From a loser to an immortal sage

Chapter 160 The Elixir is Within Reach, But Dangers Appear One After Another

"You...you've finally arrived..."

The voice was as elusive as a ghost, yet I could clearly feel it right beside my ear, echoing in my mind. I turned around abruptly, but there was still no one there. The eerie atmosphere sent chills down my spine, and my hand gripping the Dragon's Roar Sword tightened involuntarily.

The elixir emitted a soft glow, as if beckoning me. I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself. I must obtain this elixir! For myself, and for… Wen Chen.

I cautiously approached the elixir, taking each step with extreme care. The surrounding spiritual energy grew increasingly restless, and that mysterious power grew stronger, pressing down on me so much that I could barely breathe.

Just as my fingertips were about to touch the elixir, a strong sense of crisis washed over me. Instinctively, I leaped backward, barely dodging a fierce attack.

"Ahem... Little girl, do you think you can escape?"

It was Elder Xuanfeng! His face was pale, and there was still blood at the corner of his mouth. He had obviously suffered a great backlash, but the greed in his eyes had not diminished at all. On the contrary, it had become even more frenzied.

"You're still alive?" I was shocked; I hadn't expected him to be so tenacious.

"Hmph! How could I fall so easily? This elixir is destined to be mine!" Elder Xuanfeng grinned ferociously, his hands rapidly forming hand seals while he chanted incantations.

The surrounding air instantly became even heavier. The previously drifting poisonous fog now surged towards me as if it were a tangible substance, carrying a suffocating sense of oppression. I quickly held my breath and circulated my spiritual energy to resist the corrosive effects of the poisonous fog.

"This is... a forbidden technique!" I thought to myself, realizing something was wrong. Elder Xuanfeng was actually resorting to a forbidden technique to steal the elixir. Although forbidden techniques are powerful, the backlash on the caster is extremely severe. It seems he has completely gone mad.

The poisonous fog grew thicker, and my vision began to blur. I brandished the Dragon's Roar Sword, trying to dispel the fog, but it clung to me like maggots, rendering me immobile.

My spiritual energy is being rapidly depleted; at this rate, I'll be swallowed by the poisonous fog sooner or later. I must find a way to break free!

I gritted my teeth and poured all the remaining spiritual power in my body into the Dragon Roar Sword. A dazzling sword light pierced the darkness, temporarily repelling the surrounding poisonous mist.

I seized the opportunity and rushed towards the elixir. If I could get the elixir, I would have hope!

Just as I was about to touch the elixir, a figure suddenly appeared in front of me.

"Xiao Yao, watch out!"

……

"Xiao Yao, watch out!" It was Ling'er's voice! Before I could react, I felt a gust of wind coming from my side. I instinctively dodged to the side, but I was still a step too slow. A sharp pain shot through my shoulder, and I staggered a few steps, almost falling.

"Ziling! What are you doing!" I clutched my injured shoulder, glaring at Ziling who had ambushed me. She wore a smug smile and held a gleaming dagger in her hand.

"What are we doing? Of course, we're stealing the elixir!" Zi Ling said righteously. "Only the strong are worthy of possessing this elixir. A piece of trash like you should just obediently go home!"

Only then did I realize that Zi Ling and Lei Hu had been secretly colluding all along. Lei Hu's feigned retreat was actually a ploy to create an opportunity for Zi Ling to launch a sneak attack. My heart was filled with anger and resentment, but now was not the time to dwell on such things. The most urgent matter was to obtain the elixir!

I endured the pain in my shoulder and rushed towards the elixir again. Just as my fingertips were about to touch the elixir, a powerful pressure emanated from it, and I felt as if the blood in my body had frozen, rendering me unable to move.

Immediately afterward, a deafening roar echoed through the valley. I looked up and saw a gigantic beast standing beside the elixir. Its entire body was covered in black scales, its eyes gleamed with a fierce light, and its enormous fangs sent chills down my spine.

This demonic beast possessed an incredibly powerful aura, clearly a spirit beast guarding the immortal medicine. It seemed to sense my intention, letting out a deafening roar, unleashing its full power, and lunging at me.

I was terrified and quickly tried to dodge backward. But the beast was too fast, and I couldn't completely avoid its attack. I felt a tremendous force strike my chest, and I was sent flying like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground.

I struggled to stand up, but found myself powerless and unable to move. The monster approached me step by step, its eyes gleaming with bloodlust.

"It's over..." I closed my eyes in despair.

"Roar!" The monster let out a deafening roar, its massive claws raised high, about to fall...

"You beast! Cease your arrogance!" A familiar voice suddenly rang out, and a sword light descended from the sky, slashing fiercely at the monster's body.

I opened my eyes and saw Wen Chen's figure appear before me. He held a long sword, exuding a powerful aura, like a god descending to earth.

"Wen Chen..." I called out weakly.

He glanced at me, his eyes filled with worry and heartache. Then, he turned to look at the demonic beast, a sharp killing intent flashing in his eyes.

"I will protect you." Wen Chen's voice was firm and powerful. He shielded me behind him, his longsword pointing at the demonic beast. "Come on!"

Wen Chen stood in front of me, locked in combat with the demonic beast. His movements were lightning-fast, his sword flashing like a rainbow, each swing carrying a sharp killing intent. I struggled to sit up, my chest burning with pain, my vision blurring. Wen Chen's figure flickered in and out of my sight; I was filled with anxiety, yet powerless to help.

I took a deep breath, trying to stay alert. This wasn't the time to be weak; I had to save myself! I looked around and realized we were on a precipice, with a bottomless abyss below. The terrain was dangerous, but it also gave me a chance.

The monster was enormous and slow-moving, while I was agile and could use the terrain to my advantage. With that thought in mind, I endured the pain and struggled to my feet. I took a deep breath, leaped, and landed on a protruding rock.

Seeing me dodge, the monster let out an angry roar and slammed its massive body into the rock I was on. I had anticipated this, and the instant it crashed down, I leaped again and landed on another rock.

The cliff face was jagged with strange rocks. Like a nimble ape, I leaped and darted across the narrow cliff face, skillfully dodging the monster's attacks time and time again. Although the monster was powerful, it seemed clumsy and awkward in this terrain. It roared angrily, but could never touch me.

While dodging the monster's attacks, I looked for an opportunity to counterattack. I noticed a lighter-colored scale on the monster's belly, which seemed to be its weak point. A thought struck me, and a bold plan formed in my mind.

Taking advantage of the monster's missed attack once again, I leaped up and plunged the dagger in my hand into its abdomen. The monster cried out in pain, letting out a shrill scream, its massive body swaying as it nearly tumbled off the cliff.

I pressed my advantage, swinging my dagger again and leaving a deep wound in the beast's abdomen. Blood gushed from the wound, staining the cliff face crimson. The beast struggled in agony, but was no longer able to attack me.

I steadied myself and turned to face Lei Hu and Zi Ling. They were both surprised to see that I could fight so nimbly despite being injured.

"I didn't expect you to have some skills," Lei Hu sneered. "But do you think you can win like this?"

"You'll know once you try," I replied coldly. I took a deep breath, formed hand seals, and cast my unique Herb Gatherer spell.

Countless vines surged from the ground, coiling around Lei Hu and Zi Ling like serpents. Caught off guard, Lei Hu and Zi Ling were entangled by the vines and unable to move.

A cold glint flashed in my eyes, and I swung my dagger again, severing the vines. Lei Hu and Zi Ling, now freed from their restraints, fell to the ground in a disheveled state.

They hadn't expected me to be so powerful even after being injured, and their faces showed fear. I approached them step by step, the dagger in my hand gleaming coldly.

"What...what do you want to do?" Zi Ling asked, trembling.

I gave a cold laugh, offered no reply, and slowly raised the dagger in my hand...

"Xiao Yao! Watch out for the poisonous fog!" Ling'er's voice suddenly rang out, startling me. A thick, green poisonous fog seemed to appear out of nowhere, rapidly spreading outwards...

"Cough, cough, cough..." The thick poisonous fog stung my throat, and my vision blurred. I quickly held my breath, but my lungs felt like they were on fire. Damn it, this poisonous fog came too suddenly!

"Sister Xiao Yao!" Ling'er's clear voice carried a hint of anxiety. Immediately afterward, a refreshing scent filled my nostrils, dispelling some of the poisonous fog. I barely opened my eyes and saw Ling'er's small figure dancing in the poisonous fog. She emitted a soft green light, like a firefly, gradually purifying the surrounding fog.

"Ling'er, thank you!" A warm feeling welled up in my heart. This little one actually went to great lengths to help me! I took a deep breath and felt my breathing become much easier. This brief haven that Ling'er created gave me a chance to catch my breath.

I couldn't let Ling'er down! I forced myself to endure the discomfort and looked at Lei Hu and Zi Ling again. They were also trapped by the poisonous fog, coughing and covering their mouths and noses in a sorry state. It seemed that the poisonous fog was attacking indiscriminately, affecting them as well.

This was a golden opportunity! I channeled my inner energy, and the dagger in my hand transformed into a streak of cold light, hurtling straight towards Lei Hu. He was currently tormented by the poisonous mist, his reactions were sluggish, and he had no time to dodge. My dagger mercilessly sliced ​​across his arm, and blood splattered out.

"Ah!" Lei Hu screamed in pain, clutching his injured arm and staggering backward. Seeing this, Zi Ling's eyes flashed with fear, and she turned to run away.

How could I let her escape so easily? I flashed in front of her, my dagger pressed against her neck. "Trying to leave? Not so easy!" I said coldly.

Zi Ling's face was pale, and she trembled all over. "Xiao Yao, you...you can't kill me!"

“Of course I won’t kill you.” I sheathed my dagger. “However, you’ll have to leave something behind.” I snatched the storage bag from her hand and pocketed it without hesitation. Inside were the precious medicinal herbs she had collected along the way.

Lei Hu clutched his arm, glaring at me fiercely. "Xiao Yao, you just wait! I'll settle this score with you sooner or later!"

I sneered, "I'm ready anytime!"

The poisonous fog gradually dissipated, and Ling'er flew back to my side. Her face was pale, and her breath was weak, clearly indicating that she had exhausted herself. "Ling'er, are you alright?" I asked with concern.

"I'm fine, Sister Xiao Yao. Did you get the elixir?" Ling'er's voice was weak.

I shook my head and looked into the depths of the cliff, where a herb emitting a faint golden light was growing quietly. It was the elixir I was looking for—the Nine-Turn Golden Lotus.

I took a deep breath and cautiously walked towards the Nine-Turn Golden Lotus. Although I had temporarily repelled Lei Hu and Zi Ling, I knew that the real danger might have only just begun. The air around the elixir seemed somewhat strange; I felt an inexplicable power surging within me.

I slowly reached out, wanting to touch the elixir that radiated golden light… Suddenly, I noticed a strange light shimmering around the elixir, a light that seemed to be drawing me in… My hand, involuntarily, reached out towards it…