Chapter 222: Red Moon Night, Fighting Beasts by the Spring

“Senior Sister, I think we’ve been separated from the others. We’re the only team on the east bank.”

Near a pitch-black river, the Slaughter Squad from the Returning Immortal Sect had set up camp. It had been a while since they arrived, and they had remained near the Demon Nurturing River. After a talisman cultivator in the team scouted the area, they found no signs of other teams.

Team Leader and alchemy cultivator Qiu Heng glanced around. There were no Demonic Creatures in sight. She said, “Isn’t that perfect? We’re on the east bank of the Demon Nurturing River. There are three bell-marking points here, and no one to fight us for them.”

Just as she finished speaking, two others returned, the scent of blood clinging to them.

Wen Yun pulled out a pink handkerchief and wiped the blood from his hands. “We’ve secured the bell-marking point on the southeastern edge. Where to next?”

He had gone southeast with the second-seat sword cultivator, Luo Qianxue. Luo Qianxue looked exhausted. She propped herself up with her sword and sat down on the spot, half her face stained with dark red blood.

Wen Yun took out a clean handkerchief and handed it to her. Luo Qianxue gave a slight nod. “Thanks.”

Qiu Heng raised an eyebrow. “Looks like you ran into some tough Demonic Creatures. Junior Sister Luo, with your strength, even if it was your first encounter with Demonic Creatures, you shouldn’t be this worn out.”

Luo Qianxue lowered her gaze. “I underestimated them. I thought the Abyssal Circle only had low-tier Demonic Creatures. I didn’t expect… Thankfully, Junior Brother Wen reacted quickly. Otherwise, I might not have made it back.”

Qiu Heng asked, “What do you mean?”

Wen Yun explained, “We ran into a group of fourth-rank Demonic Creatures, about five or six of them. They didn’t seem like they were from the Abyssal Circle. Are the Demonic Creatures near the Demon Nurturing River usually stronger than elsewhere?”

According to the information they had received before entering, the Abyssal Circle only contained Demonic Creatures below sixth rank. Fifth to third rank creatures were in the Flat Earth Circle, third to second rank in the Red Scorched Circle, and anything above first rank was near the source of the Demon Nurturing River.

As newcomers, they were supposed to start with lower-tier creatures, get familiar, and then move deeper. Throwing new disciples straight into a fight with high-tier Demonic Creatures made no sense.

“Maybe you were just unlucky.”

Qiu Heng frowned as well, though she remained composed. After all, encountering high-tier Demonic Creatures in the Abyssal Circle wasn’t impossible. Whether it was coincidence or a mistake, they’d have to observe further.

“The fact that you made it back safely means your strength is up to par,” Qiu Heng said. “But from now on, we’d better stick together.”

Luo Qianxue added, “Actually, it was all thanks to Junior Brother Wen. He really lives up to the title of strongest Chief Disciple. He handled most of the Demonic Creatures himself.”

Wen Yun said calmly, “I’ve run into them before, just have a bit of experience.”

Qiu Heng looked curious. “Oh? But didn’t you just join the Returning Immortal Sect this year? Where did you get battle experience?”

“When I was twelve, I came to the Shifang Nether Soil once, looking for my mother,” Wen Yun said casually. “But back then, I only ran into a few low-tier Demonic Creatures, and my mother was with me. It wasn’t too dangerous.”

The talisman cultivator nearby widened his eyes. “Twelve?”

Entering the Shifang Nether Soil at such a young age and even fighting Demonic Creatures? That was insane.

Qiu Heng was also surprised. She had thought the most high-profile newcomer this year was Junior Sister Lian, but it turned out the usually quiet and unassuming Wen Yun had extraordinary skills too.

When she first saw him, he had the calmest expression among all the disciples. When silent, his features even carried a hint of melancholy.

“No wonder even the Chief Disciple body cultivator from Azure Profound Sect can’t compare to you. You’ve been ahead of your peers since childhood,” Qiu Heng said. “Your mother is Senior Wen Ya of the Crimson Sky Sect, right? I’ve seen her before. You do carry some of her elegance.”

A faint smile flickered in Wen Yun’s eyes. “I think so too. I take after her the most.”

Qiu Heng nodded. “Since you’ve been here before, I feel more at ease. You and Junior Sister Luo are our main combat force. Once we move out, stay alert. New Demonic Creatures can crawl out of the Demon Nurturing River at any time.”

Luo Qianxue asked, “Senior Sister, you’re not going to fight?”

“It’s not time for me to step in yet. All of you have the ability to protect yourselves. You want me, an alchemy cultivator, to stand in front of you?” Qiu Heng laughed.

The talisman cultivator beside her muttered, “But Senior Sister Jiang’s team is breezing through. They’ve already claimed two or three bell-marking points. She just sweeps through with her Spirit Artifact, and the rest of the team wins lying down. Senior Sister Qiu, surely you’re holding something back too?”

Qiu Heng knocked him lightly on the forehead. “That’s Jiang Hanyu, not me. In my team, you learn to rely on yourselves. Don’t forget, this expedition is meant to broaden your horizons. Enough chatter. Let’s head to the next bell-marking point before another team beats us to it.”

Just as she finished speaking, footsteps echoed from across the river, followed by a familiar voice:

“You again, Wen Yun.”

Wen Yun turned his head and saw a team approaching from the opposite bank of the Demon Nurturing River. Among them was Changsun Li from the Crimson Sky Sect.

Leading the group was an artifact refiner. He raised a map, pointed to a spot on it, and said coolly, “The two remaining bell-marking points on the east bank are ours. Be smart and get out of the way.”

Changsun Li added, “So you managed to claim one before us. No matter. We’ll let you have it this time.”

Qiu Heng glanced at the artifact refiner and smiled. “Big words. Why don’t you try crossing the river first?”

The artifact refiner team leader remained expressionless. “Qiu Heng, you’re no match for me.”

Qiu Heng replied, “Who can beat you, Lu Danu? But holding you off won’t be hard.”

Lu Danu’s face darkened. “Don’t call me by name.”

Qiu Heng: “Lu Danu.”

He clenched his fists and snorted. “I’ll tear that mouth of yours apart later.”

As he spoke, Changsun Li stepped forward. His amber eyes swept over the entire Slaughter Squad, finally locking onto Wen Yun. “This is your last chance. Give up the bell-marking points on the east bank, and we’ll let you live.”

Wen Yun looked him up and down, then concluded, “Looks like Qian Songshi didn’t hit you hard enough. Should’ve left you half-paralyzed. Then again, it makes sense. If he’s strong enough to replace Ying You, then in his eyes, you’re probably just a rabbit he could crush with one hand.”

At the mention of Qian Songshi, Changsun Li immediately recalled the pain of being struck through the heart by a single arrow. Even now, the wound still carried a lingering chill.

“Heh, and what, you think you can beat him?” Changsun Li said. “Losing to him, I have no complaints. With his unique Spiritual Root and dual cultivation in sword and bow, anyone facing him for the first time would be caught off guard.”

“Once we enter the Illusion Realm, he’ll come looking for you. And when that happens, I don’t see you having any better odds than I did.”

Wen Yun replied, “Comparing yourself to me? You’re giving yourself too much credit.”

Changsun Li said, “Do you even know who he is? Only fools like you believe he has dual Spiritual Roots. He’s a Heavenly Spiritual Root with dual aspects, as rare as Ying You’s Sword Bone. Can you beat Lian Mu? If you can’t beat her, you won’t beat Qian Songshi either.”

Wen Yun thought about it carefully. If it were back when he had just met Lian Mu, he might have had a chance. Now, he wasn’t so sure.

But if what Changsun Li said was true, then Lian Mu and Qian Songshi were completely different cases, with no real connection.

“You’re right,” Wen Yun said. “But even if I can’t beat Qian Songshi, doesn’t mean I can’t beat you.”

As he finished speaking, spiritual power gathered in his hand. He threw a punch across the river.

The ball of spiritual energy cut through the air, stirring up waves as it surged toward Changsun Li. A spray of water exploded into a mist of fine droplets, like a veil of white fog.

When the mist settled, Changsun Li remained unscathed. A pearl-shaped Spirit Artifact floated in front of him, forming a spiritual barrier that blocked all the damage.

Master Lu retrieved the pearl, which landed in his palm. “Not a bad strike. It fed well.”

Wen Yun rotated his wrist, a bit exasperated. “Changsun Li, you’re such a coward. Get off the Red Lotus Ranking and go try your luck on the artifact refiner’s Night Epiphyllum Ranking. Every time we fight, you always need someone else to bail you out. You’ve disgraced all body cultivators.”

With that one sentence, he managed to offend two people at once. Master Lu, standing beside Changsun Li, narrowed his eyes. “Looking down on artifact refiners? Where do you get the confidence to think body cultivators are superior? Today, I’ll teach you a lesson, you arrogant brat.”

Qiu Heng knew Wen Yun was baiting them on purpose. He and that Junior Sister Lian were cut from the same cloth—always provoking others with their words and actions.

Master Lu raised his hand, and the pearl flew out, forming a bridge of water over the black Demon Nurturing River.

“Thanks for the Water Spiritual Power,” Master Lu said. “I’ve heard you’re the strongest Chief Disciple of the Returning Immortal Sect. Now let me see what you’re really made of.”

Just as he set one foot on the bridge, a withered vine shot out from the scorched black soil and coiled around his leg.

Qiu Heng said, “You dared to ignore me while standing on my ground? You’re asking for it.”

The thorn-covered vine tore through his robe and pierced into his flesh, drawing blood that dripped into the Demon Nurturing River.

Flames ignited in Master Lu’s hand, burning the vine to ash. “I told you, you can’t beat me. That pathetic vine of yours can’t withstand my fire.”

“Is that so?” Qiu Heng replied.

Another massive vine burst from the ground, but this time it didn’t target Master Lu. Instead, it stabbed into the water bridge, draining its spiritual energy. The edges of the bridge began to weaken.

“You…” Master Lu’s eyes widened. “Tch, so this is all you alchemy cultivators can do?”

This time, he couldn’t burn the vine. It had sprouted from Qiu Heng’s side of the river, too far for his flames to reach.

Charging across the bridge now would be reckless. He risked falling into the Demon Nurturing River and being devoured by the embryonic Demonic Creatures below.

Flying over wasn’t an option either. Their talisman cultivator had surely set a barrier three feet above the river. Forcing through it would alert the creatures below.

That three-foot-high space was the only safe path.

Seeing his hesitation, Qiu Heng smiled. “Lu Danu, I’ll give you one chance. Go back the way you came. Otherwise, I’ll wake up the Demonic Creatures in the river.”

“You’d risk stirring up Demonic Creatures over a few ranking points?” Master Lu asked.

“I never claimed to be a good person,” Qiu Heng said. “Your blood has already dripped into the Demon Nurturing River. When new Demonic Creatures rise, you’ll be their first target.”

Master Lu looked down sharply, his brows furrowed. “Fine. If you’re going this far, then I won’t hold back either. It’s almost night anyway. Once the Heavenly Return Palace appears, the Demon Nurturing River will be nothing but a stinking ditch.”

Qiu Heng replied, “Why are you acting like I’m bullying you? You brought this on yourself. Whatever, I won’t waste time arguing with you, Lu Danu. If you’re going to fight, make it quick.”

With that, the tension between the two sides exploded.

Master Lu stopped holding back. Another Spirit Artifact flew from his sleeve, and as spiritual energy surged into it, three firebirds burst forth.

Changsun Li tensed, ready for battle.

Wen Yun pointed at Changsun Li. “Senior Sister, leave this guy to me. Go ahead and fight without worry.”

The talisman cultivator nearby was thrilled. “Senior Sister Qiu is finally going to sweep the battlefield! I’ll cheer you on from the side!”

Qiu Heng kicked him. “No slacking. Go lock down their talisman cultivator for me.”

Luo Qianxue struck first with her sword, and the battle erupted. Though a river separated them, neither side held back. They fought with raw spiritual power.

In this kind of fight, artifact refiners clearly had the upper hand. But Master Lu still couldn’t outmatch Qiu Heng’s agility. The opposing talisman cultivator belonged to the Bright Heart faction, while Qiu Heng’s team had a Hidden Heart faction talisman cultivator.

So the Hidden Heart talisman cultivator stuck close to Qiu Heng, throwing talismans everywhere to shield her. Together, they blocked all the firebird attacks. As for the enemy talisman cultivator, Luo Qianxue took care of them.

Spiritual energy rippled across the Demon Nurturing River, sending waves through the water. Something at the bottom began to bubble to the surface.

On Wen Yun’s side, he completely overwhelmed Changsun Li. In a pure spiritual power clash, Changsun Li was no match for Wen Yun, the top of the Red Lotus Ranking.

After taking a few punches, Changsun Li gritted his teeth, pivoted on his foot, and suddenly dashed off the riverbank.

Wen Yun blinked. “What?”

Is this guy trying to get himself killed?

Out of the corner of his eye, Master Lu saw Changsun Li flying across the river and was momentarily distracted. Qiu Heng seized the opportunity and landed a heavy blow.

“Don’t go out there!”

Changsun Li gathered spiritual energy under his feet, hovering above the river. “Body control through qi. I’ve already mastered it.”

He shot across the river like an arrow loosed from a bow, heading straight for Wen Yun. Everyone paused in surprise.

But the next moment, a pale, soft hand suddenly reached out from the river and grabbed his ankle.

Beneath the surface, a fish-faced creature with hair covering its eyes grinned up at him. Where fins should have been, it had limbs. Belly up, it used its hands and feet to yank him downward.

Changsun Li punched at the hand, trying to break free, but no matter how hard he hit, it was useless.

Wen Yun said, “Caught by a Demonic Creature in the river? You’re in for a good time.”

When the Demonic Creatures stayed within the Demon Nurturing River, not even the elders could kill them. The black water would continuously supply them with power.

No one dared to fly over the Demon Nurturing River unguarded, because no one knew how far the things in the river could reach or how fast they could strike.

Changsun Li tried to fly higher, but was blocked by a barrier.

The talisman cultivator from the Returning Immortal Sect stared in shock. “S-S-Senior Sister… should we take down the barrier? Someone might actually die.”

Qiu Heng said, “Lu Danu, you really picked a great teammate. So, what’s it going to be? Are you going for contribution points, or your Chief Disciple?”

Master Lu hesitated. He hadn’t expected Changsun Li to actually dare fly out there. This kid seriously overestimated his own strength.

The Demon Nurturing River devours people. That has never been a joke.

Master Lu looked up at the sky. In the west, the sun had completely set, and the stars were beginning to flicker into view across the heavens.

He said, “Hold on a bit longer. The Heavenly Return Palace is about to emerge. Once it does, it’ll retreat back to the riverbed.”

Wen Yun said, “You’re his senior brother, and you’re really not afraid he’ll die right in front of you?”

As he spoke, Wen Yun also glanced up at the sky. In that instant, he froze.

From his side of the river, he could just make out the moon rising. A veil of pale gray clouds half-covered it, revealing only a sliver of the moon—tinged with a vivid, blood-red hue.

Wen Yun’s heart sank. This was bad. Tonight was… the Night of the Blood Moon.

“Senior Sister, let’s go quickly and regroup with the other teams!”