The three of them fell silent for a moment. Zeng Shushu, with his lively and quick-witted nature, sensed the awkwardness between Lin Jingyu and Fazheng. He smiled and broke the silence: “Junior Brother Lin, how did you end up here?”
Though not particularly close to Zeng Shushu, Lin Jingyu felt a sense of familiarity upon seeing a fellow disciple in this unfamiliar and dangerous place. He also knew that Zeng Shushu had been good friends with Zhang Xiaofan in the past, which made him feel a bit of goodwill towards him. Nodding, he replied, “I was separated from my senior brothers in the miasma and rushed forward, somehow managing to break through and land not far from here. I saw the light of treasures flickering, so I came to investigate.”
Zeng Shushu chuckled and wiped the rainwater from his face. “It seems we have quite a bond, finding each other in such a perilous place. It’s better to have more people around, isn’t it, Senior Brother Fazheng?”
Fazheng smiled slightly and nodded. “Indeed… oh, the rain has stopped?”
Both Zeng Shushu and Lin Jingyu looked up at the sky, surprised to see that the rain, which had been pouring down moments ago, had indeed begun to subside. The sky was growing lighter, as if it had opened up a bit more.
Lin Jingyu took a deep breath, feeling the incredibly fresh air after the rain, as if it carried a hint of sweetness, seeping into his heart.
Fazheng turned to look at the now fully closed strange flower. “This place is full of oddities, and this peculiar flower is no friend. We should not linger. Let’s leave this place first.”
Lin Jingyu remained silent, and Zeng Shushu, with a smile, agreed, “Senior Brother Fazheng is right. Let’s go.”
Turning to Lin Jingyu, he noticed the younger man nodding silently.
Gathering themselves, the three activated their talismans and ascended into the air. Mid-flight, Zeng Shushu paused and spoke to the other two, “Senior Brother Fazheng, Junior Brother Lin, this forest is enormous, and it’s teeming with poisonous creatures and all sorts of dangerous beasts. It’s likely that the legendary treasure is hidden deep within. What should we do next?”
Lin Jingyu said resolutely, “Senior Brother Zeng, how can one catch a tiger cub without entering the tiger’s den?”
Zeng Shushu glanced at him and then turned to Fazheng, who simply smiled and nodded, clearly having no objections. “So be it. Let’s explore this wild and treacherous place and see what treasures it holds.”
With renewed vigor, they urged their talismans and streaked through the sky, flying deeper into the forest.
* * *
As night fell, the sky grew completely dark.
After searching for half a day, the three found nothing. There was no sign of the rumored treasure, but the forest was full of strange beasts and venomous insects. They encountered many bizarre creatures, some of which even attacked them from the treetops.
Despite their formidable skills, they were still shaken by these encounters. As the night deepened, they decided to rest on a flat boulder in the forest.
Zeng Shushu, with great care, went to gather firewood, selecting only the driest branches. His meticulousness would surely be remembered as the most careful wood-gathering in the two-thousand-year history of the Azure Ethereal Conclave!
Returning, Zeng Shushu took out a tinderbox, but the wood was damp from the earlier rain. It took a while to light, and when it finally did, thick smoke billowed out. Fazheng looked around and, seeing the darkness, summoned his “Cyclic Pearl.” The pearl emitted a soft golden glow, creating a six-foot-wide protective aura around them.
In the glow of the Cyclic Pearl, their faces were bathed in a faint golden light. Lin Jingyu, despite his reservations, was impressed by Fazheng’s skill. Zeng Shushu smiled, “Senior Brother Fazheng, your power is impressive. I admire you greatly!”
Fazheng smiled modestly, “There are too many venomous creatures here. This small fire might not be enough. With the ‘Prajna Heart Circle,’ we don’t have to worry about ordinary poison tonight.”
The forest was quiet except for the rustling wind, which seemed to carry the distant, mournful cries of a long-lost soul.
* * *
Suddenly, Zeng Shushu sat up, frowning and listening intently. Startled, Fazheng and Lin Jingyu also listened.
Zeng Shushu said, “Something’s not right. Listen!”
They heard a distant, rustling sound, like the scurrying of countless insects. The sound was unnerving, coming from all directions, closing in on them.
“We must be cautious,” Fazheng said, “These are giant ants, and they seem to be controlled by someone.”
Just then, a voice echoed through the forest, “Aren’t the chivalrous heroes of the righteous path always the ones to speak with such certainty? I remember it was you who first attacked me.”
A young man emerged from the darkness, standing just outside the golden circle, with a composed and elegant demeanor. It was Qin Wuyan of the Poison Sect.
Fazheng, recognizing the young man, said, “You must be Qin Wuyan, the famed Poison Prince of the Poison Sect.”
Qin Wuyan smiled and bowed, “I am. I have heard that among the young disciples of the righteous sects, Master Fazheng of the Temple of Heavenly Sound is considered the best. Today, I see that it is true.”
The tension in the air was palpable. Qin Wuyan, known for his mastery of poisons, was not afraid of the deadly creatures in the forest. In fact, he saw it as a boon, collecting rare and toxic substances.
Qin Wuyan, the prized disciple of the Poison Sect, was a prodigy in the use of poisons. Upon entering this perilous inner swamp, he was delighted to find an abundance of the most potent toxins. He used the Poison Sect’s “Beast Control Flute” to command the deadly ants, which now surrounded the group.
As the night deepened and the ants closed in, the four of them were caught in a perilous situation, trapped by the cunning and powerful Qin Wuyan.
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