They approached the depths of the mystic realm at an extremely fast speed. They took turns to fight demon beasts of third level and below. They fought together if they met a demon beast at the fourth or fifth level. For beasts above the fifth level, young Uncle-Master fought. If they met beasts above the eighth level, they just turned and ran away. Though there were a few dangerous moments, there weren’t any sticky situations. In any case, this mystic realm was only a small mystic realm at the Golden Core stage.

　　Yi Qing led the group to fight beasts for over twenty days. Only when the storage bag at his side could contain not even one more piece of meat, did he turn to the group and say “Let’s go back!”

　　The disciples who already held a pile of demon cores of their own Spirit Roots nodded. Finally, they didn’t have to continue anymore. Otherwise, the demon beasts in this mystic realm might actually go extinct?

　　They flew up on their swords at the fastest speed and prepared to fly back, before a flash of green light shone from not far away. It exploded with a bang in the air and slowly formed the shape of a flower.

　　“This… is the SOS signal of Red and Green Sect!” A disciple cried. “It doesn’t seem far from here. Someone is probably in danger.” The group looked back at the person leading with looks of inquiry.

　　Yi Qing frowned, turned to glance at them and said, “Take care of yourselves. I will go and take a look!”

　　With that said, he started flying towards the direction of the fading symbol. The other disciples called out their swords and followed.

　　This was already deep down in the mystic realm, and they hardly saw those from other sects any more. Signals for help sent here could therefore be seen by only a few. It was possible that besides them, there were nobody else nearby. Although they were not of the same sect, they were both immortal sects. They had to help if they can.

　　Nor far in the direction of that signal within a few minutes of flying, they had arrived. Yi Qing who arrived first had already landed and looked at the front with a serious expression on his face. A pitch-black swamp was in front of them. A faint layer of black Qi was on it and disgusting bubbles emerged from the swamp as if it boiling. Some unactivated Dharmic talismans floated upon the swamp.

　　“Young Uncle-Master!” The other disciples landed one by one, and they all looked at the swamp in front of them. “Why is it like this? Why is there so much demonic aura in the mud?”

　　Before they had time to think carefully, they heard a happily surprised voice. “Big brother next door, it’s you!”

　　They were stunned, as they turned to look towards the middle of the swamp. A big tree in the center of the swamp shook. Its twigs and leaves parted to show a slightly childish fish. She wore a long pink robe and was 13 or 14 years of age. Half of her body had already sank into the mud. Her one hand grasped a branch tightly like she was afraid of falling. Possibly because the leaves of the tree that she grasped on was too thick, the group didn’t see her just now.

　　“It’s a young Junior Sister!” The disciple behind Yi Qing was anxious, and he took two steps forward subconsciously.

　　“Wait!”

　　“Don’t!”

　　The girl in the swamp and Yi Qing cried out together, but it was already too late. One foot of the disciple had stepped into the swamp, and in the next instant, as if the whole swamp was activated, it threw up a gigantic black wave, which went towards the boy.

　　“Step back!” Yi Qing reminded them loudly. At the same time, he waved his sword to cut through that black wave directly, and he fell back several steps.

　　“Young Uncle-Master, behind you…” A disciple cried out in shock.

　　They looked back and saw that the swamp had already reached behind them and surrounded them in the middle.

　　“Use the sword-ride!” Yi Qing reminded everyone to fly up.

　　The disciples started producing hand seals, but it was already too late. The swarm had spread under their feet. The Spirit Qi that they had just gathered emptied instantly, and their bodies started sinking uncontrollably.

　　“This mud can suck Spirit Qi!” The disciples were shocked.

　　Yi Qing frowned. Seeing that everyone was going to be submerged by the swamp, his hand tightened around the sword, and Sword Qi burst all over his body. He waved his sword in a fast and urgent manner, producing hundred thousands of Sword Qi which hit towards the black swamp, and in the moment that the swamp retreated, he directly threw the trapped disciples out one by one. Yet this only drew him further down into the mud.

　　“Young Uncle-Master!” The other disciples saw his intentions, and immediately they became both touched and extremely anxious. At this rate, he wouldn’t be able to return!

　　“Go!” Yi Qing said in a deep voice, as he finally threw the last disciple out. And he himself sank even deeper into the mud due to exhaustion. He had said in front of Master that he would take care of these disciples, so every one of them must be safe!

　　“Young Uncle-Master!” They yelled anxiously, but they could only watch the black swamp submerging the top of Yi Qing’s head, bringing down both him and the girl of Red and Green Sect prior into complete blackness.

　　***

　　Guest room of Divine Heavens Sect.

　　“Eh?!” Shen Ying who was eating suddenly stood up.

　　“What are you doing?” Lonemoon looked at her.

　　Shen Ying’s head inclined, and after a while she sat back with an usual expression on her face. “Nothing, my back was sore from sitting for too long.”

　　“Psst.” So troublesome! That distinct disdainful expression was on Lonemoon’s Face.

　　***

　　“Senior Brother, what do we do?” The saved disciples were in the air on their swords. They looked down anxiously at the silenced swamp, and their tears flowed uncontrollably. Young Uncle-Master got sucked inside because of them.

　　“Wait!” The highest-level disciple among them bit his lip and said, “Young uncle-master is so good that he could even defeat a seventh-level demon beast, he will definitely be okay. We will wait for him to come out no matter what.”

　　“Yes! I believe in young Uncle-Master. He will definitely make it out!” The other disciples nodded in agreement.

　　“Me too. I will wait here until he comes out.”

　　“Me too. He saved our lives. In the worst case, we will fight till the end with this swamp.”

　　“Okay, then we will stay! Let’s wait here for a day. If young uncle-master still doesn’t come out by then, we will go in and attack!”

　　“Okay!” The disciples nodded, and they all sat down on their swords. They meditated to regain Spirit Qi, while staring at the swamp down below. For a time, they seemed to have all forgotten that in three days, the whole mystic realm would be closed.

　　***

　　Yi Qing felt a blackness in front of him, as he sank towards the bottom. He couldn’t gather any Spiritual Power, as if his body had instantly been emptied. And the body grew ever heavier. Something squeezed him hard. He could vaguely hear sounds of wind which was getting closer to him.

　　His heart tightened. He directly drew out all the sword qi over his body and surrounded his whole body with it. Something bounced off his side. That feeling of squeezing disappeared.

　　The surroundings were still pitch-black. He could only let go of Divine Perception to find out. Only then did he realize he was sinking constantly into something like a bottomless hole. He could vaguely see many wind blades below his feet where demonic aura concentrated. They were making clanking sounds. Forming a wall of wind blades, they blocked out the black swamp directly.