The Ghost Immortal Blessed Land was perpetually shrouded in darkness. There was no sun, no moon, and no stars—only an ashen sky from which bursts of dark red and purple light would occasionally erupt. The entire land looked lifeless and bleak, enveloped in a perpetual gloom.

Yet, this land also had mountains, rivers, flowers, and trees. But under the ghostly light, everything seemed to be coated in a layer of desolate, solemn gray.

Upon closer inspection, the trees were quite different from those of the outside world. Their branches were thick, hard, and sharp, like the fangs and claws of a malevolent ghost. They were hideous. At first glance, they gave one an intensely terrifying impression. Even the rivers, perhaps due to the strange light, seemed to be tinged with blood. It was as if this place was designed from its very creation to be the domain of ghosts.

…

SWOOSH—

A streak of light shot across the low sky, illuminating a stream and scattering a group of wandering souls.

"Senior Brother, this place is so beautiful," Jiang Ling'er said suddenly, standing gracefully beside Wang Xiu on the Black Tortoise Mirror.

Wang Xiu's mouth twitched as he glanced at Jiang Ling'er. This girl… She's so young, how can her aesthetic sense be so warped? No matter how you look at it, this world beneath our feet has nothing to do with beauty. Well, except for the glow of the Spirit Stone mine, perhaps.

Jiang Ling'er's heart was pounding. This was the first time she and her Senior Brother were truly alone together, their own little world for two. With her aunt not around, she could feel her heart racing and her cheeks flushing red.

She carefully turned to look at Wang Xiu's profile. The only sound in the silence was the faint whistling of the wind, buffered by the Black Tortoise Mirror's protective barrier. In this quiet moment, Jiang Ling'er found her Senior Brother's features even more handsome than she remembered. Then, faintly, she caught a whiff of a delicate fragrance. It was a wonderful scent, incredibly intoxicating. The more she breathed it in, the more dazed her expression became.

…

Wang Xiu was focused on piloting the Black Tortoise Mirror, his Divine Sense sweeping across every inch of the land below. Suddenly, the same faint fragrance reached his nostrils. In the next moment, his body reacted. His mind trembled with a hint of excitement, and a pleasant, tingling sensation spread through him, like a gentle electric current.

"Junior Sister, you…" he began to say, but just then, Jiang Ling'er slumped into his arms. Her voice was slurred as she mumbled, "Senior Brother, I suddenly feel so dizzy…"

The delicate fragrance from the young woman's body wafted into Wang Xiu's nose, and he froze. Dizzy? Is she airsick? But I'm not even flying that fast!

He looked down at the girl in his arms. Her face was flushed, her body felt feverishly hot, her eyes were glazed over, and a foolish grin was plastered on her face. Wang Xiu frowned. This… looks like she's been poisoned. Could it be the fragrance?

Wang Xiu's gaze sharpened. He guided the Black Tortoise Mirror to a slow descent, landing them in a forest below.

At first glance, the surrounding trees seemed ordinary. On closer inspection, however, one could see they were covered in bright red flowers. Each vivid, six-petaled blossom had a delicate pink pistil. A sudden gust of wind set the flowers swaying wildly, releasing the potent fragrance in waves. The trees also bore a small number of pitch-black fruits with star-like specks on their surface.

As he drew closer, Wang Xiu keenly felt the tingling sensation in his body intensify. Even his mind was beginning to feel hazy. This is definitely the source!

"Junior Sister, are you alright?" Wang Xiu asked gently, setting Jiang Ling'er down.

Jiang Ling'er's expression suddenly turned pleading. "Senior Brother, no more… I can't take it…"

Wang Xiu was speechless. What on earth is this girl dreaming about now?

"Azure Dragon! White Tiger! Vermilion Bird! Black Tortoise!" he commanded. "Four Symbols Evil-Slaying Protective Array, activate!"

To be safe, Wang Xiu immediately took out the array flags and established the formation. He circulated the Ming Emperor Netherworld Scripture to fortify his mind. With the Black Tortoise Mirror in one hand and the Mingxue Executioner Sword in the other, he was ready.

He focused on the nearest of the strange trees and swung his sword.

CLANG!

The sword qi precisely sliced off a branch that held two flowers, a few leaves, and one fruit. With a flick of his fingers, a gentle force levitated the branch before him. He scanned every minute detail with his Divine Sense, and his eyes lit up. "The Netherworld Tree!"

Such a plant existed in the Netherworld. The flower's pollen was a potent toxin. Those with a fragile Divine Soul would experience hallucinations upon inhaling it, and severe exposure could cause grievous damage to their Divine Soul. This was exactly why Jiang Ling'er had suddenly become dizzy—she had inhaled the pollen.

Wang Xiu's cultivation Realm was higher than Jiang Ling'er's. Furthermore, having cultivated the Ming Emperor Netherworld Scripture, his Divine Soul was far stronger than others at the same level, so he was not yet affected.

The leaves of the Netherworld Tree, however, possessed the complete opposite effect of its flowers. Not only were they non-toxic, but consuming them could refresh the mind, enhance the power of one's Divine Soul, and even provide a faint auxiliary effect for achieving Enlightenment.

A treasure growing right next to a potent poison. The masterful work of nature was truly without compare. While they couldn't compare to supreme spiritual items like the Bodhi Fruit or Enlightenment Tea, they were still exceptionally rare treasures. And more importantly, there were vast quantities of them here!

Wang Xiu's gaze swept across the dense, seemingly endless forest. Every single tree was covered in countless leaves. A small stream may eventually become a great river; when accumulated, this vast quantity represented immense value.

Even the poisonous Netherworld Flower could be refined through special grinding and tempering processes to be used in medicine as a powerful pain reliever. The Netherworld Fruit was also consumable, though its effects were weaker than the Netherworld Leaf. Its advantage was its longevity. If one simply held it in their mouth, the effect of a refreshed mind and heightened concentration would last for a very long time.

The Ming Emperor Netherworld Scripture contained a few secret techniques that utilized this plant to aid in cultivation, which is why he recognized it. However, Wang Xiu's mastery of the scripture was already complete, so he had no personal use for such things.

Still, the unique effects and sheer quantity of the Netherworld Leaves and Fruit sparked another idea in Wang Xiu's mind.

He plucked two Netherworld Leaves and rolled them into a small cylinder the size of his fingernail. Extending his right hand, he summoned a ball of alchemical fire to roast them. He carefully controlled the temperature, ensuring the leaves would dry and smolder rather than be instantly incinerated.

Soon, a fragrant smoke began to curl into the air. Wang Xiu took a tentative sniff, inhaling the smoke.

COUGH, COUGH…

The first drag was harsh, and it went straight to his head. In the next moment, the pleasant, tingling numbness returned. Wang Xiu felt a wave of unprecedented relaxation and comfort wash over him, banishing all discomfort. A warm current seemed to flow through his limbs and into his very bones. His mind became crystal clear, his vision sharp. The feeling was indescribably wonderful.

He closed his eyes, immersing himself completely in the sensation. After a long moment, he slowly opened them again, a sharp glint of light flashing within his pupils. "Incredible!"

After finishing, he felt completely refreshed and invigorated. His body felt stronger, and even his thoughts seemed to move faster.

Wang Xiu looked up. The forest, which had seemed so gloomy just moments before, now appeared to be glowing in his eyes.

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