Chapter 222: Escape to the Sky

"Black Fog! The Black Fog is coming in!"

Someone with sharp eyes was the first to notice the anomaly and screamed in terror.

"Impossible! This can't be!"

"We of the Qijiu Sect have set up a powerful formation here,

how could the Black Fog possibly get in?"

"It must be that something went wrong somewhere!"

The elders of the Qijiu Sect also showed expressions of disbelief.

They have a deep understanding of the Black Fog of Heifeng Mountain.

In order to survive here,

the Qijiu Sect expended massive manpower and resources to set up a great defensive array.

Logically, the Black Fog should never be able to penetrate deep into the cavern.

However, the facts before them slapped their faces hard.

The Black Fog surged in like a tide,

quickly spreading throughout the entire cavern.

The cavern, which had been relatively bright, instantly grew dim,

so that one could not see a hand in front of one's face.

"Cough… what's going on? I feel short of breath!"

"Me too, this Black Fog is poisonous!"

"Hold your breath quickly! Don't inhale the Black Fog!"

The Qijiu Sect members frantically covered their mouths and noses,

trying to prevent the Black Fog from entering their bodies.

However, the Black Fog seeped through every opening,

and quickly permeated their skin, invading their meridians.

"Ah! My body... my body hurts so much!"

"Help! Someone, save me!"

The wails rose and fell in succession,

the Qijiu Sect members who inhaled the Black Fog writhed on the ground in agony.

Their skin began to rot, flesh and blood turning into a mess,

their bodies as if being gnawed by countless ants,

sending waves of excruciating pain.

Even more terrifying, their true qi,

also began to be corroded by the Black Fog, becoming terribly chaotic.

"How can this be? My true qi... my true qi is out of control!"

"Mine too, this Black Fog can actually corrode true qi!"

"It's over, it's over, we're completely finished!"

The Qijiu Sect members completely collapsed,

their proud true qi, in front of the Black Fog,

was actually so vulnerable.

Cultivators who are usually lofty,

at this moment are like lambs awaiting slaughter,

under the Black Fog's erosion, they have no power to resist.

Jiangnan hid among the crowd, silently observing everything.

The appearance of the Black Fog also surprised him a bit.

But he did not panic like the Qijiu Sect members.

He activated the Zhengyang Technique, and golden true qi formed a protective shield on his body,

isolating the Black Fog outside.

Although the Black Fog is terrifying, it seems to pose no real threat to him.

"So that's it, this Black Fog is the true secret of Heifeng Mountain."

Jiangnan thought to himself.

Earlier he had thought that the Qijiu Sect and the Zhengyang Gate Ruins,

were the most important things of Heifeng Mountain.

But now it seems the Black Fog is the core of Heifeng Mountain.

The reason the Qijiu Sect seeks to occupy Heifeng Mountain,

is probably to harness the power of the Black Fog.

However, they clearly have not fully mastered the Black Fog,

instead being devoured by it.

"Heh heh heh... feel the pain! Feel the despair!"

"The Black Fog will devour everything; you will all become part of the Black Fog!"

From deep within the cavern came a chilling, terrifying laugh.

The owner of the laugh seemed to be the controller of the Black Fog.

Who is it? Who is playing tricks?

The elder of Qijiu Sect roared, trying to find the source of the laughter.

However, the black fog spread, obstructing vision,

They simply could not make out their surroundings.

No need to look, I'm right here.

The laughter sounded again, this time clearer,

as if right beside the ear.

Immediately, the black fog began to roll, condensing into a huge skull.

The skull opened its bloody maw and lunged at the Qijiu Sect members to devour them.

Ah! A monster! It's a monster!

The Qijiu Sect members were terrified, scattering in all directions.

However, the black fog skull was faster,

in an instant it caught up to them and swallowed them whole.

The Qijiu Sect members swallowed by the black fog skull,

did not even have time to utter a scream,

and vanished completely into the black fog, as if they had never existed.

What... what is this thing?

The elders of Qijiu Sect, their faces as pale as paper,

their eyes filled with fear.

They had never seen such a terrifying monster,

the power of the black fog skull already surpassed their understanding.

Run! Hurry and run out of the cave!

The elders realized that staying here meant only death.

They had no regard for the life or death of other Qijiu Sect members,

turning and fleeing toward the cave's exit.

However, the exit had been blocked by a huge boulder,

leaving them with no way to escape.

No! I am unwilling! I am unwilling to die here!

The elders howled in despair,

desperately attacking the boulder blocking the cave mouth,

trying to shatter it.

But their attacks, against the boulder,

were like a mayfly shaking a tree—utterly futile.

The black fog skull slowly approached,

the aura of death enveloped the entire cave.

The Qijiu Sect members were utterly trapped,

they wept and wailed,

praying for a miracle to appear.

However, no miracle occurred.

The black fog skull opened its maw and devoured them one by one until none remained.

The whole cave was shrouded in despair and fear.

Jiangnan watched the scene before him, like a hell on earth,

and felt a shock in his heart.

The power of the black fog was far more terrifying than he had imagined.

No wonder Qijiu Sect fears the black fog so much,

even going so far as to set up a grand formation to defend against it.

It seems the black fog is the true overlord of Heifeng Mountain.

And Qijiu Sect is merely ants raised by the black fog.

We must leave this place as soon as possible.

Jiangnan thought to himself, he did not want to end up like those Qijiu Sect members,

being devoured by the black fog.

He observed his surroundings,

noticing a crack in the cave ceiling,

that could lead to the outside.

Perhaps we can escape through there.

Jiangnan's heart stirred, and he decided to try.

He avoided the black fog skull's gaze and moved stealthily toward the cave top.

The black fog skull seemed not to notice Jiangnan's presence,

its attention wholly focused on those Qijiu Sect members.

This also gave Jiangnan an opportunity.

He activates his lightness skill, his form like a phantom,

weaving through the broken stones and corpses,

and quickly arrives beneath a fissure at the top of the cavern.

The fissure is dozens of meters above the ground,

something ordinary people could not possibly climb at all.

But for Jiangnan, it is nothing.

He takes a deep breath and circulates the Zhengyang Technique,

his legs forcefully kick off the ground, his body shooting out like an arrow released from a bow,

charging toward the fissure.

"Swoosh!"

Jiangnan's form traces a golden arc in the air,

landing precisely on the edge of the fissure.

He grabs the rock at the fissure's edge,

and with a powerful leap, darts into the fissure.

The fissure is narrow and deep, only fitting a single person.

Jiangnan moves swiftly through the fissure,

continuously climbing upward.

He can feel the Black Fog spreading below,

and if he does not leave quickly, he fears the Black Fog will catch up.

"Huff… huff…"

Jiangnan quickens his pace, scrambling upward desperately.

Finally, he sees the exit of the fissure.

At the exit, a sliver of light streams in,

that is the light of hope.

Jiangnan feels a surge of joy, speeds up, and rushes toward the exit.