Chapter 96

Deep within the Zangye Forest, a sea is hidden, where decaying leaves, dead branches, rotten fruits, and mire mix together, forming a bottomless sea of decaying leaves.

A thin mist envelops the sea like a light veil, and Song, Deng, and Yu fly over it slowly on their swords. The surroundings are utterly silent, and the leaves fall one by one, rotting visibly in the miasma, becoming part of the sea of decaying leaves.

Deng Yuantong felt a chill and couldn't help but mutter, "What did Junior Brother Yaosang find in this cursed place?"

"Shh!" Song Yun extended her hand to stop him, listening intently, her delicate brows slightly furrowed. She heard a faint "rustling" sound coming from the depths of the sea of decaying leaves, like the tide surging at midnight or silkworms munching on mulberry leaves.

The sound grew closer, and the decaying leaves parted to reveal a ghastly green eye, which stared fixedly at the three intruders.

Under the cold gaze, Yu Yao felt a chill run down her spine and instinctively activated the Gilded Phoenix Sickle, rising a few feet higher. Deng Yuantong and Song Yun were fully on guard, not paying attention to her actions. Yu Yao felt a bit embarrassed, wanting to get closer to her senior uncle for mutual support, but was disturbed by an inexplicable unease, sensing something amiss.

The emotion and feeling in that eye reminded her of her grandmaster Lü Ping.

That feeling... was covetousness.

"What is that thing?" Deng Yuantong asked, channeling Wood Qi into the Green Bee Sword, which glowed with a faint green light, growing stronger.

Song Yun could hear her own heartbeat, thudding in her chest. She said bitterly, "It's a Ground Dragon. Junior Brother Yao is trying to deal with it!"

She tightly held a handkerchief, which contained a crushed pill.

The Ground Dragon raised its head from the sea of decaying leaves, revealing a massive body, halfway between a crocodile and a lizard, covered in scales, with powerful limbs. It roared, and instantly, countless decaying leaves and dead branches flew up, blocking the sky, turning the world dark. The miasma surged, attacking the three, corrupting the spirits of their flying swords.

The connection between the Dao Fetus and the Sword Seed gradually weakened, and Yu Yao was greatly alarmed. She immediately intensified the Fire Qi to the extreme, and the Gilded Phoenix Sickle ignited with a red flame. With one sweep, the miasma was cleared, and the decaying leaves and dead branches turned to dust. Light shone on her face, making her look radiant.

The radiance lasted only a moment as the sea of decaying leaves surged upward, reaching the clouds, and the three were tossed like a small boat in a storm.

Deng Yuantong waved his hands, casting seven talismans in succession. Light shone from each, forming a continuous loop, merging into one, and falling toward the Ground Dragon.

Song Yun's eyes lit up, thinking, "Xihuzi must have passed the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper Talisman to Deng Yuantong. This is his ultimate technique before breaking through the Sword Qi barrier!"

The Seven Stars of the Big Dipper Talisman moved erratically, seemingly slow but actually fast. The Ground Dragon, sensing a great threat, submerged itself into the sea of decaying leaves before the talismans could reach it, disappearing in an instant. The decaying leaves and dead branches fell like rain, and the surroundings returned to calm, as if nothing had happened.

Deng Yuantong gathered the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper Talisman in his palm, the light shining through his fingers, flickering. He frowned and said, "This Ground Dragon is cunning and hides in the sea of decaying leaves. We three might not have an advantage. We should retreat from the Zangye Forest and plan our next move."

"Junior Brother Yao had only a Green Rust Sword and no such powerful techniques. No wonder he fell here..." Song Yun sighed, shaking her head. "We shouldn't stay here long. Let's go!"

The two flew out of the sea of decaying leaves, and Yu Yao lagged behind, her face pale, almost falling. She had just forcibly activated the Burning Fire within the Gilded Phoenix Sickle, depleting most of her internal energy, leaving her in a very weak state.

Song Yun had noticed her predicament. As a young disciple, it was natural to panic and act rashly when facing a formidable enemy for the first time. She threw a Five Elements Qi Recovery Pill to her, and Yu Yao thanked her senior uncle, swallowing it. Instantly, warmth rose from her dantian, nourishing her depleted meridians.

"Even with the combined strength of the two senior uncles, they couldn't handle that Ground Dragon. It's not surprising that Senior Uncle Yao fell here..." she thought, her mind wandering, and her reaction was a bit slow. The Ground Dragon suddenly emerged from the sea of decaying leaves, opening its massive mouth and roaring silently. The sound waves formed a tornado, mixed with countless decaying leaves and dead branches, rushing toward Yu Yao.

Yu Yao was caught off guard, swept up in the wind, and drifted uncontrollably. Fortunately, she still had a clear mind and held the Gilded Phoenix Sickle tightly.

Song Yun knew she couldn't save Yu Yao in time. She clenched her fingers, crushing the pill in the handkerchief, and scattered it. Most of the Five Miasma Powder was blown away by the wind, but a small amount landed in the Ground Dragon's mouth, dissolving instantly. The drug's effects quickly spread throughout its body, causing it to pause, and the sound waves ceased. Deng Yuantong took the opportunity to fly behind it, his right hand releasing the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper Talisman hidden in his palm.

The Ground Dragon's movements slowed, and it could only watch as the Seven Stars of the Big Dipper Talisman fell, barely raising its right claw to block. The talisman gently turned and cut off its right claw, exploding into a cloud of blood. In excruciating pain, the Ground Dragon turned and dove back into the sea of decaying leaves, just in time to see Yu Yao falling beside it. It raised a thick tail and struck her.

Yu Yao raised the Gilded Phoenix Sickle to block, but a powerful force surged, shaking her entire body, and she flew away like a small stone. Before losing consciousness, her last thought was, "I am truly useless," but she felt a strange sense of relief.

After so many years and so many experiences, she could finally rest, rest forever!