Chapter 228: Demonic Seed Black Abyss

After receiving the message, all squads from the Returning Immortal Sect immediately headed toward the location of Pei Yunshang’s team. An hour later, the squads led by Ye Minghe and Xiao Jin arrived first.

As permanent residents of the Shifang Nether Soil, Ye Minghe and Xiao Jin knew exactly what the arrival of the Black Moon meant. So the moment they heard the news, they rushed over without hesitation.

Seeing the elders already present didn’t surprise them in the slightest.

Ye Minghe stepped forward first. “Thank you, Elders, for protecting our junior brothers and sisters.”

Though the elders weren’t from their sect, they had at least fulfilled their duty.

Mei Chengyu gave a faint acknowledgment. Shang Liu glanced off to the side. “Your sect’s people are over there. Go join them.”

Ji Xiuyuan swept his gaze across the assembled squads, worry in his eyes. “Why isn’t Xiao Yun here yet? Something might have happened… I want to go look for him.”

Shang Liu knew Wen Yun was his son, so he didn’t stop him. Mei Chengyu acted as if she hadn’t heard, which was as good as tacit approval.

“I wonder how our Azure Profound Sect’s team is doing,” Shang Liu muttered.

From the arrival of the Red Moon to its transformation into the Black Moon, he hadn’t once gone to check on his own sect’s team.

Just as Ji Xiuyuan was about to leave, he replied, “The team leader sent by Azure Profound Sect is one of the top disciples among the Four Great Sects. With their strength, handling these demonic creatures shouldn’t be a problem.”

He wasn’t wrong. While other sects had sent slightly older team leaders—only a couple of years senior to the new disciples—Azure Profound Sect had dispatched disciples with over a hundred years of cultivation. And Azure Profound Sect disciples were known for their exceptional talent.

Even if they couldn’t wipe out all the demonic creatures, they should at least be able to protect themselves.

What Shang Liu was worried about was the sect’s progress in exploring the region.

Azure Profound Sect hadn’t done well in the previous rounds. If they failed to obtain the Golden Core Flower map this time, they’d fall behind right from the start.

“You don’t seem the least bit concerned about the Crimson Sky Sect’s disciples,” Shang Liu said, half teasing, half probing, as he spoke to Mei Chengyu.

Mei Chengyu leaned against a tree. The flush from drinking had faded from her face. She hadn’t had a drop of alcohol in nearly two hours and was now completely sober.

This was one of her rare moments of clarity.

She didn’t respond, head lowered, lost in thought.

Shang Liu pressed his lips together and said, “Once Wen Yun’s team arrives, I’m going to look for the Azure Profound Sect’s squad. If you and Ji Xiuyuan want to stay and guard the Returning Immortal Sect, I won’t stop you. But don’t expect me to stay with you.”

He found a spot to sit down and said no more.

“Elder Mei.” Lian Mu emerged from behind a tree.

Mei Chengyu turned at the sound of her voice. “What is it?”

Lian Mu asked, “Are the three of you the only elders in this exploration zone?”

“No. Aside from us, there are elders from other sects as well. They’ve probably noticed the Black Tide too and are likely out there trying to gather the remaining squads,” Mei Chengyu said, patting her on the head. “First time in the Shifang Nether Soil, huh? Scared?”

Lian Mu hesitated. “…Not really.”

Her only regret was not finding the Heavenly Return Palace.

“Elder, how long will the Black Tide last? Will things return to normal before the exploration period ends?” Lian Mu asked.

“About three days. Today is the outbreak period. The second and third days will be the most dangerous. After that, it’ll calm down again,” Mei Chengyu replied.

Lian Mu ventured, “I thought it would last much longer. Only three days? The Shifang Nether Soil’s lord really lives up to the legends.”

Mei Chengyu’s smile faded slightly. “No matter how powerful a member of the demon race is, they all end up dying at the hands of the Immortal Sects.”

Lian Mu was just about to steer the conversation toward the Heavenly Return Palace when a strange crashing sound echoed around them.

A horde of demonic creatures had surrounded the barrier and were trying to force their way through.

Under the influence of the Black Moon, the creatures had become even more frenzied. Humans were now their primary target. They had forgotten they could devour each other to survive and instead gathered together to attack humans exclusively.

Mei Chengyu’s eyes darkened. She drew her sword and walked toward the edge of the barrier. “I’ll deal with them. You all stay inside and don’t move.”

Lian Mu watched her leave, helpless to stop her. She gave up on her plan for now and returned to the team, passing by Shang Liu along the way.

Shang Liu sat motionless, his expression calm. “You’re the only one bold enough to praise the demon race in front of her.”

Lian Mu asked, “Why?”

“She hates the demon race,” Shang Liu said. “If you want her protection, don’t mention anything about them in front of her. Just keep your head down and stay out of the way.”

“I see. Thank you for the warning, Elder Shang. You really understand Elder Mei well.”

So, getting information out of Mei Chengyu was going to be harder than she thought.

Shang Liu snorted. “I just don’t want you to accidentally piss her off and end up hacked to pieces. That would only make Xiaoyou sad.”

“I don’t think it’ll come to that. Elder Mei seems to like me. I doubt she’d really hurt me.”

“Why don’t you try and find out?” Shang Liu said. “You think she likes you? What she sees in you is the shadow of someone from her past. Only a fool like you would fall for her act.”

Lian Mu fell silent.

Honestly, she was just making polite conversation. After all, Mei Chengyu had saved Xu Xianxing. If anything, Shang Liu was the one who seemed more emotionally affected.

Lian Mu couldn’t help but glance up and study him. Looking closely, she realized Shang Liu’s features bore a faint resemblance to… Feng Tianche.

She remembered someone once told her that Mei Chengyu was from Feng Tianche’s era and had even attended his funeral.

Now she understood. Standing before her was someone who had once been treated as a shadow of the past.

Truthfully, she didn’t care what role she played in Mei Chengyu’s heart. All she needed was a powerful figure she could occasionally call on for help. If all it took was letting someone look at her a few times to gain that kind of value, wasn’t that basically getting something for nothing?

It was perfect.

“Don’t worry, Elder. I won’t follow in your footsteps,” Lian Mu said with conviction.

Shang Liu’s expression turned awkward the moment she exposed him. “…Suit yourself.”

He turned and walked away without looking back.

Lian Mu returned to the squad. The Returning Immortal Sect’s main team was now only missing Ji Mingyue and Wen Yun. Everyone else had arrived.

Their location was protected by a barrier, and with elders holding the line outside, they could finally rest easy.

Xu Xianxing had built a fire, and the group gathered around it for warmth.

Lian Mu didn’t really need it, but she sat down anyway. “You guys cold?”

Baili Que pointed at Xu Xianxing. “He’s cold.”

Lian Mu turned to look. Xu Xianxing was rubbing his hands together, clearly freezing.

Qu Ruotian saw him trembling all over. “Junior Brother Xu, I have a warming talisman here. Want to use it?”

Xu Xianxing waved it off. “No, no, I’m fine… It’s an old condition. It’ll pass in a couple of days.”

Lian Mu asked, “What kind of condition?”

Coincidentally, she’d been finding something odd about him these past two days.

Xu Xianxing pulled his fox-fur cloak tighter around himself. “I was attacked by a demonic beast in the past. Left me with a lingering ailment. I’m always cold and react a bit slower than others. Every five years, it flares up badly. Feels like my whole body is frozen stiff.”

Guan Shize was surprised. “How did you get attacked by a demonic beast?”

“Wasn’t it that time at the foot of the Returning Immortal Sect’s mountain?” Lian Mu said. “I didn’t think it would leave you with such lasting damage.”

Xu Xianxing nodded. “Yeah… But I was young and reckless. Brought it on myself.”

His expression was calm, as if he had long accepted this as part of his life.

Lian Mu frowned slightly.

If it was just the demonic beast at the foot of the Returning Immortal Sect, it shouldn’t have left such a serious aftereffect. After all, she had been there too, and she hadn’t suffered any lasting harm.

What’s more, Xu Xianxing had been wearing several protective Spirit Artifacts at the time, while she had practically been crippled in terms of physique.

The condition affecting Xu Xianxing didn’t seem like something a demonic beast would cause.

“You’re frozen stiff. If the Demonic Creatures break in later, you won’t even be able to run.” Lian Mu grabbed his hand and transferred fire-type spiritual energy into his body. “Let me warm you up first.”

Xu Xianxing finally felt a bit better. He smiled. “Even if I can’t run, it’s fine. Demonic Creatures won’t harm me. This fox-fur cloak is actually a Spirit Artifact too. It can conceal my presence, even from high-level demons.”

“That impressive? How much did it cost?” Lian Mu remembered that when she first met him, he’d already been wearing that cloak. It probably wasn’t something he made himself.

Xu Xianxing held up one finger.

Lian Mu guessed, “A million? Ten million?”

Xu Xianxing replied, “An entire amethyst mine.”

The air went still for a moment. Even Baili Que fell silent.

Lian Mu muttered, “…I shouldn’t have asked.”

Now the whole group felt a little off-balance.

“Don’t worry. My family owns more than one mine. Selling one is nothing. I could sell ten and still be fine,” Xu Xianxing said casually. “You don’t have to worry about me squandering the family fortune.”

Baili Que said, “…You’re the real young master here.”

Even the Baili Family couldn’t compare to the Xu Clan in wealth.

“As long as you’ve got a life-saving trump card, that’s what matters. If there’s ever anything I can help with, just say the word,” Lian Mu said warmly. “We’re friends. We should look out for each other.”

Qu Ruotian added, “It’s best not to flaunt your wealth. It draws attention. But with Senior Brother around, we’ll make sure you’re protected.”

Xu Xianxing suddenly felt the way everyone was looking at him had changed. Their enthusiasm made him a little uneasy. “…Can you all act normal?”

He quietly edged closer to Lian Mu. “It’s more comfortable being near you.”

Others might talk about money with mixed motives, but with Lian Mu, it was pure. She genuinely wanted to make money, nothing more.

Xu Xianxing trusted her completely. If he ever needed her help, as long as he paid enough, she’d probably charge headfirst into a horde of high-level Demonic Creatures on her own. She gave off a kind of reliability and security that came from knowing your money was well spent.

Lian Mu had no idea what he was thinking. She held his hand and continued transferring spiritual energy.

She quietly released a wisp of refined spiritual power from her blood and sent it into his body through their joined hands. Before long, the energy returned, carrying with it a strange, icy aura.

As expected, Lian Mu thought to herself. Her gaze toward Xu Xianxing grew more complicated.

There was a Demonic Seed planted inside his body. It was the seed that had been affecting his health.

Maybe he already knew and just hadn’t told them. Or maybe he had no idea it was there. Since the seed hadn’t fully activated yet, the only symptom was the constant chill, so he assumed it was from the demonic beast attack.

Lian Mu couldn’t help but recall what happened five years ago. Fragments of memory flashed through her mind until one detail surfaced.

Before she lost consciousness during the demonic beast attack, Ye Minghe and Xiao Jin had come to rescue them. She vaguely remembered hearing the words “demon race” in their conversation.

The demonic beast at the foot of the Returning Immortal Sect had been tampered with.

Now, with the arrival of the Black Moon, Xu Xianxing’s condition would fully erupt. Whoever had tampered with that beast was definitely connected to the demon race from the Shifang Nether Soil.