by Feng Yise
"You say that you're Xu Yan, do you have any proof?" Ying Tianya said alertly.
"Senior Apprentice Brother, have you forgotten? Back then, we secretly descended the mountain and were punished by Master to repent facing the cliff for a year! Also, when we were small, I was bullied by our fellow apprentices. It was you who stepped forward to beat them off …"
Xu Yan stated a number of incidences in a row and finally made Ying Tianya loosen up his guard.
Even Jun Tianyu gradually became relaxed too when he saw Ying Tianya's expression.
This sort of thing, if it was not the person in the flesh, it was completely impossible to know.
"Junior, it's really you!" Ying Tianya went up to hug Xu Yan with an agitated look.
But right at this time, Xu Yan suddenly smiled evilly and said, "You fools actually delivered yourselves to the door one by one. Truly foolish to the max. Better let me exonerate you all!"
...
Ye Yuan finally found the Strange Nether Flower all by himself following the floral fragrance.
This was a sea of flowers, and at the center, there was an altar.
On the altar, there was a massive coffin.
Seeing this scene, Ye Yuan's expression could not help changing.
Chapter 755 - There's a Problem
"Hope Spirit Wood, Strange Nether Flower, Soul-Sealing Stone! No wonder there are so many Strange Nether Flowers here. Turns out that it is to borrow the power of the Strange Nether Flowers to seal up a divine soul! Looks like this ancient grotto is indeed a scheme set up to exist countless years!" Ye Yuan said as his expression changed slightly.
Strange Nether Flowers were able to make martial artists lose essence energy, but it still had another function!
Coupled with Hope Spirit Wood and Soul-Sealing Stones, it could reduce the expenditure of the divine soul to the maximum degree.
Ye Yuan saw that the altar was constructed entirely from Soul-Sealing Stones at first sight, while the coffin was made from Hope Spirit Wood.
Assembling these things together and complementing with secret arts, one could seal up the divine soul and keep the divine soul from perishing!
This sort of method was extremely obscure. Ye Yuan only saw it before in an ancient record.
Now, seeing this altar and coffin, he immediately connected it together.
"Humph! Looks like this Xie Lingzi has wishful thinking of resisting the Heavenly Dao, wanting to obtain the opportunity to revive through this sort of means! Looks like Qin Meixuan they all being refined into puppets and placed in the plaza was not by chance. This kind of method requires large numbers of martial artists' divine soul as nourishment, while us, these people, entering the ancient grotto precisely provides this kind of opportunity for him! Heh, such insidious means!" Ye Yuan said with a cold sneer.
This sort of method was very vicious, requiring large numbers of living souls as a sacrifice. Therefore, Ye Yuan was very repulsed with this too.
It was just that revulsion was revulsion. Even if he knew Xie Lingzi used this sort of means, Ye Yuan did not have that ability to counter it either.
According to Ye Yuan's calculations, this Xie Lingzi's strength should be Peak Dao Profound Realm. Furthermore, he had extraordinary attainments in the Formations Path and Alchemy Path.
How could the contingency set up by such a person possibly be wrecked by a Divine Traversing Realm boy?
But Ye Yuan could confirm one point, being able to arrive here indicated that the transmission array he chose was right!
If he went to choose the other two transmission arrays, it would surely be even more perilous.
The pressing matter on hand was to cure those people. Otherwise, once their divine souls were devoured by Xie Lingzi, the consequences would be too ghastly to imagine.
Regarding finding the antidote this sort of thing, Ye Yuan was still very adept.
Since there was such a large patch of Strange Nether Flowers, there must be the antidote item here. Either way, these Strange Nether Flowers could not cause harm to Ye Yuan. Hence, he also started searching with no scruples at all.
Strange Nether Flowers this kind of exotic poisonous object, under normal circ.u.mstances, the antidote item could be found in the vicinity.
It was just that people who did not understand medicinal theory, even if the antidote was placed in front of them, they would not recognize it either.
Roughly an hour later, Ye Yuan finally found the antidote item under a thicket of Strange Nether Flowers: the Pinnate Star Grass!
This process lasted close to four hours. Ye Yuan found a total of eight stalks of Pinnate Star Grass. Using to resolve the Strange Nether Flower poison of so many people should be more than plenty.
Obtaining the antidote, Ye Yuan was just about to leave, but heard a series of groaning sounds!
"H-Help …"
Indistinctly, Ye Yuan heard someone calling for help.
But in this place, apart from those martial artists traveling together with him, who else would call for help?
And this voice clearly came from the direction of the coffin. This direction was direct opposite from the direction he came from, making it even less likely to be the martial artists traveling with him.
Ye Yuan's brows furrowed, but finally still decided to leave!
This place was too dangerous. Who knew if this cry for help was a major trap or not.
But just as he was about to walk away, that voice came over once more. "H-Help … I … I am … Crimson Afterglow Holy Land's … Xu Yan!"
Hearing this name, Ye Yuan finally could not resist stopping his footsteps.
He was not foreign to Xu Yan this name. Wasn't it precisely Ying Tianya's junior apprentice brother?
Ying Tianya said that his junior was poisoned with a peculiar poison, that was why he would find him to come with He Shuming. Now, this sort of situation, could it be that what Xu Yan was inflicted with was this Strange Nether Flower's poison?
With a couple of leaps, Ye Yuan arrived in close proximity of the altar. Indeed, he saw a blue-clothed youth lying at the fringe of the altar, on his deathbed. His appearance was miserable.
"You're Xu Yan?" Ye Yuan asked with furrowed brows.
Xu Yan nodded his head with a feeble look and said, "I-It's precisely me! L-Little brother, you actually know me! Could it be that … you're brought in by my senior apprentice brother? You showed up here; what … what about my senior apprentice brother?"
Ye Yuan's brows knitted slightly. Sweeping a glance over Xu Yan, he discovered that he was indeed poisoned very severely.
Being poisoned or not, it was impossible to hide from Ye Yuan.
But Ye Yuan did not let his guard down and kept observing Xu Yan's expression continuously. The tiniest bit of his actions all could not hide from Ye Yuan's eyes.
It was just that during this process, Xu Yan's expression did not have any irregular aspects; it was just the expression of a person who had despaired but then saw hope.
"Your senior apprentice brother was poisoned too. He's just over there. I'm here to find the antidote for him." Ye Yuan said.
Xu Yan was overjoyed when he heard that and said, "R-Really? T-That's great! Little brother, could you … bring me over to meet my senior apprentice brother or not?'
Ye Yuan said, "How will you go over like this? I better treat your poison first."
As he said, Ye Yuan brought out the Square Cauldron and refined the Pinnate Star Grass into juice. Then placing in a container, he took out a bit for Xu Yan.
"Can … Can this thing work?" Xu Yan asked doubtfully.
"Of course it can!" Ye Yuan said coolly.
Xu Yan drank the Pinnate Star Grass juice dubiously. Indeed, he discovered that the essence energy within his body recovered little by little.
Before long, Xu Yan stood up like someone who was fine.
"Haha! Little brother is indeed not an ordinary person! Great kindness can't be thanked with words! Xu Yan will definitely repay gene
rously!" Xu Yan clasped his hands and said.
But Ye Yuan said indifferently, "You're welcome. I was trying my best to do what was entrusted to me too."
"How can that do! My senior is my senior, I'm me! Oh, right, quickly bring me to go find Senior Apprentice Brother. I'm very worried about him too," Xu Yan said.
Ye Yuan nodded his head and led Xu Yan over to the place everyone was resting.
"Young Master, something is wrong with this person! You got to be careful!" Ye Yuan was just walking when the Qin Meixuan inside the spatial spirit artifact actually transmitted to him through divine sense.
"En, I know." Ye Yuan's reaction showed that he was not too surprised.
Rather, it was Qin Meixuan who had a look of astonishment when she saw Ye Yuan's appearance of holding the pearl of wisdom in his hands.
"You know?" Qin Meixuan's cherry-like mouth opened to form a circle.
She saw Ye Yuan's action previously and even thought that Ye Yuan was already hoodwinked by Xu Yan. That was why she voiced out to warn. Who knew that Ye Yuan saw through it long ago.
Ye Yuan said, "En, this physical body should be Xu Yan without a doubt. But the divine soul probably isn't himself already. He thinks that he concealed it very well. Actually, when I pried into the Strange Nether Flower poison in his body, I already saw through the anomalous."
Qin Meixuan had a look of astonishment. She still did not quite believe it at first, but hearing Ye Yuan said it so firmly, she knew that he was not bragging. He really saw through it.
It was just that she did not quite dare to believe Ye Yuan actually saw through that this Xu Yan was actually possessed already in the time he took to inspect the wounds.
"Young Master, since you saw through the irregularity, then why did you still help him resolve the poison?" Qin Meixuan asked puzzledly.
Chapter 756 - What Are You Afraid Of?
"He dared to let himself get poisoned, he naturally has ways to resolve the poison. Whether I treat him or not, it doesn't matter to him at all. To still play this sort of games with me with his strength, he must have other schemes. Since that's the case, why don't I play along with him and take a look at what on earth he's trying to do? Exposing him now is detrimental and not helpful to me," Ye Yuan said nonchalantly.
Qin Meixuan threw herself at Ye Yuan's feet in admiration when she heard that.
Facing a powerful adversary like Xu Yan, to be able to see through right away and keep a presence of mind in the face of danger, pushing the boat along the current, how powerful a heart and strength did this require?!
"Young Master is indeed formidable! But there is a familiar smell on this person's body. It's just that he hid it very covertly, so I don't know who he is either." Qin Meixuan said.
Ye Yuan was slightly surprised as he said, "Familiar smell? Could it be … Xie Lingzi?"
Qin Meixuan shook her head, her expression suddenly becoming fierce as she said, "No. I would recognize that guy even if he turns to ash!"
"Like this huh, I got it."
Ye Yuan was rather surprised in his heart. If Xu Yan were possessed by Xie Lingzi, he would not be surprised at all.
But according to what Qin Meixuan said, this Xu Yan was actually not possessed by Xie Lingzi. Could it be that there were still other people casting covetous eyes here?
All of a sudden, the situation became even more complicated.
Before long, Ye Yuan brought Xu Yan to the place everyone was resting at, but it was already completely empty.
This kind of situation was actually long within Ye Yuan's expectations. He was indifferent about the others, it was just that Jun Tianyu's safety, Ye Yuan was very worried.
But the more it was like so, the more he exhorted himself to be calm.
"This … Where are the people? They were clearly resting here previously. Why are they all gone?" Ye Yuan deliberately panicked and said.
"Little Brother, are you mistaken? Or perhaps, they couldn't wait for you and left by themselves?" Xu Yan said uncertainly.
"Impossible! They were all inflicted with the Strange Nether Flower's poison and can't walk far at all. Unless …" Ye Yuan's face revealed an expression of thick worry.
"Unless what?"
"Unless they were captured by people and rounded up in one fell swoop!" Ye Yuan said.
Xu Yan's expression changed as he said, "Senior Apprentice Brother and I are as close as brothers. No way, I must go and save him!"
Ye Yuan sneered inwardly, but on the surface he asked, "There is only one path here. We didn't see anybody at all just now. Where were they captured and brought to?"
Xu Yan was secretly delighted and said, "There isn't just one path here. There is still a hidden pass at the side. I discovered it when I came. It's just that I haven't had time to go in and explore, then I got poisoned. In my opinion, they must have been brought away by people through there!"
Indeed, he showed his true colors!
This fellow schemed and used every trick, probably in order to lure him into this so-called hidden pass, right?
However … go on in then! Who's afraid of who!
"Then what are we still waiting for? Quickly go in!" Ye Yuan said.
Xu Yan was touched and said, "Little Brother is indeed loyal enough!"
Finished talking, Xu Yan arrived at a dark place with large stride and fumbled around on the wall. With a creak, a passageway actually really appeared.
"Go!" Xu Yan took the lead in. Ye Yuan followed closely behind and went in too.
This passageway was very narrow. It could only accommodate two people passing through.
Xu Yan's speed was very fast. Ye Yuan could still see his back view at the start. But as they walked, his figure actually vanished in the cave.
"Heh, I want to take a look at what kind of mysterious person you are!" Ye Yuan gave a cold laugh and actually did not even turn his head around, moving straight ahead swiftly.
This dark passageway seemingly had no end in sight forever. But Ye Yuan did not care, moving forward all the way quickly.
No idea how long had passed either. Ye Yuan suddenly felt it light up before his eyes, becoming bright suddenly.
Looking over, he actually arrived at an enormous rock cave.
Looking again, there was a massive stone pillar in the center of the rock cave. On the stone pillar actually tied one martial artist after another.
These martial artists were precisely the Jun Tianyu party captured by Xu Yan!
The surroundings of the stone pillar actually had several thousand lanterns suspending in the entire rock cave.
Lantern light flickered faintly, linking up in one stretch between each other, forming a large net.
Within the large net, those martial artists all revealed pained expressions, as if something was being extracted from their bodies.
Seeing this sort of situation, Ye Yuan's expression could not help changing. "Grayflame Heretic Fire! Starmist Radiantfire Formation!"
Ye Yuan actually fell into a grand array set up using essence fire unknowingly!
Clap … Clap … Clap …
A figure came out from behind the stone pillar, slowly giving a few claps as he said smilingly, "You, this boy, indeed have some experience. Along the way, your means emerged in endless streams. I didn't expect that you even recognize the Grayflame Heretic Fire and the Starmist Radiantfire Formation!"
This figure was none other than precisely the Xu Yan who previously disappeared.
When Ye Yuan saw the situation, his expression darkened slightly as he said, "You racked your brain so hard to lure me here. It isn't in order to flatter me a little, right?"
Xu Yan said with a smile, "Looking at your appearance, you're quite calm. I wonder if you'll still be able to be so collected or not after I extract out the essence fire within your body in a while?"
Xu Yan stared at Ye Yuan, very much wanting to see the expression of fear and panic on his face.
However, Ye Yuan disappointed him.
; Ye Yuan's face only revealed an expression of sudden realization as he said with a smile, "So, it's a primordial spirit that's about to be extinguished. No wonder you captured them, but let me go, and lured me here."
Xu Yan's expression changed when he heard that. He had a feeling of being stripped b.a.r.e. It was as if all of him was presented in front of Ye Yuan without holding anything back.
"You … How did you know that I'm a primordial spirit?" Xu Yan said coldly.
Ye Yuan looked at Xu Yan like he was looking at an idiot and said indifferently, "You laid down this Starmist Radiantfire Formation and extracted the essence energy within their bodies, isn't in order to recover your main body's strength? You want to extract the essence energy in my body. It should be because you've taken fancy on Fiery who has unlocked intelligence and is about to give birth to a primordial spirit, right? You just have to devour Fiery, and you can let yourself recover to your peak state. Therefore, you deliberately let me go and lured me here, because you're afraid that I would seek mutual destruction and destroy Fiery, right?"
"Who on earth are you? To actually guess everything correctly just by taking one look at the array formation!"
Facing Ye Yuan, Xu Yan actually became uneasy. Even though his strength could crush Ye Yuan, but at this very moment, Xu Yan actually felt that Ye Yuan was a very troublesome opponent!
This young man was too scary. He did not say anything, and he actually pointed out his identity as well as the trap that he devised painstakingly, all of it.
Even ordinary Alchemy Emperor powerhouses could not possibly have such understanding towards essence fires too, right?
Ye Yuan said with a laugh, "Me? I'm merely an ordinary alchemist. Now that I've already entered the array formation, my life and death are grasped by your hands. What are you afraid of?"
Xu Yan no longer had that composure from before as he gritted his teeth and said, "Boy, don't be pleased with yourself! When you receive my main body's refinement in a while, hope that you can still laugh so happily!"
Chapter 757 - Back-Up Plan
"Starmist Radiantfire Formation, refine for me!"