Chapter 666 - 613: Blood Jade Meat Mushroom
On Heaven-Reaching Peak, the Yin Qi transformed into black crows that blocked out the sky and sun, circling relentlessly and screeching as they attacked the two people on the White Bone Stairs.
Jiang Yuebai used two streams of Divine Thought to separately control the Bent Willow Blade and Taihe Umbrella, fiercely battling the blood-soaked ghost crows in the sky.
Shen Mingjing, with his back to Jiang Yuebai, wielded a black-blue long sword that split into nine sword lights, pale-faced as he slashed the rolling Ghost Tide behind them.
Beneath their feet lay the body of a recently deceased Nascent Soul Cultivator, with Dantian and brow pierced with large holes, the Nascent Soul and Divine Soul devoured, a miserable sight.
"Shen Mingjing, catch!"
In the howling Yin Wind, Jiang Yuebai found the Three-Sided Immortal Palace Tokens on the corpse and tossed two of them directly to Shen Mingjing.
With two more tokens, the suppression from the Secret Realm Water Law on Shen Mingjing’s body lightened abruptly, the sword’s glow surged, and with a single sweep, the overwhelming Ghost Tide was cleared away.
Jiang Yuebai retrieved the Bent Willow Blade, his aura rising steadily, and the Phoenix True Fire ignited atop the Taihe Umbrella, transforming into a blazing fire cloud.
The ghost crows screeched as they were burned to ashes and vanished with the wind.
The two seized the moment and continued to climb upward.
On Heaven-Reaching Peak, the ghost hordes and zombies were not difficult to deal with individually, but their sheer numbers, constantly emerging from the mountain, couldn’t be withstood for long even by a Nascent Soul Cultivator.
Added to the suppression of the Secret Realm’s laws, it felt as if they were submerged in the sea, with every part of their bodies suffering water pressure.
"Almost there, hold on a bit longer!"
Jiang Yuebai increased his pace.
Shen Mingjing forced a smile, gritting his teeth as he caught up.
The mountain summit appeared faintly visible, within the swirling grey-black cloud of Yin Qi, a glimmer of emerald mountains and clear waters flickered, resembling the entrance to an Immortal Palace.
Just as they were about to reach it, the cliffside rocks shattered, and a massive, skinless, bloody arm burst forth, its millstone-like palm swinging directly towards the two.
At the same time, the White Bone Stairs beneath them began undulating like waves, causing them to lose their footing and be thrown into the air, heading straight for the giant palm.
Jiang Yuebai’s gaze sharpened, using Space Power to activate the Michen Seal in his hand.
A wave of space fluctuation emanated from Jiang Yuebai’s palm, sending ripples in the air, enveloping both Jiang Yuebai and Shen Mingjing behind him.
Bang!
The giant palm smashed fiercely into the mountain wall, dust and debris scattering everywhere as the rocks crumbled and fell.
Screams echoed from the fog of Yin Qi below, as if someone down there climbing the peak was caught in the shockwave.
Jiang Yuebai and Shen Mingjing fell onto the mountaintop, nearly rolling off the cliff on the other side, fortunately managing to grab a protruding rock just in time.
Shen Mingjing, heart still pounding in fear, widened his eyes, while Jiang Yuebai twitched the corner of his mouth, realizing that his first use of the Michen Seal didn’t control the distance well, almost tossing them off the other side of the summit.
However, compared to Space Restriction, the Michen Seal was much less exhausting; the power she usually used for two spatial ripples was enough for the Michen Seal to be used three times, albeit without being able to carry too many people.
Jiang Yuebai stood up, only to suddenly lose footing as the previously solid rocky ground exuded a putrid bloody liquid, turning into dark red, fleshy matter.
The whole mountain quaked violently, like an enraged fat man, his entire body jiggling with anger.
"This is Blood Jade Meat Mushroom, an extremely Yin object, let’s go!"
Shen Mingjing forcefully pulled his foot out of the Blood Jade Meat Mushroom and dashed towards the distant teleportation portal.
Jiang Yuebai, seeing this scene, suddenly recalled the Tai Sui he once encountered, which had the same stinky, soft, oily attributes, especially its characteristic of bringing great misfortune upon contact, which made one’s scalp tingle.
However, the Blood Jade Meat Mushroom seemed not to bring bad luck. Curious, Jiang Yuebai waved his hands, deploying two Bent Willow Blades to cut off a protruding chunk of Meat Mushroom nearby.
The Bent Willow Blades began turning black and rotten upon contact with the liquid inside the Meat Mushroom, rendering them useless immediately.
Jiang Yuebai couldn’t afford to feel distressed, using his Divine Sense to coil around the large chunk of Blood Jade Meat Mushroom, storing it in his storage bag for further study.
Although she lagged behind Shen Mingjing for a moment, she caught up to the teleportation portal simultaneously with him, and they both stepped inside together.
As soon as Jiang Yuebai and Shen Mingjing landed, they heard the roar of Spells, and scarlet lights transformed into terrifying skeletal Blood Shadows, sweeping over them overwhelmingly.
Reflexively, Jiang Yuebai dodged, momentarily forgetting about Shen Mingjing beside her.
Shen Mingjing, without Jiang Yuebai’s swiftness, had almost no reaction time, his chest emitting a bright yellow flame, forming countless overlapping scales.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The blood-colored skull collided above, instantly burned to ashes by the bright yellow flames, the powerful energy it carried was dispersed by the scales’ light and shadow, leaving Shen Mingjing behind unscathed, though his brows were tightly furrowed.
Scales?
Jiang Yuebai watched indifferently; the scales that achieved such effects were either Dragon Scales or... Qilin?
In the distance, two people were in a fierce battle, a Demon Dao Female Cultivator and a Righteous Dao Male Cultivator; that previous strike was purely an accidental injury to them.
Though Shen Mingjing was still fearful, his expression remained calm, not intending to explain anything to Jiang Yuebai, merely raised his hand to retrieve the scales formed from the bright yellow flames.
Jiang Yuebai temporarily suppressed all doubts, and the two in the river noticed them on the shore, becoming wary.
The Female Demon Cultivator was very prudent, retreating instantly after delivering a full-power strike, avoiding any entanglement.
The remaining Righteous Dao Male Cultivator was not known to Jiang Yuebai, and he did not intend to greet them, quickly leaving in another direction after catching a unique fish in the river.
Scanning the surroundings, Jiang Yuebai noticed the majestic and vast architectural complex looming mysteriously in the clouds towards the eastern horizon.
"Is that the Kunxi Divine Palace?" Jiang Yuebai asked.
Shen Mingjing, somewhat recovered, walked over and said, "There’s an old saying among the people: ’Looking at the mountain, a horse dies from running.’ That Immortal Palace seems close, but reaching it is harder than climbing to heaven. Xiong Yanhong from the Xiong Family barely and surprisingly reached the outer area of the Kunxi Divine Palace back then."
Jiang Yuebai nodded slightly; the outer area of the Kunxi Divine Palace was referred to as the Secret Realm’s Fourth Layer.
Shen Mingjing identified the surrounding hills and rivers, "We’ve reached the river’s upper stream, entering the Second Layer. Now, we must enter the mountain gorge beneath the Divine Palace to reach the Secret Realm’s Third Layer."
Just as Jiang Yuebai was about to speak, the Dream Demon Thorn within the Golden Cicada Pendant at her waist suddenly sent a Divine Thought, causing a spark of joy in her heart.
The Thorn felt the location of Anan’s Dream Demon, just sixty miles downstream behind them.
"We’ve been in the Secret Realm for a full three days; we have four days left. I want to look for someone downstream. Do you wish to accompany me, or share the way to enter the Kunxi Divine Palace, and then we part ways?"
Shen Mingjing massaged his brow, contemplating briefly before speaking, "I trust Fellow Daoist Wangshu. If you are willing, I would be glad to continue traveling with you."
Jiang Yuebai nodded without refusal; after finding Anan, the two of them would make the odds better against him, nothing to fear.
If he truly can lead them inside the Kunxi Divine Palace, then they’d profit.
"Let’s go."
They swiftly headed downstream along the riverbank. Jiang Yuebai recalled collecting the Blood Jade Meat Mushroom earlier; despite reading extensively, she’d never heard of it.
"What is Blood Jade Meat Mushroom?" Jiang Yuebai asked Shen Mingjing.
Shen Mingjing glanced at Jiang Yuebai, "The Blood Jade Meat Mushroom, akin to Tai Sui, embodies the world’s malevolent yin nature. It’s an exotic variant within the Immortal Ganoderma, extremely rare and usually grows in Extremely Yin Land or Demon Realm."
"In the territory of the Nine Great Star Alliances, this is my first time seeing Blood Jade Meat Mushroom. Though it’s highly yin, for Ghost Cultivators and Yin Spirits, it’s a potent supplement, rapidly enhancing their Ghost Dao cultivation. However, excessive consumption can lead to losing rationality, uncontrolled killing urges, needing the aid of quiet and clear mind techniques."
"Additionally, it can be used as a main ingredient, mixed with several auxiliary medicines to neutralize its properties, refined into Blood Jade Pills, which quickly promote the cultivation of monsters, slower than direct use by Ghost Cultivators but faster than their own cultivation or taking commonly available elixirs."
"Typically, a monster with moderate aptitude needs about twenty years to advance from Qi Cultivation to Foundation Establishment. Blood Jade Pills can halve the time. Most importantly, continued consumption doesn’t weaken its effect; more consumption renders the monsters fiercer."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Yuebai’s heart ached; she’d cut too little earlier and should have taken the whole mountain of Blood Jade Meat Mushrooms!
Ah!
Isn’t it quiet and clear mind techniques?
She learned the second piece of the "Green Lotus Melody" in the Green Jade Bamboo Flute, specializing in tranquility!
Now she nurtures so many ghosts, with Blood Jade Meat Mushroom, can’t she cultivate them quickly?
Ah!
Shen Mingjing, watching Jiang Yuebai gnash her teeth regretfully, couldn’t help but laugh. His hand reached into his sleeve and pulled out a Jade Scroll.
"Previously, in the Secret Realm’s yin side, Fellow Daoist Wangshu supported me the whole way, which I’ll never forget. I always repay both grudge and gratitude. Inside is the cultivation method of Blood Jade Meat Mushroom and the usage of Blood Jade Pills and other ways to utilize Blood Jade Meat Mushroom, as thanks."
Jiang Yuebai’s former dull and regretful eyes suddenly shone with brilliance, swiftly grabbing the Jade Scroll.
"How could I accept this, just a small favor, not worth mentioning, you’re too kind."
Jiang Yuebai’s disingenuous words made Shen Mingjing laugh, thinking that despite the ethnic opposition, he’d like to befriend Jiang Yuebai.
She was much more amusing than those old folks of the Demon Clan!
```