I've already reached the Nascent Soul stage, and you're saying I didn't time travel?

Chapter 123: It's not available in the pharmacy at all!

In the afternoon, in the Sky Screen live broadcast room.

"...Therefore, according to my calculations, this group of geniuses was probably abducted and killed by another family. As for whether they can successfully reach the Qing Shen Mother Tree, we will probably know the result soon."

After listening to Qi Xuan's explanation, the viewers in the live stream started discussing it:
"Having already guessed that they might be ambushed, why didn't Nangong Wuji just escort them there?"

"What a joke! Wasn't the ambush caused by his family tipping him off? Nangong Wuji, as the only remaining land-based immortal-level combatant in the family, instead of staying behind to protect the family, went to escort a genius. By the time he returns, his hometown will probably have been ransacked, and maybe even opened by his own family."

"Perhaps Nangong Wuji's condition was already quite bad at that time, half-mad. If he had an episode while escorting the geniuses on their journey, he might have killed them himself without waiting for anyone else to do anything."

"Sigh, this terrifying family, which was supposed to have several terrestrial immortals guarding it, ended up in such a tragic state due to the impact of [Bone Disease]. Just thinking about how this disease may have spread all over the world makes me feel panicked."

"Don't be afraid. As Qi Shen continues to explore, he will surely find a solution. At least now we know that three spiritual items, including the Mind-Stabilizing Pill, the Mind-Clearing Jade Dew, and the Netherworld Cicada Elixir, can help slow down the progression of the illness."

"Actually, I'm very curious about the situation of other families. According to the information given by the Illusionary Body Vine, the [Bone Disease] is a disease that is widely spread in the lineage of the Heaven-Seizing Sect. So it's probably not just the Nangong family that has been affected. Other families may also be suffering from the same disease. They will definitely not sit idly by and wait for death. They will definitely try to find a way to cure or even delay the disease."

"If we travel to the territories of other families, we might be able to find a cure for [osteophyte disease]."

"It's not that simple. If [Bone Growth Disease] were so easy to cure, why would the Duotian Sect have closed its gates? They are the superior sect of many families. Not to mention terrestrial immortals, there should be quite a few powerful beings even stronger than terrestrial immortals. In the end, they still couldn't do anything about [Bone Growth Disease]."

"Do you think it's possible that the [osteophyte disease] was actually caused by the Heaven-Seizing Sect, and that the families below are just victims?"

"Isn't that an exaggeration? Why would they cause such a terrifying disease for no reason? The people in the Duotian Sect aren't all idiots. In my opinion, it's very likely that some kind of pathogenic factor has spread widely within the Duotian Sect's territory, which is why almost all the cultivators in this lineage have contracted [Bone Disease]."

"Perhaps it was a meteorite that fell from the sky, bringing with it many foreign pathogens, causing this special disease that is difficult to treat."

"I am more inclined to believe that the disease broke out locally. For example, the Duotian Sect dug up the tomb of an ancient powerful being, and accidentally caused some kind of terrible pathogen to spread widely."

"In any case, the Duotian Sect must have a very deep understanding of the [Bone Disease], otherwise they wouldn't have supplied the families below with the Mind-Stabilizing Pills that can alleviate the symptoms. Including the Mind-Clearing Mother Tree, the tree species of the Mother Tree may very well have been given by the Duotian Sect."

"As the supreme sect revered by many families, the Duotian Sect must actively address the illness. Otherwise, if the people's hearts are scattered and many families fall apart, they can forget about continuing to make offerings to the supreme sect properly. In the face of a life-or-death crisis, who will care about anything else?"

"Sigh, if only Qi Shen could go to the Duotian Sect, perhaps he could unravel the mystery of the [Bone Disease]."

"Take it easy. Just think, Nangong Wuji has mutated into that kind of terrifying monster. Who knows what the Duotian Sect is like now? Maybe it has already become a paradise for monsters, and there are plenty of monsters like Nangong Wuji everywhere."

"Don't say anymore, the more you talk about it, the more panicked I get. What if one day the landmass where the Heaven-Seizing Sect is located suddenly collapses..."

"Damn it! Shut up!"

……

Amidst the commotion in the live stream, Qi Xuan was also pondering matters related to the Duotian Sect.

In the morning, he discovered that the two characters on the Heaven-Seizing Bracelet had somehow changed to twelve characters.

This inexplicably reminded him of a joke that often circulated on Earth, about a lady who discovered that a customer had the words "默哉" (Mo Zai) tattooed on his phone, and didn't know what it meant.

The guest gave a wicked smile and immediately opened DingTalk—[To learn silently, to study without weariness, to teach without tiring—what is there for me?]

However, unlike the joke, "夺天" is not the first and last two characters, but the beginning two characters.

I originally thought this was some kind of title, but now it might be a proverb, a command, or even the opening of a set of techniques.

Is there any connection between this bracelet and the Duotian Sect?
Qi Xuan still leans towards the idea that there is a connection.

After all, the bracelet was undamaged by the impact of the sun's collapse and remained largely unchanged after absorbing a massive amount of spiritual energy, which is enough to prove that its quality is far superior to ordinary magical artifacts.

It might be a treasure that only a high-level Golden Core cultivator could use, or a magic weapon that only a Nascent Soul cultivator could possess.

This is a treasure that ordinary cultivators cannot possess; even a powerful family like the Nangong family might not be able to get their hands on it.

Above the Nangong family, there is only the behemoth that is Duotian Sect.

So the question is, why would such a treasure be lost in the wilderness?
He didn't find any related relics or remains on the mountain either.

Could it be that the territory of the Sawtooth Giant Salamander hides the skeleton of a Golden Core cultivator or a Nascent Soul cultivator?
Thinking of this possibility, Qi Xuan couldn't help but sigh with regret.

After all, he was once so close to the territory of the Sawtooth Giant Salamander, but now it's impossible for him to go back and continue digging.

Let alone going back to continue digging, with the drastic changes in terrain, it's very likely that we won't even be able to find that place anymore.

Furthermore, it may not necessarily be related to territory.

Maybe the bracelet was brought up by a monster that climbed up from the foot of the mountain.

The thought of those countless bloody handprints still sent a chill down Qi Xuan's spine, even after he had already endured many calamities.

I always felt that the symptoms of those handprints were from a different disease, quite different from osteophyte disease.

Could it be that more than one disease has broken out within the territory ruled by the Heaven-Seizing Sect?
Just thinking about it gave Qi Xuan a headache.

"Forget it, let's figure out [osteophyte disease] first."

"It would be best to obtain the Dew of Purification, so that we can be prepared."

"There's no point in thinking too much about other random things."

Qi Xuan put aside his distracting thoughts and continued riding Sunday forward.

The journey was relatively peaceful; at least we didn't see any more battle remnants or the remains of cultivators.

This proves that the geniuses of the Nangong family may have only experienced that one ambush. Of course, it is also possible that they ran too fast and the attackers did not have time to surround them.

Before long, Qi Xuan finally arrived at his destination, the Pure God Mother Tree.

It was an extremely tall tree, with a trunk that was nearly twenty meters thick and would require more than a dozen people to encircle it. If you only consider the area occupied by the trunk, it would be more than three hundred square meters. Many well-off families might not be able to afford a house of that size.

Including its open canopy, the actual area it occupies is probably two to three thousand square meters, making it a truly giant tree.

Unfortunately, this Qing Shen Mother Tree was not as lush and vibrant as described. Instead, its surface was withered and yellow, its branches and leaves were bare, and its trunk even had many thick and long cracks, indicating that it had been dead for a long time.

The moment Qi Xuan saw the mother tree, his long-held anxiety finally died.

The live stream was filled with sighs:

"He's dead."

"This is so disappointing."

"I thought I could get the Dew of Purification, but now it seems I won't be able to get it."

"What about the bone disease? Without the Clear Mind Jade Dew, there's no cure if it flares up."

"We can only try to go to other families. After all, it's a disease that spreads widely, and other families might still have some medicine hidden away."

"Damn, are we going to run into another four-armed monster like Nangong Wuji?"

"Fighting a monster is better than dying from an illness. Besides, the Nangong family is probably the strongest family in the area. Other families are not as strong as them. Even if they transform into a four-armed monster, they shouldn't be as terrifying as Nangong Wuji."

"I'm afraid something unexpected might happen then."

"If you're timid and hesitant, you'll get nothing done! You absolutely can't just stay put and wait to die!"

……

While netizens were still discussing it, Qi Xuan didn't have time to think about it anymore.

Because a new competitor has emerged.

On the dead branches of the Qing Shen mother tree, a large group of tea-backed red-winged bugs lived.

This is a demonic insect that feeds on the sap of various spiritual plants and is commonly found on various spiritual flowers and trees.

Although the Qing Shen Mother Tree possesses extremely strong defenses, after it dies of disease and decay, its protective shell will gradually collapse, making it vulnerable to invasion by alien species.

It is precisely because of its large size that it did not decay and collapse despite being devoured by the red-winged tea bug for a long time.

However, it is not far from complete collapse.

Thinking of this, Qi Xuan couldn't help but feel a surge of anger.

Without these red-winged tea bugs, the rate at which the Qing Shen Mother Tree collapsed would have been greatly slowed down. Perhaps even a few fruits, or even just a few drops of Qing Shen Jade Dew, would still remain.

As a result, everything was ruined.

"Damn pests!"

Qi Xuan's eyes were icy cold.

Faced with a swarm of red-winged tea-backed bugs that rushed close with mouthparts as sharp as needles, Qi Xuan suddenly opened his mouth and let out a thunderous roar.

The explosive sonic wave instantly covered a large area of ​​airspace ahead, and countless approaching red-winged crickets were shattered, their juices scattering everywhere.

The numerous red-winged tea-backed bugs further back were also affected by the sound waves, and they all fell to the ground in a flurry, seemingly out of control.

The scene resembled a rain of insects.

"War Tramples!"

On Sunday, it charged back and forth on the scene, and its stun skill directly restrained these weak insects on the spot.

The repeated attacks on Sundays turned the tea-backed red-winged bugs all over the ground into minced meat on the spot.

Before long, a large number of the pests that had been entrenched in the tree were killed.

Seeing that they were no match for their opponents, the remaining ones scattered in panic and fled.

Qi Xuan watched the tea-backed red-winged bugs scattering in all directions, barely managing to suppress the urge to use his lightness talisman to chase after them.

He dismounted from Sunday's sturdy back and strode toward the towering Mother Tree of Purity. A section of the bare roots beneath the Mother Tree was etched with many twisted and intricate spiritual runes, and in many places were damaged and broken.

As he approached, the Jade Void Token immediately lit up, and the incomplete spiritual patterns also lit up.

Clearly, if these spirit patterns are not damaged, only by holding the Jade Void Token can one successfully pass through the checkpoints set up by the Nangong family and enter the Mother Tree.

Unfortunately, he arrived too late.

Entering the mother tree through the gaps between the roots, one finds a rather spacious area inside.

The towering mother tree stands overhead, surrounded by a dense, strong root system, making it practically a naturally formed dwelling place.

It is likely that the shape of the saplings is similar to that of the tree itself, and the guardians of the saplings probably reside within the root system.

Looking around, nine skeletons were scattered about, each with a different manner of death.

Some even kill each other.

Some committed suicide.

There were also bodies piled up together, all dead, and they were all men.

Apart from the two skeletons stacked on top of each other, the other skeletons must have died even earlier.

Some of them had even been buried in pits, but were later dug out.

Some of the skeletons even have teeth marks from being gnawed on.

If nothing unexpected happens, by the later stages, after exhausting the Dew of Clarity produced by the Mother Tree, the remaining Qi Refining geniuses should all be driven mad by the [Excess Bone Disease].

Nothing a crazy person would do would surprise anyone.

For example, he saw a dozen bone spurs of different sizes scattered next to a nearby corpse, with very smooth cuts.

On this corpse, he saw that parts including the thigh bone, ribs, mandible, and nasal bone all showed signs of being cut, and the cutting times were not the same.

It's easy to imagine that a Qi cultivation genius, unable to bear the pain of an attack, would choose to use a weapon to cut off the bone spurs on his body.

First, the thigh bone is cut open, the flesh is removed, and the bone spurs are cut off.

Next, go to the ribs and shave off the skin, flesh, and bone spurs together.

Then, moving on to the mandible...

He cut it more than a dozen times in total.

The last time was on the cervical spine.

It's unclear whether he went too far or simply didn't want to live anymore.

That cut, besides removing the bone spur, also severed his cervical vertebrae.

He must have felt a sense of relief when he died, right?
Seeing this scene, not only did Qi Xuan's mood become incredibly heavy, but countless netizens in the live stream were also shocked and felt their scalps tingle.

"What should I do? Just looking at that wreckage is giving me phantom pain."

"This is the first time I've had such a direct understanding of the pain that occurs when [osteophyllosis] strikes."

"He was so hard on himself, but he still couldn't pull through. What if we got sick..."

"People used to say not to worry too much about osteoporosis, but how can you not worry after seeing this?!"

"Clear Spirit Jade Dew! Find Clear Spirit Jade Dew quickly! Without it, we might die in excruciating pain before the onset of the disease!"

"What if I can't find Qing Shen Yu Lu at the pharmacy? Would Qing Nao Fu Shen Ye work?"

……

Qi Xuan continued to search through the belongings of the corpses inside the space.

Although he had given up all hope of finding the Dew of the Pure Spirit, even discovering some information related to the [Bone Disease], the Heaven-Seizing Sect, or even nearby families would be extremely helpful.

They also found quite a few odds and ends, including talismans and the like.

Unfortunately, because so much time has passed, the spiritual seals on many talismans have been damaged, and the talismans are no longer usable.

He managed to use two talismans with vine techniques, but he put them into his personal space with a flick of his wrist.

He also collected other materials such as spirit stones and spirit ores, which had not been damaged over time.

However, what Qi Xuan valued even more were the three jade slips found among the relics. Unfortunately, two of them were damaged. The last one belonged to Nangong Nan and recorded his insights during his cultivation, as well as some of his experiences after leaving his family.
"...The Fourth Elder suppressed all objections and allowed sixteen family geniuses to enter the sealed Mother Tree for secluded cultivation. I was fortunate enough to be one of them."

"...That kid Ah Chao said he heard cries for help and rushed to the rescue. I couldn't stop him. By the time I returned to the camp and told Brother Yaohua and the others, it was too late..."

"...Just as the Fourth Elder predicted, we were ambushed on the way. But we didn't expect it to be the Zhang family, and the one leading the group was Zhang Yongze, who used to be so respectful to us! How hateful! How utterly hateful!"
But my hatred isn't directed at the Zhang family. If other families had known we'd entered the Mother Tree for secluded cultivation, they might have been tempted to make their move. My hatred is for those traitors within my own family! If they hadn't colluded with outsiders, how could this calamity have occurred?!

"...By using the Hundred Feather Universe Diagram to withstand the attack, and the Small Teleportation Talisman that can teleport long distances, the ten of us finally escaped the Zhang family's ambush and arrived safely at the Pure God Mother Tree. With the top-notch defense of the Mother Tree and the formation, it is difficult for anyone other than a Golden Core cultivator to break through. Our lives should get better from now on, right?"

"...The mother tree is declining at an unexpected rate. In less than three years, the amount of Qing Shen Yu Lu produced has dropped to one-third of what it used to be. On the other hand, as our cultivation levels continue to improve, we are experiencing more and more frequent and severe illnesses. Can we continue like this?"

"...Ah Xin screamed all night, which seemed to be a symbol. Before this, whenever one of us fell ill, even if he had run out of Qing Shen Yu Lu, the others would try to supply him, helping each other and struggling to stay afloat."

But Ah Xin's screams now tell me that everyone no longer has the energy. It's not that everyone has become indifferent, but because no one knows if they themselves will be the ones to fall ill tomorrow.

"...Brother Wei died, before Ah Xin. His illness was the mildest among us, and he was the most generous. He had taken out his own Qing Shen Yu Lu (a type of herbal elixir) many times."

Everyone had benefited from his kindness, and no one expected that he would be the first to die, especially by suicide.

Wei left a will saying that he knew he could struggle to live for quite some time, maybe a few months, maybe a few years, but even if he survived, he would not be able to avoid death in the end, and would have to live with pain every day. He might even turn against his own kind in order to seize the Dew of the Divine Spirit.

He didn't want to go down that path, nor did he want to see that scene, so he decided to end his life early, at least the share he saved should be able to help everyone.

After reading his last words, everyone fell silent. Finally, we buried Wei Ge under his favorite piece of tree root.

"...The production of Qing Shen Jade Dew is nearing its end, and the atmosphere in the cave is becoming increasingly strange. The way people look at each other seems to have changed. Could it be that these people, who were once as close as family, will turn against each other as Brother Wei predicted?"

"...Ah Xin is dead. He was murdered, and the only Qing Shen Yu Lu he had left was also gone. But no one admitted to doing it, and no one cared about his body. In the end, I couldn't bear to watch anymore, so I buried Ah Xin next to Brother Wei. I hope this is the last body I will bury."

"...A battle suddenly broke out at night, with screams and curses coming from all directions. Everyone was on guard against each other, and the resting places were far apart. When we arrived, we found that Peng Yu and his wife had both died, both killed by the other side."

Seeing this scene, I couldn't help but feel a deep sadness. Nangong Peng was a top prodigy of the younger generation, and Nangong Yu was the most beautiful woman in the clan, with no less talent. Their union had once made many people envious. Who could have imagined that they would turn against each other because of Qing Shen Yu Lu?

Even the closest Daoist partners have come to this point. Is there any way for ordinary cultivators like us to survive in this world?

"...After Nangong Peng and Nangong Yu, the one I buried with my own hands was Nangong Xiaoqi."

I once admired her and even confessed my feelings to her, but she said she liked Brother Yaohua.

Brother Yaohua is a true Foundation Establishment cultivator, having reached the Qi Refining stage after many years, and could break through at any time. Naturally, I cannot compare to him.

But to my surprise, before Xiaoqi died, she came to me and said that Nangong Fan and Nangong Yang looked at her strangely and might hurt her. She wanted to sleep near me so that she could be looked after.

However, I think she's overthinking it. After all, Fan Ge and Yang Ge are already together, and now they're obsessed with their own fantasies all day long, trying to resist the "osteophyte disease." How could they possibly pay attention to others?
But looking at Xiaoqi's body, I couldn't help but recall what she had said before.

At the same time, I also feel a little regretful.

Because when I rejected her, I couldn't help but feel that she was plotting against me.

Could years of love ultimately not withstand the suspicion that arises between life and death?

In the end, I'm just an ordinary person.

"...Brother Yaohua is preparing to go into seclusion to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage, Brother Fan and Brother Yang are still inseparable and lovey-dovey, and Brother Feng is still attacking himself."

I watched as he personally shaved off the protruding bone spur on his jaw. This wasn't the first time he'd done it, and after he finished, he smiled and told me he felt much better.

But I knew it was useless. The tribe had already studied it long ago. Cutting off the bone spurs would not stop the disease. The bone spurs would grow faster and more violently, causing even more pain.

Feng was aware of all this, but he still did it anyway.

I don't know how much longer he can hold on, but there's no need to think about it too much. Maybe I'll get there before him.

"...Brother Feng has gone mad. He dug up the corpses and started gnawing on them. He gnawed Brother Wei's corpses beyond recognition. He told me that this would relieve the pain."

Seeing his crazed state, I didn't dare to fight him, so I could only stay and guard the remaining graves.

I don't know how long I can hold out.

"...Brother Feng is dead. I killed him by sneak attack. I took advantage of the moment when he was cutting the bone spurs on his cervical vertebrae and suddenly twisted his movements."

Before he died, Feng looked at me with no blame in his eyes, but rather with relief. I will probably remember that look for the rest of my life.

I buried Brother Feng next to Brother Wei's grave.

After thinking for a moment, I dug another pit next to it; that was my own grave.

The records in the jade slip end abruptly there, and what happened afterward is unknown.

Perhaps Nangong Nan was murdered, or perhaps he has gone mad; whatever the case, this is where the record ends.

In total, Nangong Nan personally buried six people. Besides him, the remaining ones were Nangong Fan and Nangong Yang, who were from the same school, as well as Nangong Yaohua.

But that's not right.

There are only nine skeletons at this site.

Almost the instant he realized what was happening, a sharp gust of wind suddenly burst forth from the tree roots on his left.

(End of this chapter)