Chapter 63: Peach Miasma Illusion Array

As Liu Qiaolian had said, the ground below was indeed a soft grassy slope.

When his feet touched solid ground, Xia Daoming felt a twinge of embarrassment.

But there was no choice—his nature made him cautious; the fog below was thick, obscuring all sight, and without holding onto a vine, Xia Daoming truly dared not leap down blindly.

Within the dense fog, his vision extended no more than a zhang.

Liu Qiaolian had grown up in the valleys of Gengyun Mountain and knew the terrain well.

She took Xia Daoming’s hand and felt her way down the slope through the fog.

As Liu Qiaolian had said, the flat slope gave way to a gentle incline, covered in weeds, with faint traces here and there of past cultivation.

The descent was easy to walk, unlike the Cold Mist Valley, where steep, slippery ground could easily send one tumbling into the abyss.

Yet the fog seemed even thicker than in the Cold Mist Valley, and showed no sign of clearing.

But with Liu Qiaolian leading, everything unfolded exactly as she had predicted, so Xia Daoming had little to worry about.

“Something’s wrong!”

Just as Xia Daoming felt reassured, Liu Qiaolian suddenly cried out and stepped in front of him.

“What’s wrong?” Xia Daoming’s heart leapt; his eyes swept the surroundings, his spirit instantly on high alert.

“Logically, mist rises and gathers above the valley, thinning below. We’ve walked this long descent—we should be nearing the valley floor, at least able to see something below.

But below us, the fog remains thick. Worse, it seems we’ve returned to the same spot—indeed, we’ve come back exactly here.

This peach tree was planted by me as a child; I specifically noticed it just now, I’m certain—I carved my name into it!” Liu Qiaolian touched the tree trunk, her face pale.

“It seems that since you fled, not only has Luogui City changed, but Liu Family Village has changed too.” Xia Daoming’s heart gave a slight jolt, then he calmed, his expression grave.

“Could a demon cultivator have taken over Liu Family Village and is causing this?” Liu Qiaolian recalled the mountain villages they’d passed, where every household raised venomous snakes; her face grew even paler, yet she still stood firmly before Xia Daoming.

“Hard to say!” Xia Daoming said, his hand reaching behind his back to draw two short spears and join them into one long spear.

“It’s all my fault, Master—if only I hadn’t…” Liu Qiaolian was filled with self-reproach.

“We need not speak such formalities. Our priority now is to escape this fog.” Xia Daoming cut in sternly.

“Yes!” Liu Qiaolian knew this was no time for self-blame; her pale face hardened into grim resolve, and her slender hands swiftly assembled her own short spears.

The Dragon-Snake Nine Spears was the most deadly weapon technique of the Dragon-Snake Scripture!

“Remember, no matter what happens, stay close behind me!” Xia Daoming said with icy calm.

“I understand!” Liu Qiaolian replied coldly.

“Good, let’s keep moving!” Xia Daoming slashed his spear tip across the peach tree, leaving a clear mark, then pressed forward.

Every so often, Xia Daoming left another mark.

But after roughly a stick of incense had burned, Xia Daoming and Liu Qiaolian realized they had returned to the same peach tree.

Xia Daoming’s face darkened; he looked up at the sky—still shrouded in fog.

The midday sun had not dispelled the mist.

Liu Qiaolian lightly touched the peach tree, her eyes narrowing in thought.

“Let’s go again—I refuse to believe this!” Soon, Xia Daoming said coldly.

“Master, wait—this time, let Lian’er lead.” Liu Qiaolian spoke, her beautiful eyes gleaming with excitement.

“No.” Xia Daoming refused outright.

“This must be the Peach Miasma Illusion Array. If you give me some time, I might be able to break it.” Liu Qiaolian said, her pale face flushing with sudden excitement.

“The Peach Miasma Illusion Array? From that ancient scroll you read?” Xia Daoming frowned slightly.

“Yes, Master—please let Lian’er try. You’re right beside me; even if danger arises, you’ll have time to act.” Liu Qiaolian said.

Xia Daoming considered—the fog was clearly unnatural, and his martial strength was useless here. Letting Lian’er try couldn’t hurt.

It was better than doing nothing.

“Fine.” Xia Daoming nodded quickly.

“Thank you, Master!” Liu Qiaolian exclaimed, her earlier guilt and fear vanishing.

Under Liu Qiaolian’s lead, the two soon returned to the original spot.

But Liu Qiaolian showed no disappointment—her beautiful eyes grew even brighter.

“Master, I’m beginning to see the pattern. A few more circuits, and I’ll pinpoint the array flags. Once we find them and pull them out, this illusion array will be broken.” Liu Qiaolian said, confident and excited.

“Really?” Xia Daoming could hardly believe it.

“How would I dare deceive Master?” Liu Qiaolian said.

“Heh, so my Lian’er’s an array prodigy—self-taught, no less! Looks like I’ve got a true master on my side.

From now on, if anyone dares to bully me, I’ll have Lian’er set up an array and trap them until they cry.” Xia Daoming laughed happily.

“Master, you’re just teasing Lian’er!” Liu Qiaolian blushed.

“Heh, I’m serious. Arrays—those are immortal arts! But now’s not the time to talk—focus on breaking the array.

Judging by the situation, the demon cultivator is likely not in the village; otherwise, he wouldn’t just be trapping us so simply. We must hurry—if he returns, we’re done for.” Xia Daoming’s expression turned grave again.

“Yes, Master!” Liu Qiaolian replied solemnly.

Liu Qiaolian’s claim that she needed “a few more circuits” was clearly modest.

After only two more circuits, she confidently told Xia Daoming: “Master, follow my steps precisely next time—I believe I’ve located the array flags.”

“Good!” Xia Daoming nodded solemnly.

Then Liu Qiaolian began murmuring softly, stepping seven paces left, then five forward, weaving back and forth—seemingly random, yet subtly following an underlying pattern.

Xia Daoming silently followed her steps.

Suddenly, Liu Qiaolian stopped.

She lifted a stone, drew the knife from her waist, and began digging.

In a few strokes, she unearthed a flagpole made of peach wood heart, its banner—of unknown material—embroidered with countless talismanic runes, no larger than a palm.

The moment the flag was pulled free, the fog churned and visibly thinned.

“Lian’er, you’re amazing!” Xia Daoming exclaimed in delight.

Hearing his praise, Liu Qiaolian blushed slightly and glanced at him, then continued walking in precise steps.

Every so often, Liu Qiaolian dug up another palm-sized flag.

The fog grew ever thinner.

Through the clearing mist, shafts of sunlight now pierced down from above the valley.

Faintly, they could see golden shimmering fields on the valley’s eastern side.

On those fields, a group of people were hoeing the soil.

But a thick mass of fog blocked the path down into the valley.

“Master, ahead must be the array’s core. Once we pull that final flag, the entire illusion array will be broken.

But Liu Family Village is deeply strange—this array could never have been set by ordinary humans. The array is already half broken, and the path back is clear. Let’s retreat now, and not go further.” Liu Qiaolian said.