Ten-Mile Peach Blossom Forest

Magical Beast Mountain Range, a vibrant basin filled with medicinal herbs.

Rustling came from the thickets as four figures—one man and three women—pushed through the dense brush and arrived here. Several small paths led in and out, bearing some Footprints, probably left behind by passing mercenaries.

These four were naturally Yan Qingshan and his group, who had come to the Magical Beast Mountain Range. This basin lay on the outskirts of the mountain range, and farther within was a secluded little valley cut off from the world. The valley brimmed with dense energy, making it an excellent place for cultivation.

High above them, a Blue Eagle circled down and landed, crying and acting cute toward Xiao Yi Xian. After feeding it a few snacks, Xiao Yi Xian said proudly to Yan Qingshan, "Brother Qingshan, isn't this place wonderful?

"This little valley is completely isolated from the outside, and thick fog covers the sky above, making it extremely well concealed. If Little Blue hadn't accidentally flown in here once, I probably never would have discovered this extraordinary place."

"This place really is great. Little Blue deserves credit!"

Yan Qingshan sensed the rich aura of vegetation around him. Within the mist-shrouded valley grew all manner of rare herbs, their medicinal fragrance mingling with the fog and refreshing the mind.

The concentration of spiritual energy of every attribute here far surpassed that of other places, with Wood Attribute spiritual energy being the densest of all. It was practically his paradise.

The little Blue Eagle at Xiao Yi Xian's feet chirped happily as though asking for praise. Xiao Yi Xian had rescued this first-tier Blue Eagle after Yan Qingshan left. Though not yet mature, it already possessed first-tier strength, with a wingspan of over two meters and the ability to carry people. Its potential after adulthood was considerable.

Yan Qingshan gave the little Blue Eagle a piece of Yellow Lotus Essence, then said to the group, "We'll stay here for a while. Once the Mite'er Family delivers the cultivation techniques, you can switch over and save some time."

Neither Xiao Yi Xian nor Qingling had completed the ninth stage of Dou Qi cultivation, and they were still some distance from becoming Dou Zhes. This was the perfect time for them to cultivate diligently. Xuelan also needed to familiarize herself with the cultivation technique and condense her Dou Qi in preparation for her next conversion.

After all, she had previously cultivated only Yellow-tier Dou Qi. Both its accumulated quantity and quality were average, and directly switching to a higher-tier cultivation technique might cause her cultivation to drop significantly.

As for Xiao Yi Xian and Qingling, their cultivation would likely be even simpler and easier than Xuelan's and Yan Qingshan's. Their constitutions were simply exceptional. Whether the Poisonous Body of Misfortune or the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, both were supreme physiques capable of rapidly producing combat power, far more formidable than the bloodlines of ordinary Imperial Clans.

There were many precious herbs here, just right for Yan Qingshan to formulate a new cultivation plan. The valley was cut off from the outside world, and only Xiao Yi Xian's Blue Eagle could fly over its boundaries. They could also use the Blue Eagle to communicate with the outside world, preventing anyone from disturbing them.

Xiao Yi Xian nodded with a smile and blew a bamboo whistle at the Blue Eagle, letting it fly freely. Then she led the others on foot to a corner of the little valley and pointed with her slender finger at a thatched shed. This crude shelter would be their temporary residence.

On the southern foothills of the Magical Beast Mountain Range lay a place of peerless beauty. Across ten li of mountains and rivers stretched a sea of pink. Peach trees swayed in the breeze, petals drifting with the wind, while rich floral fragrance and breathtaking scenery filled the surroundings.

A figure with dark purple wings slowly descended outside the peach forest. A delicate little figure jumped down from his arms—it was none other than the lovable little Qingling.

Yan Qingshan and Qingling arrived in the early morning, when the scenery here was at its finest. Beneath the peach trees and beside flowing streams, fallen peach blossoms drifted along the water. Pale jade and deep crimson intermingled, while the pleasant pink all around them was intoxicating, making one feel as though they had entered a fairyland.

The morning sun rose through the clouds and mist. Pink petals framed goose-yellow stamens, making them appear especially delicate and brilliant. Clusters and bunches covered the branches, while countless bees and butterflies danced through the flowers, busily going about their work.

The vast peach forest reflected the fiery afterglow of the rising sun, pink as rosy clouds. Pink petals swept up by the wind fluttered through the air, and from afar, the place resembled a pink ocean.

"Qingling, summon Crimson Serpent."

Yan Qingshan gazed upon the breathtaking sight before him, but his eyes held no appreciation. Instead, they were filled with vigilance as he scanned the surroundings. Qingling was equally cautious. At Yan Qingshan's words, jade light flashed in her eyes, and the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake appeared beside them. The moment it emerged, it warily flicked its tongue and surveyed its surroundings.

This ten-li peach forest looked incomparably beautiful, but it was actually an extremely dangerous place within the Magical Beast Mountain Range. Amid the vibrant peach grove, other than butterflies spreading pollen and bees gathering nectar, there was not a single sound of insects or birds.

Moreover, aside from these two kinds of creatures and the peach blossoms, no other animals or plants could be seen throughout the entire forest. Even the streams contained no fish, shrimp, frogs, or crabs. There was definitely something wrong with this place.

Amid hissing sounds, snakes from several li around were summoned and gathered by the Two-headed Fire Spirit Snake. Countless snakes poured into the peach forest, while Yan Qingshan and Qingling followed behind with the Fire Spirit Snake.

An unknown expanse of peach forest stretched into one continuous whole, and faint red mist lingered among the flowering trees. This peach-red fog permeated the forest, hazily rising in dense waves like a gorgeous bank of clouds pouring from the ground.

The peach-colored clouds continuously rolled and churned. Wisps of fragrant mist entered their noses and mouths, carrying a sweet, cloying scent that made one feel intoxicated.

"Awooo—"

A faint howl suddenly came from deep within the peach forest not far away. Yan Qingshan and Qingling hurried over with the snakes, only to see a pink Peach Fruit glowing red upon a peach tree. The dense peach-red mist around that tree had nearly condensed into liquid.

A wolf-type magical beast, seemingly of the Wood Attribute, convulsed as it crawled outward, apparently trying to escape the thick fog. Yet it failed to do so. It had likely been trapped too long and no longer had much strength left; even its howls were low and weak.

The wolf magical beast had presumably once possessed light green fur, but now its hide was pitted and covered in black-red blood, as though it had been burned through by fierce flames, leaving only scraps of skin and flesh attached.

Its body looked as if it had been corroded by something. Large patches of flesh had turned white and festered, and the ground beneath it was covered in corrosive pus. Its Wolf Head was relatively intact, but one eye had become a bloody hole, while the other eyeball bulged halfway out, making for an exceptionally ghastly sight.

Even more horrifyingly, despite being so severely wounded, the wolf beast was still alive and maintained an abnormal excitement. More than half of the flesh between its hind legs had been corroded away, yet it was still making certain indescribable movements against the ground like a rabid Teddy.

"Peach Blossom Miasma truly is terrifying."

Yan Qingshan looked at the Peach Fruit upon the tree. This strange Heavenly Material and Earthly Treasure was one of the sources of danger in this forest: the Peach Fruit that could emit Peach Blossom Miasma.

Peach Fruit was a type of spiritual fruit containing strange energy and possessing a wide range of uses. It grew only within special peach forests and could secrete a mist known as Peach Blossom Miasma to protect itself.

Low concentrations of Peach Blossom Miasma were also called Peach Blossom Mist—the faint red fog Yan Qingshan's group had encountered outside. It was not dangerous at all; on the contrary, it benefited the body, refreshed the mind, and cleared one's senses.

However, Peach Blossom Miasma like that surrounding this Peach Fruit, which had nearly become viscous liquid, was not only potent enough to stir lustful desires but also possessed an extremely terrifying corrosive quality. It could easily take the lives of those lacking sufficient strength.

A stream of mysterious azure Dou Qi shot from Yan Qingshan's palm. The Peach Fruit swaying on the branch fell to the ground, while the Peach Blossom Miasma, dense enough to become liquid, seemed to encounter a vortex and was swiftly gathered and absorbed. Soon, only a single red-glowing Peach Fruit remained on the ground.

Yan Qingshan crouched down and carefully put away the Peach Fruit. Once separated from the peach tree, this treasure was like water without a source. The Peach Blossom Miasma would naturally retract and no longer pose any danger to people.

The Peach Fruit was the size of a fist and looked no different from an ordinary peach. Pink with a red glow, it carried an unusual flowing radiance. This high-grade medicinal ingredient was quite precious and rare, useful in many mid- and high-grade medicinal pills, but it was not Yan Qingshan's purpose in coming here.

"Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss..."

Yan Qingshan and Qingling continued onward. The deeper they went, the denser the Peach Blossom Mist became, and the more Peach Fruits appeared around them. Yan Qingshan did not hold back, taking every one he found without showing the slightest respect for this place's owner. Just as they reached the depths of the peach forest, the snakes suddenly hissed in one direction, seemingly growing agitated.

"Young Master, they say that direction is extremely dangerous. Crimson Serpent senses it too."

The sensing and scouting abilities of magical beasts were practically innate instincts. Even Yan Qingshan could not compare in that regard. At close range, he was better than magical beasts at noticing minute details, but at greater distances, he fell somewhat short.

"Let's go take a look!"

Yan Qingshan and Qingling continued onward with the Fire Spirit Snake. The snakes that had completed their task receded like a tide. This place was originally a forbidden zone for them; unless they had no other choice, they would never willingly approach it.

After proceeding for a while longer, Yan Qingshan and Qingling arrived at a densely packed part of the peach forest. Yet there was a crude Open Space in the middle. Almost no other peach trees grew within ten meters of the Open Space, save for a single enormous peach tree flourishing at its center, its branches laden with Peach Fruits.

Each Peach Fruit glowed with faint red light like a lantern. The three Peach Fruits at the top of the tree were even more unusual, seeming as though they were burning. The Peach Blossom Miasma was incredibly dense, surging from time to time like blazing flames.

There was also a huge beehive on this peach tree, with industrious bees constantly flying in and out. There was unexpectedly a small hole at the bottom of the hive, and beneath it sat a crude stone jar. Honey continuously dripped into it.

More stone jars were arranged around the area, some empty and some full. A strange beast, pink tinged with green all over, was sleeping nearby with its head resting on one of the stone jars. From time to time, it smacked its lips in its sleep, chewing the honey that entered its mouth before swallowing it.

This strange beast appeared to be canine, yet bear-like and wolf-like, as though it were a combination of the two. It stood three or four meters tall, with powerful, thick limbs and greenish fur. Yet pink flames identical to those surrounding the three Peach Fruits at the top of the peach tree burned across its body.