Valley Mist

The next morning, just as dawn was breaking, Yi Xing and his group quietly left "Welcoming Guest Town" and stepped into the vast and ancient primeval forests of the Longshan Mountains.

Following the route planned by Master Lu Ban, they avoided the main paths frequented by hunters and herb gatherers, venturing into a dense, untouched forest. Towering ancient trees blocked out the sun, vines entwined, and beneath their feet lay a thick layer of humus, accumulated over countless years, soft and yielding to the touch. The air was filled with the damp scent of earth and decaying vegetation.

Pei Qinhu, wielding a dagger, led the way. His immense strength allowed him to slice through vines as thick as bowls with a single blow. Master Lu Ban, meanwhile, would occasionally stop to observe the surrounding rocks and vegetation, sometimes taking out small, intricate instruments to measure and adjust their course. Yi Xing, seated in a wheelchair and pushed alternately by Gongsun Li and Yang Yuhuan, remained silent despite the stillness of his "Mechanism Disc" on his lap, constantly alert to his surroundings.

Yang Jian and his celestial hound roamed around the group, sometimes leaping among the treetops to scout, sometimes sniffing out suspicious scents from the bushes. His seemingly carefree personality became an advantage in this wilderness environment, allowing him to spot hidden dangers at the first sign of trouble, such as poisonous snakes, traps, or aggressive demon cubs.

"There's a den of 'Spiky Wolves' three hundred paces to the left. They've just finished eating and are sleeping. Let's go around them," Yang Jian said in a low voice as he slid down from a large tree.

"Don't touch that patch of grass on the right with the small purple flowers; that's 'Drunken Dream Flower,' and its pollen has hallucinogenic effects," he warned.

With Yang Jian as their "human radar," the team avoided a lot of trouble.

However, the deeper they went, the more treacherous the environment became. Miasma began to appear, colorful poisonous insects scurried through the forest, and some twisted, eerie plants opened their predatory "mouthparts." The ancient and wild pressure inherent to the Longshan Mountains gradually enveloped them.

As the afternoon approached, following Master Lu Ban's directions, they arrived at a narrow crevice formed by two steep cliffs. Thick, impenetrable white mist filled the crevice, marking one of the entrances to the "Misty Valley."

"This is it." Master Lu Ban stopped, his expression serious. "The situation inside the valley is unclear. The fog has the effect of blocking perception and distorting direction. Everyone stay close and don't get separated."

He took out several small mechanical birds from his toolbox again and sent them flying into the fog to explore. At the same time, he handed each person a green pill that emitted a cool scent: "Hold it under your tongue to resist some of the miasma."

After taking the pills, everyone focused intently and, led by Pei Qinhu, entered the fog-shrouded crevice one by one.

Upon entering the fog, visibility instantly dropped to less than five steps. All surrounding sounds became indistinct, as if muffled by a thick layer of cotton. Even the figures of their companions appeared distorted and warped. An invisible force interfered with their sense of direction and mental focus.

Yi Xing felt a slight dizziness. He suppressed the discomfort and looked down at the "Following the Mechanism" on his knee. This time, the pointer was no longer motionless, but began to tremble slightly, pointing in a certain direction deep within the mist!

"There's a response!" Yi Xing said in a low voice, which sounded somewhat muffled in the thick fog.

The group perked up and, following the direction indicated by the pointer, cautiously made their way through the rugged, slippery valley. Occasionally, eerie sounds drifted through the mist, like the roars of beasts or the whistling of the wind cutting through the cracks in the rocks, unsettling everyone.

Suddenly, Yang Jian, who was on guard duty on the flank, shouted in a low voice: "Something's approaching! It's moving very fast!"

Almost as soon as he finished speaking, several dark figures suddenly darted out of the thick fog! They resembled cheetahs, but their bodies were covered with dark purple scales, their tails were like steel whips, corrosive saliva dripped from their mouths, and their eyes flashed with bloodthirsty red light—they were the unique demonic species deep in the Longshan Mountains, the "Shadow Blade Leopards"!

These demons clearly saw the intruders as prey, launching swift and deadly attacks from different directions!

"Protect Xing'er and Master!" Pei Qinhu roared, his fists glowing white as he fiercely charged at the two Shadow Blade Leopards leading the charge! Fists and claws clashed, producing a metallic clang!

Gongsun Li's umbrella-sword danced like a butterfly, precisely deflecting attacks from the side. Yang Yuhuan's pipa strings resonated, the sound waves acting as an invisible wall, slowing the demonic creatures' impact. Yang Jian and the Howling Celestial Dog coordinated perfectly, one using his three-pointed double-edged sword to attack from a distance and restrain the others, while the other pounced and bit at close range, keeping the remaining creatures occupied.

Master Lu Ban did not participate in the battle. Instead, he quickly took out several spherical mechanisms from his toolbox and slammed them into the ground. Upon landing, the spheres rapidly unfolded, transforming into several continuously rotating devices that emitted high-frequency sound waves and blinding light! These sound waves and bright lights seemed to have a significant disruptive and dispersing effect on the Shadow Blade Leopards, causing their movements to become chaotic.

With everyone's combined efforts, the Shadow Blade Leopards were quickly driven back and, wounded, disappeared into the thick fog.

However, before everyone could breathe a sigh of relief, the pointer on Yi Xing's "Following the Opportunity Disc" suddenly began to swing violently from side to side, as if it had been subjected to strong interference!

"No! The energy fluctuations are chaotic! It's not just the Origin Seed... there are others too!" Yi Xing said urgently.

Just then, from the depths of the thick fog came a clear and rhythmic sound of footsteps, like the striking of jade.

A tall, slender figure slowly emerged from the mist.

He wore an immaculate moon-white robe, his face was so handsome it was almost otherworldly, and he held an ancient-looking longsword in his hand, its blade surrounded by a faint blue halo. His eyes were indifferent, as if nothing in the world was worth his utmost emotion.

“This is not a place for you.” He spoke, his voice clear and cold, yet carrying an undeniable authority. “Leave the compass behind, and leave this valley to save your lives.”

Sensing the unfathomable aura and chilling sword intent emanating from this person, everyone's hearts sank. This sudden obstacle was likely far stronger than the previous Shadow Blade Leopard, and perhaps even... not inferior to Ming Shiyin in his prime!

Meanwhile, the trembling pointer of the "Following the Mechanism" on Yi Xing's lap was pointing directly at this white-clad swordsman!