168: It's good that it's in chaos.

The rain fell heavier and heavier.

This rain seemed to drench everything from Soul Severing Gorge all the way to the Corpse Yin Sect, carrying a thick scent of blood and the lingering smell of gunpowder smoke.

Inside Qingming Hall, Gu Changsheng stood by the window with his hands behind his back. His heterochromatic eyes reflected the gloomy sky outside, looking like two bottomless, withered wells.

Deep within his Sea of Consciousness, the system panel was refreshing frantically like a waterfall, the crimson script appearing exceptionally piercing at this moment.

【Special Grade War Report Refreshed!】

【Location: Soul Severing Gorge.】

【Event: The Righteous Path Alliance broke the formation. The Grand Elder of the Wang Clan Immortal Family, 'True Person Chi Li,' unleashed his Lifebound Treasure, the 'Lihuo Heaven-Burning Mirror,' forcibly burning a tributary of the Myriad Fiends Blood River dry.】

【Casualties: Wan Sha Hall lost seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators and over a thousand in Qi Refining. Blood Fiend Master was ambushed by the Dean of Qingsong Daoist Academy, losing an arm and retreating to the main hall.】

【Chain Reaction: Corpse Yin Sect and Ten Thousand Poisons Sect were forced to send reinforcements. Immortal Master Sect Master Youquan has ordered two Late Foundation Establishment Stage Elders and five hundred Inner Sect Disciples to be deployed to the front lines immediately.】

“Chaos is good.”

Gu Changsheng lightly tapped his fingertips against the windowsill, his lips curling into a very faint arc.

The more fiercely they fought on the front lines and the more people died, the muddier the waters became back here.

Just half an hour ago, Immortal Master Sect Master Youquan had paid a hurried visit.

That old ghost's face looked as terrible as if he had just swallowed a dead fly. Not only did he deliver the spare keys to the Sect's treasury, but he also left behind the words, “The Sect's safety depends entirely on you, Fellow Daoist,” before diving into the Earth Fire Chamber.

The intelligence showed that Sect Master Youquan was afraid.

He was refining a life-saving secret treasure called the “Death-Substitute Corpse Puppet,” attempting to secure an extra escape route in case the city fell.

“Perfect.”

Gu Changsheng turned around, his gaze sweeping across the empty hall.

Currently, the Corpse Yin Sect's elites were all out, and the Sect Revered Master was in seclusion.

This demonic den with a thousand-year Legacy was like a young girl who had stripped off all her defenses, laid bare before him.

“Pass down my orders.”

Gu Changsheng spoke calmly to the Void Realm, his voice following the ley lines of the Mountain-Protecting Grand Formation, instantly spreading throughout the entire Sect.

“I intend to practice the Wither and Flourish Grand Formation in the back mountain. From this moment on, the area within fifty miles of the back mountain is designated a Forbidden Ground. Any who enter without permission will have their souls extracted and refined, never to be reincarnated for all eternity.”

His voice was cold, carrying an unquestionable authority.

The low-level Disciples staying behind shrank their necks in fear upon hearing this, not even daring to cast a single glance toward the back mountain.

The area was cleared.

With a wave of Gu Changsheng’s wide sleeve, the hall doors slammed shut.

He sat cross-legged back on his cloud bed, his hands forming seals as a massive water mirror slowly unfolded before him.

The images in the mirror shifted, finally settling on a thin and weak figure.

It was Chen Mu.

This “piglet” he had carefully raised for half a month was finally ready for the slaughter... Deep within the back mountain, in the Misty Swamp.

The mist here displayed a bizarre pinkish-purple hue, a product of years of rotting vegetation mixed with toxic underground gases. An ordinary Cultivator would hallucinate or even suffer a reversal of their True Essence after inhaling just one breath.

But Chen Mu felt nothing.

Holding his nicked iron sword, he trudged through the muddy layer of humus.

The youth's face bore a sickly excitement, and his eyes were frighteningly bright.

“Seven-Leaf Fire Lingzhi... it’s just ahead.”

“As long as I get it, Revered Master said I can establish a Supreme Dao Foundation, and no one will ever dare to bully me again!”

Chen Mu constantly encouraged himself in his heart.

He didn't know that at this moment, in the eyes of a certain existence, he was like a walking piece of top-grade braised meat.

As he went deeper, a strange fragrance began to permeate the swamp.

This fragrance was not floral, nor was it like rouge or powder.

Instead, it was a mellow sweetness originating from the very Origin of life, like a ripe immortal peach or a freshly refined Spirit Pill.

This was the scent of 'Spirit Fragrance Marrow.'

It was the essence refined by the parasitic flower inside his body, which was burning all of his potential and Lifespan.

Chen Mu himself couldn't smell it.

But he could feel that the surrounding environment had changed.

The originally deathly silent swamp suddenly became “lively.”

Rustle, rustle, rustle.

Countless dark red vines poked their heads out from under the mud, like greedy venomous snakes, quietly following behind him.

Cannibal flowers by the roadside opened their bloody maws, dripping viscous venom, yet the moment Chen Mu approached, they lowered their heads as if in submission. Their petals trembled slightly, seemingly trying their best to restrain their instinct to devour.

“All-Spirit Affinity Body... truly powerful.”

Seeing this, Chen Mu felt even more profound admiration for that “Azure Emperor Remnant Soul.”

Even these ferocious creatures bowed to him; he truly was the chosen one!

Just then.

“Wah—”

A cry rang out without warning from deep within the mist.

The voice was crisp and tender, carrying a hint of grievance, like a lost infant looking for its mother.

In this eerie and terrifying back mountain of a demonic Sect, this crying sound didn't feel the least bit heartwarming; instead, it carried a chill that pierced to the bone.

Chen Mu’s footsteps paused, his palms holding the sword drenched in cold sweat.

“Who?!”

He barked out a low shout, his voice trembling slightly.

No one responded.

Only that crying continued, intermittent, shifting from left to right, as if luring him to go deeper.

Inside Qingming Hall.

Gu Changsheng watched the images in the water mirror. His originally lazy posture instantly vanished as he leaned forward slightly.

“It’s here.”

Deep within his pupils, the two Qi of Wither and Flourish circulated. Piercing through the layers of mist, he locked onto a tiny point of light.

It was a creature only the size of a palm.

Its entire body was crystal clear, as if carved from the finest emerald. Its appearance closely resembled a curled-up infant, but a lush green lotus-leaf-like cap grew on its head.

The Yi Wood Spirit Infant.

A Wood-attribute sacred object of ultimate purity in the world. It was said there was only a slight probability of one being born within the heartwood of a ten-thousand-year-old ancient tree.

Not only could it extend one's Lifespan, but it was also an excellent vessel for cultivating an external Incarnation.

At this moment, the little thing was hiding behind a massive, rotting ancient tree, poking out half of its small head. Its pure, flawless large eyes were full of longing and struggle.

It was staring fixedly at Chen Mu.

Or rather, it was staring at the parasitic flower on Chen Mu's leg that was emitting a fatal temptation.

That was an aura of the same Origin.

It was a supreme tonic that could allow it to evolve and transform.

“Eat him... eat him and I can grow up...”

A greed born from instinct was slowly eroding its natural vigilance.

“Wah—”

It cried out again, its form turning into a green light. It left an afterimage in the mist as it instantly closed the distance to Chen Mu.

Chen Mu only felt his vision blur.

The mist ten zhang ahead dispersed, and a glowing little thing appeared in his sight.

“Is this... a Fire Lingzhi that has become a spirit?”

Chen Mu's breath hitched, his heart pounding wildly.

Although it didn't quite match the description of a Lingzhi, this overwhelming Spiritual Qi was definitely a treasure!

Without further hesitation, he pushed off with his feet, pouncing forward like an arrow released from a bowstring.

Closer.

Five zhang.

Three zhang.

The Yi Wood Spirit Infant seemed to be paralyzed with fear, actually staying in place without moving. However, a hint of human-like cunning flashed in its large eyes.

Just as Chen Mu's fingers were about to touch that ball of green light.

Inside Qingming Hall, Gu Changsheng suddenly gave a cold laugh.

“Fool.”

“Every Heaven And Earth Treasure is bound to be guarded by a Yao Beast. You think it's paralyzed with fear? It’s waiting for its delivery to arrive.”

Before his voice had even faded.

BOOM!!!

The mud beneath Chen Mu's feet violently exploded.

A black shadow, like black lightning, carrying a nauseating foul wind, lunged out from underground.

It was a giant rat as large as a bull calf, its body covered in black fur like steel needles, and two fangs gleaming with a ghostly blue toxic light.

A Peak Second-Order Yao Beast—the Spirit-Devouring Rat!

This beast had clearly been lying in wait for a long time. It had been lurking beside the Spirit Infant, waiting for its prey to take the bait.