Chapter 55: Ten Thousand Bats in the Ancient Cave, Ten Thousand Bats Appear

Over these few days in the world, Su Changqing had already excavated a cliff at the site of the Bitter Sea seal, but for that hard and solid seal, this was clearly insignificant.

However, Su Changqing was not eager for quick success, instead choosing to take it one step at a time; it would naturally be much easier after obtaining the Hundred Grass Liquid.

On this day, the five of them finally arrived at Kongsang Mountain. As they descended from the clouds, they were all startled to see that within a hundred-mile radius of this Kongsang Mountain, there were towering mountains everywhere, yet they were bare, exposed rock and earth with very little vegetation, and there was not even a trace of human presence to be seen below the mountains; it was very desolate.

Upon arrival, it was just the setting sun at dusk. The hazy yellow sunset shone on Kongsang Mountain, adding a touch of bleakness and loneliness, and what was even more surprising was that there was some black mist slowly rising from the mountain peaks.

"We have indeed come to the right place."

Qi Hao smiled and teased the group.

The others were not particularly terrified and responded to Qi Hao's joke with smiles. After observing the surroundings, Qi Hao continued to say to them: "I see that there is no human presence for a hundred miles around, and we cannot find a place to rest. It would be better if we go directly into the mountain to search for that 'Wanfu Ancient Cave'. With the five of us helping each other, there shouldn't be any danger."

"Senior Brother Qi is right; we should head up the mountain early."

Ceng Shushu was the first to agree. He could be considered the most adventurous among them; otherwise, he would not have snuck out to join them on this trip to the Wanfu Ancient Cave.

Seeing that Ceng Shushu had agreed, Zhang Xiaofan naturally had no objections, while Lu Xueqi, after seeing Su Changqing nod, walked toward the summit without saying a word.

As they walked up the mountain path, everyone could not help but think that this Kongsang Mountain was completely incomparable to the Qingyun Mountain Range, the immortal treasure land where the Qingyun Sect was located.

The mountain peaks were steep with no paths to follow, and coupled with the late hour, the road was even darker. The five of them walked from the foot of the mountain toward the top, and by the time they reached the mountainside, it had turned completely dark.

When they reached a platform, Su Changqing felt a sense of foreboding in his heart and immediately called out to stop the group.

"We cannot continue walking. I fear that if we continue rashly like this, there will be danger lying in ambush ahead."

Following Su Changqing's call, the others did indeed stop their steps, but they looked at Su Changqing with confusion.

Su Changqing offered no explanation and took out the reward for being the champion of the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament, the Qingyun Sect's supreme treasure, the Six Harmonies Mirror. The others were stunned for a moment, not knowing what Su Changqing was going to do.

Su Changqing held the Six Harmonies Mirror in his hand and silently recited the incantation. Suddenly, the previously dim and lusterless Six Harmonies Mirror seemed to sense something and gradually brightened, then slowly floated up from Su Changqing's hand, rising above their heads.

The light grew increasingly intense, casting a bright glow over the six-foot area around them, forming a circle that protected the five of them inside.

"Prepare yourselves; a great battle awaits us."

Su Changqing said solemnly to the group.

Seeing Su Changqing so serious, Qi Hao also expressed his agreement: "Before coming here, I asked my Master in advance. My Master told me that eight hundred years ago, Kongsang Mountain was a gathering place for the evil people of the Demonic Cult. Now, seeing this mountain so desolate and strange, with black mist rising, I fear that even if there are no Demonic Cult members gathered here, there are monsters at work. It is good for us to take extra precautions."

The others nodded secretly and sat on the ground to wait. Sure enough, in less than a few seconds, they suddenly heard a loud noise from afar, followed by the "flap, flap, flap" sound of wings beating. The sound grew closer and more dense, and eventually, it filled the air all around them, without any rhythm, leaving only booming sounds echoing through this desolate wilderness. In the dim and silent sky, it was strangely eerie and terrifying.

"They're here!"

The group stood up decisively and circled outward to form a protective ring.

Borrowing the light of the Six Harmonies Mirror, they finally saw the owners of the sound. On the back of the mountain, a black mass of figures surged up, and strange red lights shot toward them—these were the eyes of those figures. It was actually a swarm of bats gathered together.

"Bats?!"

Ceng Shushu exclaimed.

As soon as he spoke, these bats seemed to have received some kind of summons, and they uniformly swarmed toward this place like a dark, dense cloud.

In an instant, the earth, which was only illuminated by sparse starlight, became even darker, as if covered by something. Before these bats even rushed over, a pungent, fishy stench hit their noses.

Zhang Xiaofan and the others were all terrified, except for Su Changqing and Qi Hao, who remained relatively calm. However, compared to Su Changqing, Qi Hao's face was visibly paler at this moment.

"Do not panic. With Junior Brother Changqing's Six Harmonies Mirror protecting the formation, as long as we do not leave this range, we will not be hurt."

Qi Hao hurriedly urged the others.

After another moment, those bat figures finally reached their ears. Borrowing the light of the Six Harmonies Mirror, the group could see these bat figures even more clearly.

These black bats were more than twice the size of those usually seen, and each one had a bloody mouth wide open, with two fangs protruding from its jaws. Their eyes flashed with strange red light, and they constantly spat out black gas from their mouths; it could be called extremely terrifying.

The Six Harmonies Mirror also played its role at this time. These bats rushed toward Su Changqing and the others in unison, but they were all blocked outside by the light of the Six Harmonies Mirror. No matter how much they collided and squeezed, the light circle of the Six Harmonies Mirror remained motionless.

Instead, these bats that charged first were seemingly scorched by the light, and after emitting bursts of hissing sounds, they fell from the sky. After struggling for a moment, they lost all movement; it seemed they had been killed instantly.

But this swarm of bats was simply too vast. Looking out, this world was covered and filled by them. A rough glance suggested there were millions of them, and the bats killed by the Six Harmonies Mirror seemed so insignificant.

One batch of bats died, and the next batch rushed forward one after another, as if they would not stop until they broke this barrier. The five of them were trapped in the middle, and while they were temporarily safe under the protection of the Six Harmonies Mirror, the fishy stench was truly unbearable, almost making them retch repeatedly.

At this moment, Zhang Xiaofan and Ceng Shushu were already pale, looking at these bats with visible terror in their eyes. Although Lu Xueqi and Qi Hao were slightly better off, their condition was not much better.

Among them, Su Changqing in particular remained very calm, which was also thanks to his practice of the Covering Heaven Method during this period, which had already opened up a bit of his Bitter Sea and unlocked a portion of his potential.

Su Changqing slightly cast a spell to create a shield, directly blocking his sense of smell, and only then did the fishy stench gradually dissipate.

(End of chapter)