Chapter 180: Chapter 180: Purple Mist Forest
「Three days later...」
CLANG! CLANG! The sound of clashing metal rang out continuously. On a wide, open field, two figures in white weaved in and out of combat. One wielded a black longspear, their Spear Technique exquisite and unpredictable. The other held a crimson Vermilion longsword, their Swordsmanship precise and methodical, hinting at a grandmaster’s style.
The skills of these two had already reached the pinnacle of the mortal world.
After dozens of exchanges, Qin Ya retracted his longspear. A look of admiration filled his eyes as he looked at Li Peiyi. "Peiyi, your Swordsmanship has reached its peak. Disregarding Cultivation, I’m afraid there are few in this world who could best you in swordplay."
Li Peiyi sheathed her Vermilion sword and gave a faint smile. "Your Spear Technique isn’t bad either. But a Martial Artist’s journey is all about their Cultivation Realm. Who would abandon their Cultivation to duel you on pure technique? Compared to you, I still have to work harder."
Despite her words, she couldn’t hide the flicker of joy in her bright eyes. After all her hard work, her Swordsmanship could finally measure up to his.
Ever since she made Qin Ya her lifelong goal to catch up to, she had never stopped striving for a single moment. But Qin Ya’s Cultivation also advanced by leaps and bounds, and she knew that catching up to him would surely take an immense amount of time.
Perhaps even a lifetime.
Now, her Swordsmanship had reached its peak. In terms of pure technique, disregarding Cultivation, she could finally match Qin Ya’s Spear Technique.
In a way, she had already caught up.
"Sister Li, you’re so amazing!"
Just then, Muu Xue and Shangguan Yue, who had been watching from a distance, walked over. Shangguan Yue gazed at the young woman, her pretty face glowing with adoration. In her eyes, it was simply incredible that Li Peiyi could hold her own against Qin Ya.
Without using her own Cultivation, she wouldn’t last more than a few moves against Qin Ya.
Li Peiyi just smiled faintly and said nothing.
The group chatted idly for a while. Suddenly, Lii Yunge arrived and found Qin Ya, saying gravely, "We discovered a dilapidated ruin deep within the Ten Thousand Treasures Dojo. We’re planning to form a team and take a look. What about you?"
Hearing this, a strange light flickered in Qin Ya’s eyes. ’A ruin inside the Ten Thousand Treasures Dojo? Could it be that place? That’s not somewhere you can just go.’
"It’s best if you don’t go there."
Qin Ya said coolly. Lii Yunge heard this and asked, puzzled, "I haven’t even said where the ruin is. How do you know we shouldn’t go?"
’Heh. There’s only one place deep in the Ten Thousand Treasures Dojo worth exploring.’
Qin Ya thought to himself, but said aloud, "The place you’re talking about must be the Purple Mist Forest in the depths of the Ten Thousand Treasures Dojo, right? I’ve been there. It’s extremely dangerous. With your current Cultivation, you won’t be able to enter at all."
The Purple Mist Forest, residence of the Dragon Emperor Hall’s Third Elder.
The Third Elder had a violent and eccentric temperament. Among all the Elders, his relationship with Qin Ya was the worst. Qin Ya had been to the Purple Mist Forest a few times himself, and if he had to use one word to describe it, he could only say... disgusting.
Countless bones were buried within the Purple Mist Forest.
They were all enemies who had attacked the Dragon Emperor Hall in the past. Though they had died, they were turned into Corpse People by the Third Elder through Refining and were left to wander the Purple Mist Forest for years on end. Although ten thousand years had passed, the Corpse People were already dead things. They were Undying, surviving on the sinister and foul energy between heaven and earth, and the Purple Mist Forest was precisely where such sinister energy gathered in the Dragon Emperor Hall.
Qin Ya briefly explained the situation in the Purple Mist Forest to Lii Yunge.
As for whether they would still go, that was not for him to decide. Lii Yunge’s fine brows furrowed slightly as she asked, "Is it really as dangerous as you say?"
"Heh, it’s even worse than what I described, not better!"
After thanking him, Lii Yunge left. She went to the other Disciples of the Vast Sea Divine Palace, recounted what Qin Ya had said, and concluded, "That’s the information from Qin Ya. What does everyone think?"
"Hmph, just because he says not to go, we shouldn’t go?" Chu Lingfeng snorted coldly. "According to the ancient texts, the Purple Mist Forest was the residence of the Dragon Emperor Hall’s Third Elder. Who knows what great treasures are hidden there. I think he just wants to take it all for himself."
As soon as he said this, the others couldn’t help but hesitate.
At this moment, the people from Purple Cloud Heavenly Mountain walked over. The one in the lead was none other than Fang Yu, the man Qin Ya had severely injured a few days ago. He said in a silky voice, "Heh, I imagine everyone has discovered the Purple Mist Forest deep within the Ten Thousand Treasures Dojo."
"So what if we have," Chu Lingfeng said coldly.
Clearly, he was still brooding over his defeat at Fang Yu’s hands.
Fang Yu wasn’t annoyed. He said, "In that case, I’ll get straight to the point. I came here to propose an alliance to explore the Purple Mist Forest together. How about it?"
Chu Lingfeng was surprised to hear this. Then, his eyes darted, and a smile touched the corners of his mouth. "That’s not a place just anyone can go."
"Oh? I’d love to hear the details."
Chu Lingfeng then repeated what Qin Ya had said.
"Haha, how ridiculous." After hearing the story, Fang Yu burst out laughing. He looked at Lii Yunge with a hint of mockery and said, "I never thought the Disciples of the Vast Sea Divine Palace would have so little courage. To become so hesitant over a few words from an outsider... It’s truly disappointing."
"I’ve been to the Purple Mist Forest myself. It does have its quirks, and there are indeed Corpse People there. But they’re just small fry with strength equivalent to the Spiritual Element Realm. And just for that, you’re willing to throw away this opportunity? If you continue to cultivate with such a mindset, you’ll never advance beyond this point in your entire life."
After Fang Yu finished speaking, the Purple Cloud Disciples behind him also burst into laughter.
The faces of the Vast Sea Divine Palace crowd instantly turned ashen with anger.
"What the hell are you laughing at? Who said we’re not going?"
"Hmph, as if a mere Purple Mist Forest could stop the Vast Sea Divine Palace."
"Senior Sister Lii, let’s go! We can’t let them look down on us."
Seeing that everyone’s minds were made up, Lii Yunge moved her lips, wanting to say something, but in the end, she just sighed. "Alright, then. Let’s go."
’Actually, I have my doubts about what Qin Ya said too. How could he know something from ten thousand years ago so clearly? Besides, with the help of Purple Cloud Heavenly Mountain now, our two factions cooperating should be more than enough to handle it.’
"Sister Lii, I want to go too!"
Just then, a sweet voice called out. Shangguan Yue’s figure appeared like a fleeting shadow, crossing dozens of yards in the blink of an eye to arrive before them.
Lii Yunge’s expression turned cold. "No. You’re staying here."
"Why? Am I not a part of the Vast Sea Divine Palace?"
"There is no ’why.’ You just can’t go." ’The dangers in the Purple Mist Forest are unknown. How could I possibly feel at ease taking Shangguan Yue with me?’
Shangguan Yue had a restless nature; how could she possibly pass up an opportunity to explore an unknown, secret place? She immediately said, "Sister Lii, you have to take me! My Cultivation is at the Celestial Essence Realm, which isn’t any weaker than yours. I can help you if I go, I definitely won’t drag you down!"
"I said no. This is not a joke."
"Alright." Shangguan Yue’s eyes darted, and her attitude suddenly did a one-eighty. This, in turn, made Lii Yunge feel that something was not right.
"You’re really not going?"
"You’re not letting me go, so what can I do!"
