Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Far More Afraid of Death Than You, Battle in the Earth Palace

Li Mengning was a little puzzled. She seemed unsure how Jiang Lan knew, and also confused as to why he agreed so quickly, but she nodded nonetheless. "Alright."

She then made a move, preparing to head forward.

However, as if remembering something, she stopped abruptly. Turning back to look at Jiang Lan, her eyes filled with a serious expression, she instructed, "Promise me you won’t wander off."

Jiang Lan wondered, ’How did she suddenly get so sharp?’ But he still replied, "Alright, I promise."

Li Mengning still watched him with a worried look, then warned again, "Stay put. Don’t wander off."

"I’m much more afraid of death than you are."

Jiang Lan smiled and reached into his robes, pulling out a Jade Talisman that was still warm. He then took her delicate, boneless hand and placed the talisman in her palm. "Be careful."

Li Mengning stared blankly at his actions.

By the time she snapped out of it, she saw that Jiang Lan had already found a bare rock and was sitting there, resting with his eyes closed.

She pursed her tender red lips, waves of emotion surging through her serene, crystal-clear eyes.

Then, clenching her fist, she carefully put the Jade Talisman away, her expression returning to its usual placid calm.

Although she knew that Jiang Lan had probably given her this Jade Talisman to save her life...

...it was, after all, a gift from him.

Only after confirming that Li Mengning had truly left and wasn’t doubling back did Jiang Lan slowly open his eyes and rise from the rock.

This place wasn’t far from the tomb complex he had sensed.

It wasn’t that his exceptional skill made him reckless, or that he didn’t want Li Mengning’s protection.

Rather, in this particular place, he could clearly feel that he had far more methods at his disposal than she did.

With her gone, it would be much more convenient for him to act.

BUZZ!!!

As Jiang Lan’s gaze swept over, the blood-colored mist drifting in the Void suddenly contracted and gathered, as if being wrung out by a surging power.

It then formed into one sharp blade after another, which, with a PFFT, shot through the nearby rock wall. With a BANG, it exploded into a shower of stony debris.

As his Heart Thought stirred once more, more and more of the blood-colored mist gathered, brimming with astonishing energy. The Void itself began to hum faintly.

’If caught off guard, any Cultivator whose Heaven and Earth Void Qi hasn’t formed a protective armor will be severely wounded, or even killed...’

’This blood-colored mist not only contains a dense, poisonous miasma, but it can also block Divine Sense.’

’As long as I can create a single wound, I can manipulate this blood-colored mist to destroy their vital organs from the inside.’

The only exception would be a Cultivator on the path of Body Refinement, whose physique is powerful and Life Force abundant.

Otherwise, an ordinary Cultivator would have no way to counter such an unstoppable technique.

After leaving that spot, Jiang Lan headed deeper into the area he had sensed.

Along the way, he absorbed the life from several more Demons, using their memories to ascertain the situation in this region.

By intentionally avoiding danger, he moved through the perilous regions as if strolling on level ground, encountering no unexpected situations.

BANG...

A short while later, as the life faded from an ox-headed Demon before him, its massive body rapidly withered and decayed. Even its corpse disintegrated, turning into a pile of sand-like matter.

’So it’s here...’

Jiang Lan frowned slightly, finding himself before an increasingly dim and fragmented corridor.

The steep cliffs on both sides had collapsed, completely blocking the path forward long ago.

If he hadn’t absorbed the memories of the local Demons, he never would have known this shortcut existed.

At first, the passageway was extremely narrow, allowing only one person to pass. But after about ten paces, it suddenly opened up.

Jiang Lan absorbed the life from the weak Demons hiding in the dark corridor. Through their memories, he quickly learned the layout of the passage’s depths. Only after confirming it was safe did he proceed deeper.

The deeper he went, the more intense the sweltering heat and the stench of blood in the air became.

The blood-colored mist grew incredibly thick, drifting in the Void like a layer of crimson haze.

With a flicker of his Heart Thought, innumerable wisps of the blood-colored mist swirled around him. A crimson haze steamed forth, completely shrouding his body and face, rendering him a blurry figure.

He hadn’t walked much farther when he faintly heard voices from a distance.

Judging by the voices, it sounded like a group of young men and women. 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

He narrowed his eyes and drew in a few wisps of the local blood-colored mist. Unfortunately, it wasn’t a living entity and couldn’t provide him with complete memories.

Still, he was able to glimpse a few blurry images.

"This was once an Earth Palace..."

"Lately, the disturbances on the Blood Red Plateau have been growing. Some of the Demon Beasts that live nearby have been rampaging, attacking the surrounding villages and cities for no reason. Master suspects some sort of mutation has occurred on the Blood Red Plateau..."

"That’s why he sent us to investigate the cause."

"After all, our Ten Thousand Laws Sect is the foremost sect in Danzhou County. How could we possibly stand by and do nothing in a situation like this?"

"Your chivalry and commitment to helping the common people is truly admirable, my friends. To be honest, I’m ashamed to say I’m just a Loose Cultivator. I only came to the Blood Red Plateau to try my luck after hearing there were opportunities to be found. If you hadn’t saved me just now, I’m afraid I would have already perished in the jaws of a Demon Beast..."

The man speaking was dressed in a navy-blue robe. He had a resolute, slightly tanned face with well-defined features. As he spoke with a wry smile, he habitually rubbed his nose.

"Brother Ye Ming, you’re being too modest. We all saw your strength. If it weren’t for your timely help, *we* would be the ones who perished to the Demon Beasts. We never would have made it to this Earth Palace."

A burly man to the side, dressed in the robes of a Ten Thousand Laws Sect Disciple, laughed heartily and clapped him on the shoulder, clearly holding him in high regard.

’Ye Ming?’

’The guy who received the Blood Immortal Sect’s inheritance?’

Jiang Lan was a little surprised. He hadn’t expected to find that guy here.

This would explain why, in the original story, all the various Sects and Dao Lineages had scoured the Blood Red Plateau before the Blood Immortal Sect ruins officially appeared, yet none had found a single thing related to its inheritance.

He had wondered if there was a mistake in the plot, but it now seemed that this Ye Ming fellow had obtained the Blood Immortal Sect inheritance long ago and simply kept it hidden.

Even later, when he was found by the remnants of the Blood Immortal Sect, he must have concealed parts of the story when he explained himself.

"Watch out."

"It’s Blood Patterned Bat Demons..."

Just then, the voices from the distance came again. Someone cried out in alarm, followed by the sounds of a ferocious battle.

Jiang Lan was some distance away and still inside the passageway, so he could only hear the WHIRRING of countless flapping wings. Even so, it was clear there were a great number of Blood Patterned Bat Demons.

They were social Demons; when they appeared, it was always in a large swarm.

He had no interest in watching the show. As he continued down the corridor, the sounds of the battle faded into the distance.

Jiang Lan hadn’t been walking long, however, when he suddenly heard a RUMBLE from the stone wall beside him. It was then blasted open by a tremendous force.

Several blood-soaked figures flew out sideways, their bodies smashing through the stone wall and getting buried in the rubble, apparently knocked unconscious.

’A sneak attack? I knew that Ye Ming was trouble.’

Jiang Lan’s gaze shifted. Looking at the figures that had fallen in front of him and blocked his path, he simply kicked out.

But before his kick could land, one of the figures suddenly twisted and rolled, scrambling to the side in a wretched state.

"Brother Ye Ming, why did you suddenly attack us without reason?" an enraged voice yelled from the distance.

At the same time, several streaks of light shot rapidly toward Jiang Lan.

Jiang Lan’s gaze fell upon them. The dense, surging blood-colored mist immediately converged and intertwined, forming a vast, solid, crimson hand that slapped directly toward them.

The Void rumbled. The blow was immensely powerful, causing the air to tremble. The entire dim Earth Palace seemed to quake violently.

Before the approaching figures could even get close, they simultaneously spat out blood with a PFFT and were sent flying backward, landing on the ground like broken sandbags.