Chapter 135: Unfavorable Feng Shui

The five individuals spread out, each emanating intense spiritual energy fluctuations. Wang Tianji fearlessly charged forward, with a small bell talisman hovering above his head. This defensive magical artifact was exceptionally powerful, undoubtedly top-tier among first-stage items, and difficult for Qi Refinement forces to breach.

Lu Zhaotian stood nearby, gripping his treasured sword as spiritual energy continuously flowed through it. As a sword cultivator, he had already unleashed two strikes, which was relatively enduring for his class. However, his remaining spiritual energy was limited, necessitating careful use.

Sun Ji and the dried-up old ghost circled on one side; Sun Ji held a talisman treasure, occasionally launching attacks with it, while the other controlled the refined corpse for stealthy assaults.

Chen Luo also produced a magical sword, manipulating it with spiritual energy for long-range strikes, contributing his part.

‘Evil beings are hard to eliminate; you can summon heavenly lightning to destroy them.’

‘Relying on thunder techniques is superior.’

In Chen Luo’s mind, the two Foundation Establishment brains offered suggestions, but unfortunately, they were currently impractical for him to implement.

Thunder techniques were expensive; even within the Divine Lake Immortal Sect, their cost made Foundation Establishment cultivators wince. With his modest savings before leaving the mountain, Chen Luo could not afford to learn them.

Thus, he decisively disregarded these suggestions from the two Foundation Establishment brains and turned his attention to the five Five Phases Foundation Establishment minds, one level below them.

‘Fire techniques can harm demonic entities.’

‘The Age of Metal Sword Art, when perfected, can effectively slay demons and banish evil.’

‘Use the terrain to trap it and gradually wear it down with time-based powers.’

Upon reading the last thought, Chen Luo’s heart stirred. Sealing and entrapping demons is a common method among cultivators, and now he could also employ some Earth elemental techniques, just enough to potentially confine someone.

While controlling the magical sword ‘Demon Subduer’ with spiritual energy, he began examining the surroundings.

Earlier, Sun Ji had created a massive pit during combat using a talisman treasure. It still emitted white smoke, with shattered spirit medicines strewn around, releasing a fragrant herbal scent. Chen Luo stealthily moved a few steps closer, gradually reaching the edge of the large crater.

Ahead,

Wang Tianji, engaged with the Mountain Spirit woman, clenched his fists and raised both index fingers towards the sky.

Spiritual energy wildly gathered at his fingertips, forming a speck of red light that rapidly expanded. In the blink of an eye, it transformed into a scorching flame dragon over three meters long, coiling around him before roaring towards the white-robed woman.

“Flame Divine Incantation!”

Wang Tianji unleashed his most potent divine ability once again, leaving his face pale afterward. As the fiery dragon charged forth, he swiftly retrieved two medicinal pills from his bag of holding and swallowed them. The surge of their potency painted an unnaturally flushed hue on his cheeks.

The Mountain Spirit woman opposite him, intimidated by this display of power, instinctively sought to evade. However, before she could move, Lu Zhaotian’s sword qi reached her.

With one strike, all avenues of escape were sealed, forcing her to directly confront the divine ability.

Boom!

The two forces collided fiercely, sending waves of intense heat surging through the air.

“Ai”

A sigh echoed amidst the explosion, originating from the young scholar who had appeared earlier in the first medicinal garden. Upon hearing the voice, Sun Ji wasted no time and immediately dropped the talisman treasure in his hand onto the ground.

As the talisman struck the earth, it instantly shattered.

Dark red energy radiated outward, voraciously absorbing the surrounding mist. With another explosion, the already chaotic scene became even more tumultuous under the impact of the talisman treasure.

Seizing this opportunity, Sun Ji wasted no time and rushed towards the third medicinal garden. The dried-up old ghost closely followed, with Lu Zhaotian being the swiftest—this sword cultivator had started running even as he unleashed his strike.

Wang Tianji’s reaction was not slow either. After digesting the medicinal effects, he employed an evasion technique and swiftly joined the trio in their dash.

As the aftermath dissipated, only Chen Luo remained standing at the edge of a large crater, while across from him, the male and female Mountain Spirits slowly recovered.

He found himself alone on the battlefield.

There was no longer any need for the earth-sealing demon method. Even his ally, the dried-up old ghost, had fled. In the face of such absolute gain like Mind-Focusing Grass, betraying allies wasn’t surprising.

“The world is truly cold-hearted,” Chen Luo sighed. Clearly, these individuals saw him as expendable bait. Dealing with the male and female adversaries would be extremely challenging; with their geographical advantage, they were nearly invincible. One misstep could easily lead to his demise here.

“But how can you be certain that it’s safer over there?” Chen Luo glanced at the direction of the third medicinal garden, showing no inclination to approach it.

The third medicinal garden held a trap.

This information came from Hua She’s knowledge; as native creatures of these gardens, they undoubtedly knew more than outsiders like them.

“You’re not going over?” The young scholar looked at Chen Luo. He and the Mountain Spirit woman had fully recovered their vigor, once again resembling the divine couple he first encountered at the Mountain God Temple. Chen Luo noticed the spirit medicines in the nearby garden withering, their medicinal potency transforming into spiritual particles absorbed by the pair.

“Just passing through.” With a sigh, Chen Luo recalled his magical sword. Having spent considerable effort to repair it, he couldn’t simply abandon it.

“Then prepare to die.”

The Mountain Spirit woman instantly appeared behind Chen Luo, her slender fingers elongating into five sharp black claws, aiming viciously for his back.

Screech!

Sparks flew as the Mountain Spirit woman’s claws bent upon impact. Chen Luo’s clothing was torn, revealing his sturdy back.

“As humans…or beings, why be so impatient?”

Quickly regaining his focus, Chen Luo activated the Iron Body Art, unleashing a ferocious aura as he transformed into a fearsome ancient beast. With a swift motion of his right hand, he grabbed the Mountain Spirit’s neck.

“A physical cultivator?” The Mountain Spirit woman looked utterly shocked.

As a physical cultivator, why were you hiding behind so many law cultivators? And wielding that magical sword, trying to deceive whom?!

“Physical cultivator? I’m actually a genuine law cultivator, specializing in divine souls.” Chen Luo grinned, and a surge of intense spiritual energy erupted from his palm.

Wind Control Technique!

More than thirty wind blades burst forth from his hand. At such close range, there was no chance of missing, ensuring a perfect hit rate even higher than when using Xianhe Chengfeng.

Perhaps the creator of the Wind Control Technique never envisioned this wind-based divine ability being employed for close-quarters combat.

The barrage of wind blades instantly shredded the Mountain Spirit woman’s recently regenerated body into fragments. White tattered cloth scattered everywhere, while with his other hand, Chen Luo pressed down on the white-robed woman’s head, ready to extract her brain.

Unfortunately, it did not succeed.

“Not dead yet?”

With a tight grip, Chen Luo crushed the Mountain Spirit woman’s head. Initially, he intended to collect her head as well, but since she wasn’t fully dead and her brain remained active, his attempt to extract it failed.

“Practicing both magical arts and physical cultivation? Could you be an ancient cultivator?”

The young scholar observed from a distance with keen interest, showing no anger at Chen Luo’s actions against the Mountain Spirit woman; instead, he seemed quite impressed.

“I don’t follow ancient methods. Do you know where I can find Mind-Focusing Grass?”

After dispatching the Mountain Spirit, Chen Luo turned to the young scholar, their interaction resembling that of casual friends, devoid of any previous tension.

“Yes, it’s in the first medicinal garden. But dare you use the herbs grown here?” A peculiar expression crossed the young scholar’s face.

“Let’s give it a try; perhaps they’ll still work.”

Chen Luo couldn’t be certain if the Mind-Focusing Grass here would serve its purpose, but having come this far, he couldn’t leave empty-handed.

“I can tell you the location of the Mind-Focusing Grass, but in return, I have a question for you,” the young scholar agreed with a nod. “Why didn’t you go to the third medicinal garden like the others?”

“I’m quite cautious; the feng shui of the third medicinal garden is unfavorable and clashes with me,” Chen Luo replied earnestly.

“Haha! How intriguing, you truly are interesting. Almost makes it hard for me to kill you now.” The young scholar laughed at his explanation.

After a moment, he composed himself and pointed towards the direction of the third medicinal garden, saying, “However, I must apologize, as all the Mind-Focusing Grass is indeed planted there. You won’t be able to obtain any without entering.”

“Thank you for informing me.”

With that, Chen Luo swiftly changed course, heading straight towards the first medicinal garden without looking back.

Entering the third medicinal garden? Only if he had lost his mind. The ‘evil spirit’ warned by the mummified brain still hadn’t shown itself, and chances were it lurked within the third garden. Moreover, considering something deemed a mere trinket by a Core Formation powerhouse, it was undoubtedly beyond the reach of a Qi Refinement stage cultivator like him.

Seeing Chen Luo’s resolute departure, the young scholar finally made his move.

With a wave of his hand, a multitude of eerie blue lanterns descended from the sky, resembling ghost fires, intending to seal off the area and force Chen Luo back.