The Witchcraft Gu Land.
The group walked onward along a narrow, winding trail.
There were few shrubs in the dense forest, only thousand-year-old trees towering into the clouds.
Their branches interlaced, their lush, spreading foliage like emerald clouds that completely blotted out the blue sky.
Here, the group could no longer fly at low altitude.
The two disciples clearing the way carried glowing, pale-silver objects to illuminate the path ahead.
A breeze passed, and the leaves rustled.
Li Ping'an led Old Ox along behind the others.
The surrounding mist was more or less poisonous.
As a precaution, several disciples had prepared poison-warding pills or Magic Treasures in advance.
The path beneath their feet twisted and turned, rising and falling unevenly.
Though walking took some effort, it did not slow their progress in the slightest.
Strange sounds rang out around them from time to time.
They came from Poison Beasts or Poison Insects lurking in the shadows.
This was still only the outskirts, and the hunters lurking in the dark did not yet dare attack them.
Squelch!!
With a backhand slash, Li Ping'an killed a mantis hanging from a tree, just as it was about to pounce.
"A Withered Wood Mantis."
It was named for its shape and coloring, which resembled withered wood, and was an excellent medicinal ingredient.
Li Ping'an put it in his sack.
He casually picked a flower from the ground and sniffed it.
"...Mm, mm... Three-Leaf Cai Zi Flower. Not bad, not bad."
Into the sack it went.
Dry pine needles, mingled with the scent of wild plants.
Into the sack they went.
Tree bark? And poisonous, too.
Into the sack it went.
"What is this...? Never mind. Into the sack it goes."
Li Ping'an hummed a little tune under his breath, a happy smile playing