What's going on?
Li Shuang's expression subtly changed. She quickly used her spiritual power to support the backs of these people, allowing them to gently lie on the ground.
In just a short moment, all of them had fainted.
On their exposed skin, their blood vessels instantly became incredibly clear, and crimson blood pulsed within them, as if it could burst out at any moment.
If one looked closely, they could even see tiny parasitic worms moving within their blood vessels!
The life force of these individuals rapidly weakened.
The crowd didn't hesitate, immediately using their respective spiritual powers to protect the hearts of these people.
After a flurry of activity, these dozen or so individuals remained unconscious, but for now, their lives were no longer in danger.
"Third Junior Brother, what's happening? Do you have any ideas?" Luo Mingyue asked.
If anyone knew the most about the Heavenly Venerate Society, it should be Sui Jin.
Sui Jin's expression was grim. He took out a silver needle and carefully extracted a parasitic worm from one person's blood vessel.
The moment the worm left the blood environment, it instantly turned into a puddle of blood.
But in its original place, another worm inexplicably appeared, and it even looked larger and stronger than the original one.
Sui Jin slowly said, "It's a blood蛊 (blood parasite). These worms are all 'child worms.' Normally, they lie dormant, but if intentionally activated by someone holding the 'mother worm,' the child worms will manifest."
"Sealing them with spiritual power is only a temporary measure. Without killing the holder of the mother worm, these people won't live for more than three days."
Sui Jin's brows furrowed slightly.
This was indeed a blood parasite, no mistake.
But why?
They had already annihilated the entire underground kingdom. Logically, the controller of the mother worm should either be that heart or the three demon guards, but weren't they all dead now?
Luo Mingyue's face turned ugly. "The culprit is still alive! Not only alive, but he deliberately triggered the child worms' abnormality. This is a provocation!"
The mastermind could have waited until they separated from these rogue cultivators before activating the blood parasites in them, thus killing them without a trace.
But he chose to activate them right in front of them.
This act was undoubtedly a taunt and a provocation.
They thought they had annihilated the Heavenly Venerate Society and achieved a great victory. Yet, the true mastermind behind the Heavenly Venerate Society was still hiding in the shadows!
Li Shuang calmly stated, "That person is provoking us openly. His target isn't these rogue cultivators; his target is us. He will definitely come looking for us again."
As soon as Li Shuang's words fell,
"It is indeed you, Senior Brothers and Sisters, who are here. Liu An apologizes for not greeting you sooner!" A warm voice rang out, and a cultivator at the Golden Core stage flew towards the group.
This person actually bore traces of the Sword Sect's cultivation method.
Liu An quickly arrived before the group, a fawning smile on his face. "Greetings, Senior Brothers and Sisters."
He appeared much older than Li Shuang and the others, yet he smoothly addressed them as "Senior Brothers and Sisters."
His back was practically bent in a perpetual bow.
"Liu An," Luo Mingyue looked at him, "Master mentioned that you were an outer disciple of the Sword Sect, weren't you?"
Liu An quickly replied, "Yes, yes, yes. My aptitude is average; the Golden Core stage is already my limit. It's difficult for my cultivation to progress, so I inevitably became fond of worldly prosperity and requested to leave the sect to become an Imperial Advisor in this Chenrong Kingdom."
Liu An smiled ingratiatingly, "Senior Brothers and Sisters, you've come a long way. Why didn't you inform me? Otherwise, with a single command, it would be simple to have the entire city welcome you. But it's not too late now. Please wait a moment, Senior Brothers and Sisters. I'll go back and give instructions, and I guarantee a grand welcome when you enter the city."
Luo Mingyue raised an eyebrow, calmly saying, "No need. We don't care for such displays."
Liu An was stunned for a moment, then quickly said, "Yes, yes, yes. Senior Brothers and Sisters' goal must be to achieve immortality, unlike me, who only thinks of this life's prosperity."
Upon reaching the Golden Core stage, one's lifespan extends to five hundred years.
Many who find it difficult to advance their cultivation choose to abandon it and fully enjoy worldly prosperity.
After all, with their strength, they might be at the bottom among sect disciples, but in the mortal world and among rogue cultivators, they could be considered powerful figures.
To live so freely for five hundred years could indeed be considered a life well-lived.
Li Shuang observed Liu An's demeanor, her mind calm.
She had no intention of judging Liu An's choice. Cultivation wasn't something where effort guaranteed results. Liu An choosing another path wasn't necessarily wrong.
It's just...
Li Shuang looked at Liu An and suddenly asked, "Imperial Advisor Liu, please look at this place."
Liu An was momentarily stunned. He glanced at the large collapsed area of land, then suddenly remembered something. He quickly said, "I sensed the commotion of a battle in the outskirts of the capital, which is why I rushed here. Since it's you, Senior Brothers and Sisters, here, then no amount of commotion is excessive. The strength of you, Senior Brothers and Sisters, is like the sun and moon in the sky, incredibly dazzling, making one..."
Liu An instinctively began to flatter.
Li Shuang couldn't help but interrupt, "There's an entire underground kingdom beneath this place, which has been transformed into a demonic lair. This place is so close to the capital. For so many years, as the Imperial Advisor, have you not noticed anything unusual?"
Liu An's expression instantly changed!
Although he came to enjoy worldly prosperity, he also carried a mission. After all, as an outer disciple of the Sword Sect, he had the responsibility of monitoring the situation in the capital.
But Li Shuang said that beneath this place was a demonic lair?
This was absolutely a major dereliction of duty on his part.
Sweat beaded on Liu An's forehead, and his voice trembled. "For all these years, I have followed the sect's instructions, conducting regular inspections, and never found anything amiss. As for demonic energy, I've never detected any."
As he spoke, he frantically knelt down. "Senior Brothers and Sisters, save me! I truly don't know what's going on."
Li Shuang and the others exchanged glances, feeling a bit helpless.
Liu An's personality was truly indescribable.
"Get up first," Luo Mingyue said. "First, take us to the capital and find a place to settle these people."
Liu An glanced at the unconscious people on the ground and repeatedly agreed.
Luo Mingyue casually summoned a flying boat. Liu An bowed subserviently, "Senior Sister's flying boat, I, a lowly person..."
Luo Mingyue was somewhat annoyed with him. "Less talk, just get on."
Liu An then found a corner to stay in, not daring to move a single step throughout the journey.
The flying boat was incredibly fast.
In less than half an hour, they had already arrived at Luoguo, the capital of Chenrong Kingdom.
Under Liu An's guidance, the flying boat directly took them into the imperial city, landing in front of a building adorned with carved beams and painted pillars.
Liu An cautiously said, "This is the Imperial Advisor's Hall. If Senior Brothers and Sisters don't mind, you can stay here for now. If there's anything unsatisfactory, I'll immediately have someone take care of it."