That night.
The pitch-black curtain of night was like an invisible giant net, shrouding heaven and earth.
Song Wen and the other four stood at the foot of the mountains.
They were already more than a thousand li from Demon-Suppressing Town and had reached the outskirts of Rotting Miasma Ridge.
Song Wen glanced back toward Demon-Suppressing Town. From time to time, a faint thread of divine sense probed over from that direction.
It was Jiang Lanruo.
The five of them had yet to leave the range of her perception.
"White-haired old man, Senior Jiang gave you the map of Shadow Spider Valley. Which way exactly are we going?" the green-robed young woman asked. Her tone was crude and held not the slightest respect.
The white-haired old man did not care in the least about her disrespect.
With a flip of his hand, he produced a sheet of beast hide with a few simple lines drawn upon it. After examining it for a moment, the old man spoke.
"Everyone, follow me."
The old man rose into the air and flew deeper into Rotting Miasma Ridge.
"Keep your auras as concealed as possible, and remember not to make any sound. Any disturbance could draw a swarm of demon beasts and venomous insects," the old man reminded the other four as he flew.
He was not flying quickly, instead weaving between the mountains. Nor did he fly high, keeping close to the treetops.
The vegetation of Rotting Miasma Ridge was sparse rather than lush.
The old man's gaze and divine sense continually swept over the ground, the trees, and the surrounding mountains, as though he feared demon beasts or venomous insects might suddenly spring out.
Song Wen and the others followed alongside the old man, watching their surroundings with equal vigilance.
As they