656: The Spirit Ruins reappear, and the desolate grass stirs strangely.

The wind of the Lingxu Realm no longer held its former clear, moist Vitality; instead, it was replaced by a thick, inseparable evil energy that stung the skin like needles. Li Fan, Zhao Hu, and Su Miao crushed their cross-realm teleportation talismans, landing by the Reincarnation Pool in the Lingxu Realm amidst shifting light and shadow. The spiritual soil beneath their feet had lost its lush green, now tinged with an eerie grayish-black. The Reincarnation Spiritual Qi in the pool had also become murky, faintly laced with wisps of black energy—sharing the same Origin as the evil aura from Changbai Mountain, yet adding a sense of desolate, cold silence.

“How did the Lingxu Realm turn into this?” Zhao Hu frowned, his Golden Core Stage crimson-gold Battle Qi instinctively circulating. The fierce Battle Qi of the Huaxia Battle Qi Art - Final Chapter formed a protective light shield, isolating the surrounding evil energy. “Even the Spiritual Qi of the Reincarnation Pool is contaminated; something must have truly happened to the reincarnation silent grass!”

Su Miao’s expression was grave as she took three Pure Heart Grass Rings, infused with dual realm grass juice, from her medicine basket and handed them to the two men. “This evil energy is highly corrosive, denser than what we encountered last time. These rings will strengthen your mental defenses. The reincarnation silent grass is a companion plant of the Reincarnation Pool and is extremely sensitive; if it acts up, it means the evil contamination has touched the Origin Vitality of the Lingxu Realm.”

Li Fan's War Immortal Battle Qi flowed quietly, his Golden Core Level 2 aura steady and heavy. The chiyou mark on his brow was increasingly restrained, suppressed by the righteous energy of the Dragon Vein. The hongmeng fragment on his chest vibrated slightly, emitting a warm, purifying spiritual light. As he activated the Dragon Vein Perception Technique, he could clearly sense the chaotic Spiritual Qi deep within the Reincarnation Pool. A strand of pure evil energy was spreading from where the reincarnation silent grass grew, faintly connecting the boundary walls of the Lingxu Realm and the Xuanhuang Realm.

“Follow me. The silent grass grows in the valley at the source of the Reincarnation Pool. We must hurry so the evil energy doesn't completely erode the plant's Meridians!” Li Fan made a prompt decision, activating his Light Body Technique. His figure moved like lightning, dashing toward the valley. Zhao Hu and Su Miao followed closely, their figures darting quickly through the gray, hazy spiritual forest.

The closer they got to the valley, the denser the evil energy became. The Spiritual Plants along the way had all withered and turned black, their leaves covered in spiderweb-like corrosive marks. Occasionally, they encountered Low Grade Spirit Essences driven mad by the evil energy; upon seeing the trio, they lunged with roars, only to be crushed by Zhao Hu's punches. The noble righteous energy of the Dragon Vein within his Battle Qi instantly purified the evil energy inside them.

Half an hour later, the three arrived at the growth site of the reincarnation silent grass. The sight before them made their hearts sink: on the slopes of both banks of the valley, the reincarnation silent grass—which should have been pure white and emitting Reincarnation spiritual light—now had blackened, withered leaf edges. Gray-black evil mist coiled around the stalks, and within the mist, tiny phantoms of evil spirits wriggled, emitting a nauseating stench. More bizarrely, the cores of some silent grass had turned blackish-red, constantly leaking evil energy and forming a small evil mist zone that shrouded the entire valley.

“This won't do; the evil mist has already invaded the grass cores. Any later and the silent grass will be completely ruined!” Su Miao said urgently. She could clearly feel the Vitality of the silent grass draining away, as the Power of Reincarnation within its Meridians was being swallowed and converted by the evil energy.

Li Fan’s gaze was sharp as he quickly formulated a plan: “Su Miao, use your Spirit Plant Technique to set up an isolation barrier. Combine it with the properties of the dual realm grass to separate the contaminated silent grass from the healthy ones and prevent the evil energy from spreading. Zhao Hu, use the fierce Battle Qi of the Huaxia Battle Qi Art - Final Chapter to disperse the evil mist over the valley and gain space for purification. I will channel the Dragon Vein Power into my War Immortal Battle Qi to strike the core of the evil energy in the silent grass and purify its Meridians!”

“Understood!” the two responded in unison, their division of labor clear and their coordination seamless.

Su Miao formed hand seals and chanted Spiritual Plant incantations. The Spirit Plant Guardian Art and the Dual Realm Grass Cultivation Art merged perfectly. Countless tough, emerald-green spiritual vines instantly sprouted from the spiritual soil beneath her feet, blooming with purifying spiritual flowers. They quickly wove into a massive circular barrier, encircling the contaminated silent grass. The spiritual flowers on the barrier frantically absorbed the evil mist, converting it into vital Spiritual Qi. This both blocked the leak of evil energy and preserved a glimmer of life for the silent grass. The cross-realm nature of the dual realm grass allowed the barrier to simultaneously resist the Lingxu evil spirits and the void evil energy outside the boundary wall, providing a defensive effect far superior to ordinary Spiritual Plant barriers.

Zhao Hu’s body was wreathed in blazing red-gold Battle Qi. He pushed the Dragon Vein Battle Qi of the Huaxia Battle Qi Art - Final Chapter to its limit, his fists striking like cannonballs against the evil mist above the valley. His fierce Battle Qi, carrying noble righteous energy, tore through the thick black mist like a gale sweeping away fallen leaves, revealing a patch of clear sky. Sunlight pierced through the clouds, aiding the purification. With every punch he threw, large swaths of evil mist were shattered, the evil energy purified by his Battle Qi and dissipating into wisps of blue smoke.

Li Fan seized the opportunity and leaped into the center of the barrier. The war immortal golden core in his Dantian spun frantically as he pushed the Dragon Vein Battle Qi Application Technique to its Peak, drawing the pure righteous energy of the huaxia dragon vein, which surged into his War Immortal Battle Qi like a racing river. Instantly, his War Immortal Battle Qi surged. The red-gold Battle Qi was entwined with milky-white Dragon Vein spiritual light and Hongmeng Spiritual Qi, forming a tri-colored Battle Qi pillar. Carrying a noble pressure that awed evil spirits, it struck directly at the evil core of the silent grass.

This strand of War Immortal Battle Qi could be called the nemesis of evil spirits—the Dragon Vein righteous energy was noble and pure, specifically countering yin-evil; the Hongmeng Spiritual Qi purified all things, capable of uprooting evil energy; and the War Immortal Battle Qi was fierce and sharp, able to pierce through evil barriers. As the tri-colored Battle Qi poured into the silent grass, it collided violently with the evil energy in the core, making a sizzling purification sound. The black-red evil energy retreated rapidly like melting snow, and the pure white Reincarnation spiritual light shone once again on the stalks.

The three coordinated flawlessly: Su Miao’s barrier was as steady as a rock, Zhao Hu’s Battle Qi dispersed the mist, and Li Fan’s purification struck the core. The moment the evil energy was completely forced out of the last contaminated silent grass and its leaves regained their pure white luster, two crisp 'clatters' sounded in succession as two Jade Slips dropped from the spiritual light.

The first Jade Slip was entirely emerald green, carved with patterns of Spiritual Plants and Battle Qi intertwined. It was the Silent Grass Abnormality Handling Technique (High-Grade Low-Rank Cultivation Technique)! This technique detailed the methods for dealing with abnormalities in Lingxu Origin Spiritual Plants like the reincarnation silent grass, including isolation, mist dispersal, purification, and restoration—a complete process to precisely solve the evil energy erosion of Spiritual Plants, making it a core method for guarding the Vitality of the Spirit Ruins.

The second Jade Slip was a blend of three colors, titled Cross-Realm Collaborative Purification Technique (High-Grade Low-Rank Cultivation Technique)! This technique could maximize the purification combat power of a cross-realm team, perfectly synergizing the three forces of cultivation Battle Qi, Spiritual Plant purification, and martial arts ferocity. It formed a purification force far exceeding that of a single system, providing great benefit for cross-realm purging of evil spirits and protecting the Vitality of multiple realms.

Li Fan and the others scanned with their Divine Thoughts and instantly grasped the Profound Truths of the techniques. Their auras became increasingly compatible, and their cooperation grew even more seamless. Su Miao could use the technique to enhance the barrier's purification effect, Zhao Hu’s Battle Qi could gain a purification attribute, and the purification power of Li Fan’s War Immortal Battle Qi doubled once more.

Just then, an old and gentle voice came from the depths of the valley: “Such pure War Immortal spiritual qi and Hongmeng purification power, to be able to stabilize the silent grass abnormality so quickly. You truly are the guardian inheritors connecting the two realms!”

Before the voice had even faded, a massive tree shadow slowly walked out from the depths of the valley. The shadow was several zhang tall, with gnarled branches and leaves shimmering with a faint Reincarnation spiritual light. It was the Tree Spirit Elder of the Lingxu Realm, a direct descendant of the Qing Lan Lineage, who had guarded the reincarnation silent grass for centuries. He was surrounded by pure Spiritual Plant Spiritual Qi, his eyes gentle yet weathered. His gaze fell upon Li Fan, paying special attention to the hongmeng fragment on his chest and the War Immortal spiritual light around him.

“Greetings, Tree Spirit Elder!” Li Fan and the others bowed in respect. They had heard Qing Feng mention the Tree Spirit Elder and knew he was a figure akin to a Sea-Calming Divine Needle in the Lingxu Realm.

The Tree Spirit Elder nodded slightly, his eyes full of praise. “Young friend Li Fan, you possess the hongmeng fragment, the Dragon Vein Legacy, and the power of the War Immortal. You are the only Cultivator who can simultaneously deal with the Lingxu evil energy and the void energy of the boundary wall. Seeing the seamless coordination between your Spiritual Plant purification and War Immortal power, I specially grant you the Lingxu War Immortal Convergence Technique to help you perfectly merge Spirit Plant Techniques with War Immortal Battle Qi. This will increase your efficiency in purifying evil spirits by another fifty percent.”

With that, a streak of emerald spiritual light floated from the Tree Spirit Elder's branches, condensing into a Jade Slip that slowly landed in Li Fan's hand—it was the Lingxu War Immortal Convergence Technique (High-Grade Medium-Rank Cultivation Technique)! This technique was a secret of the Qing Lan Lineage, allowing a Cultivator to use War Immortal Battle Qi as a blade and Spiritual Plant Spiritual Qi as a shield. The two complemented each other, enabling one to break evil with Battle Qi and heal or purify with Spiritual Plants—an excellent method for cross-realm protection.

Li Fan thanked him solemnly. His Divine Thought swept over the Jade Slip, and he instantly grasped its Profound Truths. He tried to activate the technique, and as a strand of Su Miao’s Spiritual Plant Spiritual Qi merged into his War Immortal Battle Qi, it indeed became more gentle. While purifying evil energy, it could also nourish living beings, its power surpassing what it was before.

To allow the reincarnation silent grass to fully recover, Su Miao decided to water the plant Meridians with Lingxu Origin spiritual liquid. Just as she leaned down toward the silent grass and prepared to cast the Spirit Plant Restoration Technique, a stalk of silent grass that had just regained its Vitality suddenly erupted with a wisp of residual evil energy, shooting toward her face—this was a final, hidden, and poisonous counterattack of the evil energy.

“Watch out!” Li Fan was quick to react. Almost instinctively, his War Immortal Battle Qi surged as he stepped in front of Su Miao, fully deploying the Grandmist Shield to completely purify that wisp of evil energy. This was his subconscious act of protecting his companion, perfectly aligning with the rules for guardian drops.

At that moment, a surge of pure Reincarnation Spiritual Qi suddenly gushed from the stream at the source of the Reincarnation Pool, resonating strongly with the purified silent grass. All the reincarnation silent grass bloomed with brilliant spiritual light simultaneously, and gold-and-red fruits condensed in the grass cores. The fruits were entwined with War Immortal spiritual light and Reincarnation Spiritual Qi—they were War Immortal Reincarnation Fruits!

“These are War Immortal Reincarnation Fruits, treasures condensed by the silent grass after absorbing War Immortal power and Reincarnation Spiritual Qi. Consuming them can make a Golden Core Cultivator's foundation more solid and enhance the compatibility between War Immortal power and the Power of Reincarnation!” the Tree Spirit Elder said in pleasant surprise.

Li Fan plucked a War Immortal Reincarnation Fruit, placed it in his mouth, chewed, and swallowed. A surge of pure, thick power instantly flooded his body, heading straight through his Meridians to the war immortal golden core in his Dantian. This power had both the gentleness of Reincarnation Spiritual Qi and the ferocity of War Immortal spiritual light, merging perfectly with his war immortal golden core. The Golden Core instantly expanded, the War Immortal runes and Dragon Vein totems on its surface becoming clearer. His foundation became as solid as a rock, and his aura grew heavier and more refined.

The moment he consumed the fruit, a crisp 'clatter' sounded, and a Jade Slip dropped from the spiritual light—Reincarnation Fruit Advanced Application (High-Grade Low-Rank Cultivation Technique)! This technique could maximize the effects of the War Immortal Reincarnation Fruit, not only for direct consumption to improve cultivation but also for integrating the fruit into Medicinal Pills and Magical Artifacts to boost War Immortal power and purification effects. It was of immense value.

Watching this, the Tree Spirit Elder’s expression gradually became grave. “Young friend Li Fan, though you have stabilized the silent grass, it is only a temporary fix. This evil energy does not originate from within the Lingxu Realm, but has seeped in from the gap space between the Lingxu Realm and the Xuanhuang Realm. That gap space is a weak zone between the two realms, and it has now been occupied by new evil spirits. They are establishing a new nest there, refining evil battle artifacts using the Spiritual Qi of both realms. If they are not purged in time, both realms will be completely contaminated by evil energy before long.”

These words caused the expressions of Li Fan and the others to sink. The gap space between the realms was exactly the place vaguely mentioned in the previous evil spirit relics; they hadn't expected it to already become a new breeding ground for evil spirits.

Li Fan tightened his grip on the Lingxu War Immortal Convergence Technique Jade Slip. Feeling the solidified war immortal golden core within him, his eyes were full of determination. “Elder, rest assured. the three of us are willing to go to the gap space to purge the new nest of evil spirits and protect the peace of both realms!”

Zhao Hu also clenched his fists, his Battle Intent soaring. “It’s just as well to let these new evil spirits taste our power and let them know what War Immortal power is!” Su Miao also nodded. “I will use Spirit Plant Techniques to set up a purification array and assist you in purging the evil spirits. I won't let the evil energy spread any further.”

The Tree Spirit Elder nodded with relief and handed Li Fan a simple map of the gap space. “This is a map of the gap between the two realms, marking the approximate location of the new evil spirit nest. You must be careful; the evil spirits there have already grown in scale, and their leader likely has a cultivation at the Middle Stage of the Golden Core.”

Li Fan took the map and stowed it away solemnly. The three rested in the valley for a while. Li Fan consolidated his Golden Core Level 2 cultivation, while Zhao Hu and Su Miao also improved slightly with the help of the silent grass's spiritual light. As the sun set, casting their long shadows, they bid farewell to the Tree Spirit Elder and walked toward the gap space between the Lingxu Realm and the Xuanhuang Realm. A campaign to purge the new nest of evil spirits had slowly begun at the edge of the two realms.