“Is this the Inner Valley?” Han Li muttered to himself as he took in the sight before him, his face filled with astonishment. Behind him, about ten zhang away, stood a towering cliff over a thousand zhang high. At its base was a small cave entrance, from which Han Li had emerged just moments ago.
Nanlong Hou and the surnamed Lu elder stood side by side, their expressions equally bewildered as they surveyed the scene. Before them stretched an endless mountain range, vast and boundless, yet also a world of dazzling colors. The sky and ground alike were adorned with faint, drifting auroras.
These auroras varied in hue and size—some spanned several li, resembling the evening clouds, while others were mere feet long, like delicate veils, all exceptionally vibrant. However, what truly shocked Han Li and the others wasn’t the auroras themselves but the chaotic and turbulent spiritual energy in the area. Spiritual energy of all attributes was tangled together, exuding a restless, volatile aura, as if the slightest disturbance could provoke it.
“No wonder this was a battleground for ancient cultivators. They even managed to disrupt the very foundation of the spiritual energy here. Under these conditions, any spellcasting will likely be affected,” Nanlong Hou remarked after a long silence, exhaling deeply.
“That’s secondary. The real trouble lies in those things,” Han Li suddenly interjected, pointing toward a distant spot in the sky with a bitter smile.
Hundreds of zhang away, faint white streaks of light, each about a foot long, drifted lazily through the air. When Nanlong Hou and the Lu elder saw them clearly, their expressions turned grim.
“Space fissures! How can there be so many? And they’re moving on their own!” Lu Weiying exclaimed in shock.
Nanlong Hou’s face darkened as well.
“This is to be expected. Since this is an ancient battlefield, it’s natural for space fissures to be more numerous here. Otherwise, why would so many legendary Nascent Soul cultivators have vanished without a trace after entering? To avoid accidents, we must strictly follow the route left by Frost Li the Transcendent from now on. Otherwise…” Han Li glanced at Nanlong Hou and chuckled lightly.
“Brother Han is right. We mustn’t take any reckless risks. Who knows where an invisible space fissure might appear? Though these moving fissures sound terrifying, as long as we stay alert, their speed poses no real threat,” Nanlong Hou said after a moment of contemplation, regaining his composure.
“But the density of space fissures here is at least ten times higher than outside. And Brother Nanlong’s method only works if the invisible fissures remain stationary. If they wander like the visible ones, even Frost Li’s map might not guarantee safety,” Lu Weiying frowned, staring at another cluster of fissures with a thoughtful expression.
Han Li paused at these words, his eyes glowing blue as he scanned the distance. A hundred zhang away, he spotted a faint, motionless arc of light—an invisible space fissure. After observing it for a moment, he relaxed slightly.
Just as he debated whether and how to share this discovery, Nanlong Hou misinterpreted his thoughtful expression and spoke unexpectedly: “Don’t worry, fellow Daoists. Those invisible fissures don’t move. Frost Li’s writings confirmed this.”
“Can you confirm this, Brother Nanlong? How did Frost Li know?” Lu Weiying perked up but remained skeptical.
“Do you think Frost Li could have escaped the Fallen Demon Valley unscathed after being severely injured without a special ability? He cultivated a technique that allowed him to sense space fissures. Otherwise, even at his peak, he wouldn’t have made it out alive,” Nanlong Hou explained calmly.
The elder’s tension eased at this revelation. “Such a secret technique exists? If so, his survival wasn’t just luck.”
Han Li also seemed relieved, which reassured Nanlong Hou. He couldn’t afford to let either of them back out now, especially Han Li, whose strength he couldn’t gauge—he was crucial for dealing with the Fire Toad.
“Let’s move on. According to the writings, the Fire Toad’s lair is a full day’s journey from here without fast flight. We must be cautious,” Nanlong Hou said solemnly.
“Rest assured, Brother Nanlong. We value our lives as much as you do,” Han Li replied with a faint smile. The Lu elder nodded in agreement.
“Good. We’ve wasted enough time. Let’s go.” Satisfied, Nanlong Hou checked his bearings, enveloped himself in golden light, and floated into the air, heading slowly in a specific direction.
Han Li and the elder exchanged glances before following, their protective auras flaring as they ascended. They stuck close to Nanlong Hou’s path, knowing that even a slight deviation could trigger a space fissure or an ancient restriction.
The route Nanlong Hou took was erratic—sometimes straight, sometimes winding—but every hour, he paused to reorient himself before continuing. He didn’t consult any jade slips, clearly having memorized the map.
Han Li remained outwardly calm but mentally recorded every step of the path, preparing for emergencies. He suspected Lu Weiying was doing the same. Cultivators, trained in the Five Elements, possessed near-perfect memory, making such tasks effortless.
After flying for most of the day without incident, Han Li grew more at ease. It seemed Nanlong Hou truly possessed Frost Li’s map.
As he followed, Han Li split his focus, using his spiritual sense to scan the surroundings. He detected at least three or four areas with strong restriction auras and several others with ambiguous signals—whether they were formations or just chaotic spiritual energy, he couldn’t tell.
Though intrigued, Han Li suppressed any urge to explore. The more he studied ancient formations, the more he feared their traps. Even with his spiritual eye, provoking unknown restrictions was suicidal. Besides, ordinary ancient treasures no longer interested him. The Fire Toad’s core, ancient relics, the Spirit Candle Fruit, and the Gale Silver Sand at the entrance were already ample rewards.
Weighing the risks, Han Li dismissed any thought of adventure. Glancing at the Lu elder, he noticed the man’s gloomy expression and frequent glances into the distance. Han Li sighed inwardly—if the elder failed to find what he sought in the ancient remains, he’d likely risk exploring other parts of the valley.
Han Li couldn’t blame him. If his own lifespan were nearing its end, he’d likely take the same gamble for a chance at longevity or a breakthrough. The thought filled him with a pang of sorrow.
Just then, Nanlong Hou abruptly halted, staring ahead with a troubled expression. Han Li frowned, sensing trouble. His gaze swept the area before settling on Nanlong Hou’s back, silent.
Below them was an unremarkable hill, while far ahead stood two towering peaks, starkly conspicuous. Since the Fire Toad’s lair was supposed to be a full day’s journey, this couldn’t be their destination. The distracted Lu Weiying looked puzzled.
“Brother Nanlong, what’s wrong? Why have we stopped?” the elder asked cautiously.
Nanlong Hou turned slowly, his face twisting into a bitter smile. “Fellow Daoists, it seems we’ve run into some trouble. We might have to take a risk.”
“What? What do you mean?” The elder’s white brows twitched in alarm.
Han Li rubbed his nose but remained silent, though his expression mirrored the elder’s confusion.
“Do you see those two mountains in the distance?” Nanlong Hou pointed at the twin peaks.
“Of course. Are they the problem?” Lu Weiying asked, baffled.
“Exactly. They are,” Nanlong Hou confirmed grimly.
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