Chapter 409

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Protagonist:

Yu Zhangsheng

The Cangmang Ancient Forest, located roughly three kilometers beneath the Abyss — although this height is not the Abyss bottom, it is extremely close to it.

And this ancient forest has existed for an immeasurably long time; it is said to have already existed before the Abyss even formed, and as the Abyss gradually took shape and it fell to the cliff bottom along with it, after experiencing countless years it grew anew.

Therefore, this place is stained with the densest Abyssal aura; at its core Sword Intent rings out continuously, its area is vast, within it are sold countless items, each possessing supreme strength, incomparably dangerous, poisonous insects layer upon ridge too numerous to count, swamps shrouded in mist and fog. Trees tower into the sky, their entire bodies presenting a cyan-black color, looking extremely oppressive and gloomy.

If one overlooks the entire Cangmang Ancient Forest from above, one can discover a layer of faint gray mist enveloping the whole forest; within the rising gray mist, thick blood-fiend qi surges, drifting in the Void, intertwining inseparably with spiritual qi.

And at this moment, within the ancient forest, a group of people walk carefully, occasionally stopping, their eyes lighting up, then digging something up from the ground nearby.

"Xianxing Grass, this is a good thing; who knows how long this Cangmang Ancient Forest has existed, to actually be able to find such a rare spirit medicine, and such a large patch at that."

"Looks like coming to this Cangmang Ancient Forest was the right choice; the abundance of spiritual qi here is unheard of in the outside world — even just breathing, I feel my cultivation base is merely... this is a good place."

Li Minghan sighed with emotion, lowering his head to collect the Xianxing Grass on the ground one by one, and at that moment glanced ahead at Yu Zhangsheng, whose face was calm, his gaze carrying a trace of curiosity.

"Having an alchemist is just different; and what kind of notes are these? How come every single one is accurate? What good things are in here, that none can escape your discerning eye."

Zhang Tianwen hehe-laughed, patting Yu Zhangsheng on the shoulder, his face full of smiles yet also holding a hint of curiosity; the others also nodded one by one, looking at Yu Zhangsheng with gratitude hard to conceal.

The group had been inside the Cangmang Ancient Forest for several days now; these days could be described as a full harvest, everyone had made progress in their own ways, and the spirit herbs and spirit fruits harvested were too numerous to count.

The biggest reason was Yu Zhangsheng's guidance; this guy seemed to have a built-in full-time radar — any good things or dangers nearby were foreseen by him in advance; this is also why this group could still be gathered together so completely intact until now.

All along the way, everyone's admiration for Zhangsheng had reached the summit; hearts were also rarely so united, with few second thoughts.

"This... all things in heaven and earth possess spirituality; through these spirits, one naturally becomes omniscient."

Facing the others' curiosity, Zhangsheng merely smiled and answered thus, stroked his chin, and laughed heartily.

"Tch, feigning mystery, being all secretive." Li Minghan, hearing this, curled his lip, and spoke somewhat muddle-headedly.

Yu Zhangsheng shook his head with a wry smile, and did not bother to explain anything, merely sensing the cultivation base within his body; as the Myriad Spirits Art circulated wildly, his gaze flickered slightly.

The density of spiritual qi in the Cangmang Ancient Forest surpasses the outside world by far; the spirituality of the living beings within is also far more active than those outside; the Myriad Spirits Art can achieve its maximum exertion here, becoming ever more effortless.

In places the crowd could not sense, wisps of aura flowed from Yu Zhangsheng's body, attaching to all things in heaven and earth; thus the breeze blew, grass and trees rustled, flowers birds hooves cheered, flowing water echoed — all in their own unique ways resonating with Yu Zhangsheng, and information was thereby transmitted.

Within a radius of one kilometer around, every rustle of wind and grass, no matter how large or small, was transmitted into Yu Zhangsheng's mind; even where treasures were, where dangers were, where spirit medicines existed, where demonic beasts existed — all were perceived one by one in Yu Zhangsheng's mind through mountains and rivers, flying birds, fish and insects.

Simply put, all things in heaven and earth became his medium bridges, became his eyes, thereby perceiving the entire world.

This method is clearer than divine sense perception, sees through to the essence more clearly, and is more profound and abstruse; combined with divine sense, it can exert even greater function, following the "spirit" of all things in heaven and earth to continue spreading, seeing through to the origin.

"Befriend all things, communicate with all things, spy on all things..."

Yu Zhangsheng murmured in his heart; as his understanding of the Myriad Spirits Art deepened, he increasingly knew how not-simple this technique was, especially after its promotion to a Saint-level technique, the development of some functions had gained even greater exertion and expansion.

"Perhaps, attaching my divine sense onto the spirit seeds of the Myriad Spirits Art, already distinct from pure divine sense; perhaps, calling it 'Spirit Sense' would be more accurate."

Yu Zhangsheng was thoughtful; as the Spirit Sense continuously extended, all situations in the surroundings, though pouring into his mind in every detail, suddenly Yu Zhangsheng's expression moved slightly, a sharp light flashed in his eyes, he turned his head to look east, casually picked up a stone from the ground, and forcefully threw it toward a certain patch of grass.

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh!"

The stone tore through the air, drawing arc after arc of afterimages, rippling a layer of waves in the Void, smashing through boulders at the waist, flying toward the depths; finally accompanied by a boom, two miserable cries rang out in succession.

"Ow, where did this stone come from!"

Two shocked and angry voices transmitted; Yu Zhangsheng's expression unchanged, he followed the direction of the voices, spread his palm, sealing power erupted, surrounding trees collapsed one by one, clearing the road, revealing two panicked youth figures hidden within.

【35】 "Sneaking about, acting furtively — what are you doing?"

"Sneaky, sneaking around — what are you up to?"

Yu Zhangsheng spoke lightly, reached out and gripped; instantly those two figures fell toward him uncontrollably, only able to struggle wildly, yet to no avail.

"No no no, we were just passing by, we didn't do anything at all, we're all Wuzhou people, please Brother Yu Zhangsheng don't hold it against us."

Seeing they couldn't break free, these two men's faces changed; now that they were close, they hurriedly, voices trembling slightly, cupped fists toward Yu Zhangsheng and spoke.

"Wuzhou people? Sneaking about, intentions unfathomable; if you don't give an accounting, then stay here."

Yu Zhangsheng waved a hand; these two youths completely went limp before Yu Zhangsheng, ignoring the pleading in their eyes; Yu Zhangsheng lowered his brows, spoke lightly to the two, his tone revealing a faint, barely-there chill.

As his words fell, hearing this the two youths' expressions tightened; after taking a deep breath, they looked at each other, knowing they could not break free; with a boom, they straightforwardly knelt toward Yu Zhangsheng, cupped fists and bowed heads, voices bitter and anxious: "We two brothers are Chi Huo Sect disciples; 14 we came merely passing by, no other intent at all; these are our two Identity Tokens, if Brother Zhangsheng doesn't believe, you may look."

Finished speaking, the two men respectfully handed over two tokens from their waists; Yu Zhangsheng's expression unchanged, a sweep of divine sense gave him understanding of the two's identities.

These two, one named Lu Hongyang, one named Shi Haobo; indeed, as they said, both are indeed Chi Huo Sect Inner Sect Disciples, and their cultivation bases are not low, both reaching Golden Core Mid-stage. Only facing Yu Zhangsheng, such a renowned expert, plus this side having numbers, neither is a fool, naturally they wouldn't think of resisting or fleeing, only able to obediently submit, hoping there might still be a sliver of survival.

"Since you are Chi Huo Sect disciples, why be so fearful of me; inside the Abyss, everyone is of the same Wuzhou camp; sneaking about like this, why not come meet openly, what is there that cannot see the light?"

Yu Zhangsheng spoke lightly, gaze turning slightly sharp, staring tightly at the two.

"This..." Lu Hongwei and Shi Haobo's faces hesitated, each swallowing a mouthful of saliva, both somewhat inarticulate, expressions revealing a trace of hesitation, deeply exhaling a mouthful of turbid qi, spoke: "Long heard of Brother Zhangsheng's great reputation; we brothers are cautious by nature, also rather timid and afraid of trouble; being extra careful normally is also normal; even more we dared not rashly meet, fearing conflict; please Brother Zhangsheng understand."

Speaking, Lu Hongwei's face couldn't help but show a bitter smile; the unnaturalness in the depths of his eyes was also quickly concealed; his tone sincere, truly as spoken.

Shi Haobo also nodded in agreement at the side, expressing approval.

"Is that so?" Yu Zhangsheng lightly raised his brows; hearing this, one hand lightly tapped on his forehead, smiling-yet-not-smiling said:

"I, this person, lifelong most dislike those who speak nonsense; giving you one more chance, honestly confess — just now, who were you sending a message to; answer truthfully, and perhaps I can still spare your lives."

"If not, occasional casualties inside the Abyss are also normal; you two say, right?"

Speaking, Yu Zhangsheng's body trembled slightly; a wave of pressure naturally radiated out, gently pressing down on the two; the Heavenly Dao Golden Core's momentum also reached its apex at this moment.

And within this Cangmang Ancient Forest, Zhangsheng's own cultivation base, under the empowerment of Heavenly Dao qi, had reached Golden Core Late Stage or even peak level.

Plus the divine sense power empowered by the Myriad Spirits Art, the pressure Yu Zhangsheng erupted with, though not reaching Violet Mansion, to Lu Hongwei and Shi Haobo was almost no different from heavenly might.

Boom boom boom! Thick pressure like a tide, wave after wave erupting in the two's minds; the suppression of Heavenly Dao Golden Core over ordinary Golden Core erupted to the extreme at this moment; thus, under the slight pressure the two's faces instantly turned pale, minds in a trance, bodies swaying on the verge of collapse, large drops of cold sweat dripping from their foreheads one by one onto the ground.

"Giving you one more chance to reorganize your words; confess truthfully, otherwise death."

Yu Zhangsheng spoke lightly, face not angry yet awe-inspiring; words though light, but falling in the two's ears, were like the Hong Lu Great Bell striking, like heavenly thunder rolling and surging up.

Lu Hongwei gritted teeth, Shi Haobo's face pale; both bodies swaying on the verge of collapse, yet pursed lips and said nothing; half a moment later they struggled to speak: "Brother Zhangsheng, why overthink; everything we two brothers said is true; this is definitely you thinking too much; where would we have any other thoughts; what you say, we completely don't understand."

Lu Hongwei panted heavily, suppressing the palpitations in his heart, spoke haltingly; his tone and eyes both revealed a color of grief and indignation, as if having suffered a tremendous injustice; tears suddenly fell, he spoke resentfully: "To impose a crime, how can there be a lack of excuses?! Brother Zhangsheng, if you truly don't believe, we two truly have no way out."

Finish Speaking, he then abruptly twisted his head away, refusing to look at Yu Zhangsheng, his face full of anger and sorrow.

His words were so genuine, his complexion so sincere, that aside from Yu Zhangsheng whose expression remained unmoved, even Li Contain was slightly dazed, hesitated for a moment, and looked toward Yu Zhangsheng, just about to say something, but upon seeing Yu Zhangsheng's unmoved expression, he swallowed the words back down.

The remaining disciples also did not utter a single word, merely silently surrounding Lu Hongwei and Shi Haobo, quietly awaiting Yu Zhangsheng's judgment.

Seeing the situation like this, a trace of terror flashed across Zhu Hongwei and Shi Haobo's complexions, they gritted their teeth fiercely, and suddenly their expressions changed, looking at Yu Zhangsheng with anger mixed with a hint of threat, rebuking in a severe voice:

"We two brothers respected you as a Heaven's Pride, so we showed you three parts of courtesy, but now Brother Changsheng, your behavior, is it not overly chilling to our hearts? Merely because we passed by and glanced a bit more, you want to forcibly detain us? Is such conduct not overly self-willed and arbitrary?"

Lu Hongwei rebuked in a severe voice, his tone also abruptly rising a few degrees, the grief and indignation on his face difficult to conceal, then he narrowed his eyes with thick ill intent, denouncing with tongue and pen.

"Our Chi Huo Sect has always been on good terms with your Wanxiang Sect, and now a great enemy is before us, the Qingzhou threat, we should originally be of one mind from top to bottom, and together face the enemy of Qingzhou.

Now Brother Changsheng, your thinking, is it not overly lawless? Moreover we two are both Heaven's Prides within the Chi Huo Sect, if we are lost here, not to mention the grievance and your conscience being uneasy, we also fear the sect will pursue the matter and demand accountability, harming the harmony between the two sects?"

These words, Lu Hongwei spoke them effortlessly, with righteous grandeur, matching his grief-indignant bearing, moving those who heard.

Even Yu Zhangsheng could not help but click his tongue in wonder, clap his hands in praise, the corner of his mouth revealing a trace of mocking playfulness, a smile-yet-not-smile as he said: "Spoken well, the acting is truly alike, but regretfully, it seems you still haven't understood my question."

Yu Zhangsheng lightly sighed, his palm lightly pinching Lu Hongwei's neck, exerting slight force.

Crackling Sound……

In an instant, the sound of bone cracking immediately rang out, Lu Hongwei's lame leg instantly twisted at a bizarre angle, rotating 360 degrees and back again, his complexion in a single instant turned livid pale, his qi and blood reversed flow, his breath weak, his mouth, nose, and five orifices unable to stop spraying fresh blood, he collapsed heavily onto the ground.

"You……"

Lu Hongwei was horrified, one hand barely propping up his body, struggling to raise his head and look at Yu Zhangsheng, his eyes besides terror were filled with disbelief, just about to speak, the next moment, Yu Zhangsheng's finger lightly tapped on his forehead……

"Bang!!"

The skull then burst open like a watermelon abruptly, before the blood could flow out, clusters of evil fire instantly submerged him completely, taking along the blood and bones, all vanishing cleanly without a trace.

Only leaving Shi Haobo beside him, collapsing heavily onto the ground, his complexion pale to the extreme from terror, his body trembling, struggling but unable to stop retreating backward, his eyes wide open, looking at Yu Zhangsheng, the corners of his mouth turning white.

"Now, it's your turn."

Yu Zhangsheng lightly snapped his fingers, turned his head to look at Shi Haobo, and lightly smiled. (Chapter End)