Chapter 98: NINETY-EIGHTH CHAPTER: DARK SWAMP

After the incident with Wuji, the group from the Nanxuan Sect flew for another month or so before finally arriving at their destination: the "Dark Swamp!"

This was the place where the Nanxuan Sect cultivators who had previously entered the Trial Ground had discovered the two-headed snake. The twelve people looked out over the massive "Dark Swamp," only to see that the ground here was pitch black and almost entirely devoid of vegetation, with a few large water pools visible from time to time.

Above the "Dark Swamp," a layer of faint black mist drifted year-round. This layer of black mist was quite peculiar; it would not drift away due to the blowing wind, and even when strong winds howled, it would still float quietly above the swamp.

Zhang Nuo took a deep breath of the somewhat foul-smelling air, and his expression changed a few times involuntarily. The concentration of Spiritual Qi here was even lower than in other parts of the Trial Ground. Moreover, the stench hidden in the air was actually an unknown toxic gas. At first, inhaling a few breaths was nothing, but after a long time, it would make a cultivator feel chest tightness and shortness of breath.

If one were to stay here for a long time, they would be poisoned to death within a few days! The rest of the group also knew this well, and they all retreated a distance.

After exiting the range of the "Dark Swamp," everyone felt a bit better, but many people had a look of difficulty on their faces.

With such a large swamp, let alone finding the precious treasure, they couldn't even discover where the two-headed snake was. If this demon beast remained hidden for a long time, there was truly nothing the group could do about it.

Given their cultivation, as long as they ventured deep into the "Dark Swamp" for a few days, they would all inevitably die from the poison.

"It seems the actual situation is the same as described by the cultivators who entered here years ago!"

A look of worry appeared on Yu Lei's face. He swept his gaze over the group, and the heroic spirit he had previously shown for slaying the two-headed snake had diminished by quite a bit.

"Since we have come, we cannot return empty-handed. We will find a way to lure the two-headed snake out of the swamp first, and then everyone will strike together to kill it. Once the demon beast is dead, finding the precious treasure in the 'Dark Swamp' will be much easier!"

Fearing that Yu Lei's negative emotions would affect everyone, Zhuge Qing analyzed the situation and said.

"How can we lure the two-headed snake out?"

A cultivator from the sect asked with a helpless face. In such a huge "Dark Swamp," they didn't even know where the two-headed snake was, let alone how to lure it out!

"That is not for you to worry about! Have you six practiced the Array?"

Seemingly dissatisfied with the cultivator who had just raised the question, Zhuge Qing immediately retorted.

"We were already prepared while back at the sect! Please rest assured, Young Sect Master!"

Seeing that his words had angered Zhuge Qing, the cultivator said with some fear.

"That is for the best! Slaying this two-headed snake will mainly rely on your six-person 'Small Six Paths Sumeru Array!' Once the demon beast is lured out, you six must immediately set up the array in the surrounding area to trap it, and then I and the remaining cultivators will launch our attacks. As long as the two-headed snake is within the great array, it will be unable to escape back into the 'Dark Swamp,' and killing it will just be a matter of time!"

After Zhuge Qing's explanation, the group's low morale became high again. After distributing a Pill to everyone, Zhuge Qing let them sit in place to regulate their breathing, while she walked to a large tree nearby, leaning against the trunk and thinking deeply about something.

About two hours later, everyone had finished regulating their breathing. At this time, Zhang Nuo walked up to the young woman.

"Young Sect Master! Have you thought of a way to lure the demon snake out?"

"Yes! But this matter requires everyone to work together!"

Zhuge Qing raised her eyelids, and upon seeing it was Zhang Nuo, she immediately put on a smiling face. To be honest, Zhang Nuo could not resist the young woman's smile; every time he faced her smile, there would be a stir in his heart.

Hurriedly looking elsewhere, Zhang Nuo steadied his mind before saying:

"Young Sect Master, please tell me! I will definitely do my best to help!"

"Actually, it is nothing major. You just need to have the fellow disciples go and catch some low-level demon beasts, but they must be alive!"

Zhang Nuo was slightly stunned after hearing this; he really didn't know what medicine was in Zhuge Qing's gourd.

However, since the Young Sect Master had already spoken, Zhang Nuo found it hard to press for more, and he was the first to fly away. Watching the direction in which Zhang Nuo flew, a satisfied smile appeared on the young woman's face.

Immediately following this, under the young woman's instructions, everyone left the area to search for various low-level demon beasts everywhere. There were many small beasts in this Trial Ground, and within half a day, everyone had caught over a hundred of them.

Zhuge Qing was overjoyed upon seeing this. She ordered everyone to tie these small beasts to the trees closest to the "Dark Swamp" and then cut a foot-long gash on each of them. For a time, the miserable cries of those low-level demon beasts were endless.

The forest where the hundred-plus low-level demon beasts were tied was flowing with blood, and the bloody scent soared into the sky. Streams of bright red blood flowed toward the direction of the "Dark Swamp."

Very quickly, the edge of the "Dark Swamp" was dyed red by the blood. Others were fine seeing all this, but as Zhang Nuo listened to the painful roars of the hundred-plus demon beasts, coupled with the pungent bloody smell, he suddenly recalled the Blood Sacrifice incident that had happened back in Heiniu Village!

The massive blood pool, the bloody smell wafting in with the breeze—it was exactly the same as here. From this, he couldn't help but wonder: when his parents were murdered back then, was it also a scene like this?

Feeling a sharp pain in his heart, Zhang Nuo dared not think any further. He turned his head away, refusing to look at the painful wailing of those demon beasts, used his Spiritual Qi to seal his ears so he wouldn't hear the sounds here, and settled his mind, forcing himself to think of nothing.

About an hour later, the edge of the "Dark Swamp" had been dyed red over a large area. The pungent bloody smell made even the Nanxuan Sect cultivators here feel waves of nausea, but Zhuge Qing ignored all of this, her graceful figure standing straight at the edge of the "Dark Swamp."

Her bright eyes gazed into the depths of the swamp, her face full of solemnity. She seemed to be waiting for something. After another moment, the young woman looked up at the black-mist-shrouded sky above the swamp, as if she had made some major decision in her heart!

"Notify the six disciples who are setting up the array to start preparing ten miles away from here! As soon as the demon snake appears, we will lure it there!"

Turning around, the young woman said commandingly to Yu Lei, who was standing not far away.

"Yes! Young Sect Master!"

With just that acknowledgment, Yu Lei flashed away, taking the six disciples who were to set up the array with him as they left the area!