175 - Douluo: Martial Spirit Blue Silver Grass

Chapter 175: Days and Nights Reborn as the Vicious Senior Sister GL Jiu Ying's concerns were indeed justified. The power of the immortal spirit fire was immense, and if it ignited the webs within the spring cave, the Dragonheart Grass would likely be burnt to ashes instantly. Since one idea failed, Fu Ling devised another plan. The spring cave had been part of the landscape for a century, with walls solid beyond measure, making it impossible to destroy from the outside. Since they couldn't use the spirit fire to incinerate the great demon, the only option left was to venture into the crevices of the mountain walls and slip inside. "Senior Sister, the mountain spider fears the Dragon Slayer Sword. If I bring the sword into the spring cave, it won't dare attack me. How about I go in alone to retrieve the Dragonheart Grass?" Though dangerous, this method was far more reliable than setting fire to the spring cave. Jiu Ying's cultivation was unstable, with her spiritual energy barely enough to maintain her human form. In such a situation, having Fu Ling enter the spring cave was undoubtedly the best choice. Moreover, the celestial spirit energy within Fu Ling could resist the mountain spider's poison. As noon approached, the temperature rose higher, turning the young girl's face a shade of pink under the sun's rays, which rendered her round eyes even more crystal clear. Gazing at that all-too-familiar face, Jiu Ying felt a sudden, inexplicable sense of reluctance and discontent in her heart. With insufficient power, she was always the one being protected. If given a choice, she'd rather not have her current Azure Dragon form. She let out a soft sigh, and though her heart was filled with reluctance, she still uttered a single 'yes.' Fu Ling was destined to face challenges as she grew. Although Jiu Ying had long understood this truth, the moment had come, she still couldn't bear the thought of Fu Ling being in danger because of her. It wasn't a matter of unwillingness—it was fear. After discussing their plan, Fu Ling would enter the spring cave to get the grass while Jiu Ying stayed outside, ready to provide support. Should any issues arise, Fu Ling must immediately cease her actions and leave the cave. Worried that Fu Ling might act impulsively to obtain the Dragonheart Grass, Jiu Ying reminded her several times, "If you encounter danger inside the spring cave, ensure your safety first. Do you understand?" Aware that Jiu Ying was concerned for her, Fu Ling couldn't help but smile gently. Nodding, she stepped forward, slipped her fingers beneath the long white sleeve, and discreetly intertwined them with Jiu Ying's cold, slender hand. "I understand, Senior Sister. I will protect myself." With fingers interlocked, the pair returned to the area near the spring cave. Yu Ping was crouched alone near the stone crevice, his head low. It was hard to tell how long he'd been waiting there. It wasn't until he heard footsteps behind him that he finally stood up. Clearly, he had come to realize his true identity; otherwise, his face wouldn't show such conflicted and anxious expressions. Before Jiu Ying and Fu Ling could approach, he hurriedly met them. "Is what Qing Tong said true?" His disbelief was understandable. Ever since he manifested his human form, he had lived in the No-Return Valley, primarily interacting with the Four Elders of the demon clan. Only ten years ago, when Qing Tong became his servant, did his life change slightly. Four years ago, his spiritual awareness began to awaken, much to the Four Elders' delight. They granted his every wish except leaving the valley. Someone born and raised within the demon clan, exuding demon aura, living off blood—and yet, he wasn't a demon but a pristine spirit grass seedling from the upper realms. Spread the word, and it seemed incredulous. Before Jiu Ying could respond, Yu Ping shook his head on his own and muttered, contradicting himself in a low voice. "No, I can't be some spirit seedling. I am of the demon clan. I must be—" Such an intense and frenzied state was indeed pitiful to witness. Jiu Ying felt a twinge of sympathy but remained composed, her subsequent words unwavering despite Yu Ping's misfortune. "I think you already know the answer to your question." Yu Ping's presence here indicated Qing Tong was safe, confirming that his blood indeed had the power to heal. Jiu Ying's response was evident, almost implicitly confirming Qing Tong's statement as truth. Unable to accept this, Yu Ping lowered his head, possibly to conceal his unease, yet his eyes nevertheless turned red. Fu Ling observed his reaction and sighed softly, offering quiet comfort. "Though spirit seedlings are rare in the upper realms, they eventually become others' spoils. Despite being forced to take a demon form, you inadvertently gained spiritual awareness. Isn't that a blessing in disguise? At the very least, you can now choose your fate." Her words bore truth. Spirit seedlings had never known a precedent of developing human form and consciousness, making Yu Ping the first of his kind. Yu Ping didn't respond to her but his breathing calmed significantly. Amidst this somber atmosphere, a faint rustling came from the grass and woods nearby. The trio turned towards the sound, only to find that Qing Tong had also arrived. "My lord—" The healing power of the spirit seedling's sap was undeniably strong. In half an hour, the deep wound on Qing Tong's right arm had completely healed, leaving only traces of dried blood as a reminder of the injury. Seeing Qing Tong, Yu Ping turned away, wiping his eyes with his sleeve before turning back, grumbling softly. "What are you doing here? Get back and rest!" Qing Tong scratched his head awkwardly. Having been scolded, he dared not approach further. He stayed put, still stretching out his right hand. "My lord, this servant is fully healed." The distance between them was noticeable. Though Yu Ping could see Qing Tong's wound had vanished, he was still not at ease. With the Four Elders absent, the so-called rules held no sway. He shook his sleeves and trotted over to the young demon's side. "You...are you really healed?" "I am, my lord. You can feel it if you like." Lost in their own world, the master and servant forgot anyone else was present. Witnessing this scene, Fu Ling was surprised. "Just like that, he's fine now?" The youth who was nearly in tears over his identity moments ago seemed completely restored. With a soft laugh, Jiu Ying realized it wasn't difficult to understand Yu Ping's behavior. As a spirit seedling, the Four Elders couldn't allow anyone outside to discover his existence. Qing Tong was the sole human contact in his otherwise monotonous life, knowing Yu Ping's foolishness before gaining awareness and tolerating his arrogance afterward, making their bond unique. In an unexpected moment of recollection, her gaze softened considerably. "He relies heavily on Qing Tong." Relies? Fu Ling paused at those words, soon understanding their true meaning— Yu Ping's reliance on Qing Tong was akin to her dependency on Jiu Ying. If she were in Yu Ping's place, encountering such events, she assumed her anxiety and fear would similarly dissipate upon seeing Jiu Ying. Today marked their third day on An Yang Island, with just two more days remaining before returning, leaving little time to spare. Fu Ling, unwilling to delay, proposed entering the spring cave once the intense heat of the sun waned slightly. Despite her unease, after a moment's hesitation, Jiu Ying agreed. At some point, Yu Ping and Qing Tong also drew near. Both wished to assist, unsure how they could help. "You rescued both Qing Tong and me. If you need help, just let me know; even if it's my blood, I'm willing." Yu Ping, with his straightforward and genuine nature, had initially held a prejudice against humans due to the Four Elders' influence. However, after spending time with the two young women, he realized they were indeed kind-hearted. Jiu Ying, hearing his sincere tone, gained a more favorable impression of him. "Thank you, Young Master Yu Ping." Once everything was prepared, Fu Ling, as she had in the morning, climbed the rocky cliff once more. The spring cave, nestled against a steep cliff, constantly trickled water down its rocky walls. With the Dragon Slayer Sword in hand and no footing beneath her, she pressed her body against the stones. In no time, half of her body was drenched by the cold water. Fortunately, the mountain spider hadn't noticed anyone approaching and remained silent. A gentle breeze swept past, giving the impression of momentum to the young girl. Her form flickered slightly, and she slipped into the spring cave with the grace of a nimble fish navigating the narrow stone fissures. Both Yu Ping and his servant held their breath at this sight, too tense to even exhale. Though Jiu Ying's expression remained unchanged, her heart mirrored their tension. No one knew what lay inside the spring cave or what might happen next. Even though it was past noon, the sun still hung high in the sky. Sunlight bathed An Yang Island in brightness and warmth. Outside, the sky was brilliantly lit, but inside the spring cave, there was not a single point of light; the temperature was chillingly low. Alone in her venture, Fu Ling held the Dragon Slayer Sword but dared not reveal her presence. Her view was obscured by murky shadows. Unable to discern the great demon's location, she refrained from acting rashly, instead releasing a faint thread of spirit energy to explore the path ahead as she tread slowly forward. The space within the spring cave was cramped. She moved carefully, feeling her way along the rock walls. The further she went, the quieter it became, while the spirit energy surrounding her was enveloped by the pervasive poison in the air. All around was a blend of icy darkness, making it impossible to detect any signs of life. In the midst of the cold and shadow, she instinctively tightened her grip on her curved blade. Her hand, pressed against the mountain wall, unknowingly acquired a coating of sticky liquid. Unsure what it was, she intended to withdraw her hand, when a hardly perceptible tremor ran through the wall. This slight movement was almost undetectable. Had her hand not been caught by the adhesive fluid on the stone wall, she wouldn't have noticed the subtle vibrations. Stone tremors weren't unusual, especially in a cave inhabited by a large mountain spider. Fu Ling paid little heed to the noise, focusing instead on freeing her hand from the wall. To avoid alarming the spider, she exerted minimal force. After painstaking effort to separate her fingers from the viscous substance, a long, thin black thread emerged from the wall, securing her left hand thoroughly back against the stone. It happened so quickly that she barely had time to react. After all, who would expect spider silk to emerge from stone walls? Startled, Fu Ling regained her composure. With a swift motion, she wielded the Dragon Slayer Sword, slicing the silk into several pieces in an instant. She sighed in relief but hadn’t even lowered her sword when hundreds more strands sprang from the wall, encasing her left hand once more in a thick cocoon. Spider silk from the mountain wall? It was astounding. There was no time to ponder the phenomenon. She raised her curved sword again. No matter how sturdy the threads were, before this treasure of a sword, they were nothing but soft strands. This time, she managed to seize the moment, withdrawing her left hand from the sticky hold just as the sword came down. The moment she felt freedom, before she could feel joy, the wall launched a third assault— This time, countless threads surged forth. In the absence of light, she estimated their approach by the rushing sound in her ears. An impenetrable web of strands from all directions left nowhere to hide. Her blade rose and fell repeatedly, severing the threads, only for new ones to shoot forth from the walls. With no other option, she bit her fingertip, using her blood to summon water-based spirit energy, forming a barrier around her. She then channeled energy into her palm, transforming it to fire, which incinerated all threads within a foot's radius. The spirit fire ignited, its power immense. As the flames spread along the wall, the cave began to shudder. Unlike the previous subtle tremors, this time the walls shook violently. For a moment, all four of them feared the cave might collapse. Flames flickered around her, and as Fu Ling steadied herself, she glanced at her surroundings. What she saw was startling— The walls were layers upon layers of ash-gray threads, so densely packed that they perfectly matched the stone’s colors. In truth, these threads were what they had mistaken for the stone walls. The entire spring cave was nothing more than a cocoon formed by these strands. And the Dragonheart Grass grew right in the midst of this cocoon.