strictlysupreme Chapter 192 Huan Ling Pond
Chapter 192 Huan Ling Pond
The demon sensed the threat of this powerful force. It stared wide-eyed in terror and desperately tried to mobilize its black demonic energy to resist.
However, Jiang Jingzhi's "Demon-Slaying Light" was too powerful, and the black demonic energy instantly crumbled under the impact of the light.
She let out a shrill scream as her body was struck by the light, sending her flying backward and crashing heavily into the cave wall, leaving a huge human-shaped dent in the stone.
"Hand over those children!" Jiang Jingzhi pressed his advantage, striding up to Xu Xin. The magical artifact in his hand emitted a chilling light as he pressed it against Xu Xin's neck, his eyes revealing unwavering determination and an unquestionable resolve. "Otherwise, today will be your death day!"
Despite his severe injuries, Xu Xin still glared fiercely at Jiang Jingzhi, letting out a low roar: "Don't even think about it! You think you can threaten me like this? Even if I die, I won't let you succeed!"
Jiang Jingzhi frowned. He knew that Xu Xin would not give in easily. He pondered how to get this cunning devil to hand over the children. Suddenly, he had a flash of inspiration and thought of a plan.
He put away his magical artifact, quickly formed hand seals, and chanted incantations. As he chanted, a powerful sealing force surged from his hands, enveloping Xu Xin within it.
Although this sealing power cannot directly destroy the demon, it can continuously weaken its magic, rendering it unable to move.
"What...what did you do to me?" Xu Xin struggled in terror, only to find her body bound by an invisible force, her magic power constantly draining away. "You think you can force me to submit like this? Dream on!"
Jiang Jingzhi looked coldly at Xu Xin and said, "Don't be so stubborn. I know you still have a backup plan, but don't forget that you are already at your limit. As long as I increase the sealing power, you will be destroyed sooner or later. If you hand over the children now, I can spare your life and give you a way out."
She hesitated for a moment, a struggle flashing in her eyes. She knew that what Jiang Jingzhi said was true, and she really didn't have much power to resist anymore. But she was unwilling to hand over the children like this. She had finally managed to capture these children and hadn't even started to enjoy them yet.
"Why should I believe you?" Yu Xin said through gritted teeth. "What if you take the opportunity to kill me?"
Jiang Jingzhi snorted coldly: "I swear on the honor of cultivators that as long as you hand over the children, I will never harm you. But if you remain obstinate, don't blame me for showing no mercy!"
After a moment of silence, the demon slowly raised its hand, revealing a black crystal ball. The crystal ball shimmered with a faint light, and the figures of some children could be vaguely seen within it.
“The children are in here,” Xu Xin said coldly. “Release me, and I will release them.”
Jiang Jingzhi looked at the crystal ball and was overjoyed. He knew that the children were very likely inside, but he dared not easily trust the demon. What if this was a trick of its?
He pondered for a moment and said, "Release the children first, and I will naturally release you. If you dare to try anything funny, I guarantee you will regret it!"
After hesitating for a moment, Yu Xin finally nodded. The black crystal ball in its hand flashed, and a beam of light shot out from the ball and landed on the ground of the cave.
As the light faded, a group of children appeared before everyone. These children were pale, and their eyes were filled with fear and confusion, but thankfully they were all still alive.
"Children!" Jiang Jingzhi rushed over to check on the children. He breathed a sigh of relief after confirming that they were only a little frightened and otherwise unharmed.
"Alright, you can let me go now," Xu Xin said coldly.
Jiang Jingzhi stood up, looked at Xu Xin, and a hint of hesitation flashed in his eyes. He really wanted to kill this evil devil, but he had already made an oath and could not break it.
Suddenly, he looked at Xu Xin and laughed, "I promised not to take your life, but I didn't promise what form you could live in." After saying that, he formed a hand seal and compressed Xu Xin's form into a small snake. Jiang Jingzhi held it by its seven-inch mark and looked at it coldly.
"You should be thankful that all these children are here. If even one were missing, you would all be in trouble today..."
The snake transformed into a serpent, its small eyes staring at Jiang Jingzhi, who trembled with fear. "Thank you, Immortal Master, for sparing my life. I will certainly change my ways in the future."
Jiang Jingzhi looked at the little snake in his hand. He was afraid that if he let it go out, it would harm people again. So he decided to keep it for now. "Since you have the awareness, you can cultivate in this small world. I will release you after a certain time." He then threw it into a magic artifact.
After dealing with the demon, Jiang Jingzhi rushed to Xu Xiaoxiao and Mu Zhusheng's side. At this time, the two had fallen into a coma, their faces as pale as paper, and the demonic energy on their bodies was becoming increasingly intense. Jiang Jingzhi's heart tightened, and he quickly took out healing pills, fed them to the two, and then began to circulate his internal energy to dispel the demonic energy in their bodies.
With Jiang Jingzhi's efforts, the demonic energy in Xu Xiaoxiao and Mu Zhusheng's bodies was gradually dispelled, and their complexions gradually regained their rosy hue. After a long time, the two finally opened their eyes slowly.
"Senior Brother..." Xu Xiaoxiao called out weakly.
"You're finally awake!" Jiang Jingzhi breathed a sigh of relief, a relieved smile on his face. "It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright."
"Have the children been found?" Mu Zhusheng asked anxiously.
"We found them, and the children are all safe," Jiang Jingzhi said with a smile. "This time, we have finally fulfilled our mission and successfully rescued the children."
The three exchanged a smile. Although they had all been seriously injured in the battle, their hearts were filled with joy and a sense of accomplishment.
After successfully solving a major problem that had plagued the demon race for a long time, Jiang Jingzhi, Xu Xiaoxiao, and Mu Zhusheng became honored guests of the demon race. To express their gratitude, the Demon King Huo Feng specially prepared a grand banquet to entertain them.
At the banquet, toasts were exchanged and laughter filled the air. Various exotic beasts of the demon race took the stage and presented spectacular performances. Table after table was laden with delicacies, exuding an enticing aroma. Xu Xiaoxiao looked around curiously, finding everything around her fascinating.
As the banquet reached its climax, the Demon King stood up, holding a jade cup filled with fine wine, and said loudly, "If it weren't for the righteous assistance of the three immortals, my demon race would have faced a great calamity. To express my race's gratitude, I have decided to open my demon race's sacred Huanling Pool for seven days for the three immortals to cultivate in. Normally, only the best of my demon race are qualified to enter the Huanling Pool for cultivation."
These words caused an uproar. The demons all showed envious expressions. They knew that entering the Spirit Pool to cultivate was an opportunity that countless demons dreamed of. Jiang Jingzhi and the other two quickly stood up and thanked the Demon King.
Xu Xiaoxiao's eyes sparkled with curiosity. She gently tugged at Jiang Jingzhi's sleeve and whispered, "Senior Brother, what exactly is this Spirit Pool? Why is everyone reacting so strongly?"
Jiang Jingzhi smiled and looked at Xu Xiaoxiao, patiently explaining, "Xiaoxiao, this Huanling Pool is a spiritual land of the demon race. Legend has it that it was formed from a wisp of spiritual energy at the beginning of the world, possessing magical power. The spiritual water in the pool contains rich spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Cultivating in it can not only accelerate the cultivation speed, but also cleanse the body and mind and temper the soul, which is of great benefit to cultivators. Moreover, cultivating in the Huanling Pool can also help one comprehend unique laws of heaven and earth, which is of great help in breaking through cultivation bottlenecks."
Xu Xiaoxiao listened intently, her eyes wide with longing: "Wow, the Spirit Pool is so magical! Senior Brother, what special gains will we get if we go in to cultivate?"
Jiang Jingzhi pondered for a moment and said, "For us cultivators, entering the Spirit Dispersion Pool for cultivation can firstly strengthen our spiritual power. By absorbing the spiritual energy in the pool, we can make our spiritual power purer and stronger. Secondly, the special environment of the Spirit Dispersion Pool helps us stabilize our Dao heart. During cultivation, we are inevitably disturbed by various distracting thoughts, but in the Spirit Dispersion Pool, we can use the power of the spiritual water to eliminate distracting thoughts and make our Dao heart more steadfast. Furthermore, if we are lucky, we might even comprehend new spells or cultivation techniques within it."
Mu Zhusheng added from the side, "Moreover, it is said that people who have cultivated in the Huanling Pool will have stronger bodies and increased resistance to various spells, which will be a great advantage for us when facing powerful enemies in the future."
Xu Xiaoxiao nodded excitedly: "That's great! I'm so lucky to be able to enter the Spirit Pool to cultivate this time. I must make the most of this opportunity and strive to become stronger."
Looking at Xu Xiaoxiao's energetic appearance, Jiang Jingzhi smiled and instructed, "Although there are many benefits to entering the Spirit Pool for cultivation, you can't be careless. The spiritual energy in the pool is extremely rich. If you don't absorb it properly, it may cause a backlash of spiritual energy. Therefore, you must keep a peaceful mind during cultivation and absorb spiritual energy step by step according to our usual cultivation methods."
Xu Xiaoxiao nodded seriously: "I remember, Senior Brother, I will be careful."
At this moment, the Demon King walked over and said with a smile, "Three immortals, tomorrow I will send someone to lead you to the Spirit Pool. I hope you three will have a pleasant cultivation experience in my demon race's sacred land and gain something from it."
Jiang Jingzhi and his two companions thanked the Demon King again. Afterward, they talked with the other elders of the demon race and learned more about the legends and precautions of the Huanling Pool from them.
After the banquet, the three returned to their lodgings. Xu Xiaoxiao lay in bed, tossing and turning, unable to sleep, her heart filled with anticipation for the Huanling Pool.
Jiang Jingzhi sat to the side, closed his eyes to rest and adjust his state in preparation for tomorrow's cultivation.
Mu Zhusheng was also quietly organizing her cultivation insights, hoping to achieve a greater breakthrough in the Spirit Pool.
The next morning, sunlight shone on the demon territory, bringing it to life. A young demon envoy arrived at their residence and led them to the Spirit Pool. Along the way, Xu Xiaoxiao excitedly looked at the surrounding scenery, her heart filled with anticipation.
Before long, they arrived at the Spirit Pool. Under the sunlight, the clear spiritual water shimmered with colorful light. In the middle of the pool stood a fairy tree. The spiritual water flowed continuously, emitting a rich spiritual energy, making people feel as if they were in a fairyland.
Jiang Jingzhi took a deep breath, sensing the rich spiritual energy around him, and said, "Alright, let's go in. Remember, be careful."
The three of them slowly walked into the Spirit Pool. Instantly, a cool sensation spread throughout their bodies. They closed their eyes and began to absorb the spiritual energy in the pool, thus beginning a wondrous cultivation journey.
The three had entered their third day of cultivation at the Spirit Pool, and the surrounding spiritual energy, like agile sprites, was constantly converging towards them.
Xu Xiaoxiao was immersed in this wonderful cultivation atmosphere. At first, her progress was very smooth. She could clearly feel that her sea of consciousness was like a lake that was constantly expanding in spring, becoming more and more open, and the speed at which she absorbed spiritual energy was also getting faster and faster.
The pure and rich spiritual energy flowed joyfully within her body, as if laying layer upon layer of foundation stones for her cultivation path.
However, her good fortune didn't last long. As she absorbed more and more spiritual energy, Xu Xiaoxiao gradually felt overwhelmed. A large amount of spiritual energy surged into her body like a tidal wave, but her body was unable to fully convert this spiritual energy in a short period of time.
Her brows furrowed involuntarily, fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her hands clenched tightly, trying to suppress the uncontrollable spiritual energy.
Her breathing became rapid, her chest heaved violently, and the meridians in her body bulged high due to the excessive spiritual energy, as if they were about to burst at any moment.
Jiang Jingzhi and Mu Zhusheng remained vigilant throughout their cultivation and immediately noticed Xu Xiaoxiao's unusual behavior.
The two stopped cultivating almost simultaneously and quickly came to Xu Xiaoxiao's side.
Jiang Jingzhi's eyes were full of worry. He quickly reached out his right hand and placed it on Xu Xiaoxiao's wrist, trying to sense the state of her spiritual energy.
At the same time, Mu Zhusheng quickly set up a defensive array around them to prevent any external interference.
"Oh no, Xiaoxiao's spiritual energy has gone out of control!" Jiang Jingzhi said with a solemn expression.
He knew that if this loss of control over spiritual energy was not dealt with in time, Xu Xiaoxiao might suffer severe damage from broken meridians, or even endanger her life.
He immediately circulated his own spiritual power, attempting to guide the excess spiritual energy out of Xu Xiaoxiao's body.
Mu Zhusheng also assisted from the side. He quickly formed hand seals and chanted incantations. A gentle spiritual energy barrier enveloped Xu Xiaoxiao and Jiang Jingzhi, preventing the spiritual energy from leaking out.
Jiang Jingzhi focused intently on exchanging palm strikes with Xu Xiaoxiao, attempting to draw the raging spiritual energy within her into his own body and then slowly dissolve it.
However, this spiritual energy was far more domineering than he had imagined. It was like a trapped beast, rampaging through Xu Xiaoxiao's body and completely disregarding Jiang Jingzhi's guidance.
Jiang Jingzhi frowned, and beads of sweat appeared on his forehead. His spiritual power was constantly being depleted, but there was still no sign of the spiritual energy being resolved.
"This can't go on, we have to think of a way," Jiang Jingzhi thought anxiously. He knew that if they continued in this stalemate, not only would they not be able to help Xu Xiaoxiao, but they might also make her situation worse.
Suddenly, he thought of a risky method—to enter Xu Xiaoxiao's sea of consciousness with his own divine sense and solve the problem from the inside. Although this approach was extremely dangerous, and if something went wrong in the sea of consciousness, he and Xu Xiaoxiao might be in a hopeless situation, he had no other choice at the moment.
Jiang Jingzhi took a deep breath, slowly closed his eyes, and carefully probed his consciousness into Xu Xiaoxiao's sea of consciousness.
The moment his consciousness entered his sea of consciousness, the scene before him astonished him. The sea of consciousness, which should have been filled with pure spiritual energy, was now a deep blue sea, with surging waves, as if it could unleash a raging storm at any moment.
Xu Xiaoxiao's consciousness lay on this sea, her brows furrowed, her face full of pain, as if she were tightly bound by something invisible.