The Little Sable Awakens

Zhang Xiaohua descended the gentle slope. Perhaps because the terrain was lower, the valley beneath the slope held increasingly more wisps of ghost mist. Correspondingly, the short bluish-black trees and mushrooms came in an even greater variety.

Zhang Xiaohua held his breath and circulated the Forget Worry Heart Sutra within his body, remaining cautiously on guard. Though there was much ghost mist, it was still only threadlike. When it occasionally drifted over Zhang Xiaohua, it merely caused a faint numb soreness and did him no substantial harm.

Zhang Xiaohua continued downward along the path at the valley floor, gathering quite a few strange herbs and mushrooms along the way. Nothing unusual happened.

The farther down he went, the more luxuriant the plants growing atop Yi Xiang Peak became. Gradually, they blocked out what little sunlight there had been. Together with the increasing ghost mist, the place slowly grew damp and cold. Though Zhang Xiaohua was now immune to heat and cold, he could still sense that this was no kind place.

Yet Zhang Xiaohua extended his divine sense ten feet outward and scanned all around, only to find nothing unusual.

"Eh?" Suddenly, Zhang Xiaohua's heart tightened. He realized that ordinary forests were filled with the crisp calls of birds, yet Ghost Valley was terrifyingly silent. There was not even a single birdcall, much less any little creatures like squirrels. Pricking up his ears, Zhang Xiaohua listened carefully again. Faint birdcalls could be heard overhead, but they were already extremely far away. If not for Zhang Xiaohua's extraordinary hearing and sight, he certainly would not have heard them.

"Is this why it is called Ghost Valley?" Zhang Xiaohua frowned slightly. "Should I keep going down?"

Zhang Xiaohua could not help hesitating. He had never been keen on becoming some inner sect