Zhao Ling’er and Hong Yingli were now in the special residence area. They sat in the front courtyard, where a simple gazebo stood.Hong Yingli took out two map fragments she had collected and carefully aligned the torn edges together.The map looked as if it was made from animal hide. If all the fragments were assembled, it would measure about twenty centimeters long and thirty centimeters wide. The two fragments did not look torn, but rather cut with remarkable precision.The drawings on the map had faded, clearly showing its age. Yet, upon closer inspection, the drawings did not seem to indicate directions to a place but instead displayed a unique pattern resembling the arrangement of a formation.This was nothing unusual. Maps in the immortal realm were not drawn the same way as ordinary maps in the mortal realm.They were created with special formation arrangements so that once activated, the map would project a complete and detailed image.“So you’ve finally decided to show me th

“It makes sense, and if it's true, very bad things could happen to them.” Hong Yingli replied after Zhao Ling’er finished explaining.“Because of that, Hong Yingli, I need your help this time. I know finding that treasure is very important to you, but Ye Yuan and Liu Tingyun are in danger — forget the treasure for now and help me save them!” Zhao Ling’er said with a serious expression.“All right, I’ll help you. But how will we find them? If we try to force them using my identity, they won’t admit anything. And with my power alone, I won’t be able to subdue them.”Hong Yingli had only just broken through to the Dao Realm. Although she was confident her strength exceeded that of an ordinary early-stage Dao Realm cultivator, facing the many Dao Realm experts in the High Pill Sect left little chance of victory.Besides, the High Pill Sect would spread rumors that the Immortal Sword Sect had recklessly attacked an alchemist sect — that would stir public anger and make many alchemists host

Zhao Ling’er and Hong Yingli hunted for Ye Yuan by following the trail of aura he had left behind.Zhao Ling’er sensed Ye Yuan’s aura deep underground, hidden more than a kilometer down.Even so, she could still feel it, although she had to concentrate extra hard.They kept moving until the aura trail vanished, which made Zhao Ling’er stop.“The trail disappears here. It seems there’s a powerful formation blocking it so my spiritual senses can’t track him.” Zhao Ling’er felt nothing. She couldn’t detect any formation; her spiritual sense could normally reach a much wider area, yet Ye Yuan’s aura ended here. She was certain a formation was blocking it.“This place is strange too — mountainous, thick forest, yet only ordinary packs of wild beasts,” Hong Yingli observed the wide mountain area.Even with his far stronger spiritual sense, he couldn’t perceive anything in this forest.“Let me try something.” Hong Yingli unleashed the Dao of the Sword from his eyes; a cutting wave shot out,

Ye Yuan, Zhao Ling’er, and Hong Yingli were now far from the underground prison they had destroyed.They hid inside a cave, where Hong Yingli used a special technique to conceal their presence.As for Song An, he was still unable to move, his body pierced from top to bottom by a spear, his own intestines binding him tightly.Ye Yuan glanced at Hong Yingli, a complicated feeling welling up inside him, along with countless questions.“I’ve been with Sister Yingli for quite a while, and I’ve told her everything. But she has lost her memories, so it’s better if you don’t act too close to her unless you want to be killed,” Zhao Ling’er explained briefly.“Let’s set that aside for now. Our top priority is finding Yun’er.” Ye Yuan clenched his fists, struggling to control his emotions. “It’s been several days since then. She wasn’t imprisoned in the same place as me, but I’m certain this man knows something.”Ye Yuan pulled the spear from Song An’s body, unwrapped the intestines binding him,

During the days Liu Tingyun spent in this prison, she endured agonizing suffering.The poison within her body was being purified, bringing her unbearable pain, for purifying the poison inside her was no different from killing Liu Tingyun from within.But that was not the end—she was made into an experiment. Her blood was continuously drawn, her flesh and bones cut apart to be turned into various poisons. Once her arms and legs were gone, she was healed, only for them to regrow and be cut apart once again.Now she was finally able to rest, as Ling Sang had received a sudden summons for an emergency meeting.Liu Tingyun watched Ling Sang’s back fade into the darkness of the underground chamber. Her expression was blank, betraying no emotion, but in truth, she was already thinking of ways to kill this man.Each time her blood and flesh were taken, Liu Tingyun never resisted, never showed anger or emotion. It was not because she had resigned herself, but because she knew it was useless. I