The valley had already become a charnel house.
The vines and roots of the Nether Undying Vine had spread like a tide, densely covering every part of the valley, slaughtering indiscriminately.
Tens of thousands of creatures within had already been half-slaughtered, with severed limbs littering the entire valley. Even the soil was stained red with blood, and the thick stench of gore was suffocating.
Just as everyone was on the verge of collapsing in despair, the flying boat of the Void Sword Sect appeared, directly tearing through the blockade of the Nether Undying Vine and forcing its way in.
"We're saved!"
Upon seeing the flying boat, everyone felt as if they had been injected with adrenaline, their eyes rekindled with hope.
"Hmph, utterly foolish, to come here and offer yourselves up for death."
The Slit-Mouthed Woman coldly glanced upwards and sneered.
This was for the best; eradicating the Void Sword Sect entirely would save them trouble.
The Slit-Mouthed Woman did not take the Void Sword Sect seriously at all, believing that their only reliance was that Sword Intent Azure Stone, which could not stir up any significant waves.
On the flying boat, Er Lengzi, with his palm pressed against the Sword Intent Azure Stone, unleashed countless sword energies, shredding the encroaching vines into pieces.
Wherever the flying boat passed, it left a trail of devastation.
However, the shredded vines quickly recovered and split into more, attacking the flying boat with even greater ferocity.
"Are these people from the Void Sword Sect brainless? Do they really think they can destroy the Nether Undying Vine with just a broken stone? The remnant Void Sword Intent in this broken stone can barely last for an incense stick's time. Once the sword intent is depleted, they will be fish on a chopping block."
The divine beast, observing the dozen or so people on the flying boat, felt immense disdain.
It then became somewhat melancholic, feeling that Immortal Kong Xu was likely long gone, otherwise, he wouldn't tolerate a group of idiots appearing in his sect.
"Fellow Daoist Sima is truly chivalrous and warm-hearted, risking immense danger to rescue us. Such great kindness and virtue will surely be repaid handsomely in the future."
Feng Kun, possessing numerous treasures, had managed to survive until now without being eliminated. Seeing the arrival of saviors, he lunged towards the flying boat in mid-air.
This old fellow's face was thicker than a city wall. Not long ago, he had mocked the Void Sword Sect multiple times, yet now he shamelessly flattered Sima Hongfeng with exaggerated praise, intending to gain the protection of the Void Sword Sect.
At this moment, safety could only be found by boarding the flying boat.
Sima Hongfeng let out a cold snort. He was naturally not that morally upright, nor had he come specifically to save these people.
This was merely a feigned attack, intended to tie down the Nether Undying Vine and cooperate with the actions of his Ancestor.
He stared at Feng Kun and said mockingly, "Oh, Grandmaster Feng Kun. I seem to recall you personally stating not long ago that even if Feng Kun died, he would never board your Void Sword Sect's flying boat."
Being teased like this, Feng Kun's face turned red and then pale.
However, Feng Kun's thick skin was truly remarkable. He replied with a fawning smile, "It was just a moment of anger, Fellow Daoist Sima is magnanimous and shouldn't take it to heart. I am willing to pay the fare, whatever the cost."
Sima Hongfeng, of course, would not refuse money, and stated with a lion's appetite, "One hundred thousand Immortal Crystals."
One should know that Immortal Crystals were a thousand times more valuable than Spirit Stones, so one hundred thousand Immortal Crystals were equivalent to one hundred million Spirit Stones.
Yet, Feng Kun did not haggle and agreed directly.
To prevent Sima Hongfeng from going back on his word, he immediately paid the full amount of Immortal Crystals.
Wealth was an external possession; nothing was more important than life. Moreover, as a Grandmaster of Formations, Feng Kun was indeed not short of money. As long as he could preserve his life, any lost wealth could be recouped.
After boarding the flying boat, Feng Kun impatiently urged Sima Hongfeng to break through the encirclement and escape.
Sima Hongfeng ignored him and loudly announced, "Everyone, who else wants to board the flying boat? Special discount on tickets, only one thousand Immortal Crystals."
Upon hearing this, how could anyone hold back? Like drowning people grabbing onto a straw, they could not let go of any opportunity.
They either paid Immortal Crystals or signed IOUs with high interest, and one by one, they scrambled onto the flying boat.
"Sima Hongfeng must be crazy for money, extorting people at a time like this. Does he really think a Sword Intent Azure Stone can withstand the Nether Undying Vine?"
Wu Gongce sneered inwardly, but his body was very honest, and he shamelessly tried to bring his over a hundred surviving disciples of the Heavenly Origin Sect onto the flying boat.
"Wu Gongce, have you no shame? You want to board my Void Sword Sect's flying boat? Come back in your next life."
Sima Hongfeng naturally would not agree; he would not save these mortal enemies.
"Heh heh, the people of the Void Sword Sect are indeed arrogant. Immortal Kong Xu back then was like this, wanting to resist the chariot with his own strength. Now, you ants are trying to shake a tree with a silkworm's thread, it's simply laughable. Since that is the case, then let us utterly annihilate you."
The Slit-Mouthed Woman's face was filled with murderous intent as she ordered the Nether Undying Vine to attack with full force.
Instantly.
Vines covered in the sky danced wildly, filling the void and densely enveloping the flying boat.
Er Lengzi fully activated the Sword Intent Azure Stone, firmly protecting the flying boat.
However, the energy consumption was immense. The sword light emanating from the line of poetry on the azure stone was growing dimmer and dimmer; it was unlikely to hold on for much longer.
At this moment, Ji Hanhan was not on the flying boat.
He was sprinting on the ground, excitedly charging towards the root of the Nether Undying Vine.
Because the Heavenly Demon Mark on his collar was burning hot, it clearly sensed a great tonic, driving him towards the Nether Undying Vine.
"Thick, big, and long, it must be a great tonic."
Ji Mo stared at the main root of the Nether Undying Vine not far away, his eyes shining, filled with excitement.
Anything that the Heavenly Demon Mark took notice of was definitely a good thing. As long as he could absorb it, his body would surely become even stronger.
He ran at high speed, his body almost becoming a blur, as he rapidly charged towards the Nether Undying Vine.
Along the way, countless roots and vines of the Nether Undying Vine coiled around, attempting to strangle him.
But he paid them no mind, charging headlong, directly smashing these roots into powder, and rushing straight for the main root of the Nether Undying Vine.
"Heavenly Demon Mark, absorb it for me."
Ji Mo shattered the outer layer of the Nether Undying Vine with a single punch and began to let the Heavenly Demon Mark absorb the special substance it contained.
The immortal attribute contained within the Nether Undying Vine was slowly drawn out by the Heavenly Demon Mark and continuously absorbed by Ji Mo.
Ji Mo felt his body's evolutionary progress slowly increasing, finally breaking through 3.8% and continuing to grow.
At the same time, his flesh, bones, and cells also began to be imbued with a trace of the Nether Undying Vine's immortal attribute. In the future, if his body suffered injuries, it would surely heal rapidly.
"Could it be that we are ultimately unable to escape death?"
The people on the flying boat once again fell into despair.
The Nether Undying Vine had already filled the entire void, its supply seemingly endless. The flying boat had no hope of breaking through the encirclement.
Tu Shan Mingyue watched the Sword Intent Azure Stone growing dimmer, and she couldn't understand why the people of the Void Sword Sect were as calm as old dogs, not panicking at all. Did they really believe that the handsome young man could turn the tide?
"Haha, even if you get on the flying boat, you'll still die, and you'll die even faster."
Wu Gongce laughed triumphantly.
The Nether Undying Vine concentrated most of its power to attack the flying boat, giving the Heavenly Origin Sect a chance to breathe. At this moment, their situation was actually better than that of the flying boat.
Boom…
Just then, large pieces of the Nether Undying Vine fell from mid-air, smashing towards Wu Gongce, scaring him into scurrying for cover.
He immediately noticed something was wrong. The Nether Undying Vine was not recovering and had instead shattered into a puddle of mud.
This meant that the Nether Undying Vine had lost its terrifying regenerative ability and could be killed.