Chapter 163: Three Wolves
Crawling out of that life-threatening grotto, both Fang Hao and Mu Fenghua breathed a sigh of relief, feeling as if they had taken a stroll before the Gates of Hell and returned.
The two looked at each other, and there was something different in their eyes.
Before, they were just temporary partners who were guarded and polite to each other; now, at least they could be considered ’comrades-in-arms’ who had shouldered guns together and shared the spoils, and that bit of awkwardness had faded quite a bit.
’Just now... thank you.’ Mu Fenghua smoothed her slightly disheveled sideburns, her voice softer than before.
She was not an ungrateful person; if Fang Hao hadn’t risked pulling the sword intent grass and forcefully resisting the Sword Qi just now, let alone obtaining the star soul of the sword, it would be questionable whether she could have come out in one piece.
She kept this favor in her heart.
’We were just helping each other.’ Fang Hao waved his hand and grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, ’If it weren’t for your powerful Spell-Breaking Talisman, Fellow Daoist Mu, which drew the fire, I wouldn’t have had the chance to make a Move.’
His words were half-true and half-false; mainly, he didn’t want this princess to feel that she owed him too much of a favor, so as to avoid trouble in the future.
However, he still felt quite good inside; teaming up with a royal princess didn’t feel bad, at least there were plenty of treasures, and she could be very useful at critical moments.
Hearing him say this, Mu Fenghua’s lips curled up slightly, and she didn’t offer any more polite pleasantries.
She took out the ’star soul of the sword’ that was swirling with starlight, caressing it fondly, her eyes full of light: ’With this, my ’Vermilion Bird Star Flame Sword’ can advance further, and perhaps even nurture a Sword Spirit embryo!’
Fang Hao also felt the faint but tough embryonic form of Sword Intent within his Dantian, feeling very pleased.
This trip to the Ten Thousand Swords Valley was well worth it!
Not only had his sword technique greatly improved, and he had touched the edge of Sword Intent, but he had also picked up a sword intent grass (although most of it was used up). How many Spirit Stones could this thing be exchanged for if sold!
The two rested for a moment, treated the minor injuries on their bodies, and continued to sneak deeper into the valley.
With the previous experience, the two of them cooperated much more tacitly.
Mu Fenghua was responsible for using her precious jade pendant to sense the density and attributes of the Sword Qi, avoiding some particularly dangerous natural sword formations; Fang Hao, relying on the embryonic form of Sword Intent he had just comprehended and his Clear Spring Spirit Eyes, scouted ahead, warning of lurking Sword Qi attacks.
As they walked, Fang Hao didn’t idle, secretly ’fleecing the sheep.’
He discovered that this Ten Thousand Swords Valley was truly a treasure land for a Sword Cultivator!
The further in they went, the more pure and complex the fragmented Sword Intent permeating the air became.
He was like a sponge that had fallen into a sugar jar, desperately absorbing and comprehending.
When encountering some scattered Sword Qi that was not very aggressive, he no longer blindly dodged or shattered it, but instead tried to use his own embryonic Sword Intent to make contact, guide, and even... devour it!
This process was extremely dangerous, and several times he was almost backlashed by the sharp Sword Intent, causing his Qi and blood to churn, but he never tired of it.
Each time he successfully devoured and refined a wisp of foreign Sword Intent, he felt his embryonic Sword Intent grow stronger, and his understanding of the Starfall Sword Art and Dividing Light Sword Shadow deepened by another layer.
He even began to try to integrate Sword Intent of different attributes into his own Moves; although it was bumpy, the power was truly and tangibly increasing.
Mu Fenghua watched from the side, clicking her tongue in wonder.
This guy was really a freak!
Others entered the Ten Thousand Swords Valley with caution, fearing being injured by the Sword Qi, but he was the opposite, as if he were returning home, and even took the initiative to ’eat’ it!
However, she also admitted that Fang Hao’s talent for the Dao of the sword was truly terrifying, and his speed of progress was visible to the naked eye.
After walking for most of the day, a huge ruin appeared in front of them.
Everywhere there were collapsed stone halls and broken stone pillars, as if they had experienced a tragic battle.
In the center of the ruins, a huge stone sword was inserted; although it was dilapidated, full of cracks and moss, it still exuded a terrifying Sword Intent that was as heavy as a mountain and eternal!
Just getting close to it made one unable to breathe.
’What a terrifying Sword Intent! The owner of this giant sword during its lifetime must have been an incredible expert!’ Fang Hao’s expression was grave; he could feel that the residual Sword Intent of this giant sword was stronger than any he had encountered before!
And it carried a will of unyielding, protective perseverance.
Mu Fenghua also sensed it, and the jade pendant in her hand became slightly hot: ’This Sword Intent... seems to be related to protection? And it carries the heaviness of the Earth attribute. It’s not of much use to me, but since the Sword Qi here is so pure and dense, perhaps treasures like’Sword Heart Stone’ or’Sword Nurturing Orchid’ have been nurtured here.’
The two began to search carefully in the ruins.
Sure enough, they found some good things in several stone crevices where the Sword Intent was particularly concentrated or beside broken sword scabbards.
Fang Hao dug up three’Sword Heart Stones’ the size of eggs, containing pure and sharp Sword Intent; these were treasures for tempering Flying Swords and enhancing the spirituality of sword weapons!
Mu Fenghua picked a few’Sword Nurturing Orchids’ with sword-like leaves that could nourish the Sword Soul, which happened to be useful for nourishing her newly acquired star soul of the sword.
The harvest was good, and the two were preparing to leave the ruins and continue deeper.
Suddenly, Fang Hao’s ears twitched, and his Clear Spring Spirit Eyes suddenly looked towards a broken wall at the edge of the ruins!
’Someone!’ He whispered, grabbed Mu Fenghua, flashed behind a huge stone pillar, and concealed his aura.
Mu Fenghua also became alert instantly, and the light of the jade pendant became restrained.
Just listening, footsteps and hushed conversations came from behind the broken wall.
’Senior Brother, are you sure this is the place? Is the treasure cave of that ’phantom shadow sword’ Qiu the Third really in this ghost place?’ A sharp voice said.
’It can’t be wrong! It’s clearly marked on the map! Qiu the Third was chased by enemies back then, fled into the Secret Realm with serious injuries, and must have hidden all his treasures near here before he died! We went to great lengths to get the map, we can’t let others get there first!’ Another hoarse voice replied.
’Hehe, I heard that Qiu the Third’s ’Shadowless Evasion Technique’ and that ’phantom shadow sword’ are good things! If we can find them...’
The voices gradually approached, and three Cultivators wearing gray tight-fitting outfits with flickering eyes turned out from behind the broken wall.
Two Great Perfection Foundation Establishments, and one Early Golden Core Stage!
Judging by their attire and aura, they looked like Loose Cultivators or Disciples of a small sect who often engaged in killing and robbing.
These three obviously did not discover Fang Hao and Mu Fenghua, looking around in the ruins, seemingly searching for some mark.
’It’s the ’Black Fiend Three Wolves’! These three guys are famous Loose Cultivator bullies in the Southern Border, ruthless and vicious!’
Mu Fenghua sent a voice transmission to Fang Hao, her tone full of disgust, ’The Qiu the Third they mentioned, I seem to have heard the elders in the palace mention him; he was a notorious lone bandit a hundred years ago, skilled in assassination and evasion techniques, his cultivation was Late Golden Core Stage, but he disappeared inexplicably later, I didn’t expect him to die here.’
Fang Hao’s eyes narrowed slightly.
A treasure cave? The legacy of a Late Golden Core Stage bandit? It sounds very tempting... but there are three of them, and their strength is not weak, especially that Early Golden Core Stage one, whose aura is solid; he is not an easy target.
While he was weighing whether to avoid trouble or do something big, the Early Golden Core Stage Cultivator among the three seemed to have sensed something, suddenly turned his head, and his sharp gaze swept towards the stone pillar where Fang Hao and Mu Fenghua were hiding!
’Who’s there! Sneaky, get out here!’
