Daylight
The fog was thicker at night than during the day, and Guixu had to improve the lighting several times.
Flames cannot burn in the black mist; only spiritual energy can, but even then, it can only burn briefly for a short time.
Gui Xu actually built a small burning array inside the lamp, allowing it to light up in the black mist.
This black mist greatly aroused Gui Xu's competitive spirit. She wanted to defeat this black mist more than anyone else. The forbidden book left behind by Gui Qu was a height that Gui Xu could hardly reach even if she tried her best. Therefore, the only way for Gui Xu to surpass it was to leave a name in history.
You need either real skill or fame.
The desert, shrouded in black fog, is prone to earthquakes. As time goes by, the encroachment becomes more and more severe. At night, only a portion of the people can rest, while the rest must keep watch.
Led by Hanqi, Hanjiang tested the nearby black mist, and the black mist did not affect the spiritual energy dissolution body for the time being.
In contrast, the others either had their spiritual energy devoured and lost consciousness, or their spiritual energy became disordered and they lost their sense of direction.
Given the approaching cold season, the group decided to search for the ruins once again.
The Tranquility Bead shattered after Xiao Mo used it, and the base was transformed into a compass by Gui Xu. She firmly believed that this creation was connected to the birthplace and that it could definitely find the underground palace, even though many previous attempts had failed.
The original plan was to wait for Wenxu to return and set off at noon, when the sun would be out and the dark fog would dissipate somewhat.
Night patrols only cover the first half of the night; the black fog's devouring power is too strong and too dangerous in the second half.
It was almost midnight, and the patrol team still hadn't returned. The talisman couldn't be used, and even the corresponding incantation that Gui Xu had cast on the lamp couldn't be transmitted back. Something must have happened.
Elder Shuyue organized a second patrol team to enter the black fog for the rescue.
An hour later, they lost contact again.
Before they could think of their next move, the camp began to be attacked from all sides.
The beasts in the desert were even more ferocious than when Han Jiang last came. Their flesh and skin were almost completely corroded, leaving only their skeletons assembled together by the black mist. They were loosely scattered yet incredibly powerful.
No matter how many times it is broken apart, the shattered skeleton on the ground can always be reassembled, endlessly, immortal and indestructible.
The barrier was repeatedly hit hard, forcing Chaoyu to shrink its area and regroup her base in the center.
The black mist seemed to gain consciousness, beginning to attack in a rhythmic pattern instead of spreading out over a large area as before. The beasts seemed to have received some kind of command, concentrating their forces to attack a weak point.
Han Jiang was captured by Gui Xu and hidden in a safe place, while the task of facing the black fog was handed over to Han Qi and Cang Jingmo.
“Something’s not right,” Gui Xu said, activating the observation array while peering out to observe the movement of the black mist. “The black mist couldn’t have suddenly become agitated; there must be a reason.”
Qingjuan reassured him, "Master Gui, this has happened before, but it's like the tide; it rises and then quickly recedes. We just need to wait until dawn."
Gui Xu frowned, seemingly disagreeing with Qing Juan's words.
The black fog grew thicker and thicker, as if it were trying to suck away all the light in the world.
As dawn drew ever closer, the night showed no sign of leaving, remaining utterly dark.
The area illuminated by the torches inside the house grew smaller and smaller, and the light emitted was absorbed by the barrier, resulting in extremely low visibility in the camp.
Qingjuan's words of comfort became increasingly weak, the black mist lingered, and the attacks grew stronger with each passing moment.
There was no news from either patrol team.
Not only that, but communication with the Vermilion Bird Pavilion on the other side of Manzhou Island was also cut off.
Now it's completely isolated.
Hanjiang looked up anxiously, hoping that the sky would brighten.
After fighting the wild beasts for several hours, everyone was exhausted.
The northwestern defenses were breached first, and wild beasts swarmed in, rushing into the camp.
People in other directions were instantly thrown into disarray.
Chao Yu and Wen Wan struggled to maintain the barrier, keeping the black fog out.
Gui Xu leaped out from behind and landed heavily in the center. A red array lit up beneath her feet, spreading outwards and covering the entire camp.
"Rise!" she shouted, and red ripples spread rapidly, accompanied by an extremely strong killing intent, repelling the beasts that entered in circles.
A fierce wind swept across the ground, filled with murderous intent, and a red light pierced the darkness, causing Gui Xu's red robes to flutter in the midst of the battle.
“Killing formation, forbidden technique,” Qingjuan murmured.
At this moment, no one cared whether Gui Xu's use of forbidden techniques would violate the rules of the Vermilion Bird Pavilion.
The killing formation would annihilate all living beings nearby except those within it, but Guixu added a filter to the formation, killing only wild beasts.
No matter how strong Guixu and the killing formation are, they can only hold out for a short time.
Wild beasts die and rise again, in an endless stream.
With no one coming to our aid from the rear, Gui Xu alone cannot protect this place.
The sound of the barrier breaking came from it, and Hanqi took Chaoyu's place, supporting the barrier once again.
The black mist gradually seeped in, and anyone who came into contact with it would lose their spiritual power rapidly. If they did not receive spiritual power to protect them, they would be devoured, lose consciousness, and become walking corpses like wild beasts.
Why isn't it dawn yet?
Logically, it should be morning already, so it's impossible for it to still be dark.
Han Jiang narrowed his eyes, staring at the black mist above, and said to Cang Jingmo, "Second Prince, I suspect it's already dawn, but the black mist is shrouding us, trying to force us to our deaths. Can you try to pierce it with your sword?"
Cang Jingmo nodded, channeling his demonic energy into his sword, and charged towards the black mist.
The sword circled in the air before flying back into Cang Jingmo's hand: "It seems we have to break through from the outside. We can only pin our hopes on those two patrol teams."
With no other options left, Han Jiang clasped her hands together and resigned herself to fate.
The gold thread on my right wrist is emerging; it's usually hidden, so why is it suddenly lit up now?
A folding fan pierced through the black mist, precisely repelling a group of wild beasts, and then a ray of light fell from the sky.
Han Jiang stood there, stunned: It's Cang Jingqi? What's he doing here? From the Demon Realm to the desert, it's impossible to get here in just one day!
Then countless folding fans pierced through the black mist from all directions. As the sky gradually brightened, the black mist roared and retreated, and the wild beasts scattered and fled.
"Xiaoman!"
Han Jiang heard someone calling her. It was Wen Xu, and another person, a woman, who seemed both familiar and unfamiliar.
Wen Xu and the others appeared outside the camp. Several of them were injured and were helping each other forward.
Wen Wan immediately led his men forward to provide support and treat the wounded.
“Brother,” Cang Jingmo said.
Han Jiang heard Wen Xu call her, but she didn't turn around because she knew Cang Jingqi was definitely behind her, and she really didn't know how to face him.
She had no choice but to go to the center of the support group to find something to do.
Gui Xu raised an eyebrow: "The Demon Lord has arrived, aren't you, as his subordinate, going to find him?"
Han Jiang smiled awkwardly: "No rush."
"Did they have a fight?" Gui Xu asked with an expression of anticipation.
"Let's not talk about that. I just heard someone calling me."
Gui Xu patted the dust off his clothes: "Not Wen Xu?"
Han Jiang shook his head and said, "No, she didn't call my name, but I heard a voice calling me. It was like in the attic, I heard the departed remnant soul calling me, across time and space, not face to face with me."
"Could it be the person who told you stories in the underground palace?" Gui Xu became serious. "I'll try to set up a reinforcement array for you. See if you can hear what they're calling you for."
"Okay—hey—" Han Jiang had just lifted her foot to follow Gui Xu when her collar was pulled up from behind, and she fell into Cang Jingqi's arms the next moment.
Without saying a word, Cang Jingqi picked up the person and left.
"I have important things to do!" Han Jiang struggled. "Cang Jingqi, put me down."
Gui Xu shrugged, giving the two of them plenty of time. She went back to her room to rest and prepare the formation for Han Jiang.
On the other side, Han Jiang had no idea what to say to Cang Jingqi, as if saying anything would be futile.
Cang Jingqi waited for Han Jiang to speak first, but remained silent.
"How did you get here?" Han Jiang finally managed to utter this question after a long pause.
"It flew in."
Han Jiang broke down in an instant, laughing as she pinched Cang Jingqi's arm: "Cang Jingqi, you did this on purpose, didn't you?"
"I'm just telling the truth," Cang Jingqi said, resuming his teasing expression.
"How can you, as the Demon Lord, leave the Demon Realm?"
Cang Jingqi: "The Demon Lord isn't a caged bird; he can come and go as he pleases. Don't worry, I've left everything to A-Ye; she can handle it. Besides, the current Demon Realm barrier is actually being maintained by Mother, so I'm not needed for the time being."
Han Jiang could imagine Cang Jingye's expression as he spoke ill of Cang Jingqi while cursing and swearing as he took over the affairs of the Demon Clan.
The tense atmosphere eased, and the two started joking around, talking about other topics, deliberately avoiding the topic of Han Jiang's departure.
How could Cang Jingqi not understand Han Jiang's meaning? He just understood Han Jiang's hesitation and didn't want to make Han Jiang even more conflicted.
Wen Xu said that they had indeed lost their way in the black fog. In order to conserve their energy, they chose to stay put. After a while, the black fog around them dispersed and concentrated in one direction, which was the direction of the camp.
They were trapped outside by the black mist and unable to return to the camp.
Shu Yue encountered the same situation; after they left the camp for a distance, the black fog actually thinned out.
The two teams met on the outskirts of the camp and tried many times to break through the black fog, but failed each time, until they encountered Cang Jingqi who had come from outside the desert.
As dawn broke, Cang Jingqi received the blessing of the Cang Jing Sword and broke through the black mist in no time.
The black mist began to consciously try to encircle and destroy the camp, and may later consciously cross the sea to reach the mainland.
Without further ado, everyone decided to set off immediately.
Guixu's enhanced magic array helped Hanjiang hear the call from afar again. Guixu seized upon this call and bound it to the tracking compass, greatly increasing the possibility of finding the underground palace.
She wanted to go with Han Jiang, but Han Qi and Cang Jingmo were both people who had seen the underground palace before. It would be easier to find someone familiar with them, so Gui Xu had no choice but to stay and take their place to guard the camp.
In this way, the five-person team regrouped.
Holding the improved compass and lamp, Han Jiang was now the guide, no longer a slacker.
If possible, I'd still like to take it easy during the cold season; after all, people naturally prefer to solve problems in an easy way.
However, when it's time for her to step up, she no longer avoids it like she used to.
Last time, Wen Xu and Cang Jingqi took turns protecting her, but this time, she is the only one who doesn't need protection.
The fact that the black mist can be separated by the spiritual energy dissipation body precisely shows that the black mist is also a kind of spiritual energy, a kind of spiritual energy that is different from the spiritual energy formed by the condensation of demonic energy and spiritual energy, but comes from the spiritual energy of the chaos of heaven and earth in legend.
What broke through the chaos was the light of heaven.
If we find a way to bring forth the light of day, we can dispel the black fog.
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