84: Topaz snake scale grass, damn it!

After the sky brightened in the Black Tooth River Valley, it was exceptionally lively.

On the large patch of grass in the center of the river valley, a series of deer calls rang out, as robust black-striped elk grazed leisurely on the riverbank.

Among the deer herd, a slender young man in a blue Magical Robe, emblazoned with an eight-winged snake-insect, was crouched before a Medium Grade Tier 1 spiritual medicine.

Shi Chuan, disguised as a young man, wore a Magical Robe obtained from the Storage Pouches of the Zhu Clan members he had previously encountered, now put to use.

He was personally acting as bait, and his Cultivation Aura was also disguised as Qi Refining Third Layer.

The spiritual medicine in front of him was entirely earthy yellow, shaped like a lotus flower, with delicate yellow jade snake scales on its petals, and its central stamen emitted faint blue light, making it very conspicuous even in broad daylight.

This conspicuous effect was precisely what Shi Chuan wanted.

The Inner Sect Disciple of the Yellow Springs Demon Sect who had fled through here, had entered from an unknown part of the Black Valley.

The Black Tooth River Valley was vast, with numerous entrances and hundreds of miles of continuous mountain forests.

It would be too difficult to wait idly, so it was better to lure the snake out of its hole and wait for it to come.

A young Cultivator in the Early Stage of Qi Refining, guarding a soon-to-be-ripe Yellow Jade Snake Scale Grass—this Yellow Jade Snake Scale Grass was one of Shi Chuan's many spoils from the Zhu Clan.

Now, bringing it out was perfect for luring the Demon Sect Disciple who might pass by.

Using a Medium Grade Tier 1 Spiritual Plant to trap a Cultivator with a Tier 2 spiritual medicine—this was an incredibly profitable deal.

Shi Chuan was currently in the central grassland of this river valley, having cast a low-level Water Screen Spell, enclosing an area of two to three zhang around him.

"Just wait for them to take the bait."

Shi Chuan sat cross-legged beside the Spiritual Plant, waiting patiently.

The fragrance emanating from the Spiritual Plant spread in all directions, attracting the surrounding elk herd, which lingered nearby, unwilling to leave.

Beyond the deer herd, the Spiritual Plant's fragrance also attracted many intelligent Essence Spirits, each hiding under the forest canopy several hundred steps away, only daring to peek from afar.

…

North of the river valley.

Amidst the vast mountains, a flickering blue escape light flew over the forest canopy, entering the Black Tooth River Valley.

Within the escape light was a slender young Cultivator, clad in a purple robe.

Yu Shu looked at the massive river valley before him with a tired expression, then glanced back at the endless mountains, and his tense mind finally relaxed slightly.

"I finally escaped."

"My life is temporarily safe."

Yu Shu recalled all the events of his journey, feeling lingering fear.

During the great chaos in the Sect.

He, stationed at an outpost, unhesitatingly harvested the Tier 2 spiritual medicine they were guarding, pocketing it for himself.

He had been cautious all the way, undergoing several battles, and nearly lost his life.

Only then did he manage to keep the Tier 2 spiritual medicine in his possession; this spiritual medicine could be exchanged for Foundation Establishment spiritual items.

Yu Shu served as an Inner Sect Disciple on the main peak of the Yellow Springs Demon Sect, having become a Disciple under Immortal Master Black Spring.

Immortal Master Black Spring regarded him as a Personal Disciple, and because the Immortal Master's Lifespan was nearing its end, he assigned the task of protecting the Tier 2 spiritual medicine to him, thus giving him the opportunity to harvest it.

Immortal Master Black Spring's request was for Yu Shu, after obtaining the Tier 2 spiritual medicine, to quickly go to Five Elements Immortal City to find Immortal Master Black Spring's descendants and ensure the safety of his Bloodline descendants.

The Immortal Master's descendants held the key to removing the Gu poison that the Immortal Master had secretly planted in Yu Shu.

Yu Shu had no choice; his Revered Master had secretly poisoned him with Gu.

This Gu poison was extremely vicious; if not detoxified within a month, he would suffer the torment of heart-eating and soul-hunting every day.

A hint of hatred flashed in Yu Shu's tired eyes.

His good Revered Master's Gu poison required detoxification every three months.

Thus, he was merely his Revered Master's medicine delivery person; the Revered Master's Bloodline descendants were the true beneficiaries, while he was just a high-level errand runner, and one who had been poisoned with Gu.

Thinking of this, Yu Shu admired his Revered Master's methods; he had calculated everything so well!

"Gu poison…"

Yu Shu had tried to detoxify himself, but the Gu poison planted by his Foundation Establishment Cultivator Revered Master was extremely stubborn; the methods he sought had no effect whatsoever.

For now, the only option was to go to Five Elements Immortal City, seek out his Revered Master's descendants, secure his life for these few months, and then try to find a way to detoxify himself.

"What is that…?"

Flying over the river valley mountains, Yu Shu saw the herds of elk on the central grassland of the river valley and faintly sensed the presence of many Essence Spirits nearby.

Immediately, Yu Shu cast a long-distance viewing spell and saw the seemingly very young blue-robed boy guarding the Spiritual Plant.

The boy had a childish face, sitting quietly beside the Spiritual Plant, having cast a Water Screen Spell to block the deer herd circling outside.

"I didn't expect a Spiritual Plant to grow here; my luck is good."

"That Spiritual Plant can attract so many deer and many Essence Spirits, so it should be a Medium Grade Tier 1 Spiritual Plant or higher."

"A mere boy who hasn't shed his childishness can easily be dealt with."

From the perspective of Yu Shu, a Qi Refining Ninth Layer Cultivator, dealing with the boy, who was at most in the Early Stage of Qi Refining, was effortless.

Yu Shu's low spirits improved slightly.

He didn't know how many open and hidden confrontations he would have with his Revered Master's descendants on his trip to Five Elements Immortal City; the more spiritual items he had, the more confident he would be.

"Sneak in, kill in one blow."

Yu Shu raised his hand and took out an Invisibility Talisman, concealing his Aura.

He wanted to avoid alarming the blue-robed boy.

The other party was dressed like a Family Cultivator, and there should be their Family members in this Black Valley; he was injured from his escape, and his strength was diminished.

It was best not to alarm the Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivators in this Black Valley; after obtaining the treasure, he would immediately flee.

At this moment, Shi Chuan sat still.

The additional Corpse Crow's perspective in his Sea of Consciousness already clearly saw the faint escape light figure flying from the northern mountain forest.

"The plan succeeded."

"This person is quite cautious; a Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator still resorts to sneak attacks against an Early Stage Cultivator. Why bother…"

Shi Chuan's heart settled.

That Tier 2 spiritual medicine was already beckoning to him.

At this moment.

Yu Shu, stealthily moving across the Black Valley grassland, looked at the blue-robed boy a hundred steps away, and for some reason, he felt an inexplicable unease in his heart.

"Why do I feel a trace of unease?"

A hint of doubt flashed in Yu Shu's eyes, and his escape light speed also slowed slightly.

"Just a junior in the Early Stage of Qi Refining."

Yu Shu smiled helplessly; having just escaped from the Azure Cloud Mountain Range, he was being overly cautious.

But at this moment, an unexpected change occurred.

From the grass beneath Yu Shu, a swift red afterimage burst out of the ground, like a venomous snake that had been waiting for a long time.

"Damn, it's an ambush!"

Yu Shu's expression changed drastically.

He hastily took out a willow-leaf flying Magical Artifact from his Storage Pouch, intending to flee.

But at the same time, an impressive pressure came from the sky above.

A massive Corpse Crow was swooping down, its Aura astonishing.

'Superior Corpse Puppet.'

'Two Superior Corpse Puppets. The person who ambushed him is very likely a Disciple of the Yellow Springs Demon Sect, just like him!'

Yu Shu felt the two Superior Corpse Puppets attacking from above and below, and his mind raced.

"Wait…"

But before he could speak further, the Red Scale Puppet below was already close, its protective spiritual light easily shattered by its sharp claws. It grabbed Yu Shu's head as if he were a chick, his eyes filled with horror.

'It's a Corpse Puppet at Qi Refining Perfection.'

'A Demon Cultivator at Qi Refining Perfection, yet still playing the role of bait to lure people in. Why bother…'

'I deserve to die; my greed got the better of me.'

Yu Shu, tightly grasped and with his entire body sealed by Evil Qi, felt his heart sink into an ice cellar at this moment, filled with regret.