The second item was a rather crudely drawn map, with the outlines of mountains and rivers sketched in mineral pigments. Three unusual symbols had also been drawn on it, apparently characters unique to the people of the Savage Realm.
The map itself was extremely rough, providing only a vague sense of directions and scale.
However, a region circled in conspicuous red in the map's upper-left corner caught Chu Mo's attention. He happened to recognize one of the symbols inside it: "mist."
"Could this be Hidden Mist Valley?" he speculated, recalling the information he had gathered in the sect.
It was a notorious danger zone in the Savage Realm, shrouded in dense mist year-round. Ordinary people who entered could easily lose their way, so the locals also called it a forbidden land.
"So the surviving natives have all hidden in Hidden Mist Valley?"
Realization dawned on Chu Mo. No wonder he had been unable to find any traces of the natives. Hidden Mist Valley was indeed an excellent hiding place for them.
As long as they stayed holed up inside, even cultivators entering the valley would struggle to find them.
"Does this red mark show where they're gathered now?" After a moment's thought, Chu Mo decided to investigate Hidden Mist Valley and verify the map's authenticity.
He was not worried about losing his way and becoming trapped inside. Once the assessment ended, the retrieval formation would forcibly pull all the disciples back to Fuli Heaven, wherever they were.
Before entering Hidden Mist Valley, however, he still needed to scrape together thirty contribution points if possible. If he failed to find any natives there and ended up failing the assessment, that would be quite the joke.
With his mind made up, Chu Mo swiftly erased the surrounding traces. After ensuring that he had left no obvious clues, he cast the Dust-Treading Art, slipped into the forest, and raced toward Hidden Mist Valley.
Time flew, and ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
Chu Mo did not rush into Hidden Mist Valley. Instead, he actively searched for people of the Savage Realm in the surrounding area.
Yet after days of hard work, he had only caught a few isolated natives, including some mortals who had not awakened their powers, leaving him with just twenty-four contribution points.
And so, Chu Mo stood before an entrance to Hidden Mist Valley.
"In that case, let's go in and take our chances." He had never been a timid man. Even before joining the Duo'e Sect, he had done his share of business in the mortal world that could have cost him his head.
He took out the crude map and carefully memorized the route. Then, without further hesitation, Chu Mo activated the Dust-Treading Art and glided lightly into the thick mist.
The moment he entered the mist, the light dimmed, and even his perception, far superior to that of ordinary people, was severely restricted.
Not daring to be careless, he held the Blazing Fire Bow in his hand while silently sensing the Corpse Puppet's position. He had it follow quietly several dozen feet behind him, guarding against any attacks from the rear.
After advancing for roughly the time it took an incense stick to burn, Chu Mo suddenly stopped and cast a sharp gaze into the dense mist to his left.
A red health bar faintly appeared in his vision.
[Level 2 · Python Tribe Remnant (Red Name)]
Almost as soon as he spotted his opponent, a blurred dark figure lunged out of the mist with a vicious rush of wind.
Chu Mo reacted with lightning speed. The instant he saw the health bar, he had already drawn his bow to its fullest. With a whoosh, a blazing arrow flew from the string and struck the shadow squarely in the chest.
"Ah!" With a brief scream, the figure was hurled backward by the arrow before he could get close. Flames erupted over his body, and his health bar instantly emptied.
[You have killed Level 2 · Python Tribe Remnant (Red Name)]
Chu Mo frowned slightly. This mist really was troublesome. Had it not blocked his vision, he would have spotted the health bar long ago. His opponent would never have had the chance to approach him.
He swiftly collected the corpse and continued forward with even greater caution.
He traveled through the valley for about half a day, encountering two more attacks along the way. Both came from scattered low-level warriors, whom he dispatched with ease.
The mist here seemed slightly thinner, and more signs of human activity began appearing on the ground: the embers of campfires, scraps of food, and the like.
According to the map, he should already be approaching the outskirts of the region marked in red.
"Looks like I've found the right place." His spirits lifted, Chu Mo concealed his aura and crept cautiously forward. Soon, the outline of a crude camp built against a cliff emerged through the mist.
The camp seemed fairly large, but its interior was a wreck. Many huts had been damaged, and scorch marks from spell bombardments still lingered in places.
Clearly, a major battle between cultivators and the people of the Savage Realm had taken place here.
Just as Chu Mo was about to sneak inside to search for clues, faint footsteps sounded through the mist, approaching the camp.
With a thought, he swept up to a patch of high ground like a gentle breeze and quietly concealed himself.
Soon, two Totem Warriors clad in animal hides entered the camp. After inspecting the area, they began conversing in a strange accent.
Chu Mo listened intently for a while, then frowned helplessly. Fuli Heaven and the Savage Realm spoke different languages. He could not understand a word the two were saying.
He had understood Chief Rock's curses last time because Chief Rock had spoken the language of Fuli Heaven, specifically so Liu Hu would understand him. If the target could not understand an insult, wasn't that as good as wasting it?
Understanding another race's language generally required casting the [Language Comprehension Art].
This art was widespread in Fuli Heaven and could temporarily grant the caster the ability to understand and speak a particular language. Although it was not especially sophisticated, it was sufficient for everyday comprehension.
However, cultivating this art required developing divine sense, an ability only cultivators in the middle stage of qi refining possessed.
Chu Mo shook his head, casting aside his stray thoughts. This was not the time to dwell on that. He silently drew his bow and nocked an arrow, its crimson tip glimmering faintly in the mist as he aimed soundlessly at the two men in the camp.
Inside the camp, the two Totem Warriors remained unaware of Chu Mo's presence.
"The bodies are gone! It must have been those cultivators. Only they would desecrate the remains of our tribe's warriors!"
The younger man kicked over a charred wooden post and cursed, "Damn locusts! They've actually followed us into the forbidden land!"
His scar-faced companion was more restrained, but hatred surged just as fiercely in his eyes. "Hmph, if they dare enter the forbidden land, they're digging their own graves.
"This time, we'll make them pay! The great spirit of heaven and spirit of the mountains watch over us. With Lord Bone Vulture here-"
Whoosh-!
Before he could finish, a blazing arrow shot out of the thick mist without warning and pierced the scar-faced man's throat with unerring precision!
"Urgh!" Clutching his blood-spurting neck, he toppled stiffly to the ground, his eyes filled with shock and unwillingness.
[You have killed Level 3 · Black Ape Tribe Straggler (Red Name)]
The young warrior's face drained of color. Just as he was about to cry out and activate his totem's power, a second flaming arrow tore through the air!
Squelch!
The arrow entered his open mouth and burst out the back of his head, trailing a spray of bloody mist.
[You have killed Level 2 · Black Ape Tribe Straggler (Red Name)]