Chapter 83 – You Don’t Mind, Do You? Thunder Spiritual Root Really Is Handy

The Limbo Pool was located north of the Azure Profound Sect. It was similar to the Mingqing Pool of Mount Yuqing—both were famous spiritual springs among the four major regions. Limbo Pool could neutralize most of the poisons from the Vermilion Bird South and also had the effects of restoring spiritual energy and nourishing the mind.

The pool was divided into several sections, the main ones being the White Jade Pool in the southeast and the Pure Spirit Pool in the northwest, collectively referred to as “Limbo.”

After the recent illusion realm trial, many disciples had been bitten by venomous insects, Guan Shize among them.

He had been part of the formation team and, before they found the main team, had no barrier protection, ending up covered in red welts from all the bites. Some of the bugs were so obscure they weren’t even recorded in poison-insect compendiums, meaning there were no targeted antidotes—he could only grit his teeth and endure.

“Were you bitten by any bugs?”

An hour before departure, Guan Shize, his face swollen from bites, quietly leaned over to chat with Lian Mu in the team.

Lian Mu glanced at the red marks on his neck and shook her head. “No. I’m not going to the White Jade Pool later. You go ahead on your own.”

“Alright then, I’ll come find you after I’ve detoxed.”

The White Jade Pool’s flowing water could detoxify, while the Pure Spirit Pool was reserved for spiritual restoration and mental recovery.

As expected, most of the top disciples would probably be in the Pure Spirit Pool. Since they had protective barriers throughout the trial, they didn’t need to worry about poison at all.

Among them, only the Azure Profound Sect’s top body cultivator had been bitten by a snake; everyone else was fine.

“Is everything ready?”

Ji Mingyue leaned in and whispered.

Lian Mu stepped on Xu Xianxing’s foot and said, “She’s asking you, Master Xu.”

Xu Xianxing turned his head and whispered, “Relax. I’ve never made a mistake when it comes to refining spiritual tools.”

“Just be careful not to bump into anyone,” Bai Li Que said. “There’ll be other people in the pool.”

Xu Xianxing added, “Don’t forget to deploy a barrier in time. I can’t control myself very well in the water.”

The group huddled together whispering about something mysterious. Watching them, Guan Huailin got a bad feeling.

He walked over and reminded them, “Junior brothers and sisters, when we get to the Limbo Pool, behave yourselves. That place isn’t our turf. Don’t make a scene.”

The group immediately stood up straight, putting on innocent faces. “Yes, Senior Brother!”

Guan Huailin: “…”

Why did they feel more dangerous when acting normal than when they didn’t?

He glanced around and saw Wen Yun had arrived, so he repeated the same warning.

Wen Yun, just arriving: “?”

He glanced at the other four. Their expressions were perfectly normal, not giving anything away.

Wen Yun stepped into the group and asked, “What’s going on?”

“Nothing,” Bai Li Que replied. “Which pool are you heading to later?”

Wen Yun thought for a moment and said casually, “I’ll go to the White Jade Pool. It’s more lively there.”

He claimed it was for the liveliness, but really he just didn’t want to see anyone from Crimson Sky Sect.

The other four understood. After seeing the illusion replay, they knew exactly what had happened.

Lian Mu said, “Sounds good. Guan Shize is over there too—you two can keep each other company.”

Wen Yun hummed in acknowledgment and didn’t speak again, returning to his place.

Once all four sects had gathered, they departed for the Limbo Pool. As was customary, sword cultivators flew on their swords while the others rode on silver yuan birds.

Although they’d seen it before, people still couldn’t help twitching at the corners of their mouths when the second-seat sword cultivator of Returning Immortal Sect once again pulled a broom out of her spatial pouch.

“…”

Can’t sword cultivators just fly like normal people? Why all this ridiculous flair?

Shen Wuxie scoffed. “A sword cultivator who doesn’t ride a sword is no better than a cripple. I don’t get you Returning Immortal Sect types.”

Lian Mu naturally ignored him. Guan Shize couldn’t help snapping back, “It’s good you don’t get it. You wouldn’t understand a damn thing.”

Shen Wuxie: “???”

He stared at Guan Shize. The guy was unfamiliar—clearly someone from the formation team.

Even someone from the formation team dared talk back?

Shen Wuxie said coldly, “Don’t think that just because you got second place, you’re suddenly all that. No matter how great you are, you’re still beneath Azure Profound Sect’s feet.”

He dragged two sects into conflict in one breath, which made the Azure Profound Sect disciples turn around.

As team leader, Ying You stepped out and said coolly, “Azure Profound Sect does not engage in unnecessary sect disputes. Fellow cultivator, please mind your words.”

Shen Wuxie: “…”

Tang Wuxun had just finished settling the silver yuan birds when he turned around and heard Shen Wuxie stirring the pot again—this time even provoking Azure Profound Sect. His vision immediately went dark.

“My apologies for the embarrassment.” Tang Wuxun forced a polite smile as he offered an immediate apology. “Our sect rarely places last in the rankings, and he got a bit drunk today. Please forgive his poor choice of words.”

Crimson Sky Sect’s disciples stood beside him, their silence seething with icy fury: “…”

Picking up leftovers behind others—what an accomplishment.

Clear Thought Sect’s lead team always had one instigator and one peacemaker. Other sects were used to it by now. Once Tang Wuxun apologized, he hurriedly ordered their team to move first to avoid further trouble.

Everyone else also set off, flying behind Azure Profound Sect.

Limbo Pool wasn’t far from Azure Profound Sect—it took less than half an hour to get there.

Once off the silver yuan birds, disciples from each sect were led to designated areas to change clothes, after which they were free to move around.

Lian Mu was in the second room of the stone pavilion. After changing out of her sect robe, she suddenly felt an itch on her wrist.

Looking down, she saw the suppression charm had loosened. Green Bean was beginning to revert to its true form.

Not wanting it to run wild in this place, she quickly recited the incantation Ji Mingyue taught her and reapplied the suppression charm, wearing it again on her wrist.

After changing, Lian Mu headed to the Pure Spirit Pool. As expected, the top disciples were all there. A few others who didn’t need detox also stayed, but they sensibly kept their distance from the chief disciples, not disturbing them.

Guan Huailin had already gone into the pool. As the others saw Lian Mu arrive, they immediately gathered around her.

“Where is he?”

With the steam from the hot spring misting up the area, Xu Xianxing couldn’t make out anyone clearly in the pool.

Bai Li Que said, “Only Feng Yunye from Azure Profound Sect isn’t here. Clear Thought Sect is in that corner. Crimson Sky Sect people are scattered around.”

Lian Mu: “Scattered is good. What about Zhangsun Li?”

The four of them scanned the area, finally spotting their target. Zhangsun Li wasn’t with anyone from Crimson Sky Sect—he sat alone in one corner.

Without hesitation, they all entered the pool and headed in that direction.

Zhangsun Li, eyes closed and enjoying the pure spiritual energy of the spring, heard movement nearby and opened his eyes to see the Returning Immortal Sect members approaching. He recognized all four of them.

Zhangsun Li: “Your team leader is over there. Don’t come near me.”

“You misunderstand. We just thought this spot looked nice,” Xu Xianxing said with a friendly smile. When he was serious, he looked the most approachable of the group. “What happened in the illusion realm is in the past now. Honestly, we were surprised too.”

“Hah, hypocrites,” Zhangsun Li sneered, then stood to leave.

But the four of them followed. Wherever he went, they followed.

“What do you want?” Zhangsun Li snapped.

Ji Mingyue said, “Nothing in particular. This isn’t your private pool—we can go wherever we like.”

Lian Mu added, “Chief Zhangsun, why are you following us? You really that eager to make friends?”

Changsun Li: “!”

Outside the illusion realm, there were explicit rules stating that disciples of different sects were not allowed to fight casually. Changsun Li clenched his fists—but that was all he could do. Then he walked straight over to the Azure Profound Sect.

Azure Profound Sect’s lead team: “…?”

Changsun Li deliberately stayed near them, clearly trying to involve the Azure Profound Sect so that if the Returning Immortal Sect caused any trouble, they might end up offending Azure Profound too.

Jiang Yuechen silently observed from the side, not saying a word.

As Ying You stepped into the pool, he immediately noticed the few from the Returning Immortal Sect approaching them.

The four showed not a trace of embarrassment as they forcefully squeezed together—just to surround Changsun Li.

Jiang Yuechen: “…Leader, should we move somewhere else?”

Ying You nodded, and the Azure Profound Sect members began to withdraw—but as soon as they did, Changsun Li followed. And as soon as he followed, the Returning Immortal Sect disciples followed him.

In the end, they were all cornered into a dead-end with no room to retreat.

Jiang Yuechen: “…”

Lian Mu squeezed in beside Xu Xianxing, who stood right next to Changsun Li. On his other side was Bai Lique, completely boxing him in.

Seeing that there was no escape, Changsun Li simply stopped moving.

If he couldn’t make a move, neither could they. If it was a matter of shamelessness—well, who didn’t know how to play that game?

Lian Mu glanced at the Azure Profound Sect disciples, gave a polite smile, and even greeted them: “Mind if we stay here too, Leader Ying?”

Ying You: “…”

In the mist, small water droplets clung to his lashes. His gaze met Lian Mu’s for a moment—hazy and blurred.

Ying You was the first to look away. His Adam’s apple moved slightly as he spoke gently, “It’s fine, make yourselves comfortable.”

The atmosphere quieted quickly. The four of them said nothing and simply stayed close to Changsun Li.

Maybe it was because the people gathered here were such an odd combination, but many cultivators who hadn’t yet entered the pool began glancing over curiously.

Changsun Li grew annoyed with the stares and the Returning Immortal Sect people surrounding him, so he simply shut his eyes—out of sight, out of mind.

Seeing him close his eyes, Lian Mu exchanged a glance with Xu Xianxing.

Bai Lique quietly pulled out a talisman, one he had been hiding behind him all along—clearly prepared in advance.

Ji Mingyue glanced toward the shore—more and more people were watching this way. Then, underwater, she made a gesture to Xu Xianxing with one hand.

The next second, a sharp tingling sensation zapped Changsun Li right in the butt. His eyes flew open.

“You—ahhh!”

He was jolted right out of the pool, sending up a huge splash of water. Everyone watching froze in surprise.

His legs gave out, and he slipped back into the pool, choking on several mouthfuls of water. His backside throbbed with numbness. After struggling back to his feet, he glared furiously at the Returning Immortal Sect crowd.

Xu Xianxing leaned casually against the pool’s edge, looking shocked. Bai Lique and Ji Mingyue also looked confused—utterly innocent.

He turned to look at Lian Mu—she had her eyes closed, and looked like she might be dozing.

Changsun Li clenched his teeth. He’d just lost all face in front of this crowd, and yet he couldn’t openly retaliate.

“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” he shouted angrily.

The three replied in unison: “Huh?”

They held out their hands—completely empty.

Lian Mu opened her eyes with a bewildered look, then held out her hands as well to prove her innocence.

Changsun Li: “…”

He shot them a fierce glare and turned to leave, but he had barely taken two steps when that same numb jolt zapped his rear again.

Changsun Li finally couldn’t take it anymore. He scrambled out of the pool and hurried away under the gaze of the entire crowd.

Lian Mu watched his retreating figure and clicked her tongue. “Thunder Spirit Root really is handy.”

Azure Profound Sect’s lead disciple, who had been silently watching the whole time: “…”

There was no denying it—the Returning Immortal Sect disciples really had their ways when it came to pranks. Pouring spirit energy into the water to shock someone’s butt like that—it was blatant, shameless harassment, but there was no proof. Even if you caught them, it didn’t exactly break any rules.

Xu Xianxing pulled off the three jade rings on his fingers and passed them to Lian Mu and the others. “There’s still a bit of spirit energy left. Let’s go pay a visit to the Clear Thought Sect.”