Chapter 174: Forcing Entry to the Mountain Gate
Chapter 174: Forcing Entry to the Mountain Gate
After trekking through the deep woods and dense mountains for nearly three days, the two finally found a valley deep within the mountains using their map.
Though called a valley, it resembled the bottom of a sheer cliff more. Surrounded by mountains with thousand-ren high cliffs on all sides, even monkeys couldn’t climb them. Looking up, clouds drifted above the valley, hiding the cliff tops from view. Sunlight never touched this valley; it was perpetually dark and damp. The only way in or out was a single stone-paved path.
Both sides of the path were covered in flowers and plants, creating a beautiful landscape. Yet, a strange feeling hung over the place. The ground was unnaturally clean, spotless. No chirping of insects or songs of birds could be heard; not even an ant was in sight. Within several miles, no traces of any birds or beasts could be found.
A glance from afar showed the valley entrance shrouded in thick mist. Neither wind could scatter it, nor could spiritual senses penetrate it. Clearly, the entire valley was sealed within some formidable Restriction.
“Jianning Scholar Mu Feng, following the instructions of my elder, requests an audience with Sect Leader Murong!”
Mu Feng stopped at a distance along with Jing Wushuang and shouted loudly.
The Poison Sect’s fearsome reputation made everyone pale at the mention. Though they had always kept a low profile, their disciples rarely ventured outside, so their fame wasn’t widespread. Only truly seasoned experts knew the dread this sect inspired. Here, every blade of grass, every leaf, even the air itself and the streams flowing on the ground, held deadly poisons. One wrong step, and there might be no return!
Whoosh…
No sooner had Mu Feng’s voice faded than the mist churned at the valley entrance. An ethereal, cold voice drifted over, “Jianning what? Never heard of it. Strangers, this isn’t a place for scholars to sightsee. Leave!”
Contrary to Mu Feng’s expectations, the Poison Sect’s people refused him outright and coldly without even showing themselves.
The voice was faint and icy. At first, it seemed to come from behind the mist-shrouded entrance. Listening more carefully, it felt like it descended from high clouds. Concentrating further, it was as if the speaker stood right beside them. Even Mu Feng couldn’t lock onto the speaker’s location. A sense of gravity settled in his heart.
It seemed members of the Poison Sect were not only unparalleled in poison arts but also immensely powerful in cultivation!
“We have come a long way from Jianning City specifically to request an audience with Sect Leader Murong. Would you please help us convey this request? I would be deeply grateful!” Mu Feng took a step forward, his tone earnest.
How many trials and dangers had they faced to get here?
The assassination attempt from Yanyulou, the pursuit by Ren Pingsheng, Hall Master of the Sword Control Hall, the ambush by Dao Duanliu, the trap laid by Poison Hand Xie Han…
To reach this place, they had narrowly escaped death numerous times, overcoming countless hardships. Without the crucial help of Flying Sky Bat, Fourth Lady Mei, and the others, without desperate breakout after breakout, they would have long perished in the wilderness!
Having gone through so much suffering to finally arrive, how could they give up just like that? How could they be turned away with a mere casual comment without even seeing the face of Poison Sect Leader Murong Bi?
Mu Feng’s face was resolute. As soon as his words ended, he took another step forward, moving deliberately towards the valley entrance. Behind him, Jing Wushuang, still grievously injured and unhealed, quietly followed. This place was filled with dangers; every step risked their lives. Yet, not a trace of fear or hesitation showed on her face.
Wherever Mu Feng went, she followed. Even if mountains of blades and seas of fire lay ahead, she would not pause for a moment.
“Halt! Daring to force entry into the Poison Sect’s mountain gate, have you two grown tired of living?”
The chilly voice sounded again. The next instant, the mist at the valley entrance contracted inwards, then rapidly exploded outward, engulfing the entire stone path. In an instant, looking around, everything turned into a white, murky haze; they could hardly see anything. But suddenly, the sound of slicing wind reached their ears. Four gleaming longswords thrust out from the thick white fog, swift and vicious!
“Shuang’er, be careful!”
Mu Feng sidestepped, positioning himself in front of Jing Wushuang. He swiftly drew the sword hanging at his waist.
Clang! Clang! Clang! Clang!
After four crisp clashes, he swiftly parried the oncoming ferocious blades. Straining his eyes, he caught glimpses of the graceful figures of four white-robed young women. Their attack missing its mark, they quickly retreated back into the dense fog.
“Hm… Quite decent sword skills. Pity. To think such meager strength is enough to force the gate? That’s a grave insult to our Poison Sect!”
The icy voice came again.
This time, the four white-robed women didn’t reappear. Instead, numerous emerald-green beads appeared swirling swiftly in the air.
“Beware the poison fog!”
Mu Feng’s pupils contracted. He instantly grabbed Jing Wushuang behind him, pulling her into a protective embrace. Innumerable Blood Vines burst from his body, enveloping them tightly into a massive, blood-red cocoon, leaving no gap whatsoever. Within the dense white fog, a huge, deep crimson Blood Cocoon rapidly formed.
BOOM!
Exactly as the cocoon took shape, the poison beads in the air violently detonated, releasing thick green mist.
Under the envelopment and erosion of the green mist, the stone path beneath their feet bubbled intensely, instantly corroded to the depth of a finger-length. The Blood Vines shrouding them were also being eaten away layer by layer, dissolving into bloody vapor that scattered in the wind. A scene he’d witnessed before surged back into Mu Feng’s mind. He recalled the terrifying Restrictions encircling the Ethereal Temple, and Sky Splitting Tiger, his life-sworn brother who now lay clinging to life, dying.
To die here like this? Or return empty-handed only to let his brother, Sky Splitting Tiger, die completely drained of Yang Energy and life force?
The blood energy within Mu Feng roiled uncontrollably, wave upon wave. At the critical moment when the horrifying green mist accelerated its corrosive invasion, he decisively burst forth from the cocoon. Throwing back his head, he let out a furious roar. With a flick of his wrist, the Eighteen Blood Witch Commands appeared. His hands formed the Devouring Gesture.
Suddenly, a fierce Yin Wind rose. The eighteen flags snapped loudly, swelling as they caught the wind. They voraciously devoured the terrifying poison fog around them. They even drew the thick white mist from the distant valley entrance towards them like a tide, guzzling it greedily like colossal whales swallowing the sea.
“Oh? The Yin Wind Formation? Boy, are you from the Yinfeng Sect?”
The cold voice sounded abruptly again. This time, alongside the usual icy distance, a trace of panic and tension laced it. The four fierce white-robed maidens lunged from the thick fog once more. However, this time, before they could even get close, Mu Feng launched a ferocious counter-offensive.
Whoosh…
Four vicious-looking, blood-red spears shot from his grasp.
He didn’t use Blood Refining Yang Seizing to steal their lives outright. Instead, the savage Blood Spears stabbed through their thighs, pinning them immovably to the ground.
Immediately after, with a thunderous shout, nearly a hundred blood-red Talismanic Scripts appeared in the air. They flickered like lightning as they drifted towards the valley entrance. Before the gate-guarding masters of the Poison Sect could react, they all exploded simultaneously with a rumble.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Blood Thunder!
In a fit of rage, Mu Feng churned his internal blood Qi madly, detonating a barrage of over a hundred Blood Thunders at once. The immense force instantly blasted the lingering white mist at the valley entrance clean away, revealing the true face of the Poison Sect’s mountain gate.
I tried diplomacy first. Since you reject reason and refuse courteous entry, then I will force my way in! What will you do about it?!
A murderous aura radiated fiercely from Mu Feng; a wild, violent energy surged through his entire being. He stretched his arm dramatically. Instantly, a fearsome Blood Spear materialized in his hand once more. The white-robed women, suddenly stripped of their concealing mist and left utterly exposed, gasped in shock!