"Cough, cough... I never expected so many people to get wind of the Nine Nether Spirit Herb."
"What a nuisance..."
Deep within a secret realm at Tianbai Mountain, an exquisitely soft and melodic female voice echoed. A little girl, small and delicate, muttered to herself. She wore a light pink gossamer dress and styled her hair in pink pigtails, her face possessing a cute, refined charm. From beneath the hem of her gauzy dress, two slender, supple legs clad in pink pantyhose peeked out, ending in small, soft feet tucked into embroidered pink shoes.
Despite her pint-sized appearance, this little girl radiated the aura of a Mid Nascent Soul cultivator. She was Hua Ruowei, formerly the Great Elder of the Wendao Sect, and the only person in the entire world who knew the full extent of Qingyu’s past.
Though she looked like a little girl, she was actually over two hundred years old—a venerable ancestor to any ordinary mortal. The reason for her permanently stunted, childlike form was none other than Qingyu. To save his life, she had sacrificed all of her Soul Formation stage cultivation, causing her body to shrink and fix in this state, incapable of growing further. It was the price she paid to save him, yet she had not a single regret. Besides being small and delicate, it didn't affect her ability to cultivate.
In her dainty right hand, she clutched a gray herb that resembled a foxtail grass. This was the legendary Nine Nether Spirit Herb—an incredibly precious, supreme treasure. With this, Qingyu could finally be restored.
At the mere thought of Qingyu, a faint smile graced Hua Ruowei’s face. But it vanished as quickly as it had appeared. The memory of his deranged state filled her with heartache. How could someone as gentle and caring as Qingyu have transformed into such a terrifying monster, eventually even destroying the very Wendao Sect he had helped create?
Still, she believed all of this was about to end. With the Nine Nether Spirit Herb, she was certain Qingyu would be restored to his former self. His current state was merely a mental affliction.
Just then, Hua Ruowei heard a voice calling from outside the secret realm.
"Fellow Daoist! Hand over the Nine Nether Spirit Herb! We promise not to make things difficult for you!"
"The Nine Nether Spirit Herb is an item of immense value. You are only a Mid Nascent Soul cultivator; it would be better not to hold onto such a scorching hot potato."
"Leave the secret realm now, surrender the herb, and we guarantee your safety! I, the Mad Blood Sword Saint, swear it! The other two Soul Formation masters here agree as well!"
...
After the Mad Blood Sword Saint finished speaking, he paused for a few seconds. Hua Ruowei then heard two more voices from outside.
"Indeed! Not just Old Mad, I, Daoist Yuquan, swear it too! As long as you hand over the Nine Nether Spirit Herb, we will let you go."
"Heh! Since both of you have sworn, I, Venerable Daoling, shall swear as well! My word is the same as theirs!"
...
At the entrance to the secret realm, the ground was covered in deep snow. Tianbai Mountain was the tallest peak in the Central Province, and even though it had been severed, it remained so. Even here at the foot of the mountain, a heavy snow was falling.
Nearly a hundred cultivators had gathered. Most were powerful Nascent Soul stage masters, with only a few at the Golden Core stage. The three who had spoken were the only three Early Soul Formation powerhouses present.
The surrounding cultivators watched in shock. Three venerables had actually sworn an oath over a single herb! They belonged to different factions, too—Daoist Yuquan and Venerable Daoling were righteous cultivators, while the Mad Blood Sword Saint followed the Demonic path. No one had expected them to stand together. Their individual strength was formidable; they had wiped out countless sects between them. With them present, no one else dared to covet the herb.
They were equally stunned that a Mid Nascent Soul cultivator—someone no stronger than many of them—had managed to obtain it. Fate was truly a cruel jester.
Ten seconds passed after the three finished speaking, but no response came from the realm. Hua Ruowei had no intention of handing over the herb. It was the only hope for Qingyu’s recovery. Even if they killed her, she would never give it up. She knew exactly why they hadn't forced their way in: they were terrified she would destroy the herb.
She began to rack her brain for a way to escape. Fighting head-on was out of the question; even burning her life essence wouldn't be enough. If she were still at the Soul Formation stage, she could have fought her way out, but she had spent over a century painstakingly rebuilding her cultivation back to the Mid Nascent Soul stage just to survive after saving Qingyu. She had to wait for the perfect moment to flee.
Outside the realm, the three Soul Formation masters were growing impatient. The Mad Blood Sword Saint waved his right hand, revealing his true intentions.
"Damn it! That woman is too good at hiding!"
"I have a way to make her die or force her out without damaging the Nine Nether Spirit Herb!"
The other two righteous Soul Formation masters felt their eyelids twitch. They knew exactly what his method was: a common Demonic art known as the Corrupting Curse. Though they considered themselves righteous, these top-tier powerhouses knew there was no real distinction between righteous and demonic—it was all just a means to gain power and align interests. They supported the plan.
Seeing no opposition, the Mad Blood Sword Saint continued, "However, I need your help. The secret realm is too vast; the Corrupting Curse might fail on its own. It's not just us—we need help from the others. You understand, don't you?"
Daoist Yuquan and Venerable Daoling chuckled. "Very well, we will assist you."
Venerable Daoling turned to the surrounding crowd and shouted, "Everyone! Who is willing to help? Afterward, we will reward each helper with two Rank-Three medicinal pills! You may choose the type yourself!"
Because they had not lowered their voices, all the cultivators present had heard the plan. Those who had resigned themselves to leaving empty-handed were instantly interested.
"I’ll do it! The Nine Nether Spirit Herb should belong to the three venerables anyway; I am merely acting in accordance with the natural order!" A righteous cultivator stepped forward.
Once he started, the rest followed suit. Rank-Three pills were hard to come by; who could refuse?
"I agree! Treasures go to the strong! Whoever has the power should obtain it! I’ll help too!"
"Haha! That woman is just unlucky! A man is innocent until he possesses a treasure! Why did she go and get something that doesn't belong to her?!"
...
Soon, all the cultivators present were united. They funneled their spiritual power into the Mad Blood Sword Saint, allowing him to unleash a Corrupting Curse that enveloped the entire secret realm.
Inside, as Hua Ruowei was plotting her escape, a sudden, sharp pain struck her dantian. The spiritual power circulating within her began to feel stifled and suppressed. Her vision blurred, her divine sense began to shrink, and her hearing faded. She coughed up a mouthful of blood and instantly grew weak.
In that moment, she realized she had been struck by a Demonic Corrupting Curse. As a mere Mid Nascent Soul cultivator, she couldn't even perceive the curse—it had been cast by masters at the Soul Formation stage!
...
High in the sky, just as he was nearing Tianbai Mountain, Qingyu suddenly felt a heavy tightness in his chest, as if something terrible were about to happen.