Overbearing Immortal Doctor Chapter 1306 - 1405: The Veil

"Oh, right, Brother Jian, even if I'm unsure of what I'm searching for, there will be some clues and characteristics to guide the hunt. Could you please detail all the features of the person you're seeking? It would make the search much more efficient." Lan Yueliang chuckled, attempting to lighten the somber mood.

"Wow."

Qin Feng gestured, and a light screen materialized, displaying images of a plump individual and Tiantian.

"One is Wu Junman, the other is Tiantian. They are quite vulnerable. Let's return to Yuan Jie. Whoever finds even one of them will receive an additional million dollars as a reward, sent via Pingling Stone or any other method." Qin Feng gazed at Wu Junman and Tiantian, a complex mixture of emotions swirling within him.

If they hadn't ventured to Canghong Mountain for the search, there would still be a sliver of hope to cling to, a way to deceive himself. But once found, upon learning the definitive outcome, how would he cope? Rationally, Qin Feng understood that Wu Junman and Tiantian were more likely to meet misfortune than find luck.

"Thank you so much!"

"My goodness, I've never laid eyes on such a colossal sum!"

"Darling..."

The adventurers' eyes gleamed with avarice. Qin Feng's intricate feelings held no sway over their response.

"Wu?" Lan Yueliang's gaze fixed on Wu Junman's image on the screen, her expression becoming distinctly peculiar.

"What is it? What's wrong?" Qin Feng couldn't help but inquire.

"Hmph," Lan Yueliang responded with a soft hum. "Had I known the name of the person you were seeking, I would never have agreed to this collaboration."

"Oh? And why is that?" Qin Feng's curiosity intensified.

"I despise individuals with the surname Wu. I loathe them intensely!" Lan Yueliang's eyes, on rare occasion, flashed with animosity and a Killing Aura, though it vanished as quickly as it appeared. "However, the person I despise is not your friend. While they share a resemblance with God, your friend possesses an innocent, joyful smile, kind eyes, radiating happiness and contentment. I despise those grim, cold, hate-filled individuals who appear frightening at first glance. Naturally, he is also considerably plumper than your friend."

"You seem to harbor immense hatred for that person, and perhaps even other Wu family members. Yet, if you were to meet my friend, you would likely be quite eager to befriend him. He's a good soul with an exceptional temper. Every day, as long as he's not subjected to bullying, he can live a life of contentment." Qin Feng chuckled, a tinge of melancholy coloring his thoughts.

Grim, cold, filled with hatred?

Such a disposition had no bearing on a plump individual.

"What is the name of the person you know?" Qin Feng's curiosity piqued further, prompting another question.

"Wu Tian. His very name implies illegality. Are you mockingly laughing?" Lan Yueliang retorted sharply, her disdain for that individual still evident.

"Quite distinctive," Qin Feng mused.

The name Wu Tian itself was one thing, but associating with someone perceived as lawless certainly carried a strange undertone. Soon, however, Qin Feng dismissed the thought, far too indifferent to dwell on matters unrelated to him.

"Alright everyone, it's not getting any earlier. Now that we're all assembled, let's depart." Taking a deep breath, Lan Yueliang attempted to shake off the unpleasantness.

Finally, the expedition team, numbering over five hundred members, commenced their journey. Unbeknownst to them, a number of disciples from the Xifu Sect had discreetly detached themselves, making swift headway towards Canghong City.

The Kanhong Mountain Range sprawled across thousands of miles, encompassing a vast territory. The periphery teemed with numerous Spiritual and Virtual Domain Foreign Beasts dwelling in solitude. Venture a bit deeper, and one would inevitably encounter formidable Foreign Beasts. The further one pressed inward, the more Foreign Beasts materialized beyond plain sight, even within the legendary Domain of Foreign Beasts!

For many, this domain existed only in proximity to Canghong Mountain.

Within the heart of Canghong Mountain, fierce winds howled through the dense forest, creating an atmosphere steeped in lethality.

Ancient trees, having stood for hundreds, even thousands, of years, rose majestically within the dense woods. They formed a canopy, effectively blocking out the sunlight, allowing countless blades of grass and thorny vines to thrive in their shade.

At this moment, the large contingent moved in eerie silence. Alert eyes continuously swept through the shadowed recesses of the forest, hands gripping the weapons at their waists, poised to confront any unexpected threat.

As seasoned adventurers who had navigated the treacherous terrains of Canghong Mountain for years, they maintained a basic level of tacit understanding, even with unfamiliar companions. Their gazes interconnected, allowing them to decipher subtle signals of danger and safety reflected in each other's eyes.

Qin Feng strode forward, his gaze fixed on the path ahead. Among the group, tightly guarded in the forefront, the woman clad in white, Lan Yueliang, was a strikingly conspicuous figure.

The expedition team comprised virtually no common women, let alone an adult of such exquisite beauty and captivating charm. At this juncture, the enigmatic Miss Lan Yueliang subtly adjusted her posture, gently dabbing away perspiration.

As their advance continued, a sudden stir erupted from the front of the procession.

Those who witnessed the situation naturally hurried to pursue, maintaining a safe distance to observe.

"Hmph!" A collective gasp rippled through the onlookers as they took in the grim tableau.

An unsettling sea of decaying corpses lay before them, reduced to mere skeletal remains that formed macabre, mountainous piles. What was even more disturbing was the unnerving black coloration of the remains, coupled with the complete annihilation of all surrounding life. Not a single bird or beast, and astonishingly, not even a blade of grass, had survived.

Radiating outwards from the bone heaps, an expanse spanning several kilometers lay utterly devoid of even the smallest insect!

"How can there be so many deceased individuals in Residual Red Mountain, with so few people present?" Qin Feng's expression darkened.

"This is clearly the work of poison. It appears the Devils have surfaced once more," a hushed voice ventured.

"What devilry is this?" Qin Feng immediately turned his gaze to the speaker.

"Sword Saint, the legends of these demons have been whispered in the major cities for quite some time; are you unaware?" the individual responded, his tone laced with a hint of surprise.

"Explain," Qin Feng, too weary for lengthy discourse and stating his origin from beyond Canghong Mountain, prompted.

"Yes, my lord," the adventurer replied courteously, emboldened by Qin Feng's evident strength and wealth. "A band of malevolent demons haunts this region. They routinely poison unsuspecting commoners in remote villages, often wiping out entire settlements. Even solitary cultivators are not spared their vile attacks. Truly, their cruelty knows no bounds."

"Poisoning ordinary people?" Qin Feng's brow furrowed. "To what end?"

"Who can say? They are fiends, after all!" the adventurer sighed. "Eventually, their atrocities provoked righteous anger, compelling many powerful individuals to investigate covertly. The demons, sensing the increased scrutiny, grew more cautious. They began targeting people in remote villages, far from the influence of major powers and cities. After dispatching their victims, they would dispose of the bodies in secluded locations. In essence, these demonic acts of violence never ceased."

"Indeed, Canghong Mountain presents an ideal locale for body disposal, where discovery is unlikely. There might be other such sites scattered around."

"This is monstrous! To slaughter innocent people with poison... what possible gain could they derive?"

The other adventurers murmured their agreement.

"Alright, let's continue," Lan Yueliang suddenly interjected, her voice cutting through the morbid discussion. She then quickened her pace, striking out alone in a different direction.

The assembled group resumed their march.

In this world, bloodshed was commonplace, and life held little intrinsic value.

Even powerful cultivators met their end daily in unknown numbers. For ordinary folk, their fates garnered little attention.

"The outside world is far more lawless than the Wuxing Sect or the Sword Pavilion," Qin Feng mused, a hint of melancholy in his tone.

Over five hundred seasoned adventurers scoured Canghong Mountain. Ten days elapsed, and their search had meticulously covered the surrounding territories.

They discovered six additional corpses. However, the elusive resting place of the sect's ancestor remained unfound, as did any trace of the stout individual and Tiantian. Sadly, over a dozen lives were lost in clashes with formidable Foreign Beasts.

"Miss Lan Yueliang, you mentioned an improbable location. What exactly are we seeking there?" the adventurers couldn't help but inquire.

The established protocol for hiring adventurers stipulated a moiety of the agreed-upon payment upfront, with the remainder due upon successful completion of the task. Failure to fulfill the objective meant forfeiture of the outstanding commission. Having wandered for an extended period, these adventurers began to harbor anxieties regarding their remuneration.