Chapter 98: Surviving a Great Calamity (Chapter 9)
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Chapter 98: Surviving a Great Calamity (Chapter 9)
Ning Xiaochuan let out a slight sigh of relief, having narrowly escaped death. It would have been too humiliating to die from a fall.
Thud!
Suddenly, a heavy object fell from above and landed squarely on his back.
It was Princess Lanfei.
She had also suffered severe injuries and had fallen off the cliff just a moment after Ning Xiaochuan. Now, as she crashed onto his back, she instinctively wrapped her arms around him, her voice weak and fading: "Save me... save... me..."
Already grievously wounded, Ning Xiaochuan was struck by Princess Lanfei’s impact, his vision darkening as he was knocked unconscious.
The two plummeted straight toward the base of the mountain.
Midway down Blood Mountain, there was a steep cliff face with a massive cave carved into it.
"Grandmother, someone else has fallen from above... Wait, no—it’s Xiaochuan! Grandmother, you must save him!" Yu Qianqian stood on the cliff, watching Ning Xiaochuan and Princess Lanfei fall, and immediately pleaded.
The Ugly Old Crone remained unhurried. "Why should I save him?"
"How can you be so heartless?" Yu Qianqian retorted.
The Ugly Old Crone said, "Fine. If you kneel and beg me, I’ll save him."
Yu Qianqian, noble in status and prideful by nature, had never knelt before anyone—not even the Great Golden Roc King or the Emperor of Yulan. But as she watched Ning Xiaochuan and Princess Lanfei about to vanish from sight, her heart filled with desperation. She dropped to her knees. "I beg you, Grandmother, save him!"
"You debase yourself too easily. Only a foolish woman would kneel for a man."
Yu Qianqian didn’t argue, her eyes fixed pleadingly on the Ugly Old Crone.
Standing beside her, the hunched and withered old woman slowly extended a shriveled hand.
A surge of energy emanated from her palm, coalescing into a massive handprint dozens of meters long. It stretched into the void, catching Ning Xiaochuan and Princess Lanfei before gently bringing them back to the cave and laying them on the ground.
Ning Xiaochuan felt an excruciating pain in his head, his vision pitch-black, his entire body icy cold. Then, a warm current flowed into him, easing the agony in his mind.
Gradually, he opened his eyes, light returning to his sight.
"Xiaochuan, you’re awake?" Yu Qianqian’s fingers had been pressed against his wrist, channeling energy into him. Seeing him regain consciousness, she discreetly withdrew her jade-like hand, hiding it behind her back.
Ning Xiaochuan slowly sat up, surveying his surroundings as his thoughts gradually reassembled.
"I fell from the peak of Blood Mountain... and I’m still alive? Your Highness, did you save me?"
Yu Qianqian shook her head, glancing toward the depths of the cave. "No. It was Grandmother who saved you."
Following her gaze, Ning Xiaochuan saw the Ugly Old Crone seated cross-legged in the cave. Before her stood the Red Ancient Cauldron, over two meters tall, its base alight with flames.
Murong Wushuang was adding firewood beneath the ancient cauldron while muttering complaints, clearly unwilling and resentful.
Ning Xiaochuan recognized the cauldron—it was the very same ancient cauldron he and Princess Lanfei had retrieved from the Demon Palace. Despite having fallen off the cliff, it had somehow ended up in the hands of the Ugly Old Crone.
Under the flames, the cauldron grew increasingly radiant, its surface forming intricate patterns of dragons and serpents, as if hundreds of them were slithering across its surface.
Anything brought out from the Demon Palace was undoubtedly a supreme treasure.
Ning Xiaochuan was severely injured and remained silent, closing his eyes to circulate his Profound Qi and begin healing.
Inside his body, a medicinal energy lingered—clearly from the Intermediate Elixir Yu Qianqian had given him. The potency and Elixir Qi of the elixir had yet to fully dissolve, but under the influence of his Profound Qi, the elixir melted at a much faster rate.
With the help of the Intermediate Elixir, Ning Xiaochuan’s injuries healed more quickly.
The value of an Intermediate Elixir was not insignificant, and Ning Xiaochuan silently noted this debt in his heart, feeling grateful toward Yu Qianqian.
By the time Ning Xiaochuan had fully stabilized his injuries and reopened his eyes, the sky had darkened completely, and a cold wind howled through the Blood Mountain.
From the Demon Palace atop the mountain, the cries of undead soldiers and Dragon Souls echoed, evoking a deep sense of awe.
Ning Xiaochuan’s gaze returned to the Ugly Old Crone. Who exactly was this woman?
Why did she live alone in the Blood Mountain?
And how could she refine the dead into Undead Servants? What connection did she have with the Demon Palace at the summit?
This old crone was shrouded in mystery.
Ning Xiaochuan approached and bowed respectfully to her. "Thank you, Elder, for saving my life."
The Ugly Old Crone slowly opened her eyes and glanced at him indifferently. "Don’t thank me. If that girl hadn’t knelt and begged me, I wouldn’t have saved you. If you want to thank anyone, thank her."
Ning Xiaochuan’s heart trembled as he stared at Yu Qianqian.
Yu Qianqian felt slightly flustered but forced herself to remain composed. "Don’t misunderstand. It’s just… you risked your life to retrieve the ancient cauldron from the Demon Palace, which was essentially saving me. You saved me once, and now I’ve saved you. We’re even—no debts between us."
"Brother Chuan, I still owe you my life," Murong Wushuang interjected, still chopping firewood and adding it beneath the cauldron, sweating profusely like a laborer.
Ning Xiaochuan’s eyes remained fixed on Yu Qianqian as he bowed deeply. "Your Highness’s kindness is something I will never forget. I will repay this debt in the future."
Yu Qianqian felt a small flicker of delight. Having him owe her a favor didn’t seem so bad. She feigned indifference. "That’s your choice. I didn’t force you."
Ning Xiaochuan turned his attention to the ancient cauldron. "What is being refined inside?"
Murong Wushuang’s expression turned strange, his tone exaggerated. "A person."
"Refining a person?" Ning Xiaochuan asked.
Murong Wushuang nodded and continued adding firewood. "Princess Lanfei."
As soon as he spoke, a fragrant aroma, identical to Elixir Qi, wafted from the cauldron.
The Ugly Old Crone opened her eyes, two beams of sharp light shooting from her murky pupils. With a wave of her arm, the lid of the Ancient Cauldron flew open, and rays of radiant light burst forth from within.
"Boom!"
Princess Lanfei slowly floated out from the Ancient Cauldron, her slender and delicate body shrouded in a layer of elixir mist as she hovered above the cauldron. Her eyes remained closed, and her delicate nose twitched slightly as she breathed softly.
Ning Xiaochuan said, "Senior, are you planning to refine her into a human elixir?"
The Ugly Old Crone shot him a glare and replied, "Didn’t you say I couldn’t fully revive the dead? Now, I will completely refine the corpse energy from her body and turn her into a true living person."
For a Heart Nurturer, the greatest honor lay in mastering the art of resurrection. Every Great Heart Nurturer strived toward this goal.
The Ugly Old Crone was also a Great Heart Nurturer, and she naturally wished to achieve true resurrection. To her, this would serve as proof of her power.
Using the might of the Ancient Cauldron, she would refine the corpse energy from the Half-Corpse Slave.
Princess Lanfei’s body slowly descended to the ground. Yu Qianqian quickly draped a robe over her and laid her down on the stone bed, ensuring she rested peacefully.
With another wave of the Ugly Old Crone’s arm, the lid of the Ancient Cauldron fell back into place, sealing it once more.
Though night had already fallen, Ning Xiaochuan left the stone cave and arrived at the Blood Pool beneath Blood Mountain.
Standing by the Blood Pool, Ning Xiaochuan gazed at the waterfall cascading through the misty clouds. "Xin’er, even if you’ve already passed, I will find your body and bring you back to the Jian Pavilion Marquis House."
Profound Qi surged from the soles of Ning Xiaochuan’s feet as he leaped over 6 meters high, landing among the perilous cliffs to search for Ning Xin’er’s remains.
At the edge of the five-colored Miasma forest, Ning Xiaochuan discovered the corpse of a woman, her flesh mangled and half-devoured by wild beasts, rendering her completely unrecognizable.
"No… this isn’t Xin’er."
He continued his search, finding several more female corpses—some poisoned by deadly toxins, others slain by other martial artists.
After searching for most of the night, he found nothing.
When Ning Xiaochuan returned to the Blood Pool, he suddenly noticed a red glow hovering above it, emitting a resisting cry.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
It was the small red dragon, enveloped in an auspicious cloud, its fleshy wings fluttering gently in the air.
It flew above the Blood Pool, its eyes scanning the surroundings as if searching for something.
When Ning Xiaochuan spotted it, the dragon’s gaze locked onto him, and it immediately became overjoyed, letting out excited "roar" sounds.
Hmm?
Previously, this little dragon had always been terrified of him. Why was it so happy today?
The small red dragon extended a tiny claw, pointing in a certain direction through the night. It let out more "roar" sounds, but seeing that Ning Xiaochuan couldn’t understand, it grew frustrated, scratching its head repeatedly before flying off in the direction it had indicated.
Could it be trying to lead me somewhere?
A pair of faint wings materialized on Ning Xiaochuan’s back as he flapped them, chasing after the small red dragon.
The small red dragon flew faster and faster, weaving through perilous cliffs and steep peaks, until it hovered above a young girl, staring down at her with delight while letting out excited cries.
The girl standing below was none other than Ning Xin'er, dressed in thin clothing, her long black hair smooth and flowing. She lifted her delicate face and asked, "Xiao Hong, have you found my brother's corpse?"
The small red dragon immediately fumed, smoke nearly rising from its head as it shook its head vigorously, then nodded just as forcefully.
Ning Xin'er frowned adorably and said, "Why are you shaking your head and nodding at the same time? Xiao Hong, what exactly are you trying to say?"
"Ooooh!"
The small red dragon widened its eyes in frustration, gesturing wildly while letting out more cries.
Ning Xin'er seemed to understand something and said, "Fine, I won't call you Xiao Hong anymore. By the way, Xiao Hong, what did you mean by nodding earlier? Did you really find my brother's corpse?"
The small red dragon nearly fainted from anger, utterly disliking being called "Xiao Hong," but it had no choice—Ning Xin'er seemed determined to stick with the name, making it impossible to correct her.
Defeated, Xiao Hong could only lower its head and nod reluctantly.
"You... you really found my brother's corpse? Where is it? Take me there..." Ning Xin'er's lips trembled, her round eyes glistening with tears, her voice choked with reluctance to accept the truth.
Ning Xiaochuan let out a slight sigh of relief, having narrowly escaped death. It would have been too humiliating to die from a fall.
Thud!
Suddenly, a heavy object fell from above and landed squarely on his back.
It was Princess Lanfei.
She had also suffered severe injuries and had fallen off the cliff just a moment after Ning Xiaochuan. Now, as she crashed onto his back, she instinctively wrapped her arms around him, her voice weak and fading: "Save me... save... me..."
Already grievously wounded, Ning Xiaochuan was struck by Princess Lanfei’s impact, his vision darkening as he was knocked unconscious.
The two plummeted straight toward the base of the mountain.
Midway down Blood Mountain, there was a steep cliff face with a massive cave carved into it.
"Grandmother, someone else has fallen from above... Wait, no—it’s Xiaochuan! Grandmother, you must save him!" Yu Qianqian stood on the cliff, watching Ning Xiaochuan and Princess Lanfei fall, and immediately pleaded.
The Ugly Old Crone remained unhurried. "Why should I save him?"
"How can you be so heartless?" Yu Qianqian retorted.
The Ugly Old Crone said, "Fine. If you kneel and beg me, I’ll save him."
Yu Qianqian, noble in status and prideful by nature, had never knelt before anyone—not even the Great Golden Roc King or the Emperor of Yulan. But as she watched Ning Xiaochuan and Princess Lanfei about to vanish from sight, her heart filled with desperation. She dropped to her knees. "I beg you, Grandmother, save him!"
"You debase yourself too easily. Only a foolish woman would kneel for a man."
Yu Qianqian didn’t argue, her eyes fixed pleadingly on the Ugly Old Crone.
Standing beside her, the hunched and withered old woman slowly extended a shriveled hand.
A surge of energy emanated from her palm, coalescing into a massive handprint dozens of meters long. It stretched into the void, catching Ning Xiaochuan and Princess Lanfei before gently bringing them back to the cave and laying them on the ground.
Ning Xiaochuan felt an excruciating pain in his head, his vision pitch-black, his entire body icy cold. Then, a warm current flowed into him, easing the agony in his mind.
Gradually, he opened his eyes, light returning to his sight.
"Xiaochuan, you’re awake?" Yu Qianqian’s fingers had been pressed against his wrist, channeling energy into him. Seeing him regain consciousness, she discreetly withdrew her jade-like hand, hiding it behind her back.
Ning Xiaochuan slowly sat up, surveying his surroundings as his thoughts gradually reassembled.
"I fell from the peak of Blood Mountain... and I’m still alive? Your Highness, did you save me?"
Yu Qianqian shook her head, glancing toward the depths of the cave. "No. It was Grandmother who saved you."
Following her gaze, Ning Xiaochuan saw the Ugly Old Crone seated cross-legged in the cave. Before her stood the Red Ancient Cauldron, over two meters tall, its base alight with flames.
Murong Wushuang was adding firewood beneath the ancient cauldron while muttering complaints, clearly unwilling and resentful.
Ning Xiaochuan recognized the cauldron—it was the very same ancient cauldron he and Princess Lanfei had retrieved from the Demon Palace. Despite having fallen off the cliff, it had somehow ended up in the hands of the Ugly Old Crone.
Under the flames, the cauldron grew increasingly radiant, its surface forming intricate patterns of dragons and serpents, as if hundreds of them were slithering across its surface.
Anything brought out from the Demon Palace was undoubtedly a supreme treasure.
Ning Xiaochuan was severely injured and remained silent, closing his eyes to circulate his Profound Qi and begin healing.
Inside his body, a medicinal energy lingered—clearly from the Intermediate Elixir Yu Qianqian had given him. The potency and Elixir Qi of the elixir had yet to fully dissolve, but under the influence of his Profound Qi, the elixir melted at a much faster rate.
With the help of the Intermediate Elixir, Ning Xiaochuan’s injuries healed more quickly.
The value of an Intermediate Elixir was not insignificant, and Ning Xiaochuan silently noted this debt in his heart, feeling grateful toward Yu Qianqian.
By the time Ning Xiaochuan had fully stabilized his injuries and reopened his eyes, the sky had darkened completely, and a cold wind howled through the Blood Mountain.
From the Demon Palace atop the mountain, the cries of undead soldiers and Dragon Souls echoed, evoking a deep sense of awe.
Ning Xiaochuan’s gaze returned to the Ugly Old Crone. Who exactly was this woman?
Why did she live alone in the Blood Mountain?
And how could she refine the dead into Undead Servants? What connection did she have with the Demon Palace at the summit?
This old crone was shrouded in mystery.
Ning Xiaochuan approached and bowed respectfully to her. "Thank you, Elder, for saving my life."
The Ugly Old Crone slowly opened her eyes and glanced at him indifferently. "Don’t thank me. If that girl hadn’t knelt and begged me, I wouldn’t have saved you. If you want to thank anyone, thank her."
Ning Xiaochuan’s heart trembled as he stared at Yu Qianqian.
Yu Qianqian felt slightly flustered but forced herself to remain composed. "Don’t misunderstand. It’s just… you risked your life to retrieve the ancient cauldron from the Demon Palace, which was essentially saving me. You saved me once, and now I’ve saved you. We’re even—no debts between us."
"Brother Chuan, I still owe you my life," Murong Wushuang interjected, still chopping firewood and adding it beneath the cauldron, sweating profusely like a laborer.
Ning Xiaochuan’s eyes remained fixed on Yu Qianqian as he bowed deeply. "Your Highness’s kindness is something I will never forget. I will repay this debt in the future."
Yu Qianqian felt a small flicker of delight. Having him owe her a favor didn’t seem so bad. She feigned indifference. "That’s your choice. I didn’t force you."
Ning Xiaochuan turned his attention to the ancient cauldron. "What is being refined inside?"
Murong Wushuang’s expression turned strange, his tone exaggerated. "A person."
"Refining a person?" Ning Xiaochuan asked.
Murong Wushuang nodded and continued adding firewood. "Princess Lanfei."
As soon as he spoke, a fragrant aroma, identical to Elixir Qi, wafted from the cauldron.
The Ugly Old Crone opened her eyes, two beams of sharp light shooting from her murky pupils. With a wave of her arm, the lid of the Ancient Cauldron flew open, and rays of radiant light burst forth from within.
"Boom!"
Princess Lanfei slowly floated out from the Ancient Cauldron, her slender and delicate body shrouded in a layer of elixir mist as she hovered above the cauldron. Her eyes remained closed, and her delicate nose twitched slightly as she breathed softly.
Ning Xiaochuan said, "Senior, are you planning to refine her into a human elixir?"
The Ugly Old Crone shot him a glare and replied, "Didn’t you say I couldn’t fully revive the dead? Now, I will completely refine the corpse energy from her body and turn her into a true living person."
For a Heart Nurturer, the greatest honor lay in mastering the art of resurrection. Every Great Heart Nurturer strived toward this goal.
The Ugly Old Crone was also a Great Heart Nurturer, and she naturally wished to achieve true resurrection. To her, this would serve as proof of her power.
Using the might of the Ancient Cauldron, she would refine the corpse energy from the Half-Corpse Slave.
Princess Lanfei’s body slowly descended to the ground. Yu Qianqian quickly draped a robe over her and laid her down on the stone bed, ensuring she rested peacefully.
With another wave of the Ugly Old Crone’s arm, the lid of the Ancient Cauldron fell back into place, sealing it once more.
Though night had already fallen, Ning Xiaochuan left the stone cave and arrived at the Blood Pool beneath Blood Mountain.
Standing by the Blood Pool, Ning Xiaochuan gazed at the waterfall cascading through the misty clouds. "Xin’er, even if you’ve already passed, I will find your body and bring you back to the Jian Pavilion Marquis House."
Profound Qi surged from the soles of Ning Xiaochuan’s feet as he leaped over 6 meters high, landing among the perilous cliffs to search for Ning Xin’er’s remains.
At the edge of the five-colored Miasma forest, Ning Xiaochuan discovered the corpse of a woman, her flesh mangled and half-devoured by wild beasts, rendering her completely unrecognizable.
"No… this isn’t Xin’er."
He continued his search, finding several more female corpses—some poisoned by deadly toxins, others slain by other martial artists.
After searching for most of the night, he found nothing.
When Ning Xiaochuan returned to the Blood Pool, he suddenly noticed a red glow hovering above it, emitting a resisting cry.
"Roar! Roar! Roar!"
It was the small red dragon, enveloped in an auspicious cloud, its fleshy wings fluttering gently in the air.
It flew above the Blood Pool, its eyes scanning the surroundings as if searching for something.
When Ning Xiaochuan spotted it, the dragon’s gaze locked onto him, and it immediately became overjoyed, letting out excited "roar" sounds.
Hmm?
Previously, this little dragon had always been terrified of him. Why was it so happy today?
The small red dragon extended a tiny claw, pointing in a certain direction through the night. It let out more "roar" sounds, but seeing that Ning Xiaochuan couldn’t understand, it grew frustrated, scratching its head repeatedly before flying off in the direction it had indicated.
Could it be trying to lead me somewhere?
A pair of faint wings materialized on Ning Xiaochuan’s back as he flapped them, chasing after the small red dragon.
The small red dragon flew faster and faster, weaving through perilous cliffs and steep peaks, until it hovered above a young girl, staring down at her with delight while letting out excited cries.
The girl standing below was none other than Ning Xin'er, dressed in thin clothing, her long black hair smooth and flowing. She lifted her delicate face and asked, "Xiao Hong, have you found my brother's corpse?"
The small red dragon immediately fumed, smoke nearly rising from its head as it shook its head vigorously, then nodded just as forcefully.
Ning Xin'er frowned adorably and said, "Why are you shaking your head and nodding at the same time? Xiao Hong, what exactly are you trying to say?"
"Ooooh!"
The small red dragon widened its eyes in frustration, gesturing wildly while letting out more cries.
Ning Xin'er seemed to understand something and said, "Fine, I won't call you Xiao Hong anymore. By the way, Xiao Hong, what did you mean by nodding earlier? Did you really find my brother's corpse?"
The small red dragon nearly fainted from anger, utterly disliking being called "Xiao Hong," but it had no choice—Ning Xin'er seemed determined to stick with the name, making it impossible to correct her.
Defeated, Xiao Hong could only lower its head and nod reluctantly.
"You... you really found my brother's corpse? Where is it? Take me there..." Ning Xin'er's lips trembled, her round eyes glistening with tears, her voice choked with reluctance to accept the truth.
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