Chapter 706: Who Says Only Living People Can Be Bait
Qi Huang’s spiritual sense continued to extend forward. After a moment, she discovered that the Yin energy ahead was gradually thickening, and evil spirits were everywhere. She knew she had explored the edge of the Tencel Valley Treasure Land.
Qi Huang carefully sensed it. The Yin energy in this place was already similar to Pingshan Mass Grave, and it didn’t restrict her current spiritual sense much, but there were no valuable treasures around.
Qi Huang controlled her spiritual sense to continue forward. As the Yin energy around her grew stronger, she finally felt resistance. After advancing dozens of miles, she could no longer see everything around her clearly.
Qi Huang carefully measured. If her physical body were in the place her spiritual sense was exploring, her spiritual sense could probably only detect things within a radius of tens of miles. Considering the size of the Tencel Valley Treasure Land, this place was clearly still on the outskirts.
The further forward I take a step, the smaller my spiritual sense’s detection range will become. By the time I reach the central area, I don’t know to what extent it will shrink.
Qi Huang’s expression became solemn, which meant that if she wanted to find the Golden Life Flower Seed, she could only rely on bait.
“It seems I thought things were too simple. The rumors about the Tencel Valley Treasure Land outside are not exaggerated at all. Fortunately, the Immortal Alliance found so many decoys for me, otherwise this trip might not have been so smooth.”
Qi Huang thought with some relief.
Qi Huang withdrew her spiritual sense and then quickly moved towards the direction of the Immortal Alliance’s team.
At dawn, the Immortal Alliance’s team arrived at a small town near the Tencel Valley Treasure Land to resupply. To enter that dangerous place, they naturally had to be fully prepared.
Qi Huang took the opportunity to return to her own Sea of Consciousness. With her current speed, let alone being sprinkled with Heaven-Concealing Water, even without it, people like Zheng Chi wouldn’t be able to find her.
The Immortal Alliance’s team settled in an inn. Zheng Chi ordered some disciples to purchase daily necessities, while others were assigned to guard the more than twenty girls who were acting as bait. He didn’t want any further accidents.
The girls watched their loved ones being kidnapped by someone, so they were anxious like ants on a hot pan, but because they were unable to escape, they could only worry anxiously.
The next morning, Zheng Chi led the team and escorted the girls to continue on their way. An hour later, they arrived at the foot of the giant “Vine.” The Immortal Alliance disciples responsible for guarding the area quickly came out to greet them, and the girls were also released to take a breath.
“My god! What a huge city wall!”
Shen Yuan marveled at the massive construction.
“Yes, is this the Immortal Alliance’s defensive project? And the landscaping is so good, how much money did it cost to build?”
Ruan Lingyu also looked up and sighed.
“Oh my god, that’s not landscaping! Look, the main body of this city wall is actually a giant vine, and those houses and fortresses are built on its barbs, while the green leaves in the middle and the flowers at the top all grow from it.”
Yun Fei exclaimed after observing carefully.
“Oh my goodness, how can there be such a big vine in this world?”
Shen Yuan almost fainted after observing it closely.
“Won’t those houses fall and hit us? It’s too terrifying.”
The delicate Miao Xiang said fearfully.
“Don’t flatter yourself. With your size, even if the houses fall, there are tall people to block them. When will it be your turn to be hit?”
Su Qing took the opportunity to speak sarcastically.
Cheng Hong Ling, however, quietly watched the giant vine, a look of solemnity in her beautiful eyes, because she could feel the pressure emanating from the vine, which was by no means simply a “foundation.”
Qi Huang was still hiding in her own Sea of Consciousness at this moment, because she had seen it the night before and was naturally prepared.
“A bunch of yellow-haired girls, truly ignorant.”
Just then, Elder Kang, who had narrowly escaped death nearby, spoke: “This is called the Colossal Vine. It is our Alliance Leader’s pet, specifically responsible for guarding this Tencel Valley Treasure Land.”
Elder Kang had forcibly intervened earlier and Qi Huang had pierced his heart, but fortunately, his cultivation had reached the Shentong Realm. As long as his brain was not instantly destroyed, he had enough time to release a clone to transfer the injury. This was how he survived, at the cost of losing the physical body of one of his clones.
“Pet? How can this plant be a pet?”
Ruan Lingyu asked curiously.
“Its cultivation has reached the early stage of the Heavenly Punishment Realm. Not only can it be spiritual, but it can also transform into human form, so it can naturally be a pet.”
Elder Kang explained.
“Early Heavenly Punishment Realm? My goodness.”
The martial sisters exclaimed again.
“Even if it has reached the early Heavenly Punishment Realm, it may not necessarily be able to guard this Tencel Valley Treasure Land. I heard that this place is as large as a medium-sized country.”
Yun Fei raised a question.
“Coincidentally, its ends are connected, and it can just circle around the Tencel Valley Treasure Land. Anyone below the Heavenly Punishment Realm will not be able to cross its path.”
Elder Kang became more and more excited, as if the Colossal Vine were his own.
“It can circle around the Tencel Valley Treasure Land? How huge must it be? No wonder it’s called the Colossal Vine.”
The martial sisters’ mouths grew wider and wider.
Elder Kang looked at the girls’ expressions, and the smugness on his face became even more apparent, as if he were teasing children.
“What about masters above the Heavenly Punishment Realm?”
Miao Xiang pondered for a moment and then asked weakly, biting her tender pink finger.
Elder Kang’s expression stiffened, and then he glared fiercely at Miao Xiang before saying, “No harm done. Our Immortal Alliance has many masters. No matter how strong they are, they won’t be able to sneak in.”
“Although… your Alliance Leader using such a thick, long, and thorny vine as a pet is really strange. Is he male or female!”
Ruan Lingyu’s strange voice suddenly sounded.
As soon as she finished speaking, the surroundings became so quiet that you could hear a pin drop. The disciples of the Immortal Alliance and the decoys all looked at Ruan Lingyu with ambiguous eyes.
Several martial sisters avoided her, not wanting to be implicated, and even Cheng Hong Ling turned her pretty face away, as if she didn’t know this woman.
Qi Huang’s lips curved slightly.
She didn’t expect this Eldest Senior’s imagination to be so astonishing. She could drift into fantasy seeing a vine with thorns.
“What’s wrong?”
Ruan Lingyu looked around, her gaze innocent and foolish.
“Hmm, I didn’t expect the usually righteous Eldest Senior to have such dirty thoughts.”
Su Qing mocked.
“What’s wrong with me?”
Ruan Lingyu still had a look of confusion. She thought hard, and immediately her pretty face turned red, and she explained excitedly, “Listen to me, I didn’t mean that. I meant that this vine is a plant of the wood element, and most men have physiques of the metal, fire, or earth elements. Isn’t it strange for him to use this as a pet?”
“So that’s how it is!”
Everyone around suddenly reacted.
“Stop explaining, explaining is just covering up.”
Su Qing, the sharp-tongued girl, continued to pester her.
“Our Alliance Leader is indeed a man, and he cultivates earth element True Qi.”
Elder Kang introduced.
“What? Then it’s even stranger. Isn’t it said that wood restrains earth? Why did he take a vine that restrains his element as a pet?”
Ruan Lingyu asked curiously.
“Little girl, by the looks of it, you’ve only heard that wood restrains earth, but you don’t know why wood restrains earth, do you?”
Elder Kang said confidently.
“Uh…”
Ruan Lingyu was immediately speechless. She indeed didn’t know about this.
“Look at the soil around you. Much of it has turned into yellow sand, which is a sign that the trees have absorbed its nutrients, hence wood restrains earth.”
Elder Kang began stroking his beard and showing off. “However, if you reverse this relationship, doesn’t that prove that the growth of trees is inseparable from the soil? It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that soil gives birth to wood, so plants are the best pets for earth element cultivators.”
“Oh! Elder Kang, your knowledge is profound, truly admirable!”
Ruan Lingyu suddenly understood, and everyone else also praised.
“Kang Sheng, what are you showing off your knowledge for there? Is she your disciple? Such a busybody!”
Elder Zheng’s scolding voice arrived.
Elder Kang’s expression stiffened, and then he walked over meekly.
Next, the disciples guarding the Tencel Valley took out their communication tokens and distributed them one by one to everyone under Elder Zhao’s command, naturally including the decoys.
“Keep them safe. This is proof of entry and exit from the Tencel Valley Treasure Land. If you lose it, I can’t guarantee you’ll get out safely.”
Elder Zheng warned. He said this only to the disciples. As for the decoys, as soon as they entered, he would order people to kill them and dismember them.
The girls, unaware of the truth, immediately carefully tucked the passes into their bosoms, clearly still wanting to get out alive.
Qi Huang felt quite sympathetic. As the saying goes, even an ant cherishes its life. A person’s desire to survive is the most moving thing.
Since I need your help, I will definitely bring you out safely.
Qi Huang’s resolve grew stronger.
Elder Zheng then led the team into the scope of the Tencel Valley Treasure Land. Because everyone had heard the rumors about this place, their nerves were all tensed up, except for the few female disciples from the HongHua Sect. They were still giggling and laughing, acting completely like they were sightseeing.
As the team ventured deeper, the Yin energy around them began to increase, the temperature dropped, and one could occasionally hear strange sounds.
How could those ordinary girls, with their delicate bodies and weak health, withstand such a harsh environment? Their bodies began to tremble.
“I say Elder Zuo, there are ordinary girls among us. Aren’t you going to give them a protective amulet? If anything unexpected happens, how can they still serve as bait?”
Tang Yuning spoke first. Although she was a bit spoiled and willful, she never lacked a sense of justice.
Elder Zheng slowly turned around, a sinister smile appearing on his face: “Who says living people are used as bait?”
