Immortality Cultivation

Chapter 272: Forced to Accompany

Fang Hao had narrowly escaped death, yet he felt little relief, only heightened vigilance. He swiftly turned around, his internal Chaos Spiritual Power circulating covertly, his gaze sharp as he looked towards the direction from which the crimson Flying Sword had come.

On a protruding cliff face above the valley floor, a slender figure stood, unnoticed until now.

Moonlight spilled down, faintly revealing a woman clad in fiery red combat attire that outlined breathtaking curves. She was tall and slender, her skin lustrous as jade under the moonlight, her face so beautiful it bordered on the demonic. Particularly striking were her Phoenix eyes, their outer corners slightly upturned, radiating an astonishing allure and haughtiness even in the night. At this moment, those Phoenix eyes held a trace of scrutiny, a flicker of curiosity, and a faint, seemingly innate sense of detachment as they looked down upon Fang Hao in the valley below.

She wasn’t deliberately releasing her aura, yet Fang Hao could sense a scorching, formidable power contained within her. Her cultivation was at least at the Late Golden Core Stage, possibly even Perfected Golden Core! Moreover, the stunning sword strike earlier, its Sword Intent pure and its flames refined, was not something an ordinary Loose Cultivator could possess.

"Who are you?" Fang Hao asked solemnly, his tone neither subservient nor arrogant, laced with wariness. Although she had just saved him, in this perilous Black Dragon Mountain Range, a sudden stranger—especially a woman of profound cultivation and peerless beauty—often heralded greater trouble.

The woman in red did not answer immediately. With a graceful wave of her jade-like hand, the crimson Flying Sword, red as a Phoenix feather, transformed into a streak of light and obediently flew back into her grasp, disappearing. Her gaze swept over Fang Hao, lingering for a moment on his slightly torn clothing and skin where the stone demon’s tentacle had grazed him. She seemed somewhat surprised by his ability to emerge unscathed (aside from his clothes) from the stone demon’s ambush and swiftly mount a counterattack.

"Just a passerby," the woman in red spoke, her voice crisp and pleasant, yet carrying a faint, icy aloofness that kept others at a distance. "What ambushed you just now was a’Shadow Nightmare,’ a vile Spirit Monster that likes to coexist with stone demons, adept at concealment and Divine Soul ambushes. Extremely troublesome. For an Early Golden Core Stage cultivator to come here alone and hold out for a moment under the assault of both a stone demon and a Shadow Nightmare... you have some skill."

She paused, her Phoenix eyes narrowing slightly as if trying to discern something from Fang Hao’s face. "However, when did an unfamiliar little fellow like you, with a seemingly decent Physical Body, appear in the outer reaches of the Black Dragon Mountain Range? Your reaction earlier and your spiritual power... seem somewhat interesting."

Fang Hao’s heart tightened. This woman’s discernment was sharp! She had seen through his concealed cultivation level (Early Golden Core Stage was a deliberate disguise) at a glance and had taken an interest in his physical physique and Chaos Spiritual Power. Keeping his expression neutral, Fang Hao cupped his hands in salute. "Thank you for saving me, Miss. I am Fang Hao, a mere Loose Cultivator, new to the Black Dragon Mountain Range. I stumbled into this place and disturbed you; please forgive me. I will remember this life-saving grace. If the Opportunity arises in the future, I will certainly repay it. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."

With that, he cupped his hands again and immediately turned to leave. This woman in red gave him an unfathomable feeling and was clearly of extraordinary origin. He didn’t want to get too entangled with such a person, especially during this sensitive period when he was being pursued by the Sun Family.

"Wait," the woman’s clear, cold voice sounded again, carrying a note of indisputable authority.

Fang Hao halted his steps, gathering his spiritual power internally, and turned around, looking at her calmly. "Does the Miss have further instructions?"

The woman in red descended gracefully from the cliff face, like a fiery Phoenix alighting, landing lightly several zhang away from Fang Hao. Up close, the scorching, powerful aura emanating from her and a faint pressure born of long-standing superiority were even more palpable. She looked Fang Hao up and down, especially his clear yet wary eyes, and suddenly broke into a smile.

This smile was like ice and snow thawing, a hundred flowers blooming, possessing a breathtaking beauty. But in her eyes, Fang Hao caught a flicker of slyness and... calculation?

"Instructions are hardly necessary," the woman in red said with a smiling face, though her voice remained cool. "However, since I saved your life, do you think you can send me off with just empty words of ’remembering it in your heart’?"

Fang Hao frowned slightly. "What reward does the Miss desire? I’m afraid I have nothing on me that would catch your esteemed eye."

"Whether you have it or not remains to be seen," the woman in red took two steps closer. A faint, orchid-like yet not quite orchid fragrance wafted into Fang Hao’s nostrils, but there was no warmth in her eyes. "However, I see you’re quite capable and not lacking in courage. Alone in the Black Dragon Mountain Range, you likely won’t achieve much. Coincidentally, I’ve taken on a troublesome task and lack a helper to scout the path. How about you come with me?"

A helper to scout the path? Fang Hao inwardly sneered. Put nicely, wasn’t that just finding a cannon fodder to clear the way?

"Apologies, my strength is meager. I fear I would be of no help and might even hold you back. For the life-saving grace, I am willing to repay you with Spirit Stones." As he spoke, Fang Hao moved to retrieve Spirit Stones from his storage ring. He didn’t want any further complications.

"Spirit Stones?" The woman in red scoffed, a flash of disdain in her eyes. "I don’t lack such trifles. What I want is you, to help me with one task. After it’s done, you won’t lack rewards. If you refuse..."

Before her words fully faded, a scorching, sharp aura locked onto Fang Hao. The phantom of that crimson phoenix feather flying sword flickered faintly around her. The terrifying Sword Intent made the surrounding air grow hot and stagnant.

"Do you think that just because I saved you in the Black Dragon Mountain Range, I cannot kill you?"

The threat was blatant.

Fang Hao’s heart sank. It seemed the life-saving grace was a pretense; grabbing a temporary "conscript" was the real intention. This woman in red had profound cultivation, sharp Sword Intent, and likely many treasures. In a direct confrontation, even if he used all his hidden cards, his chances of winning were slim. Moreover, it would inevitably cause a commotion and attract unnecessary trouble.

His gaze swept over the woman’s stunning yet dangerously smiling face, then towards the fathomless depths of the Black Dragon Mountain Range behind her, which seemed to hide even more dangers. Thoughts raced through his mind.

A moment later, Fang Hao’s face revealed an expression of "resignation" and "acceptance." He sighed and cupped his hands. "Since the Miss insists on my assistance, and given my lowly strength, I dare not refuse. May I ask what task the Miss intends to undertake and where we are headed? So that I may be mentally prepared."

Seeing Fang Hao "submit," a flicker of satisfaction passed through the woman in red’s eyes. She retracted her aura and said indifferently, "It’s fine to tell you. I am going deep into the ’Valley of Buried Soldiers’ to retrieve something. As for what exactly, you’ll know when the time comes. You just need to scout ahead, avoid unnecessary trouble. If danger arises, I will naturally intervene. Of course, if you dare play tricks or try to flee..."

Her slender, jade-like hand lightly brushed the sword sheath at her waist. The implication was clear.

Valley of Buried Soldiers! Fang Hao’s heart jumped. He had heard of this perilous place at the gathering point earlier. It was said that out of ten who entered, three making it out was considered good. This woman actually wanted to go deep to retrieve something? Her ambitions were clearly not small, and the dangers would undoubtedly be immense.

"The Valley of Buried Soldiers has a fearsome reputation. With your high cultivation, Miss, you naturally have no fear, but I..." Fang Hao wore a "troubled" expression.

"Enough nonsense!" the woman in red interrupted impatiently. "With me here, your life is secure. After the task is completed, I can give you resources sufficient for you to Cultivate to the Late Golden Core Stage. I might even... offer you some guidance." She dangled bait, but the condescending, patronizing tone in her voice was even more pronounced.

Fang Hao inwardly sneered, but on his face, he showed a struggle between "hesitation" and "temptation." Finally, he seemed to "compromise," cupping his hands. "Then... I shall do as the Miss says. However, my strength is lowly; I hope the Miss will watch over me. May I ask how I should address you?"

Seeing Fang Hao being "sensible," the woman in red’s expression softened slightly. "I am called Chi Huang. You may address me as Miss Chi Huang. Let’s go; it’s getting late. We depart immediately."

With that, she no longer looked at Fang Hao, turning and walking towards the deeper parts of the Black Dragon Mountain Range. Her figure swayed like a flame burning in the darkness, carrying an indisputable air of command.

Fang Hao watched her retreating back, a cold glint flashing deep in his eyes. Chi Huang? The name suited her fiery red attire and phoenix feather flying sword. However, this woman was domineering and forceful, clearly not placing a "Early Golden Core Stage" Loose Cultivator like him in her eyes, merely treating him as a pawn to be used at will and discarded if necessary.

Valley of Buried Soldiers... a perilous place... This woman had profound cultivation, a mysterious origin, and her objective was likely extraordinary. Following her was undoubtedly entering the tiger’s den, fraught with danger.

But refuse? Given this woman’s temperament and strength, she would likely turn hostile immediately. While he wasn’t afraid, causing a commotion, exposing his identity, and attracting the attention of the Sun Family or other forces would be even more troublesome.

"So be it. Since I cannot avoid it, I’ll go and see. Although the Valley of Burired Soldiers is dangerous, there may also be Opportunities. With this woman taking the lead, I’ll act according to circumstances. If we truly encounter irresistible danger... Hmph, it remains to be seen who will emerge victorious." Thoughts raced through Fang Hao’s mind, and he made a swift decision.

He calmed his mind, disguising his aura to appear even more "submissive" and "weak." He quickened his pace, following behind the woman in red named "Chi Huang," quietly proceeding towards the legendary "Valley of Buried Soldiers" that had entombed countless divine weapons and countless souls.

The night grew deeper. The shadows of the Black Dragon Mountain Range, like a giant beast, gradually swallowed the figures of the two. Ahead lay unknown perils and this mysterious, forceful woman in red. Fang Hao knew that just as he had escaped the Sun Family’s pursuit, he had been drawn into a new, even more enigmatic and unpredictable vortex.