Escape from the Demon Realm (2)
Lin Qianshuang clung desperately to Xiao Lanle’s shoulders, practically suspended in the air. She couldn’t use her demonic energy to stabilize herself, fearing it would reveal her true identity as a Demon Cultivator. “Xiao, it’s not that I don’t want to help, but if I let go, I’ll fall,” she said, her voice strained. “It’s too dangerous.”
Xiao Lanle glanced back, grabbed Lin Qianshuang’s hand on her shoulder, and pulled her closer to her back. She moved carefully, terrified of letting Lin Qianshuang fall. Though they were rivals for Liang Jingxuan’s affections, Xiao Lanle wouldn’t stoop to taking advantage of this situation. It would be cruel and against their shared sect principles.
Lin Qianshuang’s hand landed on Xiao Lanle’s waist. She quickly wrapped her arms around Xiao Lanle, clinging tightly. Her expression of fear and distress was convincingly real. But her fear wasn’t for herself. She was worried about Xiao Lanle’s swordsmanship and that if something went wrong, she would be discovered if she used her demonic energy to save the junior.
Xiao Lanle felt the weight of Lin Qianshuang’s hand on her waist, a hand that seemed deliberately distant. It wasn’t that Xiao Lanle disliked Lin Qianshuang; it was Lin Qianshuang who seemed to be shunning her.
Xiao Lanle pinched Lin Qianshuang’s wrist and pressed it against her waist, glaring at her with a hint of dissatisfaction. “Senior sister, I told you to hold on tight, why are you so evasive?”
Lin Qianshuang withdrew her divine sense, which had been scanning their surroundings, and smiled apologetically. She obediently moved closer to Xiao Lanle, following her instructions.
As they drew closer, Xiao Lanle quickly noticed the decline in Lin Qianshuang’s cultivation. Lin Qianshuang, once a renowned Core Formation cultivator within the Penglai Immortal Sect, was now weaker than a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Xiao Lanle felt a mixture of pity and pride. She believed she was far superior to Lin Qianshuang in every way, and that Liang Jingxuan would be disappointed to see Lin Qianshuang’s current state. She felt certain that Lin Qianshuang was no match for her, especially in Liang Jingxuan’s eyes.
Despite her outward appearance of weakness and timidity, Lin Qianshuang’s divine sense continued to envelop the entire refining valley. She subtly used her divine sense to manipulate the wind, diverting Xiao Lanle’s sword trajectory and shielding her from hidden dangers.
The Plain Inquiry Sword they were riding struggled to navigate the unpredictable winds, eventually landing them precariously on a towering tree.
Xiao Lanle had never flown through such a turbulent wind formation with a sword before. Her true energy was severely depleted, and even the Plain Inquiry Sword had shrunk back into her dantian.
They paused for a moment on the giant tree’s leafy canopy, then fell straight down from the overlapping branches. When they landed on the ground, they were covered in leaves.
A branch had carved a long gash across Lin Qianshuang’s face, and blood trickled from her cheek onto the overgrown greenery, dissolving into a faint spiritual light. The thick tree roots hidden beneath the soil twisted and writhed, revealing a lurking demonic presence.
Unaware of this, Lin Qianshuang casually wiped her face and stood up, going to check on Xiao Lanle.
Xiao Lanle struggled to her feet, her steps unsteady. Lin Qianshuang saw this and went to support her arm.
Xiao Lanle glanced at Lin Qianshuang and said, “Senior Sister Lin, what’s in your storage jade slip? Why is it glowing?”
Lin Qianshuang lowered her head and saw that the jade slip tied around her waist was emitting a dazzling light.
She took out the glowing object, the beast core Xia had given her before he died. A map was now floating on its surface.
Lin Qianshuang picked up the beast core and held it between her thumb and index finger, studying it closely. The map on its surface instantly enlarged, filling her vision. It depicted the mountain range beside the Refining Valley, with two secret passages marked at the foot. One led to the human realm, the other to the beast realm.
This was an escape route established by the beast cultivators in the Beast Realm. Lin Qianshuang guessed it was a backup plan in case the Beast Emperor’s identity was prematurely revealed.
She instantly understood the meaning behind Senior Brother Xia’s dying words, “Live on.” He had left her a way out.
But he was also gambling, betting on whether she would keep the beast core or absorb it.
The beast core was coated with a highly poisonous luminous powder, glowing in dim environments. If a cultivator ingested it, they would likely go insane and die.
He wanted to see if she still harbored any affection for him.
Lin Qianshuang suddenly recalled her past with her senior brothers, a sense of detachment washing over her. She smiled bitterly. Senior Brother Xia, why did you have to plot against her even in death?
Xiao Lanle, seeing Lin Qianshuang intently studying the beast core, became curious herself. She approached Lin Qianshuang and examined the core. Reaching out, she touched the glowing surface, a thin layer of luminous powder clinging to her fingertip.
“It’s quite pretty,” she mused, captivated by the sparkling powder. A fleeting thought crossed her mind, a desire to use the powder to adorn her nails. The shimmering pink would surely be beautiful.
“Xiao Lanle, this beast core shows a passage to the human realm,” Lin Qianshuang explained, holding up the core. “We should follow the edge of the Refining Valley until we reach that dilapidated pavilion. Under the stone table there is a secret passage. We can escape the Demon Realm within an hour.”
As she spoke, Lin Qianshuang noticed Xiao Lanle rubbing the poisonous powder into her hand. She quickly grabbed a cloth and wiped Xiao Lanle’s hand clean, her face etched with worry. “That powder is highly poisonous, Xiao Lanle. Did you inhale any?”
Xiao Lanle, however, dismissed Lin Qianshuang’s concern with a slight frown. “Senior Sister Lin, I know the powder is poisonous. I wouldn’t be so foolish as to inhale it.”
“Good,” Lin Qianshuang replied, though her anxiety remained.
Lin Qianshuang let out a breath of relief, tossing the cloth into her storage jade slip and preparing to incinerate the beast core with demonic energy. Just then, five or six long vines burst from the soil, snatching the beast core from her grasp.
The beast core was gone!
Lin Qianshuang stumbled backward in shock. Despite the vines’ incredible speed, she was a powerful Demon Infant cultivator and quickly discerned the situation.
This forest was strange.
Lin Qianshuang cautiously eyed the giant tree before her, breaking a branch from a nearby bush to use as a weapon.
At that moment, the giant tree, having absorbed the beast core, went into a frenzy. Over a dozen vines, hanging from the canopy, surged forward, ensnaring Xiao Lanle’s ankles and dragging her towards a gaping, bloody maw that had appeared on the tree trunk.
The vines also attempted to attack Lin Qianshuang, but were repelled by the invisible aura emanating from her, forcing them to retreat.
“Junior Sister Xiao!”
Lin Qianshuang watched Xiao Lanle being dragged away by the tree vines, her eyes narrowing. She instinctively reached for her demonic energy, ready to channel it through a broken branch and save Xiao Lanle. But then, she hesitated.
She was absolutely capable of rescuing Xiao Lanle, but now was not the time to reveal her true strength.
Lin Qianshuang’s heart calmed. Xiao Lanle was a Golden Core cultivator, after all. If she intervened now, she would expose herself.
Besides…
Lin Qianshuang glanced at the elegant woman in pink, a flicker of amusement crossing her face. This was the future leader of the Immortal Alliance, and she couldn’t even handle a simple tree spirit? What big things could she possibly accomplish?
Xiao Lanle was completely entangled in the vines, her neck constricted, and her delicate features flushed with a sickly pallor. She couldn’t focus, unable to summon her natal spiritual sword.
As her breathing grew weaker, Xiao Lanle edged closer to the gaping hole lined with sharp teeth. Her dark eyes fixed on Lin Qianshuang, who stood unmoved a short distance away. Fury flared within her. Lin Qianshuang hadn’t even attempted to help, instead watching her struggle with a detached amusement that grated on Xiao Lanle’s nerves.
The Plain Inquiry Sword, residing within her heart, shot out, severing the dozens of branches binding her.
Lin Qianshuang’s face brightened as she saw Xiao Lanle free herself, but her joy was short-lived. Blood streamed from Xiao Lanle’s nose, and she collapsed unconscious to the ground.
The tree vines, thick and numerous, surged forth from the canopy, aiming for the fallen Xiao Lanle. This demonized tree, its madness fueled by the luminous powder it had absorbed, could only be destroyed.
A cold glint flashed in Lin Qianshuang’s eyes. She unleashed her full demonic aura, forcing the vines to recoil, stopping mere inches from Xiao Lanle’s body. Discarding the branch in her hand, she conjured a long sword from her demonic energy with a flick of her wrist. With a swift movement, she lunged towards the tree’s core, piercing it with her sword.
As the dark purple sword energy spread, the giant tree shattered, collapsing into a blazing inferno that consumed it, leaving only ash and charcoal buried in the earth.
Having dealt with the demonized tree, Lin Qianshuang approached Xiao Lanle to assess her injuries. Besides the exhaustion from her depleted energy, Xiao Lanle appeared to be poisoned. Her lips and cheeks had turned a faint purple, and her heart beat erratically, much faster than normal.
Could Xiao Lanle have inhaled the luminous powder?
Observing Xiao Lanle’s increasingly purple lips, Lin Qianshuang confirmed her suspicion. She silently berated herself. “Junior Sister Xiao, why must you be so concerned with appearances? Wouldn’t it have been better to be honest about inhaling the powder?”
The question now was how to cure the poison.
A voice echoed in her mind, “[Host, have you forgotten? You possess a Phoenix Spirit Body, a descendant of ancient divine beasts. Your blood is the greatest tonic and antidote.]”
How could she have forgotten? She was the ultimate elixir, a superior Cauldron Physique. All it would take was a bit of her blood, and Xiao Lanle’s poison would be neutralized.
Lin Qianshuang sighed, realizing her blood was useless for her own healing. She took a clean banana leaf from the forest and, using her demonic energy, made a deep cut in her palm. Several drops of blood beaded on the wound.
She held the banana leaf and sat next to the unconscious Xiao Lanle. With one hand, Lin Qianshuang lifted Xiao Lanle’s head, and with the other, she pried open her lips, carefully dripping the blood into her mouth.
“[Host, you should be more gentle. It’s rude to pry open a delicate girl’s lips with your fingers. Wouldn’t it be more tender to feed her mouth-to-mouth?]”
Lin Qianshuang ignored the system’s suggestion. She poured all the blood onto the banana leaf into Xiao Lanle’s mouth and sat quietly, waiting for her to wake up.
Slowly, Xiao Lanle’s bruised face regained its natural color, and the purple hue on her lips began to fade.
Lin Qianshuang watched Xiao Lanle gradually recover, feeling a sense of relief. She planned to wait for Xiao Lanle to wake up and take her directly to the secret passage in the human realm. She didn’t want to waste any more time and risk being discovered by her master.
As she was thinking, a slick sensation touched her cut left hand, and a burning numbness spread through the wound. Her whole body trembled with a sudden wave of sensitivity.
Xiao Lanle was gripping Lin Qianshuang’s wrist, licking the wound and sucking her blood. Her dark eyes, tinged with a demonic purple light, stared at Lin Qianshuang like a bottomless pit, oppressive and cold.
Lin Qianshuang was stunned by Xiao Lanle’s strange behavior. Purple light flickered in her eyes, and the true qi in her body was in disarray. Could it be her blood?
Was her blood too potent?
[Host, one drop of your blood contains one-twentieth of your Demon Infant cultivation. You’ve given her a total of five drops… meaning Xiao Lanle… is about to form her Golden Core.]
Lin Qianshuang felt a surge of panic. Why hadn’t the system told her earlier? Xiao Lanle must have absorbed too much cultivation and was struggling to control it, causing her to go into a frenzy!
Xiao Lanle gazed at the wound on Lin Qianshuang’s cheek, her eyes curving greedily, the light in them like dense starlight.
She reached out and cupped Lin Qianshuang’s face, her expression expectant. “Can I lick it, Senior Sister?”