Volume 3, Chapter 193 – Don’t Let My Blood Go to Waste

Cheng Hongling and the others soon arrived at the entrance of the dungeon. At a glance, there wasn’t a single intact object in sight—let alone flowers or trees—the ground itself had been eroded a foot deep by the sinister yin energy. With every step, their feet sank deep, and when they pulled them out, clouds of ash kicked up, making it impossible to keep their eyes open.

Cheng Hongling’s willow-like brows furrowed slightly as cold energy rapidly spread from beneath her feet. With a series of crackling sounds, the layer of dust on the ground froze solid, turning into permafrost. Now, stepping on it wouldn’t cause them to slip, nor would it stir up any more billowing ash.

“Girls and their obsession with cleanliness! Wasting energy on something like this at a time like this—aren’t you afraid of putting yourself at a disadvantage?”

Elder Zhou couldn’t help but mock her.

“And this is exactly why you’re called stinky men! Asking us to get covered in filth is worse than killing us!”

Mu Ruoyi chimed in from the side, backing Cheng Hongling up.

Elder Zhou didn’t take offense and instead cut straight to the point. “Disciple Mu, take a look. Can you activate the Wood Exquisite Art?”

“Can’t you see for yourself? Where are the flowers and trees here? There’s nothing but scorched earth left!”

Mu Ruoyi snapped back, her delicate brows knitting together.

“Then think of a way!” Elder Zhou remained unmoved.

“What way? My Wood Exquisite Art can only be used through plants—don’t tell me you didn’t know that, Elder Zhou!”

Mu Ruoyi glared at him.

“Disciple Mu, understand this clearly—I’m not negotiating with you. If you can’t find a way, then you’ll have to compensate with that Nine Nether Demon Cat of yours.”

Elder Zhou’s smile turned sinister as he eyed the plump cat in her arms.

“What do you think you’re doing? Are you trying to rob us now? You’re supposed to be a righteous sect!”

Mu Ruoyi immediately hid Pangpang behind her back. Though this stupid cat didn’t produce many tears in a year, after spending several years with her in Shuiyu Valley, it had become like a close friend. She absolutely couldn’t let this man take it—she knew all too well how other sects treated Nine Nether Demon Cats.

“As long as no one finds out, we’re still a righteous sect.”

Rеαԁ оn KatRеаdiոɡСαfе

Elder Zhou’s grin grew colder. It seemed he wasn’t just planning to take the cat—he intended to silence them as well.

Cheng Hongling directly took Pangpang from Mu Ruoyi and met his gaze head-on. “If you want to rob us, go ahead and try!”

“Don’t threaten me. I saw your earlier fight—mid-stage Incarnation Realm in divine sense, early-stage Incarnation Realm in cultivation, a decent sword, and that painting… it must be the long-lost ‘Registry of Slaughter’ from the cultivation world, right? With that setup, you might handle an average mid-stage Incarnation Realm cultivator. But me? Don’t even dream of it.”

Elder Zhou sneered.

“Then try me.”

Cheng Hongling repeated coldly.

“Don’t test my patience. The only reason I’ve held back isn’t because I fear you—it’s because I value talent. If you don’t know what’s good for you, I’ll take not just this Nine Nether Demon Cat, but every treasure and magical artifact on you.”

Elder Zhou shed all pretense, his greed laid bare.

Hearing this from hundreds of feet away, Qi Huang couldn’t help but laugh. ‘With your level of strength, you dare shout ‘I’ll take it all’? Did you even ask me?’

“What’s wrong? Is the mighty Elder Zhou of the Huxiao Sect all talk? Did you rise to your position just by flapping your lips?”

Cheng Hongling scoffed.

“Fine. Don’t blame me for being ruthless.”

Elder Zhou’s patience had run out. His aura condensed, poised like a beast ready to strike.

Qi Huang watched indifferently. As long as he was within the range of her divine sense, there was no way he could cause any trouble.

“Go ahead. Make your move. If you dare act today, I’ll show you what ‘taking it all’ really means.”

The corner of Qi Huang’s lips curled slightly. With her current strength, she was confident she could defeat even a ninth-stage Incarnation Realm cultivator, let alone a sixth-stage one.

“Wait!”

Rеαԁ οn КαtRеаdiոɡСаfе

Just then, Mu Ruoyi suddenly spoke up, pointing at a towering tree swaying precariously about a hundred feet above them. “Look! There’s still a tree there!”

Elder Zhou’s hostility didn’t fade. He glanced dismissively at the so-called tree and frowned. “That’s not a tree—that’s a tree’s corpse! Are you so desperate to save her that you’d lie through your teeth?”

“Whether it’s a corpse or not, we’ll know once we check. As long as it’s not completely dead, I can revive it. Have you forgotten what kind of cultivation art I practice?”

Mu Ruoyi reminded him.

After a brief consideration, Elder Zhou decided to prioritize the bigger picture. He took a deep breath and said, “Fine. Let’s go take a look. But if it’s just a dead tree, don’t blame me for sending you to keep it company.”

Cheng Hongling remained expressionless. She had never been one for empty words—if a fight was necessary, she wouldn’t hesitate. If not, she wouldn’t waste her breath.

“Lucky for you.”

Qi Huang snorted coldly to herself.

The group quickly approached the tree, each eagerly releasing their divine sense to inspect it.

“Amazing! It really isn’t completely dead yet!”

Mu Ruoyi’s face lit up with joy as she quickened her pace.

“Even if it’s not dead, it’s barely hanging on. Are you sure you can revive it?”

Elder Zhou frowned skeptically.

“Just watch!

Mu Ruoyi smiled confidently, then gave Cheng Hongling a reassuring look before placing her fair, jade-like hand gently against the charred trunk.

Everyone watched intently. Some were even momentarily distracted—Mu Ruoyi’s hand was breathtakingly beautiful. Her skin was flawless, smooth as cream, her fingers slender and delicate like spring onions, with rosy nails adding a hint of allure. The stark contrast between her pristine hand and the blackened bark was visually jarring. If not for seeing it themselves, no one would believe the owner of such a hand also carried the burden of an overly ample chest.

Reаԁ оո ΚatRеαⅾіոɡCаfe

Mu Ruoyi began circulating the Wood Exquisite Art. Thick wood-attribute true energy surged into the trunk like a gentle rain soaking parched earth.

As time passed, a miracle unfolded. The tree, which had been as charred as coal, seemed to experience a revival. The dead bark peeled away, revealing fresh new skin beneath. Branches sprouted eagerly, and soon, lush green leaves adorned every limb.

“It worked! Look, everyone—it worked!”

A Huxiao Sect elder cheered.

“So this is the Wood Exquisite Art? Truly miraculous!”

Elder Zhou’s hostility vanished, replaced by admiration.

Of course, Mu Ruoyi wasn’t faring well. Reviving a dead tree had drained too much of her energy and qi. Her already pale forehead grew bloodless, and she swayed unsteadily.

“If once isn’t enough, try again after resting. Don’t push yourself!”

Cheng Hongling stepped forward, holding Pangpang, and supported her.

“No! We must find that Nine Nether Demon Cat immediately!”

Elder Zhou, however, stepped forward with unreasonable demands.

“Why?”

Cheng Hongling’s voice was icy.

“That terrifying cat spirit is still lurking near the Yuxiao Sect ruins, and there are experts from other sects watching from outside. The longer we delay, the greater the risk. Are those reasons enough for you?”

Elder Zhou spoke sternly.

“But I really don’t have the strength to use the Wood Exquisite Art again right now.”

Mu Ruoyi’s delicate face twisted in pain.

Rеаԁ οn КαtReαԁіոɡCαfе

“Then there’s still her. Don’t forget why I allowed her to come along in the first place—it’s time for her to be useful.”

Elder Zhou glanced meaningfully at Cheng Hongling.

“Absolutely not!”

Mu Ruoyi refused without hesitation. Blood-sucking would weaken the donor, which could be fatal in this situation.

“Aren’t you going to ask for her opinion?”

Elder Zhou wasn’t angry. Instead, he smirked at Cheng Hongling. “Disciple Cheng, since you chose to come, your goal wasn’t just to protect your ‘close friend’… no, your ‘little lover’, was it? The longer we delay, the worse it is for both sides.”

Cheng Hongling’s eyes sharpened as she glared at Elder Zhou. Without another word, she summoned her sword and slashed her fair wrist without hesitation, then extended it toward Mu Ruoyi.

“You—?”

Mu Ruoyi was stunned, her expression twisting with complex emotions. She wasn’t stupid—she knew Cheng Hongling was doing this to save the Nine Nether Demon Cat at all costs.

“Don’t let my blood go to waste.”

Cheng Hongling reminded her. Blood was already gushing from her pale wrist.

Mu Ruoyi bit her lip, then reluctantly parted her rosy lips and pressed a soft kiss against Cheng Hongling’s wound. Tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes—she didn’t even know why she was crying, but she couldn’t stop herself.

Qi Huang watched everything silently. Since this was the main body’s own decision, she couldn’t interfere—not that she needed to. As long as she was here, no one could threaten Cheng Hongling or Mu Ruoyi. At least, not right now.

Mu Ruoyi was afraid of taking too much, so she stopped after a brief sip. Then, despite her splitting headache, she forced herself to use the Wood Exquisite Art again. She’d rather exhaust herself to death than drag down this woman who was, in name, her “wife”.

In the eyes of the onlookers, the tree gradually developed a soul, forming a Soul Tether with Mu Ruoyi.

At the same time, the tree’s memories flooded into Mu Ruoyi’s mind like a revolving lantern. Finally, the scene of the Yuxiao Sect’s destruction that day appeared vividly before her “eyes”.