The Carefree Little Immortal [Complete] - 22

"Brother Xiaobai?" E'yan was taken aback. Xiao

Xuan smiled and winked at her.

Zi'er and Bi'er each grabbed one of his sleeves, looking very affectionate.

Xiao Xuan was startled and quickly pulled his sleeves away.

"What are you doing here?" "Brother Xiaobai, did that old guy give you a hard time?" "Are you alright?" "Have you been in that ghost forest these past few days?" The two sisters chattered incessantly like birds. "

What old guy? His name is White-Browed Old Man!" Xiao Xuan said angrily.

"That old bastard used evil magic to drive us out when we weren't looking!" Bi'er said angrily.

"We wanted to go back in to find you, but we couldn't find the way no matter what we did," Zi'er said.

"He did it for your own good," Xiao Xuan said, still feeling a cold sweat on his back as he recalled the battle when the Seven Absolutes Realm besieged them.

"Ah! You know each other?" Zi'er suddenly asked, looking at him and E'yan suspiciously.

"Didn't I tell you I have a friend from Giant Bamboo Valley?" Xiao Xuan said with a smile.

"Oh, the one you mentioned who wholesales Treasure Bottle Bamboo?" Bi'er suddenly realized.

Xiao Xuan's heart sank, and he quickly looked at E'yan, only to find her glaring at him, causing him to panic.

"Brother Xiao Bai?" E'yan called softly.

"Um..." Xiao Xuan answered awkwardly.

"I wholesale Treasure Bottle Bamboo?" E'yan stared at him and asked softly.

"That's...it was just...a joke with them." Xiao Xuan stammered, forcing a smile.

The two butterfly spirits looked at E'yan, then at Xiao Xuan, and exchanged a glance, seemingly understanding.

E'yan turned to the two sisters and said, "How do you know this Cui Xiao Bai?"

"E'yan, he's the one we told you about last time, the one we met in Calabash Town." Zi'er said.

"The one who single-handedly challenged the five disciples of the White-Haired Lady on Xiaoyao Peak." Bi'er said excitedly.

"Oh..." E'yan feigned sudden realization, turning to Xiao Xuan and saying, "I heard you swept through Xiaoyao Peak like it was nothing, beating the five disciples of the White-Haired Lady until they fled in disarray."

"This...this..." Xiao Xuan stammered awkwardly.

"Right, I know one of the five disciples, Cheng Shuoruo, is quite formidable. Even she was beaten so badly you fled?" E'yan's smile was enigmatic, her gaze intense.

Xiao Xuan fell silent.

"Ah! And there's another one named Cui Xiaosheng, who also got thoroughly thrashed by you, right?" E'yan chuckled.

Xiao Xuan looked pleading.

E'yan glared at him and said, "I was puzzled for a long time, unable to figure out who that young master was. It turns out it was you! My apologies! I admire you!"

"I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it," Xiao Xuan quickly waved his hands, his face flushed.

"Brother Xiaobai is so amazing." Bi'er looked at him admiringly and said, "Brother Xiaobai, the favor we asked you for that day was to attack Giant Bamboo Valley. Now it's all good. If we had known you were E'yan's friend, we wouldn't have wasted our time."

"Yes, yes, I came here today specifically to help." Xiao Xuan said shamelessly.

E'yan glanced at him with a look that was both angry and pleased, and suddenly asked the two sisters, "Is the Crown Prince outside the valley? What did he say? Did he agree to send troops?"

Zi'er and Bi'er exchanged a glance, and both of them stammered.

"Speak." E'yan said in a deep voice.

"The Crown Prince said... said that as long as... as long as you..." Zi'er said.

Zi'er seemed to have mustered up her courage and finally said it all: "The Crown Prince said that he doesn't want any bamboo or mechanisms. He only needs you to promise to come to the capital after the matter is settled, and he will personally lead a large army into the valley to wipe out the Seven Deadly Demons for you."

E'yan's icy cheeks suddenly turned red, and anger welled up between her brows.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Xuan asked hurriedly.

E'yan didn't answer, biting her cherry lips tightly.

Xiao Xuan thought to himself, "I wonder who this Prince Yuan Yi is? He's so arrogant... But he's supposed to be here to help, so why is E'yan so unhappy?"

"E'yan, what should we say to the Prince?" Zi'er asked cautiously.

"No reply!" E'yan snapped, her cold snort chillingly sharp, "I don't need his help. I can take back Giant Bamboo Valley myself!"

"Mm." The two little fairies nodded in unison. Bi'er said, "If he's so unhappy, let him wait foolishly outside the valley!"

"Let's go!" E'yan said, glancing at Xiao Xuan before leaping into the air and heading straight for the dense bamboo forest. Several guards nearby immediately followed closely.

The sisters Zi'er and Bi'er also took flight, calling out to Xiao Xuan in unison, "Come quickly!"

Xiao Xuan hurriedly gathered his strength and rushed forward. In just a few breaths, he had overtaken the sisters and the guards, catching up with E'yan.

E'yan glanced at him out of the corner of her eye and let out a soft exclamation, saying, "Your movements have improved a lot since last time."

Xiao Xuan was secretly pleased, and smiled mysteriously.

Suddenly, the view opened up before them, and in the bamboo forest ahead, hundreds and thousands of bamboo figures, bamboo beasts, and bamboo birds stood solemnly in rows, a truly magnificent and awe-inspiring scene.

"Wow! Spearmen, sword falcons, mantis craftsmen... tiger spider chariots! So many..." Xiao Xuan murmured in amazement, and asked E'yan, "Are all of these 'alive'?" "

Yes, it took me eleven days and nights to consecrate their spirits," E'yan replied with a smile.

In the short time that followed, the sisters Zi'er and Bi'er, along with several guards, arrived.

At this moment, several demon generals hurried forward, bowed to Eyan, and loudly proclaimed, "All units are ready and await the Palace Master's orders!"

"You will immediately lead your units to set off and arrive near Giant Bamboo Fortress before 7 PM to lie in ambush!" Eyan commanded.

The demon generals responded and departed. Instantly, commands arose, and the bamboo people, bamboo beasts, and bamboo birds stretched out their bodies and moved, marching in neat rows, disappearing section by section into the vast bamboo sea.

"With so many mechanical troops, Giant Bamboo Fortress will be easy to take," Xiao Xuan exclaimed happily.

But Eyan shook her head and said, "These mechanisms cannot be used for the time being."

"Why?" Xiao Xuan asked, puzzled.

"Because the Wood-Binding Token is still in the hands of the Seven Deadly Demons, and it can control these mechanisms," Bi'er said.

"If we rashly hand over these mechanisms, they will only be used by the enemy," Zi'er added.

"Ah!" Xiao Xuan was stunned. "Then what do we do?"

"We can only use this mechanical force after we seize the Wood-Binding Token," E Yan said.

Xiao Xuan then understood why E Yan, despite having such a powerful mechanical force, still needed other assistance. He said, "Then... let's go and snatch the Wood-Binding Token now!"

"That's exactly what we're thinking." E Yan nodded and made a gesture. Several pretty guards immediately jumped into four Tiger Spider Chariots parked not far away in pairs and drove them towards them.

Xiao Xuan looked closely and saw that the four Tiger Spider Chariots were painted with tiger stripes, shaped like spiders, and were unusually large. Each chariot carried two mantis craftsmen. He exclaimed, "Amazing! These guys are even bigger than the ones at the entrance of the Divine Craft Well."

"This is the largest of the three Tiger Spider Chariots. It's not as good as the Terror Foot in close combat, but it excels at attacking cities and plundering strongholds. This is the kind that was supplied to the Marquis of Fengtian back then," E Yan said.

"Good heavens! Good heavens! This looks terrifying. No wonder the legend says that when it appears on the battlefield, it often causes the enemy army to collapse instantly." Xiao Xuan exclaimed in admiration.

"Get in the vehicle," E Yan said, and without moving her feet, she had already flown onto one of the Tiger Spider chariots.

Xiao Xuan quickly followed suit, leaping up as well, followed by the sisters Zi'er and Bi'er.

E Yan frowned and said to Zi'er and Bi'er, "Why are you joining in? Go sit in another vehicle!"

"No!" Bi'er protested, "I want to be with Brother Xiao Bai."

E Yan glanced at Xiao Xuan.

Xiao Xuan felt a chill run down his spine and stammered, "This vehicle is too...too crowded, isn't it?"

"But it's not crowded at all," Bi'er said, her soft, delicate body pressed against his arm.

"The fortress is so dangerous; it's better for everyone to stay together and look after each other," Zi'er said from the other side.

"This...this..." Beads of sweat poured down Xiao Xuan's forehead.

E'yan smiled, scrutinizing him with a meaningful gaze.

Xiao Xuan felt a chill run down his spine under her gaze and stammered, "Should...should I take another one?"

"Let's go!" E'yan suddenly shouted.

The two guards in the front seat immediately activated the mechanism. With a few clicks, the eight pillar-like legs on both sides extended simultaneously, and the massive tiger-spider chariot sped off like lightning.

The sun was setting, and the brilliant sunset dyed the once verdant Zhuhai Lake blood-red.

Various armed groups silently moved through the forest, adding to the intense killing intent of the scene.

"Are all these people going to attack Giant Bamboo Fortress?" Xiao Xuan asked, pointing to a group of monsters carrying spears and axes.

"Yes, these are the Thousand Thorns' troops, and the one in front is King Jueying's team," E'yan replied.

Xiao Xuan felt a chill run down his spine and said, "So many people are helping you."

"Of course, E'yan is a person whose word is law in our Void Illumination Realm," Bi'er interjected.

"I really misjudged her back then..." Xiao Xuan muttered to himself, glancing at E'yan, "Are all these people from the Void Illumination Realm?"

"Some of them are," E'yan replied.

"How come so many people are willing to help you?" Xiao Xuan asked casually.

"I asked them for help," E'yan said.

"You ask them for help and they're willing to help? They wouldn't just help for no reason, would they?" Xiao Xuan pressed.

"Of course not for no reason. I'm a good person, and if I'm nice to others, they're willing to help me," E'yan laughed. "Isn't that how you are? I'm nice to you, so they're willing to help me."

The fairy sisters beside her chuckled.

Xiao Xuan caught a glimpse of this out of the corner of his eye, and for some reason, a doubt crept into his heart, feeling that there was something untrue about E'yan's words.

The Tiger Spider Chariot was incredibly fast, quickly overtaking King Jueying's army. In the blink of an eye, it rushed to the side of another group of tall, powerful monsters. They were armed with imposing spears and halberds, their banners were bright, and they carried various siege weapons and supply wagons pulled by ferocious beasts. Xiao Xuan exclaimed, "This group is so impressive! Not only are they fully armored, but each one is so tall and strong!"

"This is King Jueying's army. Among them are many bear soldiers and tiger warriors. They are well-trained and were recruited by the Little Demon Queen. They have fought several fierce battles against the Demon Realm and can be considered an elite force in the Demon Realm," E Yan said.

"Wow, these teams combined must number in the thousands! I think even without using your mechanical troops, you could easily take down Giant Bamboo Fortress," Xiao Xuan said, pondering, "If we encounter this army of demonic beasts, even the Skeleton Demon's Corpse Demon Army might not fare well."

E'yan shook her head, saying, "It's not that easy. Giant Bamboo Fortress's defensive capabilities are beyond your imagination." "

That's right, the Seven Absolute Realms twice launched strong attacks but failed, only succeeding through a sneak attack," Bi'er said.

"Legend has it that a thousand years ago, the then Heavenly Dao Pavilion Master used the pretext of subduing demons to target Giant Bamboo Valley, and even launched a full-scale attack, but returned defeated," Zi'er said smugly.

"It's not a legend, but a fact," E'yan said calmly, "Many covet the Treasure Bottle Bamboo and mechanical arts, and our Giant Bamboo Valley has never had long-lasting peace."

"The Heavenly Dao Pavilion... also..." Xiao Xuan exclaimed in horror.

The Heavenly Dao Pavilion is one of the most powerful organizations in the mortal realm, always recruiting virtuous and wise men of the righteous path, taking the exorcism of demons as its mission, and its influence in the secular world far surpasses that of the Xuan Sect. For example, Xiao Xuan's eldest senior sister Xue Han and second senior sister Li Mengtang joined the pavilion after leaving the mountain, serving under the current Heavenly Dao Pavilion Master, the Demon Exorcist General Xing Fei, and were renowned, known as the Twin Envoys of Xia Ni.

"I didn't expect the mechanisms in Giant Bamboo Valley to be so powerful, even the Heavenly Dao Pavilion couldn't handle them," Xiao Xuan murmured.

Just then, someone suddenly shouted, "This humble god awaits Miss's return!" The four were slightly surprised, and Zi'er, Bi'er, and several guards immediately drew their weapons.

A wisp of blue smoke slowly rose from the ground in front of them, and a person appeared in the smoke, with a gray beard, about forty or fifty years old, who bowed to E Yan.

"Who are you?" E Yan asked softly.

The man said, "Miss, don't you recognize me? I am Qiao San, the local deity of this valley. When you were young, you got lost while playing in the south of the valley, and it was I who brought you back to the fortress."

E'yan looked intently, then exclaimed with delight, "Uncle Qiao, it's you!" "

That day, the valley suffered a great calamity. I was too weak to help and could only watch helplessly as the old valley master perished. I deserve to die!" Qiao San choked out.

"It has nothing to do with you! It was all the evil done by the Seven Deadly Demons!" E'yan said through gritted teeth.

"The old valley master's kindness to me is as heavy as a mountain, yet I have no way to repay it. Over the years, I have suffered greatly, unable to eat or sleep, grieving day and night." Qiao San became increasingly agitated as he spoke, tears streaming down his face.

E'yan sighed softly, her starry eyes moist.

"That's wonderful! Today, we have finally welcomed Miss back, and with such strong support. It is truly a cause for great joy," Qiao San said.

"This time, we must avenge our past grievances and reclaim our homeland!" E'yan said bitterly, then suddenly asked, "By the way, has the Thousand-Armed Demon returned?"

"I've been keeping an eye on him. That demon has been out of the valley for several months and hasn't returned yet. The one left guarding the valley is his son, Liu Changqing, a good-for-nothing. There is a steward named Mao Ku who is quite capable; he was one of the Seven Deadly Demons who attacked Giant Bamboo Valley back then," Qiao San said.

E'yan's face lit up with joy, and she said, "Very good, Uncle Qiao is very kind."

"I have been eagerly awaiting Miss's return, and today I am willing to do my utmost to serve you," Qiao San said.

"Uncle Qiao, how many men do you have?" E'yan asked.

"It's embarrassing to say, but these past few years, the Seven Deadly Demons have occupied the valley, and the offerings have been pitifully scarce. I only have two hundred Yin soldiers at the moment, but..." Qiao San said with a guilty expression, "Although I have few men, I am familiar with the terrain of the valley, and perhaps they can be of some use."

"Very good, then I will trouble Uncle Qiao to lead his troops to ambush around Giant Bamboo Fortress. If you see the remnants of the Seven Deadly Demons escaping, then try to intercept and surround them." E'yan said.

"Yes! I will go and prepare immediately." Qiao San replied, then paused and added, "The Seven Deadly Demons are extremely cruel, so I hope Miss will take care of herself."

"Yes, I will be careful." E'yan replied.

Qiao San bowed deeply and then turned into a wisp of smoke and disappeared back into the ground.

Just as the four Tiger Spider Chariots were about to continue their journey, a demon general suddenly rushed over and shouted, "Reporting to the Palace Master, General Cheng Shiyi, the second son of the Marquis of Fengtian, has arrived with his troops and is waiting ahead!"

E'yan's face immediately lit up with joy and she said, "Lead the way quickly."

Xiao Xuan was startled, his heart pounding: "The second young master of the Marquis of Fengtian? Could he be Shui'er's brother?"

The four carriages sped along, led by the demon general, and soon spotted a strange group of people. Upon closer inspection, they realized it consisted of forty or fifty stone lions with rune patterns, and in front stood a general, nearly thirty years old, dressed in white robes and silver armor, strong, valiant, and exuding a commanding presence.

E'yan leaped down from the carriage and called out, "Is that General Cheng, the second young master?"

"I am Cheng Shiyi, and you must be the young valley master, young lady?" the man replied loudly.

Xiao Xuan stared intently, and seeing that his features indeed resembled Shui Ruo's, she couldn't help but feel secretly excited: "Yes, yes! This man must be Shui'er's brother!"

E Yan curtsied and said, "This humble woman is him."

Cheng Shi also bowed and said, "I have come to assist the young valley master on my father's orders. I hope I am not too late."

Xiao Xuan carefully examined him, noticing his sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, long arms, and strong waist, his resolute expression, and the unwavering and decisive spirit in every gesture. Perhaps it was because she loved his wife, but she thought to herself, "My future brother-in-law is so handsome and dashing, truly a man of great talent! A hero! A hero!"

"General, you have arrived at just the right time!" E Yan said happily, "Hearing that Yunzhou was in dire straits, your father even sent troops to help. I am deeply grateful for this kindness."

"Young Valley Master, there's no need for such formalities. My father and your father are close friends, and it's our duty to offer assistance this time." Cheng Shiyi paused for a moment, then continued, "Yunzhou is indeed in dire straits. I hope the Young Valley Master will not forget his promise and will reward us with some divine weapons and treasure chariots for this mission."

"Of course," E'yan said. "Besides, once things are settled here, I will lead my troops to Yunzhou to provide assistance as promised."

Cheng Shiyi was overjoyed and said, "With the Young Valley Master's assistance, Yunzhou will be captured in no time!"

"May I ask, General, what kind of divine creatures are these soldiers you brought?" E'yan asked, pointing to the stone lions behind him.

"Replying to the Young Valley Master, these stone lions are newly forged armored soldiers by my Third Sister. Although they move slowly, they are incredibly strong. I hope they can be of some help this time," Cheng Shiyi said humbly.

"Third Sister? You mean Shui'er's mother..." Xiao Xuan's heart pounded even harder.

As expected, E'yan said, "So it's a celestial weapon forged by Lady Baibao. It must be incredibly powerful."

"As for how to deploy them, Young Valley Master, please give your orders, and I will certainly comply," Cheng Shiyi replied.

"Then I won't stand on ceremony." E'yan pondered for a moment, then said, "I trouble you, General, to lead your troops to the west of Giant Bamboo Fortress and coordinate with my troops to launch an attack at 3:45 PM." As she spoke, she took out an item from a small pouch at her waist and said, "This is my token. General, take it with you, and someone will naturally make contact."

Cheng Shiyi took the token, cupped his hands in a bow, and said, "I will certainly not fail the Young Valley Master's orders!" "General Cheng

, you must be careful!" Xiao Xuan on the Tiger Spider Chariot suddenly shouted.

Cheng Shiyi was slightly taken aback, looked up, smiled at him, and then mounted a stone lion. He chanted an incantation, and suddenly dozens of stone lions began to move, raising dust as they formed a line and rumbled towards one direction.

Eyan leaped back onto the carriage.

"Amazing! Those stone lions are quite similar to your mechanical troops!" Xiao Xuan exclaimed in surprise.

"Yes, Lady Baibao is a renowned weapon-forging master known throughout the Three Islands and Ten Continents, and weapon forging and armor-controlling are always interconnected," Eyan nodded.

"Comparing these two extraordinary weapons, which is more powerful?" Xiao Xuan asked curiously.

"Of course, Eyan's bamboo soldiers are more powerful. They are indestructible and impervious to fire and water, making them the envy of many," Zi'er said confidently.

"If it weren't for obtaining the Tiger Spider Chariots and Bamboo Soldiers, the Marquis of Fengtian wouldn't have sent his son to help. This shows that his wife's Stone Lion Soldiers are definitely no match for Eyan's Bamboo Soldiers," Bi'er interjected.

"Is that really so?" Xiao Xuan looked at Eyan.

"Let's go," Eyan said noncommittally.

The four Tiger Spider Chariots continued their rapid advance, overtaking all the other groups in less than half an hour.

The sounds of the wind and insects gradually became clearer, and the forest seemed exceptionally quiet.

Suddenly, Xiao Xuan saw a towering, verdant fortress piercing the clouds through the dense foliage and exclaimed, "We've reached Giant Bamboo Fortress!"

"Not yet, still four or five li away," Eyan said.

"Four or five li away?" Xiao Xuan was slightly taken aback.

"Yes, Giant Bamboo Fortress is extremely tall, so it looks very close," Eyan explained.

"Eyan, I remember you said there's an extremely beautiful aerial pool on Giant Bamboo Fortress!" Bi'er exclaimed excitedly.

"We'll be passing by there soon, let's hurry and take it down so you can play there," E'yan said, then suddenly gestured. The guard driving the Tiger Spider Chariot immediately braked, and the three chariots behind it also stopped instantly.

"Is this it?" Zi'er asked.

"What here?" Xiao Xuan looked around.

E'yan jumped off the chariot and ran around in the forest, as if searching for something.

"What is she doing?" Xiao Xuan asked the Zi Bi sisters.

"Looking for the entrance," Zi'er replied.

"Entrance? What entrance?" Xiao Xuan was stunned.

"The secret entrance to Giant Bamboo Fortress. You can enter Giant Bamboo Fortress through an underground secret passage," Zi'er said.

"Ah, with this secret passage, wouldn't we be able to launch a surprise attack!" Xiao Xuan said excitedly.

"That's exactly what we were thinking, but E'yan said that this secret passage is very narrow and cannot be passed by a large group of people, and we are not sure if it has been discovered by the Seven Deadly Demons," Zi'er added.

Just then, E'yan stopped in front of a large clump of bamboo and beckoned, "Come over here, all of you!"

The four Tiger Spider chariots converged and came to E'yan's side. She took out a talisman from her pouch, silently chanted, and flicked her fingers. The talisman vanished instantly, followed by a burst of brilliant light that blinded everyone.

Xiao Xuan narrowed his eyes slightly, and in the blink of an eye, the light disappeared. When he opened his eyes, he was shocked to find that the surrounding scenery had changed. The four Tiger Spider chariots and their occupants were now all in a dense, impenetrable bamboo thicket. There was a clearing several feet in diameter, with a bamboo raft laid out in the center, overgrown with weeds, its edges invisible.

"How did we suddenly end up here?" Xiao Xuan asked in surprise.

"I used a teleportation talisman," E'yan replied, pointing to the ground and commanding, "Lift the bamboo raft!"

Eight mantis craftsmen responded, clattering as they dismounted from the four tiger spider chariots and walked to the bamboo raft. Each extended its long, hook-like arms, gripping the raft on the ground. Then, simultaneously exerting force, a creaking sound filled the air as the raft began to lift off the ground, revealing a hole over ten feet in diameter where the grass and soil had been turned upside down.

The group went over and peered into the hole's entrance. Inside, there were steps leading downwards at an angle; the depths were pitch black, and nothing could be seen.

E'yan shouted to the guards, "You guard here and provide support as needed!"

The guards obeyed, scattering their tiger spider chariots and mantis craftsmen to form a defensive array around the hole.

Eyan took the lead and rushed into the cave. Xiaoxuan and the Zibi sisters hurriedly followed. Suddenly, a light appeared in the darkness. It turned out that Eyan had a strange bead in her hand that emitted a soft, white glow.

Xiaoxuan saw that although the bead's luster was soft, it was quite bright. He asked curiously, "What is this?"

"A mermaid pearl," Eyan replied.

"A mermaid pearl? Legend says that mermaid pearls are formed from the tears of mermaids..." Xiaoxuan exclaimed in surprise.

Eyan held the bead high, cautiously observing her surroundings as she walked.

This was a passageway over eight feet high and about five feet wide, supported and covered entirely by precious bamboo, clearly aged over time, the bamboo slightly yellowed, with many weeds sprouting from the gaps.

"How did you make this?" Xiao Xuan couldn't help but ask again.

"I caught a mermaid sister in the Outer Sea and made her cry for three days and three nights to make it," E'yan said expressionlessly.

"Really...really?" Xiao Xuan's mouth dropped open.

E'yan glared at him and strode towards the depths of the passageway.

"What are you daydreaming about? Come on!" Zi'er called out, the two sisters flying past him.

Xiao Xuan finally came to his senses and hurriedly followed, then suddenly chuckled, "She must be joking. How could E'yan be so heartless?"

The passage had no branches, and the four of them ran swiftly without encountering any trouble or obstacles. After about half an incense stick's time, the passage suddenly opened up before them. Xiao Xuan was startled to see many tall guards holding weapons standing on both sides, but it was too late to stop. He followed E'yan and plunged into the passage.

"An ambush!" the Zi Bi sisters behind them whispered in unison, drawing their weapons.

Chapter Three: A Wish Under the Stars

"Don't panic! These are the guards of the secret passage, not controlled by the Seven Deadly Demons!" E'yan shouted.

Xiao Xuan looked closely and saw about a dozen pairs of tall bamboo figures standing against the walls on both sides of the passage. They were all clad in elaborate and heavy bamboo armor, holding giant swords made of bamboo carved from precious vases. Their faces were eyeless and mouthless, and their appearance was extremely imposing and intimidating.

"Why didn't you say so sooner? You scared me!" Bi'er patted her chest and complained coquettishly.

These dozen or so bamboo figures stood still against the wall, showing no reaction to the intruders.

"It seems that the secret passage has not yet been discovered by those evil spirits." E'yan walked forward quickly.

"What kind of formidable creatures are these? They look quite imposing. I don't think I've seen them among your bamboo soldiers." Xiao Xuan said.

"They are called Sword Generals. They are very few in number and are high-level mechanisms of our Giant Bamboo Valley. Their attack and defense are both excellent, and their individual combat ability is second only to the Terror Foot." E'yan said.

"Amazing! Amazing!" Xiao Xuan exclaimed, then asked, "But why aren't they moving at all? Have they all broken because they haven't been used for so long?"

"Their duty is to guard this door. If you get the method of opening the door wrong, you'll know whether they're broken or not," E'yan said calmly.

Xiao Xuan turned his head and saw that she had reached the end of the passageway, facing a tightly closed bamboo door engraved with strange runes.

"This is the bottom of the Giant Bamboo Fortress. As long as you go through this door, you can enter the Giant Bamboo Fortress." E'yan picked up the mermaid pearl and examined the grooves of the runes carved on the bamboo door up close.

"Then you must know how to open this door?" Xiao Xuan walked over and examined the bamboo door with her.

"I hope I'm not mistaken," E'yan said, taking a step forward, raising her right hand, and pressing a round bamboo bead embedded in the groove of the runes on the bamboo door with her finger.

"Eyan, be careful!" Zi'er said nervously, glancing at both sides.

The passageway was eerily quiet, but the presence of these dozen or so silent bamboo figures made it seem somewhat sinister.

Eyan pressed her slender fingers, guiding the round bamboo bead along the grooves of the rune pattern. She paused briefly at the fork in the pattern before choosing one to continue rolling.

"The track of this groove seems to be some kind of variation of the Nine Palaces..." Bi'er said.

Xiao Xuan stared intently, surprised, "It really does look a bit like it! I never imagined there was such a way to play! Interesting, very interesting!"

"Don't make a sound, be careful not to disturb Eyan," Zi'er whispered.

"If the bead rolls down the wrong path, will these bamboo figures really attack us?" Bi'er asked.

"Yes," Eyan said, staring at the bamboo door. "They will wipe out all life in this passageway."

Xiao Xuan and Bi'er fell silent.

E'yan's hand suddenly stopped, the bamboo bead between her fingers halting at a point where three paths branched off.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Xuan asked in a low voice.

"I forgot how to get around here," E'yan said.

The three people beside her immediately tensed up. Xiao Xuan chuckled dryly, "Just how powerful are these sword generals?"

"One sword general can probably take down ten sword falcons, five spearmen, or three war eagles," E'yan said calmly.

Xiao Xuan gasped inwardly.

"You guys prepare to fight," E'yan sighed, "Let's see if God will help us." With that, she pressed her slender finger down, rolling the bamboo bead towards one of the branches.

There was a soft "click," seemingly coming from a great distance, and then nothing more.

"Didn't...didn't choose the right path?" Xiao Xuan looked at the bamboo door and then at the sword generals standing on either side.

"Wait," E'yan said, frowning, as if listening to something.

A few breaths later, there was another "click," this time much louder, followed by a creaking sound. The bamboo door finally moved slowly to the right, revealing a doorway.

"Success!" the Zi Bi sisters cheered in unison.

"The reaction was so slow! This door has been neglected for years and is about to break down," Xiao Xuan said, wiping his sweat.

"Don't pretend you know if you don't! The power source is far away; doesn't it take time to transmit the power?" E Yan said irritably.

"I see," Xiao Xuan said with a sudden realization. "I once went to an underground demon cave. The mechanism there used the lake water above it as its power source. I wonder what your Giant Bamboo Fortress uses?"

"A single energy vein," E Yan said, walking forward.

The other three quickly followed. Xiao Xuan asked, "Using a single energy vein as the power source?"

"Yes," E Yan said. "There are nineteen spiritual veins in the land, and Giant Bamboo Valley possesses one of them..."

"I know that! It's Tai Bi!" Xiao Xuan said, suddenly remembering the enchanting giant nest above Tai Bi, and his heart ached.

"That's right, but Tai Bi is only the yang aspect of the vein. The other half, the yin aspect, is here, at the center of our Giant Bamboo Fortress's foundation," E Yan said.

"These spiritual veins are divided into yin and yang? It's different from the Dream Nest," Xiao Xuan asked in surprise.

"Each spiritual vein is different. For example, the Crystal Pool represents balance, possessing the power of stability, regulation, and integration, and plays a buffering role in the interaction of the five elements; the Joyful Crystal represents life, possessing the power of prolonging life and enhancing spiritual power, especially having extraordinary effects on water-based things in the world; the Dream Nest represents the foundation, possessing the power of nurturing, protecting, and strengthening the foundation, and is of great benefit to all earth-based things; while our Giant Bamboo Valley's Tai Bi represents vitality, possessing the power of growth, restoration, and reproduction, and is of supreme benefit to all wood-based things," E Yan said.

"I see," Xiao Xuan said, thinking to himself, "E Yan really knows a lot. In this respect, she's a bit like my second senior sister."

"Ah, why is there no road?" Bi'er suddenly exclaimed.

Xiao Xuan looked around and saw that there were walls on three sides ahead, with no way forward.

E'yan, however, calmly walked to a corner, reached out and took out an inconspicuous bamboo pole embedded in the wall. She gently turned it, and with a creaking sound, the four of them floated up rapidly.

"What kind of mechanism is this?" Xiao Xuan asked, intrigued.

"It's a vertical teleportation platform. There are many more in Giant Bamboo Fortress," E'yan said.

"Where will it take us?" Xiao Xuan asked again.

"The Rain Dream Platform," E'yan said, "the highest point in Giant Bamboo Fortress."

"And then?"

"Then sneak into the interior of Giant Bamboo Fortress from there, and then try to reach the center of the lower level," E'yan said.

"To steal the Wood-Binding Token, right?" Xiao Xuan asked.

E'yan shook her head and said, "To seal the Yin Meridians of Tai Bi."

"Seal the Yin Meridians of Tai Bi?" Xiao Xuan asked curiously, "Why?"

"Because the Tai Bi Earth Spiritual Meridians have an astonishing ability to promote the growth and reproduction of wood-based things. As long as they exist, the entire Giant Bamboo Fortress is 'alive,' and will be unbreakable. Moreover, all the mechanical guards made of Treasure Bottle Bamboo within the Giant Bamboo Fortress will have many times, or even several times, more combat power," E'yan replied.

"That's terrifying!" Xiao Xuan exclaimed in astonishment, "How can a castle be 'alive'?"

"It's like a living being, with life and the ability to heal itself. For example, if a part of it is damaged, it can quickly recover on its own," E'yan said.

"This... is that amazing?" Xiao Xuan's mouth dropped open.

Just then, the four of them suddenly felt their ascent halt, and the bamboo wall in front of them abruptly receded to the side. E'yan stepped forward first, followed closely by the other three.

"Whoosh!" Bi'er exclaimed softly.

Xiao Xuan quickly looked over and saw that the four of them were now standing on a high platform. In front of them, at a lower level, was a huge circle seventy or eighty feet in diameter, constructed of countless green bamboo stalks. At its top, hundreds of precious bamboo stalks arched, all tilting inwards. Hundreds of water jets gushed forth from one of their outlets, flowing in beautiful arcs like hundreds of crystal-clear springs into the huge pool at the center—a breathtaking and awe-inspiring sight.

"How beautiful! Is this the aerial pool you mentioned?" Zi'er exclaimed in amazement.

"Yes, this is the Rain Dream Platform." E'yan nodded, taking a step forward to carefully observe the area below.

"It's so beautiful! How could they possibly bring the water up to such a height?" Xiao Xuan was also captivated by the scene before him.

E'yan didn't answer, her eyes quietly welling up with tears.

It was already dark, the moon shining like a mirror, making the entire pool resemble a giant, sparkling gem. The hundreds of tiny springs surrounding it were like silver tassels adorning it. Occasionally, a breeze would blow through these tassels, creating wisps of misty fog, adding a captivating veil to the wondrous scene.

"Ah! There are guards over there!" Xiao Xuan suddenly exclaimed.

The Zi Bi sisters looked closely and indeed saw a row of spearmen standing against the wall diagonally opposite. Because their color was very similar to the bamboo wall behind them, they were easily missed if one wasn't paying close attention.

E'yan remained calm, clearly having noticed them earlier as well.

"Which way do we enter the fortress?" Xiao Xuan asked.

"There," E'yan pointed to a doorway opposite.

"That's too close to those guards; we'll be discovered if we go there," Zi'er said.

"Then let's not go," E'yan said.

"Not go?" Xiao Xuan asked, startled.

Eyan actually sat down on the platform and said, "Wait."

"Wait? Wait for them to leave their posts?" Xiao Xuan frowned.

"These posts usually stay open all night," Eyan said.

"Then what are we waiting for?" Xiao Xuan said, "Why don't I go and lure them away!"

"Look over there," Eyan pointed to a high platform opposite.

The three people next to her looked and saw that it was covered with dense bamboo groves. Xiao Xuan asked, "What's going on over there?"

"There are hundreds of mechanical war eagles hidden in that bamboo forest. If you don't want to die, you can try to lure them away," Eyan said.

"Then what should we do?" Xiao Xuan asked anxiously, inwardly lamenting, "It's all that witch's doing. If only the Bone Dragon were still with me!"

"The sky is so clear tonight," Eyan said, supporting herself with her hands on the ground, leaning back and looking up to admire the moon.

The three people next to her were stunned and looked at each other.

"Eyan, what are you looking at the moon for at a time like this? Hurry up and think of something!" Bi'er frowned and called out.

Eyan said leisurely, "It's not the right time yet, there's no use in rushing."

Xiao Xuan's eyes suddenly lit up, and he also sat down cross-legged, looking up at the sky.

The place was extremely high, with a wide view, and the entire starry sky was in sight.

"Hey! Why did you suddenly become silly too?" Bi'er glared and shouted.

Xiao Xuan simply lay down, using his arms as a pillow, and stared intently at the sky.

The two little fairies looked up in confusion, but saw a clear blue sky, stars like diamonds, and a bright moon like jade. Apart from being beautiful, there was nothing else unusual.

So the four of them looked at the sky, two of them in a daze and two of them in a daze. After a while, they heard Eyan sigh softly as if in a dream, "Isn't it beautiful?"

Xiao Xuan stared blankly at the sky and mumbled a "hmm" in a daze.

A soft night breeze blew by, making the four of them's clothes flutter lightly.

"So cool...so comfortable..." Eyan whimpered like a cat, raising her arms and stretching languidly.

Xiao Xuan seemed lost in thought, feeling refreshed and relaxed, incredibly comfortable and at ease. Suddenly, he realized he had never, and never understood, how to calmly appreciate the beauty around him.

The scenery and night sky of Xiaoyao Peak were no less beautiful than here, but he had never truly paid attention to them, never truly appreciated them, even when his beloved was beside him.

Suddenly, he recalled a certain night, amidst the wispy mist and blooming flowers and trees, Shui Ruo lying beside him, her head resting on his lap. What a beautiful and moving moment that should have been! Yet, he had been staring longingly into the distance, anxiously yearning for a wisp of Huo Mei's hair.

Damn it! How utterly damnable! Why hadn't he cherished it then? Xiao Xuan's eyes suddenly welled up with tears. Had his tearful Shui Ruo cried herself sick these past few days without him? An

uncontrollable throbbing pain shot through his heart.

"I wonder if the legend of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl is really true?" E'yan gazed at the beautiful, fine silver sand hanging in the sky. "Sometimes, I really want to fly up to the heavens and see it for myself..."

Xiao Xuan's heart ached more and more, and he bit his lip hard.

"It's said that the Milky Way is so beautiful..." E'yan sighed again.

"Yes." Xiao Xuan nodded, "And the Jade Pool .

" "Ugh... I'm going to faint." Bi'er next to her sister complained, "These two! Why are they talking about this now?"

"So inexplicable!" Zi'er also said angrily.

"Brother Xuan, what is your greatest wish?" E'yan suddenly asked.

"Xuan?" The fairy sisters next to him were taken aback.

"Greatest wish?" Xiao Xuan was stunned for a moment, and his heart suddenly burned. That was to marry four wives: the eldest sister as the first wife, the second sister as the second wife, the third sister as the third wife, and the youngest sister as the second wife... Ah! Now he also had to add her... But... where is she now? How is she now? "

Don't want to say?" E'yan suddenly chided, "Never mind, I didn't ask!"

"No..." Xiao Xuan hurriedly said, but how could he say such a wish? He quickly brought up another dream to appease the girl: "I want to create an unprecedented treasure, indestructible and incredibly strong, something that no one can break, something that can defeat anyone it touches, and it also needs to have feelings, understand feelings, know good and evil, and preferably even have a drink with me..."

The fairy sisters beside him chuckled, and Zi'er covered her mouth, saying, "What a strange wish! You're probably the only one in the world with such a unique wish!"

Xiao Xuan glared at her and asked, "Then what is your wish?"

"Me..." Zi'er squinted her beautiful eyes and said, "My biggest wish is to one day become a woman as beautiful as the Little Demon Queen!"

"Become a woman as beautiful as the Little Demon Queen?" Xiao Xuan chuckled, "Dream on."

"I know." Zi'er sighed, her expression desolate and gloomy.

Seeing this, Xiao Xuan felt a little sorry for her and quickly comforted her, "You're already beautiful enough as you are, wouldn't you be too alluring?"

"I do want to be alluring!" Zi'er's anger turned to joy, her eyes sparkling, "Brother Xiao Bai, I know you're just teasing me!"

"And you?" Xiao Xuan turned to ask Bi'er.

"Me? I haven't thought about it..." Bi'er paused, hesitating, "I want to live a happy life... never have any worries... never have any anxieties... never have any sadness... I want to eat lots and lots of delicious things... play lots and lots of fun things..."

"That's a good wish." Xiao Xuan smiled.

Bi'er looked at him, then suddenly added out of the blue, "To be with the person I love." Her cheeks flushed.

"You'll definitely get your wish!" Xiao Xuan encouraged her, then turned to ask, "E'yan, what's your biggest wish?"

"Me..." E'yan hesitated slightly, gazing at the night sky, "I want to go to many, many places, all the beautiful and interesting places in the world, with the person I love."

Xiao Xuan was stunned.

To roam freely with the person he loved—perhaps that was the most beautiful wish?

This was a promise he had made to Shui Ruo.

But now, the day that promise would be fulfilled seemed far off.

He wondered if Shui'er had hatched those two Seven-Flame Spirit Phoenix eggs yet. Xiao Xuan suddenly felt a surge of tears.

"Hey, Brother Xiaobai, why are you...crying?" Bi'er exclaimed in surprise.

E'yan and Zi'er turned around, looking at him with astonishment.

"What nonsense!" Xiao Xuan quickly wiped her eyes and laughed, "When people get sleepy, their eyes get dry, and dry eyes naturally tear up, understand?"

The three girls stared at her in confusion.

The scene suddenly quieted down, and the only sound they could hear was the rhythmic, soft, and pleasant sound of water flowing into the pool.

"If only... we didn't have to fight later..." Bi'er murmured, feeling her eyelids getting dry, but the cool night breeze made her feel a little lazy.

"Something's coming!" Zi'er suddenly exclaimed, staring down below, "E'yan, look quickly, what are those monsters?"

E'yan glanced down and said calmly, "They're mantises, also known as fighting mantis craftsmen."

"Fighting mantis craftsmen? There are quite a few types!" Xiao Xuan sat up upon hearing this, looking at the dozen or so strange monsters moving along the pool, and admired the mechanical craftsmanship of Giant Bamboo Valley even more.

"They seem to be patrolling. It looks like we definitely can't get down from here!" Zi'er said anxiously.

"What should we do?" Bi'er was also very worried.

"Don't worry." Xiao Xuan smiled.

"How can we not worry? We might get trapped here!" Bi'er glared.

Xiao Xuan looked up at the moon and said leisurely, "It'll probably be almost 7:45 PM..."

E'yan's lips curved up, looking at him with an appreciative gaze.

At this moment, the tranquility was suddenly broken. Strange cries came from the night sky, and then dozens of black shadows appeared in the moonlight. In the blink of an eye, they swooped down. They were huge strange birds with blood-red eyes and beaks, looking strangely fierce. They were the Infant Spoons that Xiao Xuan had seen before. Chaos

immediately broke out on the Rain Dream Platform. Spearmen and Mantis Slashers ran around. Suddenly, hundreds of shadows burst out from the bamboo forest on the opposite platform. They shrieked and rushed towards the group of Infant Spoons. They were mechanical bamboo eagles with beaks like knives and claws like hooks.

Almost simultaneously, several deafening roars echoed from below the eastern fortress, followed by a fierce battle cry, as if countless soldiers were attacking.

The spearmen and mantis-wielding soldiers on the Rain Dream Platform rushed towards the eastern edge.

"The feint attack has begun!" Xiao Xuan exclaimed excitedly.

E Yan nodded and said, "Let's break through in the chaos... get ready... let's go!" As soon as she finished speaking, she dashed out like a rabbit, leaped off the platform, and flew towards a doorway on the opposite bank of the pool. The

two beauties, Zi Bi and Bi, seemed to awaken from a dream and hurriedly followed Xiao Xuan out.

At this moment, the situation was chaotic, and the mechanical guards on the Rain Dream Platform all surged to the east. The four of them moved with incredible speed, crossing the pool unnoticed and rushing into the doorway.

"So that's what we were waiting for! No wonder we suddenly started chatting..." Bi'er patted her chest and let out a long sigh of relief.

"Don't stop!" E Yan shouted, then rushed forward again, running down a bamboo spiral staircase.

The other three quickly followed.

E'yan seemed extremely familiar with the fortress's layout, veering left and right without hesitation.

The four of them ran swiftly, descending layer by layer through halls and rooms, their progress unexpectedly smooth. They encountered almost no enemies, but outside the fortress, the sounds of battle were deafening, clearly indicating that the fortress's guards had been drawn to the outer perimeter.

Xiao Xuan ran and looked around, seeing the fortress's layered and magnificent scenery. Besides the pavilions and towers clinging to the walls, there were even artificial mountains, streams, and ponds, all at different heights, connected by bridges of varying designs and spiraling staircases. He was awestruck: "If I hadn't seen it with my own eyes, I could never have imagined that such things could be inside a building!"

E'yan, leading the way, suddenly stopped, gesturing to stand still against the wall.

The three behind her quickly stopped as well, also standing against the wall.

Immediately, a cacophony of chattering filled the air, and a group of strangely shaped demonic creatures filed through the fork in the road ahead. Each one was over ten feet tall, yet thin and elongated, with several, even dozens, of forked arms.

Xiao Xuan stared in disbelief, unable to resist asking in a low voice, "What kind of mechanisms are these? They're so bizarre!"

"They're not mechanisms, they're demonic creatures," E'yan replied in a low voice.

"Demonic creatures? How can there be demonic creatures here?" Xiao Xuan was even more puzzled.

"They're not from my Giant Bamboo Valley, but demonic creatures brought by the Thousand-Armed Demon. They're probably of the same kind as him, all wood spirits that have become demons," E'yan said.

"A tree spirit that has become a demon?" Xiao Xuan continued, "Who exactly is the Thousand-Armed Old Demon?"

"An ancient tree spirit, the high priest of the Seven Realms, the sworn enemy of my clan. It was this demon who carried out the sneak attack on Giant Bamboo Fortress back then!" E'yan's beautiful body trembled slightly, and she gritted her teeth, saying, "My grandfather, my father, my mother, and many of my clansmen died at his hands!"

Xiao Xuan was furious: "Go find him right now! I'll help you kill this demon!" "

This demon isn't in the fortress right now." E'yan said, her eyes red.

"I'll definitely go find him in the future!" Xiao Xuan suddenly remembered the Little Demon Lord and said hatefully, "The people of the Seven Evil Realms are indeed all bad... His name is the Thousand-Armed Old Demon?"

"He calls himself the Thousand-Armed Primordial Saint, and is an ancient tree spirit from the Kunlun Realm. It is said that he devoured ancient divine trees such as Wen Yu, San Zhu, and Lang Gan, and his demonic power is extremely high. Back then, even the combined strength of several elders in my clan was no match for him." E'yan said.

Xiao Xuan felt his blood rush to his head and blurted out, "No matter how powerful he is, I'm determined to avenge you!"

"Brother Xuan..." E'yan called out, choking back tears.

For some reason, Zi'er, standing beside him, rolled her eyes at the boy and said expressionlessly, "Don't be so sure of yourself. That demon is very powerful; many immortals and demon kings wouldn't dare to provoke him."

"Then let's think of a way! I refuse to believe we can't defeat that demon!" Xiao Xuan clenched his fist.

"I'm glad you have that confidence." E'yan burst into laughter through her tears, her smile as radiant as a flower, but out of the corner of her eye, she gave Zi'er a cold glance.

Zi'er bit her lip, her face turning pale.

The group of tree demons finally passed by, and the four of them continued running forward. Xiao Xuan suddenly felt a tug on his sleeve. He turned around and saw Zi'er wink at him, as if she wanted to say something. Curious, he slowed his pace slightly, putting a small distance between himself and E'yan and Bi'er ahead.

"It's none of your business, why are you taking it all on yourself?" Zi'er said in a very low voice.

Xiao Xuan was slightly taken aback, then quickly understood what she meant and laughed, "Friends, I'll help if I can."

"E'yan is very shrewd, does she need your help?" Zi'er said, "Besides, do you think you can afford to offend that Thousand-Armed Demon? Don't think you're so great just because you can take on the five disciples of Xiaoyao Peak alone. In my opinion, even the White-Haired Fairy is far from being a match for that demon."

Xiao Xuan looked at her and said, "Aren't you also E'yan's friend? Why are you unhappy that I want to help her?"

"You pighead! I was just worried you'd get hurt!" Zi'er glared at him. "You know what? E'yan's cultivation is far superior to yours, but even she herself is extremely wary of that demon. This attack was launched precisely when that demon was leaving the valley."

Hearing the words "pighead," Xiao Xuan felt a surge of warmth and laughed, "Don't worry, I'm not tired of living yet, I won't die for nothing."

Zi'er snorted lightly, about to say something more, when suddenly E'yan and Bi'er in front shouted sharply in unison, followed by a cracking sound, as if they were fighting something.

Xiao Xuan was startled and rushed forward, only to see a huge shadow emerge from around the corner, taking turns using several long, hook-like legs to attack the two women with lightning speed. Wherever the toes passed, the precious bamboo on the wall, harder than gold and iron, was instantly sliced open as if rotting, revealing terrifying deep marks.

"Terrifying Legs!" Xiao Xuan gasped.

Sensing an enemy was still present, the monster leaped forward, its long legs lashing out at him. Xiao Xuan,

in a flash, dodged to the side, his mind racing as he channeled his inner fire energy into the eight-clawed flaming dragon whip coiled around his arm. Bi'er wielded two strangely shaped weapons resembling clusters of flowers, her delicate body spinning in the air, instantly unleashing countless slashes at the terrifying foot's side. Sparks flew, but the terrifying foot merely trembled slightly, abandoning Xiao Xuan, and unleashed a storm of hook-like long legs. Bi'er immediately became flustered, showing signs of weakness in the blink of an eye. Beside her, a graceful hand opened, purple flames flashing between her five orchid-like fingers, and a burst of bright light exploded, forcefully pushing the rock-like terrifying foot back several steps. Almost simultaneously, her right hand swiftly reached to her waist, drawing a small, jade-green bamboo knife. The terrifying foot continued its dance, its sharp tips deeply embedded in the wall beside it, firmly securing itself. In the dim light, a sudden burst of crimson flames appeared, and a fiery serpent snake snaked out, illuminating Xiao Xuan behind it. The terrifying foot lashed out with its sharp claws, instantly slicing through the surrounding bamboo walls of the treasure bottle, and charged menacingly towards the fiery serpent. Xiao Xuan, unfazed, stepped forward. With a flick of his wrist, the fiery serpent suddenly swelled, transforming in an instant into a massive, ferocious fire dragon, leaping to meet the lightning-fast, sharp foot. The two rapidly closed in, muffled booms echoing through the air. At first, one could see the terrifying foot's tiger-striped legs intertwined with the fire dragon, fiercely battling like dragons locked in combat. Suddenly, a brilliant red light erupted, and the fire dragon's body swelled wildly, instantly engulfing the terrifying foot's enormous form. The three girls beside him were suddenly hit by a suffocating heatwave and quickly retreated. A series of cracking sounds followed, and before they could understand what was happening, the large red light before them vanished, and the flying fire dragon reappeared in the air, illuminating the man and spider facing each other. The fire dragon abruptly died down, and Xiao Xuan flicked his arm, effortlessly retracting his original eight-clawed fire dragon whip into his sleeve with incredible agility and style. The terrifying foot that was so close to him remained frozen in place, its horrifying head, sculpted in the likeness of the tiger spider Mo Yang, almost touching their noses. "What happened?" Bi'er exclaimed in surprise, seeing the man standing motionless, she assumed he was injured. Xiao Xuan smiled, and at that moment, the terrifying foot shattered, its massive body collapsing like a house of cards, its broken limbs and shattered internal parts scattered across the ground. The three girls stared in disbelief. "Where to next?" Xiao Xuan feigned composure, but inwardly he was overjoyed with his performance. He clearly remembered that when they last visited the Divine Craft Well, E'yan had said she was no match for the Terror Foot, but this time she had easily defeated one. Overjoyed, he felt a surge of pride. "Brother Xiaobai is amazing!" Bi'er cheered excitedly. E'yan looked at Xiao Xuan with surprise, unable to reconcile his skill with what she saw. "How could there be a Terror Foot hidden here?" Xiao Xuan hesitated, staring at the massive wreckage before him, a strong urge to collect the debris rising within him. "This little saint has always been this powerful," Xiao Xuan replied with a grin, finally unable to resist, and began collecting the scattered pieces of the Terror Foot. "Hurry, we might have already alerted the guards elsewhere!" E'yan sheathed her sword and turned to run. "Wait a minute." Xiao Xuan hurriedly chanted a forbidden incantation, opened his Ruyi Treasure Pouch, and collected the remains and scattered parts of the Terror's Foot one by one. "What are you doing? Hurry up and go." Zi'er urged. "What use is this thing in such a broken state?" Bi'er wondered. "This is the famous Terror's Foot!" Xiao Xuan said, "I'll see if I can repair it. If I'm lucky, I might even be able to forge it into a brand new treasure." E'yan turned around upon hearing this and called out impatiently, "Don't pick it up! I'll give you a good one after we take back Giant Bamboo Fortress." "Really? Don't forget then!" Xiao Xuan was overjoyed, but still insisted on collecting the last severed limb of the Terror's Foot before rushing off. The four continued onward, encountering an increasing number of guards, all hurrying about, clearly coordinating defenses. They carefully maneuvered past them, descending several more levels, when suddenly a waterfall several meters wide appeared before them. Xiao Xuan was still awestruck when he saw E'yan swiftly approach. "Wow! How magnificent! I never imagined such a thing could be inside a building!" Xiao Xuan exclaimed, standing before the waterfall. "It's not natural," E'yan said. "It's only remarkable when it's man-made! Amazing!" Xiao Xuan said, his admiration for the builders of this wondrous fortress growing ever stronger. Seeing E'yan focused on the waterfall, he asked, "Is there anything wrong with this waterfall?" "Through this waterfall, you can reach the center of the fortress's base, which is the exit of the Tai Bi Yin Vein," E'yan explained. Xiao Xuan peered out, looking towards the cascading waterfall. He saw only darkness beneath the mist, a bottomless abyss. "We're going to jump down here?" he exclaimed. Zi'er cried out in alarm, "The water's so strong! One wrong move and we're done for!" Bi'er also exclaimed, "How deep is it? Flying down is fine, but who knows who we'll get swept away by?" "Of course not, there's a secret elevator behind this waterfall," E'yan said. The three breathed a sigh of relief. Xiao Xuan said, "I see, brilliant! Shall we jump over?" "Be careful, everyone. I don't know if there are any extra guards here," E'yan said, gazing at the waterfall. "If there are, we'll take them down! I'll go in and check first." Before Xiao Xuan finished speaking, he had already shot out like an arrow, leaving a trail of sparks as he traversed the waterfall.

Eyan leaped out quickly, and the Zibi sisters hesitated briefly before following her toward the waterfall.

With a splash, Xiao Xuan had passed through the waterfall. Looking ahead, he saw a square platform about ten feet long and wide. He used his inner energy to sink into it and landed steadily.

The platform was completely open, except for a long vertical axis in the center. Seeing nothing amiss, Xiao Xuan was about to switch places when he heard the splashing water. The three girls had already leaped in one after another.

"No guards," Xiao Xuan said happily.

The Zibi sisters breathed a sigh of relief and lowered their weapons, which were protecting their chests.

Eyan, however, still looked around cautiously, each hand gripping a talisman, her expression very wary.

Xiao Xuan noticed a short handle on the vertical axis and asked, "Is this the lifting switch?"

"Such an important place, and there isn't a single guard? That's a bit strange..." Eyan pondered, her face full of doubt.

"Perhaps those evil spirits haven't discovered this secret platform yet, so they haven't set up defenses," Bi'er said.

"Impossible." E'yan shook her head. "Although this place is hidden, the Thousand-Armed Demon has coveted the Tai Bi Spirit Vein for a long time

. It's impossible that he hasn't found this platform leading to the Yin Vein after occupying it for so many years." "Perhaps... they were too careless, thinking that no one could sneak in unnoticed and find this place." Zi'er deduced.

E'yan frowned, still deep in thought.

"Never mind him, if one comes, we'll kill it; if two come, we'll kill them both!" Xiao Xuan said, suddenly feeling a sense of danger, and hurriedly dodged to the side.

"Watch out!" E'yan shouted almost simultaneously, raising her hand and flicking it. Instantly, a flash of green light appeared beside Xiao Xuan, and a green vine as thick as a large bowl appeared, binding a tall figure that looked like a human!

"What is that?" Xiao Xuan asked in surprise, and the Eight-Clawed Fiery Dragon Whip flew out from his sleeve.

E'yan's left hand suddenly flicked out again, exploding into a ball of bright purple light behind Bi'er, illuminating the outline of a tall human figure.

The two little demons were startled. They both drew their weapons and attacked the humanoid silhouette simultaneously, but the sound of metal clanging rang out, and the silhouette vanished in the blink of an eye.

A talisman instantly appeared between the fingers of E'yan's left hand, and her right hand darted to her waist, drawing a bamboo knife with lightning speed. At that moment, a sharp cry rang out, and a spurt of blood shot from her left shoulder, as if pierced by an invisible sharp object. She was thrown off the platform, crashing into the cascading waterfall behind her, and instantly disappeared without a trace.

"No!" Xiao Xuan roared, leaping forward, his whip like a dragon, but he only managed to whip up empty air, creating a ripple in the water.

A cracking sound came from the side, as if something was attacking him. The two little demons beside him frantically swung their weapons at the sound, but both missed.

"What the hell!" Xiao Xuan roared, his Eye of No Form instantly appearing on the platform. Four faint figures materialized, none other than the Sword Generals he had seen before, each wielding a giant, almost transparent sword. One of them had already stealthily crept up behind Zi'er.

"You bastard!" Xiao Xuan sprang to his feet, his whip transforming into a fiery dragon that struck the Sword General who was about to launch a sneak attack. A loud "bang" resounded, and in the ensuing flash, the Sword General was shattered.

The three invisible Sword Generals around him simultaneously swung their giant swords, slashing and thrusting at him with lightning speed.

Xiao Xuan's face was contorted with rage. The eight-clawed fiery dragon whip on his arm danced wildly like a raging dragon, its power terrifying. The two little fairies on the platform scattered in panic. Amidst the leaping flames, a deafening roar followed. One sword general was swept in half at the waist, followed by the second, who was sent flying off the platform. After several more exchanges, the last sword general's head was severed by the fire dragon, spinning wildly on the ground before being kicked into the waterfall.

The two little fairies paled, staring in fear at the enraged man.

"Eyan!" Xiao Xuan cried out from the edge of the platform.

The two sisters also lay down on the edge, looking down.

"Eyan!" Xiao Xuan called again, his voice hoarse.

"Eyan! Where are you?" Bi'er also called out.

Then there was no reply, only the roar of the waterfall in their ears.

"Waaah...Eyan..." Xiao Xuan choked back tears, overwhelmed with grief.

"Don't worry, you don't know how powerful E'yan is. She's covered in incredibly powerful talismans; she'll be fine," Zi'er said.

"Didn't you see she's injured!" Xiao Xuan roared, his eyes bloodshot like a beast's.

The two little demons were startled and shrank back in unison.

Xiao Xuan stood up, sheathed his whip, and took a deep breath.

The two sisters were shocked. Zi'er cried out, "What are you trying to do?"

Xiao Xuan suddenly leaped off the platform and crashed into the cascading waterfall, disappearing instantly.

The two little demons stared in disbelief. After a long while, Bi'er stammered, "He jumped down?"

Zi'er's delicate body trembled slightly, tears welling in her eyes. She suddenly shouted down, "Fool! Idiot!"

The waterfall cascaded down, relentlessly carrying Xiao Xuan, who was caught in its flow, downwards. Xiao Xuan's eyes were tightly closed; he had no choice but to gather his inner energy to protect himself.

The descent was extremely rapid, yet even so, it took several breaths before he hit the bottom. Like a meteor, Xiao Xuan crashed heavily into a pool of icy water, then was relentlessly pushed deeper by the powerful waterfall. A tremendous buoyancy then lifted him upwards. Let alone an ordinary person, even a common cultivator would likely be crushed and killed instantly by these two opposing forces.

But Xiao Xuan was no longer the same. Hidden within him was a ten-thousand-year-old pearl, forged in the depths of the Ninefold Abyss. Within him lay the immense killing intent accumulated on the battlefield of Zeyang. He had absorbed the rare and precious essence that should have been enjoyed by a Taiyi Daluo. Furthermore, what transformed him was a Flying Immortal Inner Core, cultivated using countless true treasures and supreme immortal techniques.

All of this had secretly helped him survive several life-or-death ordeals, allowing him to escape alive this time.

Xiao Xuan quickly recovered from his dizziness. With a few powerful kicks, he rose rapidly upwards, and with a splash, finally emerged from the water.

He was now several feet from the waterfall, but the misty spray still shrouded him, obscuring his vision; he only knew he was in a pool.

As Xiao Xuan looked around, surveying his surroundings, he suddenly heard a clear, sharp shout. His heart pounded, and with a surge of inner energy, he soared into the air like a dragon emerging from the sea, rushing towards the sound.

As soon as he emerged from the mist, he spotted a slender figure on the shore, dressed in purple robes and holding a small knife. It was none other than E'yan. He was overjoyed, but then realized something was amiss. A horde of monsters was surging towards her. Upon closer inspection, he recognized them as the tree spirits he had seen before. He immediately flew over, shouting, "E'yan, don't panic, I'm here!"

E'yan looked up and swept past, her taut, icy expression blooming like a flower.

Xiao Xuan landed beside her, his Eight-Clawed Fiery Dragon Whip swirling from his sleeve like a fire dragon. With a mighty roar, he swept a tree demon that had approached him to the ground, then with a backhand swipe, he swept away another tree demon with long, limbing limbs.

"One on each side," E'yan called out, her delicate body spinning to lean against his back, her small knife flashing as she slashed incessantly.

The tree spirits closed in one after another, not only numerous but also strangely tall. However, Xiao Xuan, filled with joy, fearlessly met them head-on. His true energy erupted, cleaving a tree spirit over two zhang tall into a burst of flames.

"Awesome!" he cried out, his whip exploding and setting several more tree spirits ablaze. He felt his true energy flowing like never before, and caught up in the battle, he switched from defense to offense, shouting and charging forward.

E'yan, on the other hand, remained silent behind him.

Xiao Xuan suddenly remembered the scene of her falling into the waterfall and hurriedly asked, "How are you injured?"

"It's nothing," E'yan replied.

Xiao Xuan heard her weak and feeble voice and his heart skipped a beat. He turned around and saw a large patch of crimson on her back, and he was shocked: "You...you're so badly injured!"

"Never mind that, deal with them first!" E'yan shouted.

There was no other way in the face of the situation. Xiao Xuan was anxious and used all his ruthless moves. The Flaming Dragon Whip flew and leaped through the air like a fire dragon, slashing, igniting, swirling, and exploding one tree spirit after another.

But the tree spirits kept coming one after another. As soon as a few fell, more would appear from nowhere, showing no sign of stopping them.

"You son of a bitch! How can there be so many?" Xiao Xuan gritted his teeth, afraid that the girl wouldn't be able to hold on if it dragged on too long, and asked again, "Eyan, how are you?"

In that moment of distraction, a giant tree spirit, three or four zhang tall, attacked from above. Its long, thick arm, covered with sharp, forked branches, broke through the fire dragon's interception and smashed down on his head with the force of a thunderbolt.

Xiao Xuan thought to himself, "Damn it!" However, his whip was outside, and he couldn't retract it in time. Just as he was about to dodge with all his might, he saw the tree spirit's long arm suddenly lose control, fall down without any force, and be cleanly severed by something.

Eyan's icy face appeared beside him, and she smiled and said, "I've taken care of that." As she spoke, she lightly waved the small knife in her hand towards the air, and suddenly the giant tree spirit, which was still several zhang away, was cut in half, its crown tilted, and it crashed to the ground with a tremendous thud.

Xiao Xuan stared in disbelief. Then, he saw E'yan wield her knife and swiftly slice another tree spirit a few steps away in two, each half falling to one side. He turned back in horror, only to see countless tree spirits lying piled high behind him, and he was dumbfounded.

"Help me! I'm exhausted!" E'yan cried out playfully.

Xiao Xuan's gaze fell on her blood-stained clothes, his heart aching with anxiety. He roared and leaped into the enemy ranks, fighting fiercely among the remaining dozen or so tree spirits.

E'yan remained in place, waiting for an opportunity to strike. With each swing, a tree spirit within several feet was inexplicably cleaved in two, the cuts smooth as mirrors.

Finally, Xiao Xuan turned the last tree spirit into a ball of fire and hurriedly returned to E'yan's side.

E'yan, her knife dangling, gave him a weak smile, then suddenly slumped to the ground.

Xiao Xuan was shocked and knelt down to examine the injury. He saw that the girl's left shoulder was a bloody mess, with blood still gushing out. He quickly tore off a sleeve to bandage it, his face pale and trembling as he said, "The injury is so bad, it looks like it went right through you."

E'yan looked at him with a smile and asked, "Why did you jump down?"

Xiao Xuan suddenly remembered something, quickly opened his magic pouch, and took out a small black bottle. He poured out two small pills and said, "Take these quickly."

"What are these?" E'yan asked.

"It's said to be the best healing medicine from the Demon-Slaying Fortress, given to me by He Tianpeng," Xiao Xuan said.

"No!" But the girl turned her head away. "I don't want that stinky man's stuff!"

"Eat it quickly, what's the point of being picky now!" Xiao Xuan urged.

"No, I'd rather die than accept this!" E'yan was unusually resolute.

"Stop it, saving her life is the priority, look, the blood is still seeping out!" Xiao Xuan coaxed.

The girl stubbornly turned her head to the other side, still refusing. "

I should have known better than to say it was He Tianpeng who gave it to me!" Xiao Xuan thought with deep regret, momentarily at a loss for what to do.

"Hey, I'm asking you, why did you jump from such a height?" E'yan asked again.

Xiao Xuan was stunned, unsure how to answer.

"You were very worried when you saw me fall, weren't you?" E'yan looked into his eyes and said softly.

"Ah? That...that..." Xiao Xuan stammered.

E'yan giggled sweetly.

"Hurry up and take your medicine, okay? Look at your face, it's all pale." Xiao Xuan pleaded softly again.

"Don't worry, it's okay, my face has never been very pale." E'yan said.

Xiao Xuan stared blankly at her, his gaze unknowingly drawn to her icy, beautiful face.

"Do I look terrible?" E'yan asked.

"No," Xiao Xuan shook his head. "It's very beautiful, extremely beautiful."

The girl smiled even sweeter, then suddenly said, "I'm so tired, can I lean on your shoulder for a bit?"

Xiao Xuan quickly moved to sit beside her, and the girl leaned against him, resting her head on his shoulder.

"It's a pity my second senior sister isn't here. Her healing skills are superb. Because of her, I didn't bring any healing medicine when I went down the mountain,"

Xiao Xuan said, his heart filled with endless longing for Li Mengtang at times like this.

"Second senior sister?" E'yan asked

. "She's very good to you, isn't she?" "Yes, " Xiao Xuan nodded

. "Is she as good to you as your third senior sister?" E'yan continued with a smile.

"All my senior sisters are very good to me," Xiao Xuan replied casually, his thoughts still immersed in the wonderful time on Xiaoyao Peak .

E'yan bit her lip and muttered something softly.

"What did you say?" Xiao Xuan asked.

"Nothing!" the girl said sternly.

"How are you feeling?" Xiao Xuan looked down at her bandage; the bleeding seemed to have stopped.

"I'm going to die," E Yan said.

"Are you in a lot of pain?" Xiao Xuan immediately became anxious.

E Yan glanced at him, sighed softly, and a smile gradually returned to her face.

"What's wrong?" Xiao Xuan asked anxiously.

"Brother Xuan, can I just die in your arms like this?" E Yan said with a grin.

"What nonsense are you talking about? No, not at all!" Xiao Xuan said, both anxious and annoyed.

"Then I won't die," E'yan laughed. "Don't worry, I'll get better soon, I promise you."

Seeing her relaxed expression, Xiao Xuan felt a little relieved and said, "Let's leave here quickly so we can find medicine to treat you."

"I'm not leaving," E'yan said. "Look how beautiful this place is, I won't leave until I've seen enough."

Only then did Xiao Xuan notice his surroundings. Looking up, he saw that they were in a vast space. The walls and ceiling were made of incredibly thick bamboo, with landscapes and islands carved on them, interspersed with many strange and exotic trees. A

huge opening opened at the top, which was dozens of feet high, through which the waterfall that had carried Xiao Xuan and E'yan cascaded down. Around the opening were huge patterns of the sun, moon, and stars. The waterfall cascaded into a large pool, surrounded by clusters of vibrant, living bamboo. But the most astonishing sight was not far from the pool, a colossal well-like structure, several meters in diameter, also constructed of bamboo. Streams of soft, dazzling green light emanated from the well, bathing everything in this vast space in a deep, verdant hue.

"What is this place?" Xiao Xuan exclaimed, his mouth agape.

"Isn't it beautiful?" E'yan said with a smile. "Why don't we stay here from now on?"

"From now on?" Xiao Xuan's heart skipped a beat, and he said somewhat nervously, "There's no food or water here; I'm afraid we won't be able to stay long."

"You don't want to?" E'yan asked.

Xiao Xuan's heart pounded even harder. Stealing a glance, he saw the girl gazing at him, her starry eyes misty with a layer of watery haze. A mysterious force seemed to pierce his heart, sending a shiver down his spine.

They were so close that they could almost hear each other's heartbeats.

The girl's long eyelashes suddenly drooped, her gaze lingering briefly on his lips.

Xiao Xuan held his breath, his gaze also falling on the girl's lips, soft and smooth as jade, a soft, pale red, glistening with moisture, trembling gently like flower petals.

E'yan looked up and met the man's gaze, her heart pounding, yet she hesitated, tilting her head slightly upward.

Xiao Xuan suddenly realized the distance between them was slowly closing, unsure whether it was him or her moving forward.

Or perhaps both of them? Their four hot lips drew closer, and just as they were about to touch, E'yan suddenly turned her head

away, a charming blush spreading across her previously icy face. Xiao Xuan was embarrassed, a strange sense of loss creeping into his heart. E'yan's face grew increasingly red, and she didn't dare turn back for a long time. Xiao Xuan panicked and quickly tried to make conversation: "By the way, what was that thing that stabbed you earlier? It could even turn invisible." " It was one of those sword generals we saw in the secret passage earlier," the girl replied, regaining some composure. "But how can they turn invisible?" Xiao Xuan asked, puzzled. "Do you remember the ghost spiders we encountered when you accompanied me to Ten Thousand Spider Ridge last time?" E'yan countered. "I remember," Xiao Xuan said. "Then you must remember those ghost spiders were invisible, right? Our clan elders once extracted a mysterious material from those ghost spiders and applied it to some mechanisms, giving them the ability to turn invisible. Those sword generals that attacked us must have been one of them," E'yan said. " Invisible mechanisms, that's terrifying!" Xiao Xuan murmured. "Unfortunately, ghost spiders are very difficult to capture and difficult to extract, so the extracted material can only be used by a very small number of mechanism guards," E'yan said calmly. Another silence fell. E'yan looked around nervously, while Xiao Xuan desperately tried to find a topic to talk about. Suddenly, his gaze fell on the small knife at the girl's waist, and he said, "E'yan, I didn't know you were so powerful. Slaying those demons is like cutting radishes." E'yan patted the knife and said, "It's not me who's powerful, it's this." "It's really strange. It looks unremarkable, yet it has such power," Xiao Xuan said. "Actually, it's quite beautiful." E'yan drew the Wood-Slaying Token from its sheath, held it up in front of the boy, and continued, "Look closely. Although its appearance is simple, it exudes an incredibly lively aura." "Hmm, the color is slowly changing... Be careful when you cut," Xiao Xuan warned, recalling how it had cleaved the tree spirit several feet away in two with a single swing, and he felt a chill run down his spine at the knife's power. E'yan fiddled with the knife, then suddenly swung it at him, pressing the Wood-Slaying Token against his neck. Xiao Xuan was shocked, his whole body stiffening like a stone. The girl giggled, gently rubbing and scraping his neck with the small knife. "It's a pity you don't have a beard, otherwise I'd use this to shave you." How could it be alright? Xiao Xuan was utterly puzzled, asking blankly, "Why isn't it sharp?" "Actually, it's not sharp at all; it's not even good for shaving," E'yan laughed. "Then how did you manage to kill so many tree demons just now?" Xiao Xuan asked, "Does it require the addition of true energy or spiritual power to unleash its power?" "Using it does require a little spiritual power, but that's not the key," E'yan paused, then said, "Do you know why it's called the Wood-Splitting Token? Because 'all woods of heaven and earth, upon encountering it, will dissolve.' That is to say, it has unparalleled power against all wood-type objects, but apart from that, against other types of objects, its sharpness is even less than that of an ordinary knife." "I see." Xiao Xuan breathed a sigh of relief, touching his neck; indeed, it was completely unharmed. "That's why it ranks third on the Wood-type Spirit Items list in the 'Zhou Tian Zhu Ling Ranking,' but ninth on the Swords list, and even thirty-first on the overall Weapon Ranking," E'yan explained. Xiao Xuan exclaimed, "That's amazing! My master's Dream-Entering Sword is a top-tier weapon in the sect, capable of cutting iron like mud and flying through the air, striking fear into the hearts of countless demons. But I heard from my second senior sister that it only ranks 157th on the Swords list, and doesn't even make the top 500 on the overall Weapon Ranking." "The 'Zhou Tian Zhu Ling Ranking' isn't absolutely accurate, and some parts are even wildly wrong, but it still has some reference value," E'yan said. "What a fine sword! What a fine sword!" Xiao Xuan stared at the small sword in the girl's hand, swallowing hard. "Trying to be greedy again, huh?" E'yan glared at him playfully. "No, no!" Xiao Xuan hurriedly waved his hands, "Not at all! Absolutely not! I'll swear!" The girl rolled her eyes at him, sheathed her knife, rubbed her wound, and suddenly said, "Alright, since you don't want to stay here, let's get to work." "Work? What kind of work?" Xiao Xuan asked in surprise. "To seal off the Tai Bi Yin Meridian." E Yan looked at the large well that was constantly spewing out soft green light. "Ah! That's the Tai Bi Yin Meridian?" Xiao Xuan suddenly realized. E Yan nodded. "No wonder there are so many demons guarding this place. It seems the Seven Deadly Demons have found this place after all." Xiao Xuan said. "Let's go over there, be careful, I wonder what other remnants of evil might remain." E Yan said. "Wait, I'll go and do it. You're injured, don't move around." Xiao Xuan said. "Do you know how to seal it?" E Yan asked with a smile. "I'll go and take a look, I'll naturally find a way." Xiao Xuan said. "I'll go. One talisman will do the trick," E'yan said. "Don't worry, my injury is healed." "No, don't push yourself. Such a serious injury won't heal so quickly!" Xiao Xuan objected. "Come with me." E'yan turned and walked towards the pool. Xiao Xuan was puzzled but quickly followed. E'yan reached the pool, knelt on one knee, and with her back to him, half-undressed. She then began to loosen the bandages on her wounds. "Why are you taking them off? Be careful of your wounds!" Xiao Xuan said anxiously, but seeing that the girl's clothes had fallen quite low, he dared not approach rashly. The girl did not answer, but instead leaned down on her left shoulder and scooped up water with her hands, as if washing her wounds. "Nonsense! How can you wash your wounds with water like that?" Xiao Xuan exclaimed in alarm. "Alright, alright, I'm coming." The girl said coquettishly, suddenly stood up, and turned to walk back, clutching her half-undressed clothes with both hands. Xiao Xuan was suddenly dumbfounded. The wound on E Yan's left shoulder had vanished without a trace. Her skin was as smooth as jade and as white as snow, with a few glistening water droplets still clinging to it, reflecting a dreamlike glow. "Look, am I healed?" E Yan gracefully spun around, showing the boy her back as well. Sure enough, it was completely healed, without a single flaw. "How could this be? Where did your wound go?" Xiao Xuan asked, bewildered. "It's healed," E Yan said, a hint of pride in her voice. "How is that possible? In such a short time..." Xiao Xuan found it hard to believe. "It's right here, and you still don't believe me?" the girl said coquettishly, suddenly thrusting out her chest. "Let me feel it!" With this thrust, she inadvertently slipped her clothes down slightly, revealing more of her breast. Although only about half of her left breast was exposed, its fullness could be roughly estimated from the smooth, swollen upper part.

Xiao Xu's blood rushed to his head, his mouth suddenly went dry, and he exclaimed inwardly, "Unbelievable! Unbelievable! How can someone so young and slender have such a full chest?"

Seeing his dazed expression, E'yan suddenly realized something, her face flushing crimson

. She immediately pulled her clothes up to her neck, covering her chest completely, then turned away and quickly put her clothes back on. Xiao Xuan's face was red, his breath catching in his throat.

"Let's go," the girl called sweetly, heading straight for the giant well.

"What happened? How did the wound on your shoulder suddenly disappear?" Xiao Xuan followed behind, his curiosity piqued to the extreme.

"Alright, I'll tell you the secret," E'yan said. "Whether it's a gift from heaven or not, we Spirit Bamboo Clan people are born with a special ability: we can heal ourselves quickly from injuries, usually several times faster than ordinary people."

"I see, no wonder..." Xiao Xuan said in realization.

"I haven't finished yet," E'yan continued, "In every generation of our Spirit Bamboo Clan, there will always be one lucky individual who is born with a unique spiritual root. The possessor of this spiritual root has an even more astonishing self-healing ability, and the speed of self-healing is several times, or even dozens of times, faster than that of other Spirit Bamboo Clan members." "Several times, or

even dozens of times, faster than that of other Spirit Bamboo Clan members?" Xiao Xuan exclaimed in surprise, "That's too bizarre..."

"And the only one among this generation of Spirit Bamboo Clan members happens to be me," E'yan said with a hint of pride.

Xiao Xuan's mouth dropped open, increasingly feeling that the girl in front of him held too many magical secrets, making him eager to explore and understand them.

In the blink of an eye, the two had reached the giant well. E'yan stopped, took out a yellow talisman from the small pouch at her waist, and held it between her fingers.

Xiao Xuan leaped onto the well curb, his body bathed in the emerald light surging from the well. He immediately felt refreshed and cleansed, exclaiming, "So comfortable!"

E'yan said, "Each of the nineteen spiritual veins in this realm has its own miraculous effects. The Tai Bi spiritual vein represents vitality, possessing the power of growth, restoration, and reproduction. If you are a wood-type being or practice wood-based techniques, cultivating here will be of great benefit." "

In that case, this place is most suitable for my second senior sister." Xiao Xuan said, looking down into the well. He saw a dense green light surging from the bottom and asked, "How deep is this well?"

"I don't know. I've only heard from my elders that it leads to a magical secret realm. Would you like to go down and take a look?" E'yan smiled.

"I don't have the leisure for that." Xiao Xuan immediately replied.

"Then hurry down, I'm going to seal it off." E'yan said.

Xiao Xuan quickly jumped down from the well curb and saw the girl holding a talisman to her chest, chanting incantations.

After a rather lengthy silent chant, E Yan loosened her two delicate fingers that were holding the talisman. A plume of yellow smoke shot upwards, reaching a great height in the blink of an eye. Suddenly, with a loud crack, a massive boulder, several meters in size, appeared in mid-air and crashed down towards the well with the force of a thunderbolt.

"Wow! What a powerful earth-escape talisman! If Xiao Wan were here, she'd be thrilled," Xiao Xuan sighed sadly.

The boulder struck the well, but then a sudden change occurred. A gray shadow flashed out, and something burst from the well. With a deafening boom, the boulder shattered into pieces as if exploding. The gray shadow then flew in all directions, suddenly expanding in the air like a nightmare into hundreds of giant dragons and pythons, baring their fangs and claws as they lunged at the two.

"Thousand-Armed Demon!" E'yan cried out, her hand reaching for her waist, pulling out the Wood-Untying Token and slashing it forward. Several enormous gray shadows were instantly severed at the waist, but suddenly her body tightened; a massive object had wrapped around her waist from behind, twisting it with immense force, almost causing her to faint. Almost simultaneously, her hand holding the knife was slammed down, and the Wood-Untying Token was snatched away.

"No!" E'yan's expression changed drastically. With a fierce shout, a dazzling golden flame erupted from her body, blasting the massive object tightly bound to her waist into pieces that flew in all directions. She gathered her true energy and chased after the Wood-Untying Token, but dozens of dragon-like, python-like creatures appeared out of nowhere, surrounding her.

Meanwhile, Xiao Xuan was also attacked, but his situation was much better than E'yan's. He was only attacked by several massive creatures. Xiao Xuan didn't have time to unleash his whip and could only dodge and weave as he fled.

Several colossal creatures, seemingly with eyes, relentlessly pursued him. Xiao Xuan finally unleashed his Eight-Clawed Fiery Dragon Whip, letting out a roar, striking the closest creature and setting it ablaze. However, the creature continued its frenzied attack, the flames nearly striking him.

Xiao Xuan darted aside, his heart pounding with alarm, when suddenly E'yan shouted, "It's going that way! Stop it!" He hurriedly asked, "Stop what?"

"The Wood-Unraveling Token!" E'yan cried, her beautiful face a mixture of anger and reproach. With a flick of her wrist, countless secret talismans flashed out with incredible speed and magic, exploding around her in bursts of flame and light—some crimson like fire, some blazing like lightning, some crystalline like ice, some colorful like butterflies—a dazzling spectacle of vibrant hues.

Xiao Xuan looked up and saw a colossal creature carrying the Wood-Unraveling Token flying past. He quickly leaped after it, but several more colossal creatures immediately joined the attack, blocking his path.

"Help me get it back!" E'yan cried out again, her voice shrill.

Xiao Xuan's heart skipped a beat. He turned to look and saw the girl's eyes filled with anxiety and hope. Knowing the gravity of the situation, he immediately focused intently on the stolen Jiemu Token and used all his strength to weave through the hordes of demons blocking his way with the fastest and most cunning movements.

E'yan unleashed a barrage of talismans, various lights and phenomena exploding and flashing around her like a storm, but the demons surrounding her were endless. One wave was destroyed, only to be replaced by another, surging in from all directions like a tidal wave, powerfully squeezing and contracting towards the center.

The surrounding space dwindled, and E'yan felt a burning pain on her skin. She had been burned by the fire and electricity of her talismans, but she still gritted her teeth and fought back. However, the enemy was clearly stronger. The light grew brighter and brighter, but the range narrowed. Then, a soft moan escaped her lips, and the light finally vanished completely.

E'yan felt as if her body was shattered, bound by countless giant chains, unable to move an inch. Just then, she desperately spotted Xiao Xuan among the countless monstrous creatures crisscrossing the air. He was not far away, also bound by several monsters, his eyes closed, his fate unknown.

"Ah Xuan..." E'yan called weakly.

Xiao Xuan's face twitched, and he opened his eyes.

"How are you?" E'yan asked.

"Damn it! What kind of monster is this?" Xiao Xuan cursed angrily, though he was struggling to breathe.

"It must be that demon! He... he was hiding here!" E'yan gritted her teeth.

"E'yan, I couldn't get the knife, and somehow I got caught..." Xiao Xuan said apologetically.

E'yan's eyes suddenly filled with tears, and she choked out, "Brother Ah Xuan, I'm sorry."

"What are you saying? It's... I came here of my own accord," Xiao Xuan quickly said.

"I thought the demon wasn't in the valley... I thought this time everything was foolproof... so... so..." E'yan trembled, tears streaming down her face.

"It's alright, it's alright... I'll think of something else." Xiao Xuan felt incredibly distressed, his mind racing.

Suddenly, a series of sinister laughs rang out, a deep, resonant voice seemingly echoing from the depths of hell: "What other way... The Wood-Unraveling Token is in my hands... what other way do you have..."

The demons writhed and stretched, and a large plume of green mist rose before them, within which a gigantic gray shadow was faintly visible. The shadow suddenly expanded rapidly, bursting through the surrounding green mist, revealing its true form.

Xiao Xuan stared intently; it was a demon resembling a giant tree, its body mottled, its crown seemingly endless, and three enormous humanoid heads sprouting from its trunk. All the demons before seemed to have extended from it, like its hundreds of arms.

"What kind of evil creature is this?" Xiao Xuan was both angry and astonished.

"I am an ancient divine tree, the ancestor of all trees, born in the Kunlun Treasure Realm. I have endured countless tribulations and have now transcended the mortal realm to become a saint, known as the Thousand-Wood Primordial Saint and the Thousand-Armed Primordial Saint. All gods and demons in the heavens respect and fear me. How could I be some lowly evil creature?" one of the giant tree's heads said arrogantly.

"You despicable and shameless demon, you have devoured countless innocent spiritual trees and sacred woods, yet you still have the nerve to call yourself a divine tree!" E'yan cursed angrily.

"The cycle of life and death, the strong survive and the weak perish, this is the will of Heaven, no wonder I am not the one to blame," said the other head of the Thousand-Armed Primordial Saint, its voice completely different from the first. "Little brat, you must be a descendant of the Spirit Bamboo Ancestor, right? Hehe, the Spirit Bamboo lineage is truly delicious. It seems my cultivation will increase considerably."

Xiao Xuan felt a chill run down his spine and shouted, "You... what are you going to do?"

"I will devour this last true lineage of the Spirit Bamboo, making it an immortal and eternal part of Heaven and Earth," said the third head of the Thousand-Armed Primordial Saint with a sinister expression.

Xiao Xuan, his face pale, shouted angrily, "Such wickedness, aren't you afraid of being condemned by heaven and earth one day!"

The three heads of the Thousand-Armed Primordial Saint laughed loudly. The leftmost head said, "Countless eons ago, I reached the Taiyi Daluo realm. After that, I devoured thousands of spiritual trees and exotic woods, and have long been immortal and indestructible. Then I found this Taibi Wonderland, and I bathe in spiritual energy every day. Now, even Kunlun Yuanshi and the Western Buddha can't do anything to me!"

"Keep bragging! You're just a withered old tree spirit. You've lived for so long and still don't know your place! You fought with us two kids for most of the day. Let alone the Buddha, even a Bodhisattva could wipe you out with a single finger!" Xiao Xuan mocked, hoping to provoke his enemy and perhaps change the situation.

To everyone's surprise, the Thousand-Armed Primordial Saint remained calm and composed. His middle head said, "Originally, I had one last concern..." He carefully used his demonic arm to present the unsheathed Wood-Splitting Token to the three heads, laughing, "That's right, it's this Wood-Splitting Token, forged by who knows who. Its mysteries have always puzzled me, and it's always been the most worrisome thing that has troubled me the most. Perhaps, only this small knife in the world can threaten my eternal existence... Haha, I didn't expect you to deliver it to my doorstep today!"

E'yan's eyes blazed with fury, her teeth grinding together in rage.

Xiao Xuan, however, suddenly paused, as if realizing something.

"Alright, now let me become even stronger..." The Thousand-Armed Primordial Saint's several demonic arms writhed and moved, bringing the tightly bound E'yan before the three giant heads.

E'yan trembled violently, her eyes tightly shut.

Xiao Xuan also closed his eyes, his face unusually calm.

"Do not be afraid, this is your best destiny. You will merge with me, becoming an eternal part of my indestructible world." The voice of the Thousand-Armed Primordial Saint echoed in the air. The demon head in the center slowly opened its mouth, revealing a bottomless maw filled with azure energy.

"No! I don't want to! Kill me! Kill me!" E'yan screamed in despair, her delicate body struggling desperately, but all in vain.

Not far away, Xiao Xuan suddenly opened his eyes and softly called out, "My dear Shui'er." Suddenly, a circle of brilliant light burst forth, and the several huge demonic arms binding him instantly and inexplicably broke off. Xiao Xuan glanced at the Jie Mu Ling hanging above, and with a thought, the light shot out like a shooting star or rainbow, instantly circling around the Jie Mu Ling and severing the demonic arms binding it.

"Come back!" Xiao Xuan shouted, a spark flying towards E'yan, briefly intersecting with the lightning-fast phantom. He then swiftly swung the newly appeared wooden token, severing all the demonic arms binding E'yan.

The Thousand-Armed Primordial Saint, as if waking from a dream, roared, and the hundreds of demonic arms that had been suspended in mid-air began to dance wildly, raining down on the two from all directions like a storm.

E'yan, overjoyed at her narrow escape, possessed exceptional composure and reflexes. After only a moment of stunned silence, she shouted to Xiao Xuan, "Attack its head with the token!" Flames reappeared on her body, blasting away the loosened, severed demonic arms.

Xiao Xuan, holding the token, rushed towards the three heads of the Thousand-Armed Primordial Saint, his dazzling phantoms protecting him. In a flash, he severed seven or eight of the massive demonic arms that had attacked him.

E'yan flew over, a flash of purple light at her fingertips, and four bright purple orbs appeared around her body, swirling and orbiting. With each swing of her arm, one orb shot out, whistling as it struck the approaching demonic arm of Xiao Xuan.

Previously, the two were only a few feet away from the three demonic heads, but in the blink of an eye, they were upon them. Xiao Xuan roared and swung his blade, a deafening howl suddenly rang out, and a long crack appeared on the central giant head of the Thousand-Armed Yuan Sheng. Large plumes of smoke-like azure energy shot out from the crack, then, to the astonishment of the two demonic heads on either side, they slid apart, the detached half of the head, along with large foliage, falling downwards.

Xiao Xuan's spirits soared. He raised the Wood-Splitting Token high and slashed down at the giant head on the left side of the Thousand-Armed Yuan Sheng. Another earth-shattering scream rang out, and the second demon head was instantly split in two. A large plume of azure energy erupted from it, shooting towards the top, which was tens of feet high, like a fountain of molten lava.

The last remaining demon head was terrified. With a fierce howl, hundreds of demonic arms around it rushed towards it like venomous pythons and angry dragons. However, only the nearest dozen or so arrived in time, but they were all sliced off by the phantom in a dreamlike manner. At that moment, E Yan, who had arrived later, raised her hands, and four purple orbs of light that were swirling around her body flew forward, instantly blasting a corner off the remaining demon head. Unexpectedly, the demon head only tilted slightly, and the damaged part miraculously and rapidly regenerated, becoming whole again in an instant.

Xiao Xuan was horrified and was about to swing his precious blade again when he heard E Yan shout, "Give me the knife!" He quickly handed over the Wood-Splitting Token.

E'yan took it, gritting her teeth, and said, "Die!" With a swift movement, she unleashed a torrent of power, cleaving through the last demonic head of the Thousand-Armed Primordial Saint, slicing through its massive trunk, which was tens of feet high, all

the way to its base. With a long howl, the Thousand-Armed Primordial Saint's enormous body trembled violently. Its base remained in the giant well, but its main trunk suddenly split open to the left and right, crashing and slamming against the walls on either side. The hundreds of demonic arms in the air struggled madly for a moment before beginning to fall one by one.

Suddenly, Xiao Xuan saw a bright green object fly out from the Thousand-Armed Primordial Saint's remains, disappearing into the rising blue mist at an incredible speed. A thought struck him, and he quickly lashed out with his whip, catching it.

The ball of emerald light immediately began to leap and struggle desperately in all directions, as if trying to escape. However, the Flame Dragon Whip contained the marrow of the eight legs of the Eight-Clawed Flame Dragon, which was most adept at capturing and binding. How could it possibly escape?

Xiao Xuan pulled Bi Liang close, his heart pounding. "Dragons have pearls, phoenixes have cinnabar, and the five elemental spirits often possess spiritual cores. This thing is most likely the spiritual core of the Thousand-Armed Demon! I used the spiritual core of the Skeleton Stone Spirit to create the incredibly powerful Phantom. With this, I wonder what wondrous things I can create? Heh, the Thousand-Armed Demon's cultivation is far superior to the Skeleton Stone Spirit's, so his spiritual core must be even better!"

The more he thought about it, the more excited he became. But fearing for E Yan's safety, he dared not examine it closely. He quickly put Bi Liang into his Ruyi Pouch and flew down from the sky, landing beside the girl who was frozen in front of the Thousand-Armed Yuan Sheng's giant body. Seeing her eyes glazed over, her hands still clutching the precious token, her pale body trembling, he exclaimed, "What's wrong?"

The wooden token suddenly fell to the ground, and E Yan burst into tears, throwing herself into his arms.

"It's alright, it's alright, we've defeated this demon!" Xiao Xuan quickly comforted her, hugging the girl and gently patting her back.

"I've avenged them! I've avenged my grandfather, my father, my mother, and all my clansmen!" E'yan sobbed.

"Yes, yes, they can rest in peace now," Xiao Xuan said softly, stroking her hair. Only then did he realize the heavy burden the girl in his arms had been carrying.

E'yan lifted her head from his chest, her tears mingling with a smile.

Xiao Xuan smiled too, overjoyed at the girl's happy face.

"Brother Xuan..." E'yan gazed at him intently and said softly, "Thank you."

Xiao Xuan wanted to say something polite, but seeing the girl now, as beautiful as a pear blossom after the rain, he was stunned.

"Brother Xuan," E'yan called shyly, her eyes never wavering, bravely meeting the man's gaze with deep affection.

Xiao Xuan's heart pounded.

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