Chapter 498: Chapter 452: Nascent Soul Relics
The voice did not sound again; Lu Nanzhi guarded against Xingchou inside, while Jiang Yuebai attempted to break the Restriction Barrier. However, no matter whether she used the Dragon Scale Dagger or the Escape Technique, she could not penetrate the barrier.
She even forcibly activated the Space Great Forbidden Technique to no avail. Upon mobilizing Space Power, she felt that at least they were trapped in the Third Layer of space.
Entering from the Black Demon Mountain Rift at the statue spot, accessing the Desert City through the mouth of the statue, then from the Black Tower within the Desert City to this location.
Space layered upon space; with her current strength, she simply couldn’t pierce through these three layers of space to escape directly.
"What’s the situation?" Lu Nanzhi transmitted a message to Jiang Yuebai.
Jiang Yuebai shook her head slightly, and both looked inside; Xingchou had already opened his eyes, vigilantly retreating to a distant place, maintaining a safe distance from Jiang Yuebai’s Puppet Avatar.
"What cultivation technique did you acquire?" Jiang Yuebai looked inside at Xingchou and transmitted a message to Lu Nanzhi.
"Can’t understand it."
Jiang Yuebai paused, then took Lu Nanzhi’s hand to write out the cultivation technique name in Witch Rune. Lu Nanzhi nodded, indicating those were the characters.
"It seems it’s the same for everyone, let’s go inside first."
Jiang Yuebai left the Puppet Avatar at the entrance of the gorge, cautiously preventing anyone from coming out behind them. She still did not know that the Nine Dragon Forbidden Technique outside had been restored as before and was still worrying about He Shan and Hongchen returning.
Though the space inside was large, it was surrounded by a Restriction Barrier, forming a confined area; Xingchou retreating inside would also meet a dead end.
Furthermore, observing Lu Nanzhi by Jiang Yuebai’s side reminded her of their brief encounter on the city wall. Unless she fought desperately, she knew she was no match for these two.
"Wait! We’re all trapped here now; there’s no need to fight to the death. As you said before, each relying on their own abilities, life and death are left to fate."
Jiang Yuebai split a piece of Divine Thought to inspect the Black Coffin on the Abyss while looking at Xingchou, stating, "Right now, we are strong and you are weak. If you want to survive, you need to show your value!"
Xingchou clenched her fists tightly, her face beneath the mask shifting uncertainly, rapidly contemplating strategies.
In the end, she spoke, "I am the last survivor of Zhangwei Mountain. If I’m not mistaken, in that Black Coffin lies our Witch Ancestor, and only I can learn her inheritance. You must have heard the voice of Divine Thought just now."
"Only by mastering this cultivation technique can the escape route be cleared. I am the only one who can lead you out; kill me, and you will be trapped here, ending up like these white bones."
Xingchou directed Jiang Yuebai’s gaze to the three sitting white bones on the edge of the Abyss.
"Those three were no ordinary people; all were Nascent Soul stage cultivators who opened the Nine Dragon Forbidden Technique above to get here. All three died trapped here; considering just you two Late-Stage Golden Cores, what are your chances of getting out alive?"
Jiang Yuebai and Lu Nanzhi exchanged glances; Lu Nanzhi subtly indicated disbelief.
Jiang Yuebai felt the same; had she not had the Black Cauldron with her, seeing these three skeletons and hearing Xingchou’s words would have convinced her eighty percent.
But the Black Cauldron indicated one thing: someone with the Black Cauldron had indeed left here alive before, regardless of how they left, there must be a way out.
Xingchou saw them unresponsive and was somewhat anxious. She immediately raised her hand, saying, "I can swear a Heart Demon Blood Oath; I won’t deceive you."
Upon hearing this, Lu Nanzhi coldly retorted, "I am also a Demon Cultivator; how can there be Heart Demons for us?"
Xingchou’s pupils quivered, gritting her teeth and saying, "At worst, I’ll perish with you; if I can’t survive, I’ll make sure to drag you down with me!"
Jiang Yuebai spread a harmless smile, "Come on, actually we’ve worked quite well together before. Though you tricked me at the Bone Dragon and tried to harm us at the city wall, I never hold grudges, truly!"
Xingchou furrowed her brows, not knowing what nonsense Jiang Yuebai was talking about.
"We’re like turtles in a jar now, and indeed there’s no need for mutual slaughter. How about this? You hand over everything on those three skeletons, and don’t try to be tricky with me. If I find you’ve hidden anything, I’ll kill you immediately."
"From now on, as the boundary, we’ll refrain from infringing on each other, but if I ask you anything, you better answer truthfully. Otherwise, if I get furious someday and come after you, I guarantee you’ll leave completely clean!"
Pressed by the circumstances, Xingchou had no choice, she glanced at the Black Coffin on the Abyss. As long as she had time to learn the cultivation technique, she could obtain what’s in the Black Coffin; then there was a glimmer of hope.
Thinking of this, Xingchou took out a Storage Ring from her belt and threw it to Jiang Yuebai.
"There’s not much on those three; this is all I found. I hope you keep your word!"
Jiang Yuebai caught the ring lightly, "From start to finish, the one who’s been untrustworthy is always you!"
Xingchou looked deeply at Jiang Yuebai, her body exuding swirling Demonic Qi, forming a black smoke barrier, retreating into it and vanishing.
Within the black smoke, faint dragon roars could be heard; the chilling aura was formidable.
Jiang Yuebai retreated with Lu Nanzhi to a corner as well, taking out the Eight Arrays Plate to array the site. She discovered she could only form up to the Eighteen Linked Array, further stacking to Sixty-Four Arrays would be suppressed by the Restriction Barrier’s strength.
Having arrayed the formation, the two finally sat down to catch their breath.
Noticing Lu Nanzhi’s calm face, Jiang Yuebai couldn’t help but ask, "Why don’t you ask me why I didn’t kill Xingchou?"
Lu Nanzhi replied, "You intend to leave a temporary retreat, after all, we haven’t found a definite way out. If what she says is true, killing her would be unwise."
Jiang Yuebai smiled, "Ah, Anan understands me!"
"Little Bai, do you think the voice that gave us the cultivation technique is the Divine Thought left by the Witch Ancestor, or something else?"
Jiang Yuebai shook her head slightly, "No way to investigate that now, but judging from the recent events, it doesn’t interfere with our actions; it just wants to keep us confined here to learn the cultivation technique. But the technique isn’t easy to learn; even if mastered, it doesn’t guarantee escape. Otherwise, why did three Nascent Souls become sitting white bones?"
Lu Nanzhi showed worry, and Jiang Yuebai suddenly hit her lightly.
"Don’t worry too much; since we’re here, let’s be at ease. The Demonic Qi and Spiritual Energy here are even richer than in Stone Gate City; treat it as secluded cultivation. The solution can be pondered slowly. Last time, I informed Xie Jingshan via message that we’d be delayed, and in case we didn’t return, we’d be traveling together. Let him enjoy himself."
Lu Nanzhi looked at Jiang Yuebai with a bitter smile, knowing she had told Xie Jingshan this because of the previous Demon Clan incident. Jiang Yuebai feared Xie Jingshan worrying about them, and in his impulsive acts, he might harm himself.
"You should check if there’s any clue in the ring’s contents; I’ll transcribe the Witch Runic Cultivation Technique of ’Chaos Nirvana Skill.’ Since that voice wants us to learn the technique, it must have its purpose. Until it’s sure we can’t master it, it won’t harm us."
Lu Nanzhi nodded, watching as Jiang Yuebai placed two rings and a bracelet on the ground, taking out pen and paper to transcribe the Witch Rune Cultivation Technique from her Sea of Consciousness.
The Divine Sense Mark on the Storage Ring had long vanished; Lu Nanzhi paused momentarily upon opening it, then lined up the contents one by one on the ground.
Apart from the Beast Skin Map found in the city, some Puppets and two Jade Scrolls, within the spacious Storage Ring, there were no Elixirs, talismans, Magic Treasures, nor even Spirit Stones, and there was nothing that could indicate identity.
After finishing transcribing the technique, Jiang Yuebai looked up and was also surprised at the sight of the items on the ground.
"Did Xingchou conceal some?"
Lu Nanzhi recalled the scene earlier, "Probably not, the most likely scenario is that those three consumed everything they brought. Maybe during the time they were trapped here, they kept trying to break the barrier."
"If that’s the case, they must have been trapped for quite a long time. For Nascent Soul cultivators to become sitting white bones, it would take at least a thousand years."
Lu Nanzhi picked up the Jade Scrolls, "One of these is in Witch Rune, and the other is a Memory Jade."
Jiang Yuebai took the Memory Jade, "Let’s look at this first."
Divine Sense injected into the Memory Jade, and it slowly emitted brilliance, projecting a shadowy image before them.
The person was withered in appearance, white-haired, with a face full of wrinkles, evidently at the end of his life. Behind him, there were a man and a woman, sitting with their eyes closed, apparently lifeless.
"The end of my days is near; after death, even my soul cannot escape. If any descendants come here and receive this jade, I implore you to send a message to Biyou Palace...
