Chapter 46: Host, Beware of the Gentle Man
Yi Xingfeng's new life hadn't even settled in for a few days when the sect's summons arrived.
The atmosphere inside the main hall of the Tianyan Sect was extremely solemn.
Sect Master Meng Tianzheng sat upright on the cloud bed, his body surrounded by a faint spiritual light, his expression solemn.
The peak masters and the selected inner disciples stood on either side, completely silent, with only the occasional cry of a crane outside the hall.
"The spiritual energy in the Misty Swamp has been fluctuating frequently lately," Sect Master Meng said in a deep voice. "The celestial phenomena are disordered, suggesting the appearance of ancient cultivation ruins, but the risk of evil spirits growing cannot be ruled out. Each peak needs to send capable disciples to jointly investigate and eliminate them."
His gaze swept across the crowd below like lightning, and he continued, "Disciples of Yixing Peak are responsible for assisting in controlling the situation, drawing regional maps, and breaking any restrictions encountered along the way."
Once the decree was issued, no one raised any objections.
A chilling atmosphere, as if a storm was brewing, filled the hall.
Before long, several streaks of light rose from the various peaks of the Tianyan Sect, their sword lights and talisman shadows intertwined, and swept towards the outside of the mountain gate.
At the agreed-upon assembly point outside Qinghe Town, people from all sides arrived one after another.
Yi Xingfeng and his group arrived earlier.
Xie Chen waved his ever-present Mountain and River Fan, seemingly relaxed, but his gaze had already carefully examined the flow of spiritual energy around him.
Mo Yun stood quietly to one side, his divine sense sinking into his storage ring to check the talismans and magical artifacts he carried with him.
Senior Brother Tiepan was as tall and strong as an iron tower. He stood silently, with a faint flow of spiritual energy around him.
Ling Shuang wore a moon-white Taoist robe, her face as cold and aloof as snow, as if the tense atmosphere around her had nothing to do with her.
Fang Li stood behind her senior brothers and sisters, and couldn't help but use her divine sense to quietly explore the surroundings. It was her first time participating in such a joint sect operation. She felt both excited and secretly used her inner cultivation technique to suppress her nervousness.
A sword light pierced through the air. Shen Yunzhou led several disciples of Lengyou Peak, whose sword aura was imposing, to stop the sword light. He nodded slightly to Xie Chen as a greeting, and his gaze swept over Fang Li without lingering.
The disciples of Ling Shu Peak arrived in a huge purple-gold medicine gourd. After landing, they first bowed to everyone and then began to distribute various elixirs, especially the miasma-avoiding pills, one bottle for each person.
The arrival of the disciples from Illusionary Spirit Peak was quite a commotion, with several spirit beasts of various shapes following with low growls. Among them, a "Wind-Sniffing Rat" with iridescent fur twitched its nose, already probing the unusual scent in the air.
"Wow, what a massive team-building event!" Fang Li muttered to herself. "It just doesn't feel like a picnic."
System: [Host, be serious! We're here to do serious business!]
"Let's set off." Shen Yunzhou's cold voice broke the silence. He took the pill first and stepped into the surging gray-green mist, with the others following closely behind.
Once you enter the poisonous miasma, it's as if you've fallen into another world.
The light was dim and distorted, and the mud beneath our feet was deep and rotten, each step producing a sickeningly loud splattering sound.
The thick fog swallowed all sounds. The medicinal power of the miasma-avoiding pill dissipated, and a cool barrier protected the body, resisting the invasion of the miasma. However, the pervasive dampness and coldness and the sluggish feeling of being restricted in one's consciousness still weighed heavily on one's heart.
The disciples of Huanling Peak gently patted a few wind-sniffing rats. The little creatures squeaked, puffed out their cheeks, and twitched their long noses rapidly, trying their best to discern the faint flow of breath in the mist and guide the group in a relatively safe direction.
The team slowly advanced through the thick fog for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and stopped for a short rest on a slightly elevated mud mound where they could barely see the surrounding area within a few feet.
The group's tense nerves relaxed slightly, and they were about to replenish their fluids and take some medicine.
Suddenly, a strange change was heard!
"Help!"
"Stop it! Stop it quickly!"
"ah--!"
Panic-stricken cries and the clang of metal clashing, mixed with the roar of some ferocious beast, suddenly erupted from the depths of the thick fog.
Everyone immediately became alert! Shen Yunzhou's eyes sharpened, and he pressed his finger on the hilt of his sword.
Xie Chen's hand, which was waving the fan, paused slightly. Mo Yun and Tie Pan immediately stood guard beside Fang Li, while Ling Shuang looked coldly toward the source of the sound.
"Go quickly!" Shen Yunzhou shouted, taking the lead towards the source of the sound.
Pushing aside the thick miasma, the scene before them came into view: three ordinary-looking rogue cultivators huddled together back to back, each bearing injuries and their faces filled with terror.
Five or six enormous, grotesque crocodile-like monsters, covered in rotting mud, were frantically tearing at the three people's shaky protective aura! Their demonic eyes were filled with bloodlust and madness, and they were about to tear the three people apart!
"It's a Bone-Rotting Crocodile!" a disciple of Illusionary Spirit Peak exclaimed. "It's even more ferocious after being corrupted by the miasma!"
"Save them!" Shen Yunzhou immediately gave the order.
However, before anyone could make a move...
call out!
A clear, melodious sword cry, like the cry of a crane, suddenly rang out!
Puff! Puff! Puff!
The sword flashed repeatedly, piercing the skull of the bone-rotting crocodile with unparalleled precision. With a burst of sword energy, it instantly died.
The sword flashed, and the other two bone-rotting crocodiles that had charged ahead also fell to the ground, each with a small sword hole in their vital areas.
Only then did everyone see clearly that a young cultivator dressed in a light blue Taoist robe landed gracefully, with an upright posture and a gentle and refined temperament.
He sheathed his sword with fluid movements, then formed hand seals, releasing a calming and soothing mantra that dispelled the irritating, foul aura around him. The remaining few restless bone-rotting crocodiles slowed down and were quickly dealt with by the Lengyou Peak disciples who had reacted.
The young cultivator then turned to the few shaken rogue cultivators and asked in a gentle tone, "Are you all alright, fellow cultivators?"
The rogue cultivators quickly expressed their gratitude, their voices still trembling.
The young man took out a jade bottle from his pocket, poured out a few pills and handed them to them: "This place is fraught with miasma and danger, and it is easy to attract inner demons. These Miasma-Clearing and Mind-Calming Pills can help you stabilize your minds. It would be best to leave as soon as possible."
The rogue cultivators accepted the pills with profuse thanks, not daring to linger any longer, and quickly staggered away.
At this moment, the members of Tianyan Sect stepped forward. Mo Yun stepped forward, cupped his hands and said, "Thank you for your help, fellow Daoist. I am Mo Yun from Tianyan Sect. These are my fellow disciples. May I ask how you address me?"
The young cultivator returned the greeting with a humble smile: "I am Chu Yunfan of the Qingxu Sect. I was ordered by my sect to investigate a minor demon disturbing the peace in the vicinity. I sensed the unusual activity of miasma in this area and came to check it out." His gaze swept over the Tianyan Sect members, lingering briefly on Fang Li, the youngest in the group who was curiously observing him. A hint of surprise and curiosity flashed in his eyes, which then turned into a gentle smile.
Fang Li was momentarily dazzled by his gentle smile.
"Wow! A handsome guy from the Qingxu Sect! His swordsmanship is amazing, and he's so gentle! He even brought medicine! System, quickly scan that pill!"
[Scanning... Ding! 'Clearing Miasma and Calming the Mind Pill,' a specialty of the Qingxu Sect, top-grade quality! Mind-clearing effect +30%, poison resistance +15%! Host! This is a valuable item! Quickly find a way to get more! System report immediately.]
Chu Yunfan seemed to notice that Fang Li glanced at the pill in his hand a few more times. Seeing that she was young, he assumed that she was a junior sister who was not used to the miasma in this place. So he calmly poured out a pill from the bottle and handed it to Fang Li: "The miasma in this place is strange and corrodes the mind. Since your cultivation is still shallow, this pill may help you calm your mind and resist it."
Fang Li was taken aback, not expecting the other party to give her medicine separately, and quickly accepted it: "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Chu."
This move immediately triggered several extremely subtle fluctuations.
Beside him, Xie Chen paused slightly in his hand, which was waving a fan. His smile remained unchanged, but his eyes darkened a bit.
"Chu Yunfan of the Qingxu Sect? His reputation is quite good..."
Shen Yunzhou glanced coldly at Chu Yunfan without saying a word, but silently took half a step forward, standing closer to Fang Li.
Mo Yun politely thanked him, saying, "Thank you for your generosity, Fellow Daoist Chu."
Chu Yunfan smiled slightly and said humbly, "It is only right for fellow practitioners to help each other. Since everyone from the Tianyan Sect is here on a mission, then I will not disturb you any longer. I still need to return to report. Everyone, please be careful." He glanced once more into the depths of the dense miasma before bowing and taking his leave. His figure quickly disappeared into the mist.
Fang Li held the still fragrant pill in her hand, looking in the direction where Chu Yunfan had disappeared.
"Tongzi, this handsome guy is really nice."
System: [Host! Beware of gentle men! Don't forget the lesson from your second senior brother! But... this medicine is really good! Take it!]
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