Zhongnan Ghost Path

"Found a treasure?"

Ying Zheng's voice was unreadable as he repeated Cheng Xi's words, his gaze like solid ice picks, fixed on the smooth Jianmu Fragment in Cheng Xi's hand and the scorched Rune mark on his chest. The carriage was filled with the faint scent of blood, the sharp sting of cinnabar, and the lingering, chilling aftertaste of Killing Intent Energy.

Cheng Xi's "treasure" clearly had something to do with this mysterious fragment and that self-inflicted Rune mark. Ying Zheng didn't press for details. He merely gave Cheng Xi a deep look, his expression complex and hard to decipher – containing inquiry, apprehension, and a hint of… hidden heat. In the end, he said nothing, lowered the carriage curtain, and left only a cold command:

"Keep an eye on him."

A low affirmation came from the commander of the Elite Guards outside the carriage.

The rest of the journey was suffocatingly tense. Ying Zheng no longer stood on the carriage roof but rode his horse beside the Carriage, his Black Robes figure silent as a mountain. The Elite Guards were even more vigilant, every rustle of wind drawing the clang of unsheathed swords. Cheng Xi, meanwhile, seized every moment, using the coolness from the Jianmu Fragment and the faint energy converted from Killing Intent Energy within him to carefully nourish his damaged meridians. Simultaneously, he repeatedly ran simulations in his mind, using the System to optimize the Spirit-Attracting Talisman that had saved him from certain death.

He dared not try anything rash again. While the Killing Intent Energy on the battlefield was "rich," its conversion efficiency was too low, and the risks too high. He needed a safer, more stable energy source.

Three days later, the majestic and vast Zhongnan Mountain range finally came into view. Peaks like dark eyebrows, clouds swirling around them, ancient trees reaching for the sky – a primal, desolate, and powerful aura infused with the fresh scent of plants washed over them, invigorating Cheng Xi, who had been tormented by blood and Killing Intent Energy.

"Reporting to the Great King, the small path ahead into the mountains has been scouted, but..." a forward scout of the Elite Guards galloped back, his face etched with gravity. "The Mountain Folk say that strange occurrences have been frequent in the mountains this past month. Mist and miasma appear often, and woodcutters and hunters who entered the mountains have gone missing. Rumor has it... Demonic Creatures are at play."

Demonic Creatures? Ying Zheng's brows furrowed, and he looked towards the vast mountains shrouded in a light mist. Were these assassins sent by Lu Buwei? Or… were they the "things" Cheng Xi had attracted?

"No matter," Ying Zheng's voice was sharp and cold. "Follow the planned route. Enter the mountain."

The convoy slowly entered Zhongnan Mountain along an ancient path mostly swallowed by overgrown grass. The deeper they went, the steeper the terrain became, the trees forming a dense canopy that blocked out the sun, and the light rapidly dimmed. The air was filled with the scent of damp, decaying leaves and earth, mingled with a faint, cloyingly sweet, nauseating fragrance.

The mist had thickened imperceptibly, white as milk. Wisps of it seeped out from the trees and cracks in the rocks like living things, coiling around the carriages and people. Visibility was severely reduced, allowing them to see only a few dozen feet ahead.

"Careful of the mist! It might be poisonous!" the commander of the Elite Guards shouted lowly. Everyone quickly covered their mouths and noses with damp cloths.

Cheng Xi, sitting inside the carriage, keenly sensed something unusual. This mist… wasn't just simple miasma! He focused his mind and communicated with the System.

[Environment Scan… Mist Composition Analysis: Water Vapor (82%), Plant Spores (15%), Unknown Inert Energy Particles (2.8%)… Energy Particle Attributes: Weak mental interference/hallucinogenic… Harmless, but can amplify fear…]

Mental interference? Hallucinations? Cheng Xi's heart tightened. The mist itself might not be lethal, but in this environment, it was enough to plunge those with weak minds into chaos!

Just then—

"Hiss—!" The horses pulling the carriage suddenly let out terrified whinnies! Their front hooves reared high, and no matter how the driver whipped and shouted, they refused to move another inch! They pawed the ground anxiously, nostrils flaring, eyes filled with primal animal fear!

"What's going on?" Ying Zheng reined in his warhorse, asking sternly.

"Great King! The horses… the horses are spooked! Ahead… there seems to be something ahead!" The driver's voice trembled as he pointed into the depths of the thick fog.

Everyone strained their eyes. A few dozen feet ahead, the impenetrable mist churned violently, as if some colossal creature was moving within it! Vaguely, countless twisted dark shadows seemed to flicker within the mist, accompanied by a low, viscous "rustling" sound, like numerous slippery tentacles dragging across the ground!

Fear, like a cold tide, instantly gripped everyone's hearts! The Elite Guards' hands, tightly gripping their swords, broke out in a cold sweat, and their warhorses snorted restlessly.

"Putting on a show!" Ying Zheng snorted coldly, a chilling glint flashing in his eyes. "Crossbowmen, prepare! Cover the area ahead with fire!"

The crossbowmen suppressed their fear, swiftly raised their Powerful Crossbows, and aimed their cold arrows at the roiling wall of mist!

"Fire!"

"Buzz—!"

Dozens of crossbow bolts left their strings, piercing fiercely into the dense fog!

However, the expected screams did not come. The crossbow bolts entered the mist like mud entering the sea, only stirring up a more violent churning. The "rustling" sound became even more concentrated, and closer!

As the mist churned, the twisted dark shadows seemed to become clearer, vaguely outlining… countless entwined, writhing vines? And hanging from the vines, like humanoid fruits…?

"It's… it's Mountain Specters! It's the man-eating Vine Spirit Tree Monsters!" A young Elite Guard in the group finally couldn't bear the silent, terrifying pressure and screamed in collapse! Fear spread like a plague!

At this moment of panic, when the atmosphere was stretched to its absolute limit!

Inside the carriage, the Jianmu Fragment in Cheng Xi's palm erupted with an unprecedented emerald green radiance without warning! The light pierced the carriage curtain, illuminating the mist within a few feet of it with a verdant glow!

Simultaneously, the dormant System in his mind erupted with rapid prompts:

[Detecting high-concentration, homologous life energy reaction! Location: Due West! Distance: Three Li! Attributes: Extremely active/Nature affinity/Weak consciousness fluctuations…]

Homologous? Nature affinity? Weak consciousness?

Cheng Xi suddenly threw open the carriage curtain. Ignoring Ying Zheng's sharp gaze, he pointed west, where the Jianmu Fragment's light was brightest, and shouted hoarsely:

"Go that way! There's a way out! This light… it's showing us the way!"