The old city lord almost popped his eyeballs out. Yangming Valley was safer than outside? Had this kid's brain flooded with water!
Or was it Qi Hong who had taken out the Dragon Spirit Bamboo back then?
No, if Qi Hong was the one who took out the Dragon Spirit Bamboo, how could the others follow Xiao Man's lead? The old city lord planned to trick Qi Hong.
"It was indeed you who took out the Dragon Spirit Bamboo!"
"Old City Lord, if I had that ability, would I be in this state?" Qi Hong sat down on the ground, his eyes full of dejection. He relied on Xiao Man to get out of the Eight Divisions, and he still relied on Xiao Man to get out of the Land of No Return. He was trapped by the Five Poisons Sect, and it was still Xiao Man who helped him escape.
"So, it was Xiao Qin," the old city lord's voice was very steady. "Can Xiao Qin move freely in Yangming Valley?"
"It's not just Xiao Qin who can move freely in Yangming Valley," Qi Hong had learned his lesson this time. After so many experiences, he finally realized that besides Xiao Man, everyone else approached them with various ulterior motives. Xiao Man, though hateful, at least wouldn't harm them.
"Besides Xiao Qin, others can also move freely in Yangming Valley?" The old city lord was very surprised. He thought that at most, only the two of them could move freely in Yangming Valley. He didn't expect others could enter it so easily.
"Old City Lord, although we can move freely in Yangming Valley, we cannot enter the central area," Qi Hong looked at the old city lord. "Back then, someone took out the Dragon Spirit Bamboo for us."
The old city lord looked puzzled but didn't ask any more questions. "Why can you move freely in Yangming Valley? You know that every flower and blade of grass inside Yangming Valley is extremely poisonous, and no one can survive there for long."
"Ordinary people naturally cannot survive there for long, and we are not ordinary people," Qi Hong looked at the old city lord. "We lived there for half a year. During this half year, we were poisoned from the moment we entered, then we could endure it for a quarter of an hour, then an hour, a day, two days... So, in a short period, we will be fine inside."
"You will be fine, but I will be in trouble," the old city lord lamented, as he didn't have such poison resistance.
"Didn't I give you the antidote pill?" Qi Hong gestured to the old city lord. "One pill a day can keep you safe for seven days. Seven days should be enough to solve the problem."
"Zang Xu is a Nascent Soul stage expert. Solving him in seven days, who will do it? Xiao Qin?" The old city lord sighed. "Have you forgotten that Xiao Qin is only a cultivator at the early stage of Foundation Establishment? You have placed too high expectations on her; she is just an ordinary person with slightly better talent."
Qi Hong fell silent. Yes, Xiao Man was just an ordinary person with slightly better talent than them and knew a little more than them. But whenever they encountered an unsolvable problem, they always thought Xiao Man could solve it, without considering what they would do if Xiao Man couldn't solve it.
"Yes, if Xiao Qin cannot solve it, then neither can we," Qi Hong said with a hint of despair, as he really couldn't think of any other solution, given his limited abilities. Sudannovel.com
The two leaned back to back, sitting on the ground, sighing.
"By the way, is there anything to eat in Yangming Valley?"
"Yes," Qi Hong casually plucked two fruits and handed them to the old city lord. The old city lord was so scared that he didn't dare to reach out to take them. Although he didn't recognize the poisonous plants in Yangming Valley, he knew that everything inside was poisonous, including the brightly colored fruits in Qi Hong's hand.
"Take it," Qi Hong pushed it forward.
The old city lord kept shaking his head. "This thing is poisonous, extremely poisonous."
"It's edible," Qi Hong immediately popped one into his mouth and chewed and swallowed it in a few bites. "It's really edible."
The old city lord still shook his head. Qi Hong could eat it, but that didn't mean he could. After all, he hadn't lived in Yangming Valley before, so he had no resistance to the poisonous substances inside. Even if Qi Hong's antidote pills were powerful, he couldn't afford to court death.
"If you don't eat, you won't be able to last in the Land of No Return," Qi Hong saw that the old city lord didn't dare to eat, so he didn't force him. After all, they didn't dare to eat at first either, but they were still alive now.
On the other side, Xiao Man was swept away by the Thunder-beating Vine, and Zang Xu chased after her. As a Nascent Soul stage expert, he could protect himself with his profound qi, so he wouldn't be invaded by poisonous substances for a short period. However, entering the central area of Yangming Valley was not easy. Moreover, without Xiao Man leading the way, he had no idea of the correct route.
Zang Xu walked for a long time but found no way out.
"What's going on? Is this a Maze formation?" Zang Xu pondered for a moment, then leaped into the air, intending to find the center of Yangming Valley from above. As he rushed up, he bumped into something and fell to the ground in a sorry state, his head bleeding.
Zang Xu got up from the ground, disoriented, but suddenly saw Xiao Man's figure flash in the bushes. He immediately chased after the figure.
Xiao Man sat on a branch of the Thunder-beating Vine, looking at Zang Xu, who was being led away, with a cold smile curving her lips. "Zhu Qing."
"Master."
"Since we have a guest on our territory, we should entertain them well," Xiao Man said unhurriedly. "Once you enter Yangming Valley, I will ensure you never get out!"
"Master, we cannot kill him."
"We can't kill him, but we must trap him here to die, otherwise the people of the Eight Directions Sword Sect will be in danger." Xiao Man looked in the direction of the Yangming Valley exit. "Another person has also entered. I need to go say hello."
"Then I'll go watch Zang Xu."
"Be careful, don't get too close to him."
The Thunder-beating Vine carried Xiao Man, moving rapidly. Elder Ren, fully armed, was using his map to search for Qi Hong's whereabouts. Suddenly, the map in his hand burst into flames, startling Elder Ren into dropping it.
"Who's there? Come out."
Xiao Man emerged from her hiding place.
Elder Ren's eyes widened in surprise when he saw Xiao Man. He had thought Xiao Man was already dead, but he didn't expect her to be alive!
"You're still alive."
"Yes, I'm still alive," Xiao Man said calmly, her expression composed. "Elder Ren, welcome to Yangming Valley, welcome to my territory."
"Your territory?" Elder Ren sneered endlessly. "Xiao Qin, are you scared silly?"
Xiao Man snapped her fingers, and the plants that were originally still suddenly moved, entangling Elder Ren's legs. Thorns pierced into Elder Ren's body. Elder Ren tore off the vines wrapped around his legs, but for every one he tore off, more would entwine him. In just a moment, Elder Ren was wrapped into a silkworm cocoon.