Chapter 310: This Thing Is Useful?

For a mere eighth-level Spirit Creek Realm cultivator to be so feared by the vast Ten-Thousand Demon Ridge faction was unprecedented. Lu Ye was truly the first of his kind, in all of history.

Just as the entire Profound Heaven Sect was shrouded in gloom, two special guests rushed over. They were, of course, Tang Yifeng, the Sect Master of the Azurewood Sect, and Shui Yuan, its Handprint Emissary.

Inside a large hall, a Soul Nurturing Array was operating. This array was not overly complex, but simply setting it up wasn't enough; it also required placing some soul-nourishing and purifying treasures within it to truly be effective. Treasures capable of nourishing souls were exceedingly precious; even with the Profound Heaven Sect's foundation, they possessed few, and their effects were not ideal. But at this moment, they had no other option; they could only use this array to alleviate Zhao Li and Ju Jia's symptoms.

Two figures lay within the array. Lu Ye sat cross-legged nearby, anxiously monitoring Ju Jia's condition. The Profound Heaven Sect's Grand Elder, Bai Qian, also stood guard, as he had set up the array and naturally needed to oversee it carefully. Besides them, there was no one else in the hall.

The dim candlelight flickered.

Bai Qian sighed. "I told you, boy, if you're going to pretend, do it thoroughly, lest someone discovers the truth."

Lu Ye replied, "Elder Bai, do you not have confidence in your sect members?"

"It's not that," Bai Qian said, "it's just that with so many people, some information always slips out unintentionally."

"Then Elder Bai doesn't have confidence in the array he set up."

"Nonsense!" Bai Qian's beard twitched, and he said proudly, "I wouldn't dare say I'm the strongest in the Nine Provinces, but no one in the Nine Provinces has yet been able to spy on this place through an array."

This elderly man was actually very kind-hearted, but whenever arrays were mentioned, he would become extremely meticulous, especially regarding his own array mastery, in which he had extremely high confidence. If it weren't for the current incident at the Profound Heaven Sect's base and Ju Jia and Zhao Li's unresolved crisis, Lu Ye would have wanted to consult this elder about array formations. But given the current situation, he wasn't in the mood.

"Quick, lie down! Someone's coming," Bai Qian suddenly called out.

Lu Ye quickly lay down in the Soul Nurturing Array, closed his eyes, and remained motionless.

The next moment, the tightly shut hall doors opened. Someone stepped in, and Yu Xiao's voice came: "They are all placed in the Soul Nurturing Array and are temporarily out of danger."

Immediately after, Lu Ye caught a familiar scent, and then his wrist was gently grasped. Lu Ye opened his eyes and saw Senior Sister Shui Yuan's face.

"Second Senior Sister."

"Don't move," Shui Yuan's frosty expression softened slightly. She pressed Lu Ye, who was about to sit up, back down, and a gentle spiritual force circulated within Lu Ye's body, checking his condition.

The Sect Master stood behind Shui Yuan, a hidden worry on his face. Although Lu Ye had sent them a message on the way, informing them he was unharmed, none of them were at ease until Shui Yuan had thoroughly checked. This time, Shui Yuan's examination was extremely thorough; only after the time it takes for an incense stick to burn did she release Lu Ye's wrist. She then walked to Ju Jia's side and crouched down to examine him.

Lu Ye stood up and bowed to the Sect Master. "Sect Master."

The Sect Master nodded slightly. "Good that you're alright." Since Shui Yuan hadn't said anything, it meant Lu Ye was truly unharmed.

"This disciple has caused you trouble," Lu Ye said, somewhat ashamed.

The Sect Master raised a hand and lightly tapped him. "Don't even call this trouble. And what if you *had* truly caused trouble? We old folks are here to shield you from the storms. If we feared trouble, what would be the point of cultivating? In the future, act with a clear conscience, and don't hesitate or worry too much."

"Yes."

Soon, Shui Yuan finished examining Ju Jia's condition and then went to check on Zhao Li. After another incense stick's time, Shui Yuan stood up, her dark brows tightly furrowed. "It is indeed a soul poison."

When she arrived, Yu Xiao had already given Shui Yuan the residual poison obtained from the traitor. Combining this with Ju Jia and Zhao Li's current conditions, Shui Yuan had already formed some conclusions.

"Can it be cured?" Yu Xiao quickly asked.

"Treatment isn't the problem; I'm just afraid they won't endure it."

"What do you mean?"

The sect's medical cultivators were helpless in this situation, but with Shui Yuan's arrival came a treatment plan, which undoubtedly showed that Shui Yuan's medical skills were far superior to those of the Profound Heaven Sect's medical cultivators. However, from the implication of her words, the plan clearly had strong repercussions.

"Since it's a soul poison, it's attached to their souls. I have a method to remove the poison from their souls, but this process will cause immense damage to their souls. They are only in the Spirit Creek Realm; though they possess souls, they are not resilient. If I were to proceed with treatment, their chances of survival are slim."

Lu Ye, who was listening nearby, felt his mood instantly heavy. This entire incident had started because of him, yet he, the one at the center of it, remained completely unharmed, while Ju Jia and Zhao Li were critically ill.

Yu Xiao frowned. "So there's no other way?"

"Unless they are given some treasures that can quickly strengthen their soul power, perhaps they can endure this ordeal."

"Treasures that strengthen souls..." Yu Xiao's voice was bitter. How precious were treasures that could rapidly strengthen souls? They couldn't even be bought in the Heavenly Secret Vault. If he truly had such a thing, he would have used it on himself long ago; why would he keep it until now?

"Second Senior Sister," Lu Ye called out.

Shui Yuan turned her head, saw Lu Ye beckoning to her, quickly walked over, and was then pulled aside by Lu Ye. He secretly took out a jade bottle from his storage bag and handed it to her. "Senior Sister, see if this is useful?"

Shui Yuan took the jade bottle, not paying much attention. After all, Lu Ye was only a Spirit Creek Realm cultivator; even if he had acquired something good recently, it might not catch her eye. She casually opened the jade bottle, put it to her nose, and sniffed gently. The next moment, she showed a suspicious expression, turning to look at Lu Ye, then at the contents of the bottle, as if she wasn't quite sure of her judgment.

"Sect Master," Shui Yuan turned and called out.

The Sect Master walked over. Shui Yuan handed him the jade bottle. "You are experienced, please take a look."

"You can't even recognize it?" The Sect Master was somewhat surprised. He took the jade bottle, examined it briefly, and the hand holding the bottle couldn't help but tremble. A look of shock appeared on his face. "This is..."

"Is it really *that* thing?" Shui Yuan looked at him.

The Sect Master nodded solemnly. "It should be correct." He looked at Lu Ye. "Where did you get this?" Lu Ye, a mere Spirit Creek Realm cultivator, had been staying in the Spirit Creek battlefield all this time. How could he have obtained such a treasure that even Spirit Sea Realm grand cultivators would envy?

"This disciple entered Immortal Yuan City before and obtained it from there." Just now, upon hearing Shui Yuan say that treasures capable of rapidly strengthening souls were needed for Ju Jia and Zhao Li to be saved, he immediately thought of Soul Cleansing Water. He had also cleansed his soul in the Soul Cleansing Pool and knew the benefits of the soul mist there. Soul Cleansing Water was condensed soul mist, and it would definitely have an excellent effect on strengthening souls.

"Immortal Yuan City..." The Sect Master realized. Given his status, he naturally knew that Immortal Yuan City was a type of boundless mirage realm. If Spirit Creek Realm cultivators had any means to obtain such treasures, it could only be in a boundless mirage realm. However, the boundless mirage realm had opened so many times, yet few cultivators were seen to have obtained Soul Cleansing Water from it. There were rumors, though, that a few lucky cultivators had managed to bring out a few drops, and even if the quantity was small, it was still an immense fortune. But Lu Ye had produced an entire bottle, which contained at least thirty to forty drops—truly astonishing.

"Is this useful?" Lu Ye looked at Shui Yuan.

Shui Yuan nodded. "It is useful, yes, but such a treasure..."

"Saving lives is paramount." Lu Ye likely knew what his Second Senior Sister wanted to say. He turned to look at the two lying there. "Ju Jia is extraordinarily talented and will surely achieve great things in the future. This disciple has already taken the liberty of accepting him as a registered disciple of our sect; he will become a formal disciple once we return to Ao Mountain. He has also been by my side through thick and thin during this time, so this disciple cannot abandon him. Brother Zhao is suffering this ordeal because of my involvement. Senior Sister, if this item is truly useful, please use it without hesitation."

The Sect Master, standing nearby, nodded with gratification. "It's rare for you to think this way. Shui Yuan, please follow your junior brother's wishes."

"Yes!"

Not far away, Yu Xiao and Bai Qian exchanged glances, feeling a restless curiosity. It wasn't that they deliberately eavesdropped on the three Azurewood Sect members' conversation, but the Azurewood Sect hadn't tried to hide it either, so the two of them had heard roughly what was said. There weren't many treasures in this world that could move even the Azurewood Sect Master. Combining that with Immortal Yuan City and the current situation, it was obvious what Lu Ye had brought out. Normally, with such a treasure present, even their hearts would tremble, and they would undoubtedly feel some yearning. But at this moment, they absolutely dared not entertain any improper thoughts. Not to mention they were all from the Boundless Heaven Alliance, and the Profound Heaven Sect had some ties with the Azurewood Sect, but simply Lu Ye's willingness to use such a treasure to treat Zhao Li showed a kind of courage not commonly found. So even though the two guessed what Lu Ye had produced, they now acted as if nothing had happened.

"Sect Master Yu," Shui Yuan turned to Yu Xiao, her gentle voice turning cold. Since Lu Ye's message, she had been simmering with anger on the way here; how could she give Yu Xiao a pleasant look? Although the Profound Heaven Sect's base had been overrun by the Ten-Thousand Demon Ridge because of this incident, it was an undeniable fact that Lu Ye had been poisoned at the Profound Heaven Sect's base. She wouldn't concern herself with the specific antecedents; she only cared about the consequences. She had always been protective of her own.

"Senior Sister Shui, please give your instructions," Yu Xiao replied politely.

"I need some medicinal herbs, prepared within half an hour." Shui Yuan took out a jade slip, spiritual energy surging as she etched information into it, then handed it to Yu Xiao.

"I'll personally handle it."

Lu Ye had even taken out such a treasure to save lives; how could the Profound Heaven Sect not fully cooperate? While the sect's base being overrun this time was indeed a huge loss, blaming it on Lu Ye was unreasonable. Lu Ye had come because Zhao Li invited him. Moreover, Lu Ye himself hadn't expected that merely visiting the Profound Heaven Sect's base would stir up such a huge commotion.

Putting aside these chaotic matters for now, saving lives was the top priority. Furthermore, if they truly managed to save him this time, Zhao Li might even turn misfortune into a blessing. This disciple was already quite talented, and his future achievements might exceed expectations. Yu Xiao's mind was as clear as a mirror.