97: Chapter 97 Chen Ao escapes, danger lurks underwater!

Bone-Armored Corpse Lizard!

A troublesome Yao Beast that favored dark, damp environments and fed on rotting corpses and Yin Qi.

Chen Ao was already heavily injured and had blundered into its nest in his panic.

Facing this Vicious Beast now, his legs went weak with terror, and he didn't even have the strength to run.

Seeing Ye Chen and Leng Ningshuang appear, a flicker of venomous resentment flashed in Chen Ao's eyes.

It immediately turned into madness as he pointed at Ye Chen and shrieked at the Bone-Armored Corpse Lizard.

"Eat him! His flesh is fresh! Eat him!"

The Bone-Armored Corpse Lizard was provoked by his shouting, or perhaps it sensed that Ye Chen and Leng Ningshuang possessed stronger auras.

It actually let Chen Ao go for the moment and turned its head.

Its crimson eyes locked onto Ye Chen, letting out a low growl as its thick tail suddenly swept out.

Carrying a foul wind, it whipped fiercely toward Ye Chen!

Ye Chen's current condition was extremely poor.

Facing this Rank 3 Late Stage Yao Beast, comparable to a Cultivator at the fifth or sixth level of the Wheel Sea Realm, he didn't dare take the hit head-on.

Moving with "Phantom Step," he dodged sharply to the side.

Boom!

The bony tail struck the rock wall, sending stone fragments flying.

The Bone-Armored Corpse Lizard's strike missed.

It immediately opened its bloody maw and spat out a stream of dark green slime that emitted a thick, putrid stench and deadly poison.

It blanketed Ye Chen and Leng Ningshuang like a waterfall!

"Watch out for the venom!"

Leng Ningshuang gave a clear shout, swinging her sword to unleash several streaks of purple Sword Qi, attempting to cleave through the venom.

But the venom was viscous and highly corrosive; as the Sword Qi slashed into it, it was unexpectedly dissolved rapidly.

Ye Chen's eyes narrowed.

The meager Hunyuan True Essence remaining in his body circulated frantically, and a grey light flashed on the ice scar sword.

He unleashed a "Hunyuan Wind Severing Slash," but the hazy grey sword light did not clash head-on.

Instead, like a butcher skillfully carving an ox, it sliced into the weak gaps in the venom's flow.

He guided and deflected it toward the nearby rock wall.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...

The venom splashed onto the rock wall, instantly corroding large pits into the stone and releasing thick smoke.

While Ye Chen and Leng Ningshuang were occupied by the Bone-Armored Corpse Lizard.

Resentment and relief flashed in Chen Ao's eyes as he scrambled and crawled toward the deeper parts of the fork in the path.

He vanished from sight in the blink of an eye.

"Damn it!"

Ye Chen cursed inwardly. That Chen Ao's life was truly stubborn.

"Deal with this beast first!"

Leng Ningshuang said.

Though the two were not in good condition, they were Prodigies after all and coordinated with tacit understanding.

Leng Ningshuang's swordplay was exquisite, pinning it down from the front and drawing the Bone-Armored Corpse Lizard's attention.

Ye Chen maneuvered around it, using the bizarre properties of Hunyuan True Essence to specifically target its relatively fragile areas like joints and eye sockets.

He also continuously used "Soul-Shocking Spike" to interfere with its Divine Soul.

Though the Bone-Armored Corpse Lizard was strong, its intelligence was low; under their joint assault.

It was soon covered in wounds and its movements became sluggish.

"The final blow!"

Leng Ningshuang saw her chance.

With a delicate shout, the Purple Haze Sword Light surged.

Transforming into a streak of light, it pierced straight into the depths of the Bone-Armored Corpse Lizard's wide-open mouth.

That was its relatively fragile vital point!

At the same time, Ye Chen also condensed his final bit of strength.

The ice scar sword, carrying the intent of Primordial Chaos Destruction, stabbed toward the throat exposed as it lifted its head to attack!

Puchi! Puchi!

Both swords hit almost simultaneously!

The Bone-Armored Corpse Lizard let out a shrill, mournful cry, its massive body crashing to the ground. After a few twitches, it breathed its last.

The two were also exhausted to the point of collapse, leaning against the rock wall and panting.

"Chen Ao got away." Ye Chen was somewhat unwilling.

"He is heavily injured and fled deep into this Yao Beast nest; his life or death is uncertain."

"Even if he luckily survives, without evidence, his words alone won't cause much of a stir. Liu Yunfei's death can be blamed on the 'Shadow Fiend' or the Secret Realm's Yao Beasts."

Leng Ningshuang analyzed calmly.

"The priority now is to leave this place as soon as possible, heal and recover, then head to the Ancient Teleportation Array to regroup."

Ye Chen nodded.

That was all they could do.

He walked to the side of the Bone-Armored Corpse Lizard's corpse and took its demon core and some valuable Materials.

He also looted the Storage Pouches of Liu Yunfei and that Golden Flame Peak Disciple.

"This 'netherworld token' is the item Liu Yunfei wanted to seize; it seems related to those Netherworld Ruins."

Leng Ningshuang took out a palm-sized token from her robes. It was neither metal nor jade, entirely pitch-black.

The front was carved with a hideous ghost head, and the back had complex netherworld runes. She handed it to Ye Chen to look at.

"I found it in a hidden stone chamber near that altar. As soon as I took it, it triggered a disturbance in the altar, alerting Liu Yunfei and the others."

Ye Chen took the token. It felt cold and heavy in his hand, with a bizarre sensation that vaguely resonated with his Soul.

He also took out the Jade Slip he had obtained that recorded the map.

Upon comparison, he found that the location of the Netherworld Ruins' entrance marked on the map.

Vaguely echoed the fluctuations emitted by this token.

"It seems this token is the key to opening the ruins."

Ye Chen returned the token to Leng Ningshuang.

"How does Senior Sister plan to handle it?"

Leng Ningshuang put away the token and pondered.

"This matter is of great importance, involving the ruins of an ancient evil Sect. The token must be brought back and given to the Sect elders to decide. Our strength is insufficient; rashly exploring would likely invite disaster."

Ye Chen deeply agreed.

That damaged altar and soul-eroding yin wind were already so terrifying.

Who knew what dangers were hidden deep within the actual ruins.

The two took a brief rest, and after recovering a sliver of strength.

They immediately left the Yao Beast nest, following the map's guidance.

They headed downstream along the underground river toward the site of the "Ancient Teleportation Array."

After this battle, both were heavily injured, but through their life-and-death struggle, they had established a peculiar trust and rapport.

The road ahead was still uncertain, but at least they were temporarily safe.

Along the downstream of the underground river, Ye Chen and Leng Ningshuang supported each other, moving forward slowly.

Both were heavily injured with withered auras; every step was extremely difficult.

The cavern was deep and dark, accompanied only by the faint light of stalactites and the sound of the underground river, adding a touch of loneliness.

Ye Chen's Meridians were stinging and his Wheel Sea was dim; his Hunyuan True Essence was nearly exhausted.

He could only barely maintain the most basic consumption for "Phantom Step."

The trauma to his Divine Soul was even more like needle pricks—bursts of dull pain, a side effect of forcibly activating the "Ice Fire Annihilation Domain" and "Soul-Shocking Spike."

If not for the Ice Lotus Imprint and the jade booklet's clear glow constantly nurturing him.

And the nourishment from the Soul Power dissipated by the yinhun fruit, he probably would have been unable to hold on long ago.

Leng Ningshuang's situation wasn't much better.

Although the wound on her left shoulder had been bandaged, the Netherworld Power contained in Liu Yunfei's Sword Qi was extremely troublesome.

It constantly eroded her flesh and Meridians, making the wound difficult to heal and instead showing a tendency to worsen.

The shock to her internal organs was also quite severe; her face was as pale as paper, and her breathing was erratic.

She pressed her lips tight, enduring the intense pain as fine beads of cold sweat broke out on her forehead.

But her gaze remained cold and stubborn, never showing a hint of weakness.

The two were silent along the way, each silently circulating their Cultivation Technique.

Absorbing the relatively rich Spiritual Qi in the cavern and using it with Medicinal Pills to slowly repair their injuries.

At this moment, any extra words were a waste of strength.

...

After walking for about half a day, a faint light and the roar of water flowing into a larger body of water came from ahead.

Turning a corner, the view suddenly opened up.

The underground river merged here into a wider, more turbulent underground river channel.

Above the river channel was a massive dome covered in cracks.

Daylight filtered down through the cracks, illuminating both banks of the river.

The air was filled with damp mist and a faint scent of sulfur.

"Following this underground river all the way down is said to lead to the southeast of the Secret Realm, near the 'Ancient Teleportation Array' site. But the journey is long, and there may be dangerous Yao Beasts underwater."

Leng Ningshuang stopped her pace and spoke while panting, her voice weak.

Ye Chen looked at the turbulent river water, then at their current state.

Taking the land route, at their current speed, who knew how long it would take to reach the rendezvous point, and the path would be fraught with danger.

Taking the water route, going with the flow, would be much faster, but the risks were equally immense.

"We'll take the water route. In our state, we can't handle the jolting of the land route or potential ambushes. Underwater dangers are at least easier to guard against than open or hidden attacks on land."

Ye Chen pondered for a moment and made a decision.

He believed that with their current strength and alertness.

As long as they didn't encounter a particularly powerful underwater Yao Beast, they could handle it.

Leng Ningshuang did not object and nodded.

The two found some tough vines on the shore and cut down a few light logs, simply binding them into a crude raft.

Ye Chen then took out several "Water-Warding Talismans" and "Light-Body Talismans" and slapped them onto the raft to increase its stability and speed.

With preparations complete, the two boarded the raft.

Ye Chen used a sharpened long pole to punt the raft, while Leng Ningshuang held her sword on alert.

The raft left the shore and was immediately swept away by the turbulent river, rushing downstream at high speed.

The current was extremely fast, and the raft jolted and tossed in the waves.

The two gripped the edges of the raft to steady themselves, while simultaneously watching the water surface and both banks warily.

The river channel widened and narrowed; the banks were sometimes jagged with rocks and sometimes grew strange, shade-loving plants that emitted a faint glow.

The "daylight" filtering through the dome cracks flickered, creating a bizarre and surreal atmosphere.

The first stretch was relatively calm.

Aside from the roar of the water, there were no abnormalities.

But soon, Ye Chen's Divine Sense captured several massive dark shadows deep underwater.

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It followed the raft at a leisurely pace, emitting a fierce and malevolent aura.

"There is something underwater, be careful."

Ye Chen said in a low voice, gripping his ice scar sword tightly.

Leng Ningshuang also sensed it, and her Zixia Sword had already been unsheathed by half an inch.

Suddenly, the water surface ahead exploded.

A thick, dark green tentacle covered in suckers burst out of the water like a giant python.

Carrying a fishy stench and slime, it fiercely coiled toward Leng Ningshuang on the raft!

At the same time, on the other side, a giant mouth filled with sharp teeth, as large as a millstone, suddenly lunged out from underwater, biting toward Ye Chen!

It was a "Blackwater Mysterious Octopus" and a "Sawtooth Arrow Fish"!

Both were Early Stage Yao Beasts, and in this turbulent underground river, they were fierce hunters.

"Get lost!"

Although Leng Ningshuang was injured, her sword technique remained sharp.

The Zixia Sword flashed, striking the dark green tentacle and emitting the sound of clashing metal.

It only left a shallow white mark and failed to sever it.

The tentacle felt the pain and recoiled violently, but then shot out again like lightning.

At the same time, two more tentacles shot out from underwater, attacking from different directions.

Facing the giant mouth biting toward him, Ye Chen did not dodge or avoid it, gathering the last trace of Hunyuan True Essence onto his ice scar sword.

He stabbed his sword into the wide-open mouth of the Sawtooth Arrow Fish!

It was a simplified application of "Primordial Chaos Destruction Stab", concentrating his power into a single point.

"Puff!"

The sword tip pierced into the upper jaw of the fish mouth, and the Primal Chaos power erupted, instantly shattering its brain.

The Sawtooth Arrow Fish let out a short hiss and sank to the riverbed, its blood dyeing a patch of the river red.

But more black shadows were attracted by the scent of blood.

They gathered from all directions.

There were "Thorn Bone Fish" several zhang long with bodies covered in bone spurs, and "Ghost-Faced Jellyfish" capable of spitting poison.

There was even a "Silver Thread Water Snake" that was smaller in size but incredibly fast, like a silver bolt of lightning.

In an instant, the raft was surrounded by Yao Beasts, and murderous intent lurked everywhere.

"We cannot stay on the water for long! Get to the shore!"

Leng Ningshuang said urgently, swinging her sword to sever an incoming tentacle.

However, she was also shaken, causing her blood and Qi to surge, her wounds to burst open, and blood to dye her shoulder red.

Ye Chen also swung his sword to kill several Thorn Bone Fish that lunged at him.

But under the impact of the Yao Beasts and the pulling of the tentacles, the raft began to disintegrate.

His gaze swept rapidly, and he saw a relatively flat river beach on the front right, not far away.

"Over there! Jump!"

The two exerted force almost simultaneously, stepping off the disintegrating raft, their figures like large birds.

They leaped toward the river beach.

Behind them, the raft was torn to pieces by several tentacles and Yao Beasts.

"Plop!" "Plop!"

The two fell heavily onto the soft sand of the river beach, rolled a few times, aggravated their injuries, and spat out more blood.

But they dared not stop, enduring the intense pain, supporting each other, and quickly moving away from the water's edge.

They hid in a dense cluster of glowing ferns behind the river beach.

The Yao Beasts in the water lost their target, patrolling and hissing at the riverbank for a moment.

Then, intimidated by the unknown on the shore, they slowly retreated back to the deep water area.

Only the river water dyed red by blood and the floating fragments of the raft remained.

"Cough, cough..."

Ye Chen coughed violently, spitting out another mouthful of congested blood mixed with visceral fragments, his face pale as gold paper.

The brief underwater battle just now had once again exhausted the trace of True Essence he had just recovered, and his injuries had worsened.

Leng Ningshuang was not much better off than him, her shoulder wound bleeding profusely.

Her breath was weak, and she could only sit steadily by leaning against the rock wall.

The two looked at each other, both seeing the exhaustion and the relief of surviving a disaster in each other's eyes.

This Hundred Herbs Secret Realm was filled with murderous intent at every step; surviving until now was truly not easy.

"Heal your injuries first."

Ye Chen gritted his teeth, took out the remaining healing Medicinal Pill, gave half to Leng Ningshuang, and took the rest himself.

The two spoke no more, each sitting cross-legged, circulating their Cultivation Technique with all their might, absorbing the relatively pure Spiritual Qi of this place.

Combining it with the medicinal power to repair their bodies.

This healing process took a full three days.

Three days later, Ye Chen was the first to open his eyes.

His injuries had recovered by forty to fifty percent, and his True Essence had recovered by thirty to forty percent, although he was still weak.

But at least he had the basic ability to move and protect himself.

Inside his body, the Hunyuan True Essence, under the circulation of the "Hunyuan One-Qi Art", was slowly and firmly repairing his damaged Meridians, while the Ice Lotus Imprint and the clear radiance of the jade booklet were also nourishing his Divine Soul.

His cultivation at the Third Level of the Wheel Sea Realm could be considered completely stabilized.

He looked at Leng Ningshuang beside him.

She was still in deep meditation, and the wound on her shoulder had already scabbed over.

Her complexion was also a bit more rosy, and her breath was steady and long; obviously, her injuries were also improving.

That cold and stunningly beautiful face, set against the backdrop of the glowing ferns, had lost a bit of its usual sharpness and gained a bit of quiet, gentle beauty.

Ye Chen withdrew his gaze, not disturbing her.

He stood up, walked to the edge of the river beach, and carefully examined the surrounding environment.

This was a relatively enclosed river bend, surrounded by water on three sides and a steep rock wall on one side.

Only this river beach where they landed could provide a foothold, and it was relatively safe.

On the rock wall, some vines and moisture-loving herbs were growing.

He picked some common herbs that could stop bleeding, relieve pain, and restore blood and Qi.

He also used his ice scar sword to chisel a shallow cave in the rock wall as a temporary shelter.

Then, Ye Chen set up simple warning Restrictions and a simplified version of the "Invisibility and Illusion Array" at the entrance of the shallow cave.

Although the effect was far inferior to a complete Formation Plate, it could still serve as a cover and warning.

After finishing this, he sat back down.

He began to check the gains of these past few days.

The Storage Pouches of Liu Yunfei, the Golden Flame Peak Disciple, and the "Shadow Fiend" assassin.

Liu Yunfei's Storage Pouch was the most abundant.

Nearly a thousand Mid-Grade Spirit Stones and several thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

Several Medicinal Pills, Talismans, and Materials, none of which were of low quality.

Several decent Spiritual Artifacts.

Most importantly, he found a Jade Slip recording a fragment of the "Netherworld Sword Art".

As well as several ancient animal skin scrolls recording the ruins of the Netherworld Sect.

From the animal skin scrolls, Ye Chen learned that the damaged altar was indeed a Seal node on the periphery of the Netherworld Sect.

And the "netherworld token" was one of the keys to entering its true core ruins.

Liu Yunfei seemed to have been secretly investigating and plotting against this ruin, attempting to obtain the Legacy or treasures within it.

"This Liu Yunfei had great ambitions, but unfortunately, he went astray, colluded with Golden Flame Peak, and killed his fellow Disciples; he deserves to die."

Ye Chen shook his head and set aside the items related to the Netherworld Sect.

These were too sensitive and needed to be handled with caution.

The Storage Pouch of the Golden Flame Peak Disciple was much poorer, containing only some ordinary resources.

In the "Shadow Fiend" assassin's Storage Pouch, besides the Jade Slip discovered earlier, there were some special poisons and hidden weapons from within the "Shadow Fiend".

And several black jade plaques used for contact and transmitting information, but they were all ineffective.

Ye Chen organized the useful resources and stored them by category.

His net worth had once again increased significantly.

At this moment, Leng Ningshuang also slowly woke up.

She opened her beautiful eyes, her gaze returning to its coldness, her complexion much better, and her injuries seemed to have recovered by forty to fifty percent.

"Junior Brother Ye, thank you."

She looked at Ye Chen and said softly.

If it hadn't been for Ye Chen's arrangements and vigilance these past few days, she probably wouldn't have been able to heal in peace.

"Senior Sister is too polite."

Ye Chen shook his head and handed over the picked herbs and some Medicinal Pills suitable for her injuries.

Leng Ningshuang did not decline; she took them and consumed them.

She looked at the surrounding environment and the simple Restrictions Ye Chen had set up, a trace of appreciation flashing in her eyes.

"Junior Brother Ye is meticulous. This place is still relatively safe; we can rest for another day or two, and then set off for the Ancient Teleportation Array. Calculating the time, the Secret Realm has been open for nearly a month, and there are less than ten days left until it closes."

"Hmm."

Ye Chen nodded.

He was also concerned about meeting up with Zhao Feng and the others, as well as leaving this place of trouble as soon as possible.

The two rested in the shallow cave for another two days.

Their injuries had both recovered by sixty to seventy percent, and their True Essence had recovered by fifty to sixty percent.

Although they had not yet reached their Peak, it would not affect their travel or dealing with general dangers.

On this day, the two left the river bend and headed southeast along the course of the underground river.

They did not venture into the water rashly again, choosing instead to walk on the shore. Although it was a detour, it was safer.

There was no conversation along the way.

Both were taciturn people, and having both experienced life and death, there was a tacit understanding between them that required no words.

A look, a gesture, and they could understand each other's intentions.

Along the way, they encountered some low-level Yao Beasts or poisonous insects, all of which were quickly dealt with by the two, causing no major trouble.

Five days later, the two finally walked out of the complex underground river area and arrived at the southeast of the Secret Realm.

The terrain here was relatively flat, the vegetation was dense, and the concentration of Spiritual Qi was moderate.

It was a relatively safe area marked on the map.

In the distance, one could already see the outline of an ancient, dilapidated square built from huge bluestones.