396: Beauty Saves the Hero

"Ptooey! Ptooey! Ptooey!"

Zhou Nanyou pulled his head out of the dirt.

His eyes quickly scanned the surroundings, confirming that no one else was present.

Only then did he let out a sigh of relief.

He circulated his Magic Power, removing the dirt from his head.

Zhou Nanyou then set off again, chasing after Zhou Nanchu, whose figure was almost out of sight.

"Brother Chu, you're too ruthless."

Zhou Nanyou's eyes were full of resentment, making Zhou Nanchu shiver.

"Heh heh."

"You know very well yourself."

Zhou Nanchu sneered.

"Heh heh..." Zhou Nanyou gave a dry laugh, rubbed the back of his head, and stopped provoking Zhou Nanchu.

The two of them changed directions from time to time.

Inside Zhou Nanchu's sleeve, a section of greenish-blue bailuo vine seemed somewhat excited... "We're here."

Outside a valley shrouded in deep black Qi.

The two figures stopped.

They quietly observed the valley enveloped in deep black Qi.

"The Family Map marks this place as potentially containing a Great Yao."

Zhou Nanyou looked hesitant.

The color used to mark this location on the Map was different from other places.

It was a symbol of danger.

"It's fine."

"Wait for me outside; I'll go in and take a look."

Zhou Nanchu shook his head.

Sensing the excitement coming from his sleeve, and confirming after careful detection that there was no powerful Yao Beast aura.

Zhou Nanchu decided to sneak into the valley to investigate.

"I'll go with you."

Zhou Nanyou paused after hearing Zhou Nangu's words, then spoke.

Both of them were Prodigies of the Zhou Family's nan generation.

Zhou Nanyou also possessed Qi Refining Level Seven cultivation.

Each of them possessed Life-Saving Items.

Even if they encountered an enemy in the Foundation Establishment Stage, they could hold out for a moment, activate a Teleportation Talisman, and escape with their lives.

"Alright."

Zhou Nanchu nodded; together, their strength would be greater.

"One Leaf Obscures the Eye!"

Zhou Nanchu took out a palm-sized leaf from the Storage Pouch at his waist.

He chanted softly in his mind, and a faint radiance circulated and changed.

Subsequently.

The leaf seemed to sense something and slowly transformed into a deep black color.

The light radiating from it also turned pitch black, resembling the valley.

"It's done."

Zhou Nanchu's heart stirred.

This Obscuring Leaf was acquired through auction at the Ming Pavilion.

It possessed the miraculous effect of blending its aura with the surrounding environment.

Covered by this black radiance.

The two of them could be considered part of the valley.

"Let's go."

Zhou Nanchu's expression relaxed slightly.

The pitch-black, palm-sized leaf floated above their heads.

The two lightly moved forward.

And submerged into the valley.

Inside the valley.

It was deathly silent.

Visibility was obstructed, and their spiritual sense could only extend a few zhang.

Fortunately, they had the guidance of the bailuo vine in Zhou Nanchu's sleeve.

Only then were they able to discern their direction.

They groped their way forward, step by step.

After an unknown amount of time.

Suddenly, a hint of green entered their line of sight.

The green was faint, yet it shone so brightly in the pitch darkness.

"Is that..."

Zhou Nanchu and the other looked at each other.

They quietly increased their speed.

Before long, they arrived not far from the hint of green.

Besides the customary silence, there seemed to be nothing else present in the valley.

"Is this a Strange Iris Flower?"

In front of the two of them.

Stood a Spiritual Plant about a chi tall, with six green leaves and a palm-sized green flower.

"Green leaves, green flower, the Strange Iris forms the bloom."

The palm-sized green flower resembled a kite spreading its wings, ready to take flight.

"A Tier Three Spiritual Treasure..."

Both of them were somewhat shocked.

They hadn't expected to encounter a Tier Three Spiritual Treasure on their very first trip inside.

"This must definitely be guarded by a Great Yao."

Zhou Nanyou's expression was solemn.

Zhou Nanchu knew this as well.

He raised his right hand, revealing a greenish-blue vine coiled together.

"No wonder the bailuo vine was attracted here."

Zhou Nanchu sighed inwardly.

The bailuo vine's excitement wasn't due to the Tier Three Strange Iris Flower, but rather the several drops of crystal clear Spiritual Liquid resting between the petal-wings of the palm-sized iris-shaped flower.

"A Tier Two Spiritual Liquid, Iris Core Liquid."

"It is one of the most effective Spiritual Liquids for promoting the advancement of Spiritual Plants..."

Zhou Nanchu and Zhou Nanyou exchanged glances.

Zhou Nanyou nodded.

He knew that if they missed this opportunity.

They might not encounter it again next time.

"Get ready."

Zhou Nanchu mouthed the words to Zhou Nanyou.

Zhou Nanyou nodded.

A Minor Teleportation Talisman appeared in his hand.

Zhou Nanchu extended his right hand.

The greenish-blue vine slowly reached towards the Spiritual Liquid in the green flower.

Buzz~

The greenish-blue vine turned into an afterimage, and in an instant, one drop of Iris Core Liquid was absorbed by the vine.

"Go!"

Zhou Nanchu turned around, pulling Zhou Nanyou, and rapidly retreated out of the valley.

Boom!

Just as the vine absorbed a drop of Iris Core Liquid.

Inside the valley.

A dense, deep black color surged.

Rushing towards the depths of the valley floor.

"Screech!"

A tremendous shriek echoed from the bottom of the valley.

Bang!

With a bang, Zhou Nanyou crushed the Minor Teleportation Talisman in his hand.

As the deep black Qi surged, the two vanished from the spot.

They reappeared a hundred li outside the valley.

Before the two could catch their breath.

They saw black clouds rising from the valley, filling the sky.

Spreading out in all directions.

From within the black clouds, palm-sized Bat Beasts suddenly flew out.

"Damn it, they are Tier Two Night Bat Yaos..."

Sensing the auras scattering from the black clouds, Zhou Nanchu's expression changed.

Another Minor Teleportation Talisman was crushed.

The two figures vanished from the spot again.

However, just before the two vanished, black, palm-sized bats were already flying rapidly towards their location, clearly having discovered the uninvited Zhou Nanchu and Zhou Nanyou.

Night Bat Yaos are best known for speed and tracking.

At the place where Zhou Nanchu and the other vanished, black clouds gathered and then dispersed again... Somewhere in the Mei Ling Secret Realm.

Two figures abruptly appeared.

"They're still chasing!"

Zhou Nanyou felt like spitting blood internally.

They saw another black cloud quickly gathering in the sky behind them.

"We only have the last Teleportation Talisman left."

The two did not stop, running towards the distance.

Zhou Nanyou held the last Talisman in his hand but did not crush it immediately, speaking to Zhou Nanchu instead.

The two had used up as many as five Minor Teleportation Talismans during their escape.

Now, only this last one remained.

"Give me the Talisman."

Zhou Nanchu spoke.

Zhou Nanyou didn't understand why, but he still handed over the Talisman he held.

Before Zhou Nanyou could ask in confusion.

Zhou Nanchu slapped the Minor Teleportation Talisman onto Zhou Nanyou's body, pouring Magic Power into it and activating it.

"You go first."

Zhou Nanchu's voice reached Zhou Nanyou's ears just as Zhou Nanyou reappeared a hundred li away.

Only, Zhou Nanchu's figure was not beside him.

"Drive the Tiger to Swallow the Wolf."

After Zhou Nanyou vanished, Zhou Nanchu's mind raced, and the specialized Map, which recorded the initially explored territories, flashed through his mind.

"I just don't know if I'll make it in time..."

Zhou Nanchu's heart tightened.

He quickly fled towards the nearest danger-marked location.

"Screech!"

A tremendous shriek came out from within the black cloud.

Bang!

Zhou Nanchu's body paused.

The Jade Pendant at his waist shattered.

"Damn it!"

Zhou Nanchu's expression changed drastically; that single shriek had consumed one of his Life-Saving Spiritual Pendants.

Boom!

Just at this moment.

A gigantic phantom image of a Five-Colored Fox rose up in the distance ahead.

A massive pressure slowly spread out.

Boom!

In the distance, the black cloud paused.

The fox phantom rising in the distance made it feel a lingering fear.

A moment later.

The Night Bat Yao gave up on the chase and turned to fly back toward the valley.

"Phew~"

Zhou Nanchu let out a long breath.

"What a loss, what a loss..."

He muttered to himself.

"Zhou Nanchu!"

A petite figure wearing a long pink dress jumped down from the top of a tall tree.

"Just now, was that you?"

Zhou Nanchu looked at the suddenly appearing Hu Xiaohe, thinking of the fox phantom with the Five-Colored Tail that had just manifested.

"Of course. I, Young Miss, saved your life, so you have to promise to repay me, Young Miss."

Hu Xiaohe beamed with joy.

"You, how is that possible?"

Zhou Nanchu was utterly shocked.

"Heh heh, this is my exclusive Divine Ability, Fox Borrows Tiger's Might!"

"However, it only has the effect of bluffing..."

As she spoke, Hu Xiaohe started to feel a little embarrassed.

"Fox Borrows Tiger's Might? Is that a compliment? Also, why did you just reveal your secret like that?" Zhou Nanchu rubbed his forehead, complaining endlessly in his heart.

"Thank you, Young Miss Xiaohe, for saving my life!"

Although Zhou Nanchu was complaining internally, his body performed a dignified bow of thanks.