From afar, Miao Feng Mountain looked lush and verdant. Drawing closer, they could hear the mountain wind blowing from south to north through the forested valley, producing a mournful whistling like pipes and flutes. It even carried something of a melody, which was how the mountain had gotten its name.
Autumn was approaching, and a hint of chill had already seeped into the mountains.
The crunch of footsteps on fallen leaves drew nearer as the group of three arrived at the foot of the mountain.
Little Daoist Priest Li walked quietly as well, without saying a word.
Chen Zi'an remained silent throughout, his movements somewhat stiff. Though he was leading them in search of his wife, he instead walked at the very back.
Thus, only Wang Longqi's voice sounded from time to time along the way.
"Back then, there was an Old Goddess Temple on Miao Feng Mountain. They said it was especially effective for those praying for children, and people often came here to burn incense. But later, that Old Goddess Temple fell into ruin. Do you know why?"
"Because Yu Qi'an—Daoist Yu—came to Virtuous Cloud Temple afterward, and everyone said praying to him for children was even more effective! Hahaha..."
"Why aren't you laughing...?"
Wang Longqi gradually fell silent too, sensing that the atmosphere was rather strange.
It was normal enough for Li Chu not to enjoy chatting, but Chen Zi'an had not been like this before. No matter what Wang Longqi said, Chen Zi'an would always play along—though that was because Wang Longqi often treated him to meals.
Presumably, Chen Zi'an had been unable to find his wife and had no mood for jokes.
Li Chu had already used Mind's Eye Art to investigate the entire mountain. This vast mountain was filled with a muddled mix of auras—Demonic Qi, Yin Qi, and Human Qi alike—but he could not pinpoint where Chen Zi'an's wife was.
His Mind's Eye Art could only observe qi. It was not like the Spiritual Sense of high-level Cultivators, which truly allowed one to see far and wide.
They could only follow Chen Zi'an up the mountain and investigate.
The three soon reached the mountainside.
This was the narrowest stretch of the mountain path: a goat intestine path, with steep cliffs guarding both sides, allowing them to move only straight ahead. Even the mountain wind became much fiercer as it passed through here.
Li Chu's nose suddenly twitched twice. Something was wrong with the scent in the wind.
There was Demonic Qi.
Before he could carefully inspect the surroundings, a rumbling roar sounded overhead. Looking up, they saw a huge, round boulder rolling down from above the cliff!
Judging by its weight, if it struck them, all three would be crushed into meat paste!
"Step back!" Wang Longqi shouted, taking the lead as he retreated several steps.
Chen Zi'an moved much more nimbly this time, retreating again and again as well.
Li Chu, on the other hand, did not hurry to dodge. Calm and fearless, he remained where he was and first cast his gaze toward the top of the mountain wall.
The spot from which the boulder had fallen.
A streak of white flashed past.
He frowned in startled suspicion.
Boom—
With a deafening crash, the boulder struck the ground. Half the path trembled, and the sound echoed with the wind into the far distance.
Though it had looked frightening as it rolled down from above their heads, the boulder had actually landed more than two zhang away from them. There had not been much danger after all.
Li Chu withdrew his gaze and looked at the boulder before him, just as Wang Longqi cried out, "Oh no, the road ahead is blocked."
"This..." Chen Zi'an's expression changed as well.
"There's only this one path up the mountain. If we take a detour, we might have to walk another two hours!" Wang Longqi said anxiously.
Another two hours meant night would be approaching. Finding someone then would become troublesome.
Li Chu merely said, "Move aside."
Huh? Wang Longqi froze for a moment, then hurried behind Li Chu. He knew that tone all too well.
Sure enough, Li Chu drew his sword and slashed through the air.
Ssh—
Bang!
The boulder blocking the road ahead exploded into pieces, showering crushed stone through the air.
It also revealed the stunned faces of Wang Longqi and Chen Zi'an, who had been behind the boulder.
Wang Longqi's mouth hung wide open. Even Chen Zi'an, whose features were ordinarily dull, wore an exaggerated expression.
They simply could not understand how a person could slash once with an Iron Sword and blow such an enormous boulder to pieces.
Still, Wang Longqi had become accustomed to the shocks Li Chu brought. After all, he had seen even more breathtaking sights. He quickly regained his composure and patted Chen Zi'an on the shoulder.
"See? I told you Li Chu was amazing." As he said it, his face was full of shared pride.
Chen Zi'an nodded blankly. "Little Daoist Priest Li truly is a Divine Person."
Li Chu sheathed his sword with the calm of drifting clouds and a gentle breeze, then shook his head. "I have only just begun upon the path of cultivation."
With that, he strode forward resolutely. His cloth shoes stepped upon the mountain path strewn with crushed stone, and even his footsteps sounded exceedingly humble.
The two behind him followed in his footsteps.
According to Chen Zi'an's description, the Small Temple where he and his wife had sheltered from the wind stood in an open area not far beyond the woods on the mountainside.
Yet after walking through the mountain forest for a long time, the three never found it.
"What's going on?" Wang Longqi panted heavily. "Where's the temple you mentioned?"
Chen Zi'an looked unwell. He surveyed the terrain from side to side. "It was clearly right ahead, but..."
"Let's keep looking."
After silently observing the area, Li Chu spoke.
They walked for roughly another half hour, yet still did not leave this forest.
"What's going on? Since when did Miao Feng Mountain have such a huge forest?" Wang Longqi's legs had gone weak from exhaustion, and he collapsed to the ground.
Chen Zi'an's expression changed dramatically. Fear flickered faintly in his eyes, as though he were afraid of something.
Li Chu looked around and said, "This is the third time we've returned here."
"What?" Wang Longqi sprang to his feet. "A ghost wall?"
"Something similar to a blinding trick, but it should be the work of a demon." Li Chu nodded.
He had noticed earlier that faint Demonic Qi had been lingering around them.
The scent was somewhat familiar.
This kind of blinding trick differed from an Illusion Technique. It altered the surrounding terrain and concealed the true path, so even with his powerful mental strength, he could not avoid being trapped within it.
He had never encountered such a situation before, but now that he understood their circumstances, there would always be a solution.
It was like suddenly encountering a problem one had never seen before during an examination. At times like that, one must not panic. One had to calm down and think.
Within unfamiliar problems often lay familiar principles.
Thus, Li Chu quietly sat down.
Wang Longqi asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Li Chu answered lightly, "I'm thinking of a solution."
Wang Longqi turned to Chen Zi'an. "Looks like your wife really was taken by a demon. It's clearly using Demonic Arts to block our way, afraid to let us find her."
Chen Zi'an ignored him and instead looked toward Li Chu.
For before Wang Longqi had even finished speaking, Li Chu had risen to his feet.
"You thought of something?" Wang Longqi asked in surprise.
He knew Li Chu was always quick, but this was a little too quick, wasn't it?
"Mm." Li Chu nodded.
He had thought of it.
This blinding trick used the terrain to confuse people—such as the surrounding trees, rocks, and so on.
Then...
As long as there was nothing around them, the blinding trick would naturally lose its effect.
He drew his sword again.
Sensing something was off, Wang Longqi quickly dragged Chen Zi'an several steps back.
At once, a rumbling sound rang out through the mountains.
One sword strike.
Boom—
The White Light of the sword radiance transformed into a towering tidal wave, sweeping horizontally through the forest.
Wherever it passed, trees toppled and rocks shattered.
The forest had not been large to begin with. Swept by the surging sword qi, it was reduced in an instant to several hundred bare stumps.
"Whoa—" Wang Longqi shook his head in disbelief. "Is... is that really necessary?"
Chen Zi'an's dull eyes widened. His gaze shifted subtly somewhere, and he suddenly cried, "Over there!"
With the trees that had obscured their view gone, the distant scene was revealed at once.
Sure enough, a pitch-black Small Temple stood in an open area not far away. It looked extraordinarily abrupt and truly strange.
The three quickened their pace and hurried over.
Just then, the roar of a wild beast suddenly sounded from beside them, and a white blur flashed!
It pounced at Chen Zi'an!
This time, Li Chu did not draw his sword. He grabbed Chen Zi'an beside him and pulled him behind himself.
Pfft.
Seeing Li Chu standing before Chen Zi'an, the white blur immediately changed direction. With a flick of its tail, it landed in front of them and revealed its form.
It was a White Fox with a slender body and a fluffy tail.
It crouched low on all fours, staring at Li Chu and emitting low whimpering sounds.
When it looked at Chen Zi'an again, it immediately bared its fangs, its ferocious appearance fully exposed!
"Was this the demon that took your wife?" Wang Longqi asked.
"I... I don't know." Chen Zi'an shook his head in panic. "I only know my wife disappeared in that temple."
"Why are you blocking our way?" Li Chu asked.
He knew this White Fox.
Every morning, it came to Virtuous Cloud Temple before anyone else, more devout than anyone. It was that little fox on the verge of taking human form!
He believed this White Fox would not do anything that harmed heaven and violated reason.
The White Fox stood before the temple entrance, its expression savage. Its meaning was obvious: it would not let them enter.
Wang Longqi said, "This fox is obviously a demon! It doesn't dare let us go inside."
"Grr—" The White Fox bared its teeth fiercely at him.
Li Chu said softly, "Move aside."
"Whimper! Whimper!"
The White Fox cried out anxiously several times, seeming to want to say something. But it had yet to take human form and had not learned to speak human words.
Seeing that it could not stop them, it suddenly turned around, ran to the entrance of the Black Temple, and lifted a hind leg.
Sss—
A stream of white liquid.
A gust of wind happened to pass by, carrying an indescribable stench of urine toward them.
Wang Longqi hurriedly covered his nose and mouth, crying out, "This fox... that's downright wicked! Damn it, this is a seal!"
The White Fox had taken a piss inside the temple. It truly seemed as though it had placed a seal there, making it impossible for ordinary people to approach even a fraction!
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