Chapter 31 Dream (Part 1) She disappeared.

Five hundred years ago, this sea of ​​flowers was not called "Blood Peach Forest".

This place was originally a beautiful and vibrant place, where people set up camp and lived along the mountainside. Although the terrain slowed down the flow of news within the valley, the lack of outside interference allowed them to live a very comfortable life.

It is said that a cultivator passed through this place and ate and stayed with the villagers for several days. He then resolutely gave up his cultivation and chose to live in seclusion.

While this claim may be exaggerated, the existence of such a story is enough to illustrate the leisurely and peaceful life in the valley.

But that's not all that makes this place famous.

Thanks to the basin's humid, pot-like environment, the valley enjoys a warm and humid climate, which has allowed peach trees to flourish. Whenever the snow melts and spring breezes arrive, all the peach blossoms can bloom simultaneously overnight, stretching for thousands of miles from the mountainside to the valley floor.

Thus, people gave this place a simple yet elegant name – Peach Blossom Valley.

But fate is fickle; things that are too beautiful cannot last forever.

Five hundred years ago, when he was deluded and fell into demonic possession, he happened to pass through this place.

His cultivation level was too high, so his demonic energy was naturally only stronger, not weaker. The tragic situation in Peach Blossom Valley can be imagined.

According to the descriptions of the cultivators who survived the war between humans and demons: on that day, screams and cries for help echoed throughout the valley. Whether cultivators or mortals, all were swallowed up by the rampant demonic energy, and none survived.

But while those who are forced to become monsters are pitiful, if they were allowed to escape, the world would truly descend into chaos.

Thus, the five powerful figures took the lead, joined forces to slaughter all the demons in Peach Blossom Valley, and then led Wang Yan to the Extreme Cold Continent, where they used their life's cultivation and lifespan to seal him away forever.

The war between humans and demons lasted for a month. During that month, red clouds shrouded the sky above Peach Blossom Valley, and the clear streams that were used for washing were dyed red.

It was the season when peach blossoms were in full bloom, and the blood of humans and demons mixed together, turning all the peach blossoms in the valley crimson.

Strangely enough, no one knows what effect the blood had, but even after the great war ended and five hundred years had passed, the peach blossoms here never withered or faded. They bloomed quietly, in a beautiful yet terrifying way.

“The peach blossoms we see now were carefully watered by someone who died five hundred years ago.” Wenren Xi picked up a slender flower branch, and with a little force, the peach blossom was crushed, and the bright red juice was squeezed out, flowing all over his hands.

Qingxing was stunned by Guda's words earlier, but she only came to her senses when she heard Wenrenxi's words.

She looked at the person in front of her and saw Wenren Xi with his head slightly lowered, a pile of broken flower petals lying in his palm.

Qingxing stared at him: "Senior brother, are you daydreaming?"

"Ah." Wenren Xi took out a handkerchief and wiped her palms clean. "No, it's just that it's the first time I've seen a place like this, and I'm a little moved."

The intense, vibrant colors always have a certain impact, and coupled with the faint smell of blood in the forest, they felt as if they were standing in that sea of ​​blood from five hundred years ago.

Qingxing felt unwell. For some reason, as soon as her feet touched the ground in the valley, the hairs on her body stood on end, and she felt irritated and depressed.

However, due to the restrictions set up by the Duanmu family, they could no longer fly on their swords or use spells such as "travel a thousand miles a day" or "teleportation array." She could only endure her nausea and walk through the peach grove, but she walked very carefully, trying her best not to touch any peach blossoms.

“Xuanying is taking a different route with Chen Mo, so they’ll arrive before us.” Qinghe led the way, looking at the compass in his hand, and said to his disciples, “The Blood Peach Forest is complicated, with many demons. Take your weapons and stay close. We should be able to reach the Duanmu residence tomorrow and meet up with the two of them.”

"What mansion?!" Duanmu Tingzhu wondered if he had misheard. He repeated, "It can't be the mansion I know, can it?!"

Qinghe didn't even look up, and just two words from him completely shattered his composure: "Your home."

Duanmu: !

He exclaimed in despair, "Why do we have to go to my house? Wouldn't it be better to ride straight to the Northern Wilderness Continent?"

“Taihua Mountain and the Duanmu family have a long-standing relationship. If we pass by the Blood Peach Forest and do not pay our respects, wouldn’t that be impolite?” Jiu Qu Chen explained. “Besides, the examination will be held in the autumn, which is still half a year away. There is no need to rush.”

"Why aren't we in a hurry?!" Duanmu almost jumped up. "If we go earlier, we can get more familiar with the venue, right?"

Shen Wan laughed at him, "Why are you acting like a monkey?"

Gudako gloated: "Isn't it just a monkey?"

The group started chattering again. Qingxing watched Duanmu Tingzhu's bouncing figure and felt uneasy, perhaps because of Guda's words.

Duanmu Tingzhu is still young and exceptionally talented; his future should be bright.

Qingxing didn't want him to die quietly here.

Even Gudako only knew the ending of Duanmu Tingzhu's death, but not how he died. Qingxing naturally had no way to prevent it, so she could only be more vigilant and be prepared to draw a magic circle at any time.

Dark clouds obscured the sun above the Blood Peach Forest, making it impossible for them to discern the time of day. They simply followed Qinghe relentlessly. The surrounding scenery was largely the same, and after a while, Qingxing felt she was losing her sense of direction, not to mention the increasingly thick white fog.

The peach trees ahead became increasingly dense. Qingxing, who had been walking side by side with Shen Wan, was now squeezed so much that she could only fall slightly behind. The entire line had become a long, vertical strip.

To prevent anyone from falling behind, Wenren Xi took out a soft silk thread from her sleeve and used her spiritual power to slowly wrap the thread around everyone's wrists, connecting the group together.

"Why do I feel like the fog is getting thicker?" The surrounding environment was too eerie, and Shen Wan couldn't help but shrink her neck. "We...we shouldn't get lost, right?"

"No, it won't." Xie Yuzhou slowed his pace to get closer to her and reassured her, "Elder Qinghe's compass has never been wrong."

Upon hearing this, Gudako said quietly, "There's no such thing as absolute certainty."

It had been flying behind Shen Wan, keeping its mouth shut, so Shen Wan hadn't noticed its presence. Now, it suddenly opened its mouth, the airflow hitting the back of Shen Wan's neck. Startled, Shen Wan lurched forward half a step, crashing into Xie Yuzhou's back, and the others behind her were also pulled forward a bit.

"Guda! How can you scare people like that!" Shen Wan angrily covered her head and scolded Guda.

Gudako was baffled: "Who's trying to scare you? You're just a coward."

Seeing Shen Wan's strong reaction, it asked again, "You're not afraid of ghosts, are you?"

Shen Wan immediately straightened up: "Who's afraid of ghosts? I'm not afraid at all!"

"I don't believe it, unless..." Gudako came up with a mischievous idea, "I'll tell you a ghost story."

Shen Wan: "Fine, I'll listen!"

Qingxing was rubbing her wrist, which had been pinched by the blanket, when she heard Guda's words. Curious, she unconsciously took two steps closer to Chen Wan, as if she were eavesdropping.

"Have you ever heard of 'Jibaku Oni'?" To create an atmosphere, Gudako deliberately lowered her voice, her ethereal tone reaching their ears. "If a person's obsession is too strong after death, they will be trapped in the same place until they find the next 'lucky one' to replace them and experience their death again, and so on."

"So, Shen Wan," it shrieked as it approached, "so many people died in the Blood Peach Forest, their obsessions are probably only getting stronger. Could this thick fog be the result of the earthbound ghosts picking out lucky victims and waiting to strike?"

Just as she finished speaking, a gust of cold wind blew by, carrying a chill that seeped into everyone's sleeves. Qingxing caught the chill and couldn't help but shiver.

"You, your story isn't scary at all!" Shen Wan's words were slurred, but she still stubbornly insisted, "It's too cliché!"

"Tch," Gudako rolled her eyes, "I have hundreds more versions. If you're not afraid, then I'll keep going!"

"Alright, stop arguing." Jiu Qu Chen coughed lightly, interrupting the two. His expression was unnatural, and his voice was louder than usual. "Focus on observing your surroundings! The monsters in the Blood Peach Forest are no joke!"

Elder Qinghe also turned around and glanced at them.

Shen Wan turned her face away. Gu Da gave a soft snort, sat back on Qing Xing's shoulder, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Your master isn't afraid of ghosts, is he?"

Look at his pale face and deathly white lips.

"……have no idea."

Qingxing kept her eyes down, and from her angle, she could just see Jiuquchen's slightly trembling hands.

It seems like you're quite scared?

She suddenly found it somewhat amusing.

The group remained silent for a while longer, as the peach trees ahead grew taller and their branches thicker. Qingxing looked up and realized that the area seemed... a bit more open.

"Tighten the threads; this is an area frequently teeming with monsters," Qinghe warned.

Click—

As soon as he finished speaking, a clear voice rang out behind Qingxing. The voice was not loud, but it sounded particularly abrupt in the quiet peach grove, sending chills down one's spine.

Everyone turned around and saw Wenren Xi slightly raising one foot. He met their gazes with an embarrassed expression: "I'm sorry... I accidentally stepped on a tree branch."

Qingxing lowered her gaze and indeed saw a broken wooden branch at his feet.

"...I thought some monsters had come," Duanmu complained. "It scared me to death."

Qingxing also breathed a slight sigh of relief. She looked at Wenren Xi and said, "Senior brother, you should still be careful."

Wenren Xi: "Okay."

They ignored the minor incident and continued on their way. It was already dark, and visibility in the peach grove had dropped to almost zero; Qingxing could barely see Shen Wan ahead.

She lit the inexhaustible wood, barely managing to keep herself in the right direction.

"No, no, we'll get separated sooner or later if this continues." Jiu Qu Chen's voice came from ahead, echoing in the forest. Qing Xing heard him suggest, "Let's count off? Make sure everyone's here."

“…One.” Elder Qinghe’s reluctant voice rang out.

Jiuquchen continued, "Two."

Xie Yuzhou: "Three."

...

Qingxing was the second to last, and she said slowly, "Six."

Wenren Xi was at the very end. After he finished reporting his number, Jiu Qu Chen felt relieved and wanted to continue walking forward.

At this moment, Guda spoke up, interrupting everyone's steps: "Hey, should I sign up?"

Qingxing glanced at it and said, "Report it if you want."

Wenren Xi smiled and said, "You can report it, after all, Gudako is one of us."

"Okay," Gudako said loudly, "Eight."

Its volume was so loud that the number hit a nearby tree trunk and bounced back, lingering there for a long time, the echo lingering for a long time.

Shen Wan and Duanmu Tingzhu seemed to find it amusing and chuckled softly from the front. This commotion relaxed the atmosphere within the team considerably, making it much better than when they first entered the Blood Peach Forest.

Just then, a cold wind came from behind, and Qingxing felt the chill, causing her fingers to curl slightly.

She wondered: There was clearly a breeze, so why was the white mist so still?

Qingxing had a bad feeling. The next moment, a series of sharp cries of a baby suddenly rang out, almost piercing everyone's eardrums.

A male voice came from all directions, reaching everyone's ears:

"Nine."

At that moment, a shocking change occurred. Countless eyes, blazing with purple flames, instantly appeared, staring intently at the crowd as if they were looking at fresh meat on a felt board.

Qinghe spun the compass wildly in his hand, drew his sword, and shouted, "Be on guard!"

The white mist buried everyone. Qingxing wanted to draw a magic circle, but as soon as she raised her hand, the silk thread on her hand snapped with a "snap".

The purple flames around her vanished instantly, and the surroundings became silent once more, as if she were the only person left in the world.

Meanwhile, the remaining six people in the peach grove were fighting the demon. Guda looked left and right, and suddenly shouted, "Qingxing is gone!"