Chapter 110: The Mystiflame Altar

Ghoul Li tossed the lifeless ash-pig into a corner, then carefully examined the entrance of the cave where the ash-pig had been. Indeed, he found an extremely fine thread stretching from the cave, connecting to a distant bell. It was clear that his repeated failed attempts to infiltrate with Jin Ping’er over the past few days were all detected by this small creature.

He had read in the ancient and fragmented “Records of Divine and Demonic Oddities” that ash-pigs possessed an exceptionally keen sense of smell, far surpassing any ordinary creature. Though he had used every method to conceal himself, he never imagined he would be discovered by such a small beast.

Though he now understood the key, Ghoul Li’s brow furrowed as he stood in the dark corner, lost in thought. While ash-pigs were not considered divine beasts of antiquity, they were rare in the world, usually found deep in the forests of the southern mountains. The fact that there were so many in the Fragrant Incense Valley, and that they were able to detect intruders no matter where they tried to enter, was truly astonishing.

But the most crucial point was the ability to tame and control so many ash-pigs. Such a mastery of beasts was unheard of, even among the righteous sects of the Central Plains or the demonic factions. It was said that only the barbarian tribes of the south possessed such strange skills.

Ghoul Li turned his gaze and looked ahead. Amidst the distant commotion, the depths of the Fragrant Incense Valley remained silent, shrouded in a thick, dark veil that hid countless secrets.

The clamor at the valley’s entrance gradually subsided, and only faint voices could be heard. The sounds of fighting had ceased, indicating that the situation was under control.

Who dared to openly challenge the Fragrant Incense Valley? Ghoul Li’s thoughts turned to Jin Ping’er, the mysterious and alluring woman who was likely still amidst the chaos.

Now, Ghoul Li had penetrated deeper into the heart of the Fragrant Incense Valley. Along the way, there were no more alarm bells triggered by ash-pigs, suggesting that the valley had placed these keen-nosed creatures at the edges, and once inside, they posed less of a threat.

The night was deep, and the recently calmed valley seemed especially serene. As Ghoul Li’s ghostly figure moved through the valley’s pavilions and pathways, the world beneath the black veil gradually revealed itself.

The Fragrant Incense Valley, known as a pillar of righteousness, though usually discreet, was a formidable sect that had thrived for eight centuries. The path ahead gradually displayed the sect’s profound heritage.

Under the cover of night, numerous paths, large and small, intertwined like the veins of a body, extending into the darkness. On either side, dwellings of ordinary disciples and grand halls stood, interspersed with gardens and trees. Bamboo and winter plum, as well as vibrant peonies and tree peonies, formed clusters, blending harmoniously with the surrounding architecture, each with its own unique charm.

Despite the recent commotion, disciples of the Fragrant Incense Valley occasionally moved about, forcing Ghoul Li to hide carefully to avoid detection. Their calm expressions suggested that the situation at the valley’s entrance had stabilized.

Navigating past the disciples was not difficult for Ghoul Li, who, over the past decade, had mastered the esoteric practices of Buddhism, Taoism, and demonic arts. His cultivation advanced at an unprecedented rate, even surprising the learned Demon King, who could only attribute it to the mystic synergy between the three paths.

However, the multitude of paths before him left him perplexed, unsure of which to take. He had come to uncover the secrets of the Fragrant Incense Valley, particularly any connection to the southern barbarian tribes.

To do this, he needed to reach the important figures within the valley, but the paths seemed like a labyrinth, leaving him puzzled.

As Ghoul Li pondered whether to capture and interrogate a disciple, he felt a sudden movement on his shoulder. A soft whimper came from Little Ash.

Startled, Ghoul Li turned to see Little Ash clinging tightly to his clothes, its face contorted in pain, eyes shut. Though the monkey was intelligent and knew the importance of the moment, it could not fully suppress its agony.

Alarmed, Ghoul Li noticed that Little Ash had been acting strangely since entering the valley. Now, it appeared to be in great distress.

Gently cradling Little Ash, Ghoul Li examined the trembling creature, feeling its effort to resist the unknown pain. Concerned, he asked, “What’s wrong, Little Ash?”

Hearing his master’s voice, Little Ash slowly opened its eyes, revealing a golden, slightly crimson glow, akin to otherworldly flames. The temperature around them seemed to drop.

Little Ash’s breath grew heavier, and Ghoul Li felt the increasing strength of its grip. Its eyes, with their strange, golden light, fixed on him, conveying a familiar, bloodthirsty gaze.

Suddenly, Ghoul Li felt a chill. Turning, he noticed the Soul Devourer’s Blood Pearl glowing with a faint, eerie light.

The Blood Pearl, the most malevolent and evil object in the world, was acting strangely.

A bitter taste filled Ghoul Li’s mouth as he gazed at Little Ash, who called out softly. Regaining his composure, Ghoul Li saw a hint of fear in the monkey’s eyes. He took a deep breath and smiled, “It’s okay.”

Little Ash seemed to understand, blinking and eventually closing its eyes. The pain subsided, and its grip weakened.

Ghoul Li held Little Ash close in the cool night air. They stood in the shadows, one man and one monkey, moving quietly.

After a while, Little Ash seemed to fall asleep, resting in Ghoul Li’s arms. Suddenly, the monkey stirred, lifting its head. Ghoul Li looked down to see the golden glow in its eyes had vanished, replaced by its usual lively expression.

Relieved, Ghoul Li watched as Little Ash pointed to a path. Following the monkey’s gaze, Ghoul Li recognized two approaching figures: Li Xun and Yan Hong.

Frowning, Ghoul Li recalled meeting them ten years ago. Both were exceptional talents, and though time had passed, their appearance and demeanor were nearly unchanged, though their prowess had clearly grown.

Approaching, Yan Hong asked, “Senior Brother, why did those monsters suddenly attack?”

Li Xun, frowning, replied, “Who knows what goes through the minds of these uncivilized beasts! I say we should annihilate them, no need to bother Senior Uncle Shangguan.”

Yan Hong gently responded, “Senior Brother, don’t be angry. The Valley Master has his reasons. Senior Uncle Shangguan’s power intimidated those barbarians, and his presence will make them leave. That’s why the Valley Master sent us to fetch him.”

Li Xun snorted, “I know, but why should our noble Fragrant Incense Valley bow to these monsters? If this gets out, we’ll be a laughingstock.”

Yan Hong smiled, “These barbarians must have some use, so the Valley Master tolerates them. In the future…” She paused, her eyes full of unspoken words.

Li Xun, with a hint of不服, 远远望去, 却更增添几分潇洒。不过他倒也没有再说什么, 只是轻叹一声, 和燕虹缓缓走上旁边一条小路, 过了一会就消失在夜色之中了。

阴影中, 一道目光锐利如刀, 注视着他们的背影。鬼厉心中念头急转, 原来今晚侵犯焚香谷的, 竟然就是自己追查的那些鱼人异族。回想起三日前那个晚上, 曾在暗处听到吕顺与那鱼人谈话, 那个高大鱼人似乎是一族之长。

看来今晚之事, 多半是那个鱼人族长被金瓶儿狙杀, 剩下的鱼人一族愤怒下前来报复所致。一念及此, 鬼厉心中不禁掠过金瓶儿的身影, 对这女子的警惕之意又深了一层。

他在阴影中伫立片刻, 随即似乎做了决定, 往怀里的小灰看了看。只见小灰眼睛一眨一眨, 忽地身子一动, 窜上了他的肩头, 咧嘴笑了一下, 看来已经完全恢复。

鬼厉放下心来, 淡淡一笑, 道：“我们就去看看那位什么上官师叔是什么人物, 如何？”

小灰“吱吱”叫了两声, 猴手一挥, 却是指向了李洵、燕虹走去的那条道路。

鬼厉在黑暗中无声地笑了笑, 身影忽起, 快如鬼魅, 往那条僻静小路上去了。

远处, 一个焚香谷弟子正往这里走来, 忽觉得眼前一花, 似乎前方那条通往谷中重地“玄火坛”的道路上有个鬼影闪过, 转眼认真看时, 却什么也没看见。他不禁怔了一下, 随即摇了摇头, 咕哝了一句, 便继续往前走去, 没把这事放在心上。

小径幽幽, 这条路却是意外的绵长, 显然那位上官师叔所在的地方很是僻静。鬼厉在这条路上没走多远, 周围就再也见不到其他房子, 道路两旁都是树木花草, 夜风吹来, 在天际那轮幽月光辉之下, 树影婆娑, 看去像是什么妖魔乱舞一般, 透露着一丝诡异。

鬼厉小心地沿着这条小径往前走着, 走了好一会儿, 却没有像在外面一样看到有什么岔路, 看来这条路是直接通往那位上官师叔所在地方的。

焚香谷占地极大, 这一条小径, 看着弯弯曲曲, 更是通往山谷深处。

忽地, 前方道旁有一白色方形物突然出现, 鬼厉目光一凝, 定睛看去, 却是一块石碑, 上面刻着两行八字：

玄火重地

弟子止步

鬼厉眉头皱了起来, 倒不是因为前边可能是焚香谷什么神秘所在而犹豫, 而是因为这“玄火”二字, 悄悄触动了他心里的一处地方。

他不自禁地向自己右臂望了一眼, 在那衣服下面, “玄火鉴”正安静地躺在他的手臂之上。

他怔了片刻, 随即冷笑一声, 抬脚从这块石碑旁边走了过去。

那块石碑看去虽然平凡无奇, 但似乎是个分界地方, 过了石碑之后, 不知怎么, 小径虽然还是一样弯弯曲曲向前延伸, 但道路两旁的树木花草却明显稀少了许多。

先是地面上的青草逐渐消失, 然后是低矮的灌木, 最后连两旁本来茂密的树木也渐渐变得稀疏。不要说地面开始龟裂, 就是剩下的几棵树, 树身枝头竟也是变得一片枯黄, 倒似乎这附近极度缺水, 土地被烤焦了一般。

也不知道和那“玄火”二字有没有关系？

肩头上的小灰低低地叫了一声, 身子也动了动, 似乎有些不安。鬼厉轻轻拍了拍牠的身子, 小灰才逐渐安静下来。眼下这周围情景的确很是古怪, 但看着却又不似焚香谷里什么重要所在, 否则这一路走来, 竟连一个看守弟子也没有见到。

鬼厉心里转着念头, 沿着小径, 转过了最后一道弯。

突然, 定力如他竟然也不禁身子为之一震, 在他面前出现的是一大块的空地, 一股也不知从哪里吹来的热浪扑面而来。

空地正中央赫然是一座巨大圆形的祭坛, 底部悬空, 十三根白玉石所做的高达三丈的巨大石柱支撑起整座祭坛。其中祭坛边缘共有十二根白玉石柱, 每一根都有二人合抱之粗, 而在祭坛中间最粗大的一根白玉石柱, 看去至少要五、六人才能合抱起来。

而在祭坛上方, 所有的建筑都是用一种赤红色的奇异石材所筑, 台阶、栏杆, 无不如此。在祭坛的中央, 耸立着高大雄伟的殿堂, 呈现出宝塔形状, 共有三层, 每高一层, 便比下一层小了一半左右, 但每一层看去几乎都有不可思议的十丈之高。

远远望去, 这个祭坛简直就是一团巨大燃烧的赤红火焰, 直刺苍穹。鬼厉站在这个祭坛之下, 几乎如蝼蚁一般, 渺小之极。

鬼厉深深吸气, 眼前的这个建筑物实在惊人, 鬼斧神工这四个字, 只怕放在这里也是当之无愧。想不到焚香谷中, 竟有如此气势恢弘的建筑。他心下沉吟, 片刻间联想到刚才进来的那块石碑, 心中便隐约知道, 眼前此处, 恐怕便是传闻中焚香谷里著名所在──玄火坛。

他定了定神, 随即悄无声息地飘了过去。这周围除了眼前这座玄火坛, 便是空无一物的空地, 没有任何遮掩。但幸好这左右没有什么人守卫, 他身形又快, 转眼间就到了玄火坛底部。

一接近这玄火坛附近, 空气中的热气顿时高了数倍不止, 纵然修行如鬼厉这般地步, 竟也感觉到一阵心烦意乱, 额头隐隐有汗。鬼厉皱了皱眉, 心中暗暗吃惊, 随即心中记起, 也不知道小灰能不能支撑这等酷热, 便转头看去, 却看到趴在肩头的小灰挠头抓耳, 竟然似乎对周围的热气视若无睹一般。

鬼厉一怔, 下意识地觉得小灰最近很不寻常, 特别是自从在死亡沼泽那棵神树上的天帝宝库中吞食了灵药异石之后, 身体明显地开始逐渐变化起来。

不过再怎么说, 眼下这种情况, 小灰不怕热自然比怕热要好的多, 鬼厉也暂时没心思去管这么许多。他正寻思着下一步是否掠上这个玄火坛时, 忽地从玄火坛上方传来了一阵脚步声音。

鬼厉眉头一皱, 向周围疾看一眼, 却见周围根本没有任何遮挡之处, 微一沉吟间, 人便飞进了玄火坛下方, 隐身在一根粗大的白玉石柱后面。

他藏在石柱背后, 下意识地伸手触摸石柱, 突然间手上一烫, 他反应何等之快, 立刻将手缩了回来。

这玄火坛下, 竟连这石柱也是滚烫的。

脚步声大了起来, 显然有人走了下来, 忽听有个苍老声音缓缓地道：“既然谷主相请, 我自然要去。只是你们倒是告诉我, 那些鱼人为何突然如此暴戾, 竟然到了要攻打山谷的地步？”

鬼厉藏身在石柱阴影之中, 向外望去, 只见李洵、燕虹二人跟在一个灰衣老者背后, 神色恭敬地走了下来。