The abandoned cannon fodder girl's path to immortality

Chapter 321 Departure from the Encirclement

After an incense stick has burned, sandstorms begin to rise on the Gobi Desert outside the poisonous miasma forest.

Chen Jinshu and his two companions had only walked about three miles when more than ten streaks of light rose up from behind the sand dunes ahead, completely blocking their path.

Bloodhand Old Demon's face was ashen, and he held a Blood Demon Banner covered in cracks in his hand. The killing intent in his eyes was almost tangible.

On his left and right sides stood two Golden Core cultivators on each side. On the left was a short, stout old man dressed in the robes of the Five Poisons Sect, with poison pouches hanging from his waist, stroking his goatee with a smile.

On the right, a burly man wielding a heavy black iron sword stared menacingly at Zhao He. He was none other than the rogue cultivator "Mountain Splitter Axe," who had met Chen Jinshu once before.

Further away stood seven or eight Foundation Establishment cultivators, completely surrounding the area within a hundred feet.

"Chen Jinshu!" Blood Hand Old Demon's voice was sinister.

"I guarded the mine entrance for three whole days, but you were quite patient, managing to stay until the secret realm was about to close before you came out."

"What a pity! You shouldn't have done that, you absolutely shouldn't have destroyed my Blood Demon Banner like this!"

As he spoke, he shook the Blood Demon Banner forward. The crack on the banner, running straight from the top to the bottom, was shocking. The remaining bloodthirsty energy within the banner was seeping out in wisps, indicating that it was severely damaged.

“Fellow Daoist Bloodhand, you were the one who attacked me first in the mine, trying to take my life. I was just trying to protect myself. How could I have destroyed your magic weapon?”

"If you're reasonable, we'll talk things out; if not, we'll settle this with our fists." Chen Jinshu's voice grew colder, and his expression turned somewhat grim.

Bloodhand Demon was speechless, his face turning pale. Just as he was about to lash out, the short, stout old man from the Five Poisons Sect beside him chuckled and spoke up:

"Fairy Chen, please don't be angry. I am the Hundred Insects True Man. I am not here today to make things difficult for you. I am just acting as a mediator at the request of Fellow Daoist Blood Hand."

He continued, with an air of affability and a desire to make money:

"As you know, Fellow Daoist Bloodhand's Blood Demon Banner is a Nascent Soul level magic treasure. Now that it has been destroyed like this, no one would be happy."

In my humble opinion, why don't you, Fairy, give seventy percent of the stardust you obtained from the mine, and also compensate Fellow Daoist Bloodhand with thirty high-grade spirit stones? Then we can settle this matter once and for all. What do you say?

Sand Scorpion snorted coldly, clutching his still throbbing chest, and took half a step forward:

"Seventy percent Stardust? Thirty high-grade spirit stones? Bloodhand Old Demon, you really dare to ask for such a lot. You were the one who attacked first in the mine, and you were outmatched and suppressed by Fairy Chen. Now you're turning around and blaming us. Do you really think we're afraid of you?"

Zhao He nodded in agreement, his hand already resting on the hilt of the bone knife at his waist.

"If you're going to fight, then fight! Why are you being so wishy-washy!"

A fierce glint flashed in the eyes of the Blood Hand Demon, and he shook the Blood Demon Banner in his hand. A large amount of dark red blood mist surged out of the banner, staining the sky within a radius of ten feet blood red.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators behind him unleashed their magical artifacts, and for a moment, the Gobi Desert was filled with murderous intent.

"If you won't listen to reason, you'll have to suffer the consequences!" Bloodhand Demon sneered.

"Since you refuse to talk properly, then don't blame me for being impolite. Chen Jinshu, your Star Moon Guqin is wonderful, but your spiritual power has not fully recovered. On my side, I have three late-stage Golden Core cultivators and four mid-stage Golden Core cultivators. What makes you think you can fight me?"

As he spoke, he pointed the Blood Demon Banner forward, and the blood mist that filled the sky transformed into countless tiny blood-red tentacles, sweeping over Chen Jinshu and the other two.

At the same time, a swarm of jet-black poisonous bees flew out from Bai Chong Zhenren's sleeve, buzzing as they flanked him.

Even the silent holder of the Mountain-Splitting Axe roared in anger at the prospect of immense profit. The earthen-yellow light on the Xuan Tie Heavy Sword shone brightly, and with a single strike, a sword aura over ten feet long was unleashed, aimed straight at Zhao He's face.

"Let's do it!"

Bloodhand Demon roared, and the other seven or eight Foundation Establishment cultivators also used their magical artifacts to attack. In an instant, various spiritual lights intertwined on the Gobi Desert, and the killing intent soared to the sky.

Chen Jinshu's eyes sharpened, and his fingers flew across the strings, producing the tune "Guardian".

'Ding ding dong—'

The sound of the zither transformed into visible blue ripples that spread in all directions, keeping the blood mist tentacles and swarm of poisonous bees at least ten feet away. At the same time, a sonic blade shot out and collided head-on with the sword energy cleaved by the Mountain-Splitting Axe. The two canceled each other out, producing a muffled "hum".

Seeing this, Sand Scorpion quickly summoned an earthen-yellow shield to protect himself, and at the same time shouted at Zhao He:

"Old Zhao, protect the left side and don't let those Foundation Establishment cultivators get around to the back!"

Zhao He responded and slashed three times with his bone knife. The three pale white blade energies forced back the two Foundation Establishment cultivators who were trying to launch a sneak attack from the flank.

He was also a seasoned veteran who had been living on the edge for many years. Although his cultivation level was only at the early stage of the Golden Core realm, he had extremely rich practical experience and was not at a disadvantage for the time being.

However, the other side had a large number of people and was powerful. In no time at all, Chen Jinshu found that the situation was starting to turn unfavorable.

Her spiritual power had only recovered to about 70-80%, and continuously activating the "Soul-Suppressing Melody" consumed a great deal of energy, causing the defensive range of the zither's sound to slowly shrink.

Sand Scorpion's old wounds had not yet healed, and Zhao He's cultivation was insufficient. The three of them were forced to retreat step by step, and the sand beneath their feet was pushed back more than ten feet.

Bloodhand Old Demon saw it clearly and said smugly:

"Chen Jinshu, I'm giving you one last chance. Hand over the Star Moon Ancient Qin, cripple your cultivation, and I might spare your and those two good-for-nothings' lives!"

Chen Jinshu did not answer, but secretly activated the Xuanpin Treasure Furnace in his sea of ​​consciousness, sensing the aura of the sleeping ghost body in the spiritual plant space within the furnace.

Since inheriting the Military Soul Banner, Youxi has been nurturing its ghost body in the treasure furnace, refining the obsession of the military soul within the banner. Now, sensing its master's call, the ghost body trembled slightly, as if showing signs of awakening.

"Aren't you going to make a move?" Chen Jinshu silently transmitted his thoughts.

"If we don't make a move soon, we'll all be dead here."

As soon as she finished speaking, the Xuanpin Treasure Furnace at her waist suddenly shone brightly with black light, and a dense mass of Yin energy surged out from the furnace mouth, condensing into a thin black shadow in mid-air.

The dark figure was surrounded by countless tiny phantoms of military spirits, and held a tall, pitch-black banner in its hand. Embroidered on the banner was a black eagle with outstretched wings, its eyes flashing with eerie green flames.

“Master,” the voice of the grotesque creek was hoarse and low, carrying a heavy chill, “I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”

The moment he appeared, the temperature of the entire Gobi Desert dropped by at least ten degrees, and the Blood Hand Demon's blood mist tentacles were forced back several feet by this sinister aura.

Several low-level poisonous bees in the Hundred Insects True Man's swarm were instantly frozen stiff and fell to the ground with a rustling sound.

Bloodhand Old Demon's pupils contracted, and his expression changed slightly:

"This is... a military spirit banner? How do you have something like this?!"

He had heard his senior brother, the Black Demon Old Ghost, mention that Chen Jinshu kept a little ghost with the Xuan Yin Ghost Body by his side, who had inherited the Soul Banner of the Border Guard in the ancient battlefield.

He hadn't taken it seriously at first, after all, no matter how powerful that tattered flag was, it was only driven by a ghost in the early stage of the Golden Core realm, how much power could it have?

But seeing the military aura emanating from the black eagle banner with his own eyes, he realized that he had underestimated it.

Youxi ignored him, instead turning to grin at Chen Jinshu, revealing a mouthful of sharp, ghostly teeth:

"Master, should I devour them all?"

As he spoke, he gently shook the military spirit banner in his hand, and nearly a hundred roars of clashing swords and galloping horses came from within the banner, as if thousands of troops were galloping within it.

The voice carried a chilling aura that terrified people. Several Foundation Establishment cultivators were so struck by the voice that their legs went weak and they almost couldn't stand up.

Chen Jinshu shook his head and quickly transmitted his voice:

"Don't linger in the fight. Your ghostly body is not yet stable, and the obsession within the Military Soul Banner has not been fully refined. Fighting head-on will not do you any good. Clear a path for me, and we'll retreat."

A hint of reluctance flashed in Youxi's eyes, but he still nodded.

He suddenly slammed the military spirit banner in his hand into the ground, formed hand seals, and chanted incantations.

Dozens of gray-white phantoms of military spirits suddenly emerged from the black eagle banner. Although these military spirits only had the cultivation level of Foundation Establishment, their baleful auras were connected after they formed a formation, forcibly creating a gap of more than ten feet wide in the blood mist of the Blood Hand Old Demon.

"Go!" Chen Jinshu shouted, plucking the strings of his zither with his right hand. A moon-white sound blade slashed towards the face of the Blood Hand Demon. At the same time, he raised his left hand, and three golden talismans were attached to the backs of Sand Scorpion and Zhao He. The speed of the two instantly increased by 30%.

The sand scorpion reacted extremely quickly, immediately grabbing Zhao He's arm and leaping forward, transforming into a streak of earth-yellow light as it rushed towards the gap. Zhao He didn't hesitate either, slashing backward three times with his bone knife, forcing back the two Foundation Establishment cultivators who tried to block his way, and then following suit.

Chen Jinshu was the last to leave. Before she did, she glanced back at the Blood Hand Demon, a slight smile playing on her lips, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear:

“Fellow Daoist Bloodhand, if fate allows, I will invite you to have another cup of spiritual tea and catch up properly.”

With that, she lightly touched the ground with her toes, her figure rising like a falling leaf, and followed Sand Scorpion and the other man towards the gap.

Bloodhand Old Demon was so angry that he was about to urge the Blood Demon Banner to give chase when Youxi suddenly swung the General Soul Banner horizontally. Dozens of phantom General Souls roared in unison, which actually made him take two steps back.

By the time he regained his footing, Chen Jinshu and the other two had already rushed over a hundred feet away, leaving only Youxi standing in mid-air, coldly watching him.

“My master said he won’t hold it against you,” Youxi grinned.

"If you know what's good for you, don't chase after me. Otherwise! Hehe..."

He suddenly shook the military spirit banner, and the nearly one hundred military spirits within the banner simultaneously sounded the bugle call to charge, the sound like thunder that made the sand on the Gobi Desert jump.

Bloodhand Old Demon's expression changed, and he subconsciously took half a step back. He was naturally not afraid of these Foundation Establishment stage military spirits, but if he were entangled by these military spirits, Chen Jinshu and the other two would have already disappeared.

Seeing this, Youxi chuckled and transformed into a wisp of black smoke, chasing after the direction Chen Jinshu had gone.

A few breaths later, his figure disappeared into the swirling sandstorm.

Bloodhand Demon stood there, his face ashen, the Blood Demon Banner clenched so tightly it creaked.

Master Baichong gathered the swarm of poisonous bees, frowned, and walked to his side:

"Fellow Daoist Bloodhand, are you just going to let them go like this?"

"Otherwise what?" Bloodhand Old Demon said through gritted teeth.

"That brat's military spirit banner is quite powerful. If we really fight head-on, we can certainly win, but we'll lose at least half of our men. It's not worth it for Chen Jinshu."

As he spoke, he slammed his fist hard into the sand dune beside him, sending sand and stones flying everywhere.

"But this isn't over! Chen Jinshu, you just wait and see, next time we meet, I'll tear you to pieces!"

The Mountain-Splitting Axe sheathed the Xuan Tie Heavy Sword and said in a gruff voice, "So what do we do now?"

Bloodhand Demon was silent for a moment, then a sinister smile flashed in his eyes:

"She can run away, but she can't hide. The secret realm is about to close, let's go back first and see where she can run to."

……

On the other side, Chen Jinshu and his two companions flew swiftly for over a hundred miles before stopping.

She maneuvered the shuttle to land at the foot of a secluded cliff, put away the Azure Phoenix Chasing the Moon Shuttle, and her face turned slightly pale.

"Master!" A shadowy figure emerged from the black light and landed beside her, its small face filled with worry.

"Are you OK?"

"It's nothing." Chen Jinshu waved his hand and took out a pill from his storage bag and swallowed it.

"It's just that my spiritual energy was used up too much. I'll be fine after a short rest."

The sand scorpion glanced at the rift, then at the military spirit banner in its hand, its eyes filled with shock:

"Fellow Daoist Chen, this...this is..."

“This is my ghost servant,” Chen Jinshu said calmly.

"That military spirit banner was obtained from an ancient battlefield."

Zhao He also came over, looking at the military spirit banner in You Xi's hand, clicking his tongue in amazement:

"Good heavens, this thing is amazing! An ancient military spirit, something even Golden Core cultivators have to be wary of!"

Feeling uncomfortable being stared at by the two, Youxi hid behind Chen Jinshu, only peeking out half of her head, and warily watched the two.

"Master, who are they?" it asked in a low voice.

“Friend.” Chen Jinshu patted its head.

"Thanks to you just now, otherwise we probably wouldn't have been able to leave."

Upon hearing this, a smug smile immediately appeared on Youxi's little face:

"That's right! I'm really good!"

It raised the banner of military spirit, waved it, and added:

"However, those military spirits have consumed a lot of power and need to be nurtured for a period of time to recover."

Chen Jinshu nodded: "Yes, thank you for your hard work. I'll find you some places with plenty of yin energy to nurture you when we get back."

Youxi immediately beamed with joy, hugging the military spirit banner, and obediently squatted down next to Chen Jinshu.

The Sand Scorpion watched this scene with a mix of emotions.

He had lived most of his life and seen many cultivators who could control ghosts, but he had never seen anyone like Chen Jinshu who could subdue a treasure like the Military Soul Banner and be so close to a ghost servant.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, what should we do next?" he asked.

"With the Blood Hand Demon and his three companions joining forces, we are no match for them head-on."

"The secret realm will close in three days. Let's go to the Bone Tower first and find the Spring of Time."

"The Fountain of Time?" Sand Scorpion was taken aback.

"Wasn't that Time Lotus stolen?"

“The Time Lotus is gone, but the spring water remains,” Chen Jinshu said slowly.

“That spring water can cleanse the soul and heal its wounds. My soul foundation was eroded by the evil energy in the ancient battlefield, and I need that spring water to nourish it.”

Upon hearing this, Zhao He's eyes lit up:

"That's great! Since we've already got the Star Sand, let's go check out the Bone Tower. Maybe we can get some other benefits."

……

Three days later, in the western part of Liusha City.

After leaving the secret realm, Chen Jinshu and his two companions finally reached the outskirts of Liusha City after a series of twists and turns and several ambushes.

They changed into ordinary rogue cultivators' coarse cloth clothes and mingled with the crowds entering the city, carefully avoiding the Sand Scorpion Alliance cultivators patrolling the city gate.

Sand Scorpion had already contacted his confidants using a sound transmission talisman and learned that Bloodhand Old Demon had not yet come to Flowing Sand City, which made him breathe a slight sigh of relief.

“Bloodhand Old Demon is a vengeful person,” Sand Scorpion said in a low voice.

"He won't let this go. Fairy Chen, what are your plans next?"

"We've been lingering in the secret realm for so long, let's rest for a while."

Zhao He rubbed his hands together and chuckled:

“Fairy Chen, we were able to escape from the Blood Hand Demon thanks to your help this time. If you ever need anything in the future, just ask, and I, Zhao He, will never hesitate to ask.”

Chen Jinshu chuckled: "You're quite sensible. Alright, come back to my residence with me to rest and have a cup of spiritual tea. I'll also give you some star sand as a reward for this adventure."

Zhao He's eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly. (End of Chapter)