Ranran gave chase for a while, then stopped and turned back to call for help from her two Yu uncle masters.
If she guessed right, Gao Cang and Qiu Xier must have run into the sea of flowers.
Right now, their Shifu was in the mountains battling the demonic influence. If something went wrong, she wouldn't be able to handle it alone.
Upon hearing Ranran's urgent explanation, the two uncle masters quickly grabbed their cloaks and hurried towards the flower sea.
Upon arriving, under the dim moonlight, they saw Gao Cang and Qiu Xier cutting their wrists and pouring fresh blood onto the spiritual shield set up by Su Yishui.
As the blood flowed onto it, the flowers within the shield seemed to grow wildly, pollen filled the air, red mist spread, and eventually the shield actually broke, dispersing with the wind.
Qiu Xier and Gao Cang acted as if they had taken some life-saving elixir, desperately breathing in heavily and heading deeper into the flower sea without looking back.
Although Yu Chen and Yu Tong had covered their noses, they didn't dare to get too close to the flower sea.
When Su Yishui said to enter at noon, it was not just because it was the time of yin-yang alternation but also because the yin energy was not strong during that time.
But now it was midnight, when yin energy was at its peak, and the eagle-beaked flowers have grown much larger than they were during the day. Each flower looked like a giant eagle's head, half-opened and eerie.
They weren't sure if they could protect themselves once inside the flower sea.
At that moment, Ranran pulled out two short swords that Uncle Master Zeng Yi had just crafted for her, infused them with her energy, and charged straight towards the two running ahead.
Yu Tong gasped, thinking Ranran was going to "stab them through the heart."
However, after the swords flew out, they hit Gao Cang and Qiu Xier's acupoints with the hilt, knocking them down and immobilizing them.
At this point, Ranran was ready to enter the flower sea and pull the two back. But Yu Tong grabbed her and said, "You can't go in. These flowers are too sinister. If something happens to you too, Yu Chen and I won't be able to handle you."
Ranran's cultivation was now much higher than Yu Tong's, and if Ranran encountered trouble, they wouldn't know what to do.
So for now, they could only let Gao Cang and Qiu Xier lie there like this. When dawn broke, they would figure out a way to get them out.
Yu Chen took a rope from his waist, ready to lasso them and see if they could pull them back.
At that moment, a strong wind blew, and Ranran saw the pollen spreading above the flower sea without the shield, realizing this was very bad!
Before long, many blue fireflies appeared around the flower sea.
But Ranran felt her hairs stand on end. She whispered, "Are those… not fireflies?"
Yu Chen had experience from his time on the border and whispered back, "Those are the eyes of wild wolves!"
It turned out the pollen attracted wild wolves from the wilderness. These wolves, one after another, with their blue eyes, howled and lunged towards them.
As wild animals, their greatest desire should be meat. And now, here by the flower sea, they were their sumptuous night feast.
Ordinary wild wolves wouldn't approach people with foundation in cultivation no matter how fierce they were. Wild animals were quite intelligent; they would sense danger and avoid those with spiritual protection.
But after inhaling the pollen, these wolves seemed to increase in speed and strength several times over, and their courage grew immensely.
Their instinct for hunting made them stronger, and the eagle-beaked flower pollen turned the wolf pack into reckless demonic wolves.
As the wolves surrounded and attacked, they seemed utterly fearless.
Soon, Yu Chen's thighs and back were scratched bloody by the wolf claws.
Yu Tong activated her spiritual protection which barely withstood the wolf pack's attacks, but her shoulders and arms were bitten by the ferocious wolves.
Ranran wielded her mechanical staff while controlling the two short swords with her energy, swiftly killing dozens of demonic wolves.
Perhaps in moments of crisis, humans could truly tap into their potential. Soon, Ranran drew out another short sword from her waist, and the airborne swords increased from two to three.
Though there were only three, their speed was fast enough to create a whirlwind of slashing, splattering wolf blood everywhere they passed.
Seeing they couldn't gain an advantage, the wolves suddenly turned and ran towards the flower sea, seemingly drawn by something inside.
As the pollen spread faster, it also attracted flocks of iron-beaked ravens and similar creatures. They swarmed towards the flower sea, ignoring even Gao Cang and Qiu Xier lying there.
After Gao Cang and Qiu Xier regained consciousness, they stood up groggily, and struggled to follow the animals further into the flower sea.
Yu Chen quickly picked up the rope he had prepared and forcefully lassoed them, pulling them out of the flower sea like livestock.
This was not a place for them to remain for long. After getting these two out, they all hurried back to the town square.
The shield was down, and Ranran's power wasn't enough to set up a new one. They could only wait for Su Yishui to return and figure something out.
Ranran was mindful and sent a message to inform General Qin Xuanjiu, telling the soldiers not to go near the city outskirts. Otherwise, with the pollen spreading, innocent people might get hurt.
After Gao Cang and Qiu Xier came to their senses, they still clamored to go back to that flower sea.
Qiu Xier cried out, "Let me go, just once, please!"
When they noticed that Ranran and the others were going to lock the gate, Gao Cang even started using chairs to smash the door, while Qiu Xier used her head to bump into senior uncle master. Clearly, both of them were behaving abnormally, going somewhat out of control.
In the end, it was the second uncle master who tied up these two crazed individuals to a hitching post in the courtyard, finally calming them down.
And so they were tied up all night. The next day, right before dawn, there was a commotion at the city gate. Qin Xuanjiu suddenly arrived with people, smashing down the door of the Horse Trading Post.
He shouted as soon as he entered, "Where is Su Yishui? Did you people have something to do with those demon flowers in the countryside?"
It turned out that last night, some soldiers who went out of the city to set up camp were also enchanted by the dispersed pollen and entered that flower sea.
Just like Gao Cang and Qiu Xier, they were immediately entranced by the floral fragrance, experiencing various hallucinations and refusing to leave, completely intoxicated.
By the time they were discovered in the morning, their bodies had already been bitten by the bizarre plant's petal-like bird beaks and pierced into their veins .
In addition to these soldiers, there were also many birds and beasts, all entangled by vines and turned into nourishment for the demon flowers without exception.
These plants fed on humans, using blood as fertilizer and their greed as nourishment. Those soldiers and animals trapped in the flower sea all perished.
Qin Xuanjiu initially invited Elder Mu to investigate, but Elder Mu only took a glance from afar and refused to approach, only saying that the residual spiritual field around the flower sea was set up by Su Yishui, so he should look for Su Yishui.
Mu Ranwu had seen these flowers before, but at that time, they only caused illusions and didn't actively entangle people or drain them as ruthlessly as they did now.
These demon flowers were too terrifying, so naturally, Su Yishui gets the blame for them. Hence, Qin Xuanjiu came aggressively to find him.
However, as soon as he entered, he was startled by Gao Cang and Qiu Xier, who were tied to the courtyard pillar.
Has XiShan really become a demonic sect, using such sinister methods to discipline disciples?
However, upon hearing Ranran's explanation that they did not plant those flowers, Qin Xuanjiu was not entirely convinced, especially with the residual spiritual shield set up by Su Yishui around the flower sea.
Ranran couldn't understand and asked, "Didn't I send someone to inform the General last night? Why did soldiers still enter the flower sea?"
Qin Xuanjiu was suddenly at a loss for words. He did receive a message from Ranran yesterday. However, at that time, he was meditating with his Master. When his Master heard about it, she asked Qin Xuanjiu to send someone to investigate what Ranran and the others were up to.
So Qin Xuanjiu had sent people, but he didn't expect such a disastrous result.
Qin Xuanjiu regretted it deeply now. Being questioned by Ranran like this, his face turned liver-colored, unable to respond. Unfortunately, he couldn't go back to confront his Master, so for a moment, he only thought about seeking death to atone.
So he immediately drew his sword, shouting to cut his throat. Yu Chen was so angry that he wanted to kick him away, telling him to go far away from the Horse Trading Post before killing himself, so as not to ruin the Trading Post's business.
Just when the courtyard was in chaos, Zeng Yi, covered in mud, had run back in a hurry, "Its…..very bad... Junior brother Su has broken free from the chains and has headed towards that flower sea!"
It turned out that last night, Su Yishui's demonic nature had reached its peak, breaking free from both the iron chains and the golden talismans.
Zeng Yi watched helplessly as he broke the chains and rushed away roaring, and the direction he was headed was the flower sea in the countryside.
Ranran knew clearly that if Shifu entered the flower sea while he was not in a clear state of mind, and accidentally inhaled the pollen, he would likely be controlled by the demon flowers and become their nourishment.
So she didn't have time to deal with Qin Xuanjiu's nonsense. She turned around, and took off towards the countryside.
Except for Gao Cang and Qiu Xier, who were still tied to the courtyard pillar, everyone else, including Qin Xuanjiu, also followed after her.
Ranran was proficient in light body techniques, far outstripping the others.
When she arrived at the flower sea, she saw a tall man standing in the center of the flower sea from afar.
At this time, the man's hair crown had completely loosened, his long hair and white clothes dancing in the wind. With thick eyebrows and deep eyes, he appeared devilish, the midday sun shining on the red pollen, giving off a strange light, making him seem like a demon god who has descended.
Ranran shouted loudly, "Shifu!"
The man slowly turned his gaze towards her and suddenly rushed towards her like lightning.
When cultivators reach a certain realm, their bodies automatically generate spiritual shields.
Ranran was no exception. Although she didn't want to guard against Shifu, her body's instincts had already reacted, summoning the shield to repel Su Yishui.
However, this unintentional defense completely infuriated the man who is now under demonic influences, as he felt that the girl was going to distance herself from him.
Before Ranran could even react, she was firmly grasped by him, and her spiritual shield was shattered.
Moreover, the force he used to grip her was not controlled at all, causing Ranran to cry out in pain.
But even so, the man kept increasing the force, while his thin lips screamed in Ranran's ear, "Did you think you can escape me by dying? I want you to follow me to hell!"
Ranran tried to relax herself as much as possible, weakening the instinctive shield, while softly saying, "Okay, wherever you are, I will go with you…"
After speaking, she leaned over and kissed the man's cold thin lips.
This kiss, was gentle and sweet, miraculously calming down Su Yishui's mania once again, the thick black aura on his body visibly weakening.
She didn't know why, but Ranran just knew that this man, no matter how demonic he became, would never harm her.
Because when she dove into the flower sea just now, the man had instinctively extended his spirit shield to envelop her, to prevent her from being harmed by the demon flowers.
Other than the Spirit Spring sealed within him, it seemed that any indication of her distancing herself from him would also drive him into madness.
So Ranran could only cling to her master tightly like a little gecko, not being apart for even a moment.
But to the onlookers, it looked like Su Yishui was going mad, assaulting his female disciple.
Especially that shout just now, was like a blatant threat!
Just as the two were embracing in the flower sea, suddenly a long whip lashed out: "Demon son! Let go of Ranran!"
Wei Jiu from Crimson Gate had appeared at the edge of the flower sea at some unknown time, and he immediately moved to rescue Xue Ranran who was being "held hostage" by her demonized master.
Seeing that Su Yishui seemed to have lost control to his demonic nature, Wei Jiu's heart was actually filled with mixed emotions.
On one hand, he didn't want Su Yishui to further enhance his spiritual power using the Spirit Spring, becoming invincible.
On the other hand, he felt that this Su Yishui, exposed so completely before Xue Ranran, must make her both frightened and angry, and she probably wished to rid herself of such a master at once.
At this moment, his timely appearance to play the hero and save the beauty was just right!
So, despite knowing the strangeness of the flower sea, Wei Jiu, relying on his skill and courage, rushed forward, wanting to snatch Ranran from Su Yishui's embrace.
However, as the long whip flew, countless eagle-beaked demonic flowers were struck, causing the pollen that had settled to fly again, creating a red pollen mist in the sky above the flower sea.
When Wei Jiu stepped into it, he clearly felt the magnetic field change. After absorbing the blood and vitality of countless people, those flowers became even more enchanting.
Vines climbed and extended, forming strange patterns. Ranran who was in Su Yishui's arms as they rose into the air, looked down and realized that the patterns on the ground of the flower sea looked very similar to her master's netherworld realm key.
She looked up at Su Yishui, the redness in his eyes had not yet dissipated, but the force with which he held her seemed to have greatly reduced.
Ranran pulled her hand out from his embrace and felt for the key from his body. Comparing the two, the totem composed of demonic flowers on the ground was exactly the same as the key.
At this moment, Su Yishui, while dodging Wei Jiu's attacks with Ranran in his arms, lowered his head and asked her, "These flowers seem to resonate with the Spiritual Spring inside me. Last night's resonance was particularly strong, causing me to momentarily lose control… Did I hurt you just now?"
It seemed that he had finally regained his sanity. Ranran whispered softly, "No, but the pollen is spreading too quickly. I'm afraid people from nearby villages will also be drawn into the flower sea."
Wei Jiu also gradually stopped his attacks. He also sensed the strangeness of the flower sea, and among his disciples, there were those who had entered the flower sea without holding their breath, and soon lost their reason and being firmly bitten by the eagle-beaked flowers, absorbing their spiritual energy and flesh…
Although these eagle-beaked flowers had appeared before, they weren't as aggressive as they were now.
Perhaps after losing the Spirit Spring for a long time, the Netherworld Realm's aura had deviated, causing the demonic flowers from the Netherworld Realm to autonomously absorb the life force of beasts and humans, replenishing their own declining power. At the same time, because they sensed the Spirit Spring on Su Yishui's body, they actively opened the doors to the Realm.
That's why those eagle-beaked flowers became so aggressive, absorbing people's life force and etching the key engraving onto the ground.
This was also why Su Yishui had lost control and entered the flower sea.
For the first time in a thousand years, the Netherworld Realm wasn't opened from the outside, but actively connected with the human realm.
The vines began to emit red light. With this light becoming brighter, the earth began to tremble and crack, the entire flower sea sinking and turning into a bottomless abyss. Ranran tightly held her Shifu's hand. If they had to venture into the Netherworld Realm, then as she said, wherever Su Yishui went, she would go with him!
However, Su Yishui didn't think so. When he regained his rationality, his first instinct before being sucked into the Netherworld Realm was to throw Ranran out.
But how could Ranran, this little gecko, be easily shaken off? Clinging tightly to his neck, she fiercely said, "Don't you leave me behind!"
In the next instant, the two were sucked into the collapsing pit together.
At the moment they were sucked in, another figure followed suit, flying down with them and falling together with the two of them.
Ranran could clearly see that the sudden black shadow was Wei Jiu from Crimson Gate.
He must have been planning for a long time, waiting for the moment when the Netherworld Realm opened wide, and follow Su Yishui into the Realm. Behind him was the elder Tu Jiuyuan who also followed into the fissure.
As the sun in the sky shifted, the flowers on the ground withered in an instant, and the cracked earth quickly closed up. Apart from the four people disappearing into thin air, everything else returned to how it was before the red flowers bloomed.