Chapter 34
Although she was very excited, Fu Yan also understood that a treasure like this generally would not be so easy to refine. Qiu Lang had spent one or two years and still had never truly refined it. He had only figured out a simple method to control the illusion array.
But whether she succeeded or not, she still had to try.
After calming her emotions, Fu Yan followed Qiu Lang’s final memories and arrived at the illusion array’s exit. Then, without the slightest hesitation, her figure flashed swiftly. In the next second, her entire person vanished from the illusion array’s dense white fog.
When she appeared again, Fu Yan was still at the village entrance.
Because the cultivators in the village had all been forcibly sucked into the illusion array, the village was currently very quiet. Only the villagers whose minds had already become foolish remained. Fu Yan looked at the village before her and could not help feeling somewhat emotional.
If they had not encountered Chun Hua and Qiu Lang, the people here should have been able to continue living happily.
Thinking of this, Fu Yan could only shake her head helplessly. She did not continue thinking too much about it either. After all, in this kind of world, the lives of mortals were as powerless as grass and weeds to begin with.
Following Qiu Lang’s memories, Fu Yan quickly arrived at Chun Hua’s house. On the table, there was a jade-white seal. The patterns carved on it were also vivid and lifelike, but aside from that, it looked perfectly ordinary.
If Fu Yan had not examined Qiu Lang’s memories, it was very likely that she would not have been able to tell what was different about it.
She hurriedly walked forward and reached out to pick up the jade seal. She saw four large characters engraved underneath: “Xuyou Jade Seal.” Every stroke was carved with force and vigor.
Fu Yan carefully examined the Xuyou Jade Seal for a while. Only then did she cover it with her hand and directly send out a strand of her spiritual consciousness. It seemed that Qiu Lang had already planted a trace of soul imprint inside the jade seal. Although he had not truly refined this treasure, with this soul imprint, he could still control it simply.
After pausing slightly, Fu Yan’s spiritual consciousness swiftly surrounded Qiu Lang’s soul imprint. Because a magic treasure that had a soul imprint could not be refined by outsiders, and because Qiu Lang’s soul had already almost collapsed completely, she very easily erased this trace of soul imprint.
Very soon, the Xuyou Jade Seal became an ownerless magic treasure once again.
In the next second, Fu Yan swiftly controlled her spiritual consciousness and entered the jade seal. Then the spiritual power in her entire body also began fluctuating rapidly. The jade-white Xuyou Jade Seal began flashing with milky-white light as well. She seemed to have already begun attempting to refine it.
As time slowly passed, half an incense stick’s worth of time disappeared in an instant. Fu Yan, who was gripping the Xuyou Jade Seal, was already covered in sweat. As the light on the jade seal dimmed, her tightly shut eyes swiftly opened.
“Hoo!” Fu Yan let go of the Xuyou Jade Seal and took a deep breath. Only then did she helplessly mutter to herself, “A magic treasure of this level really isn’t so easily refined. Looks like only after breaking through to the Dao Integration stage might I have hope of completely refining it.”
Even so, Fu Yan was not too disappointed. After all, her current cultivation was only middle Illumination stage. It truly was not enough.
Although she could not completely refine the Xuyou Jade Seal, Fu Yan could completely do as Qiu Lang had done and leave a strand of soul imprint inside it. This way, she could simply drive the illusion array inside it. At critical moments, it would also be a life-saving method.
As for what other uses were hidden inside the jade seal, she could only wait until she broke through to Dao Integration stage before slowly exploring them.
After leaving a soul imprint, Fu Yan had originally planned to check on everyone inside the illusion array, but discovered that she had no way to see everyone. It seemed that only after completely refining it could she view every corner of this illusion array.
After putting away the Xuyou Jade Seal, Fu Yan turned and left Chun Hua’s room, returning once again to the village entrance. Then, with a slight movement of her mind, the surroundings spun, and illusory light flowed.
In the next moment, the village entrance, which had just been empty, instantly filled with a group of figures. The people who had been forcibly pulled out of the illusion array seemed not to have reacted yet. They hurriedly steadied themselves and raised their eyes to look at the familiar village entrance.
Fu Yan also swayed along with them, as if she, like everyone else, had inexplicably just been pulled back. Someone’s gaze unintentionally swept over her, but it did not cause any suspicion.
“What’s going on? What exactly happened?” Someone still had not understood the cause of the matter from the beginning and could not help asking dazedly.
“I don’t know. Just now, all of us seemed to have been sucked into some strange illusion array. But why were we suddenly released again?” Zhong Shen of the Zilan Sect muttered to himself.
Hearing this, Qian Xun could not help standing out. “Does that even need to be said? It must be because our eldest senior brother defeated that demon race member, so we were saved.”
The other two ordinary disciples of Fengling Sect still seemed somewhat at a loss and could only awkwardly remain silent.
After seeing Bai Yueli’s figure appear again, Fu Yan could not help breathing a sigh of relief. She quickly walked over and asked, “Senior Sister, are you all right?”
Bai Yueli shook her head, but her brows were still tightly furrowed, and no one knew what she was thinking. Seeing this, Fu Yan did not continue asking.
At this moment, two figures appeared once again on the road at the village entrance. Strangely, the two of them were in a posture of blade and sword facing each other, as if they had been transported out while they were fighting.
They were precisely Young Master Green Bamboo Wang Qingyang and the male lead, Fang Yu.
At this moment, Wang Qingyang was staring at Fang Yu before him with a face full of hostility. The sword in his hand was also gripped tightly. Everyone could smell the tension between the two from far away.
“What happened?”
“That’s right. Why do those two look like they’re about to fight? Right, since everyone has been transported back, where is that demon race member?”
Hearing this, Han Shangzhi seemed to guess something. He could not help looking strangely at Han Shangde beside him, as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he did not speak.
“Hand it over, and I can let bygones be bygones.” The silent atmosphere was finally broken by Wang Qingyang. He stared coldly at Fang Yu opposite him and spoke word by word.
Clearly, he was already extremely angry right now.
Fang Yu, however, said indifferently, “I picked this up myself.”
Seeing this, what else could Fu Yan not understand? Presumably, back in the illusion array, the one who had quickly rushed to the scene of Lie Yan’s self-destruction should have been Fang Yu. He had just happened to collect that damaged demon core of Lie Yan’s, but was caught by Wang Qingyang, who had also rushed over swiftly.
And then, because of a damaged demon core, the two of them seemed as if they were about to fight.
After understanding the cause and effect, Fu Yan suddenly had the urge to laugh. After all, Qiu Lang’s perfectly intact demon core was on her, along with the Xuyou Jade Seal. Of course, this matter could not be known by anyone.
Looking at the two people confronting each other before her, Fu Yan felt somewhat emotional. Sure enough, no matter what changes happened in the plot, Wang Qingyang, as cannon fodder on the male lead’s path of growth, would eventually still end up facing him.
“Young Master Green Bamboo, please calm your anger. If there is anything to say, it is better to talk it through properly. Is there perhaps some misunderstanding between the two of you?” Although he had guessed that these two were fighting over a demon core, the main mission here was to escort the Liuli ore to Chaoyang City. Han Shangzhi did not want them to start infighting halfway through the journey.
So no matter what, Han Shangzhi still had no choice but to step forward and stop the possibility of these two fighting.
“Hmph!”
In the end, Wang Qingyang still did not make a move. After all, with so many people watching here, it truly would not be good for him to do anything. He could only swallow down a mouthful of resentment in secret. Of course, everyone knew that a grudge between these two had been formed.
A duck that had already reached his mouth had been snatched away. Wang Qingyang would absolutely not let this matter rest.
Seeing Wang Qingyang withdraw his sword viciously, no one dared breathe loudly, afraid that one careless move might bring trouble upon themselves. Seeing this, Han Shangzhi could not help breathing a sigh of relief.
As for Fang Yu, from beginning to end, he had never cared about Wang Qingyang’s meaning.
Very soon, the group simply packed their things and set off once again in the direction of Chaoyang City. As for the people in the village, Han Shangzhi left behind one family guard to notify the nearby town.
Whether these people, whose essence blood had nearly been sucked dry, could recover their minds would depend on their own fate.
Everyone escorted the carriages forward. Before long, they had completely left the village behind. After walking for who knew how long, they finally arrived at the outskirts of the Shadow Forest.
The Shadow Forest was the largest forest in the Northern Region. Inside, danger lay everywhere, and demon beasts of all levels existed. Legend had it that in the deepest part of the forest, there were even fifth-level demon beasts comparable to Huaxu-stage experts. It was truly terrifying.
Of course, places of danger had always also contained opportunities. The Shadow Forest was abundant in spiritual energy and nurtured many heavenly and earthly spiritual treasures. It was precisely because of this that this place was also where disciples of major sects, cultivator families, and rogue cultivators liked to train.
Cultivators who had not reached Dao Integration stage did not dare casually venture deep inside and only dared move around the outskirts.
Han Shangzhi and the others naturally also understood the terror of the Shadow Forest. Otherwise, Luanjin Fort would not have specially spent a large amount of money to issue this mission. Therefore, their route to Chaoyang City would only pass through the connecting area between the outskirts and the deeper parts of the Shadow Forest.
This was Fu Yan’s first time entering the Shadow Forest. She could not help looking around in confusion. Before her were towering ancient trees. Dense branches and leaves blocked half the sky. The forest was very quiet. Aside from the sound of their carriages, only the occasional birdcall remained.
“Although we don’t need to enter the deeper parts of the Shadow Forest, there are still many dangers in the outskirts. Don’t let your guard down.” Bai Yueli turned back to look at Fu Yan beside her and could not help reminding her aloud.
Fu Yan quickly nodded and answered, “Don’t worry, Senior Sister. I’ll keep twelve parts of my attention focused!”
The group followed the carriages for a long time. Whether because the sun outside had already set or because the Shadow Forest was too large and blocked the light from slipping in, Fu Yan only felt that as they went deeper into the forest, the light around them grew darker and darker.
Fortunately, they were all cultivators. No matter how dim the light was, they could quickly adapt. They could also sense small movements in the surroundings at all times. So after walking for half a day, the group did not encounter any danger.
Fu Yan was secretly thinking about the Xuyou Jade Seal when she suddenly heard two guards beside her quietly discussing something.
“Didn’t they say there are many demon beasts in the Shadow Forest, and that they can be seen everywhere? We’ve been here so long. Why haven’t I even seen a single first-level demon beast?” One guard was also entering the Shadow Forest for the first time, so looking at the quiet scenery around them, he could not help asking the guard beside him.
That guard answered, “Isn’t it good that we haven’t run into demon beasts? You didn’t come on the last mission, so you don’t know that we accidentally provoked a third-level demon beast. You have no idea how miserable we were back then. If Young Master Han hadn’t been there, we probably would have been completely wiped out.”
“Th-that terrifying?” After hearing this, the guard’s face showed a shocked expression. Only after a long while did he finally continue, “Then we really are lucky this time. We’ve been inside for so long and haven’t run into a single demon beast.”
“That’s why I’m saying, your first mission is going smoothly, so you should be secretly happy.”
…
Hearing the two guards’ discussion, Fu Yan’s eyes suddenly paused slightly. She had not thought much about it just now, but after hearing them speak like this, Fu Yan instantly realized something.
Ever since they entered the Shadow Forest, something had been wrong along the way. More accurately, it was very wrong.
The Shadow Forest was so large, and there should indeed be many demon beasts inside. It was impossible for them to have walked for so long without seeing a single demon beast, as if someone were deliberately stopping the surrounding demon beasts from approaching.
Before Fu Yan could say anything, Han Shangde in front looked at Han Shangzhi beside him and spoke first. “Don’t you think something is wrong? Hasn’t our journey been too smooth?”
Hearing this, Han Shangzhi could not help furrowing his brows. He had also realized this problem just now.
Just as the group slowed their steps in confusion, Fu Yan suddenly sensed a powerful killing intent burst out. In the next moment, everyone saw figures leap out from the forests on both sides.
These people should have used some secret technique, because all of them had hidden their appearances. Fu Yan roughly glanced over and could not help feeling shocked. Ten experts at late Illumination stage had appeared before them in an instant.
As soon as they appeared, they did not hesitate at all and charged directly toward the ten carriages loaded with Liuli ore. Seeing this, Han Shangde immediately shouted loudly, “Not good! They’re here to steal the goods!”
Seeing this, the disciples from the various sects drew their swords one after another and began fighting these sudden cultivators. For a time, in the vast forest, sword light rose everywhere, and all sorts of true essence and spiritual power collided.
The scene was truly chaotic.
Fu Yan naturally would not be idle either. She happened to face someone at late Illumination stage. This was her first time formally fighting someone at late Illumination stage, so Fu Yan did not dare hold anything back. As soon as she came forward, she directly used the second form of Illusionless Sword!
“Phantom Form Sword Art!”
Fu Yan shouted softly, directly raising the broken Linglong Sword and charging over. In an instant, the air seemed to turn into sharp sword blades, all of them strangling toward the other party.
That person had originally been rushing toward the carriage behind her. Suddenly forced back by Fu Yan’s attack, he could only swiftly turn around. The true essence inside his body surged rapidly. Holding a curved blade, he directly met Fu Yan’s Phantom Form Sword.
In that instant, enormous pressure came from between the two of them. Fu Yan tightly gripped the broken Linglong Sword and once again increased the force of her true essence. Before long, the other party actually showed signs of falling into a disadvantage.
Seeing this, Fu Yan swiftly pulled back. But in the next instant, she used Wind Shadow Steps and directly flashed behind this person. Then she swung her sword down again without mercy. That person’s speed should not have been as fast as Fu Yan’s, so he could only passively block this sword strike.
“Pfft!”
A mouthful of blood sprayed from his mouth. Fu Yan was indeed slightly stunned and felt somewhat surprised. The other party was clearly at late Illumination stage. How could his strength be so weak?
However, Fu Yan soon discovered the truth. After exchanging several more moves with him, Fu Yan understood that it was not that she was too strong, but that the cultivation method and blade technique the other party practiced were both too weak. They were probably only ordinary low-tier human-rank techniques. So even if his cultivation was one stage higher than hers, he could not gain any advantage.
“They are all rogue cultivators.”
Bai Yueli’s voice suddenly came. Fu Yan raised her eyes and saw her figure appear at some point on the carriage behind her. Seeming to see Fu Yan’s confusion, Bai Yueli spoke.
Hearing this, Fu Yan instantly understood.
In this kind of cultivation world, rogue cultivators were at the very bottom. They had no family to rely on and no sect to train them. On the path of cultivation, they could only rely on themselves to grope forward.
But the path of cultivation was extremely difficult. For rogue cultivators, cultivation resources were the greatest problem. They had no good resources, so they could only go take others’ in order to continue walking the path of cultivation.
Although they were indeed rather pitiful, in this world where the weak were prey to the strong, reality was this cruel and merciless.
No resource could be obtained for no reason. For the sake of one opportunity, many people would not hesitate to lose their lives and still be unwilling to give up.
After realizing their identities, Fu Yan did not feel too much sympathy. After all, their positions were different. In this world, excess sympathy would only become a burden.
Without thinking too much, Fu Yan once again held her sword and fought with the other party.
Although the other party’s techniques were inferior to Fu Yan’s, rogue cultivators had always lived a life of licking blood from the edge of a blade. Therefore, their experience in life-and-death combat was extremely rich. If she wanted to kill the other party, it would still basically be very difficult.
Neither side knew how long they had fought. Clearly, Fu Yan’s side had more people, and they had experts like Wang Qingyang, Fang Yu, and Bai Yueli, yet only three of those ten people had died.
Fu Yan discovered that these people were truly too cunning. Fighting them one-on-one, it was not easy to gain any advantage at all. One careless mistake, and they might even trick her with one or two moves.
Just as both sides continued fighting, an enormous cry of pain suddenly came from among the ordinary Luanjin Fort guards protected behind everyone.
“Ahhhhhhh!!”
The voice sounded especially miserable, making everyone’s heart tremble. It was clear that he was suffering tremendous pain.
This sudden scene made everyone freeze. They still seemed not to have reacted to what exactly had happened.
“What’s going on?” Han Shangde could not help freeing himself and swiftly flashing into the group of guards behind them. He crouched down to check the guard who was rolling painfully on the ground.
The guard beside him also looked blank, somewhat at a loss as he said, “I… I don’t know. He… he suddenly fell to the ground in terrible pain. We don’t know what happened either.”
As soon as his words fell, the person on the ground finally struggled to speak. “There’s… something… biting… biting…”
Unfortunately, before he could finish speaking, that guard instantly lost all aura of life. Just as Han Shangde was preparing to check the cause of death, he suddenly saw the guard’s corpse rapidly begin to rot. The corpse quickly corroded into a mass of blood.
Seeing this scene, everyone at the side felt their scalps go numb.
The air suddenly went quiet.
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