Dashing Student Chapter 997 - 1056: Southern Marsh

"You scoundrel born of a dog, don’t let this Daoist learn your identity!"

Divine Calculator cursed as he kicked open the door, his chest heaving with frustration, his anger was palpable.

His storage bag at his waist was bulging, but compared to the loot he had snatched, he was more pained by the copper plate inscribed with the Snake Swallowing Tail Rune and that stone.

With his discerning eyes, he saw that their value far exceeded the things he had seized!

Chen Nan heard the commotion from within the room, temporarily stowed away the Gold Attribute Flower Bud, opened the door, and stepped out to see Divine Calculator across the room, sitting there grinding his teeth.

It was as if he wished he could bite to death the person from last night’s Ghost Market!

"Brother Dao, what’s going on?" Chen Nan asked knowingly.

Divine Calculator whirled around, his chubby face bunching up as he shook with anger, "Don’t mention it. I ran into a ghostly little thief, the treasure the Daoist had his eyes on got swiped by him!"

Chen Nan found it amusing, naturally, he wouldn’t admit to being the "little thief." "Such a thing happened? Brother Dao, you must be careful when venturing outside."

Divine Calculator waved his hand, forcing himself to calm down, "Forget it, taking you to the Southern Marsh is the priority, I’ll settle accounts with that little thief later!"

"Hmm, if possible, I’d like to depart tomorrow," Chen Nan nodded.

Although the Gold Attribute Flower Bud wasn’t a Sword Pill, it was definitely a powerful Secret Treasure. He feared the owner of the flower bud coming to settle accounts with him, so it was better to leave promptly.

"It’s good that you think that way," Divine Calculator patted Chen Nan on the shoulder reassuringly, "Don’t worry, this Daoist will surely help you, following this Daoist won’t lead you astray!"

"Thank you, Brother Dao," Chen Nan clasped his fists in gratitude, smiling warmly.

He turned back to his room, not noticing the shadow of malice flashing in the depths of Divine Calculator’s eyes.

Originally, they went out at night to enter the Ghost Market, and by the time they returned, it was already early morning, so just an hour or so later, the sky brightened.

At this moment, at the city gates, a middle-aged cultivator, holding a folding fan and dressed in luxurious vestment robes, giving off an impression of great wealth, arrived here.

Randomly picking any accessory on him, it was a precious Spiritual Artifact, with a radiant glow seeming to emanate from his whole being.

"Hmm, I can sense it’s in the city. Damn, don’t let me find out who dared to steal my things, I will have your life!"

The middle-aged cultivator muttered with gritted teeth, angrily entering the city.

The cultivators guarding the city gates quickly saluted upon seeing him, "Greetings, Young Lord Duobao."

"Hmm."

Duobao nodded and briskly walked into the city.

Meanwhile, Chen Nan and Divine Calculator at the inn were completely unaware of this. They set off at dawn, heading straight for the Southern Marsh.

The moment they left the city, Duobao sensed his item had exited the city.

"Damn it, did they sense I was coming?"

Anger flashed across Duobao’s face as he clenched his folding fan tightly, "Looks like they’re heading to the Southern Marsh. Fine, I’ll settle with you there!"

After saying this, he too left the city in pursuit.

Outside the city, Chen Nan and Divine Calculator headed south aboard a Flying Boat, reaching the edge of the Southern Marsh three thousand miles away in just a day.

From afar, one could already see the green miasma in the distance, everything concealed within, making it impossible to see clearly.

Even before approaching, the smell of herbal dregs mixed with rotting wood hit, making even his immune-to-all-poisons constitution feel dizzy and nauseated.

"The miasma here must not be touched," Divine Calculator pulled out two black bottles, tossing one to Chen Nan, and took out an elixir pill himself to pop into his mouth, "Forget about absorbing Spiritual Energy, even letting it linger on your skin for too long corrodes it."

Chen Nan held the black bottle, knowing it was a Detoxification Pill, yet cautiously chose not to ingest it. Instead, he discreetly retrieved a Detoxification Pill from his own storage bag to swallow.

He couldn’t fully trust Divine Calculator yet.

Inside the marsh, plants thrived, wild grasses, and moss forming patches of meadow, but stepping onto them revealed a soft underfoot. Phosphorescent moss grew on deadwood.

The air felt incredibly humid, entirely different from outside conditions.

Moreover, a vast green miasma shrouded the marsh in a veil, casting everything in a verdant haze.

One could hear the sound of bubbles popping in the air as well as a rustling from afar - unclear if it was the wind or demon beasts passing through.

Though he’d never ventured into the marsh, Chen Nan had inquired about its hazards, understanding the miasma wasn’t the only danger; numerous lethal demon beasts lurked within.

Thus, after entering the marsh, Chen Nan remained highly cautious, using his Divine Sense to monitor every move around him.

Seeing his tense demeanor, Divine Calculator chuckled smugly, "No need to worry, I can traverse the marsh with my eyes closed. Just follow me!"

As he spoke, he suddenly stepped onto a piece of deadwood, and then his entire leg unexpectedly sank.

It turned out the spot he stepped on was a swamp, beneath the decayed leaves and moss, there lay an unknown depth of muddy pit.

It could effortlessly engulf Divine Calculator entirely.

The miasma perpetually shrouds the marsh, and the swamps are eroded by it daily, further exacerbated by decaying branches, leaves, demon beast carcasses, and toxins, rendering marshland quagmires extremely perilous.

They harbor a unique toxin capable of dissolving the Mana within a cultivator, so anyone stuck in them becomes just like an ordinary person.

Countless lives are lost to the marsh’s swamps each year.

Of course, cultivators at the Golden Core Stage or above could rely on their formidable cultivation to escape swiftly, but those at the Foundation Establishment Stage could only pray not to fall into the swamps.

Seeing Divine Calculator’s leg sunk into the swamp, Chen Nan speechlessly pursed his lips, thinking the fat man before him might be boasting, yet he had no evidence.

Divine Calculator’s body slowly inclined toward the swamp, no matter how he struggled, he felt an immense pull within the swamp anchoring his leg.

In desperation, he turned to Chen Nan for help.

"Jue Mingzi, give me a hand, quickly pull me out!"

Chen Nan grabbed Divine Calculator firmly and yanked hard, pulling him out of the swamp.

"Phew, that was close."

Divine Calculator patted his chest in relief, wearing a look of lingering fear.

Upon catching sight of the skeptical look in Chen Nan’s eyes, he couldn’t help but feel a bit embarrassed, especially after boasting earlier about navigating the marsh with closed eyes.

"Ahem, ahem, just now was a fluke, I truly know this marsh well, you can trust me."

Chen Nan nodded, unwilling to argue further with Divine Calculator, just wanting to find the Mystic Yin True Water.

"Brother Dao, I trust you. So, where exactly is the Mystic Yin True Water?"

"It’s far from here. If it were easy to find, someone would have taken it long ago; it wouldn’t be our turn," Divine Calculator chuckled, "Follow this way!"

He picked a direction but failed to notice two rows of scarlet eyes suddenly opening on a nearby deadwood!