In Zhu Xian, people start to rise from plundering entries

however.

Compared to the world at large, the extreme fatigue at this moment swept over them like a tidal wave, making the three of them stagger.

Su Han felt a series of needle-like stinging pains in his sea of ​​consciousness, and the aftereffects of excessive consumption of his spiritual energy began to appear.

Lu Xueqi's face was as pale as snow, and her hand holding the Tianya Divine Sword trembled slightly. The depletion of the Nine Heavens Spiritual Power made her breathing disordered.

Biyao's once bright eyes have dimmed considerably. The delicate manipulation of the Heartbreak Flower was a huge burden on her mind.

“We are in terrible shape. If we separate now and encounter a strong enemy, we will all be in danger.” Su Han stopped and frowned slightly, expressing his real concerns.

Upon hearing this, Lu Xueqi's cool gaze swept over the surrounding silent forest, and she slowly nodded: "Senior Brother Su is absolutely right. Although this place is far from the entrance to the Netherworld, it is hard to guarantee that there are no other forces or villains attracted by the previous commotion."

Biyao also stopped smiling and nodded in agreement: "That's right, I feel like I could be blown away by a gust of wind right now. I don't want to fall into the tiger's den right after escaping from the dragon's den. I need to find a safe place to recover my strength first."

The three agreed and temporarily set aside the awkwardness that might arise from their respective sects' positions.

The most urgent task is to restore our strength and ensure our security.

“There’s a secluded cave not far ahead that I discovered during my travels years ago. It’s quite hidden and should be safe,” Lu Xueqi suggested softly.

Su Han and Bi Yao naturally had no objections.

Led by Lu Xueqi, the three of them passed through a dense bamboo forest and discovered the natural cave behind a cliff waterfall.

The cave entrance was concealed by a curtain of water, and the interior was dry and spacious, making it an ideal place to hide and heal.

Upon entering the cave, all three breathed a sigh of relief.

Once the tense nerves relax, the overwhelming fatigue becomes irresistible.

Before they could even say much, they each found a relatively flat spot, sat down cross-legged, and immediately entered a deep state of meditation.

The cave fell silent, with only the faint sound of the waterfall.

Su Han looked inward and realized that the situation was not optimistic.

He circulated his sect's cultivation techniques, guiding the remaining spiritual energy to slowly nourish his damaged meridians and nearly exhausted soul.

A faint blue halo emanated from Lu Xueqi's body, and the Taiji Xuanqing Dao slowly circulated, absorbing the meager spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

The Heavenly Sword rested across his lap, humming softly as if protecting its master.

Biyao's cultivation method is quite different. The Heartbreak Flower floats in front of her, emitting white light. The Ghost King Sect's secret method focuses more on the cultivation of the soul and spirit, and the trickling stream of spiritual power repairs her depleted mind and spirit.

Outside the cave, the moon sets and the sun rises, casting dappled light through the water curtain.

It wasn't until noon the next day that the three of them gradually awoke from their deep meditation.

Su Han opened her eyes; her face was still pale, but her gaze had regained its clarity.

The stinging sensation in his consciousness lessened considerably, and his spiritual power recovered by 30-40%.

He looked at the two women.

Lu Xueqi looked a little better; some color returned to her beautiful face, but her eyes remained cold and aloof.

Biyao had regained some of her liveliness and stood up to stretch her limbs: "I can finally catch my breath! Just now I felt like my soul was about to leave my body."

"This time the consumption was too great, and it cannot be recovered in a day." Su Han said in a deep voice, "This place is secluded and the spiritual energy is still good. We may need to stay here for a few days and make plans after we have fully recovered."

Lu Xueqi nodded slightly: "It's best to be cautious."

Biyao naturally had no objection.

So the three of them settled down temporarily in the Water Curtain Cave.

While regulating their breathing and healing their injuries, they inevitably exchanged ideas.

At first, the atmosphere was subtly tense due to the distinction between good and evil.

As a rogue cultivator, Su Han could still act more freely.

Lu Xueqi adhered strictly to the rules of the sect and spoke concisely.

Biyao, mindful of her status, toned down her usual carefree manner in her speech.

But the bond forged through life and death can never be erased.

In addition, the days in the cave were monotonous, and as their injuries gradually healed, the three of them began to talk more.

Most of the discussions revolved around the perils of this journey to the underworld and the exchange of cultivation experiences.

Su Han was knowledgeable and had insights into formations, runes, and even some ancient secrets, which often surprised Lu Xueqi and Biyao.

Lu Xueqi's Taoist skills are profound, and her insights into the control of spiritual power and the comprehension of swordsmanship are always incisive, greatly benefiting Su Han and Bi Yao.

Although Biyao comes from the Ghost King Sect, she is intelligent and quick-witted with a free-thinking mind. She often comes up with strange but insightful ideas, especially in the fields of illusion and soul magic, where she has unique insights.

After spending several days together, the three of them, though not explicitly saying so, had unknowingly deepened their understanding and trust in each other. On this day, all three of their injuries had stabilized, and their spiritual power had recovered to about 70-80%.

Su Han was observing the waterfall at the cave entrance, appreciating the fluidity of the water.

Lu Xueqi was wiping the Tianya Divine Sword to the side, the blade reflecting her cool and aloof face.

Biyao, somewhat bored, fiddled with the Heartbreak Flower, her gaze occasionally glancing at Su Han and Lu Xueqi outside the cave.

Suddenly, her eyes lit up, and she stood up and walked to Su Han's side, asking with a grin, "Su Han, what are your plans next? Will you continue traveling around?"

Lu Xueqi paused slightly as she wiped the sword. Although she didn't look up, she was clearly paying attention to the commotion.

Su Han turned around, looked at Bi Yao, and then glanced at Lu Xueqi not far away. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "My trip to the Netherworld made me deeply aware of my own inadequacy. The Netherworld is shattered, and the cycle of reincarnation is out of balance. There may be a shocking secret behind this. I want to pursue this matter, but I need to become stronger. Perhaps I will find a secluded place to cultivate in seclusion for a period of time."

Biyao blinked: "Pursuing the secrets of the Underworld? That sounds much more exciting than traveling!" She leaned closer and lowered her voice, "Hey, how about taking me with you? I'm most interested in all things ghostly and supernatural!"

Su Han was taken aback and did not answer.

Lu Xueqi, who was standing to the side, suddenly spoke up, her voice cold: "The matter of the Underworld is of great importance and is not child's play." She raised her head and looked directly at Biyao. "The Ghost King Sect acts unpredictably. If you get involved, it may cause misunderstandings."

Upon hearing this, Biyao raised an eyebrow and looked at Lu Xueqi: "Sister Lu, the way you're saying it makes it sound like our Ghost King Sect is destined to fail. If it weren't for me, would you have been able to stabilize the formation so smoothly this time?"

Lu Xueqi remained calm and said indifferently, "I do not deny Miss Biyao's contribution. However, there is a difference between good and evil, and our positions are completely different. Cooperation is something that can only happen once, not twice."

"Hmph, what a fine distinction between good and evil." Biyao said with some displeasure. "I think it's just that some people are too prejudiced."

Seeing the atmosphere becoming somewhat tense, Su Han quickly smoothed things over, saying, "Gentlemen, the matter of the Underworld is vague and uncertain, and it's not too late to discuss it further. For now, we should first consider how to leave this place and gather information about the outside world."

Biyao snorted and turned her face away.

Lu Xueqi lowered her eyes and continued wiping Tianya, saying nothing more.

But after this incident, the blurred lines between the three of them, which had become blurred due to their temporary cooperation, seemed to become clear again.

The atmosphere inside the cave became somewhat somber for a moment.

Two days later, all three had fully recovered their cultivation, and some even benefited from the misfortune, making further progress in their cultivation.

It's time to leave.

Standing in front of the waterfall, the spray hits your face.

Su Han looked at the two women beside him.

Lu Xueqi was dressed in white, her appearance as pure and ethereal as a fairy.

She was dressed in a flowing green gown, and smiled sweetly.

He knew that once they took this step, the three of them would have to confront their respective identities and the complex web of power struggles behind them.

"Let's go." Su Han took a deep breath and was the first to pass through the water curtain.

Lu Xueqi and Biyao exchanged a glance, their eyes meeting briefly before they looked away, each displaying their movement techniques and following closely behind.

The three stood on the edge of the cliff, with a panoramic view of the scenery below.

"Su Han, where are you going?" Bi Yao asked again, her eyes filled with anticipation.

Lu Xueqi also looked quietly at Su Han.

Su Han gazed at the undulating mountains in the distance, remained silent for a moment, and slowly said, "I need to go to Heyang City first."

"Heyang City?" Biyao was somewhat surprised. "That's a bustling metropolis, a melting pot of all sorts of people. What are you going there for?"

“We’re gathering information,” Su Han explained. “The Netherworld expedition caused quite a stir; word may have already gotten out. Heyang City is well-informed and might know what’s going on outside. Moreover…”

He paused, then continued, "I need to find some ancient books about the Underworld and the fragments of the Mirror of Reincarnation. The Mountain and Sea Garden in Heyang City has a rich collection of books and may have some clues."

Upon hearing this, Lu Xueqi's eyes flashed: "Shanhaiyuan... is indeed a good place to go."

Biyao pouted, "What's so interesting about ancient books? They're so boring." Her eyes sparkled, and she suddenly smiled, "But I know Heyang City well! There are so many fun places there, I'll take you!"

Su Han looked at Lu Xueqi: "What are your plans, Senior Sister Lu?"

Lu Xueqi pondered for a moment and said, "I also need to report this experience to my sect. There is also a Qingyun Sect branch in Heyang City, which I can visit along the way."

The implication was that they were on the same path.

Su Han's heart stirred slightly, and he nodded: "In that case, let's travel together and make further plans when we reach Heyang City."

Biyao immediately clapped her hands and laughed, "Great! With the three of us walking together, it'll finally be less boring!"

Lu Xueqi glanced at Biyao but did not object.

Then, three figures leaped down from the cliff edge, transforming into streaks of light and heading towards Heyang City. (End of Chapter)