Chapter 239: Chapter 153: Ancestor Serpent’s Poison (5k)_2

"What do you need me to do?"

Ji Xueruo contentedly put away the Exorcism Order: "Tell us everything you know, we have ways to contact the higher-ups at the Exorcism Bureau."

The eldest son shook his head, "I can’t say it out loud, if I could, I would have already spoken. I can’t just watch you become their prey."

Ji Xueruo furrowed her dark brows, acknowledging the existence of rare skills that must not be spoken of regarding secrets. However, the practitioner usually requires immensely powerful cultivation for support. The strength of the person behind Yui Zhen who imposed such a skill on the eldest son likely surpasses Ji Xueruo’s imagination.

"It’s alright, just say whatever you can." Ji Xueruo was unwilling to let go of any piece of information.

"Aren’t you curious where all the people who’ve entered the pool over the past fifty-four years have gone?"

Ji Xueruo widened her beautiful eyes upon hearing this, "I thought...they truly became Guest Elders of the Jade Ring Pool and retreated into seclusion there."

The eldest son sighed, "The Jade Ring Pool once invited every person who received its benefits. You must understand, for cultivators outside the Divine Mountain, entering the Jade Ring Pool is a tremendous blessing. Although some might decline, the majority are willing to join. But those who actually leave are scarce; they are not the ones who slipped through the cracks in the pool but the Blinding Skill deliberately shown to the outside by the Jade Ring Pool."

No wonder...no wonder after entering the pool Ji Xueruo hadn’t seen any outsiders in the Jade Ring Pool. Logically, having recruited so many Guest Elders, it’s implausible not to see a single one.

"Where did they...all go?"

The eldest son’s eyelids drooped, "You already know the answer."

Ji Xueruo’s body stiffened, her rosy lips slightly parted, wanting to speak but unable to. If she guesses correctly, those invited cultivators have become food for the malevolent entities beneath the lake.

"Why do you only target cultivators who’ve benefited from the Jade Ring Pool?"

"When a mirror shatters across the ground, everyone takes a piece. To restore the mirror, naturally, you must gather the shards."

Ji Xueruo understood the eldest son’s meaning; it’s the malevolent entity below wanting to reclaim its dispersed power!

The eldest son’s temples suddenly bulged, his brows and eyes knitted in pain, evidently even such indirect speech triggered the Restriction Technique within him.

"Don’t ask...any more questions might lead to their discovery...what you need me to do, just say it directly." The eldest son clutched his chest, panting heavily.

Despite countless questions in her heart, Ji Xueruo could only give up, saying: 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"I need a few lotus seeds as evidence to send to the outside world."

The eldest son hesitated upon hearing these words, "The lotus seeds are now strictly controlled by the Jade Ring Pool. After their testing and massive loss, their stock is extremely low; I’m afraid taking them for Miss Ji will raise their suspicion."

"The eldest son should understand that hiding is futile; currently, the only way is to break through from the outside." Ji Xueruo spoke earnestly.

The eldest son sighed again, seeming to have finally made up his mind. With a gesture, a brocade pouch appeared in his hand. Slowly pulling it open, it was filled to the brim with spiritual lotus seeds.

"These were entrusted to me by Yui Zhen, tasked to make you consume them. But I’ve never acted upon it and stored them instead. Now it turns out they still need to be handed to you, but you must promise not to consume them recklessly."

The eldest son felt somewhat forlorn, pushing the brocade pouch toward Ji Xueruo.

"That the eldest son can choose to abandon darkness for enlightenment, already proving himself untainted despite emerging from the mud. With such merit, the Exorcism Bureau will surely recognize you."

As Ji Xueruo prepared to take the lotus seeds, the eldest son suddenly pressed down on the pouch, stating seriously:

"Miss Ji, Ming Zhen is no fool."

Ji Xueruo was momentarily stunned, "What does the eldest son mean?"

"What exactly do you intend to do with the lotus seeds?" The eldest son gazed at Ji Xueruo’s face, seeming to peer through the facade to her true countenance beneath, "If truly as you say, one lotus seed should suffice, why need so many?"

Ji Xueruo inwardly thought things were not going well, unexpectedly encountering an error here; she had no choice but to reveal the truth:

"Within the Exorcism Order is hidden a malevolent entity claiming to be the true water deity, only the lotus seeds can awaken it. To disrupt their plans, we must rely on it."

The eldest son was evidently shocked by Ji Xueruo’s abrupt words, but his stunned expression quickly faded, replaced by a serious demeanor:

"It’s the first I’ve heard of it being divided into true and false...you must understand, although Ming Zhen is powerless to change the current situation, he also has no desire to side with malevolent entities! There’s no way I can give you the lotus seeds!"

"How can I prove it to you?" Ji Xueruo felt the developments were unfavorable.

"Please remove your disguise, and prove to me you are not an acolyte of the entity but still yourself. Then, I will give you the lotus seeds, regardless of your intentions."

Ji Xueruo suddenly realized that someone who, in the eldest son’s view, should have perished, somehow emerged unchanged. Instead of her removing that eerie malevolent toxin herself, it seemed more likely she had become entirely a slave to the entity, deceiving him for the lotus seeds with her false water deity story.

Without hesitation, Ji Xueruo rubbed her face, and Yuhong’s features faded away, returning to her original exquisite appearance.

The eldest son’s eyes lit up instantly, loosened his grip on the lotus seeds, and said, "Infuse Profound Qi into the Exorcism Order to prove your identity."