I courted death and then tried to escape, so the whole sect wants to get rid of me.

The moment you step into the miasma forest, a thick miasma mixed with the pungent smell of damp, decaying vegetation hits you.

The white fog was like cotton wool that couldn't be dispersed, leaving only a few steps in front of you for visibility.

Occasionally, a few blurry black shadows would sweep through the woods, accompanied by chilling howls.

The surrounding trees seemed to come alive; one second they stood obediently still, and the next they appeared in front of us, blocking our way.

If things continue like this, it will probably take quite a while.

Song Yao stopped and reached out to touch the nearest tree, slowly extending her spiritual energy.

Logically speaking, she should already be able to skillfully manipulate plants, and those grasses and trees would only be docile and submissive when they encounter her.

But this time, I felt a sharp resistance in my palm, with undisguised malice and resistance.

The trees here have even developed sentience.

She pursed her lips, her divine sense intruding, preparing to forcibly control it. But the Tengshe seal in her dantian suddenly lit up for some reason, and then tightened abruptly.

Caught off guard, Song Yao felt a sharp pain that made her vision go black, and she fell straight forward.

No.

It's fine if you can't use your cultivation level.

Their mental power was also sealed off.

Are you sick?

Chen He jumped in fright and rushed forward to help her: "Seventh Senior Sister! What's wrong?"

The pain came and went quickly. Song Yao took a breath, got up, wrapped her cloak tighter around herself, and sniffed, "It's nothing, I just tripped and fell, it doesn't hurt."

Chen He: "..."

Can you fall while standing?

Seventh Senior Sister is indeed frail.

He looked at the blood slowly trickling down Song Yao's forehead and the glistening tears in her eyes, and remained silent for a moment.

Then, unable to hold back, she said, "Seventh Senior Sister, I know you want to bring glory to the sect, but nothing is more important than your own health. Why don't you go outside and wait?"

Song Yao: "It doesn't hurt at all, let's go."

"..."

Chen He pulled her back and dragged her to sit on the rock, somewhat amused and exasperated. "Alright, alright, at least let me bandage you up first."

Before he could take anything out of his bag, a series of intermittent cries for help suddenly came from the depths of the fog.

It sounds like Cheng Yue's voice.

Song Yao didn't like staying in such a sticky and damp environment, and suddenly stood up: "Let's go take a look."

Chen He hurriedly chased after her, saying, "Seventh Senior Sister, it hasn't been bandaged yet."

"It's okay, it will stop flowing in a bit."

Song Yao hastily wiped the blood off her face.

The two walked one after the other toward the sound of cries for help.

After walking a few steps, the fog in the malarial forest thickened, and the decaying leaves made a soft, wet sound underfoot.

Behind the gnarled, drooping branches of the giant tree, a hazy figure came into view.

Cheng Yue leaned against the rough tree trunk, half of her Taoist robe was soaked in blood and turned black, and her right leg was twisted to one side, as if it were broken.

Several small, green-scaled snakes were coiled up nearby, flicking their tongues and slowly circling around.

Her face was shrouded in mist, pale and almost transparent, and her forehead was covered in cold sweat.

Seeing them approach, her eyes lit up instantly, and her voice trembled uncontrollably as she cried out in pain, "Seventh Senior Sister, Junior Brother Chen, save me! I'm in so much pain! My leg... my leg is broken! A snake bit me..."

"Junior Sister Cheng!"

Chen He's heart tightened at the sight, and he was about to rush over.

He had just taken a step when he realized something was wrong and froze in place.

Junior Sister Cheng has always been a very calm person. Even if she were injured, she probably wouldn't be crying and begging for help like this.

The demons in the secret realm are extremely cunning, and this Junior Sister Cheng in front of us is very likely a demon in disguise.

Furthermore—

He stared at the towering tree that blocked out the sky, and a chill instantly ran down the back of his neck.

The tree trunk was ridiculously thick, and its shadow concealed large blind spots.

Junior Sister Cheng was trapped in a blind spot by the fog, which was clearly a perfect trap to lure them forward!

If they really rush over, won't they become sitting ducks?

He was about to remind Song Yao when he turned around and found himself all alone.

Where are they?!

Turning his head again, the boy's cloak fluttered in the wind, and his figure appeared above the giant tree.

Chen He: "???"

No.

Are alchemists all this impulsive nowadays?

Shouldn't we stay behind and wait for the sword cultivator to finish scouting before following?

He opened his mouth, trying to call the person back.

Before she could even speak, Song Yao jumped down from the tree without hesitation, her figure disappearing completely behind the giant tree.

Chen He: "!!!"

He didn't have time to think anymore and hurried after them.

As soon as they got close, Cheng Yue's figure suddenly disappeared, turning into a cloud of black mist that dispersed.

Song Yao emerged from the shadows of the trees, clutching a giant golden python taller and stronger than a man, and then tossed it forward.

Chen He: "!!!"

What is this?!

In the blink of an eye, what happened!

How did she, a frail alchemist, manage to get such a huge python?!

The giant python shuddered, and its scales exploded with dazzling golden light.

The originally ferocious snake head quickly contracted and transformed, the foul-smelling slime disappeared, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a handsome male demon covered with cold golden scales.

The male demon was shirtless, his muscles were bulging, and his eyes were filled with fear as he trembled and moved back a little.

Chen He was startled again and instinctively gripped the hilt of his sword.

It was actually a Golden Scaled Serpent Demon!

Before entering the secret realm, my master specifically warned me that this demon was inherently fierce and cruel, and possessed deadly poison.

Among the disciples of the Nine Saints Hall who entered the secret realm last time, two senior brothers almost fell victim to it.

Right now, why is it so afraid?

Could it be because of Seventh Senior Sister?

No, this snake demon is extremely cunning. It's very likely that it's feigning weakness, intending to launch a sneak attack on them.

Chen He almost instinctively stepped in front of Song Yao, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword tightly, and said in a low voice, "Seventh Senior Sister, be careful, don't be fooled by him."

Song Yao nodded: "Okay."

Her eyelashes drooped, and she slowly glanced at the snake demon.

The golden-scaled snake demon trembled all over when she looked at it.

He hurriedly conjured a snake-shaped grass from his palm and handed it forward with a mournful face.

Chen He: "?!"

Golden-scaled snake grass!!

It is said that it was nourished and grown by the body of the Golden Scale Snake Demon. If it were taken out for appraisal, it would be at least at the Heavenly level. Yet they gave it to them in such a fresh and beautiful state.

Instead of taking the Golden Scale Snake Grass, he pushed the sword forward again, his voice trembling: "What, what are your intentions?"

The Golden-Scaled Serpent Demon had tears welling up in its eyes.

What are its intentions?

It had no ulterior motives.

It did initially intend to drain the life force of the two junior cultivators, but who knew this girl would be so terrifying?

It wants to go home right now!

The golden-scaled snake demon looked at Song Yao with pleading eyes.

Song Yao paused for a moment, then reached past Chen He and mercifully took the Golden Scale Snake Grass away.

Chen He was initially very wary, but he discovered that the snake demon actually had no intention of making a move.

He still couldn't breathe a sigh of relief, and pulled Song Yao back to her: "Where is Cheng Yue? The one you just transformed into. What did you do to her?"

Since the Golden Scaled Serpent Demon could conjure up her likeness, it must have seen her before.

Since we haven't seen anyone, it's very likely...