Chapter 95: The Enchanted Blossom

### Majestic Village of the Great King

Standing at the edge of the village, Xiao Huan gazed towards the Dead Swamp with a worried look. The once clear sky over the swamp had darkened, heralding an impending storm.

Late last night, she and her grandfather, Zhou Yixian, were still in the Dead Swamp with Jin Ping’er and others. But when Jin Ping’er returned from an errand, she looked exhausted and hastily sent them out of the swamp.

Xiao Huan had privately asked Jin Ping’er about it, but all she received was silence. “The situation in the Dead Swamp is far more dangerous than I anticipated,” Jin Ping’er said, her voice heavy. “If you stay any longer, it might be to your own peril.”

Xiao Huan trusted her elder sister’s words and left the swamp that night. She knew Jin Ping’er well, but never before had she seen such a grave expression on her face. It filled her with worry.

“Xiao Huan!”

A familiar voice called out from behind. Xiao Huan turned to see Zhou Yixian approaching. “Everything is packed, let’s go,” he said.

Xiao Huan nodded silently, then asked, “Grandfather, do you think Sister Jin Ping’er will be in danger?”

Zhou Yixian hesitated, then grumbled, “How should I know?”

Xiao Huan glared at him, and Zhou Yixian, though often gruff, couldn’t help but feel for his granddaughter. He sighed, glanced around, and spoke in a hushed tone, “In the days we spent in the Dead Swamp, we encountered several members of the Longevity Sect. But since last night, have you seen any of them?”

Xiao Huan was taken aback.

Zhou Yixian continued, his eyes sharpening, “Especially when you met that fish-headed monster, I heard everything clearly. Jin Ping’er was meeting with two young masters from the Ghost King Sect and the Venom Sect—Gui Li and Qin Wuyan. What do you think they would be discussing in the heart of the Longevity Sect’s territory?”

Xiao Huan’s brows furrowed, and she gasped, “Grandfather, are you saying…?”

Zhou Yixian cut her off, “Yes, the once glorious Longevity Sect may have been eradicated by these three young stars. Even Jade Yangzi, with his immense cultivation, could not withstand…”

He sighed deeply, his mood turning somber. “The internal strife within the Demonic Cult is intensifying, and the Righteous Path is rife with scheming. The Azure Ethereal Conclave has yet to recover from its losses ten years ago. The world may soon be engulfed in turmoil.”

Xiao Huan stood transfixed, and Zhou Yixian, with a sudden burst of energy, chuckled, “Let the world descend into chaos. What does it matter to us? Let’s continue to bring blessings to the people.”

Xiao Huan was speechless, but Zhou Yixian seemed unfazed. He picked up their belongings, holding the bamboo staff with the “Celestial Guide” charm, and turned to call Xiao Huan. But his gaze froze, and he stared past her.

Xiao Huan, noticing his strange look, turned to see the disheveled Wild Dog Daoist walking towards them, his face grim and sullen. This morning, he had been abruptly ordered to leave the Dead Swamp by Gui Li, and he had been in a foul mood ever since.

Upon seeing Xiao Huan, his heart skipped a beat, and he tried to avoid her, unsure of what he feared.

Xiao Huan called out, “Master Daoist, wait a moment!”

Wild Dog paused, slowly turning around. Zhou Yixian frowned and walked to Xiao Huan, grumbling, “What do you want with him?”

Xiao Huan ignored him, smiled, and approached Wild Dog. She handed him an umbrella, saying, “Master Daoist, I haven’t returned your umbrella yet.”

Wild Dog’s expression shifted, and he hesitated, but Xiao Huan placed the umbrella in his hand. “Thank you for the other day,” she said, smiling.

Wild Dog’s eyes lit up, and he swallowed nervously.

Xiao Huan returned to Zhou Yixian, took the bundle, and said, “Let’s go, Grandfather.”

Zhou Yixian glared at the still-standing Wild Dog and followed Xiao Huan, muttering, “Why are you always so nice to him?”

Xiao Huan replied, “Grandfather, he is a good person!”

Zhou Yixian snorted, “If he’s a good person, I must be the reincarnation of the Buddha.”

As they walked away, Wild Dog stood rooted to the spot, holding the umbrella. After a while, he stomped his foot and followed in their direction.

Silence fell over the village again. A man and a woman, the man in white and the woman veiled in black, stood nearby. They were Qinglong and Youji.

Qinglong asked, “Do you know the origins of this Zhou Yixian?”

Youji, hidden behind her veil, shook her head slightly.

Qinglong pondered, “This man is not simple, and his granddaughter has connections with Jin Ping’er of the Immortalbane Nexus. We need to watch them closely.”

Youji remained silent for a moment, then said, “We should leave. The Master’s orders cannot be delayed.”

Qinglong gave her a brief, worried look but nodded, “Very well, let’s go.”

They left the village, heading in the opposite direction towards the Dead Swamp. A desolate wind blew across the land, and the sky darkened further.

### Thunder and Rain

A thunderclap echoed through the clouds, and rain began to pour, drenching the world. Standing atop a tree, Guili surveyed the surroundings. Behind him, the toxic mist wall of the swamp remained impervious to the rain. The deadly miasma defied the elements, standing firm.

Guili turned to the inner swamp, where a dense forest lay. Despite the rain, the view was clearer than before, but the forest stretched endlessly, and the rain grew heavier.

“Chirp, chirp!”

A branch moved, and Xiaohui, who had just left, returned, bounding back to Guili’s shoulder with some wild fruits, munching happily.

Guili smiled and bit into one, savoring the bittersweet taste.

As the rain intensified, Guili didn’t use his magic to shield himself. Xiaohui, sitting on his shoulder, was drenched but seemed unbothered, focusing on his fruits. His long tail swished back and forth, amusing Guili.

After finishing the fruit, Guili murmured, “Xiaohui, did you recognize her too?”

Xiaohui, mouth full, mumbled in response, looking at Guili.

Guili didn’t expect an answer. “Why didn’t she kill me? Wasn’t she always the most ardent hater of the Demonic Cult?”

A thunderclap roared, and Guili looked up, the rain like swords piercing the sky.

He shivered, his thoughts returning to a childhood memory with a kind old monk. This memory, etched deep in his heart, had never faded.

He clenched his fists, his body trembling. The Soul Eater on his sleeve pulsed, sending a familiar, icy sensation through his body, as the Bloodthirsty Pearl’s malevolent aura gathered in his eyes.

Xiaohui, sensing his distress, called out.

A lightning bolt split the sky, and Guili roared, leaping into the air. Red light enveloped him, and he extended his right arm, brandishing the Soul Eater. A massive, azure light condensed in the rain and struck down, splitting the tree in half.

Thunder rolled again.

Xiaohui watched him, and Guili knelt in the muddy, rain-soaked ground, his face twisted in pain and fury. The Soul Eater pulsed, and the Bloodthirsty Pearl’s aura flared.

A calm, positive energy rose within him, emanating from the Mystic Fire Mirror on his right arm, countering the Bloodthirsty Pearl’s malevolence. Slowly, the red light in his eyes faded, and he regained composure.

Guili rose, weary from the ordeal. These moments of near-possession by the Bloodthirsty Pearl had become too frequent, and only the Mystic Fire Mirror’s pure yang energy saved him from total descent into madness.

“Xiaohui, let’s go,” he said, his voice hoarse.

Xiaohui, blinking, jumped back onto his shoulder. Guili patted his fur, breathing deeply, and set off into the forest.

### The Perilous Inner Swamp

Rain enveloped the inner swamp, and the ancient, dense forest was silent except for the sounds of wind and rain. The air was thick with a sense of danger.

Lin Jingyu, wiping the rain from his face, found himself alone in the wild, ancient forest. Fear gripped him, especially after being separated from his comrades during the sudden storm and the encounter with the monstrous beast.

He had flown out of the miasma, finding himself in the same area as Guili, unaware of their proximity. The thought of his childhood friend, now a potential enemy, brought a bitter taste.

Lin Jingyu decided to move forward, navigating the forest, which was teeming with dangers. He encountered various poisonous creatures, each more lethal than the last. His sword, Zhanlong, proved invaluable, but he eventually took to the air to avoid the myriad perils.

As he flew, he noticed a golden light ahead, accompanied by distant voices. Excited, he flew towards it, only to be shocked by a strange, enormous flower and the figures of two familiar faces: Zeng Shushu and Fashiang.

Reunited, they faced a strange, monstrous creature. Lin Jingyu, wary, listened to their plan. The creature, with a bird-like appearance and fierce demeanor, attacked, but was lured into the flower’s deadly embrace.

The flower, with its sticky, red globules, ensnared the creature, wrapping it in layers of petals until it was completely submerged. The trio, shaken by the flower’s power, stood in silence.

Fashiang chanted a prayer, and they prepared to leave, aware of the many unknown dangers that awaited them in the Dead Swamp.