I've already become an immortal lord, and only now is the spiritual energy reviving?

The edge of the Qinglu Mountains is characterized by its craggy, strangely shaped rocks.

Huayoutan is hidden in a deep valley, where dampness and miasma shroud the mountains year-round, and poisonous insects roam freely.

Ordinary cultivators, let alone treasure hunting, would likely ruin their cultivation foundation just by inhaling a few breaths of mist.

Unfortunately, on this very day, an uninvited guest intruded into the dark entrance of the cave.

Dressed in blue, her clothes shimmered like the sea, her Shu brocade flowing, a warm jade belt around her waist, and cloud-patterned boots on her feet.

His magnificent attire was a style reserved for true disciples even within the Imperial Sword Immortal Sect.

Xu Sixing trudged through the humus-soil mud, his boots stained with mud, his brow furrowed.

He waved his sleeve to shoo away a vicious mosquito, his face full of disgust.

"Old man, are you sure you haven't led us the wrong way?"

The sound echoed in the empty cave, but no one answered.

Xu Sixing wasn't annoyed; he kept walking and chattering away.

"This place is so remote... no, it's so bad that even birds get poisoned if they come here, how can any treasure grow here? We need to make it clear that if you make a wasted trip, you'll have to pay for cleaning these boots."

"Shut up! When have I ever made a mistake?"

A deep, aged voice boomed, full of energy:

"This place is shrouded in yin energy, making it extremely suitable for the growth of the [Azure Blood Earth Lotus]."

"The Crimson Lotus of the Earth's Core belongs to Yin Wood and is a spiritual object that nourishes the soul. Even if I only obtain one, my soul will be strengthened, and I may even awaken some of my abilities from my previous life. If you are unwilling, you may turn back."

Xu Sixing pursed his lips, stopped, and his expression became quite amused.

"Soul Strengthening? Old man, you wouldn't be plotting to regain your strength so you can possess my body, would you?"

He touched his cheek with a serious expression:

"I, Xu Sixing, am handsome and exceptionally talented, truly a promising candidate for possession. We've been together for four years; if you were to pull a 'farmer and the snake' act, who would I complain to?"

A brief silence.

The voice in his mind suddenly rose in pitch, filled with chilling rage:

"Bullshit! Utter nonsense!"

"I am the esteemed Venerable Zhu Ming! A man who has left his mark on the cultivation world, why would I care for your immature body? Possession? I am worthy! Bah! You are worthy!"

"If I truly had such intentions, I would have acted four years ago when I was possessed by you! Crushing you would be easier than crushing an ant; why wait until today!"

Xu Sixing chuckled, his expression relaxed.

Having lost both his parents at a young age, he had to endure hardship and cunning in the treacherous world of the Imperial Sword Sect, which honed his shrewdness and intelligence.

Although the remnant soul with the Taoist name "Zhu Ming" had a sharp tongue, the four years of mutual support had truly allowed him to experience some long-lost elder care.

"Alright, alright, Venerable Zhu Ming is mighty, but... if you claim to have been powerful in life, who exactly was it that beat you into this state, leaving you only able to eke out a living inside me?"

As soon as he said it, Xu Sixing realized he had made a mistake.

The incessant chatter in my mind abruptly stopped.

The atmosphere was tense.

Xu Sixing scratched his head, just about to find something to say to make amends, when Master Zhu Ming's voice slowly rang out, tinged with desolation and bewilderment:

"I...forgot."

"Aside from the Taoist title and some cultivation methods and theories ingrained in his bones, all that remains is a blank slate."

Who am I? Where did I come from? Who harmed me? It's as if someone forcibly ripped my consciousness out of my mind, leaving only emptiness.

It's that same intractable problem again.

Xu Sixing's heart sank slightly, but he laughed it off and patted his chest to assure him:

"It's no big deal! If you've forgotten, you've forgotten. Maybe you owe someone a debt of love and are afraid to repay it, so you sealed it yourself."

"Don't worry, with my status as a true disciple and my astonishing lightning magic skills, we'll eat these Blood Lotuses from now on!"

"I'll help you remember all that mess sooner or later. Even if you're someone's lost ancestor, I'll send you back!"

Stop talking nonsense! Instead of wasting time on empty talk, let's get going!

Master Zhu Ming chuckled and scolded, his tone returning to normal, even carrying a hint of urgency:

"Take your things and leave quickly."

"It's too close to Qinglu Mountain, and the spiritual energy is chaotic. If I hadn't borrowed your spiritual power to deduce it day and night two years ago, I would never have noticed it. It's also not far from Blackwater City, and I'm afraid things might change if we delay."

Xu Sixing's expression turned solemn, and he quickened his pace as he ventured deeper into the cave.

"arrive."

Suddenly, everything became clear.

A dark, deep pool appeared before us, its surface as smooth as a mirror, exuding a chilling aura, and its walls covered with sharp icicles.

In the middle of the deep pool, a lone plant sways.

The blood-red lotus petals are like carved red jade, and the flower's heart emits a faint light; it is indeed the "Azure Blood Earth Core Lotus".

Beside these rare and precious materials, a colossal creature crouched.

The size of a small hill, covered in malignant tumors, with bloodshot eyes, it locked tightly around any intruder.

Red-eyed cold toad.

Demonic energy condensed, reaching the ninth level of Qi Refining!

"The nine-layered demon beast... has some skill."

Zhu Ming spoke with caution.

"Be careful, it's not funny to capsize in a ditch."

"That saves me the trouble."

Xu Sixing took a deep breath, and his demeanor changed abruptly, all traces of the ostentatious wealth of a rich young man vanishing.

Han Chan clearly had no interest in idle chatter.

"Croak—!"

Its enormous mouth opened, and a stench filled the air.

The dark green venom solidified into a cold pillar, which shot towards the arrow, hissing as it corroded the air, aiming straight for the face.

Xu Sixing closed his eyes.

"Too slow."

When she lifted her eyelids again, her dark pupils disappeared, replaced by a dazzling crimson-purple!

The dimly lit cave seemed to have the eyes of the heavens.

Fine purple lightning appeared out of nowhere, and wild snakes danced and coiled around its body.

A long sword phantom, unsheathed, hovered in front of his chest.

He lightly raised his right hand and made a sweeping motion in the air.

"cut!"

Clang!

A clear, melodious sword cry mingled with a muffled thunderous sound, and then exploded!

Lightning flashed, carrying sword energy as it swept across the area.

The venomous cold pillar crumbled upon contact, and under the intense heat and lightning, it instantly vaporized.

The sword energy had not yet subsided when it rapidly magnified in the terrified pupils of the cold toad.

laugh.

The massive body stiffened.

A charred, blood-red line ran from the toad's head to its tail.

The two halves of the body slid off, the cuts charred, not a drop of blood flowed, only the remaining arcs of electricity flickered.

The strange phenomenon subsided, the purple eyes faded, as if nothing had ever happened.

Xu Sixing flicked a speck of dust from his sleeve, slightly surprised:

"This toad... is far too fragile. A dignified ninth-level Qi Refining cultivator couldn't even withstand a single sword strike?"

Although the "Thunderous Enlightenment Sword Manual" he practiced was mainly about killing and unleashing power, the odds of winning were so high that it was somewhat unrealistic.

"Or perhaps this beast is like you, old and frail, with osteoporosis."

I'll just make a joke and stop thinking about it.

With a light touch of the toes, ripples spread beneath my feet as I walk on the water, gradually approaching the center of the pool.

The red lotus was within reach, its exotic fragrance filling the nostrils.

"It's not easy..."

Zhu Ming sighed in his mind.

To obtain this item, countless efforts were expended.

Xu Sixing gathered spiritual energy at his fingertips and carefully reached for the lotus stem.

"Old man, you owe me a favor this time."

Fingertips touch the lotus.

It has no physical form.

It feels hollow to the touch.

The vibrant and exquisite [Azure Blood Earth Lotus], like a reflection in water, ripples gently.

broken.

Illusion?!

"Trap! Retreat!!"

Zhu Ming roared in alarm, shaking his sea of ​​consciousness.

Without needing any prompting, Xu Sixing reacted extremely quickly, detonating his spiritual energy beneath his feet and retreating ten feet.

It landed back on the shore and suddenly looked up.

Above the deep pool, on a towering boulder, two figures appeared out of nowhere.

Two... "demon gods" that inexplicably caused his heart to stop.

On the left, a woman in a plain white dress.

Standing silently, with no spiritual energy fluctuations around him, he seemed to have merged with the dark cave, becoming one with it.

His face was extremely cold.

It wasn't the coldness in his expression, but rather the indifference and aloofness that emanated from his very being, like a lonely moon on a cold night.

She casually held a crystal jade box in her hand.

The box lid was half-open, revealing a faint blood-red light that looked extremely familiar to Xu Sixing.

On the right, standing shoulder to shoulder, was a naked giant, dragging a heavy, unsharpened black sword in one hand.

Even from dozens of feet away, the overwhelming aura of bloodlust stung Xu Sixing's skin.

The giant grinned, revealing his white teeth, and said nothing more.

She stretched out a large, fan-like hand and gently beckoned to him.

"Run! Don't look back!"

"These two are suspicious! I can't figure them out! One against two, you're doomed!"

Zhu Ming's voice was more urgent than ever before.

Xu Sixing remained silent.

The sense of oppression rising in my heart far surpassed any struggle between equals.

He looked down at his empty palm, then at the jade box on the rock containing the old man's life-extending medicine.

ziz......

A faint electric current began to pulse, transforming into several pale purple thunderbirds that circled around my shoulder, chirping melodiously.

"Old man."

Xu Sixing loosely clenched his right hand and raised it towards the sky.

A longsword with an ancient and simple design, covered with dark red rust, solidified.

The sword appeared, the chill receded, and the air was filled with a burnt smell.

On the spine of the sword, a winding golden crack resembled a calamity mark.

"I'm not easily intimidated."

Xu Sixing raised the tip of his sword, pointing it at the two people on the cliff:

"I promised you, and I will definitely do it."

"If they won't give it to us, then we'll take it."