Several days later, tens of thousands of miles southwest of the previous branch of the Soul Palace, in a cold and damp forest.
The forest was extremely humid, filled with withered trees and dead branches. Their dry and menacing trunks stretched out, blocking out the gloomy sky. Not a single ray of light could penetrate the branches of the dead trees and shine into the damp, dark soil of the forest. Poisonous gas permeated the forest, with patches of dark green poisonous mist churning. Anyone who came into contact with it would instantly turn into a pool of poisonous water.
At the deepest part of this forest was an endless swamp. The grayish-brown swamp flowed slowly, and occasionally huge bubbles would rise from the swamp. After a moment, with a soft sound, the bubbles would burst with a bang, and black liquid would shoot out. Then, a stream of highly poisonous marsh gas shot straight into the sky, covering the area above the swamp.
Within this swamp, pairs of scarlet eyes could be faintly seen, radiating a chilling, murderous light.
The light was so intense that it pierced through the murky swamp from its deepest depths, reaching the surface. Several terrifying roars, like thunder, echoed from within, sending chills down one's spine and filling the swamp with an eerie and terrifying atmosphere.
Not far from the swamp, two dark figures were swiftly traversing the air above the poisonous forest.
The terrifying poisonous miasma surrounding them was instantly annihilated upon contact with a faint aura of energy emanating from them. This terrifying miasma could not penetrate them at all. These two were none other than Hun Changqing and Xingxiu, who had arrived from the branch temple.
After flying rapidly towards the forest for a while, Xing Su suddenly stopped and said to Hun Changqing,
"We're getting close to the swamp where those demonic beasts inhabit. We can't fly so recklessly anymore." As
soon as Xing Su finished speaking, she instantly used the Soul Palace's unique method of concealing his aura, completely masking his presence.
Hun Changqing nodded in agreement and then used the Concealing Breath Technique from his Taiyin True Understanding. With the Concealing Breath Technique activated, not only did Hun Changqing's aura completely dissipate, but his dark figure also became extremely blurry. If Xing Su was worried about not being able to find him, Hun Changqing had probably completely hidden his shadow. Xing
Su looked at the blurry and illusory Hun Changqing before her, a look of surprise in her eyes. She hadn't expected that at such a close distance, she couldn't sense even the slightest trace of Hun Changqing's aura, including the Taiyin True Qi aura she was most familiar with.
If it weren't for the fact that Hun Changqing's figure, though blurry, was still clearly visible in front of her, Xingxiu would have even thought that Hun Changqing had already left.
"Your method of concealing your aura isn't from the Soul Clan or the Soul Palace. I've never seen such a sophisticated method of concealing one's aura before. Did you acquire this after leaving your clan?" Xingxiu asked with slight curiosity. After hearing Xingxiu's words, Hun Changqing glanced at her indifferently and then said coldly,
"You seem to have too many questions. You should ask less about my affairs. Your most important task now is to take me to the cave of the Dry Wood Saint. Then I will give you some resources. Although your bloodline power was destroyed by me, your talent is still excellent, and you may still have a chance to advance further.
When you have these resources, go back to the Soul Hall in Zhongzhou and work hard. Also, reunite with your brother. If you don't leak my information to the Soul Hall, I will naturally not cause trouble for you and your brother anymore. We will never see each other again. This will fulfill your wish. You can live a good life with your brother. Alright, let's go. Hurry up." After
Hun Changqing finished speaking, he continued to fly towards the depths of the forest, and Xingxiu hurriedly followed . Above, Xingxiu, positioned behind Hun Changqing, had a strange glint in her beautiful eyes as she stared intently at his back. She murmured,
"You don't want me to know about you? Will we never meet again? No… it can't be like that… Youhun… you're so naive… do you really think these few casual words can so easily erase what you did to me?
To please me? No, that's just what you think. But it doesn't matter. After you enter the cave, I'll naturally find a way to fulfill my own desires. At that time, I will know everything about you, hehehe…"
A strange expression appeared on Xingxiu's face, her gaze gradually shifting from cold to burning. She stared at Hun Changqing's back, licked her crimson lips, then concealed her unusual behavior, quickening her pace to catch up with Hun Changqing.
Soon, the two, concealing their presence, arrived at the swamp. Hun Changqing, in the air, looked down at the crimson gazes emanating from the grayish-brown swamp below, then asked Xingxiu,
"Is the cave of the Drywood Saint beneath this swamp?"
"That's right, the cave is located in that swamp, and the demonic beast clan guards it."
Hearing Xingxiu's answer, Hun Changqing nodded, then expanded his senses, completely enveloping the swamp below. Soon, Hun Changqing sensed an extremely powerful aura—the aura of the nine-star Dou Zong demonic beast leader.
Upon sensing this aura, a glint flashed in Hun Changqing's eyes, and he said to Xingxiu,
"You wait here, hide yourself well. After I deal with that demonic beast, take me into the Drywood Saint's cave."
Xingxiu nodded, then vanished, disappearing into the shadows.
After giving his instructions to Xingxiu, Hun Changqing silently slipped into the swamp. These magical beasts, with their pitifully weak senses, were completely unaware of Hun Changqing's use of the Concealment Technique to infiltrate the swamp. Without the slightest reaction, Hun Changqing effortlessly passed through one powerful magical beast after another, arriving near the leader of the beasts.