https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-97-A-Fierce-Battle-with-Hidden-Dangers/12549221/
Chapter 96: The Earth Spirit Spring Water, Engaging in Battle
Chapter 96: The Earth Spirit Spring Water, Engaging in Battle
It was through performing the Green Wood Eternal Spring Art on this old man that Chu Ning had initially come into contact with the Seven Star Spirit Fruit.
So, with just one glance, Chu Ning immediately recognized him.
However, he was perplexed as to why this old man, Sun, would appear here.
Moreover, it was evident that he was being pursued at the moment.
Chu Ning was taken aback, but he had no intention of stepping in to rescue him.
Although this old man, Sun, had given him some spirit stones in the past, their relationship was purely transactional.
As for the people chasing him, Chu Ning could discern through the Use Sensing Technique that two of them were at the sixth layer of Qi Refinement, while the other was at the seventh layer.
If not for the old man constantly activating talismans, his own cultivation at the fifth layer would have been caught by now.
It wasn't until their figures had disappeared for a while that Chu Ning exited the spirit field's restrictions.
However, by then, Chu Ning had already transformed his appearance.
This wasn't due to any particular reason but rather out of caution upon seeing other people.
After exiting the restrictions, Chu Ning remembered Ling Xiaobai and was just about to take out his spirit beast bag to keep it safe.
"Meow!"
At that moment, Ling Xiaobai suddenly let out a cry.
The next instant, Chu Ning heard Ling Xiaobai's voice in his mind.
"Follow me!"
Then, it tilted its head towards the northeast.
"Where are we going?" Chu Ning asked, slightly puzzled.
Ling Xiaobai didn't answer but instead took off running in the northeast direction.
Chu Ning hurriedly caught up and called out.
"Xiaobai!"
"Meow!"
Ling Xiaobai turned to glance at Chu Ning before continuing to run forward.
"Follow me!"
Chu Ning also sensed the signal transmitted by its spiritual sense.
As he watched Ling Xiaobai running forward, Chu Ning hesitated.
But when he called out again and the little guy showed no signs of stopping, Chu Ning had no choice but to follow.
Heading northeast, Chu Ning soon arrived at the mountain peak where he had just been cultivating the Azure Wood Sword Technique.
However, Ling Xiaobai showed no signs of stopping and instead turned towards the mountain range.
This caused Chu Ning's eyebrows to furrow slightly.
Going deeper into the mountains increased the likelihood of encountering demonic beasts.
However, as Ling Xiaobai continued to signal for him to follow, Chu Ning had no choice but to comply.
After all, even if there were demonic beasts nearby, they would only be low-level first-stage or mid-stage beasts.
This was the first time that the usually perceptive Ling Xiaobai had acted like this, and Chu Ning couldn't help but wonder where it was leading him.
After running like this for about half an hour, Ling Xiaobai suddenly stopped in front of a small mountain stream.
"Meow!"
Just as Chu Ning hesitated, Ling Xiaobai began to walk along the mountain stream.
Soon, they reached the end of the stream.
A waterfall, not particularly large, cascaded down, forming a pool below.
The pool wasn't very deep, appearing to be only slightly taller than a person.
As Chu Ning wondered why Ling Xiaobai had stopped suddenly, the little beast turned and called out to him.
"Meow!"
Ling Xiaobai jumped onto Chu Ning's shoulder, then gestured with its head.
"Do you want to fly me over?" Chu Ning asked, interpreting Ling Xiaobai's actions.
He looked around cautiously and noticed a crevice about three zhang above the pool, which he had overlooked due to the distracting waterfall.
Having come this far, Chu Ning didn't hesitate further.
He took out the Wind Chariot from his storage bag, levitated, and flew towards the crevice.
Upon reaching the crevice, Ling Xiaobai leaped from Chu Ning's shoulder and proceeded to walk along the crevice.
Chu Ning also put away the Wind Chariot and followed.
After advancing about ten zhang, a small cave entrance appeared before them.
The two squeezed through the opening and continued for another five zhang before the space suddenly opened up.
A cave, roughly ten zhang in size, appeared before Chu Ning's eyes.
The cave wasn't completely enclosed, as there were gaps that allowed wind and light to enter.
This allowed Chu Ning to clearly observe the entire cave.
Stalagmites rose from the cave floor, and in the center was a small pond, about one zhang in size. Additionally, some plants grew within the cave.
As Chu Ning's gaze swept over these plants, his eyes lit up.
"Blood Mist Grass!"
Most of the plants in the cave were ordinary flowers and grasses, but Chu Ning spotted several stalks of a plant known as Blood Bloom Grass, a valuable spiritual herb used in pill concoction.
Its value surpassed even that of the Golden Origin Fruit and Iron Orchid Fruit that Chu Ning cultivated.
However, the Blood Mist Grass here was still in its seedling stage.
"The spiritual energy here is so dense; no wonder these spiritual plants can grow," Chu Ning muttered to himself as he took in the surroundings. His gaze then landed on the small pond in the center.
"Meow!"
Chu Ning walked over, and the next moment, his face was filled with surprise.
This wasn't just any small pond, but Earth Spirit Spring Water!
This Earth Spirit Spring Water usually formed in mountain ranges with spiritual veins and wasn't entirely condensed from spiritual energy.
Instead, it was formed by natural springs that absorbed spiritual energy over a long period.
Drinking this Earth Spirit Spring Water directly didn't have a very noticeable effect for cultivators.
However, this Earth Spirit Spring Water was often accompanied by spiritual herbs like the Blood Mist Grass.
When used together, they had an excellent tempering effect on the body.
So, many body cultivators went to great lengths to find it.
Chu Ning had learned this information from the jade slip about body tempering techniques that Zhuang Yunde had given him.
What surprised Chu Ning was that there was actually Earth Spirit Spring Water in this branch vein.
"Body tempering?"
Chu Ning's eyes flickered as he looked at the Earth Spirit Spring Water.
As someone who cultivated the Ancient Nine-Yang Body Refining Technique, he was also a body cultivator.
However, since ancient body refining techniques like the Nine-Yang Body Refining Technique didn't involve external tempering, he had never tried it before.
But Chu Ning also felt that body tempering might be equally effective for him.
He had even considered using the Iron Orchid Fruit for body tempering if it ever matured.
Yet, he never expected to come across Earth Spirit Spring Water now.
As Chu Ning's heart raced with excitement, his eyebrows furrowed, and he slowly walked towards several young, pale pink spiritual herbs.
This Earth Spirit Spring Water seemed to have formed some time ago, but why were these Blood Mist Grass plants so immature?
The Blood Mist Grass at this stage couldn't be used in conjunction with the Earth Spirit Spring Water.
As his gaze fell on the edge of the Blood Mist Grass, his expression changed slightly.
The soil around these few Blood Mist Grass plants was disturbed, indicating that something had been pulled out.
"Someone has picked these Blood Mist Grass plants, and it doesn't seem long ago either."
With this thought, Chu Ning subconsciously thought of the old man Sun and the people chasing him.
"Could it be that Old Man Sun picked these, and somehow, others found out, which is why they're chasing him?"
As this thought crossed his mind, Chu Ning's gaze fell on Ling Xiaobai.
With this in mind, the reason Ling Xiaobai led him here was most likely because he sensed the aura on Old Man Sun and tracked it here.
"Not good!"
The next moment, Chu Ning's heart sank, and he quickly stood up.
"Old Man Sun's cultivation is lower than the others, so it'll be difficult for him to escape.
If those people know about this place and the Earth Spirit Spring Water, they'll likely come here."
With this thought, Chu Ning immediately signaled for Ling Xiaobai to leave.
However, the next moment, Chu Ning's expression changed slightly.
With his sensitive spiritual sense, he felt that someone was approaching from the direction he and Ling Xiaobai had just come from.
"They're coming so soon?"
Chu Ning called out to Ling Xiaobai, and in a flash, he hid behind a large stone in the cave.
Suppressing his aura, Chu Ning initially wanted to put Ling Xiaobai into the spirit beast bag but then decided against it.
Instead, he instructed Ling Xiaobai not to make any noise.
If there was any danger, this little guy might be able to help him a little.
Just as Chu Ning had hidden himself, in less than two breaths, several footsteps approached.
Chu Ning extended his spiritual sense slightly and found that there were four people.
One of them was Old Man Sun, and the three people behind him were the same ones who had been chasing him earlier.
"It really is them!"
Chu Ning sighed softly in his heart.
If it had been just Old Man Sun, he wouldn't have cared much.
But now, there were so many people, and one of them was even at the same cultivation level as him, which made things a bit tricky.
He just hoped that they wouldn't discover him.
However, as soon as this thought crossed his mind, Chu Ning's eyebrows furrowed again.
When he had entered earlier, he hadn't paid much attention, so there were probably footprints on the ground.
If any of these people were observant, they might easily discover his presence.
With this in mind, Chu Ning became alert and cautious.
At the same time, several exclamations of surprise echoed in the cave.
"There's actually Earth Spirit Spring Water here!"
After a series of exclamations, a coarse and unrestrained voice reverberated in the cave.
"Old Man Sun, there's actually such a treasure here.
Not bad, not bad. So, the Seven Star Spirit Fruit that you and my third brother found was also from this place, huh?
Chu Ning recognized it as belonging to the old man, Sun.
Simultaneously, Chu Ning's heart skipped a beat.
Liu Lao San? Could he be the man with the bushy beard whom I killed before?
"Nonsense!" The coarse voice rang out again, filled with malicious intent.
"Initially, you and Lao San inadvertently found the seeds of the Seven Star Spirit Fruit here. You've already cultivated and sold them for a huge profit.
But my third brother disappeared just a few months later. If you didn't kill him, then who did?
Do you really take me, Liu Lao Da, for a fool?"
After shouting angrily, the man coldly huffed, "If my third brother hadn't left a message for me out of precaution, and if we hadn't patiently waited and watched for over a year, we might never have discovered the truth."
"Big Brother, why bother talking to him?" At this moment, the yellow-faced man, who had been standing beside the coarse-mannered man, spoke up.
"There's Earth Spirit Spring Water here, and this old man has plucked the Blood Mist Grass. You might as well temper your body here, and we'll protect you.
As for the extra Blood Mist Grass, we can sell it for more spirit stones."
His tone was filled with greed. "Moreover, this old man must have a lot of valuable items on him after selling so many Seven Star Spirit Fruits."
"What do you want to do?" Fear crept into the old man Sun's voice.
"You just promised that if I handed over the Blood Mist Grass and brought you here, you would let me go."
"Let you go?" Liu Lao Da let out a cold laugh.
"Then who will avenge my third brother?"
Upon hearing this, Chu Ning understood the whole situation.
He hesitated, wondering if he should help the old man Sun. After all, in a sense, they might be on the same side.
If those three discovered him, they certainly wouldn't let him off easily.
As this thought flashed through Chu Ning's mind, his eyes narrowed.
Just then, the blue-robed youth, who had been silent until now, suddenly brandished a sharp thorn.
He infused it with his spiritual power, and the thorn shot forward like a bolt of red light, aiming directly at the old man Sun.
The red light was incredibly fast, and with the two of them so close, it reached the old man in an instant.
However, Sun seemed prepared for this.
A yellow light shield suddenly appeared around him, blocking the red light.
"Chatter less and just kill him!" the blue-robed youth said in a slightly effeminate voice.
Hearing this, the old man's face turned ashen.
But he didn't say anything in response.
Protected by the yellow light shield, Sun quickly took out several talismans and activated them.
At the same time, Liu Lao Da and the yellow-faced man exchanged glances, seemingly reaching an unspoken agreement.
The yellow-faced man took the lead, wielding a short spear. With his spiritual power, he sent a beam of yellow light toward the old man Sun.
He also activated a defensive talisman, blocking the white light attack from Sun.
As for Liu Lao Da, he didn't attack.
When Sun's talismans and spells flew toward him, he nimbly dodged out of the way.
The next moment, he charged directly at the old man. In his hand appeared a hammer.
Seeing Liu Lao Da's move, Sun's face changed slightly.
He activated a talisman, seemingly a fleeing talisman, and his figure flickered, appearing at the cave entrance.
However, the blue-robed youth had anticipated this and was already waiting at the entrance. A beam of red light shot toward Sun.
The old man had no choice but to stop abruptly and activate another white protective shield to block the attack.
At the same time, a beam of golden light shot toward Liu Lao Da.
"This old man has quite a few valuable items on him!" The yellow-faced man exclaimed greedily.
His short spear glowed with yellow light, and his attack was equally fierce.
The red and yellow lights struck simultaneously, shattering the protective shield around the old man.
At the same moment, Liu Lao Da closed in.
He swung his hammer down.
As the fight between the four men intensified, two figures—one human, one beast—emerged from behind a large rock.
(End of Chapter)
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