29: Elders of Spirit Island, Spring of Purification

Chapter 29: Elder of the Spiritual Island, Purifying Demon Spring

The white bone boat slowly approached the spiritual island suspended above the black mud swamp. The closer they got, the clearer and more refreshing the pure Spiritual Qi became—it was completely out of place with the surrounding Demon Region. It felt like a timely rain after a long drought, even alleviating much of the stagnation caused by the Devilish Qi corrosion within their bodies.

The island was enveloped by a soft yet resilient white light barrier, completely isolating the foul Devilish Qi outside. Countless intricate and profound runes flowed over the light barrier, emitting an ancient and sacred aura.

Lin Xuan steered the white bone boat to stop outside the light barrier, not daring to trespass rashly. He focused his vision and looked inside, seeing lush vegetation on the island. Many plants emitted a soft, treasured light, clearly not ordinary spiritual flora. The pool of water was even more imbued with Spiritual Qi, its surface shrouded in multi-colored radiance. The thatched hut looked simple but was perfectly integrated with the island's overall spiritual flow.

"This place... to be able to maintain such a pure land within this Demon Region, the cultivator who set up this barrier must have unfathomable cultivation," Su Wanqing murmured, her clear eyes filled with shock and vigilance.

Qu Feiyan's charming eyes narrowed slightly. Feeling the pure Spiritual Qi, the restless alluring Origin Qi within her body—which had been resisting the Devilish Qi—calmed down somewhat. She whispered, "Whether this is a blessing or a curse remains unknown."

Just as the four of them were feeling uncertain and apprehensive, the wicket gate of the thatched hut opened with a creak.

An elderly man slowly walked out. He wore faded grey Daoist robes, his hair and beard were completely white, and his face was lean and refined, yet his eyes were warm and peaceful. He held an ordinary green bamboo staff and walked with an unhurried pace, appearing like a common hermit in the mountains, not someone residing in this extremely perilous Demon Region.

The old man's gaze fell upon the four people outside the light barrier and the white bone boat beneath their feet. A faint look of surprise appeared on his face, which quickly turned into the understanding of one who has experienced great vicissitudes.

"I never expected that after guarding this place for endless years, this old man would still encounter outsiders." The old man's voice was gentle, carrying a strange power of reassurance. It passed directly through the light barrier and clearly entered the four people's ears. "Young friends, to be able to pass through the demon swamp outside and find this place is also a matter of fate. Please come in and talk."

As his voice fell, the resilient light barrier rippled like water, revealing an opening large enough for the white bone boat to pass through.

Lin Xuan exchanged glances with the Three women. This old man's aura was restrained and unfathomable, but his eyes were clear and held no malice, at least on the surface. Moreover, they genuinely needed a place to rest and gather information.

"We apologize for the intrusion, Senior." Lin Xuan bowed and steered the white bone boat slowly into the light barrier.

The moment they entered the light barrier's range, their bodies instantly felt lighter. The constant suppression of Devilish Qi vanished, and pure, peaceful Spiritual Qi rushed into their limbs and bones, making them want to take deep breaths. The soft soil beneath their feet, the fragrance of grass in the air, and the faint sound of flowing water contrasted sharply with the deadly silence of the Demon Region outside, like the difference between Heaven and Hell.

Lin Xuan stopped the white bone boat at the edge of the island. The four of them leaped off the boat, standing on solid ground again, feeling as if they had crossed into another world.

The old man smiled as he watched them, his gaze lingering on Lin Xuan for a moment. A flicker of imperceptible surprise flashed in his eyes before he regained his composure. "My Daoist title is 'Shoujing'. I have been guarding the 'Purifying Demon Spring' here for countless years. What are your names, young friends? And how did you end up in this 'Land Where Ten Thousand Demons Return to Silence'?"

Shoujing? Purifying Demon Spring? Land Where Ten Thousand Demons Return to Silence?

Lin Xuan's thoughts raced. He respectfully replied, "Junior Lin Xuan. These three are Su Wanqing, Qu Feiyan, and Gongsun Yu. We were accidentally caught in spatial turbulence and thrown into the Desolate Sea outside. To find a way to leave, we were forced to enter the Ruins Vortex and ended up here."

He briefly explained their origin, omitting details like the Misty Immortal Palace.

"Spatial turbulence... Ruins..." Daoist Shoujing nodded gently, seemingly unsurprised. "To survive that chaotic Void Realm passage and find this 'Inch-sized Spiritual Isle,' you young friends have considerable good Opportunity."

He led the four of them to the edge of the Spiritual Qi-shrouded spring. Up close, they could feel the miraculous nature of the spring water even more. The water was crystal clear, revealing multi-colored fine sand at the bottom. Tiny bubbles continuously rose from the spring's eye; every time a bubble burst, it released a pure, cleansing aura that calmed their minds.

"This is the 'Purifying Demon Spring'," Daoist Shoujing said, pointing at the water. "Its nature is utterly pure and clean. It can wash away Devilish Qi, purify the Divine Soul, and stabilize the Dao Foundation. The existence of this spring is the only reason the endless demon swamp outside is restricted here and has not completely eroded the outside world. My duty is to guard this spring and maintain the clarity of this Inch-sized Land."

Lin Xuan and the others were profoundly shocked. Was this small pool of water actually the key to suppressing the entire Demon Region?

"Senior's virtue is immense!" Su Wanqing sincerely admired, bowing respectfully.

Daoist Shoujing waved his hand, sighing, "It is merely inheriting the legacy of my predecessors and fulfilling the duty of a guardian." His gaze returned to Lin Xuan, and he spoke warmly, "Young friend Lin, you have already condensed a Golden Core at such a young age. Your Foundation is solid and your vitality is vigorous—this is truly rare. What is even rarer is that a power of extreme yin and purity, along with a source of... strange alluring fire, seems to be contained within your body. The three can coexist and faintly show signs of merging. This is truly an extraordinary creation."

Lin Xuan's heart tightened. This old man had a sharp eye, having seen seven or eight tenths of his secrets. He said calmly, "Senior praises me too highly. Junior merely had some fortunate Opportunity."

Daoist Shoujing smiled slightly, not delving further. He changed the subject, saying, "Having endured hardships to reach this place, you young friends must be physically and mentally exhausted. This Purifying Demon Spring water has miraculous effects in healing injuries, dispelling evil, and stabilizing the Realm. You may soak in it to remove residual Devilish Qi from your bodies and restore your Origin Qi. As for the way to leave this place..."

He paused, looking toward the endless black demon swamp and the faintly visible black Demon Palace in the distance, his expression growing solemn.

"This place is the prison where the Myriad Silence Demon Lord was Sealed in antiquity. The only exit is deep within the Demon Palace, at the core of the Seal. But that place is filled with monstrous Devilish Qi and guarded by the Demon Lord's remnant Divine Soul and powerful demon beasts. Rushing there now would be suicide given your current strength."

The only exit was actually inside the most dangerous Demon Palace!

Everyone's hearts sank again.

"Is there... no other way?" Gongsun Yu couldn't help but ask.

Daoist Shoujing shook his head. "Unless you can completely purify the Demon Lord's remnant Divine Soul, or possess absolute power that ignores the rules of the Seal here, the Demon Palace is the only way out." He looked at Lin Xuan. "Young friend Lin, your Golden Core has just formed, and your potential is immense. Perhaps... when your cultivation advances further, there might be a glimmer of hope. Before then, you may cultivate here, using the Purifying Demon Spring to stabilize your Realm and eliminate hidden dangers. Although the Spiritual Qi here is not comparable to the blessed lands of major sects outside, it is exceptionally pure, and with the aid of the Purifying Demon Spring, it will greatly benefit the consolidation of your Foundation."

His suggestion was reasonable. In their current poor state, rashly attempting to enter the Demon Palace was indeed a dead end. Utilizing this treasure land to recover strength and increase cultivation was the wise choice.

Lin Xuan pondered for a moment, then bowed and said, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior. Then we Juniors will brazenly impose upon you."

Daoist Shoujing smiled and nodded. "It's no trouble. There are unused thatched cottages next to the main hut; you may settle yourselves. The Purifying Demon Spring is available at any time, but be mindful of your limits and do not be greedy, lest you overdo it."

After giving his instructions, Daoist Shoujing leaned on his green bamboo staff and slowly returned to his thatched hut, seemingly unconcerned about anything outside.

Only Lin Xuan and the Three women remained on the island.

Looking at the crystal-clear, Spiritual Qi-filled Purifying Demon Spring, feeling the restlessness of the residual Devilish Qi in their bodies, and the Realm that still needed stabilization after the recent Breakthrough, Lin Xuan knew that Daoist Shoujing's suggestion was the best option currently available.

"Let's use this spring first to dispel the Devilish Qi and recover our condition," Lin Xuan decided.

How to utilize the spring, however, became a problem. The spring area was small; the four of them clearly could not enter simultaneously.

A barely noticeable blush appeared on Su Wanqing's cold face, and she turned her head away. Qu Feiyan's charming eyes shifted between Lin Xuan and the spring, her red lips slightly curved, wondering what she was thinking. Gongsun Yu's cheeks were flushed crimson, and she lowered her head, afraid to look at anyone.

Lin Xuan felt a bit awkward too. He cleared his throat and said, "Although there is a barrier here, we still need someone to stand guard. We will use it in turns. Wanqing, you go first. We will act as your Protector."

He directly named Su Wanqing. On one hand, it was due to trust; on the other, it was a subconscious desire to ensure her safety first.

Su Wanqing was slightly stunned, glanced at Lin Xuan, and softly replied, "Mhm," not declining.

A look of ambiguous meaning flashed in Qu Feiyan's eyes, but she said nothing, merely giving a charming laugh: "Then Junior Sister Su must hurry. Sister is also waiting to wash away this bad luck~"

Lin Xuan, Qu Feiyan, and Gongsun Yu turned their backs to the spring, spreading out along the edge of the island, wary of any movement that might appear outside the light barrier. Although Daoist Shoujing said the place was safe, they dared not be careless.

A faint sound of entering the water came from behind, along with a slight, suppressed moan that blended comfort and pain. The purifying power of the Purifying Demon Spring was clearly taking effect, and the process of expelling Devilish Qi was not entirely comfortable.

Lin Xuan collected his thoughts, not daring to be distracted. However, the subtle sound of water and the delicate scent in the air—a mixture of the spring's purity and Su Wanqing's unique body fragrance—gently brushed against his heartstrings like a feather.

Qu Feiyan stood not far away, seemingly on guard, but the corner of her eye occasionally glanced at Lin Xuan's tall back, then listened to the movement behind her. A hint of cunning and calculation flashed in her charming eyes. She knew that in this isolated predicament, some things might progress faster than they would outside... And what secrets were hidden by this mysterious spiritual island, the warm and peaceful Daoist Shoujing, and the miraculously effective Purifying Demon Spring? Was the Demon Palace exit the only path to survival, or another trap?

Everything awaited their exploration.