Chapter 362: Parasites

Chapter 362: Chapter 362: Parasites

About half an hour later, finally, Ji Chen arrived at a certain valley.

According to the map’s markings, the Qin Family had previously found Holy Medicine here and picked some.

The valley was shrouded in thick fog, with low visibility.

Ji Chen cautiously moved forward, not daring to make any loud noises.

He believed that wherever there was Holy Medicine, there would almost always be some Great Demons present.

Although the demon beasts in the mountains were not highly intelligent, they also knew that the Holy Medicine was extraordinary and staying near it could bring them considerable benefits.

But Ji Chen’s worries were evidently somewhat unnecessary.

Because soon he discovered that before his arrival, many cultivators had already been here in this valley.

And at this moment, some cultivators, like him, were exploring opportunities in the valley.

After all, this was just the outskirts of the Emperor’s Fall Mountain Range. Many of the earliest cultivators who flooded into the mountains would pass through here and could sense the valley’s unusual aura, thinking there was likely a Secret Treasure present, naturally unwilling to miss it.

Thus, many people beat Ji Chen to the punch.

However, it was clear that these cultivators hadn’t reaped any rewards, all returning empty-handed.

For many years, the Nine Great Emperor Clans had explored this valley countless times. Even if there had been Holy Medicine, it had long since been picked clean.

Nonetheless, Ji Chen still didn’t want to miss any possibilities.

He continued to advance deeper into the valley.

After roughly two quarters of an hour, finally, the valley reached its end.

The valley was cloaked in thick fog, yet Ji Chen still saw a large skeleton not far away. Judging by the characteristics of the skeleton, it should be a demon beast, which had died here who knows how many years ago.

If he guessed correctly, someone had likely come here many years ago, picked the Holy Medicine, and dealt with the demon beast staying here.

After a search confirmed there was no trace of Holy Medicine in the valley, Ji Chen naturally did not linger. He quickly left to hurry to the next location marked on the map.

The vastness of the Emperor’s Essence Mountain Range far surpassed what ordinary people could fathom.

For countless years, the Nine Great Emperor Clans had explored it time and again, but even to this day, their understanding of it remained meager in comparison.

After exiting the valley, Ji Chen immediately headed to the next location.

The two places were neither too far nor too close, around two or three hundred li apart.

Traveling on foot, with about half a day, Ji Chen arrived successfully.

But like before, someone had already beaten him there.

Disappointed, he left, continuing toward the next location.

After visiting several more places, Ji Chen left empty-handed, clearly finding that the Holy Medicine in these places had been picked clean.

He didn’t doubt that the information provided by the Qin Family could be false.

Because the locations Ji Chen reached were all nurturing lands indeed suitable for the growth of Holy Medicine.

"It seems I can only head deeper into the mountains."

Two days later, Ji Chen took out the map, scanning his eyes over the marked locations on it, altogether nearly a hundred.

But most were located in the peripheral areas of the mountain range, with only a dozen or so deeper within the mountains.

Over these two days, he had visited dozens of peripheral locations, all ending in vain. In Ji Chen’s view, these places likely no longer had any Holy Medicine, having long been picked over.

If he truly wanted to find Holy Medicine, he had to delve deeper into the mountains.

Without hesitating, after putting away the map, Ji Chen sped through the forest, intending to head straight to the deepest areas.

"Roar!"

Along the way, he occasionally heard the roars of demon beasts, mixed with screams or loud energy blasts.

There was no need to think to know that those cultivators entering the mountains had encountered attacks from the demon beasts within and were fighting desperately to resist.

Yet Ji Chen did not give this any heed, continuing to rush deeper into the mountains.

As he went deeper, the cultivators he encountered became fewer and fewer.

Though many people entered the mountains, the deeper within, the fewer ventured as compared to the outskirts.

Part of the reason was that they did not want to take too much risk, and another part was that during the process of going deeper, they encountered danger and did not manage to successfully reach here.

Of course, most of these were solitary loose cultivators.

Unlike the Nine Great Emperor Clans, who had gathered many experts and had guides from the Di Race, by now they had already traversed deep into the mountains, who knows how many li already.

"You’ve been following me for so long, no need to be sneaky, come out."

In a dense forest, Ji Chen suddenly stopped and slightly turned his head, looking at a certain spot behind him.

"Hehe, didn’t think you could actually notice us?"

A mocking voice came, and then, two figures emerged from behind a large tree.

Ji Chen confirmed that he didn’t recognize them, but judging by their expressions, they were likely up to no good.

"Is there something you need?" Ji Chen spoke calmly.

"Kid, hand over everything on you, and perhaps we’ll spare your life." Among them, the older man spoke.

As they spoke, they took steps to close in on Ji Chen, each wielding special magical artifacts, allowing them to forcefully channel Spiritual Power for combat.

Ji Chen said nothing, his gaze merely swept over the two with indifference.

Murder and robbery!

With the great war imminent, he hadn’t thought such things would happen.

"Foreign enemies are approaching, yet the two of you are still fighting amongst yourselves, attempting murder and robbery, aren’t you afraid of things going wrong and bringing about your own doom?" Ji Chen spoke.

Hearing his words, the two couldn’t help but laugh, "Naive!"

"Not to mention that Divine River City is still in a state of preparation for war, even if war truly erupted, internal strife can’t be completely avoided. Everyone, every force, prioritizes their own interests. You think it’s just us brothers who are like this?"

"In recent days, in the Emperor’s Fall Mountain Range, acts of murder and robbery have been plenty."

"Kid, save your breath, hand over everything on you, and perhaps you’ll die a quick death."

As they spoke, the two had already approached close to Ji Chen, their magical artifacts trembling slightly, as if ready to deal a fatal blow to Ji Chen at any moment.

Ji Chen remained silent, only staring at the two of them. Then suddenly, he shook his head and sighed, "Parasites like you shouldn’t exist in this world."

"Ridiculous, aren’t you aware of your current situation?"

The two sneered, eyes flashing with cold light, as they were about to strike.

"Buzz!"

However, from Ji Chen’s body, a sudden aura erupted, and he lightly flicked his fingers, pointing them forward.

"Crack!"

In an instant, the magical artifacts in the two men’s hands shattered involuntarily, without any warning.

A terrifying aura emanated from Ji Chen’s body, pressing heavily upon them like a mountain, tightly binding them in place, leaving them unable to move an inch.

"You... your cultivation hasn’t been suppressed?"

The two could not help but change their expressions, as if realizing something.