Chapter 468: You Have Gained Merit Again

As he spoke, Lu Chao’s gaze drifted, surveying his surroundings.

It was, of course, overgrown with weeds. The massive trees looked almost menacing, and the sounds of insects and beasts constantly filled his ears.

Nether Spring is like the Yellow Springs...

This was a legend that circulated in the Great Wu Empire, one people often mentioned, especially near the Nether Spring Mountain Range.

It was often used to frighten naughty children.

When Lu Chao was in Lu Dingtian’s Death Warrior Camp, he had spent half a year on the edge of the Nether Spring Mountain Range, constantly honing his Martial Techniques against Demon Beasts. But at that time, he naturally couldn’t have gone so deep.

Even so, he had often heard the terrifying legend.

’The Nether Spring Mountain Range is bottomless. Very few who venture deep inside ever make it out alive.’

’The locals say that beyond powerful Demon Beasts, the mountains hide terrifying ghouls and monsters. A century ago, an old prince of the Great Wu Royal Family, a Peak Realm Seventh Layer expert, entered it seeking a path to a breakthrough.’

’He came out, but he was insane.’

’He could say nothing but mutterings of "demons," and he died less than a month after his return.’

’His body rotted away, and his Heavenly Destiny Bone turned black, riddled with thousands of holes.’

This was the extent of Lu Chao’s knowledge regarding the Nether Spring Mountain Range...

But he had no idea how deep one had to go to encounter these so-called demons or monsters.

For the past two hundred years, no one in the Azure Flame Domain had reached the Creation Realm, and those at the Peak Realm didn’t dare to take risks. Generally, once Peak Realm cultivators reached an area with Peak Realm Demon Beasts, they would not dare to venture any further.

’It should be fine just reaching the territory of Peak Realm Demon Beasts.’

With that thought, Lu Chao had already slipped into the shadows, waiting for the Yan Soul Guards to arrive.

...

Somewhere behind Lu Chao...

Fifteen Yan Soul Guards had already dismounted their Flying Wolves. They stood atop a huge, grotesque tree, staring intently in Lu Chao’s direction.

Just then, one of the Yan Soul Guards asked, "Have any of you heard the legends of the Nether Spring Mountain Range?"

A second Yan Soul Guard blinked and replied, "What legends? The Azure Flame Domain has been sealed for two hundred years. Even two centuries ago, it was the Azure Flame Sect’s territory. How could any legend from here possibly reach our Cyan Sword Great Empire?"

The eyes of a third Yan Soul Guard glinted as he spoke with a grim face...

"The Nether Spring Mountain Range isn’t only in the Azure Flame Domain..."

"Or rather, the Nether Spring Mountain Range connects to another place we are quite familiar with: the Biyue Continent."

At his words, the other Yan Soul Guards shuddered, staring intently at the third guard.

The latter continued his explanation...

"After we in Yan Soul City secured the order to attack the Azure Flame Domain, I researched its geography. To the northwest of the Azure Flame Domain is Cyan Sword Mountain and our Cyan Sword Great Empire. To the north and northeast lies the Nether Spring Mountain Range."

"I’ve been to the Biyue Continent twice, and it also has a Nether Spring Mountain Range, which extends to its south."

"In other words, by following the Nether Spring Mountain Range north from the Azure Flame Domain, you can reach the Biyue Continent directly."

The Yan Soul Guards blinked, most of them looking utterly confused...

The second Yan Soul Guard couldn’t help but ask, "Then that’s strange. Given the situation on the Biyue Continent, how is it possible that no one ever entered the Azure Flame Domain? And didn’t the Azure Flame Sect have to detour through Cyan Sword Mountain to get to the Green Bone Palace two hundred years ago?"

Another Yan Soul Guard added, "Exactly. Wouldn’t it be closer to get to the Green Bone Palace from the Biyue Continent?"

The people from the Azure Flame Sect were ambushed two hundred years ago precisely because they had to pass through Cyan Sword Mountain.

And Cyan Sword Mountain is territory of the Cyan Sword Great Empire.

At this point, the first Yan Soul Guard who had spoken took over the conversation. "And that brings us to the legend of the Nether Spring Mountain Range. I’ve also been to the Biyue Continent and looked into the mountain range. The people there say... Nether Spring is like the Yellow Springs."

"Whether it was the Azure Flame Sect two hundred years ago or the people of the Biyue Continent today, no one dares to enter it lightly."

"The depths of the Nether Spring Mountain Range are said to be terrifying. An ancient, supreme expert supposedly laid down formations there. There’s even a legend that an expert from the Green Bone Palace scouted it once and warned his disciples never to go deep inside."

"Of course, who knows if that’s just a rumor spread by the people of the Biyue Continent."

Listening to the two Yan Soul Guards who were familiar with the Nether Spring Mountain Range, the others felt a chill run down their spines.

"So, are we still going? We can’t just give up here, right? Lu Chao must be killed," another Yan Soul Guard spoke up.

In response, the first Yan Soul Guard gave a sinister grin...

"Of course we’re continuing. This area only has Peak Realm Demon Beasts. We’re still far from the true depths of the Nether Spring Mountain Range."

"The scent of the Cloud-Chasing Sand tells me that Lu Chao has stopped. His Flying Feather Black Eagle dares not go any further. We’ll catch up to him now... However, he’s definitely planning to use the terrain to ambush us. We must be careful."

"Move out..."

With the order given, the fifteen Yan Soul Guards followed the trail of the Cloud-Chasing Sand and vanished into the deep, old forest.

They were experienced, and there were a full fifteen of them. They didn’t believe they couldn’t kill Lu Chao.

...

Just as Lu Chao and the fifteen Yan Soul Guards were about to clash, Chi Xingxun and Lu Dingtian were still leading the Nether Spring Soldiers and Horses in a desperate fight against twenty other Yan Soul Guards, still a considerable distance from the Nether Spring Mountain Range.

Within the Great Wu Imperial City...

Cheng Yunsu received a message from a carrier pigeon. She murmured, "Lu Chao has entered the Nether Spring Mountain Range."

It was a message Lu Chao had sent her before he went in.

Taking a deep breath, Cheng Yunsu closed her eyes and resumed her Cultivation. She knew that Lu Chao’s battle with the Yan Soul Guards within the Nether Spring Mountain Range would still be fraught with peril, and there was no telling when he would return.

She calmed herself and continued to cultivate and wait.

Meanwhile, the Great Wu Imperial City had already seen changes over the past few days...

The ten Yan Soul Guards who remained there were constantly causing trouble in the Great Wu Imperial City, trying to draw out the core figures of Azure Flame. In response, Marquis Yin Ye and the others, who had cultivated the Azure Flame Sect’s Soldier Dao, continuously led their men to engage the Yan Soul Guards.

Just this morning, they had used their troops to eliminate two Yan Soul Guards, so things should be quiet for a while now.

’No matter what, the past few days of Cultivation have shown initial results. Marquis Yin Ye and the others are starting to have breakthroughs in both the Martial Dao and Soldier Dao, and Elder Dongfang will also enter the Creation Realm soon.’

Cheng Yunsu was growing more and more confident about the future of the Azure Flame Domain.

...

The Center of the Hundred Countries, Azure Flame Sect.

Mo Jing arrived, riding a Great Sword-Winged Ice Wolf.

He too had received a letter, one sent from the Yan Soul Guards. He couldn’t help but say hatefully, "Utterly useless, all of them! I told them to look for an opportunity secretly, but they acted the moment I left, and now not a single one of their tasks is complete."

"Bastards! Absolute bastards!"

Mo Jing cursed furiously. The next moment, he arrived above the Azure Flame Sect’s Forbidden Land. He saw Zeng Quan weakly standing guard over a pile of corpses outside the Forbidden Land and descended directly, speaking...

"Zeng Quan, you’ve distinguished yourself again."

"Of the few people I recruited in the Azure Flame Domain, you’re the only one who isn’t completely useless."

"I received the message you sent. Just as your letter said, Lu Chao did indeed kill four of my Yan Soul Guards on the Nanye Battlefield. You’ve done very well. Now, follow me back to Cyan Sword Mountain, and I will help you break through to the Creation Realm."