Taking Action

"Th-this... what is that? Even with the Double Pupils Yi'er gave me, I can't see what's inside." Demon Spider's expression was grave.

As he spoke, he turned his gaze to Lin Feng.

As the master of the Divine Medicine Sect, Lin Feng knew the most about this place.

Hearing Demon Spider's question, Lin Feng's eyes flew wide. "My Divine Medicine Sect has been here for thousands of years, yet I've never heard of anything being there."

Demon Spider's expression grew grave. There might be an opportunity before him.

Though Demon Spider didn't know what it was, he knew that anything capable of resonating with the little tree was certainly no ordinary object.

It was right before him, and he had every chance of getting his hands on it.

"You, come here." Demon Spider pointed at a disciple of the Divine Medicine Sect.

The disciple's expression changed, but he could only grit his teeth and step forward.

"There's something over there. Grab it and bring it out for me." Demon Spider pointed at the spot and ordered the disciple to act.

"Well, my lord, the formation here is terrifying. Even the Medicine God died here." The disciple wore a long face.

"Don't worry. You don't need to go in. You can stand right here. If you're in any danger, I'll step in and save you immediately," Demon Spider said expressionlessly.

The disciple thought for a moment, then gritted his teeth and reached out. He had no choice: acting meant death, and refusing meant death too. If he acted, he at least had a slim chance of survival.

Hiss!

The disciple reached out with a great hand formed of runes and grabbed at that area. But the moment the hand touched the great formation, a streak of sword light rose from within it.

The instant the sword light rose, the disciple was reduced to a bloody pulp, unable even to scream. It was a truly chilling sight.

"This..." Even Demon Spider was shaken.

That streak of sword light had been so fast that even he couldn't react.

Demon Spider stood where he was, silently pondering for a long time, until the sound of chanting stopped altogether and the ball of light faded from sight.

After witnessing this, Demon Spider grew even more certain that the ball of light was extraordinary. He had to find a way to obtain it.

Though Lin Feng was displeased, he didn't dare show it openly.

"Senior, this place is dangerous. Please reconsider," Lin Feng urged through gritted teeth, hoping Demon Spider would give up sooner rather than later.

"I remember Demon Spirit Lake has the Heaven Ascending Ladder. It can cross certain formations. Perhaps it's worth a try." Demon Spider's eyes suddenly lit up.

With that, he leaped down from the boulder and flew toward the Medicine Capital.

About half an hour later, Demon Spider returned to Divine Medicine Valley with a little ladder three inches tall in his palm.

Demon Spider tossed the little ladder into the air. It swelled in the wind, growing several zhang long in just a few breaths.

One end of the ladder landed on the boulder, while the other floated in midair.

Sure enough, although the magical artifact had appeared above the formation, it wasn't attacked. It seemed to have suppressed the formation.

"Stand on that ladder and try to grab that whole piece." Demon Spider pointed at another person, telling him to reach out and grab the ball of light.

"My lord, this is far too dangerous." The disciple shrank back several steps.

Demon Spider's pitch-black pupils spun like dark abysses, as though they would swallow the disciple whole. It was an exceedingly strange and terrifying sight.

"Senior, why not observe it first? Once we're sure it's safe, it won't be too late to act," Lin Feng pleaded.

After all, that was a member of the Divine Medicine Sect. It wouldn't do to let him die for no reason.

"Very well." Demon Spider thought for a moment, then turned to look into the formation.

At an inn in the Medicine Capital, Lei Chong was staying for the time being. He had spent the past few days inscribing formation patterns and needed a good period of recovery, or it would put a strain on his body.

As for the people of the Divine Medicine Sect, he didn't trust them. Though their conflict had apparently been resolved, people's hearts were truly hard to fathom, and he didn't want to leave the slightest hidden danger.

As for this spirit body, he had also made some changes to its appearance.

But as soon as the spirit body arrived at Divine Medicine Valley, he saw that Demon Spider hadn't left. He had also discovered the ball of light in the formation and was trying to find a way to get it out.

Lei Chong's interest was immediately piqued as well. He stood silently to one side, wanting to see whether they could succeed in drawing out the ball of light below.

Compared with his other objectives, the ball of light below was more important to him.

If they really did bring it out, he wouldn't mind making a move to snatch it. He had a grudge against these people anyway, so he would feel no burden in taking it.

Sure enough, after observing for a while, Demon Spider told the disciple to act.

Lin Feng opened his mouth, but in the end said nothing.

The disciple stood on the Heaven Ascending Ladder and carefully made his way forward.

As he passed over the formations, he suffered no harm.

"The Heaven Ascending Ladder will protect you. Grab that piece below." Demon Spider's face lit up with delight, and he hurriedly urged the man to act.

The disciple reached out and grabbed at the formation below.

Buzz!

A giant hand appeared and reached into the soil below.

Hiss!

The moment the hand entered the formation, the previously calm formation blazed with light, and a streak of sword light suddenly shot up from underground.

Buzz!

The Heaven Ascending Ladder gave off a faint glow and actually blocked the sword light below.

Lei Chong was startled. The Heaven Ascending Ladder was actually that powerful.

But on second thought, he understood. This was the outermost formation, countless times weaker than the one at the very center.

Besides, the formation hadn't fully erupted, so the Heaven Ascending Ladder could still hold it back.

"Quick, hurry up and do it," Demon Spider urged from behind.

The disciple didn't dare delay in the slightest. He continued reaching for the ball of light.

Hiss!

As soon as the great hand reached into the formation, another streak of Sword Qi rose from within it.

Knowing the formation couldn't hurt him, the disciple grew bolder. Gritting his teeth, he kept reaching forward and thrust his hand into the soil.

Buzz!

Even fiercer Sword Qi rose from the formation, all of it crashing into the Heaven Ascending Ladder.

The entire Heaven Ascending Ladder shook violently, giving off terrifying fluctuations.

Pfft!

The Heaven Ascending Ladder was, after all, a Heavenly God Artifact. Even the slightest fluctuation it gave off was more than these low-level cultivators could withstand.

The disciple's body jolted, and he was reduced to a pile of mincemeat.

However, some of the soil beneath him had clearly been turned over.

Demon Spider paid no attention to whether the disciple lived or died. His gaze was fixed on the ball of light, and his expression grew increasingly tense.

"Quick, keep sending people up to seize it. A few more attempts, and we can get it out," Demon Spider ordered without looking back.

"Senior Demon Spider, this place is dangerous. Even with the Heaven Ascending Ladder, countless people will still be killed or injured," Lin Feng pleaded from the side.

"Hmm? Must I repeat myself?" Demon Spider suddenly turned around, his pitch-black pupils spinning. He looked exceptionally chilling.

Lin Feng's body trembled violently. He was afraid of being thrown onto the Heaven Ascending Ladder.

In the end, he could only grit his teeth and turn to look at the disciples behind him.

When Lin Feng turned around, the disciples all lowered their heads, not daring to meet his eyes for fear that he would choose them.

Just as Lin Feng was about to choose someone, he caught sight of Lei Chong standing in the distance.

Apart from the people of the Divine Medicine Sect, Lei Chong was the only stranger here.

"You, come here." Lin Feng pointed straight at Lei Chong.

The Divine Medicine Sect disciples all looked up in the direction Lin Feng was pointing. Seeing that he wasn't pointing at them, they immediately breathed easy.

Then they turned and smiled as they looked at Lei Chong.

You're courting death.

Lei Chong's rage flared in an instant. He raised a hand and struck at them.