Everyone was exhausted, but they couldn't rest here. Regardless, they had to leave to ensure their safety.
However, as the group prepared to depart, the shepherd boy caught up. Ye Tiancheng quickly told the boy the location of the little black goat.
"Young man, if you want to take your sheep away, you'd best do it quietly. These sheep have caused a disturbance. If others find out, you might not be able to leave easily."
After thanking Ye Tiancheng profusely, the boy immediately left, herding his little goats, leaving only a fleeting figure behind.
The group of four, driving their newly acquired Wuling Hongguang, did some more shopping before leaving. With a car full of food, they felt a sense of security.
However, as the car drove on the road, the speed was already slow due to the poor condition of the mountain road. Suddenly, some unknown objects began to violently impact the car body.
The car started to shake, and the little胖子 driving panicked. Lin Xue used her true qi to investigate, "The black qi has infected those birds, which is why they are charging headfirst. But don't worry, as we continue, the effect of the black qi will lessen."
"Then will the town be in trouble? Those ordinary residents should not be able to resist that black qi."
"It's not that serious. This black qi is targeted and prefers to attack cultivators like us who possess true qi. As for ordinary people, they should not be in much danger."
Hearing Lin Xue's words, Ye Tiancheng was relieved. Although he wasn't particularly warm-hearted, the black qi had pursued them because of his arrival. If innocent people were harmed, he would bear half the guilt.
Ye Tiancheng hoped to minimize bloodshed. Everyone struggled to survive, and Ye Tiancheng knew from his own time at the bottom how desolate those fighting for survival felt.
"Brother Ye, let's ensure our own safety first. Once you recover your true qi, you can deal with that bastard Ouyang Xunuo. His little tricks can't do anything to you."
Little Pang made a good point, and Ye Tiancheng planned to do the same. In any case, self-preservation was more important. Moreover, once they reached a pure land, Ye Tiancheng's true qi could begin to gather, and his injuries would greatly recover.
Not only would he improve his own health, but Ye Tiancheng also had more ideas, such as helping those around him, especially Lin Xue, who had been providing the main combat support.
Although Lin Xue was his disciple, she didn't need to be involved in this mess. She was cultivating well in the forest, and now she ended up with injuries all over her body, which was quite poignant.
"Xiao Xue, you've worked hard on this journey. Once I recover, your master will surely reward you."
Without Lin Xue's protection, these people wouldn't have been able to reach here safely. Lin Xue was not only skilled in martial arts and a formidable fighter but also emotionally stable. Even when facing death, she could maintain her composure, thus preventing the generation of negative qi. She was a rare peerless master.
"Master, you showed me great kindness. You even forgave me for my past mistakes. At that time, I decided to follow you diligently and never make you sad or upset."
The master and disciple's words were quite touching, but Pangzi and Hou Mingzhu were not in the mood to participate in this display of master-disciple affection. The birds outside were constantly attacking, crashing into the car body and windows. The car wasn't overturned, but the constant thumping was quite frightening.
"Pangzi, we need to pick up the pace. At this speed, I'm afraid we won't reach our destination before these birds attack and overturn the car. This car is very important now, otherwise, we'll have to walk."
"Alright, Brother Ye. These damn birds are clearly targeting me, so I'll speed up. Every one I hit is one less."
Lin Xue had just dealt with the little black goats yesterday and didn't have enough spare true qi to deal with these birds. Hou Mingzhu was anxious to help, but she lacked the talent; cultivation isn't for everyone.
She could only use her bag to swat at the birds when they flew over, preventing them from entering the car.
"Wife, your bag is very expensive, don't just hit things with it."
Ye Tiancheng had already reminded her that this wasn't a vacation and there was no need to bring luxury items. But those luxury items were Hou Mingzhu's life. No matter what they were doing, she felt uneasy if she didn't bring her beloved bags.
"Besides, if my bag gets damaged, it needs maintenance. These birds aren't worth it."
Under the birds' attack, Hou Mingzhu's mind was clear. She found a wooden board in the car and began to swat the birds away like playing a game.
Thus, along the way, everyone worked hard to resist the birds infected by the black qi.
Meanwhile, Lin Xue sat in the back seat, meditating. Despite the car's violent jolts, she had to recover as much true qi as possible. If she made a move, she could take on a hundred enemies.
"Brother Ye, it's no good. The car can't go any faster, or it will flip over. All of our lives might be crushed under the wheels."
Pangzi had already pushed the accelerator as much as possible, but the Wuling Hongguang was designed for practicality, not for the speed of luxury cars.
"Then slow down a bit. If the birds keep pursuing us, we'll have to rely on Xiao Xue."
Lin Xue heard her master's voice.
While meditating to gather qi, she replied to Ye Tiancheng.
"Okay, Master. I should need a few more minutes before I can unleash a wave of true qi."
The car's speed slightly decreased. The birds that had been attacked seemed unfazed and swarmed from all directions.
The entire car was surrounded by birds, and the people inside felt a suffocating darkness, with no light able to penetrate the car.
"Brother Ye, help! The windshield is completely covered. I can't see the road now, and it's very dangerous."
At this point, they couldn't afford not to act. If they continued driving like this, a sudden acceleration could cause them to flip over.
"Xiao Xue, it's up to you."
Hearing her master's words, Lin Xue's eyes snapped open, filled with killing intent. Her umbrella flew above the car and began to spin, spreading true qi all around. Soon, countless small hidden weapons were launched, and the birds that were hit by them were all knocked down with a clatter.
"Xiao Xue is amazing. Brother Ye, look at all these bird corpses. There are many more ahead."
Lin Xue's move was indiscriminate. All the birds contaminated by the black qi were knocked down. They were now struggling on the road and wouldn't be able to fly again anytime soon.
"Xiao Xue, are these birds dead? Killing so many living things isn't good."
"Master, I didn't kill them. I just removed the black qi from their bodies. They should be able to fly again in a while."
Ye Tiancheng always felt reassured by Lin Xue's actions. Although she always wore white and seemed detached from the world, she was actually quite kind-hearted.
Indeed, as they drove forward, Ye Tiancheng looked back. The birds that had appeared to be dying on the ground had now broken free from the black qi's grip and returned to the forest to follow their natural life paths.
Having escaped Ouyang Xunuo's pursuit once again, Ye Tiancheng was thrilled. Victory was within sight; in another half an hour, Ouyang Xunuo's black qi would have much less effect on him.
However, just as Ye Tiancheng was celebrating, Lin Xue suddenly spat out a mouthful of blood, which contained blackness and looked quite terrifying.
"Xiao Xue, what's wrong?"
The smile on Ye Tiancheng's face vanished. Facing an environment with increasingly dense true qi, Ye Tiancheng felt comfortable, but Lin Xue's sudden spitting of blood made him worried again.
"I have been eroded by some black qi, but it's nothing serious. We are about to reach a pure land, and I can use that naturally advantageous environment to heal."
It turned out Lin Xue had been eroded by the black qi, which explained why she had been weak from time to time along the way. Moreover, even though she was in pain, she had been enduring it, which was truly difficult.
"Xiao Xue, hold on. There are only about twenty minutes of driving left, and we'll reach the pure land. All the black qi on us will be dispelled."
Ye Tiancheng watched Lin Xue's complexion worsen. Remembering the large mouthful of black blood she had just spat out, his worry did not diminish despite Lin Xue's nonchalant words; it only grew.
"Master, we've come this far. I won't give up. Don't worry about me, I can endure it."
However, after Lin Xue finished speaking, she closed her eyes, and her body swayed like a reed in the wind. She suddenly collapsed. Hou Mingzhu next to her quickly checked Lin Xue's breathing.
"Brother Ye, it seems like nothing serious. Her breathing is relatively stable, but she has fainted."
Hearing Hou Mingzhu's words, Ye Tiancheng's heart sank. It seemed Lin Xue's body had been severely depleted by the black qi, otherwise, she wouldn't have fainted so suddenly.
"Lay her down flat."
Ye Tiancheng was trying to gather true qi. Although it was difficult for him at this stage, he had to risk it for his disciple's life, even if he himself was harmed.
"Brother Ye, why is Xiao Xue bleeding from all seven orifices? Is she going to be alright?"
The large mouthful of blood she spat out earlier had already startled everyone. Now, with such severe symptoms as bleeding from all seven orifices, one couldn't help but wonder if she was beyond saving.
In his desperation, Ye Tiancheng gathered a surge of true qi and channeled it through his palm into Lin Xue's body from her back, protecting her heart meridian at the critical moment.
"It seems the bleeding has stopped. She should be fine."
Hou Mingzhu had been using tissues to wipe the blood flowing from Lin Xue's seven orifices. After Ye Tiancheng's true qi was infused, Lin Xue's condition stopped deteriorating.
Ye Tiancheng realized that the dire situation was temporarily under control, but to resist the further erosion of black qi on Lin Xue, they needed to reach the pure land quickly.
"Little Pang, as long as the car doesn't flip, accelerate and go as fast as possible."
"Brother Ye, look at the road. What is that suddenly appearing? It's giving me trypophobia."
Ye Tiancheng glanced at the dense mass of creatures that resembled locusts. They were also covered in black qi. Now that Lin Xue had completely fallen unconscious, Ye Tiancheng had to step in to help everyone overcome this obstacle.