Chapter 397: The Taiqing Immortal Pool
Deep in the Exotic Demon Domain.
Whoosh!
Two shadows sped low across the ground, their eyes vigilantly scanning their surroundings as their powerful energy radiated around them. These two figures were Lin Langtian and Ling Qingzhu, who had set off from the Luo Clan's ancient relics three days earlier, now heading toward the Taiqing Immortal Pool deep within the domain.
Initially, Ling Qingzhu had been startled by Lin Langtian's choice to follow her. True to her proud nature, she disliked owing favors—especially to him. She had intended to decline his company, but something in the look on his face had made her swallow her refusal. Reserved as she was, Ling Qingzhu felt different when interacting with Lin Langtian, a subtle yet unmistakable shift likely rooted in the complicated, unspeakable bond between them.
"We're now in the deepest parts of the Exotic Demon Domain, where the creatures are exceptionally fierce," she warned, her voice serious. "While these creatures are dangerous, we also need to be wary of other people. Plenty of treasure hunters venture here too, and those strong enough to make it this far aren't weak. You might even run into a Shengxuan-level cultivator."
"Shengxuan-level…" Lin Langtian murmured, nodding slightly. With his current abilities, anyone below Shengxuan Perfection was no threat to him. And even if a Shengxuan Perfection master appeared, the domain's natural resistance would weaken them.
"We'll reach the Taiqing Immortal Pool in about half a day. The place is secluded; with luck, it hasn't been discovered yet."
Just as he was about to respond, Lin Langtian's gaze sharpened as he looked ahead, where an intense energy fluctuation had suddenly erupted from a distant spot on the ground.
"What's that?"
Narrowing his eyes, Lin Langtian spotted a massive creature radiating a terrifyingly powerful aura. Before it, a lone figure hovered midair, launching strikes as fierce as a downpour, suppressing the beast entirely.
"It's a battle…" Lin Langtian observed. The creature appeared to be at the peak of the Jiuyuan Nirvana Stage, yet its opponent was handling it easily, suggesting they were also at the pinnacle of this level.
"That's another treasure hunter," Ling Qingzhu remarked from a distance. "Let's avoid contact. It's best not to speak to anyone here."
Lin Langtian nodded, and the two bypassed the distant skirmish without slowing. Although he could defeat the fighter, Lin Langtian had no interest in needless trouble.
The two picked up their pace, moving swiftly toward their destination. Though they only had half a day's journey left, they encountered numerous demon creatures along the way, so by the time they arrived, it was well into the evening.
"This is it…" Ling Qingzhu breathed a quiet sigh of relief, pointing ahead at a mountain range shrouded in shadow.
Looking up, Lin Langtian saw the outlines of a mountain range barely visible in the dark, resembling an ancient beast lying in wait. Faint, violent roars echoed within, as if many creatures were lurking.
"Let's go," Lin Langtian said with a smile.
"Keep your energy hidden. There are plenty of demon creatures here, and if they swarm us, we'll have no choice but to retreat," Ling Qingzhu warned.
When Lin Langtian nodded, Ling Qingzhu took a calming breath, her light dissipating, and she and Lin Langtian slipped quietly into the vast mountains.
Whoosh!
To avoid alerting the creatures within, they both moved cautiously. Every so often, the silence was broken by thunderous, ferocious roars echoing through the mountains.
"Be careful," Lin Langtian whispered, his spiritual sense suddenly picking up a disturbance. He instinctively grabbed Ling Qingzhu's wrist, his gaze locked on a certain spot up ahead.
There, in the darkness, lay a pitch-black panther with wings, seemingly asleep and blending into the shadows like a stone.
Taking advantage of the pervasive demon energy, these creatures could conceal themselves perfectly. Even Ling Qingzhu had nearly missed it.
"Understood." Ling Qingzhu nodded softly, her bright eyes lingering on Lin Langtian for a brief moment.
Not releasing her hand, Lin Langtian felt a slight thrill at the soft, cool touch of her wrist. He spoke with an air of practicality. "This place is rife with danger. We don't know when a powerful creature might appear, and as an Eight-Insignia Talisman Master, my spiritual power is ideal for keeping a lookout. So, given the circumstances, let's not worry too much about formality."
Startled, Ling Qingzhu's momentary confusion gave way to realization. She saw the reasoning behind his words but sensed he might be using it as an excuse to hold her hand.
Curiously, she found herself dwelling on his talent as an Eight-Insignia Talisman Master—a level impressive even by the standards of sects specializing in spiritual power, like the Divine Sect or the Symbol Valley. Yet here he was, a Yuan Gate disciple, merely using it as a secondary skill. His abilities, it seemed, were indeed extraordinary.
Either intrigued by his talent or persuaded by his words, Ling Qingzhu took a steadying breath and allowed him to continue holding her wrist without further protest.
Watching her expression soften in the dim light, Lin Langtian's lips curled into a slight smile.
Women's hearts, he thought, were as enigmatic as the depths of the sea.
Deep in the Exotic Demon Domain.
With a light laugh, Lin Langtian remained focused on their goal. Holding onto Ling Qingzhu's slender wrist, he could feel the delicate warmth of her touch as they carefully made their way through the mountains. The path they took was complex and winding, requiring great attention.
As they walked, the closeness of their hands gradually fostered a faintly romantic tension between them. Watching Lin Langtian's tall, steady figure ahead of her, Ling Qingzhu felt an unfamiliar sense of security she hadn't known before. Brief, unbidden thoughts flickered through her mind, but she quickly banished them, lightly biting her lip as her gaze fell to the ground. She found herself unwilling to look directly at his back, so she allowed him to guide her onward in silence.
After about half an hour, the darkness in front of them suddenly gave way to a glowing valley, and a lush landscape unfolded before their eyes. Lin Langtian immediately felt the presence of an immense, powerful energy rippling through the valley.
The two of them moved like shadows up the walls of the valley. As soon as they reached the top, Ling Qingzhu pulled her hand away, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
Seeing this, Lin Langtian didn't say anything, choosing instead to give her some space. Smiling slightly, he turned his attention to the valley before them.
Deep in the valley, he saw a pool shimmering with rainbow colors. Its radiant light bathed the entire valley in a breathtaking, ethereal beauty.
"There it is—the Taiqing Immortal Pool," Ling Qingzhu said, taking a deep breath to calm herself. Looking at the glistening pool, an expression of relief and happiness finally appeared on her face.
Following her gaze, Lin Langtian looked at the multicolored waters below, a glimmer of surprise in his eyes. He hadn't expected to find such pure energy in this demon-infested domain.
"It's said that a powerful ancient being passed away here, and their bones merged with the earth, keeping the demonic energy at bay. This allowed the Taiqing Immortal Pool to form," she explained softly.
"Oh, looks like it's guarded by something as well," Lin Langtian noted, glancing toward the front of the pool.
There, in the shadowy ground, lay a massive, dark creature—a three-headed serpent. Its fangs gleamed ominously, dripping a venomous fluid that corroded the stone wherever it landed. Lin Langtian could sense its volatile energy, akin to a Half-Step Shengxuan stage warrior.
"I'll take care of it," Lin Langtian said.
Ling Qingzhu nodded. She knew that fighting such a fierce beast would be tricky since it wouldn't give up until it was completely subdued.
With a wave of his sleeve, Lin Langtian summoned two Corpse Warriors, who lunged forward with impressive speed. Midair, one of them punched at the serpent with a fierce burst of energy.
Boom!
The serpent, jolted awake, opened its crimson eyes and let out a furious hiss from all three heads. It retaliated with blasts of dark, corrosive light, aiming them at the two Corpse Warriors.
The agile warriors dodged the black beams and led the creature away, darting out of the valley.
Roars and the rumble of retreating footsteps soon faded into the distance.
"All done," Lin Langtian said, clapping his hands as he nodded to Ling Qingzhu, and together they approached the Taiqing Immortal Pool.
Ling Qingzhu knelt beside the pool, dipping her delicate hand into the waters and feeling the unique energy within. A touch of joy crossed her face.
"Could you stand guard at the entrance for a while?" she asked, her usually calm eyes hinting at a rare trace of shyness.
"Of course. If anyone else saw you like this, I'd be the one missing out," Lin Langtian teased, smiling as he turned to leave.
Ling Qingzhu paused, blushing as she realized his meaning, but the teasing no longer bothered her as much. Their complicated bond made his behavior almost familiar by now.
She watched him disappear from sight, exhaling softly. Removing her veil, she prepared to enter the pool, but suddenly, a hand reached out from behind, stopping her.
"You!" Startled, Ling Qingzhu spun around, her eyes flashing with anger as she faced Lin Langtian, who had unexpectedly returned.
"Someone's coming," he murmured, his gaze fixed on the darkness outside the valley.
"What?" She tensed, a hint of coldness flashing in her eyes.
"Since you've been lurking so long, why not show yourselves?" Lin Langtian called into the shadows, his voice icy.
With his Eight-Insignia Talisman Master's level of perception, it was foolish for anyone below the Shengxuan Intermediate level to try sneaking past him.
"If you won't come out, I'll make you," he said when no one responded. With a flick of his wrist, he formed a sharp, fiery dart and launched it toward the shadows.
Clang!
The dart struck metal, and sparks scattered. Then, three dark figures emerged, their faces twisted into mocking grins as they gazed down at Lin Langtian and Ling Qingzhu from the valley entrance.
"Sharp senses you've got, kid," one of them jeered.
Lin Langtian's eyes darkened as he observed the three. All were dressed in black robes, two of them looking similar enough to be brothers. They leered at Ling Qingzhu with unsettling, greedy eyes.
The third man, who appeared to be their leader, looked to be about thirty years old. His tall, lean build and faintly sinister gaze were fixed on the Taiqing Immortal Pool, his face betraying a hint of desire.
"The two brothers are known as the Yang brothers, infamous treasure hunters here in the domain," Ling Qingzhu whispered. "They're both Half-Step Shengxuan level warriors. Their leader is Luo Zhan, a Shengxuan Minor Stage master with a bounty on his head. Even some of the top sects have found it hard to catch them here in the demon domain. Should we handle this together?"
But Lin Langtian merely patted her hand, surprising her as he shook his head with a smile.
"They're nothing but rabble," he said calmly. "I'll take care of all of them myself."
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