Chapter 196: Heads Up
Three days had passed.
In the Wu Xuan Cave’s main hall, Grand Witch Bi Luo sat on her throne, while Chen Yin, Qingying, Luo Luo, Nan Xiaoxiang, and Lian’er stood before her. The masked man stood apart from the group.
“Let’s establish the rules,” the Grand Witch began. “Both of you will enter the secret realm with me. You will protect me and retrieve the Phantasmal Harmony Ganoderma. Whoever contributes the most and retrieves the Ganoderma first will have their request granted.”
Chen Yin frowned slightly.
Obtaining the Ganoderma to cure Ye Ling’er had seemed like a sure thing, but now this masked man had appeared to complicate matters.
However, he suspected that regardless of who retrieved the Ganoderma, the Grand Witch wouldn’t refuse to help Ling’er.
So he wasn’t too worried.
The masked man nodded silently in agreement.
“The secret realm is located deep within the Yama’s Valley, a forbidden area of the Wu Xuan Cave.”
The Grand Witch explained, “The Yama’s Valley is one of the most dangerous and toxic places in the world. Be prepared.”
“If you die from some unknown poison or creature, I won’t bother retrieving your corpses.”
Luo Luo looked at Chen Yin with concern, but he just patted her head reassuringly.
“Don’t worry. I’m not afraid of poisons. You just stay here and wait for me, okay?”
“Okay.” Luo Luo nodded obediently.
Nan Xiaoxiang, despite having avoided him for days, couldn’t help but say, “The Yama’s Valley is full of dangers, but the most important thing is to avoid touching anything. Many of the poisonous creatures won’t bother you if you don’t provoke them.”
“Be… careful.”
Chen Yin grinned at her, and she quickly looked away, avoiding his gaze.
“Enough with the mushy stuff,”
The Grand Witch said with a sneer. “Are you ready? Follow me.”
The Yama’s Valley was located deep within the Ten Thousand Mountains.
It was perpetually shrouded in a dense, impenetrable miasma.
Dark cliffs surrounded the valley, the air thick with poison, visibility extremely limited.
The Grand Witch walked confidently at the front, unfazed by the surrounding toxins. Chen Yin followed close behind, his eyes scanning their surroundings.
The masked man trailed behind them, like a silent ghost.
“Yama’s Valley… what an ominous name.”
Chen Yin couldn’t help but comment, “With such dense miasma and poisonous creatures everywhere, how did a child survive here?”
The Grand Witch stopped and glanced at him.
“Did Nan Xiaoxiang tell you about the Sacred Child selection process?”
Chen Yin shrugged, confirming her suspicions.
“She’s no longer a member of your sect. She has no obligation to keep your secrets.”
“Even so, revealing sect secrets is punishable by death.” The Grand Witch snorted.
“I won’t let her die,” Chen Yin said seriously.
“You’ll protect her?”
“She’s my friend.”
The Grand Witch’s eyes narrowed slightly, her lips curling into a disdainful smirk.
“Such touching devotion.”
“You haven’t answered my question yet,” Chen Yin persisted. “How did you survive this place?”
“It’s nothing.”
The Grand Witch’s tone was casual, as if she were talking about something trivial. “After being poisoned enough times, you become immune.”
Chen Yin paused.
Her tone was just like Nan Xiaoxiang’s.
But looking at the hostile environment around them, he couldn’t help but frown.
“That method… has a one in ten thousand chance of survival.”
“But I survived.”
The Grand Witch’s gaze was calm and unwavering. “And I’m perfectly fine.”
“Instead of dwelling on the past, let’s hurry. The entrance to the secret realm is still a long way off.”
Chen Yin didn’t say anything more.
With the Grand Witch leading the way, they encountered few attacks.
But occasionally, a venomous snake would lunge at them from the trees, only to be swatted away by Chen Yin. And to his surprise, the masked man also intervened a few times, killing a poisonous scorpion that had tried to sneak up on him.
After one such incident, Chen Yin couldn’t help but ask, “We’re competitors, are you sure you want to help me?”
The masked man just sheathed his sword and said calmly, “It was just a reflex. I hate poisonous insects.”
Then he continued walking in silence.
Chen Yin didn’t say anything more and followed them.
After almost a day of travel, the poisonous creatures became scarce, but the miasma grew denser.
Finally, the Grand Witch stopped before a shimmering barrier.
“We’re here.”
Chen Yin stared at the barrier, a strange sense of familiarity washing over him.
“This is the secret realm at the heart of the Yama’s Valley – the Poison Nightmare Realm.”
“Before we enter, I have to warn you,”
The Grand Witch’s voice turned serious. “The dangers within are far greater than anything you’ve encountered in the Yama’s Valley. Even Grand Clarity Realm cultivators would struggle to survive here.”
“No one knows what lies inside.”
“You don’t know?” Chen Yin asked, surprised.
“The last time anyone entered this realm was centuries ago.”
The Grand Witch shook her head. “Even the sect’s scriptures offer little information, only vague warnings of deadly perils.”
“So, once we’re inside, you two are responsible for my safety.”
Chen Yin nodded, but he was skeptical.
The Grand Witch was a nascent Grand Clarity Realm expert herself, a powerful cultivator.
Why would she need his protection?
But he had made a promise, so he had to play along.
“Don’t worry, if you’re in danger, just hide behind me.”
He grinned mischievously. “My arms are always open for you, Grand Witch~”
The Grand Witch frowned slightly, but didn’t comment. She channeled her spiritual energy and activated the barrier.
A soft, warm light enveloped them, and the scenery around them blurred.
This barrier was more powerful than any he had encountered before. Even passing through it felt like an immense pressure was bearing down on him.
He glanced at the Grand Witch and the masked man, who were also swaying slightly, their bodies struggling to adjust to the pressure.
But it was only a momentary discomfort.
As Chen Yin was about to examine their new surroundings, his playful expression vanished.
While the Grand Witch was still recovering from the barrier’s effects, Chen Yin’s voice rang out, low and urgent:
“Look out!”
Before she could react, a strong hand grabbed her and pulled her away.
A sword light exploded before them.
“Boom!”
As the dust and smoke settled, the Grand Witch finally saw what had attacked them.
…A severed head.
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