115: The fairy's request, the Nine Netherworlds devour souls.

Inside Hundred Flowers Valley, Spiritual Qi permeated, and the scent of medicine filled the air.

Fairy Qinghua's question made Li Ao's expression turn serious. He knew this was the core of their transaction.

"This Junior does not know, please enlighten me, Fairy," Li Ao said, cupping his hands.

Fairy Qinghua's gaze was distant, as if piercing through time, returning to a distant past, her voice carrying a hint of imperceptible heaviness: "That old friend of mine, named 'Hua Yu,' is my closest confidante. Several centuries ago, to help me gather a life-saving Spirit Medicine, she ventured alone into the continent's forbidden land, the 'Nine Serene Yellow Springs Eye,' and was unfortunately invaded at her Origin by the 'nine nether soul-devouring miasma' that had been nurtured there for ten thousand years."

"This miasma is incredibly malicious, formless and intangible, specifically devouring the Soul Origin. Moreover, it can continuously draw Death Qi from the Nine Serene to strengthen itself. For centuries, I have used the Hundred Flowers Valley's great life-force Formation to temporarily Seal it within Hua Yu's heart pulse, and sustained her last sliver of life with countless Spirit Medicines. But even then, I could only slow the speed at which her Soul was completely devoured; I could not eradicate it."

She looked at Li Ao, her gaze sharpening: "Ordinary flames and purification powers have minimal effect on this miasma, and may even provoke it to retaliate. Only an extremely Yin and cold Strange Fire, or… a supreme Rule Power containing the Concept of 'ending' and 'returning to nothingness,' can fundamentally sever and annihilate it, along with its connection to the Nine Serene!"

"Your Void Swallowing Flame Child Fire, though not the Origin, already shows nascent signs of its 'devouring' and 'void' characteristics. More crucially, the Annihilation Rule you control, with its essence of 'returning to nothingness,' is precisely the bane of this nine nether soul-devouring miasma!"

Li Ao suddenly understood. So, what Fairy Qinghua valued was his unique Annihilation Rule Power.

"How does Fairy need this Junior to proceed?" Li Ao asked directly.

"I need you to use the Annihilation Rule as the core, supplemented by the Void Swallowing Flame Child Fire, to enter the Seal within Hua Yu's heart pulse, find the core of that nine nether soul-devouring miasma, and completely… Annihilate it!" Fairy Qinghua's tone was solemn. "This process is extremely dangerous. The miasma is already entangled with parts of Hua Yu's Soul. The slightest mistake will not only negate all efforts, causing Hua Yu's Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, but your Soul may also be backlashed by the miasma and fall into the Nine Serene!"

Upon hearing this, Medusa's purple eyes flickered slightly as she looked at Li Ao.

Li Ao pondered for a moment, his eyes showing no fear, only calm analysis: "In other words, it requires extremely precise control to Annihilate the miasma without harming a single bit of Senior Hua Yu's remaining Soul."

"Precisely," Fairy Qinghua nodded. "This demands extremely high Soul control, something only those at Great Perfection of the Spirit Realm and above can attempt. And you, your Soul has reached the half-step Heavenly Realm and is integrated with the Rules, making you the best candidate."

She paused, then continued: "If you are willing to help, regardless of success or failure, I will give you the ten thousand year green spirit vine. If you succeed, I, Qinghua, will owe you an immense favor and can personally refine the heavenly soul merging blood pill for you! Furthermore, I can impart to you an ancient Soul skill, the 'Divine Mind Separation Art,' to help you further enhance your Soul control, which will be of great benefit to your future Breakthrough to the Heavenly Realm Soul!"

The conditions were undeniably generous! Not only would it solve the ten thousand year green spirit vine and Alchemy problems, but it also included an ancient Soul skill!

Li Ao and Medusa exchanged glances, both seeing the eagerness in each other's eyes.

"This King trusts you," Medusa said coolly, making the decision for Li Ao. She knew Li Ao's character well; he would likely not refuse such an opportunity that could help others, benefit himself, and challenge his own limits.

Li Ao looked at Fairy Qinghua and said solemnly: "This Junior is willing to try his best."

Fairy Qinghua's eyes finally showed a hint of relief: "Good! Without further delay, Hua Yu's condition cannot wait any longer. Follow me."

She rose and led the two into a quiet room in the depths of the valley, entirely constructed from soul-warming jade.

In the center of the quiet room, on a cold jade bed, lay a woman in a green dress with an exquisite face, but her complexion was as pale as paper, and her aura was extremely weak. This was Hua Yu. A faint blue glow enveloped her, which was the Seal of the Hundred Flowers Valley's great life-force Formation, but at her heart, there was a faint, extremely subtle, constantly twisting and wriggling black Qi, emitting a chilling coldness and Death Qi that made one's Soul tremble.

That was the nine nether soul-devouring miasma!

Even through the Seal, Li Ao could feel that corrosive power, like a maggot clinging to bone.

"I will maintain the Formation outside and stabilize Hua Yu's life force. Everything is up to you." Fairy Qinghua's expression was solemn. She sat cross-legged in the corner of the quiet room, forming hand Seals, and a vast, gentle life-force energy surged into Hua Yu's body, reinforcing the blue glow.

Li Ao took a deep breath and walked to the cold jade bed. He glanced at Medusa, who nodded slightly at him.

Without further hesitation, Li Ao sat cross-legged and closed his eyes. His Soul Power surged out, cautiously penetrating the blue glow and probing towards the wisp of black Qi in Hua Yu's heart.

The moment his Soul touched the black Qi—

"Jie—!"

A shriek, as if from the Nine Serene Hell, suddenly exploded in his Soul! The wisp of black Qi abruptly expanded, transforming into a ferocious ghostly face, filled with endless malice and greed, tearing towards Li Ao's Soul! At the same time, a bone-chilling, terrifying Death Qi, as if it could freeze the Soul, invaded him in reverse along his Soul connection!

This miasma had actually developed a faint sentience!

Li Ao grunted. The hazy Nirvana Origin in his Sea of Consciousness violently trembled!

"Annihilation!"

A cold, Death Qi-filled Concept, as if it could bring all things to an end, erupted centered on his Soul!

The pouncing ghostly face and the invading Death Qi, the moment they touched this Concept, shrieked in terror as if encountering a natural enemy. Their offensive suddenly stalled, and they even instinctively began to retreat!

It works!

Li Ao's mind stirred. His Soul Power transformed into countless gray threads as fine as ox hair, like the most precise surgical knives, avoiding Hua Yu's remaining Soul and precisely coiling around the core of the dispersing miasma!

"Chi chi chi!"

Wherever the gray threads passed, the miasma melted and was annihilated like ice and snow meeting a scorching sun! The ferocious ghostly face let out an unwilling roar, struggling frantically, drawing more Nine Serene Death Qi from the Void Realm to penetrate and attempt a counterattack.

"Void Swallowing Flame, Seal!"

Li Ao used his mind for two purposes. A wisp of deep, dark flame leaped from his fingertip, not to burn the miasma, but to form a flame barrier, sealing the surrounding space and cutting off the miasma's connection to the Nine Serene!

Deprived of its source of replenishment, the miasma became like rootless duckweed, rapidly thinning under the continuous purification of the Annihilation Rule.

However, just as Li Ao thought he was about to succeed, another anomaly occurred!

The core of the miasma, on the verge of dissipating, suddenly contracted, turning into a point of extreme darkness. From within it came a heart-palpitating suction force, not only frantically devouring the surrounding residual Death Qi but also forcibly extracting Hua Yu's already weak Soul Origin! It wanted to make a final stand, to perish together with Hua Yu!

"Not good!" Fairy Qinghua's face outside changed instantly.

Li Ao's eyes burst with cold light!

"In front of me, you dare to be so presumptuous?"

His Soul Power poured out without reservation. The countless gray threads suddenly converged, forming a gray miniature sword, condensed to the extreme, as if composed of pure Annihilation Concept!

"Annihilation Heart Sword, Slash!"

The gray miniature sword silently pierced into that point of extreme darkness!

There was no explosion, no sound.

Only an absolute, ultimate "nothingness" spread out from the center of that darkness.

That point of darkness, along with the miasma's sentience, Nine Serene Death Qi, and the crazy intention to perish together contained within it, was completely erased from the world by the slash of the Annihilation Heart Sword, as if by an eraser, leaving no trace.

Everything returned to silence.

The wisp of black Qi that had entangled Hua Yu's heart for centuries completely disappeared. Her pale face regained a hint of color at a visible speed. Although still weak, the continuously draining life force finally stopped.

Success!

Li Ao slowly withdrew his Soul Power, his face slightly pale, sweat beading on his forehead. That final Annihilation Heart Sword had consumed a large amount of his Soul Power.

Fairy Qinghua immediately stepped forward and carefully checked Hua Yu's condition. A moment later, she let out a long sigh of relief, a genuinely relieved smile appearing on her face for the first time in centuries.

She turned and bowed solemnly to Li Ao: "Little friend Li Ao, no words can express my gratitude for this great kindness! From today onwards, you are the most distinguished guest of my Hundred Flowers Valley! You can take the ten thousand year green spirit vine at any time, and I will personally refine the heavenly soul merging blood pill for you!"

She flicked her finger, and a streak of light entered Li Ao's glabella. It was the Cultivation method for the ancient Soul skill, "Divine Mind Separation Art."

Li Ao felt the profound information in his mind, and his heart was also filled with joy. He cupped his hands and said, "Fairy, you are too kind; we simply each got what we needed."

Medusa watched this scene, a hint of relief flashing in her purple eyes. With the ten thousand year green spirit vine in hand, one of the biggest obstacles to refining the heavenly soul merging blood pill had been removed.

However, just as the atmosphere in the valley was peaceful—

"Boom!!!"

The entire Hundred Flowers Valley suddenly shook violently! The Formation light barrier covering the valley emitted a piercing hum, its light flickering rapidly, as if it had suffered a heavy blow!

Fairy Qinghua's expression instantly turned icy cold, her gaze shooting out of the valley like lightning!

"What petty scoundrel dares to disturb the peace of my Hundred Flowers Valley?!"

An arrogant and sinister voice, like rolling thunder, echoed throughout the valley:

"Protector Wu of the Hall of Souls is here! Those inside the valley, hand over Li Ao and that snake race Soul, otherwise... today I will flatten your Hundred Flowers Valley!"

The Hall of Souls' pursuers had finally arrived!