Chapter 109 The Death Deser

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As Xiao Chen's voice faded, seven strange radiances emitted from the sky. Each was over 30 meters long. They intertwined rapidly and merged into a gigantic half-illusionary, half-substantial sword.

The gigantic sword was dazzling, lighting up the entire forest like daylight. It immediately eclipsed the brilliance of the Seven Star Sword Formation at the opposite end. As he mouthed the word "Cleave!", the gigantic sword seemed to cleave the heavens apart. The sword cleaved down to the ground. Before its Sword Qi had arrived, huge crumbs of earth flew away thanks to the shattering force.

True Energy surged all around. Even space seemed to have been sundered. The seven cultivators were terrified. It was a power in the Core Forming Realm!

With a huge boom, the earth was severed, revealing a 100-meter long ravine. The entire mountain shuddered. Rolls of thunder boomed into the distance. All that was left of the seven cultivators was a mist of blood.

Luo Shangyan was flabbergasted. Her voice quavered. "Have you broken into the Core Forming Realm?"

Xiao Chen shook his head. The force from his body gradually dissipated away. He had finally refined the two Spiritual Meridians, but had only reached Lv 3 Foundation Building Realm. He could execute the power of a Core Forming Realm Cultivator only thanks to his Mystic Cyan Cultivation Method. Every disciple from the Mystic Cyan Sect could release immense amount of energy in a short period when they hit a new level. However, this was only temporary; their powers would soon return to normal.

Right now, Xiao Chen was at Lv 3 Foundation Building Realm. He no longer feared ordinary Foundation Building Realm Cultivators. However, since Ling Yuxuan had crumbled the jade note, those old devils from the Ling Family would soon arrive. He tugged Luo Shangyan along. "Let's go."

The two of them dashed forward. Luo Shangyan had sustained a few injuries after battling the three cultivators. Xiao Chen discovered to his surprise that her wounds could heal as quickly as his observation. Soon, not even a scar could be seen.

His healing speed was already quite fast. The speed with which Luo Shangyan's wounds healed was even faster. It seemed that she had a very special constitution.

After dashing for 15 minutes, Xiao Chen faintly discerned a nearby pool ahead. Without a word, he pulled Luo Shangyan into the water. He was not so panicky that he had jumped in without thinking. To escape those bastards, they must hide their body auras with mud water.

They soaked themselves in the mud water before getting out of the pool. They continued to flee. No hunting eagle went after them. By midnight, after traversing a few mountains, the mud on their bodies had dried. Yet they still shivered in the mountain forest.

The danger had not gone. They caught their breaths and continued to run until the sky turned blue. Quite unconsciously, they had run for a whole night. They did not know where they were right now. Both of them were exhausted and weak. Their eyelids seemed as heavy as lead. They only wanted a place to sleep for the night, be it the Ling Family or the Zhou State. Come what may, they did not want to run anymore.

With these thoughts in their minds, they discovered a cliff on what seemed to be a soft meadow. They snuggled up against each other, drifting into their dreams.

When they awoke, it was already late morning. The sun was sky high. They had come to a lush Emerald Valley. There were numerous lakes all around, stretching into the horizon like emerald ambers studded on a meadow.

There were many fruit trees on the meadow, laden with bright red and purple fruits. Under these trees, strange and rare flowers and plants girded. Butterflies fluttered gracefully amid the grass and flowers. All sorts of birds were chirping on the trees. They did not expect to end up in this earthly paradise after a night's running.

Suddenly, there were strange vocalizations. Seven or eight deer were standing nearby, together with numerous white hares and hedgehogs. They all watched the two quietly, their eyes unblinking. They were not afraid of human beings.

Gradually, more and more deer and white hares converged from everywhere. They seemed to be observing something amusing, staring at these two humans caked in mud.

They eyed each other, both caked in mud, and started to laugh. After a night's running, they felt a soothing relief in this earthly paradise, breathing in its refreshing, flowery scents.

Luo Shangyan was by nature a beauty. Although caked in mud with disheveled hair, she still possessed a prepossessing allure. Xiao Chen was quite different. His face was mud-spattered and his hair totally unkempt. It was furthermore adorned with dried leaves and twigs. He looked like a handsome beggar.

"Alright, don't look. Let's wash up first." Luo Shangyan smiled lightly.

The two came to a small, emerald-green lake. A thin mist hovered above the water. When they had washed away all the mud on their faces, Luo Shangyan began to blush. "Why? You hate to leave this place and want to stay? What are you looking at?"

"Er... " Xiao Chen came to himself and moved behind a big tree. After a while, deer and white hares began to congregate around him, staring with some interest at this "uninvited guest."

However, the hedgehogs stayed by the lake, staring at Luo Shangyan with unblinking eyes. Luo Shangyan did not bother herself with these animals. She took off her clothes and went into the lake. The lake was not deep, reaching only to her chest.

The lake rippled. Luo Shangyan rinsed the mud off her hair and body and came ashore to wash her clothes as well. She dried her wet clothing with her True Qi. Then, she strode to Xiao Chen after putting her clothes back on.

"I'm done!"

Xiao Chen turned around and saw her cheeks slightly flushed. Although she was wearing his oversized clothes, they did not hide her allure. He smiled gently and walked over to the lake to take a bath.

After he returned to the tree, he saw her teasing a few deer and white hares. These small animals really communicated well with humans and were not shocked by their presence. Xiao Chen smiled lightly and suddenly recalled Emerald Valley, where he had first met Xian'er.

Of course, he could not roast these small animals and eat them. He grabbed a few fruits from a tree branch.

He had broken into the Foundation Building Realm and had mastered the Seizing Method to perfection. He could seize an item in a 10-meter radius with his willpower alone. He could even capture a living person from a distance, if that person's cultivation did not exceed his by much.

As his cultivation skills became more adept, he could execute more magic powers. The Mystic Cyan Sect used to be the foremost sect in the Immortal's Practice. Its arts were wondrously profound. He had committed many of its arts to his memory. If he could improve his cultivation, he would be able to execute them fluently.

After eating the fruits, their spirits recovered. They stared all around them and could not see the land's end. Although the scenery was breathtaking, they must still quickly leave. Those Qing Family pursuers were not here yet but they might soon discover this place.

Luo Shangyan waved at the small animals and smiled gently. "Little deer, little hares, I will come back next time and then we will play!"

They re-orientated themselves and went forward. The small animals were still reluctant to part, following them for a long stretch. Finally, when they realized that the two humans were really leaving, they saw them off by sight.

The valley was vast. They only left it after nearly three hours. Xiao Chen took out the map from the Divine Vessel and laid it flat on the ground. He roughly located where they were and they continued to walk for an hour, guided by the map. However, they discovered that the surrounding Spiritual Qi had gradually turned thin as they proceeded.

Not only had everything turned desolate, the earth had turned into yellow sands. After a while, the mountains and rivers had completely disappeared into a boundless desert. Dried bones seemed to emerge from the sands. They stared at each other. "The Spiritual Qi in Violet Manor ought to be richer than in the Human World and not so thin."

Although it was noon, they were no longer in the quiet valley bearing the scent of flowers and the sounds of chirping birds. Under the blazing sun, the yellow sands became like scorching fire rocks. The two of them were drenched in sweat. They had not prepared any water from the valley. If they could not get out of this desert, they would be the first cultivators to die from thirst.

Xiao Chen's lips were faintly cracking. Their map had not marked out this desert. He wondered if they should take another route. But the desert was very windy and their trails had already been covered. If they headed back now and lost their way, the consequences would be dire.

Just as he was still hesitating, the distinct sounds of bells rang out in a distance. Xiao Chen cast his sight far out and discovered nearly 30 people emerging out of a dune. Those heading this caravan were leading a few camels. They were jubilant. "It's a camel caravan! Senior Sister Luo, let's head over there quickly!" He pulled Luo Shangyan and they raced toward the dune.

Only when they came close did Xiao Chen realize that they were no traders, but martial artists. They had also discovered them. The one in front waved. "Young man, come quickly over here!"

Seeing that they were not bad people with evil intents, Xiao Chen walked over with Luo Shangyan. He cupped his fists at them. "I am Xiao Chen. This is my wife." He pointed at Luo Shangyan.

The one in front was a burly man with bristly beard all over his chin. He seemed like a wicked man from the martial arts world, but his face looked quite amiable when Xiao Chen approached him. He heard him guffaw twice. "Brother Xiao, you certainly have guts, bringing your wife to this death desert!" He unfastened a water bottle on the camel and flung it over.

Xiao Chen caught the water bottle and smiled lightly. "Thank you, elder brother. How should I address you?" The burly man clapped his hairy chest. "I am Hu Han. Just call me Brother if you don't despise me." Then, he pointed at nearly 30 men behind him. "These are all my brothers."

Xiao Chen cupped his fists slightly at them. "So it is Brother Hu." He handed the water bottle to Luo Shangyan beside him. He thought that these men must belong to the same gang, quite different from Cultivators' sects. These men all resembled to a certain degree fighters who wandered around the martial arts world.

The company resumed their journey, gazing out at the boundless desert. Xiao Chen asked, "Where are you going, Brother Hu?"

Hu Han laughed. "To Wuwang Wind Cloud City, of course. I heard that there is an Ancient Immortal Clan ruin there. Although we are not from Cultivators' sects, it's good to join in the fun. Maybe we can pick up a couple of treasures missed by the others."

Xiao Chen nodded. He thought to himself that he had planned to go there earlier too. Well, they could go with this caravan. Hu Han asked, "Where you are going, Brother Xiao?"

"My wife and I are traveling around sightseeing. Perhaps we can follow you to the Ancient Immortal Clan ruin!"

Hu Han chuckled. "Very well. But lately, many cultivators have left for that place. You have a beautiful wife. You'd better be careful!"

Xiao Chen remembered the time when Ling Yuxuan harbored evil intentions on Senior Sister Luo. If those Cultivators were all flocking to the ruin, it would not be a friendly place. He gazed over to Luo Shangyan and saw her cheeks burn like two smouldering clouds. He laughed lightly and said to Hu Han, "Thank you for the reminder, Brother Hu."