180: Three cores

"Young Master, why are you still standing there?"

Bone Madam slowly lay down on the massive Bone Bed, her cloud-like beautiful hair spread out. "Elder Sister is feeling quite cold."

Outside the screen, Su Hongling was gnawing at the sound-isolating Restriction.

"Old Hag! If you dare touch him even once, I'll take your bones apart piece by piece and boil them into soup!!"

Su Lin took a deep breath, ignoring the noise outside. He extended his right hand, and the golden light of the [Immovable Wisdom King Body] began to condense in his palm, transforming into a mighty, supremely firm and Yang Qi infused hot current.

"Apologies."

His voice was low, and then, the golden hand pressed heavily onto Bone Madam's chest!

"Ngh—!"

Bone Madam suddenly arched her body as the supreme Yang Qi entered her body.

"Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—!"

A visible plume of white smoke rose from the point of contact. That was the sound of Death Qi being purified.

"Endure it."

Su Lin's expression was serious. With his other hand, he quickly tapped a hundred and eight major Acupoints around her body.

Accompanied by a pure power of the Space Law, he forcibly separated the chaotic and tangled Evil Qi.

"Ah... hah ah..."

Bone Madam's voice began to tremble. "That Qi, it's drilling into my bones..."

Hearing this outside the screen was like pouring oil on fire.

"Su Lin, what are you doing!!"

Luo Ximei completely lost control, her black and white Devilish Qi wildly bombarding the screen. Blood tears streamed from her platinum-colored right eye. "You promised me you only belonged to me!!"

Chu Weiwei crushed the small notebook in her hand, grinding her teeth as she squeezed out a sound: "Judging by the sound... is this... a sign of Divine Soul Fusion?

No... I'm going to poison her! I'm going to poison this Vixen!!"

Inside the screen, fine beads of sweat seeped onto Su Lin's forehead.

This job was not easy.

Not only did he have to use his own Yang Qi to suppress the violent [world core], but he also had to carefully sort out Bone Madam's Meridians, which were already riddled with holes.

If he was slightly careless, these two forces would explode, leveling the entire palace.

"Stop crying out." Su Lin shouted in a low voice. "Focus your mind and guide this stream of Qi back into your Dantian!"

"But... it really hurts, yet it feels so good..."

Bone Madam's eyes shifted. Although her face was pale, seeing Su Lin's focused appearance, a hint of unusual brilliance truly appeared in her eyes.

She had never seen a man like this.

Facing her posture, which was enough to bewitch all living beings, he could genuinely remain calm and focused purely on healing her illness?

As time passed, the golden light in Su Lin's palm grew stronger.

The power of the [heart of the primordial demon] within his body was also mobilized, forming a miniature vortex that generated immense suction.

"Get out... now!"

Su Lin shouted in a low voice, and his palm suddenly lifted upwards.

"Boom!"

A light sphere, ink-black and seemingly still pulsating, was forcefully "pulled" out of Bone Madam's chest!

That was a wisp of Origin Evil Qi from the [world core], and the root cause that had tormented Bone Madam for a thousand years.

As this mass of Evil Qi left her body, Bone Madam let out a long sigh of relief. She looked like she had lost all her strength, slumping softly onto the bed, and her originally pale complexion gained a hint of redness only seen in the living.

Su Lin clenched his five fingers, directly crushing the mass of Evil Qi into nothingness.

"It is finished."

He withdrew his hand, picked up the thin blanket nearby, and casually covered Bone Madam with it, concealing the Beautiful Scene beneath.

"Your hidden danger has been eliminated. As long as you recuperate for a century, you can return to the Peak."

Su Lin stood up, his breathing slightly disordered, but his posture remained straight and tall.

"Now, it's time to fulfill your promise."

Bone Madam lay on the bed, quietly looking at the man.

After a long time, she suddenly smiled.

She laughed so hard her body shook, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.

"What a... heartless Nemesis."

She slowly sat up, pulling the blanket tightly around her. In her pair of eerie green eyes, the usual frivolity was gone, replaced by a trace of solemnity and world-weariness she had never shown before.

"Take it."

She flipped her palm, and the true, pitch-black and profound body of the [world core] lightly floated toward Su Lin.

Su Lin reached out and took it.

It felt incredibly heavy in his hand, as if he were holding a mountain.

An extremely ancient and vast stream of information flowed through his palm and into his Sea of Consciousness.

[Ding! Detected world core (Fragment 1/3).]

[Congratulations, host, on obtaining a key item!]

[This item is the core of the Law scattered after the collapse of the ancient Immortal Realm. Collecting all three fragments can recast the Immortal Ladder and open the true gateway to the Upper Realm.]

Su Lin's heart was greatly shaken.

The Immortal Realm collapsed? A gateway to the Upper Realm?

Before he could think further, Bone Madam's voice softly sounded, carrying a hint of nostalgic melancholy.

"This thing... is both a treasure and a curse."

"Do you know what this so-called 'Alien Territory' actually is?"

Su Lin looked at her. "I'd like to hear the details."

"This place... was once a fragment of an Ancient Battlefield."

Bone Madam's eyes were hazy. "Ten thousand years ago, a True Immortal perished here. Their Immortal Body turned into this land, and their resentment transformed into the creatures here.

And these three cores are the... Key to Immortal Ascension left behind by that True Immortal."

"Immortal Ascension?" Su Lin's gaze sharpened.

"That's right, Immortal Ascension."

Bone Madam gave a self-mocking smile. "Whether it's us, the Alien Race, or you Human Race Cultivators, isn't the ultimate goal of cultivation to Ascend and become an Immortal?

But... the path of this world has long been severed."

She pointed to the chaotic sky above them.

"Many years ago, I collected two fragments, attempting to forcibly break through the World Barrier and trigger the Ascension Lightning Tribulation.

The result... you can see for yourself."

She pointed to her white bone body.

"The Lightning Tribulation didn't descend, but the backlash arrived first. My Physical Body was completely destroyed, leaving only this Skeleton, barely surviving until now.

If I hadn't met you today, perhaps in another hundred years, I would have been completely devoured by this core, turning into a monster that only knows slaughter."

Speaking of this, she gave Su Lin a deep look.

"Inside your body... there is a very special power. It is not something that should exist in the mortal world; it is even higher than this core."

Su Lin knew she was referring to the wisp of Qi left by Revered Master Ling Xin, and the power of the System.

"Therefore, I am giving it to you."

Bone Madam's tone became solemn. "I am already ruined. My Dao Foundation is destroyed, and Immortal Ascension is hopeless in this life.

But keeping this thing is a disaster; it's better to give it to you and form a Good Karma.

Perhaps one day... you can truly take that step and see the scenery above."

Su Lin was silent for a moment, then solemnly put away the core and clasped his fists in a salute toward Bone Madam.

"Thank you."

This was a great gift, and a weighty entrustment.

"Don't rush to thank me."

Bone Madam waved her hand, returning to her lazy demeanor. "This is only the first piece.

There are three pieces of this world core, belonging to three different Overlords."

She held up three fingers.

"The piece I held represents 'Dead Silence'.

The second piece is in the [Red Lotus Blood Sea], where an existence even crazier than me resides: Blood River Old Ancestor.

That core represents Decay.

As for the third piece..."

A trace of apprehension flashed in her eyes.

"It is at the Peak of the [Tongtian Demon Peak]. There is no Overlord there, only a Guardian Beast.

It is said to be the transformation of the mount of the True Immortal who perished back then. Its strength... has long surpassed the scope of the Mahayana Stage, possibly even touching the threshold of Undergoing Tribulation.

That core represents Destruction."

"Red Lotus Blood Sea, Tongtian Demon Peak."

Su Lin silently recited these two names in his heart, engraving them deeply.

"Rumble!!!"

Just then, the incredibly sturdy Bone Screen finally shattered completely with a groan of unbearable stress.

Amidst the flying bone fragments, three figures bursting with Killing Intent rushed in.

"Su Lin! Are you alright?!"

Su Hongling was the first to rush forward, grabbing Su Lin's arm, examining him up and down, and even leaning in to sniff him.

"Are you missing any flesh? Did that Old Hag bite you?"

Luo Ximei immediately looked at Bone Madam on the bed. Seeing her disheveled clothes and flushed face, the rage in her eyes instantly ignited the air.

"Shameless!!"

The phantom image of the Demonic God reappeared behind her, and she raised her hand to strike.

"I will gouge out your eyes and peel off your skin!!"

Chu Weiwei sinisterly pulled out a handful of green Poison Powder. "No need for such trouble. Just let her entire body fester and rot to death!"

"Stop!"

Su Lin stepped forward, blocking Bone Madam. He activated the Space Law, neutralizing all the attacks from his three disciple.

"The transaction is complete. Do not be rude."

"Transaction? What kind of transaction requires taking off clothes?!"

Luo Ximei couldn't listen at all, roaring as she pointed at Bone Madam,

"Revered Master, were you bewitched by her?! What's so good about a woman who is just bones?!"

"Oh dear, my little sisters are so jealous."

Although Bone Madam was weak, her verbal skills were not lacking at all.

She deliberately pulled the blanket down, exposing a smooth, fragrant shoulder, and winked flirtatiously at Su Lin.

"Young Master, since they are so fierce, why don't you... stay here?

Elder Sister's bed here is very big and soft~"

"Shut up!" Su Lin glared back at her. This woman truly enjoyed watching chaos unfold.

Su Lin glared back at Bone Madam. This woman truly enjoyed watching chaos unfold.

Seeing that the patience of his three disciple had reached its limit, especially Su Hongling's great sword which was already humming, clearly looking for the best angle to strike and demolish the palace.

"Since we have the item, let's go."

Su Lin decisively gave the order, unwilling to stay in this Troublesome Place for another second.

Although he had helped Bone Madam cure her illness, this woman's gaze was too blatant, and the predatory aggression, as if she wanted to devour him alive, made him, the Revered Master, feel a chill down his spine.

"Wait a moment."

Just as Su Lin turned to leave, Bone Madam's lazy voice sounded again.

This time, the previous frivolity was gone, replaced by a trace of genuine sincerity.

"Young Master, why are you leaving in such a hurry?

I know you still need to go to the Red Lotus Blood Sea and the Tongtian Demon Peak.

But if you rush in without knowing anything about this Alien Territory, even if your strength is heaven-defying, you will suffer greatly."

She got off the bed, stepping barefoot onto the thick Beast-Skin Carpet. With a casual wave of her hand, the pale white bone armor covered her body again, concealing the stimulating sight and restoring some of her City Lord's majesty.

"Moreover..."

She pointed to the dim sky outside.

"The Bone-Eroding Storm of the Flesh and Blood Wasteland is about to arrive.

That is a Law-based disaster that can blow even a Mahayana Stage Physical Body into dust, lasting three days and three nights without stopping.

If you go out now, you will be courting death."

Su Lin paused his steps.

He indeed sensed that the Heaven and Earth Laws outside were undergoing violent turbulence, and an extremely dangerous Aura was brewing deep within the wasteland.

"Therefore, you should stay."

Bone Madam walked to a massive White Bone Round Table in the center of the hall and gently clapped her hands.

"Coincidentally, to thank Young Master for saving my life, Elder Sister specifically had a Feast prepared."

Following her applause, two rows of beautiful Bone Maidens filed in, holding plates and wine pots made from the skulls of unknown creatures.

A strange fragrance instantly permeated the air.

The fragrance was extremely potent. Just by smelling a whiff, Su Lin felt the Spiritual Power that had just calmed down in his body become active again, and even his Divine Soul felt a wave of coolness.

"This is..."

A hint of surprise flashed in Su Lin's eyes.

"This wine is called Drunken Immortal Brew."

Bone Madam picked up a crystal-clear Bone Cup and poured out a glass of amber liquid.

"It is brewed using the unique Nether Soul Fruit of this Alien Territory, supplemented with the bone marrow of three thousand types of high-level alien beasts, and buried in an extremely Yin place for a full five thousand years."

She swirled the cup, her eyes hazy.

"This item is a Peerless Grade item that cannot be found outside.

Even a Mahayana Stage Cultivator, drinking one cup, can equal a hundred years of hard cultivation.

Especially for those whose Divine Soul is damaged, or whose internal power is mixed, it has miraculous effects."

Speaking of this, she meaningfully glanced at Luo Ximei and Chu Weiwei.

"That little sister who fused with the True Immortal Origin, and that little girl who cultivated herself into a Poison Body.

This wine can help you Cleanse Body and Marrow and stabilize your Foundation.

Once you miss this Opportunity, you won't find it again."

"Gulp."

An extremely loud sound of swallowing saliva broke the originally tense standoff.

Su Hongling stared eagerly at the plates of unknown Beast Meat sizzling with oil on the table, and the fragrant wine. Her murderous Aura from moments ago instantly dissipated by half.

"Old Man..."

She tugged at Su Lin's sleeve and whispered:

"She said there's a storm... it seems really dangerous outside..."

"And... that meat looks so delicious... it smells even better than Snow Bear Meat..."

Su Lin: "..."

He knew this girl was just greedy.

However, Bone Madam was not wrong.

Although Luo Ximei had achieved Fusion with the Origin, that balance was fragile; Chu Weiwei's Poison Body had also always been a hidden danger.

Although this Alien Territory was perilous, it often came with great Opportunities. If this "Drunken Immortal Brew" was truly as miraculous as she claimed, there would be no harm in trying it.

"Since Madam has so graciously invited us."

Su Lin turned around, his expression returning to indifference.

"Then we shall not refuse your kindness."

"That's right."

Bone Madam smiled radiantly, personally pulling out a chair at the main seat.

"Young Master, please take the seat of honor."

...A moment later.

The five people sat around the massive White Bone Round Table.

Su Lin sat in the main seat. To his left was Su Hongling, who was clinging tightly to his arm, and to his right was Luo Ximei, who had moved her chair so close it was practically touching him.

Chu Weiwei sat opposite, observing every dish more than a dozen times, only stopping once she confirmed they were non-poisonous.

As a Cultivator proficient in Pharmacology, no one could poison anything right under her nose.