Chapter 1409

Seeing this, the young man surnamed Zhu and the beautiful woman both showed satisfied expressions, and the surrounding cultivators were also greatly pleased.

Although with their cultivation, dealing with this mere group of black-blood ants would originally be like using a butcher's knife to kill a chicken, yet completing the first step of this journey so smoothly is naturally a good omen.

The young man surnamed Zhu raised his hand and beckoned toward the incense burner; the green sandalwood incense inside extinguished without any sign, turning into a cluster of yellow light that fell into his hand, and with another flip, it vanished without a trace. But immediately, a flash of rosy light appeared, replacing it with a set of silver-glittering small flags.

Each flag is only a few inches long, inscribed with many purple-colored runes and some lightning patterns, giving a feeling of mysterious abnormality!

"Now that the threat of the black-blood ants is gone, we will proceed to enter the true toad beast nest 'cave' in the mountain. This set of Profound Clarity Heavenly Thunder Flags—several fellow Daoists, come forward and each take one flag." The silver-haired youth swept his gaze over several people among the cultivators and spoke slowly.

Immediately, these few people glanced at each other, then flew forward, each taking one flag from his hand. Among them was indeed the Liu-surnamed elder.

"Alright, except for Fellow Daoist Zhao and Fellow Daoist Xun who will remain outside to keep watch, the rest of you follow my husband and wife." After the youth instructed an elder and a middle-aged person, he and the beautiful woman simultaneously transformed into two streaks of startled rainbow and flew straight toward the giant mountain.

The others also did not hesitate, similarly activating their evasion lights and followed.

Only the named elder and middle-aged person exchanged glances and gave a bitter smile; immediately, the two made hand seals and their figures once again concealed themselves and departed.

The other cultivators had already followed the young man surnamed Zhu and his wife, entering the mountain's interior through what appeared to be a natural cave opening at some point of the giant mountain.

After the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Han Li and the others appeared in a 'damp' and dark underground passage.

Throughout the passage hung inverted stalactites, the walls were covered with water droplets, the ground was extremely slippery, and there grew some nameless blue moss about an inch high. The entire passage twisted and turned, continuously extending downward at a slant.

Fortunately, this naturally formed passage was finally wide enough, allowing the people flying slowly a few feet above the ground to avoid having to walk on foot.

Han Li constantly scanned his surroundings; occasionally, some unusually large poisonous insects would fly toward him from certain crevices, but they were all pierced through by red threads flicked from his fingers, instantly turning to ashes.

Beside him was indeed that Xiao Xianzi.

This woman also wore a cautious expression, her body surrounded by a layer of appearing and disappearing white 'color' light shield; no matter what kind of poisonous insect struck her, it instantly transformed into a cluster of crystalline ice chunks, falling to the ground.

Not only Han Li and this woman, but the other cultivators also employed various minor techniques, similarly killing any poisonous insects daring to approach them.

These insects may seem insignificant, but no one dares to truly let any of them bite.

After all, in the Barbaric Realm, strange things are countless; even seemingly ordinary poisonous insects without any apparent miasma could possibly cause a high-level cultivator to die instantly from poisoning.

Such incidents have occurred before as well.

The cultivators proceeded downward quickly, and the number of people speaking in the group decreased more and more, until the entire team fell silent. Apart from the continuous "pu pu" sounds of poisonous insects being slain, there was no other sound.

The passage was not overly dark either; occasionally, some unknown stones on the walls emitted a faint glow, somewhat similar to the moonlight stones commonly used by human cultivators.

Thus, it was convenient for Han Li and the others to advance.

After walking downward for a while longer, Han Li suddenly felt his 'color' stir, and he gazed meaningfully toward the front of the group, as if he had discovered something.

At the same time, the silver-haired youth walking at the forefront also furrowed his brows, suddenly stopping his figure alongside the beautiful woman.

Immediately, Han Li and the others heard the voice transmission of the young man surnamed Zhu in their ears.

"Everyone be careful; I sense two worm-beasts ahead, with an aura close to Soul Transformation, blocking our path. There may be other worm-beasts nearby; I cannot extend too much divine sense to investigate. Someone must go ahead first, personally confirm what kind of worm-beasts they are, then we can proceed. Be careful, do not act yet!"

Everyone was startled, but immediately someone stepped forward and said:

"Let me go take a look; I have no other divine abilities, but I have some confidence in my evasion technique. I just don't know if Senior Zhu would trust me."

"Hehe, it's you, Brother You; your wind evasion technique is wonderfully miraculous, exactly what Zhu Mou has been seeking." The silver-haired youth, upon clearly seeing that person, immediately broke into a smile.

This person was indeed the straw-hatted old man who had asked a question on the Ice Hall before departure.

The old man chuckled hehe, and immediately a light breeze blew past his side, his figure and trace vanished completely.

Truly, it was that extraordinarily miraculous wind evasion technique.

The others remained in place, waiting quietly; many people felt secretly intrigued by the sudden appearance of the blocking worm-beasts ahead.

After only the time of a meal, the old man's figure reappeared in the light breeze, exactly at the spot where he had originally disappeared. Were it not for all the cultivators focusing their attention, nearly everyone would have thought the old man had never left at all.

And when the old man had fully materialized, he immediately bowed to the young man surnamed Zhu and his wife, saying:

"I have already investigated; ahead are two Xuan Wu Beasts, which I fear will cause some trouble."

"Xuan Wu Beasts!" Upon hearing this, the cultivators in the passage again stirred with a 'rustle'.

Many faces showed surprise; even the young man surnamed Zhu could not help but furrow his brows.

Han Li's mind immediately surfaced with relevant information about the Xuan Wu Beast.

The Xuan Wu Beast is also a kind of worm-beast; this beast is not particularly terrifying, but appearing here, it is quite troublesome.

Because this beast has no other abilities, yet it is naturally proficient in water and evasion techniques, and is as timid as a mouse, fleeing at the slightest disturbance. What's more helpless is that this worm-beast also has a name called 'Drumming Beast'; when it detects an enemy, its body emits a strange sound like a huge drum. The sound is so loud that it can almost penetrate several hundred li away.

Therefore, some major sects and powerful cultivators of both human and demon races have simply tamed this beast, placing it in key locations to serve as sentinels.

If one cannot achieve a sure kill, it will surely alarm the other worm-beasts in the entire giant mountain; what will happen then, only heaven knows.

"This is indeed somewhat troublesome! Although I am a Void Refinement cultivator, my cultivated divine abilities are not skilled in concealment techniques. The Xuan Wu Beast's sense of smell and divine sense are both not weak. My wife is skilled in evasion techniques and has confidence in handling one of them. As for the other, we still need another fellow Daoist to step forward and resolve it." The young man surnamed Zhu pondered for a while, then spoke to the crowd, finally letting his gaze fall upon the You-surnamed old man.

"I definitely cannot do it. With my wind evasion technique, approaching them is no problem, but the Xuan Wu Beast has thick skin and tough flesh; my cultivated divine abilities cannot achieve a sure kill in one strike, which would ruin the matter." The old man repeatedly waved his hands.

Seeing this, the silver-haired youth gave a bitter smile and then looked toward the remaining few late-stage Soul Transformation cultivators.

These few also furrowed their brows, all appearing to lack much confidence. This matter concerns the entire plan; without full assurance, who would dare to readily accept it. And simultaneously mastering evasion techniques and a sure-kill divine ability is indeed difficult for even strong individuals.

Seeing this, the young man surnamed Zhu's 'color' gradually darkened.

A plan plotted for years might actually fail because of a mere worm-beast?

"Cannot we use earth evasion technique to detour around from the side?" A cultivator asked somewhat puzzled.

"If we could detour, would I still be so troubled? This mountain unknown where has a huge magnetic stone vein; once one evades into the mountain rock, all beings possessing spiritual power will be forcibly absorbed by it. But as long as one does not use earth evasion technique, there is no major hindrance."

"Magnetic stone vein!" Upon hearing this, many people gasped in cold air, their 'color' changing drastically.

The person who asked the question had an especially ugly 'color'.

For a time, no one dared to speak lightly!

"Senior Zhu, if I can resolve the other one, will the true toad blood then be distributed with an extra share for me?" A lazy voice suddenly came from among the cultivators.

The speaker turned out to be Han Li, standing at the rear of the group; the pretty girl beside him, upon hearing this, was somewhat startled.

"What, Fellow Daoist Han, do you have confidence in resolving this beast? If you truly can do so, sharing a portion of the true toad spiritual blood with you is not impossible. But if you fail……" Upon seeing Han Li, the young man surnamed Zhu was also greatly surprised, responding somewhat hesitantly.

Clearly, he still did not hold high hopes for Han Li, a mid-stage Soul Transformation cultivator.

"Hehe, Senior, rest assured. If I fail, what loss is there? I will take responsibility for compensation." Han Li gave a light smile.

"Fellow Daoist Han seems quite confident. Very well, the other worm-beast is yours." The blue-robed youth was unusually decisive, merely muttering briefly before actually nodding in agreement.

The other cultivators whispered among themselves, their expressions varying as they scrutinized Han Li without cease, some even openly displaying doubt.

"However, to be safe, Fellow Daoist You, conceal yourself and assist Fellow Daoist Han from the side!" The blue-robed youth shifted his tone and then said this to the straw-hatted old man.

"Agreed, I can take care of this." This time, the old man readily agreed.

Thus, after the blue-robed youth transmitted a few words to the beautiful woman with a slight movement of his lips, she made a hand seal, and suddenly rosy clouds blossomed across her body, vanishing in a flash from her original spot.

Meanwhile, Han Li produced a purple talisman, slapped it onto his body, and instantly vanished amidst the rolling silver runes, just as tracelessly.

As for the old man, he still employed wind-escape technique, fleeing via wind escape.

Under the old man's guidance, Han Li and the beautiful woman flew forward only briefly before reaching their destination.

Ahead in a wide passage, two plump, large fat worms lay sprawled on opposite stone walls, gnawing at some unknown blue moss.

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