After a brief period of wit and strategy with the woman, Mu Anxiao realized that there must be a mastermind behind her, and that pressuring the woman would be of no use.
She decided it was better to wait quietly than to waste words on the matter.
Then, she shifted her focus, looking at the suddenly still insects around her and asked, "What's wrong with you?" She sensed that they seemed... off.
The green-skirted woman also noticed their strangeness and worried, "Could they have encountered some difficulty?"
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao glanced back at the woman, then turned to the insects again, muttering, "They shouldn't have." As she spoke, her heart grew uneasy.
At the same time, the insects suddenly changed direction and flew towards Mu Anxiao.
Seeing this, Mu Anxiao frowned slightly. "..."
Immediately after, the insects stopped in front of Mu Anxiao's face. Mu Anxiao looked at the dense swarm before her and asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Then, a large insect, different in color from the others, flew up to Mu Anxiao's face and said in a tiny voice, "We can't go on, you have to help."
"Me?" Mu Anxiao pointed at herself, thinking, what could I do?
Insect: "Yes, give me your hand. We need to borrow your spiritual energy."
"Borrow my spiritual energy?" Mu Anxiao was confused. "This is mist formed by demonic energy. What's the use of borrowing my spiritual energy?"
"Because..." the insect hesitated.
The insects had absorbed most of the woman's demonic arts, but even so, it was only a portion. Now, they had reached the final step in deciphering the light mist, but because they were merely spiritual tools, this step had become their bottleneck. xxs1
Thus, after collectively brainstorming, they decided to ask Mu Anxiao for help.
However, seeing Mu Anxiao's hesitant expression, the insect faltered.
Mu Anxiao: "Why aren't you saying anything else?"
"You don't seem willing to do as I say."
"If I don't do as you say, will we all be doomed?"
"Yes."
"Then tell me, I won't refuse." Mu Anxiao said firmly.
The insect wanted Mu Anxiao's firm resolve and continued, "Place your hand on the light mist now."
"The light mist..." Mu Anxiao said, turning and walking to the mist, cooperating by facing her palm towards it.
Immediately, the insect, along with a group of other insects, gathered before Mu Anxiao's hand.
Mu Anxiao watched this scene and swallowed, "What should I do?"
"We will transfer her demonic arts to you, and you will use your spiritual energy to control those demonic arts."
"Didn't you want to borrow my spiritual energy... why do you want me to..."
"Only this way can your spiritual energy be preserved. If you want it done your way, there will be a cost," the insect explained in detail.
Mu Anxiao's eyes darkened, "Are you doing this for my own good?"
The insect hummed in agreement.
Mu Anxiao was touched, "Then I truly thank you."
"You're welcome. Then we shall begin."
"Okay." Mu Anxiao stared at the insects, her heart beginning to feel extremely nervous.
Insect: "All your techniques may gather on this hand. Start when I say so."
All my techniques?
Hearing the insect's words, Mu Anxiao realized... her hemostasis technique was likely to fail.
Thinking of this, she frowned, replied, "Understood," and prepared to endure the pain.
This time, the insect said nothing, but was the first to rush onto the back of Mu Anxiao's hand. Then, one by one, the insects attached themselves to Mu Anxiao's palm and the back of her hand.
Then, green light dispersed.
Mu Anxiao's hemostasis technique was completely broken. A strong smell of blood instantly rushed into her mouth. Clenching her fist, she pursed her lips tightly, continuously swallowing, wishing she could swallow all the blood.
However, the pain in her abdomen made her breathing uneven, and the bloody taste in her mouth stimulated her taste buds again and again, forcing her to give up her resolve.
In short, the feeling made her wish she were dead.
The green-skirted woman looked at Mu Anxiao's slightly trembling back, then at the insects attached to her hand, and became anxious, "Mu Anxiao, are you alright?"
Hearing this, Mu Anxiao shook her head slightly, but dared not open her mouth.
The woman lay on her side on the ground, looking up at Mu Anxiao's back, and said, "It seems you can't hold on."
Hearing the woman's words, Mu Anxiao clenched her fists and continued to persevere.
The green-skirted woman heard this and quickly asked, "Are you really alright?" She stepped forward.
Mu Anxiao's hearing became sharp at this moment, so she immediately heard the green-skirted woman's footsteps. She opened her mouth slightly and said, "Don't come closer." Then, blood flowed from the corner of her mouth.
The green-skirted woman stopped.
At this moment, the insects all left her hand.
The insect leader, not noticing Mu Anxiao's condition, said, "Begin."
Hearing the insect's reminder, Mu Anxiao breathed a sigh of relief, then, enduring the pain throughout her body, gently turned her wrist and began to cast the spell.
The insects retreated.
Seeing the situation, the green-skirted woman stopped speaking.
The woman closed her eyes.
The periphery.
Yuan Xiao had already broken through the demon realm. She was now watching the green-glowing mist with Feng Qishi, neither speaking.
On the contrary, Jia, watching this scene, couldn't help but feel anxious, "Will something happen to Mu Anxiao?"
Hearing this, Feng Qishi looked down at Jia. "..." He couldn't guess the situation inside either, so he responded with silence.
Jia sighed.
Lou Yi said, "Master, why don't we break it directly? Just now there were insects inside, and now..."
"Those insects are from the Yin Realm," Jia interrupted, looking excited. "They don't harm people."
"They don't harm people, but I heard that those insects only recognize Yin officials of the Yin Realm. They regard all other immortals as enemies. Are you sure they will let Mu Anxiao go?"
"Mu Anxiao is from the Yin Realm..."
"She's just helping, she doesn't count." Lou Yi insisted, looking at Feng Qishi, "Break it directly."
Feng Qishi's mind was in chaos. He couldn't think of any solution, but Lou Yi's words gave him hope. So, he looked back at the light mist and blurted out, "Perhaps we can."
"..." Yuan Xiao frowned and immediately turned to Feng Qishi, "Are you crazy?"
"Then what do you suggest we do?"
"I don't know, but I can see that only one layer is left. If you do as my disciple says now, the person breaking through inside will surely be injured," Yuan Xiao said calmly.
"You mean someone is breaking through?" Feng Qishi was surprised. He had only noticed the terrifying insects and hadn't thought about anything else. So, upon hearing Yuan Xiao's words, his eyes lit up.
"This is spiritual energy," Yuan Xiao said, pointing to the green light that was gradually shining through.
Feng Qishi listened, looked back, and murmured, "Mu Anxiao."