586: Chapter 585: The Way Forward 586: Chapter 585: The Way Forward While Yu Zhengxing was deep in woes within the Protective Forest, Hou Niao also arrived at a crucial juncture in his plans: how to switch from the visible Flowing Sand River into the obscure Snow River Dark River.
Over millennia, changes had occurred beneath the riverbeds, and a seamless connection was impossible; there would always be some distance to deviate.
“This should be the spot, but I can’t be certain…
The underwater environment here is too complex.
Originally, as the confluence of two rivers, it had already formed an underground dark lake, but it’s hard to tell which direction leads to the Snow River Dark River.”
Yin Qingsi was somewhat uncertain.
Although she was the master of this region, that was only on the surface; she was relatively unfamiliar with the underwater conditions of the Flowing Sand River, and her sect did not allow them to meddle with the Water Demon’s troubles unnecessarily.
Hou Niao, on the other hand, didn’t think that much.
“First, head to the dark lake, then determine the direction from there.”
That was all they could do.
For Yin Qingsi, this three-month underwater journey was her first such experience, and she was even carrying someone on her back.
She didn’t know how others would view her if a day came that this matter concluded.
The dark lake was beside the Flowing Sand River; it required passing through several miles of earth and stone layers.
She didn’t know the Earth Escape technique, but fortunately, the earth and stone layers were not completely impermeable, and there were caves and cracks allowing water to flow through.
As the two of them, protected under the shield of the Water Spirit Pearl, squeezed into one of the cracks, those following them became somewhat restless.
It had been three months, and even for cultivators with great patience, it had worn thin in this utterly dark environment—a silent pressure on any human.
Perhaps it was time for a change?
Because of the narrow space in the water channel crack, the Yue Sect decided to seize the opportunity and strike!
They used a magical treasure given by a Qi Sect Master—a Yin Water Leech.
This was a harmful treasure that disrupted Water Element barriers and sapped mana, based on Primordial Power and unaffected by the Five Elements.
A Yue Sect Golden Core Cultivator silently released the Yin Water Leech in the murky underwater environment, amidst the chaos and disorder of multiple cultivators’ conflicting Five Elements, which made it difficult even for other Golden Core cultivators to detect.
Neither Yin Qingsi nor Hou Niao noticed; the overly chaotic elemental environment made it extremely challenging for him, a cultivator of the Tongtian Realm, to discern every anomaly.
This was a treasure of a true Nascent Transformation ancestor, operating mysteriously, beyond his comprehension.
It was not until the Yin Water Leech penetrated the defense of the Water Spirit Pearl that the two of them realized with alarm.
The Yin Water Leech had burrowed in from the bottom of the defense shield; Yin Qingsi was the first to bear the brunt, but she had no way to respond to such a high-level attack.
She didn’t even know what it was, let alone how to counter it?
All she knew was the mysterious and dangerous force carried in this strike; it was not something she could withstand.
In the blink of an eye, she felt her body tilt, and she was suddenly swapped places with the Sword Cultivator who had been lying on her back…
“Why, why bother?” She didn’t understand, did lying on her back for three months breed an undying loyalty in him?
He was not such a person—over these three months, she had been poked countless times, only remaining silent to maintain their fragile relationship.
She felt a brief loss of control in the defense shield, followed by the voice of the Sword Cultivator, “Take over, my life is in your hands now.”
Over the months, even though she was not skilled in techniques, her inherent Water Element nature and realm knowledge were there, familiar enough with some controls of the Water Spirit Pearl, plus she had experience.
So, she quickly stabilized the defense shield, murmuring,
“How are you feeling?”
Hou Niao grinned; he had been wanting to change his position for a while and now his wish was granted.
“It’s manageable, I have experience with this sort of thing and can probably endure it better than you.
Walk slowly, I’ll try to expel it before we enter the Dark Lake.”
Yin Qingsi understood what he meant.
The Dark Lake could be a decisive place, determining whether the Water Demons would continue to follow and where a battle might ensue.
But he didn’t think that this attack could be expelled quickly.
“I’ll go as slow as possible, don’t worry.
What do you need me to do?”
Hou Niao felt somewhat awkward.
“This is a Primordial Qi Leech.
I just need to break it down and digest it, but since it comes from the hands of a Nascent Transformation elder, the force might be quite strong.
I’m not sure how much I can handle, and I might need you to share some of the burden if necessary…
Mmm, I might have some uncontrollable stress reactions under this condition, so I’m telling you in advance.”
Yin Qingsi hadn’t quite come to terms with his words, her mind focused on the part about sharing the burden.
“No problem, just tell me what to do, and I’ll do my best.”
Hou Niao said no more and concentrated on the Primordial Qi Leech that had burrowed into his body.
This wasn’t his first encounter with such a creature; he had seen it during his initial training in the Tongxuan Realm on Crab Claw Island in the Lizhi Sea, and now he had finally found the master utilizing it.
He was getting closer to the truth, and it seemed he enjoyed the nature of leeches; didn’t they ever consider changing the form of their Primordial Energy attack?
He wasn’t the type to sacrifice himself for others, nor did he have the noble spirit to sacrifice himself for the good of others—for he chose to endure himself simply because he didn’t want Yin Qingsi to die inside the Defense Shield.
This was a complicated trouble, hard to explain.
Although he hadn’t detected the Primordial Qi Leech’s attack immediately, the moment it breached the barrier and entered, he recognized its nature.
Facing it head-on wasn’t because he was tired of living, but because he wanted to live longer.
This type of Primordial Energy, if fully assimilated, could greatly enhance the thickness of his Cultivation.
Before reaching the Golden Core stage, it was still preferable to accumulate more resources, and he didn’t mind.
As soon as the Primordial Qi Leech entered his body, it immediately brought the familiar sensation he was well used to—it transformed into Qi and dispersed into his meridians and Dantian, identical to the first one he’d encountered, except that this one had a much stronger force, indicating that its user must be a Golden Core Cultivator.
He was already too familiar with the whole resolution process.
Over the years, he had advanced two minor levels in his Cultivation Realm, and his skills and insights were incomparably better than when he first entered the Tongxuan Realm.
This was the confidence that made him dare to face it head-on.
Back on Blue Island, there were two Primordial Magnetic Divine Mountains to assist him, but now he had the Thunder Fire Refining Golden Body and had practiced the Primordial Magnetic Dao Body for a while; he had his own inner Thunder, which was more readily commanded than relying on external objects.
As soon as he began using Thunder to dissolve the Primordial Energy, Yin Qingsi felt as though she were lying on a hedgehog, her entire back as if countless tiny steel needles were burrowing into it, immediately understanding why this Sword Cultivator was confident about handling the Primordial Qi Leech.
This Sword Cultivator, surprisingly, also possessed the rare Thunderbolt Power, and it was Inner Secret Thunder!
She couldn’t help but sigh internally; just with this ability alone, her loss in close combat in the past was indeed not unjustified—the real trump card had not even been revealed yet.
Thunderbolt Power, how did he ever cultivate such a skill?