The elders debated leaving the village unguarded, but Chu Zhiyuan insisted on staying behind while they retreated to recuperate. Chu Zhiyuan then reflected on a vision he had in Dan Yang Heaven, where he witnessed three men being ambushed after descending to Biyuan Heaven. These men suspected a trap and a potential traitor, but eventually concluded that a treasure that glimpses fate must have revealed their arrival.
"Return in a month!"
A handsome, middle-aged man spoke through gritted teeth, his voice cold.
"Yes, let’s come back and check again. I refuse to believe they possess such treasures!"
"Senior Brother Luo, will you be joining us?"
"...Very well."
"In that case, Senior Brother Luo, why don’t we invite a few more senior brothers along?"
"Precisely! Even if they expect us, so what? We will simply claim the rewards!"
"That’s right. After all, Biyuan Heaven is merely a lower-tier heaven, its power limited. We were caught off guard before, but now that we are aware, dealing with them should be a simple matter, shouldn’t it?"
"Exactly! So what if they anticipate our arrival? We shall overwhelm them with sheer might!"
"I estimate that if all nine of us venture forth together, they will have no choice but to flee and maintain their distance from us!"
"It is regrettable that we cannot exceed the limit of nine individuals."
"The Array's restrictions are indeed unavoidable, but nine is sufficient. We should select the most capable among us, Senior Brother Luo?"
"Indeed, I shall handpick three proficient individuals."
"Excellent! Including yourself, Senior Brother Luo, that makes four. Coupled with the three of us, we still require two more. We shall find two more capable individuals to join us!"
"Let us engage in a grand confrontation and demonstrate the true meaning of strength!"
"These country bumpkins from the lower-tier heaven must learn a valuable lesson!"
"It is a shame we could not achieve our objective this time and gain any rewards. Otherwise, my cultivation might have advanced further."
"Junior Brother Lu, you are but a single step away from a breakthrough, are you not?"
"Yes, just a minuscule step remains to break through, what a pity!"
"Next time, we shall undoubtedly ascend and harvest a multitude of souls!"
"Indeed!"
...
Chu Zhiyuan shook his head after perusing this, realizing the futility of further observation.
Thus, he retreated and departed from the valley, emerging atop a nearby mountain peak.
Adjacent to one peak stood another, and then yet another, with majestic peaks interlinking to form a grand, dragon-like mountain range.
This magnificent mountain range stretched across heaven and earth, serving to divide the north from the south.
The frigid winds from the north were kept at bay by the mountains, their biting chill unable to traverse.
Consequently, the land situated south of these mountains remained warm, akin to perpetual spring, boasting lush vegetation and an abundance of life.
Upon the mountaintop, his figure abruptly materialized.
The Ascension Technique had served as a fixed point, enabling the Earth Origin Technique to transport him with ease.
As soon as he appeared, he immediately suppressed his aura.
Then, he closed his eyes.
Super Sensing Illumination radiated outwards, encompassing a radius of two hundred miles, rendering all within its reach with perfect clarity.
The dominion within this range consisted entirely of mountainous forests, characterized by towering mountain ranges and densely packed trees, seemingly without end.
Only a select few locations remained veiled in shadows.
His attention was drawn towards these shadowed areas, one of which encompassed the valley he had previously observed.
In addition to this valley, there were four other shadowed zones, all nestled deep within the imposing mountain forests.
Moreover, within this two-hundred-mile sphere of detection, a substantial quantity of diverse Spirit Grass and Spiritual Objects could be found.
Spirit Grass, seldom encountered in Biyuan Heaven, flourished abundantly throughout this region.
The creatures inhabiting the forests possessed Essence Qi far more vigorous than those found in Biyuan Heaven.
There were even two formidable Giant Demons lurking within the dense foliage; one, a Demon resembling a leopard, was actively hunting a group of humans.
This assembly of human experts comprised eight individuals, engaged in a desperate battle with the Giant Demon, fighting a tactical retreat.
Six human forms lay already upon the ground.
Their life forces were on the verge of expiring, clinging to their final breaths.
Yet, they could perish at any given moment.
Their existence was as precarious as candles flickering in a strong wind.
Chu Zhiyuan silently shook his head.
This leopard-like Giant Demon, though resembling a leopard, possessed a considerably larger physique.
Its entire body was adorned with leopard spots, and its four hooves were a pristine white, as if treading upon fresh snow.
Its speed rivaled lightning, its movements were exceptionally nimble, and its eyes gleamed with a palpable radiance.
As matters stood, these eight individuals were undoubtedly doomed—they might not survive another quarter of an hour.
He did not hasten to their aid; instead, he first meticulously observed the circulation of their mental techniques and examined their attire.
These experts clearly did not belong to the Flower God Sect but hailed from a different power.
However, their mental technique relied on peculiar patterns of light originating from within their bodies.
But these patterns did not coalesce into the form of roses; rather, they depicted bamboo.
The bamboo formed by the internal light patterns of each expert varied in the number of its segments, with some displaying eight and others nine. Their thickness also differed, some being robust while others were slender.
The level of their Cultivation was intrinsically linked to the bamboo configurations formed by these light patterns.
Those possessing higher Cultivation exhibited more segments, and among those with an identical number of segments, the thicker bamboo formations indicated greater strength compared to the thinner ones.
The fallen cultivators often possessed fewer of these segments, and those that remained were noticeably thinner.
Observing this, Chu Zhiyuan fell into deep contemplation.
It appeared that the path of Cultivation within Dan Yang Heaven diverged significantly from those practiced in Biyuan Heaven, Little Outer Heaven, and Outer Heaven.
These luminous patterns were not merely superficial; they represented the fundamental essence and origin of power.
A subtle stir resonated within his mind.
In the very next moment, Zhu Lingyun materialized.
He moved with ethereal grace, appearing swiftly behind the Leopard-shaped Giant Demon and silently extending a single finger.
He moved like a phantom; the Leopard-shaped Giant Demon did not even register his presence before a precise tap landed on the back of its head.
The Wanxiang Returning to God Technique, designed to bypass defenses, masked its aura and merged flawlessly with the surrounding environment.
This Demon, so attuned to its surroundings, detected no shift in energy and remained completely unaware of Zhu Lingyun's approach.
A potent surge of force was instantly channeled into the Giant Demon, causing it to freeze in place for a crucial moment.
The eight vigilant experts seized this fleeting opportunity, unleashing their full might. Their palms erupted with a shimmering emerald luminescence that coalesced into the shape of a bamboo leaf, which then drifted gracefully towards the Giant Demon.
Suddenly, the Leopard-shaped Giant Demon was propelled violently into the air.
It unleashed a sky-piercing roar, expelling a ring of crimson light that clashed directly with the descending emerald bamboo leaf.
"Boom boom boom..."
The emerald bamboo leaf and the fierce red light met in a thunderous, muffled explosion.
The impact sent the Leopard-shaped Giant Demon reeling backward, its continuous expulsion of crimson rings faltering.
The eight experts strained with the effort, their internal light patterns intensifying, converging, and growing to a brilliant glow, coalescing into the form of a luminous bamboo.
This light bamboo swayed with gentle grace, imbuing their palm strikes with an even more verdant and vibrant energy.
Its power was significantly amplified, making it nearly impossible for the Giant Demon's crimson rings of light to hold back its advance.
Chu Zhiyuan let out a soft shake of his head.
This was clearly a desperate gambit, expending their very last reserves of strength.
Should this assault fail to repel the Giant Demon, their capacity to resist would be utterly extinguished.
It was evident that the Giant Demon perceived their predicament as well.
Therefore, this was their final, all-or-nothing effort, a true struggle for survival.
The Leopard Giant Demon fixed a ferocious glare upon Zhu Lingyun, utterly disregarding the fierce assault from the eight, and lunged directly at him.
Zhu Lingyun executed a smooth backward drift, vanishing into the depths of the forest in the blink of an eye.
With a furious roar, the Leopard Giant Demon gave chase, rapidly exiting the effective range of the eight experts' attacks.
The eight cultivators ceased their pursuit, halting their actions to swiftly attend to their six fallen comrades on the ground.
They administered potent Spirit Pills to the injured and consumed some themselves, then prepared to depart, carrying the weakened individuals upon their backs.
As for Zhu Lingyun, they paid him no further heed.
Zhu Lingyun's Qinggong technique was of exceptional caliber; it was clear he possessed the capability to evade the Leopard Giant Demon's pursuit.
The immediate imperative was to put as much distance as possible between themselves and this location before the Giant Demon potentially returned.
Chu Zhiyuan offered a slow, deliberate nod.
Even amidst such perilous circumstances, they had not neglected to rescue their companions—these cultivators displayed commendable character and loyalty.
The Golden Sword suddenly flashed out, piercing the heart of the Giant Demon with effortless precision.
Fueled by formidable spiritual power, augmented by immense Merit and Faith power, the Golden Sword's efficacy was truly astounding.
To vanquish this particular Giant Demon, there was no necessity for the Demon Suppressing Saber or the secret techniques of Guanghan Palace.
The Golden Sword passed cleanly through the Giant Demon, then returned to its resting place at Chu Zhiyuan's waist.
Meanwhile, Zhu Lingyun gracefully floated over to join the group of cultivators.
A robust, middle-aged man clasped his hands in a gesture of respect and inquired, "Thank you kindly for your timely assistance, esteemed sir. I am Meng Qingchuan, from the Green Bamboo Sect. Might I inquire as to your name...?"
"Zhu Lingyun," came the forthright reply from Zhu Lingyun. "Might I ask for the location of this place?"
"This is Azure Dragon Mountain."
"Azure Dragon Mountain... And where precisely is Azure Dragon Mountain located?"
"Sir, from whence do you hail?"
"Wanxiang Cliff," Zhu Lingyun responded.
"Wanxiang Cliff..." The eight cultivators exchanged glances and shook their heads as they continued their hasty retreat.
None among them had ever encountered a place by that name.
By this juncture, Chu Zhiyuan had already materialized near another area shrouded in shadow.
