Chapter 1695: The Enchantress
Zhang Ruochen was somewhat worried that Mo Xiaogu might be the person he had in mind. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Forget it, let's not bother with her. Let's go get the divine spring first."
"Mm."
The Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden also didn't want any more complications.
Just as they were about to leave, the two tortoiseshell fragments on Zhang Ruochen's body began to tremble slightly, then flew away from him.
"What's happening?"
Zhang Ruochen was startled, then used his movement technique to chase after the two fragments.
They arrived at a ruin among the palace complex. In the rubble, Zhang Ruochen discovered a third tortoiseshell fragment.
The two fragments circled the third one twice, then fused together, emitting a dazzling purple light.
As the purple light gradually faded, a tortoiseshell about half a palm in size fell to the ground.
Although the tortoiseshell was still incomplete, the fact that three fragments could merge into one surprised Zhang Ruochen greatly.
The True Marvel Little Daoist jumped up in delight. "Excellent! This tortoiseshell is now half complete. We should be able to go retrieve the Purple Gold Bagua Mirror."
"What do you mean?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
The True Marvel Little Daoist said, "Haven't you always wanted to know the other uses of the tortoiseshell fragments? Actually, using it, we can take the Purple Gold Bagua Mirror from the hands of Luo Tian Heavenly Venerable in the True Marvel Temple."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Really? But you once said that although Luo Tian Heavenly Venerable is dead, his corpse still contains immense power. Anyone who dares to take his Purple Gold Bagua Mirror would be suppressed and killed."
"Times have changed."
The True Marvel Little Daoist shook his little hand and continued, "Now that we've gathered half the tortoiseshell fragments, it's enough to gain Luo Tian Heavenly Venerable's recognition. Besides, after being severely injured this time and nearing death, I recalled some things and have mastered the secret method to retrieve the Purple Gold Bagua Mirror."
"Recalled some things? What does that mean?" Zhang Ruochen was puzzled.
The True Marvel Little Daoist said leisurely, "I've lived for such a long time. Some events from tens of thousands, even a hundred thousand years ago, are hard to remember."
"Earlier, when I was severely injured and near death, I recalled that a hundred thousand years ago, Luo Tian Heavenly Venerable personally taught me the Dao and explained some of the methods for using the Purple Gold Bagua Mirror."
Zhang Ruochen felt that the True Marvel Little Daoist was on par with Xiao Hei—both loved to bluff, and both often dragged things back a hundred thousand years. The most frustrating part was that no one could tell which of their words were true and which were false.
The Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden said, "This place is a bit strange. We should leave quickly."
Zhang Ruochen also sensed a dangerous aura and felt uneasy, but he couldn't pinpoint where the danger was coming from. In such an extremely unfavorable situation, retreating immediately was the best course of action.
"Leave? Where are you two going?"
A familiar voice sounded.
Then, Mo Xiaogu's figure appeared in the ruins. She wore Chou Gu's iron boots on her feet and held Pu Shan's golden cymbals in her hands. She still looked like a beautiful young girl, but there was no trace of timidity about her. Instead, she wore a confident and composed smile.
Zhang Ruochen examined Mo Xiaogu carefully and said, "Miss Xiaogu, why are you here?"
"I've been here all along!" Mo Xiaogu said with a squinting smile.
The ring on the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden's finger glowed with sacred light. "Gu Feng died by your hand, didn't he?"
Mo Xiaogu said, "What? Celestial Maiden, do you want to avenge him? That makes sense. After all, Gu Feng was a space cultivator you invited. It's only natural for you to avenge him."
The Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden's gaze turned cold. "Who exactly are you? Killing Gu Feng is no easy feat."
"Swish!"
The ring transformed into the Rain Silk Divine Sword and flew out, slashing toward Mo Xiaogu's neck.
Mo Xiaogu remained calm and composed. She stepped to the right, shrinking the ground beneath her feet, and instantly appeared dozens of zhang away. With a giggle, she said, "Celestial Maiden, you've already been poisoned. It's best not to activate your sacred qi, or the poison will act faster."
"Nonsense."
The Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden continued to drive the Rain Silk Divine Sword, its sword qi forming a fine net that enveloped Mo Xiaogu.
To everyone's surprise, Mo Xiaogu used a spatial displacement technique to easily escape the sword net.
While the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden and Mo Xiaogu were locked in combat, Zhang Ruochen quickly mobilized his spiritual power to examine himself internally. After confirming he wasn't poisoned, he breathed a sigh of relief.
"She must be bluffing. Could she really be that enchantress?"
Zhang Ruochen continued to observe Mo Xiaogu, trying to spot any flaws in her.
Mo Xiaogu continued, "You really have been poisoned. It's the Harmony Pill refined by Gu Feng. The poison of the Harmony Pill doesn't affect your physical body but your sacred soul, stimulating your desires. The more you activate your sacred qi, the faster and stronger the poison will act."
Suddenly, the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden withdrew the Rain Silk Divine Sword and stood still.
Zhang Ruochen looked at her and noticed that her snow-white neck had turned a faint pink, and sweat was rolling down her forehead.
Could it be... they really were poisoned?
Mo Xiaogu gently stroked her hair with her fingers and laughed. "I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of embarrassing state the holy and dignified Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden will be in once the poison takes effect. Lin Yue, shouldn't you be thanking this princess?"
Zhang Ruochen's heart stirred. "May I ask which realm's princess you are?"
"I won't tell you. Anyway, you're about to share a blissful union with a celestial maiden, a sweet entanglement. Such a wonderful thing, others can only dream of. Shouldn't you be grateful to this princess? Your space cultivation isn't bad—be my servant!" Mo Xiaogu said.
The Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden transmitted to Zhang Ruochen, "We really have been poisoned. We must leave this place immediately. Once we shake off this enchantress, I have a way to neutralize the toxins. I can no longer activate my sacred qi—you take me away."
"Celestial Maiden, forgive my impertinence."
Zhang Ruochen grabbed one of the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden's jade-like hands and swiftly flew out of the palace complex.
That hand was as delicate as jade, soft and boneless. Countless proud sons of heaven had dreamed of touching it. If they saw Zhang Ruochen holding the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden's hand, they would probably go mad with jealousy.
"Leaving? Not so easy."
Mo Xiaogu's eyes sharpened, and she hurled the golden cymbals in her hand.
The cymbals grew as large as millstones, spinning rapidly and distorting the space around them as they struck toward Zhang Ruochen's back.
"Watch this old Daoist's Heaven-Overturning Seal."
The True Marvel Little Daoist stood on Zhang Ruochen's shoulder, spitting out purple light from his mouth. He formed a seal with his hands as large as the golden cymbals and blasted it backward.
"Boom!"
The two forces collided, sending dust flying everywhere.
Mo Xiaogu retrieved the golden cymbals, holding them in her palm, somewhat surprised. "A hundred-thousand-year-old sacred medicine is this strong?"
Mo Xiaogu had used the Harmony Pill on the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden and Zhang Ruochen with a purpose. She wanted to recruit not only Lin Yue but also the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden.
To recruit the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden, she first needed to have leverage over her.
Mo Xiaogu continued her pursuit, her voice like silver bells. "Where are you two going? Looking for a secluded place to do something shameful?"
As they rushed out of the palace complex, the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden looked down the mountain and her expression changed slightly. "Yan Wang and Lian Hou are catching up. I can sense the spiritual will emanating from them. Besides that, there's another, even stronger spiritual will—it feels like... Wang Tian."
"Who is Wang Tian?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"The leader of the Ruiya Realm, the brother of Wang Xu, a top-tier powerhouse of the Heavenly Realm Faction. His strength is not inferior to mine."
The Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden grew anxious. If she hadn't been poisoned, she wouldn't have feared Wang Tian, but in her current state... the consequences would be dire.
The Harmony Pill had a fearsome reputation, once causing a Great Saint to lose all face. If she continued to use sacred qi in battle, the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden couldn't guarantee she could suppress the pill's toxicity.
From below, Yan Wang's laughter rang out. "Celestial Maiden, we meet again."
Moments later, three figures blocked Zhang Ruochen and the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden's path. Besides Yan Wang and Lian Hou, there was a man in a black robe.
The man in the black robe had a pale face and an extremely heavy yin aura. It was Wang Tian.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen holding the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden's hand, Lian Hou's eyes flickered with a strange light. She laughed, "You sure are lucky, kid, to be able to touch the Celestial Maiden's jade hand. Don't you know that if this gets out, many powerful figures will come to chop off your hand?"
Wang Tian said coldly, "The Celestial Maiden seems to be in a bad state. Are you injured?"
Yan Wang and Lian Hou also noticed something was wrong and showed delighted expressions. If the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden was truly injured, this was a perfect opportunity to eliminate her.
Mo Xiaogu's laughter came from above. "The Celestial Maiden isn't injured—she's been poisoned by the Harmony Pill."
"Is that true?"
Yan Wang was extremely excited. If he could capture the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden and use a technique to drain her cultivation, his own power would surely skyrocket.
The legendary Harmony Pill—even the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden shouldn't be able to withstand its toxicity, right?
Mo Xiaogu blinked and said, "If you don't believe me, attack the Celestial Maiden. Force her to fight, and the poison in her body will accelerate. When you hold her warm, fragrant body in your arms, you'll know if I'm telling the truth."
Zhang Ruochen turned around and glared at Mo Xiaogu, feeling that her style of doing things was quite similar to that Rakshasa princess.
Mo Xiaogu looked playful and laughed. "Lin Yue, Lin Yue, I told you to thank this princess earlier, but you wouldn't listen and insisted on running away. Now you've lost your chance to enjoy the Celestial Maiden's soft, jade-like body. It'll have to go to Yan Wang and Wang Tian."
Zhang Ruochen snorted coldly, then led the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden toward Mo Xiaogu.
Relatively speaking, breaking through in Mo Xiaogu's direction was easier than facing Yan Wang, Lian Hou, and Wang Tian together.
But Mo Xiaogu was unafraid. She took out a black lotus and held it in her hand. "Lin Yue, do you think I'm so easy to bully?"
Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to reach Mo Xiaogu, a loud "crash" came from the ground beneath her feet. A bone-white hand, over ten meters long, shot up and struck toward Zhang Ruochen.
The bone hand contained an extremely terrifying ancient yin aura and exuded the aura of a Great Saint.
To other cultivators, it was just a giant bone hand, but in Zhang Ruochen's eyes, the entire world was covered by it. The aura it emitted was as terrifying as that of a half-corpse ancient Great Saint.
"Is it another Great Saint malevolent creature?"
Zhang Ruochen's expression changed drastically. He quickly used a spatial displacement to dodge to the left.
"Boom!"
The bone hand slammed heavily into the ground, causing a large area to sink and forming a massive pit of rubble. At the same time, an ancient yin aura that could corrode a cultivator's physical body spread outward, causing even Yan Wang, Lian Hou, and Wang Tian, who were farther away, to change color slightly.
"Who is this enchantress, able to control ancient malevolent creatures?" Wang Tian's eyes narrowed, showing a look of caution.