"Abomination!"
Su Huangjiu roared, flashing to Yun Ze's side and grabbing his neck, "What the hell are you doing!"
Yun Ze remained silent, unable to speak.
The immense pressure on his neck made it impossible to breathe; his life was entirely at the mercy of another.
Perhaps in the next second, he would die at the hands of this silver-haired elder.
However, if given the choice again, he would still swallow the Earth Soul Liquid!
This was not for any other reason, but simply to... fight for it once!
From what the black-cloaked figure had said earlier, whether it was him or Su Huangjiu, killing him would incur a price.
This price was naturally insignificant compared to the Earth Soul Liquid.
But now that he had swallowed the Earth Soul Liquid, killing him would be of no avail, and they would only incur another cost.
He was gambling!
He was gambling that the fury of Su Huangjiu and the black-cloaked figure was not enough to make them engage in such a losing transaction!
As long as he won this gamble, the Earth Soul Liquid would effectively remain with him!
It was just in a different form.
Yun Ze stared into Su Huangjiu's eyes. Even though his lips had turned pale, a faint smile still lingered on his face.
Su Huangjiu's brow furrowed. If he wished, he could snap Yun Ze's neck at any moment!
Yet, he never exerted his full strength, seemingly still wary of something.
*Bang!*
Su Huangjiu casually tossed Yun Ze aside, spitting in his face!
"What rotten luck! Let's go to the next stop!"
The silver-haired elder led the group out of the small grove.
It seemed Han Tie had not lied last night; their objective was indeed to collect materials for Earth Vein Foundation Establishment.
Seeing the Earth Soul Liquid slip away, they were unwilling to cause further trouble and would search for other materials.
Han Tie also hurried to follow, not forgetting to glance back at Yun Ze with a hint of lingering resentment!
Only after the group had completely disappeared from sight did Yun Ze finally exhale a breath of relief.
He had survived...
He raised a hand to wipe away the filth on his face, and a significant portion of the stone in his heart was lifted.
But another half still hung precariously in his heart!
Yun Ze looked at the black-cloaked figure before him. Before he could speak, he heard the other party say first.
"Kid, you've got guts."
The black-cloaked figure did not show anger, but instead offered praise, then chuckled, "However, courage alone will lead to death sooner or later.
This Earth Soul Liquid is not so easily swallowed. While the medicinal effect has not yet taken hold, you'd best find a geomantically auspicious spot."
As soon as the words fell, Yun Ze felt a black shadow flash before his eyes, and then he saw the black-cloaked figure vanish from his spot.
Medicinal effect? Auspicious spot?
Could it be...
A bad premonition surged in Yun Ze's heart just as he felt a surge of spiritual energy rising from his lower abdomen, heading straight for his spiritual platform!
This sensation was very similar to a breakthrough, yet entirely different from the feeling of breaking through!
Chaotic, jumbled!
The spiritual energy was rampaging within his body, impacting every inch of his flesh, blood, bones, and marrow!
Yun Ze wanted to meditate and regulate his breathing, to guide this spiritual energy back to his Qi Sea, but he was utterly unable to control it now, not even able to circulate his energy!
What in the world was happening!
No!
If this continued, he would likely die within half an hour!
He should find Brother Shan and Sister Fu Yue to ask first!
Yun Ze forced himself to stand and slowly walked towards the Immortal Gathering.
It wasn't that he didn't want to walk faster, but with every step he took, the spiritual energy within him became more violent.
If he walked too quickly, he might be gone too quickly.
What should have been a journey of less than ten breaths took him a hundred breaths to complete.
He stumbled into the barrier, and as soon as he saw the pile of unlit lanterns, he yelled at the top of his lungs.
"Brother Shan! Save me!"
"Yun Ze?"
Ji Shan's voice immediately sounded in his ear. He rushed to Yun Ze's side, quickly supporting him.
With just a brief glance, he noticed the joints and his expression instantly changed!
"You swallowed the Earth Soul Liquid?"
"Yes..."
Yun Ze's voice grew weak. He was utterly unable to control the flow of spiritual energy within him.
It was like holding a ferocious tiger by the leash; he wanted to control it, but could only be dragged along by it in a mad dash!
"Brother Shan, what's happening to me?"
"Poisoned!"
Ji Shan spat out two words and immediately hoisted Yun Ze onto his back, sprinting towards the tent!
They arrived in an instant!
Ji Shan placed Yun Ze on the ground. Yun Ze felt as if his internal organs were being gnawed by ants, his consciousness beginning to blur. He could only faintly hear Ji Shan's frantic shouts.
"Luo Shang! Luo Shang, come out quickly! Little Yun is in trouble!"
"Ah?"
Luo Shang's voice rang out.
Soon, Yun Ze saw a figure approach.
With just one look, Luo Shang recognized Yun Ze's symptoms.
"Spiritual energy solidification?"
Luo Shang uttered four words Yun Ze had never heard before, "Did this kid really swallow the Earth Soul Liquid now?"
"Yes, can he still be saved?" Ji Shan asked anxiously.
Luo Shang remained silent.
Yun Ze forced his eyes open and could vaguely see her slowly shaking her head.
Is he beyond saving?
His brow furrowed, and he raised a trembling hand, "Sister... Sister Shang, how much time do I have left?"
"...Half an hour at most."
Seeing that Yun Ze was still conscious, Luo Shang quickly explained, "For those below Foundation Establishment, swallowing the Earth Soul Liquid alone will cause spiritual energy to become turbulent, successively impacting the flesh, blood, bones, and marrow, then the internal organs, and finally the spiritual platform and soul.
When the soul collides with the spiritual energy, all the spiritual energy within your body will instantly solidify and cease to flow.
At that point, your flesh, blood, bones, marrow, internal organs, and even your spiritual platform and soul will all be crippled! Even immortals cannot save you!"
No wonder they didn't kill me.
So they knew I was doomed and didn't want to be the ones to do it.
"Brother Shan, help me sit up."
Yun Ze turned to Ji Shan, intending to sit up.
Ji Shan frowned but still reached out and helped him up, "Little Yun, if there's anything you want to do, you can tell us."
"Brother Shan, there are some things you can't help with."
Yun Ze forced a smile, seemingly accepting his impending death, "Sister Shang, can you call Bu Bu out for me?
There are some things I want to talk to her about... alone."
"Alright."
Luo Shang hurried into the tent and then brought Bu Bu out.
The moment Bu Bu saw Yun Ze, a ripple of emotion crossed her usually cold and icy face.
She walked slowly to Yun Ze's side, and without saying much, uttered a single word.
"Who?"
"I'll tell you later."
Yun Ze looked at Luo Shang and Ji Shan.
Understanding, they, along with Fu Yue and Ming who had just come out of the tent, moved to a distance, leaving the two of them alone.
Yun Ze trusted they wouldn't eavesdrop, so he directly took out the cloth bag and placed it in Bu Bu's hands.
"Bu Bu, the revenge for what happens next... perhaps only you can avenge me."
Bu Bu opened her hands, neither taking the cloth bag nor handing it back to Yun Ze, but instead looking at him with a frown.
"I'm asking, who made you like this."
"You don't need to know these things."
Yun Ze gave a bitter smile and still explained, "It was my carelessness, underestimating others. No one is to blame.
Just help me avenge my parents. As for others... you'd best not provoke them."
Bu Bu said nothing more, merely rolled her eyes, and then took out the Immortal Jade from the cloth bag.
"Hey, right!"
Seeing the item, Yun Ze also remembered, "I'm leaving soon. Can you tell me, what is your connection to these two Immortal Jades..."
"Pfft!"
Before he could finish speaking, Yun Ze coughed up another mouthful of blood!
This time, it wasn't because of spiritual energy, but because of the Immortal Jade!
He looked down and saw an Immortal Jade embedded in his chest, and the other end of the Immortal Jade... was Bu Bu!
"You're dying, and you still talk so much."