''This it can''t be!''


    ''These symptoms, they mirror those of the demonic beasts!''


    ''Could this tribtion faced by Ji Ruxue stem from the impact of Fang Yuan''s Heavenly Fate Value during their training?''


    ''This situation is dire; I must evacuate them posthaste!''


    A revtion zed through Jiang Chen''s eyes.


    Without dy, he gathered all the corpses of the demonic beasts into the Heavenly Demon Hidden Heart Ring.


    Just as he aplished this.


    "Ah!!"


    A low growl erupted from Xie Xiaojing, clutching her head, seemingly overwhelmed by an uncontroble bloodlust that targeted Jiang Chen.


    Ji Ruxue, though marginally better off than Xie Xiaojing, bore bloodshot eyes and appeared to be nearing her breaking point!


    "I need to render them unconscious first."


    Jiang Chen''s brow furrowed in concern.


    With a wave of his hand, Xie Xiaojing and Ji Ruxue sumbed to unconsciousness, deprived of any power to resist.


    As they began to crumple to the ground, Jiang Chen deftly hoisted both women, one under each arm, and maneuvered the jade flute flying artifact in the direction of the Purple Heaven Holy Land.


    En route, Jiang Chen urgentlymunicated with Ji Mingxiu, recounting all the anomalies that transpired in the Red Maple Heavenly Valley, including the distressing predicaments of Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing.


    "What?!"


    "A demonic beast of the Inquiring Journey realm manifested in the Red Maple Heavenly Valley!"


    "Impossible! The Red Maple Heavenly Valley is a stone''s throw from my Purple Heaven Holy Land. The quantity and realm of the demonic beasts have always been within our safety parameters!"


    "Wait, you''re saying the demonic beasts erupted from the ground? How could there possibly be so many underground?"


    "And, my daughter was hurt in a perplexing manner!?"


    "A peculiar injury akin to the mindless, murderous demonic beasts, and conventional pills offer no relief!?"


    "..."


    Ji Mingxiu, typically asposed as a seasoned elder, was unnerved by the message ryed by Jiang Chen.


    However, he did not cast any me on Jiang Chen.


    After all, Jiang Chen and his group had confronted a demonic beast at the formidable Inquiring Journey realm, and it was Jiang Chen who vanquished the beast.


    Throughout the entire ordeal, Ji Ruxue emerged unscathed.


    Her abnormal state only surfaced after the encounter.


    Though Ji Mingxiu was incensed, he retained his rity of mind and refrained from directing his ire towards Jiang Chen, his sole disciple.


    "Jiang Chen!"


    "You must expedite Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing''s return to the Holy Land!"


    "I will rendezvous with you forthwith!"


    Having dispatched his message to Jiang Chen, Ji Mingxiu instantaneously vanished from his present location, hastening towards the Red Maple Heavenly Valley.


    Simultaneously, while journeying through the sky, Jiang Chen reyed his recent experiences and the pivotal battle in his mind.


    The entire twenty-day sojourn had been uneventful.


    Neither Ji Ruxue nor Xie Xiaojing had sustained any injuries.


    The abrupt onset of their symptoms urred only after that crimson beam of light erupted from the earth, followed by a swarm of demonic beasts.


    ''That pale red beam of light, spewing forth from the earth...''


    ''Its unsettling aura invoked a sense of irritation.''


    ''The demonic beasts dwelling underground year-round, amidst that ominous red energy, became mindless, driven solely by a murderous impulse.''


    ''Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing are disying symptoms akin to those of these berserk beasts. The pale red light must have influenced them.''


    ''Likely, duringbat, they depleted their Yuan Power and instinctively absorbed the surrounding spiritual Qi for rejuvenation, only to be adversely affected.''


    ''The energy within that eerie red beam, possessing odd properties, shares a striking resemnce with the spiritual Qi of the Bottomless Abyss!''


    ''Indeed, the Red Maple Heavenly Valley resembles a petite basin, deeply embedded in the terrain, while the Bottomless Abyss is an even more daunting no-go zone, its depths unfathomable.''


    ''That red energy beam was disgorged from beneath the ground...''


    ''Possibly, the subterranean area of the Red Maple Heavenly Valley is interconnected with the Bottomless Abyss!''


    ''...''


    Deep in thought, Jiang Chen rapidly formted a usible hypothesis.


    Subsequently, Jiang Chen contemted his own condition.


    Compared to Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing, he had been exposed to that sinister red energy for a longer duration and had assimted more spiritual Qi.


    However, he exhibited none of the symptoms guing Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing.


    His current state was optimal, devoid of any difort.


    ''This likely stems from my robust cultivation base and unique physique.''


    ''The Burning World Red Lotus bestowed upon me a peculiar constitution, and subsequently, I even acquired the bloodline of the Death Cmity True Dragon.''


    ''Withstanding a degree of aberrant spiritual Qi is rtively effortless.''


    Jiang Chen''s lips gradually etched into a smile.


    Initially, under the sway of Fang Yuan''s Heavenly Fate Value, not only would he have sustained grievous injuries from the onught of the Inquiring Journey realm demonic beast, but he would also have borne the brunt of criticism for failing to safeguard Ji Ruxue adequately.


    Moreover, in the end, he would have been subjected to the corrosive effects of that peculiar spiritual Qi.


    The predicament could be termed as perilous in the extreme, threatening to disrupt his entire existence.


    Otherwise, as a disciple of the Holy Lord, he would have been relegated to a tragic pawn, his dignity trampled by Fang Yuan.


    Thankfully, he was endowed with the Heaven-Defying Fate Changer!


    The Burning World Red Lotus and the bloodline of the Death Cmity True Dragon had significantly amplified his physique, aptitude, andbative prowess in all respects, thereby averting disaster!


    Time continued to flow.


    Roughly a quarter of an hourter, a luminescent streak crossed the horizon, materializing before Jiang Chen almost instantly.


    It was Ji Mingxiu.


    "Jiang Chen, are you unharmed?"


    Ji Mingxiu harbored no resentment towards Jiang Chen.


    Witnessing the shattered artifact that Jiang Chen had used for protection and his drainedplexion, he felt a surge of sympathy.


    He gravitated towards Jiang Chen''s side.


    A potent yet tender force radiated from him, cocooning Jiang Chen and the two unconscious girls.


    Subsequently, Ji Mingxiu, bearing Jiang Chen, ascended into the air, their speed magnified exponentially.


    "Master!"


    "I have failed. I was unable to safeguard Miss Ruxue and Miss Xiaojing!"


    "They are exhibiting abnormal symptoms. I had no alternative but to render them unconscious. Master, please ascertain their condition!"


    Throughout their journey, Jiang Chen expressed his remorse.


    "No."


    "On the contrary, we owe you our gratitude for maintaining my daughter and Xiaojing''s safety to the best of your ability."


    "Confronting a demonic beast of the Inquiring Journey realm is no trifling matter."


    "While my daughter possesses a one-time use artifact at the Inquiring Journey realm, it doesn''t guarantee her sess against a demonic beast of the same realm."


    Ji Mingxiu negated, then acknowledged Jiang Chen with an assuring nod.


    "I am deeply remorseful."


    Jiang Chen hung his head, his countenance adorned with a wistful smile.


    "Very well."


    "Let''s prioritize their well-being."


    Exuding reassurance, Ji Mingxiu then proceeded to assess Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing''s status.


    Considering his cultivation base situated at the Dao Pce realm, despitecking prowess in healing arts or alchemy, his deep-seated cultivation base could address myriad concerns directly.


    However, upon examination, Ji Mingxiu''s brows furrowed deeply.


    "Master, what is their condition?"


    Jiang Chen feigned anxiety while posing the question.


    In truth, he was aware that Ji Mingxiu would undoubtedly struggle to treat Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing.


    If not for such a circumstance, how could Fang Yuan unt his superiority?


    Without question, the symptoms exhibited by Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing could only be mitigated by Fang Yuan, employing the methods unique to Nangong Wan and Shangguan Ning!


    "This is grave!"


    "They''ve been tainted by the Bottomless Abyss Spiritual Qi!"


    Ji Mingxiu''s demeanor underwent a drastic shift!


    He was reminded of certain chronicles from the ancient texts of the Holy Land.


    A note from AlphaWIA:


    A note from AlphaWIA


    :


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