Chapter Seventy-Two: Each Their Own Scheme
“Bang!”
A fist-sized crater, several feet deep, appeared clearly in the churning swamp, with faint remnants of pale yellow true energy lingering on its surface, preventing the surrounding marsh from flooding it momentarily.
However, there was no trace of life within the imprint; the punch had landed on empty air.
Behind the fist mark, Zhao Fan’s right hand was drawn back in a retracted fist posture, his expression contemplative.
Soon, Zhao Fan shifted his gaze toward the mountaintop, carrying the unconscious large dog in his left hand as he walked backward step by step.
His stride remained resolute, each step leaving a large footprint, though his aura no longer bore the same domineering intensity as when he first arrived.
...
Atop Phantom Demon Mountain, on a narrow path.
A figure draped in azure floated midair, facing an elderly man in a brocade robe.
Yun Tianxin’s face flushed unnaturally red, as if burning; the hairpin atop her head had vanished, causing her dark hair to cling damply to her fragrant brow, lending her a striking and heroic beauty.
Yet the opposing Yun Shan Hou showed no awareness or appreciation of this scene. Assuming a defensive stance, he spoke with a tone of aged glee:
“Unexpected for you to possess such a rare treasure. But what use is it? You cannot activate the Spirit Rotation in battle; you’re merely clinging to life.”
No sooner had the words fallen than the two figures clashed again in midair, their aftershocks ravaging the surroundings, tearing earth and splintering trees.
“Here’s a proposal: come back with me. I believe the Great Kingdom of Yuyang would not refuse a genius like you.”
Yun Shan Hou spoke again, his fingers forming a character resembling ‘person’ before his chest.
His expression turned solemn as three glaring spheres of spiritual power emerged along the sides of the formed character. As soon as they took shape, they exchanged positions, radiating intensely dangerous fluctuations outward in dense waves.
Yun Tianxin frowned, quietly drawing a battle flag from her left hand, which wasn’t holding her sword.
The flag shimmered in smoky azure, larger than the one Chen Qi held. Intricate lines of spiritual energy wove across it, embedded with several runes—one glowing golden.
“Heavenly Cloud Concealment Formation—Cloud Veil!”
“Three Suns Fist—Three Suns in Harmony!”
Almost simultaneously, the two voices rang out. Three small sun-like spiritual energy spheres were engulfed by the surrounding condensed clouds. A blinding light burst abruptly on the barren mountaintop, draining all color from the vicinity.
...
At the swamp’s poisonous marsh exit.
Two disheveled figures emerged from the mire, disturbing the otherwise quiet mudpool.
Chen Qi lifted his head, struggling to pull himself free, his face etched with lingering terror.
Just a fraction more, and the punch would have struck him. Any later, and perhaps the swamp would have claimed two corpses forever.
Precisely two.
The danger not yet past and no time for reminiscence, Chen Qi forcefully dragged Sun Ruohai to the shore, taking a deep, harsh breath.
“Got any medicine?”
Chen Qi’s hoarse voice broke the silence. Sun Ruohai hurriedly produced a porcelain bottle from his bosom, pouring out two pill-sized elixirs, one for each.
The pills shimmered with vibrant colors unique to the cloud region, with faint purple glimmers in Chen Qi’s vision, marking their purple-grade quality.
Without hesitation or examining their properties further, Chen Qi swallowed his immediately.
A clear stream surged within his battered body; unlike previous pills, it seemed to persist inside him.
His sunken chest gradually restored as the medicinal power soothed the wound with a subtle relief.
“Let’s go! That guy will come sooner or later.”
After savoring the moment briefly, Chen Qi urged, and as they prepared to move, a towering beam of light shot straight into the sky from the mountaintop.
The pillar stretched tens of meters upward, showing no sign of dissipating. Even the thick fog could not obscure its formidable presence from anyone within the mountain.
“Will Senior Sister Yun win?”
Sun Ruohai’s youthful heart could not help but ask.
Meeting the hopeful gaze, Chen Qi, without rational analysis, simply nodded slightly and pulled Sun Ruohai onward as they stepped once more into the poisonous swamp.
Of course, Chen Qi had changed direction; he did not want to encounter Zhao Fan returning, risking his precious life wasted.
As for the destination, his mind had already settled on a plan—he would give Zhao Fan a surprise or, failing that, kill the blue-furred large dog.
Otherwise, in these towering mountains, even if he escaped momentarily, how could he hope to return to the Yunhai Sect?
...
Within the poisonous marsh, Zhao Fan stepped lightly through the mud, senses sharp, searching for his target.
He had also seen the exaggerated beam atop the mountain, but his mood was far from as optimistic as Chen Qi’s party might imagine.
As the true disciple of Yun Shan Hou, he had evaluated his master’s power several times.
Judging by the beam’s strength, even if Yun Shan Hou had not gone all out, he must be using at least eighty percent of his power.
No, Zhao Fan quickly dismissed that conclusion.
Knowing Yun Shan Hou’s cunning nature, the old strategist would appear calm and composed outwardly, but behind the scenes, he would be exerting his full effort.
Likewise, Yun Shan Hou’s mood must be grim; failure in the mission he personally assigned would mean a dire fate.
Thinking of this and recalling the grim ends of those who failed, Zhao Fan shuddered involuntarily, his right hand shifting slightly to the blue-furred dog, gently brushing its body with the pale yellow true energy. The unconscious dog began to awaken.
Though Zhao Fan knew such a method would severely damage the dog’s vitality, possibly leaving irreparable hidden injuries, he had no choice.
This was his destined path—perhaps even his fate.
The blue-furred dog stirred in Zhao Fan’s arms, its strange eyes struggling to open.
It seemed to quickly comprehend the situation and summoned all its strength to activate the light at its brow once more.
After a few breaths, the dog weakly raised its head and pointed a direction into the air.
Having cooperated many times before, Zhao Fan did not hesitate. After gently stroking the dog’s head, he stepped forward several paces, his figure moving so swiftly it left faint afterimages.
...
To hasten their pace, Zhao Fan spent most of the time gliding through the air, occasionally touching down on the swamp to spring forward.
Each leap carried him over ten meters.
With equally skilled lightness techniques and as a naturally gifted expert honed through hardship, he remained confident of catching the target again before losing his breath.
Of course, inhaling a bit of poisonous miasma was no great harm to someone who could already survey his own body internally.
...
Elsewhere in the swamp, Chen Qi stopped, eyes deep and fixed on the ground.
There lay a large treasure chest, identical to the first time he had seen it, except the crimson runes sealing it had changed.
Originally six runes glowed; now three had dimmed, leaving only three faintly shining, as if barely containing the treasures within.
Suppressing his excitement and anxiety, Chen Qi crouched, pressing his palm on the chest.
As expected, the ‘Sprout Space’ repeated the previously issued mission, though with slight differences in progress.
[Trigger Beheading Mission: Lord of the Swamp]
Mission Summary:
Kill Longsnout Crocodile 0/1
Kill Hundred-Eyed Phantom Demon 1/2
Kill Black Marsh Python 1/1
Kill Red-Eyed Poison Toad 1/2
Mission Reward: Exclusive Beheading Treasure Chest (Black Poison Swamp)
...
Rereading the prompt, Chen Qi pondered deeply:
“The plan to pit tiger against wolf is almost complete; only one step remains—how to make those fierce beasts confront that pursuing youth first?”
Seeing no immediate clue, Chen Qi lifted his gaze, carefully scanning the seemingly quiet and safe hundred-meter radius of the poisonous swamp, as if confirming another thought.
“The beheading mission triggered again—those beasts can’t be far, likely rushing here with all their might?”
Behind him, Sun Ruohai was surprised by Chen Qi’s sudden halt. His delicate brows arched high as he gently tapped Chen Qi’s shoulder, interrupting his plotting.
“This idiot!”
Chen Qi fumed, stamping his left foot into the swamp.
An instant later, a small pit appeared with a muffled “plop,” breaking the swamp’s silence.