The mist in the core area of Ten Thousand Medicines Valley was faintly purple and cool to the touch. Breathing it in, one could feel a trace of pure energy circulating through the body. But the deeper the group went, the stranger the silence became. Even the chirping of insects and birds had vanished, leaving only the rustle of their feet on fallen leaves.
"Big Brother Xiao Yan, it's so quiet here," Su Xiaoxiao whispered, following close behind Xiao Yan, a trace of unease in her eyes. She had grown up outside the valley and had never set foot in the core area, only hearing the elders speak of man-eating monsters here.
Xiao Yan patted her shoulder reassuringly. "Don't be afraid. I'm here." He pushed his perception to its limit, his Intermediate Origin Emperor spiritual power spreading like an invisible net over a hundred-zhang radius. Not the slightest stir escaped his notice.
Lin Qingxue took out a lustrous white jade talisman. Its soft glow dispersed some of the purple mist around them. "This is a Mist-Clearing Talisman. It can temporarily disperse the core area's miasma. According to the message, the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Restoring Grass is in Falling Sunset Gorge ahead, another ten li from here."
Liu Chengfeng followed behind, his face still somewhat pale, but his eyes glinted with excitement. The Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Restoring Grass was worth far more than the Thousand-Year Purple Heart Lotus. If he could obtain a share, it would greatly help him break through to Intermediate Origin Emperor.
Mo Chen, meanwhile, stopped from time to time to examine the surrounding vegetation, occasionally bending down to pick up a fallen leaf. His brows drew together slightly. "There's something strange about the plants' presence here. They look full of life, but there's a trace of deathly stillness to them, as though some force is suppressing them."
Xiao Yan had noticed it too. The vegetation in the core area was more luxuriant than on the outskirts, and there were even rare spiritual plants recorded only in ancient texts. Yet the edges of their leaves all bore a faint gray-black tinge, as though an invisible shadow hung over them.
"Be careful. The guardian beasts here probably aren't simple," Xiao Yan warned.
No sooner had he spoken than the mist ahead suddenly churned violently, and a gust of foul wind rushed at them. The group quickly stopped, staring warily into the depths of the mist.
"Roar-!"
A deafening roar rang out as an enormous beast charged from the mist. Its body was covered in blue-black scales, and two horns rose from its head. It was shaped like a giant bull, but had a long tail covered in bone spikes. Its eyes were crimson, and it radiated a savage presence.
"It's a Black Qilin Beast!" Lin Qingxue's expression changed slightly. "Ancient texts say the Black Qilin Beast is one of Ten Thousand Medicines Valley's guardian beasts, with strength comparable to a Peak Origin Emperor!"
The Black Qilin Beast's gaze swept over the group before settling on Xiao Yan. Seemingly sensing the threat of the Heavenly Flames within him, it snorted two jets of white vapor, abruptly lowered its head, and charged with crushing force.
"Scatter!" Xiao Yan shouted. Three-colored flames erupted on the Heavy Xuan Ruler as he met the Black Qilin Beast.
Lin Qingxue, Mo Chen, and the others quickly scattered, each summoning a weapon in preparation to help. Lin Qingxue shielded Su Xiaoxiao behind her as the girl watched the battle nervously.
"Boom!"
The Heavy Xuan Ruler crashed into the Black Qilin Beast's single horn. A tremendous force traveled up Xiao Yan's arm, numbing it and driving him five steps back. The Black Qilin Beast also roared in pain as the flames scorched it, charring the single horn on its head black.
What tough scales! Xiao Yan was inwardly startled. With the Heavenly Flames empowering his Heavy Xuan Ruler, he could break through even a High-Grade Origin Emperor's defenses, yet he had left only a faint scorch mark on the Black Qilin Beast's scales.
The Black Qilin Beast was thoroughly enraged. Its long tail swept toward him with a piercing rush of air, its bone spikes glinting coldly. Clearly, being struck by it would be no small matter.
Xiao Yan blurred aside, narrowly avoiding the tail while flicking a wisp of Netherworld Core Flame from his fingertip, sending it straight at the Black Qilin Beast's eyes.
The Black Qilin Beast flinched in pain and instinctively shut its eyes. Xiao Yan seized the chance and swept the Heavy Xuan Ruler across, sending a ribbon of flame cascading down like a waterfall to engulf the beast's entire body.
"Aaargh-!"
The Black Qilin Beast struggled in agony within the flames. Though its scales were tough, they could not withstand the Heavenly Flames' relentless burning, and the stench of scorching flesh spread through the air.
"Brother Xiao Yan, I'll help you!" Mo Chen shouted. The pill furnace in his hand flew out and hovered above the Black Qilin Beast, its opening spraying countless tiny wisps of pill fire that complemented Xiao Yan's Heavenly Flames.
Lin Qingxue also summoned a jade flute. Its notes were melodious, but they carried a peculiar sonic attack that disrupted the Black Qilin Beast's mind.
Liu Chengfeng hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and summoned the Hundred Herbs Ruler. Ruler shadows flitted through the air, attacking the Black Qilin Beast's limbs.
Under the four attackers' combined assault, the Black Qilin Beast gradually fell into a disadvantage. Many of its scales burned away and fell off, and its movements grew sluggish.
"Now!" A fierce glint flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes as he channeled the Origin Stabilizing Divine Stone's power into the Heavy Xuan Ruler. Pale golden light burst from its length.
"Heavenly Flames: Realm-Stabilizing Ruler!"
The strike combined the Heavenly Flames' overbearing might with the Origin Stabilizing Divine Stone's Space: Confinement power. The instant the Heavy Xuan Ruler fell, the space around the Black Qilin Beast seemed to freeze, and its movements stopped completely.
"Puchi!"
The Heavy Xuan Ruler struck the Black Qilin Beast's neck with precision. Flames erupted instantly, forcing their way through its tough scales, and blood spurted out.
The Black Qilin Beast let out a piercing wail. Its enormous body slowly collapsed, and its life was completely extinguished.
The group breathed sighs of relief, exhaustion showing on their faces. The Black Qilin Beast had been far stronger than expected. If the four had not joined forces, they probably would have found it difficult to kill.
"Inside this Black Qilin Beast..." Lin Qingxue suddenly pointed at its corpse, a trace of doubt flashing in her eyes.
The others looked over and saw thin black threads mixed into the Black Qilin Beast's blood. They wriggled through it like parasites, giving off a faint presence of darkness.
"It's dark energy!" Xiao Yan's expression changed slightly. "This Black Qilin Beast was actually corrupted by dark energy!"
Mo Chen also stepped forward to examine it, his brows tightly furrowed. "No wonder it was so violent. The dark energy probably affected its mind. It seems the dark energy in the core area is denser than we imagined."
Liu Chengfeng looked at the black threads, a flicker of fear in his eyes. "Then the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Restoring Grass..."
"We have to go and see," Xiao Yan said gravely. "If even the guardian beasts have been corrupted, that Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Restoring Grass is probably in danger too."
The group hesitated no longer and continued toward Falling Sunset Gorge. With the Black Qilin Beast as a warning, they grew even more vigilant and slowed their pace considerably.
Along the way, they encountered several more guardian beasts corrupted by dark energy and joined forces to kill them all. The closer they drew to Falling Sunset Gorge, the denser the dark presence in the air became. Some plants had even withered completely, turning into black charcoal.
"Falling Sunset Gorge is just ahead," Lin Qingxue said, pointing at a canyon in front of them.
The cliffs on either side of the canyon were covered in red rocks that looked like sunset clouds beneath the evening sun, giving Falling Sunset Gorge its name. But now the gorge was shrouded in dense black mist. Countless dark shapes could dimly be seen writhing within it, radiating a presence that made hearts tremble.
Quite a few people had already gathered at the canyon entrance, all experts from the Southern Region's ten great factions, including no small number of High-Grade Origin Emperors. They stood around the black mist with grave expressions, seemingly wary of something.
"That's the valley master of Black Wind Valley! And an elder of the Flowing Cloud Sect!" Liu Chengfeng recognized several of them and spoke in a low voice.
Xiao Yan, however, was looking into the depths of the black mist. He could sense that, besides the dark energy, there was a pure presence of life in there. It was the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Restoring Grass! But that presence was being steadily eroded by the dark energy, growing weaker and weaker.
"Everyone, what's the situation inside?" Lin Qingxue stepped forward and asked.
The valley master of Black Wind Valley was a burly middle-aged man. He shook his head, his expression grave. "There's a Shadow Vine King inside the black mist. It's extremely powerful and can control dark energy as well. We've tried several times, but we haven't managed to break through."
"A Shadow Vine King?" Lin Qingxue's expression changed slightly. "That's an ancient variant species that lives by absorbing the vital essence of living beings. How could it have appeared here?"
"It was probably drawn here by the dark energy too," the Flowing Cloud Sect elder said with a sigh. "It seems to be guarding something. Whenever we get close, it attacks us madly."
Xiao Yan frowned slightly. He could sense that the Shadow Vine King's presence was considerably stronger than the Black Qilin Beast's. It had already reached the Half-Step Origin Venerate Realm, and with the added power of dark energy, even if the ten great factions joined forces, they would probably have a hard time gaining any advantage.
"We can't wait any longer," Xiao Yan said gravely. "If we delay any more, the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Restoring Grass will be completely corrupted by the dark energy!"
"Then do you have a way?" The Black Wind Valley master looked at Xiao Yan, a trace of doubt in his eyes.
Xiao Yan did not answer. Instead, he took out the Heavy Xuan Ruler, and three-colored Heavenly Flames blazed. "Heavenly Flames can counter dark energy. I'll give it a try."
"Brother Xiao Yan, don't be rash!" Mo Chen hurriedly tried to stop him. "The Shadow Vine King is too strong!"
"Don't worry." Xiao Yan looked back with a smile. "I know my limits."
He took a deep breath, turned into a streak of light, and charged into the black mist.
The black mist was saturated with dense dark energy that constantly eroded his Origin Qi shield, but the Heavenly Flames within Xiao Yan began to circulate on their own, burning the dark energy to nothing.
After he had gone a hundred zhang in, a black vine ten zhang tall appeared before him. It was covered in fleshy, tumor-like growths, and within each growth, an eye seemed to be turning, radiating a venomous light. At the center of the vine, a golden herb giving off a soft glow trembled slightly. It was the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Restoring Grass! But its roots were already entangled in black vines, and its golden light was growing dimmer and dimmer.
"Roar!"
The Shadow Vine King sensed Xiao Yan's arrival, and countless vines shot out like venomous snakes, carrying dark energy as they came to strangle him.
Xiao Yan's gaze sharpened. He swept the Heavy Xuan Ruler across, and a ribbon of flame burned the incoming vines to ashes. But the Shadow Vine King's regenerative ability was extremely strong. New vines instantly grew in place of those burned away, and its attacks grew ever more frenzied.
"Looks like I'll have to deal with you first!"
A fierce glint flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes as he summoned the Void Origin Stone Fragment and the Origin Stabilizing Divine Stone at the same time. The two spatial powers intertwined, forming a warped barrier before him that temporarily blocked the vines' attacks.
At the same time, he formed seals with both hands. The three Heavenly Flames within him gathered madly, forming a gigantic vortex of fire above his head.
"Heavenly Flames: Eternal Flame Hell!"
This was the strongest killing move he had created by combining the three Heavenly Flames. With the might to burn all things to ashes, the fiery vortex descended upon the Shadow Vine King.
The Shadow Vine King seemed to sense the threat and let out a shrill hiss. All its vines contracted madly, forming a thick black shield in front of it.
"Boom-!"
The fiery vortex collided with the black shield, producing an earth-shaking explosion. Red, blue, and dark purple flames burned furiously against the shield, and the dark energy in it melted away at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The Shadow Vine King hissed in pain as cracks gradually appeared in the shield.
"Break!" Xiao Yan roared, pouring the last trace of Origin Qi in his body into the fiery vortex.
"Crack!"
The black shield shattered completely, and the fiery vortex instantly swallowed the Shadow Vine King.
"Aaargh-!"
The Shadow Vine King struggled madly in the flames. Its vines burned and carbonized until they finally became a heap of charcoal, and its life was completely extinguished.
With the Shadow Vine King's death, the surrounding black mist quickly dispersed, revealing Falling Sunset Gorge's true appearance.
Xiao Yan walked up to the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Restoring Grass and carefully cleared away the black vines tangled around its roots, then put it safely into a jade box. Though the Soul-Restoring Grass still radiated vitality, its roots had already turned somewhat black. Clearly, it had been badly corrupted.
"We did it!"
Cheers rang out from outside the canyon, and the experts of the ten great factions poured in. When they saw the burned Shadow Vine King and the jade box in Xiao Yan's hands, their eyes filled with delight and admiration.
"Impressive skills, young brother!" The Black Wind Valley master stepped forward and cupped his hands to Xiao Yan. "If you hadn't intervened, young brother, we probably still wouldn't have been able to take down this Shadow Vine King."
Lin Qingxue and Mo Chen also came over, their faces bright with joy. "Brother Xiao Yan, are you all right?"
"I'm fine." Xiao Yan shook his head and handed the jade box to Lin Qingxue. "I'll leave the Ten-Thousand-Year Soul-Restoring Grass to you to handle."
Lin Qingxue was taken aback. "This..."
"I just didn't want it to be corrupted by dark energy." Xiao Yan smiled. "As for how to divide it, follow the rules of your ten great factions."
His openhandedness took everyone by surprise, especially Liu Chengfeng. He looked at the jade box with an exceedingly complicated expression before finally lowering his head.
Mo Chen looked at Xiao Yan, a trace of appreciation flashing in his eyes. "Brother Xiao Yan, you truly have an extraordinary bearing."
Just then, a violent tremor suddenly came from deep within Falling Sunset Gorge. A terrifying presence a hundred times stronger than the Shadow Vine King's spread out, carrying dense dark energy and making the entire core area tremble.
"What's happening?" Everyone's expressions changed drastically.
Xiao Yan looked into the depths of Falling Sunset Gorge, where dark energy surged like a tide, even denser than at the spatial rift on Soul-Severing Cliff!
"This is bad!" Xiao Yan's expression changed drastically. "There's something even more terrifying in there!"
A greater crisis was quietly erupting deep within Falling Sunset Gorge. And this time, what they faced might be a true creature of the Domain of Darkness!