Chapter 45: Mysteries Hidden in the Marsh, Skillfully Seizing the Frost Stone

"Junior Sister Jiang, this place is treacherous and may be infested with demonic insects and venomous beasts. I alone am sufficient to handle the patrol. Stay where you are and do not wander off aimlessly."

With that, Xie Jingxing hurried away.

Before Jiang Youling could even speak, his figure had vanished from sight. She could only shake her head helplessly and begin surveying the surrounding marsh.

Deep within the Corrupt Moss Swamp, a turbid mist swirled, and the wilderness was deathly silent.

Nearby, moss spread out like a rotting carpet, oozing a faint green slime. Bubbles would occasionally rise with a "gurgle" and burst, releasing a stench of decay.

The stagnant water beneath the moss was the color of strong tea. Occasionally, the stark white bones of beasts could be seen half-submerged; crimson centipedes crawled out from the crevices of the bones, their hundred legs creating fine ripples as they moved through the water.

Recalling the ferocity of the Corrupt Poison Leeches and the life-and-death peril she had just faced, Jiang Youling ultimately decided to obey her Senior Brother's instructions and stay put.

However, after standing there for a long time without any sign of Senior Brother Xie's return, she found that aside from some annoying flying insects, there was no danger.

Bored by the long wait, Jiang Youling simply closed her eyes to visualize her Heart Lamp.

Although she had been busy with chores during the day over the past two days, she had persisted in cultivating late into the night.

She had already cleared most of the Hand Yangming Meridian; she was only one final step away from complete breakthrough.

As her breathing gradually steadied, the Heart Lamp in her Shanzhong point began to take shape.

However, this time was different from usual. Through her internal observation, Jiang Youling discovered that the flame at her heart was much weaker than usual, as if it were being suppressed by something.

"Strange..."

Jiang Youling frowned slightly and concentrated her senses, yet she felt no abnormality.

Could it be because the Yin energy in this place was too strong?

But she quickly dismissed the thought.

Her Heart Lamp was the True Fire of the Dao Seed; it would certainly not change due to external fluctuations in Yin energy. There was likely a much deeper reason!

Furthermore, the change in the flame was almost certainly connected to this Corrupt Moss Swamp!

Jiang Youling opened her eyes. The flame in her Shanzhong had vanished, leaving only a lingering trace of warmth that refused to dissipate.

After a moment of thought, she decided to walk around to see if the Heart Lamp would undergo any new changes.

After walking a few steps to the north, the warmth in her Shanzhong remained unchanged.

But when she turned toward the south, the warmth in her chest weakened with every step she took.

This eerie change caused her heart to race, but it only strengthened her resolve to investigate.

The branches of towering ancient trees intertwined, completely blocking out the sky. The moss beneath her feet grew increasingly slippery, requiring extra caution with every step.

When Jiang Youling reached the base of a half-withered, crooked willow tree, the last trace of warmth in her chest suddenly vanished without a trace.

This was the place!

Jiang Youling's heart leaped. She attempted to visualize her Heart Lamp once more.

But this time, no matter how hard she concentrated, she could not even ignite a single spark in her Shanzhong.

Jiang Youling knelt down, snapped off a dry branch, and began to dig through the silt beneath her feet.

The damp soil emitted a scent of decay, making the digging effortless.

When she reached a depth of about half a foot, the dry branch suddenly hit something hard with a "crack."

She tossed the branch aside and began to clear the mud with her bare hands. Her fingertips touched something cold and smooth; the sensation felt like being pricked by a needle, sending a chill through her entire body.

Once she had fully excavated it, she found a deep blue stone about the size of a medicinal pill.

The surface of the stone was covered in natural patterns. It was bone-chillingly cold, a frost that seeped straight into her marrow, causing her to shiver involuntarily.

This was definitely a treasure!

Jiang Youling's heart pounded. Although she didn't know what the object was, her intuition told her it was extraordinary!

She tried to visualize her Heart Lamp—as expected, under the suppression of this object, she could not visualize it at all!

Fearing that Senior Brother Xie might suddenly return and seize the item, Jiang Youling hurriedly tried to hide it. However, the blue stone was like a block of ice; it was incredibly freezing, and no matter where she tried to tuck it, it emitted a constant "hissing" cold mist.

Finally, on a whim, Jiang Youling wrapped it in the surrounding silt, which finally insulated the cold.

As for the mud, it was easy to hide; she simply wrapped it in a few leaves and tucked it directly into her sleeve.

After tidying up the traces of her digging, Xie Jingxing's figure finally appeared in the distance.

Seeing that Jiang Youling's hands and clothes were stained with mud and that the soil at her feet showed signs of being excavated, Xie Jingxing couldn't help but frown.

"Didn't I tell you to stay put and not move around? What are you doing?"

Jiang Youling hid her hands behind her back and gave a sheepish smile. "I thought I saw a spiritual herb growing here from a distance, but after digging it up, I realized I was mistaken. It was just an ordinary weed."

Xie Jingxing glanced down, saw a weed that had indeed been dug up and tossed aside, and said no more.

"Let's go and regroup with the others. I have finished the inspection; there are no demonic insects to the south."

Xie Jingxing led Jiang Youling to join the group. Upon learning that there were no traces of demonic insects elsewhere, he nodded slightly.

"Now that the demonic insects are cleared, we shall return to Sangyu Town first. Once we regroup with Junior Brother Zhao, we will return to the sect to report."

"Yes."

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief, their expressions turning much lighter.

Though this demon-slaying expedition had lasted only two short days, it had been truly perilous.

Had it not been for Senior Brother Xie leading the team, it was uncertain whether they could have returned safely.

On the return journey, Qian Zefei attempted to explain the earlier accident to Jiang Youling, but was repeatedly interrupted by her cold demeanor.

"If it was an accident, why must Senior Brother say so much?"

Flustered, Qian Zefei fell silent.

Upon returning to Sangyu Town, Zhao Cheng, the Town Guardian, and Wei Shuchang had already been waiting for a long time.

Seeing the group return, Zhao Cheng rushed forward with a concerned expression. "Senior Brother, how was it? Have the Corrupt Poison Leeches been eliminated?"

Before Xie Jingxing could speak, Ying Chao—remembering how Junior Sister Jiang had nearly met with disaster—let out a cold snort and said with displeasure

"Senior Brother Zhao, you didn't go out to hunt demons and instead enjoyed a light workload, yet you nearly caused Junior Sister Jiang to lose her life!"

Zhao Cheng was startled by her words, thinking to himself how it would have been easier if Jiang Youling had just died.

However, he did not dare show it on his face. Instead, he offered a conciliatory smile. "Junior Sister Ying is right. It was my fault. I am glad everyone is safe."

"Enough. We are all fellow disciples; there is no need to be so petty."

Xie Jingxing brushed the matter aside with a casual remark and turned to the Town Guardian and Wei Shuchang.

"We have completed our inspection. There are no other Corrupt Poison Leeches near the Corrupt Moss Swamp. The demon menace in Sangyu has been cleared. If there is nothing else, we shall return to the sect."

The Town Guardian and Wei Shuchang both showed joy and bowed with cupped hands.

"This demon calamity was thanks to all of you. The Tai Xuan Immortal Arts are truly worthy of their reputation! Especially the swordsmanship of young immortal Xie—it was truly an eye-opener! Our hospitality was lacking this time; if you are ever free and pass through Sangyu Town in the future, we shall treat you with the utmost sincerity!"

Xie Jingxing nodded in return and led the disciples away on their cranes.

Upon arriving at Tai Xuan, Xie Jingxing took the group directly to the Deacon Hall.

The Deacon Hall stood independent of the twelve Tai Xuan Academies, responsible for managing the sect's daily affairs, including the issuance and acceptance of missions and the exchange of contribution points.

After Xie Jingxing turned in the mission and received the reward, he distributed it among the group according to their level of contribution.

This being Jiang Youling's first mission, she had neither experience nor combat prowess, yet she still received six contribution points and three spirit stones.

(End of Chapter)