Refining the Mountains and Rivers

At another entrance to the mountain valley.

This channel was unexpectedly long. The group of several people walked for a long time but still didn't see an end.

Luckily, they kept Sang Zhu's plans in mind. They cautiously moved forwards, not encountering any accidents.

"Brother Xu, is there something wrong?"

Someone in the group suddenly said. The others revealed concerned looks. They didn't fully trust Sang Zhu, but had no other choice due to the situation they were in.

The cultivator surnamed Xu had considerable knowledge in array formations. He thought for a moment and said, "I won't hide what I know. The array formation formed by this Yellow Springs Fog contains the highest truths of the world's yin and yang. I can only see a little bit of it, but from what I can tell there shouldn't be a problem."

Everyone appeared a little more relaxed. In truth, they already knew of this, but when they heard this surname Xu repeat their affirmations, they felt a bit better at heart.

At this moment there was a loud bang above everyone's heads, like a thunderclap appearing out of nowhere.

The scene around them began to change.

The surname Xu cultivator began to shout out, "This is bad! The channel is going to close down; we must leave!"

Everyone turned to flee for their lives but it was already too late. The shattered space swallowed them all up.

…

The third channel.

The ground dissolved, turning into tumbling crimson liquid. Faint tendrils of it rose up into the air. It looked weak and thin, but it actually possessed an incredible toughness.

They were like some sort of complex and developed root system. No matter how the several cultivators tried to struggle, it slowly and tenaciously crawled all over their bodies.

Then, the red tendrils forcefully contracted, dragging the cultivators into the crimson liquid. With a wave of air bubbles rising to the surface, they all vanished from sight.

…

The fourth channel.

The group was stranded in fog, looks of extreme horror on their faces. Fortunately, as long as they stood still, this black fog didn't move towards them.

While there were no dangers for the time being, waiting in fear of the unknown still left them suffering.

Not too far away from the group, Sang Zhu's face appeared in the black fog. Her cold eyes fell upon the several people. Then, moments later, she disappeared.

From start to finish these people didn't notice that Sang Zhu had arrived. And, they especially didn't know that they had just experienced a brush with death.

Of course, the reason they survived wasn't because Sang Zhu was weak-hearted. Rather, Sang Zhu wasn't sure if the sacrificial offerings she had prepared were enough for her to smoothly achieve her goal.

Leaving them behind was to serve as bait. If the sacrifices weren't enough, she could use these people to draw even more cultivators here.

…

Deep within the mountain valley, covered by endless black fog, there was a blood red cocoon that constantly beat like a heart.

Countless red blood vessels drilled out from its surface, weaving together into tentacles.

On the end of each tentacle was a translucent air bubble. Each air bubble had a cultivator held within.

If one carefully sensed the situation, they would discover that the life auras of these cultivators were weakening at a slow rate.

This was because all of their vitality was constantly being plundered and transported to the blood red cocoon.

Suddenly, the black fog tumbled and Sang Zhu stepped out. She indifferently looked around before walking forward.

In the next moment a vortex appeared in the ground. The cultivators from the three channels slowly appeared, all of them unconscious.

The blood red cocoon began to beat faster, as if it had become excited. Then, more blood vessels appeared, weaving together into tentacles that dragged the cultivators away.

These blood vessels drilled into their scalps. The unconscious cultivators violently twitched before falling silent.

Then, the transparent air bubbles slowly opened up, fully wrapping around them.

Sang Zhu's complexion changed and her eyes became ice piercingly cold. This was because one person was missing…Xun Feng!

She took a deep breath and suppressed her tumbling thoughts. She closed her eyes and the peaceful black fog around her began to surge.

Rumble rumble -

The momentum was vast and powerful, like seas raging in a storm!

But what a pity, all her efforts were for naught.

Within that boiling black fog, Qin Yu was like a shadow, completely unaffected.

Looking up ahead, he could clearly see Sang Zhu's complexion becoming increasingly cloudy.

"Undying, she already suspects us."

Even if they had another plan, hiding in the dark was the best option for now. But once detected, the effects would be greatly reduced.

Undying lightly said, "Master need not worry. With things having come this far, she has no other choice. Keep watching and you'll find out."

Shua -

Sang Zhu opened her eyes, furious anger in her eyes. Because this matter involved her future destiny, she believed she had acted sufficiently carefully. She never expected that she would make such a massive mistake at this critical moment.

A person who had been alive and well had vanished without a trace…Sang Zhu clenched her fists, her thoughts racing.

After a long time, she let out a long breath, her eyes incredibly cold.

No one could escape from here. Even if she couldn't find him, once she reawakened the evil spirit and refined it into her body, everything would be fine.

As for whether or not Xun Feng would try and create trouble…Sang Zhu's eyes darkened. If he were to jump out, that would be even better!

Since she had decided to take on such a dangerous task, she had made full preparations for it. She wouldn't feel fear even if she faced a Calamity Immortal realm existence.

"Humph!" With a cold sneer, Sang Zhu said, "You little runaway mouse, just wait for me, I will definitely catch you."

She lifted a hand and pointed a finger. The blood red cocoon gently trembled. Then, its beating accelerated several times over.

Bang -

Bang -

Within the deathly silence, this sound was particularly clear - like it was a true heart! The tentacles that held air bubbles on their ends suddenly tightened and rose up. All of the cultivators were lifted into the air.

The unconscious cultivators began to wildly shiver within the air bubbles. Their complexions paled as their vitality started to be drained out like a broken dam.

Sang Zhu's eyes turned burning hot. As she saw the sight before her, her chest started to violently heave up and down.

From the moment she was born, she wasn't willing to resign herself to her destiny. Even though she also possessed the bloodline of the royal family, how come she couldn't inherit the throne?

Just because she was a woman? How unfair was this!

She wanted to resist. Since she was a child she tried to become stronger and stronger, diligently doing everything to the best of her abilities.

But no one cared about her. Even if they gave her some praise, it was just light and casual, words forgotten in the next moment.

Sang Zhu felt anger, she felt hate, she felt despair. But, because she didn't have the qualifications to fight back, she could only gradually sink.

But just as she was about to accept her fate, the heavens gave her an unexpected opportunity.

As long as she could achieve this, she would truly possess the strength to have the entire royal family look at her with envy!

This was Sang Zhu's final chance, whether it was for her or for that woman who she had affectionately called mother when she was a child, but who was ruthlessly beaten to death.

She had to succeed!

She had to succeed, even if she needed to pay a grievous price.

She had to succeed, even if she needed to stain her hands with blood.

Sang Zhu stood up straight, her breath gradually steadying. She didn't feel regret nor did she feel guilt.

In this world, the strong ate the weak. If these people died by her hand, it was their fate.

Nobody could stop her…if they tried, she would kill them!

Within the black fog, the hiding Qin Yu made a surprised sound, suddenly started. A dignified expression appeared on his face. He looked earnestly at one of the air bubbles being dragged into the air by a tentacle. After struggling inwardly for several seconds, he slowly said, "Undying, I must save her."