Chapter 93: Mysterious Orchid

The Human World

"This is the Three Calamities Devouring Heart Array. It's said to have been created by a powerful figure who based it on heavenly tribulations. It doesn't just manifest the three calamities; it can also confuse the mind and give rise to inner demons. Even Golden Core cultivators would have to expend considerable effort if trapped in it."

Zhao Yan warned them, "Activate the Four Cloud Divine Prohibition with all your might and call forth the power the Sect Master left in the Cloud Banner to protect yourselves. Then you'll be safe. Once we enter the array, there's no escape. Even if we don't die from the Three Calamities, we'll be trapped until our spiritual energy is depleted and we perish. After entering the array, we'll either all succeed or all fail together; no one can afford to be careless."

Upon hearing about the effects of the Three Calamities Devouring Heart Array, Qin Sang's heart stirred. He wondered if the Jade Buddha could help him resist inner demons.

Showing no change in expression, he fully activated the Cloud Banner as instructed by Zhao Yan. The five of them took their respective positions, and the four-colored cloud energy grew increasingly dense.

Then, Qin Sang saw the ethereal figure of the Sect Master within the Cloud Banner raise a hand and point skyward. Four streams of spiritual energy burst from the Cloud Banner, striking the transparent jade artifact in Zhao Yan's hand.

The transparent jade artifact glowed intensely. As its light touched the surrounding wisps of cloud energy, it instantly transformed into a solid protective barrier, enveloping the five individuals.

Once they entered the Three Calamities Devouring Heart Array, the surrounding scenery changed dramatically. Suddenly, lightning flashed and thunder roared; they had entered a swamp of thunder. Endless bolts of lightning streaked across the sky above them, a doomsday-like sight that made their faces turn pale. Such terrifying thunder was certainly not something ordinary cultivators could brave.

Zhao Yan was also somewhat startled by the thick, incessant bolts of lightning in the thunder swamp. After a moment of hesitation, he let out a low cry, "Go!"

As soon as he stepped into the thunder swamp, dozens of electrical snakes instantly lunged at them. Everyone was terrified and panicked. Zhao Yan quickly raised the transparent jade artifact high. The artifact glowed brightly, revealing the ethereal figure of Sect Master Yi. When the terrifying lightning bolts reached the Sect Master's figure, they simply dissipated.

"Move quickly!"

Zhao Yan was overjoyed and urged them forward loudly. Under the protection of the Sect Master's ethereal figure, they advanced rapidly, finally passing through the thunder swamp. Next, they encountered a boundless sea of fire, and after traversing that, endless hurricanes. It felt as though they would never reach the end.

Qin Sang was secretly alarmed. Even if the Jade Buddha could help him resist inner demons, he couldn't withstand the terrifying Three Calamities. This might be his only chance to escape; was he truly destined to accept his fate?

They continued their difficult journey, sometimes slow, sometimes hurried. Suddenly, a look of delight appeared on Zhao Yan's face. They had finally passed safely through the Three Calamities.

The grand array returned to calm, and endless gray-white mist enveloped them. Everyone knew that this gray-white mist could confuse the mind and trap them to die there, a fate even more miserable than dying under the Three Calamities. They still dared not relax. After walking for some time, the view ahead suddenly cleared.

They had finally emerged from the Three Calamities Devouring Heart Array.

Immediately afterward, unrestrained gasps of astonishment escaped from everyone's lips. Qin Sang, too, stared fixedly ahead, his eyes filled with profound wonder.

At the center of the enormous cavern was a square pool. The clear water within was still, and a faint, misty aura rose from it. In the middle of the pool, astonishingly, grew a peculiar orchid.

The orchid floated quietly on the water's surface, its roots clustered together, pristine white. Some of its leaves were submerged, while others floated on the surface, a vibrant, glistening green.

It had seven petals, entirely purple, clear and translucent like amethyst, shimmering with colorful light. Its shape closely resembled a spiritual herb called "Snow-Covered Ink Orchid" that Qin Sang had seen in the Return to Yang Valley, differing only in color.

Even more remarkably, a wisp of mist floated above the orchid's stamen, seemingly evolving into suns, moons, and stars, mountains and rivers, exotic beasts and immortal herbs, carriages and pedestrians...

In just a few breaths, countless illusions flashed across the orchid, all incredibly lifelike, as if real. It seemed as though a mysterious miniature world existed within this orchid, revealing only the tip of an iceberg to those present.

"What kind of spiritual herb is this?"

Ruan Nanfeng was captivated by the orchid and couldn't help but ask. Qin Sang was also incredibly curious. Compared to this orchid, the spiritual herbs in the Return to Yang Valley's medicinal garden paled in comparison, appearing no different from weeds.

Zhao Yan stared at the orchid with a fervent expression, his breathing heavy. He ignored Ruan Nanfeng and made no attempt to explain anything to them, instead urgently shouting, "Form the array! Activate the lightning spell!"

A flicker of displeasure crossed Ruan Nanfeng's face, but he dared not defy Zhao Yan's command. The four of them changed positions again and activated the cloud energy.

Thunder boomed, and lightning flashed within the cloud energy emanating from the Cloud Banner, exuding an aura of extreme yang and rigidity.

Zhao Yan raised the jade artifact high. All the lightning suddenly surged, rushing frantically into the artifact. The transparent jade was quickly saturated with lightning energy, transforming the entire piece into a dazzling ball of thunder, too bright to look at directly.

One couldn't help but worry if the jade artifact would explode from the violent lightning.

Sensing the terrifying energy gathered within the jade artifact, Qin Sang and the others felt a tremor of fear. If the transparent jade were to explode here, they would surely perish.

Just then, Zhao Yan suddenly swept over to the pool, aimed the jade artifact at the water, and roared, "Open for me!"

The transparent jade artifact emitted a brilliant electrical glow. The Sect Master's ethereal figure extended a finger, and an immensely thick bolt of lightning shot forth.

*Boom!*

A blinding silver light suddenly erupted. Qin Sang squinted, unable to see what was happening at the edge of the pool. Only when the silver light slightly dispersed did he discover a barrier that hadn't been there before, hovering above the pool.

At this moment, the barrier remained completely unharmed despite being struck by the Four Cloud Divine Prohibition.

Zhao Yan bellowed, "Activate the Four Cloud Divine Prohibition with all your might!"

The four dared not defy the command and exerted all their strength. They watched as bolts of lightning struck the barrier repeatedly, finally revealing a faint crack.

Zhao Yan was ecstatic. He flashed forward, appearing before the crack, and stared at the mysterious orchid in the pool, laughing maniacally.

At that moment, the barrier above the pool began to slowly close. Zhao Yan's expression subtly changed. He urgently ordered Qin Sang and the others to fully activate the Four Cloud Divine Prohibition and continue to use the jade artifact to release divine thunder, suppressing the barrier and preventing the crack from closing.

Then, Zhao Yan took a jade box from his Mustard Seed Pouch, sat cross-legged at the edge of the pool, and channeled spiritual energy from his hands. This energy transformed into a large hand that reached into the barrier, carefully extending deep into the water to grasp the orchid's roots.

Astonishingly, the mysterious orchid seemed to possess consciousness. As soon as Zhao Yan grasped it, it began to struggle violently, almost causing him to lose his grip.

Zhao Yan glared at the orchid with irritation, his face flushed. Spiritual energy surged madly into his hand, allowing him to barely maintain his grip as he pulled upward with force.

The four individuals behind him could only watch enviously as Zhao Yan harvested the spiritual herb. However, they understood that such a miraculous herb was not something Zhao Yan could keep for himself; it would surely end up in the hands of the Sect Master of Kuiyin Sect or some Golden Core Elder.

The so-called attack on Yuanzhao Sect was likely just a pretense; the true objective was this spiritual herb.

The fact that a Golden Core Elder would painstakingly plan for several years to acquire it was a clear indication of this mysterious orchid's immense value. No one knew which legendary immortal medicine it was.