Behind Lü Dongliu were Li Cang and Liao Yunliu.
Li Cang had white hair, a kind face, and gentle eyes. Liao Yunliu, wearing Daoist robes and carrying a long sword, was the Elder and Second Elder of the Outer Sect of the Qianlong Sword Sect, respectively.
"This Baocha Demon Mountain is truly a great place for killing," Lü Dongliu said, looking towards the distant mountain. "There are strange and dangerous situations hidden deep within this mountain, making it the most likely place for unexpected changes. For us, this might be an opportunity to hunt down Su Yi!"
"This Su Yi is interesting. He doesn't seem to be in a hurry to go to Yujing City. He has been trekking through mountains and waters on foot, and now he has even entered the Baocha Demon Mountain," Li Cang said with a laugh. "I've never seen anyone as audacious as him."
"Audacious? Not necessarily, but one thing is for sure: the cards in this young man's hand are enough to contend against a Martial Progenitor," Liao Yunliu, with her sharp and intimidating eyes, said, "Don't forget, in the battle at Longqiao Relay Station, Wang Zhuo, the Palace Master of Tianxing Academy, was defeated."
"In the battle at Yuntao Observatory, Situ Palace, one of the top ten Martial Progenitors, and four other Martial Progenitors joined forces, but they couldn't defeat Su Yi."
Pausing for a moment, she continued, "Although Tenfang Pavilion didn't reveal the specific details of the battles, the fact that Su Yi emerged as the winner in both battles is enough to prove his formidable strength."
Lü Dongliu nodded calmly and said, "Therefore, when we deal with him, we must wait for the right opportunity. We cannot act too hastily. If the timing is not right, we would rather abandon this operation than make reckless moves."
"Let's go."
With that, he strode towards the Baocha Demon Mountain.
Li Cang and Liao Yunliu followed closely behind.
As for the golden-winged eagle, it soared into the sky and disappeared into the depths of the clouds.
...
Two hours later.
Within a densely foggy mountain range.
Buzz!
A golden blade soared, creating a brilliant and dazzling light.
A group of demonic beasts charging from the front were instantly slain as if they were made of paper.
Whoosh!
Lan Suo beckoned, and the golden blade returned to her palm.
Upon closer inspection, it was a slender golden flying knife, crystal clear and radiant, exuding a spiritual and vibrant aura.
Su Yi and the others had long since become accustomed to this sight and continued moving forward.
Since entering the Baocha Demon Mountain, they had encountered numerous dangers along the way.
There were hordes of demonic beasts, sinister spirits lurking in the fog, armies of fierce birds swooping down from the sky...
Among them were creatures capable of threatening Martial Progenitors.
However, without exception, Lan Suo killed them all with her overwhelming strength!
This descendant from the Eastern Flower Sword Sect of Daqin not only possesses a noble and mysterious identity but also wields various powerful treasures.
Like the golden flying knife in her hand, it is an exceptional spiritual weapon clearly refined by a cultivator of the Elemental Dao, far surpassing ordinary spiritual weapons.
In addition, she holds numerous "jade talismans," all of which are refined by Elemental Dao cultivators.
Some jade talismans can summon thunder to kill enemies, some can ward off evil and dispel disasters, some can control and capture souls...
Not to mention their power, just the materials used to refine these jade talismans are all top-grade spiritual materials!
If we consider the effort and time spent on refining the jade talismans, the value of each talisman is immeasurable!
If martial cultivators in this world could obtain such a jade talisman, they would surely treat it as a hidden trump card to be cherished.
But in Lan Suo's hands, these jade talismans seem to be of little value, used without hesitation.
From the moment they entered the Baocha Demon Mountain until now, which is only two hours, Lan Suo has casually thrown out six of these jade talismans.
Watching these scenes, Su Yi couldn't help but feel a bit amazed. This woman clearly has no shortage of money!
She exudes an aura of being able to do whatever she wants as long as she has money.
"Su Young Master, do you think I, Lan Suo, am a burden?" Lan Suo suddenly spoke up on the way, her eyes revealing a hint of indiscernible pride.
All the demonic beasts and monsters they encountered along the way were killed by her, just to prove a point and return the word "burden" to Su Yi!
Su Yi chuckled and shook his head. "Killing some insignificant demonic beasts and evil spirits, what does it prove?"
With that, he continued walking ahead, minding his own business.
Seeing this, Lan Suo couldn't help but pout. Is it really that difficult for you to admit that you misjudged me?
Such a petty man!
"Sister Ning, take these jade talismans for self-defense," Lan Suo took out a bunch of Elemental Dao jade talismans and handed them to Ning Yehua. There were more than ten pieces, which she practically stuffed into Ning Yehua's hands as if they were free cabbages.
Ning Yehua smiled and accepted them, whispering, "Lan Suo, don't underestimate Su Daoist friend. Although he may be a bit arrogant, he is indeed a capable cultivator. If we encounter a life-threatening danger on this journey, only Su Daoist friend may be able to resolve it."
Lan Suo shrugged indifferently. "I understand that he is very powerful. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to help me cure the Lingering Soul Demon Gu on my body. It's just... I didn't appreciate his previous dismissal of me as a burden."
Ning Yehua smiled and didn't say anything more.
Some words are better left unsaid.
Just like now, no matter how much she said, given Lan Suo's proud disposition, it would be difficult for her to take them to heart.
"Mu Xi, do you need some jade talismans for self-defense?"
Lan Suo blinked her clear eyes and looked at Mu Xi, the Zhenyue King.
Mu Xi paused for a moment and laughed heartily, "I don't seem to have a reason to refuse."
When treasures are handed to you on a silver platter, who would complain about having too many?
Lan Suo immediately took out a bunch of jade talismans, more than ten of them, and handed them over, saying, "Here, take them and use them. If they're not enough, let me know. Don't be polite. We're companions in the same camp now."
Mu Xi smiled and took the jade talismans, saying, "Thank you, Miss Lan Suo."
He couldn't help but feel emotional. He had seen wealthy individuals before, but he had never seen someone so wealthy. Does Lan Suo's family own a spirit mine?
After thinking for a moment, Lan Suo suddenly stepped forward and caught up with Su Yi. She took out more than ten jade talismans and handed them over generously, saying:
"Su Young Master, even though you consider me a burden, I won't be petty enough to hold a grudge against you. Take these jade talismans. Let's consider any grievances between us resolved."
Su Yi glanced at Lan Suo and said, "Would you like to hear my advice?"
Lan Suo pursed her lips and smiled, "Please enlighten me, Young Master."
Su Yi said, "These jade talismans are ultimately external objects. At the beginning of cultivation, it is common to use such external objects to resolve crises, but it is harmful and of little benefit. Of course, if you can grasp the balance and not be swayed by external objects, then you need not worry about these things."
Lan Suo was stunned, her smile froze, and a black line appeared on her forehead. She had kindly given him treasures, and this guy not only didn't appreciate it but also criticized her?
However, she couldn't argue back.
Because her elders had also warned her in a similar manner, saying that in the path of cultivation, one should not indulge in external objects or be attached to external forces, as it would affect one's own path.
When those words were spoken by her elders, they were convincing. But when they were spoken by Su Yi, a seventeen-year-old youth, Lan Suo couldn't help but feel a little annoyed.
Taking a deep breath, Lan Suo smiled sweetly and said, "Thank you for your teachings, Su Young Master. I'll keep these jade talismans for my own use."
Saying that, she ignored Su Yi and turned to Ning Yehua's side. It's unclear what she whispered to Ning Yehua, but not long after, she smiled brightly.
Seeing this scene, Mu Xi thought to himself, "Although Lan Suo is somewhat proud, her character is not bad. Her appearance and temperament are among the best in the world, and her family background is obviously extraordinary. If someone could marry her, it would be no different from having a treasure trove of beauty..."
Another three hours passed.
Su Yi suddenly stopped, his gaze looking towards the distant sky.
There, under that sky, hundreds and thousands of black lotus shadows appeared, swaying and flickering. Occasionally, vague figures would emerge among them, fleeting.
All of this cast a strange and eerie color over the entire sky and earth.
"That's the location of the Baosha Ruins ahead."
Ning Yehua stepped forward and whispered, "That area is also the most dangerous zone within the Baosha Yao Mountain. Throughout history, countless warriors have come here to explore, but it's almost a matter of life and death. It has claimed the lives of many."
Her voice carried a hint of solemnity.
"The Baosha Ruins are immense, covering an area of thousands of acres. I once risked my life to venture into it, but I could only reach the outer periphery."
Mu Xi also approached, his expression somewhat peculiar. "The Lín Blood Jade Pendant in my hand was obtained from there..."
His heart stirred.
The world believed that Mu Xi possessed great luck and extraordinary talent, unparalleled in his generation.
But only he knew that it was precisely because he obtained that Lín Blood Jade Pendant that his life changed completely. It set him on the path of cultivation, and he made rapid progress, becoming the youngest external king in Da Zhou!
It could be said that it was that area of the Baosha Ruins that changed Mu Xi's destiny!
Su Yi asked, "Was the ruined Buddhist temple you saw back then also located within the Baosha Ruins?"
Mu Xi nodded. "Yes."
"Let's go and take a look."
Su Yi didn't delay and continued forward.
Before long, they saw a stretch of ruins on the ground ahead, with dilapidated structures standing amidst them.
The sky and earth were gloomy and dark, filled with dense demonic energy and a heavy miasma that shrouded the ruins. It was difficult to discern the true size of the ruins, adding to their mystery.
As they arrived, the sound of chanting and hymns drifted in the air from an unknown source, lingering in the space, refusing to dissipate.
But the hymns that reached Su Yi and the others carried a chilling and oppressive aura, like the murmurs of ghosts, sending shivers down their spines.
Black demonic lotus shadows swayed in the sky, with swirling demonic energy obscuring the heavens.
Each scene emitted an eerie and ominous atmosphere.
Su Yi glanced around and looked towards the entrance of the ruined temple in the distance.
It should have been a collapsed mountain gate, with broken stone steps and collapsed stone statues. Even the gate of the temple had long ceased to exist.
"Hmm?"
Soon, Su Yi's pupils slightly constricted.
Near the dilapidated temple gate, there were scattered corpses in disarray—men and women, young and old, obviously having recently died, their bodies still bleeding.
At a glance, there were pools of blood and masses of bodies, creating a deeply unsettling sight.
"This..."
Ning Yehua, Mu Xi, and Lan Suo also saw this scene, and their hearts sank while their expressions turned grave.