye can see, the terrain rises and falls, the ponds are clear, the lotus flowers are pure and beautiful, the streams are babbling, and there are vast stretches of dark green earth.

Unfortunately, very few herbs remained in the field; only the roots and stems still clung to them, exuding a vibrant life force, clearly having been picked prematurely.

Only a few medicinal herbs grow on the edge.

"Damn robbers!" Zhou Ning shouted angrily.

Then, after checking the remaining herbs, Zhou Ning discovered that two plants were covered in knots and looked rather ugly. He exclaimed in surprise:

"Huh, it's actually a supplementary ingredient for Foundation Establishment Pill, the Thousand-Knot Flower."

This item isn't particularly expensive, worth about three Spirit Stone per plant, but it's quite rare and doesn't appear often.

He then examined the other medicinal herbs and found seven Black Essence Ginseng, all over five hundred years old, which were perfect for refining the Greater Ginseng-Nurturing Pill.

"What a pity!" Zhou Ning sighed. These excellent medicinal herbs were all left behind. One can imagine how rare the spirit medicine that were picked must have been.

Now that he has mastered the [Yi Wood Puppet-Planting Technique], he can be considered half a Withering and Flourishing Sect. If he encounters that thief again in the future, he must retrieve the sect's treasures!

Filled with resentment, Zhou Ning recalled He Zhuoran had said: the Chen Earth is full of vitality and suitable for cultivating spiritual materials.

He took out his Storage Bag and filled two large bags to the brim, but they were so heavy that they sank deep into the ground and he couldn't lift them at all.

The Storage Bag is not a true spatial treasure, but rather it is crafted from a low-grade spatial material called a Space Crystal Embryo, combined with array formations and spirit patterns.

Although the array patterns can reduce weight, the weight is still there, and the Storage Bag are not compatible.

Fortunately, Zhou Ning possessed Jade Space, a true spatial treasure. He stored all the contents of his Storage Bag filled with Chen Earth inside it.

Then, after leaving the herb garden, before they had gone two places, they saw two streaks of light appear in the sky.

Zhou Ning was surprised. "A treasure?"

The streak of light flew very fast, arriving in an instant; it turned out to be two figures flying through the air.

Zhou Ning was even more incredulous. With such terrifying restrictions, weren't they afraid of becoming sitting ducks in the sky?

The celestial man was dressed in white, with a blue jade pendant hanging from his waist. He was handsome and had a noble air about him.

As for the woman, she was slender and graceful, her fairy dress fluttering, her neck snow-white, and her face covered with a purple veil.

Zhou Ning was shocked. Wasn't this the woman in purple gauze he had encountered at Gazing Immortal Port last time?

She's not dead?

At this moment, the woman in the sky, gazing at Zhou Ning, also had a thoughtful look in her eyes:

"Did they manage to escape True Person Biluo's scheme?"

The enormous face at Gazing Immortal Port that day belonged to a True Lord had attained a new Dao Fruit, while the woman was True Lord Biluo, who had previously attained the Miscellaneous Golden Core.

True Lord Biluo was unwilling to Dao Path, so he voluntarily relinquished his position True Lord in order to seek the most righteous fruition.

Although the appearance of the law still exists, it is merely a facade; the principles and authority of the position are gone.

His strength still surpasses that of True Person has reached the Five Perfections stage, but he is far weaker than Golden Core True Lord.

"But she's still much better than me..." Ziwan sighed inwardly. She hadn't even had the chance to forge her metal element, let alone reach the unattainable Golden Core.

Li Qinglang stood with his hands behind his back, a faint smile on his face, "Hehe, Little True Person, this guy is probably the other person Chonglou mentioned, and he's in cahoots with He Zhuoran."

Ziwan nodded. "In that case, let's begin."

Whatever the secret is, we'll find out once we capture them.

Judging from the man's tone, Zhou Ning actually tried to grab him.

He immediately activated the [Immovable Mountain] Divine Ability and asked, "Did you run into He Zhuoran?"

Li Qinglang glanced at the Divine Ability emanating from him and chuckled, "Just a remnant of a Purple Mansion Lineage. Let me show you."

As soon as he finished speaking, he swept his hand, and a golden treasure map unfolded in the air, depicting a vast landscape vividly.

Then, a flash of light appeared, and a wisp of black smoke emerged, transforming into a human figure. He shouted at Zhou Ning:

"Brother Zhou, haha, I really succeeded!!"

"Quickly enter this Mountains and Rivers State Diagram, and together with me wield the power of the Golden Core, living carefree for ten thousand years—how delightful!"

Looking at the figure that looked exactly like He Zhuoran from Gazing Immortal Port, and hearing him speak strange words, Zhou Ning couldn't help but feel a chill run down his spine.

He had seen this treasure map the first time he entered the Land of Wei; it was quite strange.

Li Qinglang said with a smile, "Alright, step back. I'll escort him to reunite with you later."

He Zhuoran was overjoyed. "Thank you, Master!"

After saying that, he shrank back into the picture.

Looking back on his recent collaboration with He Zhuoran, Zhou Ning couldn't help but feel a sense of shared sorrow, like a rabbit mourning the death of another.

He then said in grief and indignation, "Brother Zhuoran is dead. I have no heart to argue about right and wrong anymore!"

Li Qinglang asked with great interest, "Oh? You want to avenge him?"

Zhou Ning flicked his sleeve and declared resolutely, "From this day forward, I, Zhou Ning, sever all ties with He Zhuoran. He is no longer my brother!"

Having said that, he urged his Divine Ability to run away.