295: Demon-Beating Sect

Zhou Xiangyu rose.

Looking at Jiang Ningchan, whose pretty face was like frost, he felt no chill.

"Go find the blood-essence grass."

Zhou Xiangyu was in high spirits.

He didn't know if it was because he was about to complete his Family mission or for some other reason.

On Black Yan Peak, Zhou Xiangyu took out a Jade Slip.

He handed it to Jiang Ningchan, who was beside him.

Jiang Ningchan took it, pressed it to her forehead, and a plain-looking red grass appeared in her consciousness.

"This is the blood-essence grass."

Zhou Xiangyu's consciousness spread out as he carefully examined it, then took the Jade Slip back from Jiang Ningchan and said.

"I'll help you."

Jiang Ningchan didn't find it troublesome at all.

Zhou Xiangyu nodded sheepishly, though he had originally intended for Jiang Ningchan to help him search.

"Snow Drifting in the Human Realm."

Jiang Ningchan murmured in her heart, then closed her eyes.

Her hands rapidly changed the magic incantations.

In the high sky, crystal-clear snowflakes suddenly condensed.

They slowly drifted down onto the inky black Black Yan Peak, covering it in a layer of silver.

Snowflakes drifted down, one after another.

A cool sensation permeated the air.

Zhou Xiangyu involuntarily reached out his hand, letting a snowflake land in his palm.

He turned his head to look.

The young girl in the ruqun dress was like an elf in the snow, distant and beautiful.

Zhou Xiangyu's expression froze; he forgot to move.

As the snowflakes gradually covered the mountain peak and melted into the ground, scenes appeared in Jiang Ningchan's mind.

Red blood-essence grasses, whether hidden among broken stones, nestled between plants, or clinging to cliff faces, none escaped Jiang Ningchan's eyes.

After confirming there were no omissions, Jiang Ningchan opened her eyes.

She found Zhou Xiangyu looking at her, somewhat lost in thought.

"Snow is my eyes."

Jiang Ningchan thought Zhou Xiangyu was puzzled by her method, so she explained.

Her tone carried a hint of pride and playfulness, no longer the usual coldness.

"Cough, cough~"

Jiang Ningchan's voice startled Zhou Xiangyu awake.

Zhou Xiangyu coughed a few times, though he didn't know why he needed to cough.

"Fellow Daoist Ning has excellent methods."

Zhou Xiangyu quickly changed the subject, concealing the unknown emotion in his heart.

Jiang Ningchan nodded, calmly accepting Zhou Xiangyu's praise.

Then, with a point of her finger, a snowflake merged into Zhou Xiangyu's forehead.

The snowflake dispersed, revealing a map centered on the two of them.

Within it, glittering dots marked the locations of the blood-essence grass.

"So many!"

Zhou Xiangyu's heart trembled, and he clicked his tongue.

If all the marked blood-essence grasses were collected, the harvest would probably be more than what all the previous Disciples who took on this mission combined had gathered.

"Could it be that all the blood-essence grasses on the entire Black Yan Peak are here?"

Zhou Xiangyu exclaimed in shock.

Hearing this, Jiang Ningchan shook her head.

"Even with snow falling everywhere, there are still omissions."

As her words fell, a thought flashed through her mind.

"The blood-essence grass can escape, but I cannot..."

A hint of melancholy flashed and disappeared.

Having sorted out the images in his mind, Zhou Xiangyu took the lead, flying towards the nearest hiding place of the blood-essence grass.

Jiang Ningchan, with a wave of her hand, melted the vast snow on the mountain and followed closely.

"Boom~"

Zhou Xiangyu's magical power surged from his hand, clearing away a large area of broken stones.

Beneath, three swaying red grasses were revealed.

Zhou Xiangyu took out a jade shovel and carefully dug out the three blood-essence grasses.

He then placed them into an empty Storage Pouch he had prepared.

Afterward, the two of them, without stopping, rushed to the next location.

Four, five... Several hours later, the two stopped.

Zhou Xiangyu glanced at his Storage Pouch.

It was full of harvest.

Although there were still some yet to be collected, Zhou Xiangyu was not going to continue.

Excessive greed was not a good thing, and he also needed to avoid draining the pond to catch all the fish.

Seeing the joy on Zhou Xiangyu's face, Jiang Ningchan's eyes curved slightly.

Zhou Xiangyu held the Storage Pouch, dividing the blood-essence grass inside into two portions.

He took the smaller portion, then handed the remaining larger portion along with the Storage Pouch to Jiang Ningchan.

"Fellow Daoist Ning, this is yours."

"If not for your help, I would have given up on this mission, and I wouldn't have collected a single blood-essence grass."

"However, knowing your temperament, I shamelessly took these."

Zhou Xiangyu said with a smile, knowing that Jiang Ningchan was not one to quibble.

"They are useless to me."

Jiang Ningchan said indifferently.

"But..."

Zhou Xiangyu's heart tensed. He wanted to say that even if she couldn't use them, they could be exchanged for Spirit Stones.

However, before he could finish his sentence, he saw Jiang Ningchan glance at him, then walk down the mountain.

"Alright."

Zhou Xiangyu knew that Jiang Ningchan's demeanor meant her mind was made up, and he couldn't change it.

He could only put the small portion of blood-essence grass back into his Storage Pouch, hung it at his waist, and chased after Jiang Ningchan.

"Fellow Daoist Ning."

"The mission is complete; I must return to the Clan."

The two walked side by side, but their pace grew slower and slower.

Zhou Xiangyu suddenly spoke, feeling a strange discomfort in his heart.

Jiang Ningchan's footsteps paused, then she nodded faintly and continued walking.

"I..."

Zhou Xiangyu felt a bit dejected in his heart. He opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.

He could only follow silently beside Jiang Ningchan, but the dejection in his heart grew stronger.

At this moment, Zhou Xiangyu caught sight of the Storage Pouch at his waist.

A sudden impulse surged in his heart.

"I am a Disciple of the Zhou Family of Qingyang Prefecture. Fellow Daoist has helped me greatly. If Fellow Daoist is willing, I am willing to fulfill my duties as a host."

As his words fell, only the drum-like sound of his heartbeat echoed in Zhou Xiangyu's mind.

Jiang Ningchan's expression trembled, and a look of surprise appeared in her eyes.

It was as if rouge was climbing from her collarbone upwards.

However, when she thought of her own background, the surprise in her eyes turned entirely into sorrow.

"No need..."

Jiang Ningchan spoke with difficulty, just as she was about to refuse.

A majestic Aura suddenly descended from the sky.

"Ants, your fortune has arrived!"

Accompanied by arrogant laughter, a huge spirit boat broke through the clouds and appeared above the two of them.

Several people stood on the spirit boat.

The leader was a young Cultivator, dressed in an embroidered black robe, with a disdainful and indifferent gaze.

Beside him was an old man in grey robes with his hands tucked into his sleeves, his eyes cloudy, exuding a faint, almost imperceptible Aura.

On both sides stood about ten black-clad Disciples emitting black Qi.

Behind them were terrified Cultivators, both old and young, trapped on the spirit boat, apparently captured.

A banner fluttered in the wind, bearing the words 'chimo (lashing demon)'.

"Chimo Sect (Lashing Demon Gate)..."

Zhou Xiangyu was horrified.

"Don't be impulsive!"

As Zhou Xiangyu was horrified, the chill beside him suddenly intensified.

Zhou Xiangyu, disregarding everything else, grabbed Jiang Ningchan's arm, shielded her behind him, and hastily whispered.

He had felt the faint Aura from the grey-robed old man in his Clan.

That was the might only a Golden Core True Person possessed!

Even if Jiang Ningchan's talent was high, being younger than him, she could not possibly be an opponent for a Golden Core True Person.

Therefore, only by acting according to the situation would there be a glimmer of hope for survival.