Chapter 45: Return from Death

As soon as he finished speaking, he affixed a speed talisman and immediately lured the monster away from the camper van.

“Roar, roar, roar…”

The monster chased Jiang Yan in fury, while Jiang Yan ran and launched explosive talismans. Several talisman papers flew out, but the monster quickly dodged them again, prompting Jiang Yan to curse angrily, “If you’ve got guts, stop dodging, you coward!”

Suddenly, a thought flashed through Jiang Yan’s mind. Since he had a portable barrier, perhaps he could withstand an attack…

He abruptly charged toward the monster, stunning Ji Chuxue who had come to assist.

“Senior Sister, don’t come any closer,” Jiang Yan shouted to Ji Chuxue as he ran.

The monster was confused to see this human daring to approach it, but it was only a little cleverer than the others; it couldn’t comprehend Jiang Yan’s intentions.

It too rushed at Jiang Yan. The two seemed to be rushing headlong toward each other.

Just as the monster’s claws were about to tear through Jiang Yan’s barrier, Jiang Yan slapped an explosive talisman onto the monster and immediately used a speed talisman to escape.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Everyone heard the violent explosions—the monster was dealt with.

Zhou Yu and the others succeeded in eliminating the other two monsters as well.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

“Senior Sister, do you think these monsters are ranked by levels? The one we just faced seemed smarter and tougher than the others,” Jiang Yan asked Ji Chuxue.

“The three we just fought moved more nimbly, and the one you dealt with could even issue commands. I believe they are indeed ranked by levels,” Ji Chuxue replied.

Everyone returned to the vehicle.

Xie Lingzhou asked, “Sixth Junior, how many explosive talismans do you have left?”

“Third Senior Brother, I still have three hundred,” Jiang Yan answered.

In truth, three hundred explosive talismans weren’t many. If they encountered more monsters like these, they’d be used up quickly.

Moreover, such talismans were not easy to craft.

Everyone felt a bit anxious at Jiang Yan’s words. Clearly, they would have to conserve their use of explosive talismans.

…

On the other side, Lin Ruyan and her group had already arrived at the Desert of Death.

Because the sandstorms were too fierce, the disciples who had originally planned to fly on swords chose instead to proceed on foot.

Those riding spirit beasts fared a little better, but the wind and sand stung their faces, making it impossible to keep their eyes open—an unbearable ordeal.

Lin Ruyan and Master Xuanqing also abandoned their flying spirit ship, opting to ride spirit beasts instead.

Compared to Jiang Yan and his companions, these disciples were far worse off.

Lin Ruyan watched Lin Yurou trudging forward. Riding her spirit lion, she drew up beside Lin Yurou and feigned a gentle voice, “Sister, it’s been so long. Would you like to ride this spirit lion with me?”

She had expected Lin Yurou to refuse without hesitation, but surprisingly, Lin Yurou replied, “Certainly, my dear sister.”

She deliberately emphasized the last two words.

Without another word, she leapt onto the lion behind Lin Ruyan.

“Let’s go, sister,” Lin Yurou said softly from behind.

Lin Ruyan was completely stunned; she couldn’t understand Lin Yurou’s sudden change of attitude.

Of course, she had no way of knowing that Lin Yurou had befriended the Mo sisters—Mo Shiyu and Mo Shiqing, Jiang Yan’s cousins—at Lingxu Sect, and had become close confidantes with them.

Mo Shiyu had taught Lin Yurou many tricks for dealing with “white lotus” types, all learned from storybooks.

“You…” Lin Ruyan felt her facade slipping.

She hadn’t actually wanted Lin Yurou to ride with her; she just wanted to see Lin Yurou in distress.

“I never would have guessed that Junior Sister Lin and Lin Ruyan of the Mystic Spirit Sect are sisters,” a female disciple from Lingxu Sect said enviously.

Another Lingxu Sect disciple whispered, “I heard they don’t get along…”

But before they could gossip further, danger struck.

Suddenly, a female disciple from another sect screamed, “Ah! What a huge scorpion!”

Everyone saw gigantic scorpions rushing toward them.

Disciples quickly drew their weapons to face the threat.

These were the same desert venomous scorpions that Jiang Yan’s group had encountered earlier.

They moved swiftly with tough exoskeletons, able to withstand a certain degree of magical attacks.

No one immediately left, since even spirit beasts couldn’t outrun these scorpions in the desert, let alone the disciples on foot.

With Master Xuanqing, a cultivator at the Ascension Stage, present, the first wave of scorpions was quickly dispatched.

But respite was brief, as wave after wave of scorpions attacked relentlessly.

The disciples were growing exhausted.

“Ah…” A female disciple, slow to react, was pierced through the chest by a scorpion. She screamed in agony, spat blood, glanced at the gaping hole in her chest, and then collapsed.

Seeing her tragic fate, another female disciple nearby was so terrified her legs gave way and she fell to the ground.

A male disciple quickly helped the frightened girl, but was accidentally stung in the arm by a scorpion.

In an instant, his entire arm turned black, and soon after, he fainted and lost consciousness.

“Help! Help…!”

“Be careful, don’t get stung—these scorpions are poisonous!”

“This is bad, someone’s been stung!”

“Ahhhhh…!”

The disciples were in chaos; a third had already fallen.

Master Xuanqing roared, “Silence! If you don’t want to die, stop screaming—you’ll only attract more scorpions!”

His heart burned with anger. These disciples dared to venture into the Desert of Death without adequate strength and could only panic in the face of danger—utterly foolish!

“Leave this place at once—I will cover the retreat,” Master Xuanqing ordered.

Without another word, he alone faced the remaining scorpions…

Upon hearing Master Xuanqing’s command, the disciples quickened their pace.

After dealing with the remaining venomous scorpions, Master Xuanqing soon caught up with the main group.

However, they did not realize that the bodies lying on the ground had “risen from the dead.”

Even the corpse with a hole in its chest crawled up—an eerie sight.

More horrifying still, black mist emanated from these bodies.

[Short Theater:

Mo Shiyu: Yurou, heh, do you know how to deal with a “white lotus”?

Lin Yurou: What’s a “white lotus”?

Mo Shiyu: Oh, it’s someone who seems pure and innocent, but is actually very scheming.

Lin Yurou thought for a moment—wasn’t that Lin Ruyan?

Lin Yurou: So how do you deal with a “white lotus”?

Mo Shiyu: Simple—take her path and leave her nowhere to go. It’s an art, you know. I’ll teach you more when we have time…

Lin Yurou: Take her path and leave her nowhere to go? Brilliant!]