Chapter 78 Canyon Mist and the Demon King's Instinct of "Protecting Food"
Canyon Mist and the Monster King's Instinct of "Protecting Food"
The discrepancy between the key and the fragment's guidance was like a concrete problem, placed before everyone.
On one side was the southeastern direction, brimming with life, always pointed by the Jianmu fragments. On the other, a new direction, newly activated by the key, pointed toward the deep northeastern canyon. One represented the potential for vitality and purification, while the other held the potential to reveal the secrets at the heart of the "Forgotten River," yet it also carried with it unknown risks and the Master's vague warnings.
"What should we do? Go separately?" Man Gu looked at the canyon, then looked to the southeast, and asked naively.
"No!" Jiang Xuelan and Li Jiuyou denied it almost at the same time!
After saying this, both of them paused, then quickly looked away, making the atmosphere even more awkward.
The other end was churning, and the instantly synchronized, strong rejection of the option of "separation" was clearly conveyed to the other party, making both of them feel a little strange in their hearts.
Jiang Xuelan took into consideration that Li Jiuyou's injuries had not yet healed and that enemies were surrounding him, so it would be too risky to act separately.
Li Jiuyou simply felt that he couldn't let Ice Face, who was in an abnormal state, act alone. What if he was fooled by that old-fashioned man again or encountered danger?
"Ahem," Jiang Xuelan was the first to regain his composure and analyzed, "Although the message left by our master was vague, the key resonates with this place, and the direction it points to may be even more crucial. The Jianmu fragments' induction is certainly correct, but it may point to a larger area of vitality rather than a specific target."
Li Jiuyou snorted. Although he was unhappy that Jiang Xuelan mentioned that old-fashioned person again, he also felt that the key's guidance was more direct: "Then let's go to the canyon! Stop hesitating, no matter how dangerous it is, just go in and see for yourself!" At this moment, he just wanted to act as soon as possible to break the suffocating silence and suspicion.
Jiang Xuelan could sense the irritation and lingering anger in Li Jiuyou's decision, but he also caught a subtle hint of... "I'll keep an eye on you anyway."
In the end, everyone decided to follow the guidance of the bronze key and turn to the canyon in the northeast.
As soon as you step into the canyon, the surrounding scenery changes drastically.
The valley was filled with a thick, impenetrable grayish-white fog. This mist not only obstructed vision but also severely limited spiritual perception, extending only a few feet around him. Tiny, cold water droplets drifted in the air, bringing with it a strange, stagnant feeling, as if even the passage of time had slowed to a crawl. The surroundings were eerily silent, with only the faint echo of his own heartbeat and footsteps audible off the narrow valley walls.
"Everyone follow closely, don't get separated!" Jiang Xuelan warned in a low voice, holding the Frost Sword in his hand. The sword body emitted a faint ice-blue halo, barely dispelling the approaching fog.
Li Jiuyou was equally vigilant. The crimson-gold demonic fire on his Jinsheng Blade danced, scorching the approaching mist with a sizzling sound. He subconsciously took a few steps closer to Jiang Xuelan, almost walking back to back with him, forming a mutually protective posture. In this unknown and dangerous environment, both of them could more clearly feel each other's tense nerves and the power ready to explode. This forced, close dependence actually diluted some of the previous distance.
Ah Che clutched the Jianmu fragment tightly. The fragment's green light shone like a faint beacon in the dense fog, but even that light seemed muffled by the mist. Man Gu stood guard beside him, his bone club across his chest. Xing Tong's illusions seemed less effective in this environment. She fell into a rare silence, her multi-eyed eyes vigilantly observing her surroundings. Xuan Jia, on the other hand, had completely withdrawn his head into his shell, leaving only a trace of his spiritual awareness to sense the outside world.
Something seemed to be watching them from the mist. Not a physical creature, but more like... a **remaining thought** or **ancient resentment**?
Suddenly, Jiang Xuelan, who was walking ahead, paused, his brow furrowed, a trace of pain flashing across his face. He felt the God-killing Gu within his dantian suddenly stir without warning, emitting bursts of chilling energy that clashed with his own Cold Abyss Divine Vein, causing a dull ache in his old wound.
Almost simultaneously, Li Jiuyou groaned and clutched his chest. The ruthless bloodline of the ancient beast deep within his essence was stimulated and began to boil, clashing with the portion of his demon core that suppressed the vengeance of genocide. It also strangely resonated with the agitation of Jiang Xuelan's God-Slaying Gu!
The mist in this canyon seems to be able to amplify and trigger the most unstable power in their bodies!
"What's wrong with you?" Li Jiuyou suppressed his discomfort and turned to look at Jiang Xuelan. His tone was still firm, but with obvious nervousness.
"It's okay, just some recurrence of the old injury." Jiang Xuelan took a deep breath, and used his internal energy to suppress the restless God-killing Gu. His face became even paler.
Li Jiuyou could clearly feel Jiang Xuelan's pain, which was definitely not just a "recurring" pain, as well as the strange, icy, and piercing agitation that originated from the same source as his own power. This made his uneasiness and irritability reach a peak!
"Damn it! This damn place is weird!" Li Jiuyou cursed, suddenly reached out and grabbed Jiang Xuelan's wrist!
Jiang Xuelan froze and subconsciously tried to break free: "What are you doing?!"
"Don't move!" Li Jiuyou roared. The burning demonic power in his palm carried a hint of domineering yet gentle aura. It slowly passed through the skin of his wrist and into Jiang Xuelan's body. "I'll help you suppress it! If you fall here, you'll have to trouble me to carry you out!"
This action was brutal and direct, even a bit excessive. However, the pure and scorching demonic energy transmitted through the contact of skin did effectively calm the God-Slaying Gu's agitation, and the warmth it brought even dispelled some of the chill in Jiang Xuelan's meridians.
Within the connection of the Heart-Slaying Contract, he could vaguely sense the warmth, domineering power yet tinged with clumsy concern, clearly transmitting, causing Jiang Xuelan's struggles to cease. He pursed his lips, feeling the scorching heat on his wrist and the other's powerful yet effective comfort. It was as if a piece of red-hot charcoal had been dropped into his frozen heart, emitting a soft "hiss" and a hint of indescribable warmth.
Just as the atmosphere was delicate—
An extremely concealed gray shadow, almost blending into the mist, suddenly attacked Jiang Xuelan's back from the side like a venomous snake! It was incredibly fast and silent!
"Be careful!" Li Jiuyou reacted extremely quickly, his scarlet-gold eyes instantly locking onto danger! He didn't even have time to swing his knife before the hand holding Jiang Xuelan's wrist suddenly yanked him backwards! At the same time, his other hand, enveloped in blazing demonic flames, grabbed the gray shadow directly!
The demonic fire collided with the gray shadow, making a corrosive sound! The gray shadow let out a sharp hiss and quickly retreated into the mist, disappearing! Li Jiuyou's palm was actually corroded with a charred mark, emitting wisps of black gas!
"What is that?!" Man Gu roared.
A Che screamed in fright.
Li Jiuyou didn't even look at the wound on his hand. His red-gold eyes scanned the thick fog like the most vigilant beast, tightly protecting Jiang Xuelan behind him. A terrifying murderous aura erupted from his body: "You coward! Get out here!"
Jiang Xuelan could clearly feel Li Jiuyou's instant, almost instinctive desire to protect and overwhelming anger, as well as the sharp pain from the corrosion on his palm... All of this was because of protecting him.
He looked at Li Jiuyou's narrow but remarkably determined back standing in front of him, feeling the warmth on his wrist that had not yet dissipated and the intense emotions coming from the other end. Something in his ice-blue eyes quietly shattered.
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