After thinking it over for a long time, Xu Qingtong finally decided to visit the Valley of the Dead first.
With his current strength, he was confident he could defeat even a Corpse Fiend. He had already reached the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment Realm, and after Mokali's modifications, his physical body rivaled that of a Golden Core Stage cultivator!
His Shamanic Arts had also reached the Witch Spirit Realm, making him at least as powerful as a Golden Core cultivator. Moreover, he had Xiao Qi, a genuine fifth-tier demon beast that had weathered a Heavenly Tribulation.
To avoid being discovered, Xu Qingtong left his incarnation in the cave abode while his main body slipped away from Cloudsky Peak. He mounted his flying sword and flew east toward the Heavenly Chasm.
A little over two hours later, Xu Qingtong appeared at the entrance to the Valley of the Dead. The sun still hung high in the sky.
Xu Qingtong sat cross-legged at the valley entrance, quietly waiting for night to fall while extending his divine sense into the valley.
On his previous visit, Xu Qingtong had not ventured far inside. He had only gone about three li into the valley before encountering a Corpse Fiend with Golden Core strength, then fleeing the Valley of the Dead in panic.
His divine sense had already surpassed that of the Golden Core Early Stage and could extend more than ten li.
Xu Qingtong directed his divine sense to slowly examine the valley. Five li... eight li...
At last, he discovered something new: there were dilapidated buildings in the valley! One glance revealed their great age. Not a trace of their wooden structures remained, only weathered stone, clearly the result of erosion by the passing years.
As he continued looking, he found nothing