I am Master Maoshan

Chapter 2322 Conspiracy
A few seconds later, an even louder explosion rang out. Peng Sheng's body turned into a dazzling light in the explosion, blasting the surrounding monsters to pieces. The shockwave, like a whirlwind, sent the remaining monsters flying.

When the light faded, Peng Sheng's figure had vanished without a trace, leaving not even his soul behind, only a chaotic battlefield and a strange man struggling to get up from the ground.

Yu Qiushui and Liu Yuan were prepared and ducked for cover the moment the explosion occurred. Taking advantage of the moment before the strange men got up, they seized the opportunity to break out of the encirclement.

"Hmm? They're quite sentimental." Cat Brother stood at a distance, watching Yu Qiushui and Liu Yuan escape, and couldn't help but feel a sense of emotion.

However, although he saw the two people run away, he could not chase after them.

Cat Brother knew very well that his primary task now was to protect Liu Jun, who was inside the formation, and ensure that Liu Jun would not be disturbed by anyone until the fusion was successful.

Yu Qiushui and Liu Yuan, who had escaped, took refuge in a secluded tree hollow, panting heavily. The only sounds were their heavy breathing and the occasional roars of ferocious beasts in the distance. The atmosphere was sad and oppressive, as if even the air itself had frozen.

Although they left the terrifying cave thanks to Peng Sheng's tragic sacrifice, both of them were now covered in various wounds, exhausted, and on their last legs, and could collapse at any moment.

Given their current extremely weak state, it would be incredibly difficult for them to leave this perilous Valley of the Gods alive.

Yu Qiushui leaned against the wall of the tree hole, coughed violently a few times, and there were still traces of blood at the corners of her mouth. Her eyes were full of despair and helplessness.

"Liu Yuan, I might... not be able to leave alive." Yu Qiushui's voice was weak and trembling, each word as if she had used up all her strength.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuan's heart tightened, but he suppressed his grief and said firmly, "Palace Master, please don't say that. We will definitely get out of here alive! Only by getting out can we have a chance to find Liu Jun and the others and avenge them!"

“It’s very difficult…” Yu Qiushui shook her head weakly, her face as pale as paper, her eyes filled with exhaustion and despair.

He had previously taken a potion that forcibly boosted his strength, but the effects had long since worn off, and his cultivation level was rapidly declining, his strength far inferior to before. In a little while, he might even be weaker than Liu Yuan now.

Thinking of this, Yu Qiushui couldn't help but feel a deep sadness and helplessness.

In this perilous Valley of the Gods, they were like lambs to the slaughter, always at risk of becoming prey for other ferocious beasts.

"Take a look at this, and master it as soon as possible." Yu Qiushui's voice was weak and urgent. With trembling hands, he took out a jade slip that emitted a faint light from his clothes and handed it to Liu Yuan, who was standing next to him.

Upon seeing this, Liu Yuan felt a strange premonition rising in his heart. He took the jade slip with a puzzled look and his gaze lingered on Yu Qiushui's scarred face for a moment.

Seeing that there was nothing unusual on Yu Qiushui's face, he took a deep breath and slowly poured his spiritual energy into the jade slip.

As the spiritual energy flowed, the information within the jade slip flooded into his mind like a tidal wave. He frowned, his gaze sweeping rapidly across the light and shadow projected by the jade slip, his expression gradually shifting from confusion to shock, and then to disbelief.

"This, this!" Liu Yuan was so surprised that he couldn't speak. The jade slip in his hand felt like a hot potato, and he wanted to throw it away immediately.

The jade slip contained an unprecedented cultivation technique, but this technique was a truly evil one.

This evil practice advocates enhancing one's own strength by absorbing the blood, soul, and other vital substances of others.

However, the price is extremely high—the more one absorbs, the more easily the cultivator's mind becomes disordered, and they may eventually turn into a monster that only knows how to kill.

Seeing the look of shock on Liu Yuan's face, Yu Qiushui forced a bitter smile onto his lips, then coughed violently a few more times. Blood spilled from the corner of his mouth, staining his clothes and making his condition appear increasingly dire.

“Learn this, then absorb all my life force, and get out alive to find a chance to avenge me and Peng Cheng.” Yu Qiushui’s voice was hoarse and low, each word seeming to be squeezed out of his throat.

Upon hearing this, Liu Yuan's face instantly turned ashen. He abruptly raised his head, his gaze resolute as he looked at Yu Qiushui: "No! Palace Master, although I, Liu Yuan, am not a paragon of righteousness, I am by no means an ungrateful person. You have been kind to me; how could I possibly bring myself to harm you?"

Upon hearing this, Yu Qiushui's eyes flashed with a complex expression. She slowly lowered her head, her voice low and helpless: "I know this is hard to accept, but it's the only way I can think of. Peng Cheng is dead, and I don't have long to live either. If someone can escape and avenge us, then my life will not have been in vain."

Liu Yuan gripped the jade slip tightly, his heart filled with mixed emotions. Although he didn't want to do this, it seemed he had no other choice now.

"There's not much time left, hurry up and run this technique a few times!" Yu Qiushui's voice was filled with urgency and despair.

His face was ashen, his eyes sunken, and he looked extremely haggard. His cultivation level was also declining at an alarming rate, and his aura was growing weaker and weaker, as if it might be extinguished at any moment.

Liu Yuan stood aside, looking at Yu Qiushui with a complicated expression. He knew very well that in another hour, without him having to lift a finger, Yu Qiushui would disappear from this world due to the exhaustion of her life force.

However, faced with this sudden change, Liu Yuan was filled with hesitation and struggle.

He clenched his teeth, his hands trembling slightly, his gaze once again fixed on the jade slip in his hand. The jade slip contained the detailed contents and operating methods of that evil technique; every word seemed to speak of endless darkness. However, Liu Yuan had no choice.

He took a deep breath and began to circulate the spiritual energy within his body, trying to master this evil technique according to the instructions in the jade slip.

At first, his movements seemed clumsy and awkward, but as time went on, he gradually found his footing, and the spiritual energy in his body began to flow along a specific trajectory.

Half an hour later, Liu Yuan had basically mastered this evil technique. He opened his eyes, a resolute glint in them, as if he had made his decision.

“Come…” Yu Qiushui slowly beckoned to Liu Yuan, her voice weak and hoarse, but her eyes revealed a resolute determination.

He gestured for Liu Yuan to come over and devour him in order to prolong his own life.

Looking into Yu Qiushui's expectant eyes, Liu Yuan felt another surge of emotion. He hesitated, then took a heavy step forward.

Urged repeatedly by Yu Qiushui, he finally walked up to her and gently touched her forehead with his finger.

At that moment, Liu Yuan closed his eyes and began to circulate the evil magic within his body. He could feel Yu Qiushui's life force continuously flowing into his body, and at the same time, an indescribable sense of guilt welled up in his heart.

As the evil magic took effect, Yu Qiushui's body gradually became transparent, eventually turning into a wisp of green smoke and dissipating into the air.

Liu Yuan stood there, staring blankly ahead, as if he had just experienced a terrifying nightmare.

Just then, Liu Yuan's facial expression turned ferocious, his features twisted as if something was about to burst out of his body and tear his skin apart. His eyes were wide open, bloodshot, making him look exceptionally terrifying.

At the same time, two completely different voices appeared in Liu Yuan's mind, arguing and tearing each other apart, making his thoughts chaotic.

At the same time, his limbs began to move unconsciously, as if controlled by some invisible force, and he completely lost the ability to control himself.

"Yu Qiushui! It's you!" Liu Yuan suddenly shouted, his voice filled with fear and anger.

At that moment, he finally understood what was happening before his eyes. So, he was about to be possessed by Yu Qiushui!

Looking back on everything that had happened, Liu Yuan couldn't help but feel a pang of remorse. Now that he thought about it, he was truly hopelessly stupid.

He should have been wary when Yu Qiushui made him practice that seemingly evil technique. Yu Qiushui's purpose wasn't to help him improve his strength at all, but to create the conditions for possession!

Because Yu Qiushui's cultivation level had plummeted and her strength was far inferior to before, it was impossible for her to directly possess him. Therefore, Yu Qiushui meticulously planned all of this, using his trust and gratitude to lure him step by step into a trap.

Liu Yuan realized how moved he had been, thinking that Yu Qiushui genuinely wanted to sacrifice herself to help him improve his strength and escape the perilous Burial God Valley. He immediately regretted his past actions.

He was truly blinded by Yu Qiushui's hypocrisy, failing to see the slightest flaw. But now it was too late for regrets; his body had begun to tremble uncontrollably, and his soul seemed to be slowly being drawn out by a powerful force.

Liu Yuan knew that once Yu Qiushui successfully possessed his body, he would completely lose himself and become Yu Qiushui's puppet.

He was extremely unwilling, truly unwilling! He tried his best to resist, but unfortunately, Yu Qiushui's soul power was too strong, and his struggles seemed so powerless and futile.

The forces of both sides were constantly pulling and colliding within Liu Yuan's body, as if two surging torrents were vying for control, and the pain was indescribable.

Liu Yuan gritted his teeth, his muscles tense, veins bulging on his forehead, and sweat pouring down like a fine rain. He didn't know how much time had passed before the intense struggle gradually subsided, and everything became completely quiet.

At this moment, Liu Yuan had exhausted all his strength. He lay there quietly with his eyes closed, his face as pale as paper, and his breathing weak and even, as if he had fallen into a deep sleep and was completely unaware of everything around him.

All around was quiet, save for the occasional chirping of insects and the rustling of leaves in the wind. However, this tranquility did not last long.

Just then, a giant python, as thick as a bucket, suddenly poked its head in from the entrance of the tree hole. Its enormous body almost completely blocked the entrance, and its scales gleamed with a cold, eerie light in the dim light.

The giant python flicked its bright red tongue, hissing, its cold eyes fixed on the unsuspecting Liu Yuan.

Clearly, the giant python had already identified Liu Yuan as its prey. It observed him at the doorway for a while, its sinister eyes filled with greed and longing.

Seeing that Liu Yuan remained motionless, the giant python seemed even more certain of its judgment. So it slowly swam over, its massive body twisting and turning in the narrow tree hole, making a "whooshing" sound.

The giant python opened its gaping maw, revealing sharp fangs, ready to swallow Liu Yuan whole. The bloodstains and slime still clinging to its fangs sent chills down one's spine.