Wasted Spiritual Root to Embark on Demonic Cultivation Chapter 64
Underground Palace Ruins.
Situ Hong, Liu Jinxian, and Gu Zhengshun were inside the Moon Condensation Palace. This was the core of an ancient sect’s ruins, and indeed, it contained many mysteries.
One year ago.
The first to arrive was Liu Jinxian. After using a restriction-breaking talisman to breach the outer formation around the palace, she obtained many benefits—spiritual materials, pills, spell manuals, and more.
Among them, the most valuable for the current situation was a second-rank high-grade magical artifact. Even with her cultivation, it was difficult for her to control it.
Just as she attempted to penetrate deeper into the palace.
An unexpected situation occurred.
Out of nowhere, a Foundation Establishment corpse demon barged in and began assaulting her violently. After a short battle, she showed signs of defeat. As she was about to use her trump card to break through the second-layer restriction.
Unexpectedly, Gu Zhengshun and Situ Hong suddenly entered. They were being chased by a three-meter-tall Venomous Bee King, followed by a swarm of giant bees each the size of a water jar.
The moment the two arrived, they shouted for Liu Jinxian. It was clear they knew she was inside. Their true intention was to lure the danger toward her. As for the result…
The Venomous Bee King and the Foundation Establishment corpse demon ended up in the same place.
The three of them were soon caught in a chaotic melee, screaming in agony. With no other choice, they joined forces and used a second-rank restriction-breaking talisman to force their way into the inner layer of the Moon Condensation Palace. However, it turned out that the bee king’s venom had mutated.
It now had a corrosive effect on the restriction itself.
The breach created by the talisman had not yet closed before the venom slowed the recovery process, allowing both the corpse demon and the bee king to break through into the second layer of restrictions.
The inner region of Moon Condensation Palace was divided into two parts by a Yin-Yang formation layout and tiled mechanical traps.
One side belonged to Yang, the other to Yin.
The three fell into the Yin side, while the bee king and corpse demon ended up in the Yang side. Based on their observations, activating the third-layer gate required both sides to cooperate, standing at the Yin node and Yang node respectively, and channeling spiritual energy simultaneously to unlock the array.
The Yin formation area was covered in cold ice. The moment the three entered, their bodies began to freeze. Though they could break free, after a few steps, they would be frozen again. The closer they got to the Yin node, the lower the temperature.
The Yang formation was scorching hot. Chains burning with flames would shoot out from the tiled floor, binding the corpse demon and bee king tightly, subjecting them constantly to the torment of fire.
And so, the two sides entered a deadlock.
Over the past year, Liu Jinxian and the others had made multiple attempts. But whenever they approached the Yang side, the flaming chains binding the corpse demon would loosen.
From being completely immobile, it could move freely within ten meters.
And the Yang node was positioned exactly between the two Foundation Establishment-level demonic monsters. It was torture.
They even suspected the Moon Condensation Palace had some form of spiritual consciousness. Otherwise, such a setup was too sinister. And so, they wasted an entire year in this standoff.
At the edge of the Yin formation, Gu Zhengshun trembled and spoke.
“It’s been a year. Neither of your subordinates has come down. I can’t hold on much longer.”
Situ Hong, upon hearing this, shook off the ice covering his body. A ghost wearing an icy mask hovered around him, shielding him from the cold.
“Brother Gu, the talisman to enter the second layer was provided by me.
“Senior Sister Liu has also risked herself to charge into the Yang formation multiple times during this period. Only you have kept grumbling without ever daring to take a step.
“Tell me, isn’t it your turn to move now?”
Gu Zhengshun instantly fell silent. On the other side, Liu Jinxian, also covered in frost, appeared calm and collected.
Her eyes were closed in meditation, circulating spiritual energy to resist the cold. On her shoulder perched a blood-red mosquito that stared intensely at the Venomous Bee King. She said:
“Soon. At most half a month. I’m not sure about Five Yin Peak’s people, but the disciples of Gu Poison Peak will definitely come.”
The implication behind the words was clear, and both of them understood it. After all, acts like planting Gu on fellow sect members—so long as not spoken of openly—would not draw trouble from anyone.
Situ Hong grew more anxious. He glanced at Liu Jinxian and said urgently.
“Gu Zhengshun, if you don’t act now, once the disciples of Gu Poison Peak come down, neither of us will have a chance.”
Gu Zhengshun shrank his neck back, as if that could warm him up. The way he looked at Situ Hong seemed to say:
"I would have to be a fool to make a move?"
“You…”
The three were evenly matched, and none would back down.
Suddenly.
There was a burst of noise from outside. Footsteps and chatter approached with considerable commotion.
This sudden change immediately broke the stalemate.
Liu Jinxian stood up directly, channeling spiritual energy to her throat and called out loudly.
“Where are the disciples of Gu Poison Peak!”
“Senior Sister!”
“Senior Sister Liu!”
A large group of Gu Poison Peak disciples appeared outside the restriction barrier on the second level. At a glance, there were at least over a hundred people. The one leading the group, upon seeing the three inside, hurriedly approached.
“Senior Sister Liu, we’ve arrived. How do we break this restriction barrier?”
Liu Jinxian was about to speak when she was interrupted by Situ Hong, who said:
“Everyone, take a look over there. Two Foundation Establishment demon are inside. Are you sure you want to come in?”
The crowd’s expressions changed at once. They had sacrificed too much to get this far. The Xuan Essence Flower was one thing, but more troublesome were the massive swarms of Corrosive Venomous Bees they encountered underground.
The prematurely hatched Bee Gu could only repel ordinary poisonous bees. Against the subjects of the second-rank Venomous Bee King, they were completely ineffective. Of the nearly three hundred people who entered, only around 170 or 180 made it to the Moon Condensation Palace. That was already pushing their limits.
Furthermore, it was only a few newcomers who had just broken through to late-stage Qi Refining that needed Liu Jinxian’s spiritual energy to suppress their internal Gu worms.
Having witnessed the scale of the underground palace ruins, the mid-stage Qi Refining disciples—who were not yet under control—immediately developed other thoughts. A single glance between them was enough to form a silent understanding.
Liu Jinxian was about to speak again when she saw the group at the entrance scatter all at once. In the blink of an eye, only five remained—three were newly advanced to Qi Refining seventh layer, and two were at the sixth layer.
Situ Hong saw this and burst into laughter.
“Those who recognize the times are true heroes. Senior Sister Liu truly commands loyalty.”
Indeed, they had already given their all by risking everything once. A second gamble would be too costly. However, what these scattered disciples didn’t know was that Five Yin Peak's people had blocked the passage again. They had no way out.
“Shut up.”
Liu Jinxian turned back and glared angrily at Situ Hong, forcibly stopping him before turning to her subordinates.
“When I came down, I brought eighteen elite disciples with me. Did you see any of them?”
The Gu Poison Peak disciples shook their heads.
“No, but we saw quite a few torn robes along the way. No corpses were left.”
Hearing this, Liu Jinxian shot another glare at Situ Hong.
He quickly waved his hands.
“Not me. Brother Gu and I don’t have that kind of skill.”
“However… four of them were killed by the Venomous Bee King, and two died at my hands. As for the other twelve, where they went, I really don’t know.”
The atmosphere fell silent instantly. What they didn't know was that ten of them had been killed by Wang Yu alone—half of the group.
But how Liu Jinxian would interpret this, no one could say.
“Step back a few paces. Once inside, help me activate the Yang Instrument Formation Core.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Next, she took out the second-rank high-grade magical artifact she had obtained earlier. It was a seal stamp, which she pressed against the barrier while flushing it with spiritual energy.
Soon, a small hole was torn open. The five disciples crawled in one after another. Upon being stared at by the Bee King and the Corpse Demon, all of them shivered in unison.
A fierce battle was on the verge of erupting.