In these past two years, the development of Taiyi Sect has been remarkably rapid. Not only has the number of disciples increased significantly, but the sect's income has also been continuously rising. The spiritual flowers and herbs planted at the mountain gate have been yielding harvests one after another. The newly opened spirit fields at Morning Sun Hillside and Sweetwater Oasis are gradually becoming usable, yielding more and more spirit grains. The abundant harvest of spirit rice can basically meet the supply needs of the disciples within the sect.
With sufficient resources for cultivation, the growth speed of the sect's disciples has also started to accelerate. Just when Taiyi Sect was flourishing, Meng Zhang received a letter. It was a long-awaited letter from Jue Ying, requesting Meng Zhang to fulfill their previous agreement and help her once.
Meng Zhang values integrity greatly and would not back out of a promise without reason. After arranging the affairs within the sect, he mounted his wind chasing horse and set off. Initially, Meng Zhang had planned to ride the Crimson Feather Eagle to try riding a flying mount, but Hu Jing, who was responsible for raising the Crimson Feather Eagle, told him that the eagle was still young and not fully grown, so it was best not to ride it casually. Disappointed, Meng Zhang had no choice but to continue on horseback.
The meeting place where Meng Zhang and Jue Ying agreed to meet was a small hillside next to the Firewell Market. Jue Ying, who had been waiting there, did not exchange pleasantries upon meeting. After meeting Meng Zhang, she led him directly and set off without delay.
After several years apart, Jue Ying's cultivation base had also broken through to the Refining Qi stage. However, her temperament remained unchanged—silent and reserved, never uttering unnecessary words.
Jue Ying remained silent throughout the journey, leading Meng Zhang to a secluded and hidden valley. She lightly patted the side of the valley's cliff with her right hand, and a cave appeared soon after, just enough for one person to pass through. Jue Ying made a gesture for Meng Zhang to follow her and went straight inside.
Following behind, Meng Zhang couldn't help but ask, "Jue Ying, what do you want me to do?"
"Sect Master Meng's Lesser Yang True Fire is Very Yang and Very Hard, and it has the power to dispel evil spirits. This time it will come in handy," Jue Ying replied without directly answering, revealing only half of the reason.
Meng Zhang touched his nose and said, "Jue Ying, you don't know yet, but I have already converted my Lesser Yang True Qi into Solar True Qi and have refined the Solar True Flame."
"Solar True Flame? That's wonderful! Sect Master Meng, you've given me a great surprise," Jue Ying, who was always cold and indifferent, couldn't help but show a hint of joy in her words.
Once inside the cave, Jue Ying led Meng Zhang along a narrow passage, turning this way and that for a long time until they reached a stone chamber. In the center of the chamber, a middle-aged woman sat cross-legged with her eyes closed, appearing lifeless and gloomy, as if on the verge of death.
As soon as he entered the chamber, Meng Zhang felt an aura that made him feel disgusted and somewhat fearful.
"Demonic cultivation? Are you tainted by Demonic Cultivation?" Meng Zhang exclaimed in shock, taking a few steps back, adopting a defensive posture.
The middle-aged woman opened her eyes and said, "I am not a practitioner of Demonic Cultivation. I was merely injured by a practitioner of Demonic Cultivation, and my body was tainted by demonic energy. Sect Master Meng should be able to discern the difference."
Under the effect of Meng Zhang's Deception Breaking Eye, the demonic energy couldn't hide, confirming the woman's words. She was indeed not a practitioner of Demonic Cultivation, but her body was tainted by demonic energy.
Meng Zhang let out a sigh of relief while also figuring out what Jue Ying needed his help with. Once demonic energy infected a cultivator, it was like an intractable sore attached to the bone, extremely difficult to completely eradicate. Over time, the demonic energy could grow stronger by contaminating and devouring the cultivator's true qi. If left unchecked, the cultivator might succumb to the demonic energy, undergo a profound change in temperament, and fall into the demonic path, becoming a new demon.
Seeing Meng Zhang relax, Jue Ying informed the middle-aged woman, "Master, Sect Master Meng has already converted his Lesser Yang True Qi into Solar True Qi and refined the Solar True Flame. There is hope for your injuries to be healed."
Upon hearing Jue Ying's words, the gloomy middle-aged woman's face brightened a bit.
"My name is Luo Ye. After being injured by a demonic cultivator, I have suffered from the torment of demonic energy," she explained with few words, much like Jue Ying.
"The infamous reputation of demonic energy is well-known. I don't have complete confidence, but I will do my best to try to help," Meng Zhang politely replied.
Meng Zhang had discovered that the woman, Luo Ye, was a Foundation Building stage cultivator. Being able to remain rational and considerate despite being tainted by demonic energy made her strong among Foundation Building cultivators, with a tenacious will and a firm Dao heart.
Demonic cultivators were the common enemy of all cultivators and a major threat to this world. Exterminating demonic cultivators was every cultivator's duty. While Ghost Path cultivators had a place in the Cultivation World and could even associate with some cultivators, demonic cultivators were universally condemned and pursued.
Assisting a cultivator injured by demonic cultivators was certainly not something Meng Zhang would refuse, not to mention his agreement with Jue Ying.
Luo Ye pondered for a moment before saying, "I have held unrealistic hopes after being injured for so long. I hope my expectations won't put too much pressure on Sect Master Meng."
"Let me see how proficient Sect Master Meng's Solar True Flame is."
After speaking, Luo Ye activated her true qi and lightly tapped forward. A pitch-black gas emerged from her fingertips and lingered in front of her body, slowly swirling in the air.
Seeing the appearance of this gas, Jue Ying, like avoiding snakes and scorpions, quickly stepped back a few paces. Meng Zhang also had a serious expression, as if facing a great enemy.
Meng Zhang circulated his Solar True Qi and unleashed his diligently refined Solar True Flame. A golden flame appeared in front of him, carrying terrifying heat as it collided with the black gas.
A sizzling sound echoed, and the black gas began to dissipate gradually until it disappeared completely. However, the golden flame also dimmed.
Seeing this scene, Jue Ying, who rarely showed emotions, couldn't help but reveal a hint of joy on her face.
"Solar True Flame, Very Yang and Very Hard, magnificent and righteous, truly living up to its reputation. With the assistance of Sect Master Meng's Solar True Flame, there is hope for Master's injuries to be healed."
However, Luo Ye was not as optimistic as Jue Ying and only watched quietly as the flame burned away the demonic energy.
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