Annihilation Spring
The deep black spring water was bubbling incessantly, as if it were boiling. Apart from the black mud, there was no other vegetation on the banks of the spring.
This sight inexplicably instilled a sense of dread in the Annihilation Spring.
The air was filled with a strong herbal smell, so strong that it was almost pungent.
Looking at the surging spring water in front of her, Sang Ying quickly realized that even the water splashing on her skin caused a burning pain. She could only imagine how painful it would be if she were completely submerged in the spring water.
The Old Patriarch Bai, who brought Sang Ying to the Annihilation Spring, also explained, "This spring water is used by our Dragon Race to strengthen the muscles and bones of young children. Even Dragon Race children experience excruciating pain and find it unbearable the first time they soak in it. Most Dragon Race even fill a pot with the spring water, dilute it with clean water, and then use it for their children. Are you sure you want to enter the Annihilation Spring with your mortal body?"
Recalling the pain he felt when he first entered the Annihilation Spring to temper his body, Old Patriarch Bai couldn't help but worry about Sang Ying.
He was, after all, Dragon Race, born with a strong body and skin, but Sang Ying was a true Human Race, even though she had survived several tribulations and her cultivation had reached the Spirit Transformation Stage.
But as long as the other party hasn't become an immortal, they are still just a mortal.
Sang Ying shook her head. "You don't need to worry. If I really can't make it through, I'll climb out of the Annihilation Spring on my own."
That's what she said, but Old Patriarch Bai could tell that Sang Ying would definitely grit her teeth and hold on until the end.
Seeing that he couldn't persuade Sang Ying, he could only sigh, "Then this is the only way. After I leave the forbidden area, you should enter the Annihilation Spring yourself. Remember, if you really can't bear it, you must come out from inside."
After giving his final instructions, Old Patriarch Bai left, turning back to look at himself several times.
Once Sang Ying was sure there were no other signs around her besides herself, she took a deep breath and stepped into the dark spring water.
In an instant, overwhelming pain swept over his entire body.
When Old Patriarch Bai left the forbidden area, Jiang Zhuoxue and Bai Nianchou rushed up to him, their faces showing concern and urgency.
Jiang Zhuoxue, in particular, pressed her lips together and frowned slightly. "Well, she went in?"
"She's gone in." Even without watching, Old Patriarch Bai could guess Sang Ying's choice. "Alright, all of you, stop wasting time here. Body tempering is just the first step for Sang Ying to become a god. If she can't even endure these hardships, she'll suffer even more in the future."
Qing Shou, who had insisted on coming along for some reason, seized the opportunity to say, "Yes, yes, Sang Ying is the Child of Destiny, she'll definitely make it through. She'll be soaking in the Annihilation Spring for forty-nine days. During these forty-nine days, we must guard the Gods and Devils Battlefield and not let her be distracted, lest all our efforts be in vain."
Jiang Zhuoxue understood the logic, but he still wanted to ask, "When did you become so close to Sang Ying, and even dare to call her by her name?"
"Tsk, what are you saying? They went through all the trouble to deliver the sword for our Dragon Race, and now they've entered the Annihilation Spring, which is only accessible to our Dragon Race. Doesn't that mean we're all one family?" Qing Shou said earnestly.
Bai Nianchou laughed upon hearing this, "How come I never noticed before that you are so shameless?"
Qing Shou didn't like hearing that. He just wanted to get closer to the Child of Destiny; how could that be considered shameless?
The young people chatted amongst themselves, which somewhat dispelled the gloom in everyone's hearts.
Because the Annihilation Spring is quite far from the Gods and Devils Battlefield, the group came here under immense pressure and is about to leave.
Although Jiang Zhuoxue was very worried about Sang Ying, he also knew that this was the path Sang Ying should take, and he couldn't let his worries bind Sang Ying's wings.
Before leaving, he pleaded with Old Patriarch Bai was staying there, "I'll have to trouble you with these next few days. I hope you'll take good care of her. Although she didn't say it, I know she's always been very afraid of pain."
Old Patriarch Bai could easily see the affection between the two. Long ago, when he learned that Jiang Zhuoxue's name was given to him by Sang Ying, he understood that the two were already inseparable.
He patted the young man on the shoulder, trying to make his tone sound more relaxed, "Go, go and defend the Gods and Devils Battlefield. I will also be here to protect your future divine abode."
Having received Old Patriarch Bai's promise, Jiang Zhuoxue finally left with Bai Nianchou and the other person.
They had been away from the battlefield for two days and needed to return as soon as possible. He had to hold the battlefield before Sang Ying emerged from the Annihilation Spring, no matter what!
This belief wasn't limited to Jiang Zhuoxue and her group; Lan Fusheng and the Lower Realm also had only one thought in their minds at this moment—to protect Cloud Mulberry Realm and wait for their senior sister to return.
Just as everyone guessed, the sea wall and the sea Demon Beast could only hold off the Devil Creature for a period of time. Low-level Devil Creature could be easily eliminated by the sea monsters, but when high-level Devil Creature descended, the sea wall unsurprisingly suffered heavy damage.
Lan Fusheng, who was patrolling the coast with the disciples of the Beast Soul Sect, witnessed a Devil Creature rushing into the sea wall and killing the huge sea beast guarding it.
The once azure seawater instantly turned crimson, and the stench of blood quickly attracted a large number of sea Demon Beast. But without exception, they all perished at the hands of that Devil Creature.
The grim situation made everyone's hearts tighten, especially the two sect leaders of the Beast Soul Sect and the Array Sect. As soon as they received the message from Duan Hanyi, they immediately deployed their forces, arranged for disciples to patrol the coast, and also organized teams to prepare to launch a counterattack as soon as the Endless Sea showed any unusual activity.
No one expected the sea wall to collapse so quickly.
The sharp claws left a huge hole in the sea wall, and the bird-like Devil Creature with bloodshot eyes crawled out through the hole, its piercing cries making everyone around feel like their heads were about to explode.
By the time Jing Huan and Lan Fusheng arrived with their team, the Devil Creature had already torn apart the sea wall. Seawater poured down, and the sea beasts guarding the wall had been completely slaughtered.
With a flap of its wings, the enormous demonic bird swooped down on the cultivators on the shore.
Jing Huan had anticipated this, and the Demon Beast of the Beast Soul Sect immediately took flight, attempting to stop the demonic bird.
The demon bird was enormous, and when it flew, it seemed to come with the wind.
Even though the Demon Beast of the Beast Soul Sect mobilized all at once and surrounded the demonic bird, they were quickly defeated by it.
The disciples of the Beast Soul Sect felt their contracts with the Demon Beast breaking one by one, feeling both heartache and anger, yet they were completely helpless against the demonic bird.
The demonic bird was about to break through the Demon Beast's defenses and rush towards the shore.
Suddenly, a huge golden tail burst into everyone's sight, and a towering wave swept in again, carrying the demonic bird straight to the bottom of the sea!