Chapter 21: The Swarm of Poisonous Scorpions-Acha que não posso cultivar e quer cancelar o noivado? Na verdade, já alcancei o Estágio de Fundação.(Guerreira Bela Jovem)

Arriving at the location provided by Chen Mian, Gu Liuyun indeed sensed a subtle disturbance in the space. As he explored the area, a powerful suction force suddenly seized him, pulling him directly into a secret realm.

This was a naturally formed domain, filled with chaos; the sky was gloomy, the ground damp, and the surrounding jungle looked as terrifying as ghostly hands.

"Chen Jiaojiao! Are you here?" Gu Liuyun called out as he moved through the realm.

After only a few steps, he heard a faint sound ahead, mixed with a soft groan of pain. Gu Liuyun paused, his brows slightly arched as he murmured to himself, "This voice... it sounds familiar."

He followed the sound and pushed aside the dense bushes to reveal a familiar figure. Chen Jiaojiao was slumped on the ground, one of her legs bloodied and mangled from a beast's bite. In her severely injured state, she looked exceptionally frail, her face pale and beads of sweat clinging to her forehead.

Upon seeing Gu Liuyun, a glimmer of surprise flashed in her eyes, followed quickly by a veil of moisture. "Gu Liuyun..." she whimpered, aggrieved.

"How did you end up like this?" Gu Liuyun shook his head helplessly; this woman's impulsive nature always made her prone to trouble. He walked over, crouched down, and carefully inspected her injury. The tooth marks were deep enough to expose the bone, and the sight of the dripping blood was shocking.

"Sss... it hurts..." Chen Jiaojiao gasped, her body trembling slightly as she subconsciously leaned toward him.

"Try to bear it," Gu Liuyun said. He cautiously peeled back her tattered clothing and used the medicinal salve he carried to treat the wound. Chen Jiaojiao bit her lower lip to keep from crying out in pain. Leaning against him, she felt his warmth and a strange sense of security washed over her.

"You've saved me again."

At such close range, the faint, lingering fragrance from her body drifted into his nostrils. Gu Liuyun’s heart skipped a beat, and his gaze flickered. He had to admit that while the woman had a fiery temper, her figure was undeniably striking, with every curve in the right place, and her current vulnerability was truly endearing.

Chen Jiaojiao stole a glance at him, noticing he was focused entirely on treating her wound without the slightest intention of taking advantage of the situation. She felt a mix of shame and annoyance; was this guy some kind of reincarnation of a saint who remained unmoved by beauty?

Once the wound was dressed, Gu Liuyun helped her to her feet.

Chen Jiaojiao limped a few steps and felt much better. She looked at him gratefully and said, "Thank you, Gu Liuyun."

Gu Liuyun waved her off, signaling that it was nothing. "Let’s keep moving. This realm is full of dangers, so don't run off on your own again."

As they proceeded, Gu Liuyun suddenly sensed a powerful surge of energy—a fragment of the Seven-Colored Stone was nearby! He hadn't expected such an unexpected gain. Eyes narrowing with excitement, he followed the sensation until they reached a mysterious cave. The entrance was shrouded in an eerie black mist, and cold, sinister winds made one's skin crawl.

"The fragment is inside," Gu Liuyun said in a low voice.

"It feels... so ominous in here," Chen Jiaojiao said, clutching his arm in fear.

Gu Liuyun patted her hand to reassure her. "Don't worry, I'm here." Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the cave with a firm gaze.

"Trespassers in the forbidden land shall die!" An icy voice echoed from the depths of the cave.

Gu Liuyun inhaled, and a scent of decay and dampness rushed toward him, carrying a faint metallic tang. Chen Jiaojiao followed closely behind, shivering. "Should we... not go in?"

If it were merely a common treasure, Gu Liuyun might have turned back, but the fragment of the Ascension Stone was non-negotiable. "Wait here for me. I'll be right back."

Chen Jiaojiao grabbed the hem of his clothes in a panic. "No! Don't leave me here alone!"

"Then come with me," Gu Liuyun replied. Even though she was a thousand times reluctant, she had no other choice.

The two moved forward, one after the other, each step taken with extreme caution. The ground was sticky, making a squelching sound with every footfall. The stone walls were dark and damp, covered in green moss, and the occasional drip of water sounded jarringly loud in the silent cave.

Suddenly, a rustling sound erupted, and Gu Liuyun stopped abruptly. From the darkness ahead, a swarm of venomous scorpions surged out, waving their sharp pincers and emitting blood-curdling hisses as they flooded toward them.

"Damn! Is it always this exciting?" Gu Liuyun scoffed, though he didn't dare to be careless. He quickly channeled his spiritual energy to form a protective shield, shielding Chen Jiaojiao behind him.

The scorpions acted like madmen, slamming into the shield with dull thuds that made it tremble. "These aren't ordinary scorpions!" Gu Liuyun frowned. The venom on their bodies glowed with a ghostly green light in the darkness, making one's scalp tingle.

The pressure on the shield grew, and the force of their attacks continued to intensify.

"Die, all of you!" Gu Liuyun roared, his eyes sharpening. His internal energy erupted as his hands moved in a rapid seal. Dazzling runes leaped from his fingertips like flickering stars, instantly illuminating the cave.

"Ten Thousand Spirit Curse Lightning!"

Black lightning, crackling with terrifying energy, surged from his hands and instantly engulfed the swarm. The scorpions didn't even have time to scream before they were reduced to piles of black ash by the thunder and fire.

"Is that it?" A look of disdain curled the corners of Gu Liuyun’s lips.

"Rumble..."

The mountain shook violently. Chen Jiaojiao screamed and nearly fell. Gu Liuyun caught her with lightning-fast reflexes, his expression turning grave as he sensed a formidable presence approaching rapidly.

Soon, a giant scorpion appeared at the cave entrance, its long tail glowing with a cold, green light. "What a huge scorpion!" Chen Jiaojiao gasped, covering her mouth in disbelief.

"Dare to trespass—die!" The scorpion actually spoke in human tongue, whipping its tail toward Gu Liuyun.

Gu Liuyun scooped up Chen Jiaojiao and leaped nimbly out of the way. The tail slammed into the cave wall with a deafening crash, sending stone shards flying and filling the air with dust. He set Chen Jiaojiao down in a relatively safe spot nearby and immediately lunged toward the monster.

The giant scorpion was massive, yet surprisingly agile. Having been nourished by the spiritual energy of the secret realm for so long, it possessed semi-sentience. Sensing danger, it retreated, crawling upside down onto the ceiling of the cave to maintain its distance from Gu Liuyun.