Chapter 526: I Can Give You a Quick Death!

One day later, the two arrived at the outer edge of Lin Hai.

Looking out, before them stretched an endless primordial forest shrouded in pale white and pale blue mist, ancient trees towering, vines entwined, the air thick with the rich fragrance of plants and a faint scent of damp decay; the energy here was indeed far more active than outside, yet it carried an unfathomable sense of danger.

According to the map, "Red Dragon Valley" lay in the northeastern part of Lin Hai—a vast canyon said to have once been the dwelling of a red jiao dragon, its terrain treacherous and heavy with yin energy, yet deep within lay a geologic spiritual spring that nourished rare yin-loving spiritual trees.

The two suppressed their qi and slipped into Lin Hai, following the map's guidance, carefully avoiding areas clearly occupied by powerful beast creatures and naturally formed poison mists and illusionary arrays, drawing closer to Red Dragon Valley.

The deeper they went, the thicker the mist became, impairing both vision and spiritual sense.

Towering ancient trees blocked most of the daylight; the forest grew dim, illuminated only by faintly glowing peculiar mosses and fungi.

Beneath their feet lay a layer of humus accumulated over countless years—soft, damp, and silent underfoot.

"Be careful, something is watching us."

Chen Mu suddenly transmitted a voice message, his step pausing slightly.

Ning Ning Zhixi immediately went on alert, hand gripping her sword hilt.

She had no spiritual sense yet, but she could faintly feel that deep within the mist, multiple cold, greedy gazes had locked onto them.

Ssshh… ssshh… ssshh…

Faint scraping sounds arose from behind the surrounding shrubs and vines.

Immediately, seven or eight dark shadows slipped out silently, surrounding them.

They were several beast creatures resembling leopards, their bodies covered in dark green moss and woody scales, their eyes amber.

Each measured over a zhang in length, claws and fangs sharp, drooling foul-smelling viscous fluid; their qi levels all hovered at late-stage Primordial, with the leader reaching Primordial Peak, its throat rumbling with a low, threatening growl.

"They're 'Wood Wraiths,' common predators in Lin Hai, skilled in stealth and coordinated hunting; their claws carry paralytic toxins and they move with extreme speed."

Ning Ning Zhixi whispered, having recognized the beasts.

The several Wood Wraiths slowly advanced, forming a ring of encirclement, their amber eyes filled with pure murderous desire.

Chen Mu simply raised his hand.

Shhh~ Shhh~ Shhh!

Invisible sword qi shot out instantly, moving too fast to leave any afterimage.

The ferocious Wood Wraiths, still snarling, had no time to react before their heads were pierced through—puff, puff, puff—the sounds echoed across the scene.

The next instant, thud, thud, thud—they all collapsed to the ground.

【Corpse detected. Collect?】

"Yes!"

……

Card acquired.

Chen Mu said to Ning Ning Zhixi.

"Let's go."

The two continued forward.

For the rest of the journey, perhaps because they sensed Chen Mu's aura was dangerous, or perhaps due to luck, no more foolish beasts launched attacks.

Half a day later, the two reached the edge of Red Dragon Valley.

It was a massive, deep fissure, its steep cliffs covered in slippery moss and gnarled ancient vines.

The mist within the valley was thicker, faint crimson yin winds howled, carrying a bone-deep chill, forming a bizarre contrast with the vibrant life of the surrounding forest.

Chen Mu carefully swept his spiritual sense over the valley entrance, especially the southeastern region marked on the map.

The wood qi there was indeed slightly denser and purer than elsewhere, but he detected no spatial fluctuations or signs of a secret realm entrance.

He expanded his search, even penetrating deeper into the canyon—still found nothing.

"Looks like it's not here," Chen Mu shook his head.

Ning Ning Zhixi's "Summer" and "Winter" keys and the stone tablet fragment showed no special reaction here either.

"To Bi Bo Pond," Chen Mu said decisively.

The two turned away from Red Dragon Valley and headed for the next location.

……

Bi Bo Pond was a sizable deep pool deep within Lin Hai, its waters a deep green, bottomless, surrounded by ancient trees, qi swirling, scenery serene and beautiful.

But when Chen Mu and Ning Ning Zhixi arrived, they sensed something unusual.

By the pond's edge, traces of battle.

Several ancient trees had been severed mid-trunk, their cut surfaces charred black, lingering with hot, sinister energy.

The ground bore chaotic footprints and small patches of dried, blackened blood.

In the air, besides the plant fragrance and moisture, mingled a faint scent of blood.

"Blood Refining Sect, and a trace of Ten Thousand Toxins Sect's cultivation methods," Chen Mu judged after careful sensing, "The fight happened within the last day. It seems we're not the only ones, nor is Zhu Qing Dao Ren alone, searching for the entrance—the Mo Sect is also investigating these sites, and conflict may have occurred."

He turned his gaze to the ancient tree zone northwest of Bi Bo Pond—the map marked it as one possible entrance location.

The battle traces extended toward it.

"Go take a look," Chen Mu moved forward first.

Ning Ning Zhixi followed closely behind, her vigilance at its peak.

Through a dense thicket of shrubs, ahead appeared a relatively open forest clearing.

On the clearing lay over a dozen corpses, scattered haphazardly.

From their attire, most were Blood Refining Sect disciples; a few with unnaturally colored skin were clearly Ten Thousand Toxins Sect members.

The corpses died gruesome deaths—some drained of blood into desiccated corpses, others rotting and oozing pus, others sliced apart by blades—the scene was bloody.

These corpses died in horrific states—some drained of essence and blood, turned into withered corpses; others wracked with rot and oozing pus; still others sliced apart by sharp blades, the scene gory.

【Body discovered. Retrieve it?】

"Yes!"

……

At this moment.

In the center of the open ground, two figures stood facing off—or rather, one of them was dominating the other like a cat toy with a mouse.

The standing man was tall, clad in a lavish dark red brocade robe, his face handsome yet tinged with a sickly pallor, his eyes narrow and filled with a sinister, mocking gleam.

His aura was icy, revealing the peak of the Earth Altar Realm's "Perceive the Divine, Indestructible" cultivation.

In his hand he held a longsword of pure crimson, as if blood flowed within it; its tip slanted toward the ground, radiating a nauseating stench of blood.

At his feet lay the corpse of a Earth Altar Realm warrior of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect, a piercing wound through the heart oozing black blood.

The one being dominated was an elderly woman dressed in Ten Thousand Poisons Sect attire, clearly of higher status; her hair was white, her face scarred as if bitten by venomous insects, her lips bleeding, her left arm twisted unnaturally—she had Suffered Heavy 【Injury】.

She leaned against an ancient tree, clutching a bizarre bone staff, its gemstone head—once green—now dimmed; her gaze at the brocade-clad man burned with venomous hatred.

"Xue Wuyan! Are you Blood Refining Sect truly going to exterminate us completely? Don't forget, I am of the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect! This place is not just ours and yours!"

The old woman rasped, her voice hoarse and grating.

The brocade-clad man called Xue Wuyan was another key figure of the Blood Refining Sect assigned to this "Spring Key" operation, his status higher than the withered old man previously slain by Chen Mu.

Hearing this, he curled his lips into a cruel smile: "Poison Hag, you do not speak for the Ten Thousand Poisons Sect. Whoever dares compete with me for the feast must be ready to be devoured."

"As for the others? Once I claim the 'Spring Key,' I will deal with them one by one."

"Now, hand over the half of the 'Mystical Realm Fragment Map' you carry—I'll grant you a swift death."