After Escaping From Death, He Went Even Crazier By Criticizing Black Lotus Chapter 18
byHowever, when Su Huan entered the Spirit Nurturing Immortal Palace, he found that it had already turned into ruins.
The glazed tiles on the roof were broken and decaying, the jade walls were covered with a thick layer of moss, the spiritual herbs in the medicine garden were gone, and weeds grew everywhere. It looked abandoned for a long time, as if the Immortal Palace they had entered earlier was merely a fleeting dream that had never existed.
Searching inside and out, he found no living creatures.
Su Huan was horrified and at a loss, when his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of three sword marks in the corner of the wall—
The sword marks were wide and short, shaped wider on the left and narrower on the right.
Among the people Su Huan knew, only Nangong Yi’s Silver Square Sword was a wide sword. This meant that this was a clue left by Fellow Daoist Nangong.
Su Huan immediately pursued the trail to the west.
Sure enough, after less than half an hour of flying on his sword, his extended spiritual sense discovered the unconscious Nangong Yi in a hidden cave.
Su Huan hurriedly fed him a Spirit Recovery Pill: “Fellow Daoist Nangong, wake up quickly!”
Countless stalactites hung straight down from the damp, cold cave ceiling. A drop of water traced a stone pillar and landed on his tightly closed eyelid. The raven-black lashes suddenly twitched. The body, whose spiritual aura was weak, slowly absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy and gradually revived.
Nangong Yi slowly opened his eyes. Seeing Su Huan, he looked surprised: “Fellow Daoist Su, how are you here?”
He paused, then asked, “Fellow Daoist Xiao… isn’t he with you?”
Meng Qinghui had mentioned that Jiang Fei saw Xiao Jianming leaving with Su Huan. Clearly, Nangong Yi also knew about this, but the expression on his face did not suggest he believed Su Huan was an accomplice.
Su Huan lowered his gaze and shook his head, feeling that he was unworthy of Fellow Daoist Nangong’s trust.
Nangong Yi nodded and stopped asking. He was always so thoughtful and considerate towards others, truly deserving the praise, “Though having faced few hardships, he still pities the suffering of the common people.”
Su Huan said, “He is dead.”
Nangong Yi was slightly surprised. Su Huan turned his head away, not wanting to elaborate.
Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, Teacher—murdering a fellow disciple was not a good thing.
However, the next second, a voice suddenly came from behind—
“Is that how you talk about me outside?”
Su Huan turned back in astonishment.
The entrance of the cave, concealed by spiritual vines, was pushed aside, allowing a sliver of light to spill into the dim interior. A figure stood at the entrance, holding a sword. Those black eyes stared intently at Su Huan, like a venomous snake hidden in the shadows, sending a chill down his spine.
It was Xiao Jianming, whom Su Huan had presumed trapped and killed underground using a formation.
Xiao Jianming sneered: “You thought your meager spiritual power, which isn’t even enough for a single Golden Core, could kill me? You are far too conceited.”
Nangong Yi’s eyes narrowed. He gripped the Silver Square Sword and shielded Su Huan behind him.
Xiao Jianming’s steps into the cave paused. He glanced at Nangong Yi casually, then turned back to Su Huan, a hint of mockery in his eyes. He said to Su Huan, “Why so nervous? I won’t kill you. It makes me look like the villain breaking up a pair of lovers.”
But recalling the extremely uncomfortable feeling of being trapped underground just now, Xiao Jianming’s eyes grew cold. Still, he no longer intended to kill Su Huan. After all, this person was now tied to him, and his soul was too fragile, like a thin piece of paper that could be torn to shreds by external force if he wasn’t careful.
However, a few verbal threats to keep him in line were acceptable: “But murdering a fellow disciple is a serious crime. At best, you’ll be expelled from the sect; at worst, your cultivation will be crippled and you’ll be thrown into the Cold Abyss Prison to suffer eternal cold punishment…”
Catching sight of their shoulders touching in his peripheral vision, Xiao Jianming inexplicably found it irritating, so he changed his tune, “However, if you come over obediently, I can consider a lighter punishment.”
Nangong Yi’s vigilance intensified.
Su Huan found his shamelessness unbelievable: “You betrayed the sect and colluded with the demonic race. I am obligated to eliminate traitors for the Sword Venerable. What crime do I have?”
Xiao Jianming raised an eyebrow: “Who said I betrayed the sect?”
As if only now recalling Su Huan’s previous accusations, Xiao Jianming raised his eyebrows and explained, “Although I rescued Yin Rong, and I did want to incite a war between the immortal and demonic realms, the person who truly betrayed the immortal sects and trapped you here is not me.”
Nangong Yi didn’t believe a word. He held his sword firmly, the tip pointed directly at Xiao Jianming.
Su Huan believed him. Xiao Jianming had no need to fabricate lies about such a matter, and besides, the words didn’t sound like a lie.
However, the spiritual incantation on his fingertip did not dissipate. He thought, even if that’s the case, he’s still not a good person.
Xiao Jianming didn’t care. As if he had thought of something, the little anger he had shown vanished completely. He said irritably, “Don’t say I didn’t warn you. You only have half a Golden Core now. Do you really want to risk your life for these irrelevant people in the Spirit Nurturing Immortal Palace?”
Nangong Yi was stunned by the words and couldn’t help but look at Su Huan: “Fellow Daoist Su, why are you…”
Mid-sentence, as if realizing something, he involuntarily glanced at Xiao Jianming not far away and asked softly, “Did he do something to you? Don’t be afraid, I won’t let him hurt you again.”
Su Huan was moved, but Xiao Jianming was amused to anger: “I hurt him? He was the one who carelessly cut out half of his Golden Core to prolong the life of his brother, who appeared out of nowhere.”
As he spoke, a wisp of spiritual energy flowed from his fingertip towards Su Huan. The golden spiritual energy was drawn out, interweaving with the blue spiritual energy, inextricably tangled.
He said, “Not only did I not hurt him, I saved his life.”
Nangong Yi was momentarily astonished: “This! So you two are Dao Companions!”
“We are not!”
“Who is paired with him.”
The two denied it simultaneously, showing surprising synchronicity.
Silence fell in the cave.
After a while, Su Huan said, “Little Chao is not just anyone. He is my biological younger brother, born of the same mother. He is the closest person to me in this world.”
Xiao Jianming: “…” How did he not know that Su Huan, the sole heir of the Gilded Su family, had a younger brother?
He scoffed internally. He wanted to see if Su Huan, after recovering his memories someday, would regret this moment so much that he would bash his head against the ground.
Xiao Jianming snorted, deciding not to stoop to the level of an idiot. Finally, he stated his purpose: “I’m going to join whatever you plan to do.”
Since the war between the immortal and demonic realms was inevitable, it didn’t matter what the idiot wanted to do, as long as he stayed alive until Xiao Jianming broke through the illusion.
Moreover, if he forcibly restrained the person, the idiot might die faster.
Rather than that, he might as well join them.
*
Su Huan and Nangong Yi exchanged glances, their eyes shifting slightly, then they nodded lightly.
Seeing this, Xiao Jianming’s intimidating aura relaxed, and he turned and exited the cave.
Who knew that as soon as the two of them stepped out of the cave, they abandoned him and ran.
It turned out that Su Huan had sent a spiritual message to Nangong Yi: Fellow Daoist, I don’t trust him.
Nangong Yi replied via spiritual message: Fellow Daoist Su, we previously encountered a Nascent Soul stage Fruit Spirit in the Spirit Nurturing Immortal Palace. I found the spiritual key to exit on that Fruit Spirit, but the spirit is mentally unstable and difficult to communicate with… During the fight just now, I placed a tracking talisman on it. There is a Thousand Mile Teleportation Talisman in the sachet on my waist. As long as we have the tracking talisman, we can trace its vicinity. Is Fellow Daoist Su willing to go with me to retrieve the spiritual key?
He paused, then added: This journey is dangerous. Fellow Daoist Su, please consider carefully.
Su Huan had been entrusted by Meng Qinghui to find that Fruit Spirit, so he naturally agreed.
Watching the two figures disappear into the spiritual energy vortex, Xiao Jianming gritted his teeth: “Good! Very good!”
…
After a bout of dizziness, the two returned to the Spirit Nurturing Immortal Palace, where the scene was still one of desolation.
Nangong Yi explained to Su Huan: “The previously clear and magnificent appearance of the Immortal Palace was created by the Fruit Spirit consuming its own spiritual energy. The vines that Fellow Daoist Qi burned were also one of its branches. After it was startled awake, the Spirit Nurturing Immortal Palace reverted to this state.”
Su Huan: “I see. Look, spiritual herbs are growing again in the medicine garden inside the gate. I presume the Fruit Spirit has returned to the Immortal Palace.”
The moss on the vermilion lacquer gate had faded, restoring its luster. It was half-open and half-closed, entwined with new vines.
It seemed the Fruit Spirit had fallen asleep again, which was convenient for them.
Su Huan: “In a moment, I will set up the Golden Dragon Formation near the Immortal Palace. It can temporarily restrain a Nascent Soul cultivator for about a quarter of an hour. Fellow Daoist Nangong can seize the opportunity to retrieve the key.”
Nangong Yi was slightly surprised, his eyes lighting up: “I’ve heard of this formation. It was created by the Immortal Venerable Fengqing ten thousand years ago. It is exquisite and difficult to master, and few have learned it. I didn’t expect Fellow Daoist Su to know even this. You are truly knowledgeable and talented.”
Su Huan smiled. In his mind, he couldn’t help but picture another person who liked to praise others, but since Nangong Yi hadn’t mentioned him, Su Huan asked, “By the way, why don’t I see Jiusi? Did he get separated from you?”
At the mention of this, Nangong Yi’s expression was forlorn. He said hoarsely, “He was pierced through the chest by the Fruit Spirit’s branches while covering everyone’s escape… He died in the Spirit Nurturing Immortal Palace.”
Su Huan was surprised: “My condolences.”
Nangong Yi smiled, his gaze towards the Spirit Nurturing Immortal Palace resolute: “If I have the chance, I will kill that Fruit Spirit and avenge him.”
“If we can’t control the Fruit Spirit later, Fellow Daoist Su, you don’t need to worry about me. Just leave first.”
Su Huan opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but he couldn’t die here.
After a long pause, he managed to utter one word: “Good.”
*
Su Huan had carefully studied the Golden Dragon Formation before, so he completed the setup in less than an hour.
Silently swallowing the metallic taste of blood that rose in his throat, Su Huan nodded towards Nangong Yi.
Nangong Yi stood before the palace gate. Upon receiving his signal, he drew his Silver Square Sword.
The sword tip flashed with a faint light, suddenly transforming into a cold ice dragon that violently charged into the Spirit Nurturing Immortal Palace, shaking the entire palace and freezing half of the halls.
The eerie crying sound reappeared. The Immortal Palace shook even more violently, and the crying became increasingly sharp and loud.
A green light burst out from the Immortal Palace. Su Huan finally saw the full appearance of the Fruit Spirit.
It was a perfectly round, emerald green fruit. Its branches had transformed into limbs, and two small, green-bean-sized eyes and a gaping bloody mouth grew in the center of its round body. A red string was tied around its round belly, hanging a translucent, emerald green square block. Its body was covered in golden-green patterns that faintly glowed.
Su Huan was startled and looked again. The golden-green patterns on the Fruit Spirit looked exactly like the cloud patterns formed by medicinal pills… This was no Fruit Spirit; it was clearly a spiritual pill that had gained sentience!
Could medicinal pills also gain sentience?!
Su Huan thought of the pills he had consumed earlier and felt a wave of nausea.
The Fruit Spirit—the Pill Spirit—cried out with its large mouth, yet it sounded like thousands of monsters emitting thousands of voices, instantly causing blood to seep from Su Huan’s seven orifices. He hurriedly sent a spiritual message to Nangong Yi: Fellow Daoist Nangong, this is not a Fruit Spirit, but a spiritual pill covered in moss! The pill fragrance on its body is poisonous. Fellow Daoist, you must be careful!
Nangong Yi’s expression became serious, and he sealed off his sense of smell.
The monster looked furious. As soon as it stepped out of the Spirit Nurturing Immortal Palace, golden light appeared on the ground, shooting up into the sky to form a massive golden cage, shaped like a birdcage. Thick pillars branched into golden chains, binding the Pill Spirit like a tamale.
The Golden Dragon Formation was originally a formation created by Immortal Venerable Fengqing to capture wood-element spiritual dragons. Because it resembled a birdcage and was used to capture dragons, it earned this name.
Once locked by it, the formation would not dissipate, and the golden cage would not unlock.
The Pill Spirit, as Nangong Yi had said, was mentally unstable. Even when locked up, it continued to roar, trying to move towards Nangong Yi.
Nangong Yi was not restricted by the formation. He walked into the cage with his sword drawn. The Pill Spirit immediately wailed louder, staring intently at his figure and struggling violently.
Nangong Yi used his sword to flick the small square block off the red string and threw it to Su Huan: “Catch! This is the spiritual key to exit!”
Su Huan flew up, ready to catch it, but unexpectedly collided with a black shadow, and that person snatched the key one step ahead of him!
The person landed and turned around, a section of red string wrapped around his finger. His palm held the slightly swaying, spiritually abundant small square block, revealing an extremely familiar face.
It was Xiao Jianming!
How did he manage to find them so quickly?!
An expression of astonishment appeared on Su Huan’s face, then he heard Xiao Jianming laugh maliciously, just like he had five years ago.
Su Huan involuntarily took a step back.
Xiao Jianming extended his other hand and shook it, revealing another identical key!
He said leisurely, “Now the keys are all with me. If you want to leave…”
“Beg me.”