"Master, Master, are you alright?"
Hearing Lin Chen’s words, Xu Lianyu hurriedly came to the bedside and called out softly. Follow current novels on ɴovelfire.net
"Senior sister, Master’s severe poison has acted up, and she just passed out. I just expelled some of the extreme poison from Master’s body, so she’s temporarily out of danger, but we must find an antidote as soon as possible, otherwise..."
Lin Chen didn’t finish his sentence, but Xu Lianyu already knew what might happen. A look of terror appeared on her face, unable to bear the thought of Yang Yuemin really ending up in such a state.
"I’ll go fetch my father, he must have a way to save the Master."
She got up in haste, tears glistening in her eyes. It was evident that she deeply cared for her Master.
Lin Chen had only been with Jade Bird Peak for half a year and didn’t have much affection for Yang Yuemin, unlike Xu Lianyu, who was clearly very emotionally invested.
But even when the violent poison erupted in her body, Yang Yuemin insisted on imparting her unique skill to him, which deeply moved Lin Chen. Back at the Lin Family, besides Lin Chen’s father and the maid Xiaoyu, no one had ever been so kind to him.
Lin Chen, who grew up without a mother, was indeed moved just now.
"Right, I’ll call my father and be back soon. You’re not allowed to touch Master again. You can’t cure her poison."
Xu Lianyu sobbed as she suddenly turned around and scolded Lin Chen. It was clear that she was referring to the scene when she entered the room and saw Lin Chen attending to Yang Yuemin’s clothing. After saying her piece, she left, leaving Lin Chen speechless.
What was this all about? He was trying to cure his Master of poison, and she mistook it for something perverse.
Before long, Xu Lianyu returned, still giving Lin Chen resentful looks and making sure to check Yang Yuemin’s clothes as well.
Lin Chen wondered what on earth was going through his Junior Sister’s mind.
"I pay my respects to Sect Leader Uncle and Ninth Uncle."
Upon the arrival of the two people accompanying Xu Lianyu, Lin Chen quickly greeted them.
Earlier in the day, when Lin Chen was in the Outer Sect, he had already inquired about the identity of the Sect Leader of the Jade Cauldron Sect’s Main Peak. As Lin Chen had speculated, Xu Lianyu was indeed the granddaughter of Xu Ma’an, the Sect Leader of the Jade Cauldron Sect. He had also gathered information on the other Peak Masters and even understood their temperaments.
If he wanted to establish himself in the Jade Cauldron Sect, this was naturally something to be familiar with. The one beside Xu Ma’an was Zhao Rushi, the Ninth Peak Master, known as the most skilled in medicine within the Jade Cauldron Sect.
Xu Ma’an looked at Lin Chen, waved his hand to indicate that he could get up, and then Lin Chen stood aside, watching Zhao Rushi take Yang Yuemin’s pulse.
"How is my Junior Sister’s condition?"
Xu Ma’an asked with considerable concern. Xu Lianyu stood demurely by his side, also filled with worry as she looked at Zhao Rushi.
"My Junior Sister’s condition is not good. The violent poison in her body has accelerated, seemingly due to her recent use of spiritual power."
Zhao Rushi said, casting a glance at Lin Chen, but there was no blame in his eyes.
"What’s strange is that after my Junior Sister used her spiritual power, and despite the poison acting up more fiercely, her spiritual power has now quieted down inside her body and is not in disarray."
"That is a stroke of luck amidst this misfortune. However, my Junior Sister can endure at most for another three to five months..."
Zhao Rushi spoke, his gaze shifting toward Xu Ma’an.
They all knew very well that if Yang Yuemin couldn’t obtain the antidote, the situation would be dire. However, the antidote, Dragon Whisker Polygonum, could only be found in Mire Dragon Marsh, and it was guarded by a Flood Dragon, making it exceedingly difficult to acquire.
Yet, the most challenging aspect was the Mire Dragon Marsh Secret Realm itself, which had restrictions that prevented martial artists above the Spirit Gathering Realm from entering. Those with high cultivation who wanted to enter had to use secret techniques to suppress their cultivation.
Spending extended time within Mire Dragon Marsh, however, would result in irreversible damage to the body due to the influence of the restrictions, which was exactly why Yang Yuemin had absolutely forbidden Xu Lianyu from suppressing her cultivation to go there.
At this point, both exchanged a glance and sighed.
The Mire Dragon Marsh opened once every ten years, and the disciples they had dispatched in the past lacked the capability to reach the location where the Dragon Whisker Polygonum grew. The odds of success this time seemed just as bleak.
"Grandfather, let me enter the Mire Dragon Marsh this time. I promise I’ll bring back the Dragon Whisker Polygonum," Xu Lianyu said, her small fists clenched tightly, displaying remarkable stubbornness.
Xu Ma’an’s son had died at the hands of demon cultivators years ago, so his affection for his granddaughter was especially deep. No matter how wild Xu Lianyu’s antics were, he had always indulged her in the past. However, this time, Xu Ma’an’s expression turned somber.
"No, it’s impossible. You simply don’t understand how terrifying the Mire Dragon Marsh is. There are disciples in the clan who think just like you, but all that went there never returned. Once your cultivation is suppressed and you enter through the transmission channel, your cultivation will plummet. What will you use to compete with those people?"
"Even if you could come back, with your body suffering irreversible damage and your cultivation unable to progress further, you’d end up crippled. If you did cure your master’s illness, do you think she would be willing to bear that burden?"
"I have already issued an order within the clan—on the opening of the Mire Dragon Marsh Secret Realm, both Inner Sect Disciples and Outer Sect Disciples from the sect will participate. Anyone who brings back the Dragon Whisker Polygonum will receive a reward from the sect."
"Besides, they have other tasks. The Black Cloud Sect is secretly plotting to refine Yin Sha Puppets and will undoubtedly send many disciples into the secret realm to collect Yin Sha Qi. This time, the secret realm will be a major battle between our Jade Cauldron Sect and the Black Cloud Sect, and I have notified the other sects."
When Xu Ma’an said these words, he heaved a deep sigh, an indication of the pain he felt issuing such an order.
The ones going into the secret realm were the fresh blood of the sect, and he had no idea how many of them would make it back alive.
The Great Flame Dynasty was gradually being corroded by the Black Cloud Sect, and many sects had even quietly defected or chosen not to interfere with the Black Cloud Sect’s dark schemes.
Xu Ma’an often cursed those short-sighted fools under his breath for choosing the path of cautious self-preservation. If the Jade Cauldron Sect were to fall, how could they possibly remain unharmed?
But since the Jade Cauldron Sect was the Black Cloud Sect’s primary target, the other sects still had a chance to breathe and naturally would not intervene.
This left Xu Ma’an with no choice but to send the entire sect’s disciples into the secret realm to thwart the Black Cloud Sect’s plans.
It was a desperate last resort, but there was no other choice.
Xu Lianyu looked at Xu Ma’an with a sense of profound grievance. She had never been rebuked so harshly by her grandfather, and after hearing his words, she felt powerless to argue, choking on a sense of frustration.
"That’s enough. Take good care of your master and let her rest. I must go prepare for our entry into the secret realm," Xu Ma’an said. He and Zhao Rushi left the house, not forgetting to give Lin Chen a glance on their way out, casually tossing him a stick.
"Keep this Heavenly Thunder Wood safe; it might be of help to you," Xu Ma’an said.