Chu Xuan rose to his feet, only to be met with intense pain coursing through his body. Looking down, he saw his skin covered with bruises and wounds of all sizes. Some had already scabbed over, while others were still oozing blood.
If not for the extraordinary healing power of a body cultivator's physical resilience, he would have undoubtedly lost a considerable amount of blood during his unconscious state, leaving him even weaker than before.
Surveying the surroundings, Chu Xuan casually collected the nearby corpses. It was truly pitiful that they had perished here. If he didn't at least take the time to recover their bodies, wouldn't that make them even more tragic?
Chu Xuan expanded his spiritual sense as much as he could, barely able to sense the changes within a ten-zhang radius. He waved his hand. "Let's go, find somewhere safer."
Hu scratched his head and said, "Master, you're injured and moving slowly. Let me carry you."
Chu Xuan nodded in approval, feeling reassured.
Without another word, Hu effortlessly lifted Chu Xuan in his strong arms. Moving with great speed, he darted through the cave with ease, carrying the weight of Chu Xuan's body as though it were nothing.
Chu Xuan quickly retrieved various healing pills from his storage ring, taking the opportunity to tend to his injuries while being carried. Soon, he discovered a concealed cavern and hid them both inside. He ordered Hu to drag over a massive stone to block the entrance and set up several arrays for added security, allowing him a brief moment of peace.
Since he was injured, there was no need to risk further danger. It would be better to wait until he fully recovered before venturing out again. Survival depended on caution.
With Hu by his side, Chu Xuan took a step forward, returning to Blue Star. After a month of recovery on Blue Star, he had fully healed his wounds.
This was, of course, with the help of ample healing pills. If any other cultivators were in his position, lacking such resources, it would take at least three or four months to regain their peak condition.
One day, a flash of light appeared, and Chu Xuan, accompanied by Hu, returned to the underground caverns of Desolate Island.
With a flick of his hand, several tiny creatures, no larger than grains of rice, shot out from his palm, scurrying along the rock walls to explore in all directions.
These were the offspring of Chenxi, the creature he had raised. Though his spiritual sense was formidable, it was currently restricted to a mere ten-zhang radius. Since the spiritual sense was severely suppressed here, he had no choice but to rely on the insects to clear the path for him.
These almost imperceptible creatures could serve as his eyes and ears, alerting him to any movements within a fifty-zhang radius, allowing him to anticipate his enemies' actions and strike first.
After retracting the protective arrays around the area, Chu Xuan truly began his exploration. First and foremost, he needed to locate Long. He could still sense the connection between him and Long.
The fact that this connection persisted meant Long had not perished, but was likely trapped or severely injured, unable to return to his side. Once he found Long, it would add another arm to his strength.
In a dark, damp cavern, a field of beautiful, deep blue flowers bloomed. Each blossom was adorned with faint red markings, giving it an eerie yet captivating beauty. At the center of this strange flower bed, however, a figure writhed and struggled in agony.
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Apart from this struggling figure, numerous other motionless corpses lay scattered across the ground, their bodies tangled with the flowers that had grown over them. The petals, now even more vibrant and dripping with color, added a sinister allure to the scene.
Outside this flower field stood two cultivators, both garbed in the distinctive robes of the Moon Society. The two exchanged a glance before breaking into cruel laughter.
The taller cultivator chuckled, "I never imagined we would accidentally stumble upon a Corpse King!"
The shorter, stockier cultivator laughed even more heartily, his face gleaming with delight. "These Man-Eating Flowers not only consume flesh, but their fragrance also has the power to confuse the mind. It's a perfect combination!"
He smirked. "If we wait just a little longer, the connection between this corpse puppet and its master will sever. When that happens, it will be a mindless, controllable creature!"
The taller cultivator grinned maliciously, "This cursed place suppresses both Spiritual Qi and spiritual sense, making it a perfect domain for body cultivators like us. With a Corpse King under our control, we could roam unchallenged! Even Moon True Master would be no match for us!"
The shorter cultivator laughed again, "Indeed! Moon True Master deceives us into working for him, poisoning us in the process. When he shows his weakness, we will strike without hesitation!"
The two burst into more maniacal laughter, but as they looked at each other's backs, a fleeting flash of coldness passed through their eyes.
Suddenly, the short cultivator remarked, "Look! The corpse puppet—it's moving!"
The tall cultivator quickly clenched his fist within his sleeve, though he feigned surprise. "Is that so? Let me see what's going on."
He turned, pretending to inspect the situation.
At that moment, the short cultivator made his move. But before he could strike, the tall cultivator's fist shot out like lightning. It landed squarely on the short cultivator's face with a thunderous crash!
The shorter cultivator cried out in agony, his nose caving in as blood poured from his face. The tall cultivator sneered, "Did you really think I wouldn't notice your intentions?"
He moved forward, preparing to deliver another crushing blow. However, beneath his feet, a sudden, sharp cracking sound rang out. He looked down in shock. To his horror, his right foot was entangled in thick, dark-green tendrils, which coiled tightly around his ankle. The edges of the leaves were serrated like a saw, and the sharp pain that surged through him left him momentarily stunned.
He tried to move forward quickly, but his movements grew sluggish with each passing second.
"Poison?!"
Shock and fury filled his voice. Even his speech had slowed to a crawl.
The short, stocky cultivator pressed his hand to his nose as he stood up, sneering.
"Poisonous Body Grass. I prepared this specifically for you. It can corrode a body cultivator's flesh and dissolve muscle tissue. You think I didn't notice your intentions? I've already made arrangements for you!"
The tall cultivator did his best to swallow a few pills, hoping to delay the poison's effects.
The two clashed fiercely.
At times, the tall cultivator had the upper hand, while at other moments, the short cultivator seemed to gain the advantage.
In the end, the short cultivator seized an opening, his fingers, like iron pincers, sinking deep into the tall cultivator's eye sockets. The tall cultivator cried out in pain, his grip loosening.
Seizing the opportunity, the short cultivator landed a series of punches, snapping the tall cultivator's throat with a brutal strike!
"Ha... in the end, it's me who wins, hahaha!"
The short cultivator leaned against the rock wall, gasping for breath, a victorious grin spreading across his face. Before he could even savor the moment, a massive, iron-like shadow charged into his line of sight.
Crack!
His head exploded in an instant, brain matter splattering and blood spraying out in all directions. His Nascent Soul attempted to flee, but was immediately grabbed by two powerful arms, respectfully delivered to Chu Xuan.
Chu Xuan pressed his palm into the soul of the short cultivator and cast the Soul Search technique. Moments later, he had learned everything he needed to know.
The cultivator's name was Tang Bing, a body cultivator, controlled by Moon True Master through poison, forced to serve the Moon Society. After being dragged into the depths of Desolate Island, he had teamed up with the tall cultivator, using the Man-Eating Flowers to trap and kill several other cultivators. Even Long had been lured into the Man-Eating Flower field, where he had been ensnared.
What surprised Chu Xuan most was that this cultivator knew of Moon True Master's plans!
Chu Xuan's eyes gleamed. "No wonder Moon True Master started gathering body cultivators so early. He must know that beneath Desolate Island lies a sect's ruins, and only body cultivators can truly make use of it!"