C7 Nine Netherworlds

Liu Xiaoxiao reached out and pulled Chen Yuan from behind.

Moreover, Chen Yuan felt a tug and his back suddenly softened as Liu Xiaoxiao leaned against him.

Before Chen Yuan could fully process his surprise, Liu Xiaoxiao had gently pushed her wheelchair away.

She had intended to use the wheelchair to probe the path ahead.

For some reason, once Chen Yuan understood her intention, he felt an unexpected twinge of disappointment. But his attention was quickly recaptured by the unfolding situation.

Simultaneously, a series of faint crackling noises filled the air. The indistinct silhouette of the wheelchair collapsed in an instant, disintegrating into a heap of dust.

Chen Yuan's mouth fell open as Liu Xiaoxiao's arms wrapped around his neck, her warm breath tickling him.

"This isn't just any ordinary trap," Liu Xiaoxiao was the first to speak. To prevent her from getting too tired, Chen Yuan instinctively reached back to support her legs, carrying her on his back.

Liu Xiaoxiao's cheeks were flushed, though it was hard to tell in the dim light.

"So, using the wheelchair as a test isn't enough."

Chen Yuan could feel the grip around his neck tighten, but he shook his head and gently set Liu Xiaoxiao down. "Don't worry, I've got it under control."

"But your hand—" Liu Xiaoxiao suddenly seized Chen Yuan's left hand. "Oh no! This... This..."

Chen Yuan himself hadn't noticed until she pointed it out, but his left hand had inexplicably healed.

"How odd. Is it really healed already? That was fast," Chen Yuan remarked, moving his left hand without pain, "It's still a bit numb, but it seems to be fine."

"Could it have been that green light earlier? From the dean of Sunsetwood Grove?" Liu Xiaoxiao speculated.

Chen Yuan felt a surge of relief that his hand was now unharmed, giving him even more reason to delve deeper.

He stood up once more, this time avoiding placing his left hand on the rock wall. Instead, he followed the path the wheelchair had taken, advancing cautiously.

Chen Yuan listened intently and finally picked up on a subtle clue.

But before he could react, a familiar agony struck him—this time, his legs bore the brunt of the attack.

Legs aren't like hands; hands can be quickly retracted, but legs, not so much. Chen Yuan could only watch helplessly as his legs turned bloody amidst the numbness.

Oh no!

That was Chen Yuan's immediate thought. He tried to back away, but his legs were numb, rendering him immovable.

To make matters worse, in the dim light, Chen Yuan saw his legs "slimming down" as chunks of flesh were sliced away like tofu, exposing the stark white of his bones.

"Chen Yuan, what's wrong with you?" Liu Xiaoxiao asked, concerned by his prolonged stillness.

Chen Yuan swallowed hard.

"Nothing, I'm just figuring things out," he lied, regretting his earlier complacency as he recalled the wheelchair reduced to dust. However, he quickly regained his resolve.

Then, something unexpected happened. A green light emerged on his chest and swiftly traveled down to his leg.

Before his eyes, the deep, bone-exposing wound began to heal at an observable rate.

This was beyond Chen Yuan's comprehension.

Flesh and blood were regenerating rapidly, yet they were being sliced to pieces by an unseen, sharp force. Chen Yuan, now merely an observer, could roughly discern the nature of the mysterious trap.

It was the wind!

An incredibly sharp wind that could slice through anything, effortlessly dicing flesh and blood but leaving bones intact.

The balance between the regenerating flesh, sustained by the green light, and the relentless slicing of the wind blade, was eventually disrupted.

When the wind blade struck again, it mercilessly hit Chen Yuan's leg, leaving only a minor wound. After numerous assaults, it failed to leave any marks on his leg.

"Could it be that the tempered flesh and blood have undergone some change?" Chen Yuan pondered. Now able to walk, he had a clearer grasp of the situation and decided to retrace his steps.

After sharing his experiences with Liu Xiaoxiao, she pinched him hard.

"Based on what you've described, I think I can identify the nature of this 'trap.' It's a type of wind, possibly mentioned in childhood tales, known as the evil wind. The evil wind is categorized into two types: the yellow spring and the evil wind, both exceedingly rare. Given the effects of Bone Corrosion and Bone Tempering, we've likely encountered the Bone Tempering evil wind!"

As the daughter of the Celestial Archives' Master, Liu Xiaoxiao's breadth of knowledge far surpassed that of Chen Yuan.

Her explanation was a revelation to Chen Yuan.

"However, if that's the case, I'm afraid that we might..." Chen Yuan said, concern etching his face as he gazed at Liu Xiaoxiao.

To his surprise, Liu Xiaoxiao responded with fervor, "The Sunken Cave harbors such fortune! The evil wind is a rarity beyond rare treasures of the world, and encountering it is incredibly precious. Moreover, its bone-tempering properties make it a coveted treasure among Body Cultivators."

"So, are you saying that this misfortune might actually be a blessing?"

"Not for us, but for you," Liu Xiaoxiao corrected him with gravity. "The presence of that green light allows you to counter the evil wind with your own regenerative power. It's akin to the techniques of Body Cultivators, yet far more powerful!"

"I may not know the true nature of the green light bestowed upon you by Qiu Changfeng, but its ability to withstand the evil wind suggests he had foreseen its importance."

"While the evil wind is a treasure for Body Cultivators, it's not something everyone can benefit from. You must seize this opportunity!"

Chen Yuan found himself in this predicament because of his own actions.

It was merely a transaction, but the reality remained. Liu Xiaoxiao reminded herself of this fact repeatedly.

Chen Yuan's powers had just been sealed, rendering him as powerless as an ordinary person. Yet now, he faced a chance to temper his body and bones!

"What about you, if I go?" Chen Yuan asked, still concerned for Liu Xiaoxiao.

Liu Xiaoxiao's response came with a smile that bloomed like a rare flower in the night, captivating in its brief moment.

"Fool, the evil wind diminishes with each use and will eventually vanish. Why else do you think it's so treasured, akin to the rarest of gems?" she said, though inwardly she was delighted.

"Then... I'll go now," Chen Yuan said, scratching his head, still adjusting to Liu Xiaoxiao's new way of addressing him.

The thought of regaining his strength filled his eyes with an unwavering determination.