Zhang Yan sat cross-legged on a lonely cliff. In front of him floated a Dharma treasure that emitted a green glow. He spat out streams of Spiritual Qi from his mouth and nose, which wrapped around the treasure as it floated in the air. From time to time, he would make hand seals, but his movements were getting faster and faster. There was even a rumbling sound. It was obvious that he had reached a critical moment in refining a certain Dharma treasure.
Mu Hongchen sat on a rock not far away. Behind her sat a girl who looked to be about 15 or 16 years old. She rested her chin on her hands and looked at Zhang Yan curiously. Her forearm was exposed, and there were dozens of intricate silver rings on it. She wore a pair of fox-skin boots. Although her skin was slightly tanned, she looked very cute. []
Footsteps could be heard. A girl in a purple dress and holding a jade flute walked over. She looked up and complained, "Eldest Senior Sister, how much longer do we have to wait for that Fellow Zhang? Are we still going to look for the Devil's Treasury? "
As early as three days ago, they had already arrived here. However, when Zhang Yan came to fulfill his promise, he suddenly felt that the jade pendant that he had refined daily was vibrating gently. That strand of True Consciousness actually took the initiative to call out to him. He immediately knew that the time to completely refine this treasure had arrived. If he missed this opportunity, who knew when he would have to wait for another long time? Therefore, he did not delay any further. He only greeted Mu Hongchen and chose a place to sit down and refine.
The three disciples of the Agarwood Sect could not leave because of their pride. It was as if they were his guards. No wonder the girl in purple was unhappy.
Unexpectedly, Mu Hongchen, who was usually impatient, did not respond to her complaints. Instead, she comforted her. "We have already waited for three days. Are you afraid of waiting for a few more days? Even Junior Sister Hu can endure it. Why are you so anxious, Junior Sister Qi? "
The girl in purple pouted but did not dare to say anything else.
After another two hours, Mu Hongchen suddenly heard a clear whistle. She could not help but look over.
Zhang Yan's expression was solemn. His hands moved non-stop as he continuously sent out dozens of spells. The magic treasure hovering in front of him spun faster and faster. In the end, the jade token shook and turned into a white light that flew into his forehead.
Zhang Yan laughed heartily when he sensed the admiration from the jade token. He stood up in high spirits and floated down from the cliff. He cupped his hands towards Mu Hongchen and said, "Sorry to keep you waiting, Brother Mu."
Mu Hongchen hurriedly returned the greeting and said, "Not at all. Congratulations on obtaining a Dharma treasure. May I know the origin of this treasure?"
Zhang Yan smiled and said nothing.
Mu Hongchen knew that Zhang Yan didn't want to expose her, so she didn't ask anymore. She shouted, "Junior Sisters, why aren't you coming over to greet Fellow Daoist Zhang?"
"Qi Yelan greets you, Fellow Daoist Zhang." Her expression was cold, and it was obvious that she still had a knot in her heart about Zhang Yan making them wait for a few more days.
"Aiya, we can go now." The dark-skinned girl leaped down from the rock and came forward to greet him, but her movements were awkward. In the end, she giggled and ran away.
Mu Hongchen shook her head helplessly and said, "Junior Sister Hu Jue is from the Ruke Clan and doesn't practice etiquette. Please don't blame her, Fellow Daoist Zhang."
Zhang Yan smiled and said, "Thank you for waiting for so many days. I should be the one saying that."
Mu Hongchen chuckled under her veil. She turned her body and pointed at a gap in the mountain wall in front of her. She said, "Look, Fellow Daoist. This is the entrance to the Styx."
Zhang Yan turned his head and saw that the gap was shaped like a weird mouth. Filthy and thick black water could be seen seeping out from it. It looked like a bleeding wound and emitted a sorrowful and inexplicable aura. He knew that what Mu Hongchen said was true.
Mu Hongchen hesitated for a while and walked two steps towards Zhang Yan. She handed over a small bottle in her hand and said softly, "This is what I can give you."
Zhang Yan took it calmly and opened it in front of Mu Hongchen. He sniffed it carefully and confirmed that it was a bright stone.
After confirming that there was no mistake, he waved his hand and kept it. Then, he nodded at her.
Mu Hongchen made up her mind and said, "This Styx is hidden deep in the earth veins, and there is a lot of dark and gloomy aura coming from it. This aura is divided into nine levels, and each level is more powerful than the one before. Master has been there many times when he was alive, and he concluded that the Styx Devil Trove should be between the fifth and sixth level. Although Master has already explored the first four levels, we will need the help of the Ganoderma Fruit if we want to go deeper."
Zhang Yan smiled and replied, "Of course."
Mu Hongchen heaved a sigh of relief and called out, "Zhang Yan and my two junior sisters, please follow me."
She took a few steps forward, stood up and leaped, turning into a red ray and darted into the mountain crevice. The dark and gloomy air was murky and it was buried deep in the mountain wall, a place where there was no daylight. Not to mention the complexity of the path, even a cultivator's vision could only see within seven to eight feet. Naturally, they could not fall too far behind, it was very easy to get lost. Therefore, Zhang Yan and the two young girls followed swiftly on their flying lights.
The dark and gloomy aura was formed by the various impurities that were forced out from the Styx. The first level was the Li Chen's filthy aura. If an ordinary person breathed in it, their limbs would become numb and they would faint on the spot. However, it was nothing to cultivators.
Mu Hongchen had been to this place more than twenty times, so she was familiar with the path. She turned left and right in the mountain crack, and they traveled more than ten miles in a flash. The three people behind her followed closely behind, and they did not fall behind at all.
After passing through another bend, the road ahead suddenly widened. They had already reached the second level.
This level of gloomy aura was called the Yin Turbid Aura. Although it was stronger than the first level of gloomy aura, the four of them ignored it, and they passed through it easily in less than an hour.
However, from the third level onwards, it was not so simple. This level was called the Gully Filthy Aura. If one stayed here for too long, even a cultivator would feel short of breath, and the spiritual energy around their body would not circulate smoothly.
There were many paths here, and it was not easy to find the entrance to the next level. Although Mu Hongchen was like an old horse that knew the way, and her speed was getting faster and faster, it was because she had spent a few years to find the way. If someone came here for the first time without a guide, they would definitely not be able to reach this level in one go.
They walked very quickly on this level, and they arrived at the fourth level in less than a moment. The gloomy aura here was called the Rootless Filthy Aura. If an ordinary cultivator breathed in a little bit of it, they would feel dizzy, and their limbs would become numb. The spiritual energy in their body would slowly leak out, and they would die here if they were not careful.
Therefore, when they arrived at this level, they were not as relaxed as before. They all released their mystic light to protect themselves, and the difference between them could be seen now.
The red glow on Mu Hongchen's body was blazing, and he was like a rising sun that opened the path in front of him. The gloomy aura dissipated when it was swept away.
Qi Yelan's mystic light was like a faint purple flower, and when it was released, a strange fragrance assailed their noses. She carefully forced the gloomy aura away, and did not want to let a single bit of it in.
Hu Jue's mystic light was like countless long whips, and the gloomy aura was stirred up in all directions. Although it seemed to be very powerful, her cultivation was far from the two senior sisters in front of her.
Qi Yelan looked at Mu Hongchen, who passed through the ravines and streams in front of her, and could not help but feel envious. She thought to herself, Big senior sister's cultivation is getting better and better. It's a pity that this Agarwood Mystic Art can only be cultivated by the Sect Leader's eldest disciple. However, after obtaining the Devil's Trove, I'm sure I'll be able to learn an even better technique.
She secretly turned around to look at Zhang Yan, and saw that he was wrapped in a blue gloomy cloud. Although he looked relaxed, he was too inconspicuous compared to the dazzling and fragrant mystic light on their bodies. She thought to herself, I was wondering what's so different about Qincang School, but it turns out that it's just so-so.
At this moment, Mu Hongchen said in a deep voice, "The fifth level, the Death Aura, is in front of us. Everyone, be careful."
Qi Yelan's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly gathered her thoughts and circulated the mystic light on her body with all her might.
The Death Aura was not like the gloomy aura of the first four levels. This aura could block the seven orifices and block the yin and yang energy. Once one was tainted by it, one would be like maggots in one's bones, unable to see, hear or smell anything. If a cultivator with clear energy were to come here, he would die in an instant if he did not have any treasures to protect himself.
Mu Hongchen, who was in front of them, shouted and shook off some of the Death Aura. She raised her wrist and took out a delicate and unique oil lamp.
As soon as the lamp appeared, it dispelled a lot of the Death Aura that was like black silk. The yin haze within a hundred feet was gone, and the walls could be seen clearly.
Mu Hongchen waved the lamp, and a circle of colorful light was released.
"This lamp is called the Heart Protection Lamp. It was refined by my teacher when he was still alive. It can break through the darkness and is not afraid of evil. The lamp oil can burn for three days and three nights, so you can speak without worry. However, there are many yin demons on the fifth level. Fellow Daoist Zhang, my two junior sisters, you must be careful."
Zhang Yan smiled and waved his sleeves. He threw a bottle of elixir to each of the three women and said, "This is the Calming Elixir, it can help you to resist the demons."
Mu Hongchen took the bottle of elixir. She did not understand what it was for at first, but after hearing it, she could not help but be overjoyed. She immediately cupped her hands like a man and said, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Zhang!"
She thought to herself, I've really invited the right person this time. This Calming Elixir can be used to resist the demons in one's heart. With this item in hand, I don't need to worry about anything else. Even if there are demons blocking the way, I can still unleash my full strength. This Calming Elixir is really rare. With this elixir, I won't have to worry about going berserk during cultivation. Ordinary cultivators would not even be willing to take one out. I didn't expect Fellow Daoist Zhang to give me three bottles. He's indeed a disciple of a big sect.
These bottles of Calming Elixir were not specially prepared by Zhang Yan. They were leftovers from his previous trip to the Demon Sect.
To him, a mere demon was not worth his attention. If it was a more powerful demon, these Calming Elixir would not be of much use. Hence, he took it out as a favor.
At this point, Mu Hongchen did not continue forward. Instead, she took out the Heart Protection Lamp and shone it around, as if she was looking for something. Not long after, she pointed at a mark on the wall and said, "This is the place. Previously, I saw the Devil Treasury floating in the Spirit Qi here." She turned around and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, please release the Ganoderma Horse and search for the location of the Devil Treasury."
At the same time, at the entrance of the River Styx, two figures flashed over. They were Ni Qianying and the girl in pink.
Ni Qianying looked down and said solemnly, "Jiaojiao, you stay here and stand guard. I need to go down. If I can snatch the Devil's Treasury before that lass Hong Chen, it will be a success."
The girl in pink was a little worried and said, "Uncle-Master, after you leave, there will be no one guarding the Agarwood Hall. What if a powerful enemy attacks?"
Ni Qianying snorted and said, "The Agarwood Hall has been peaceful for a hundred years. Who would be interested in such a desolate place? Besides, how can that little family business compare to the ancient demon treasury? After I seize the Devil's Treasury, if that lass, Hong Chen, is willing to obediently hand over the position of Substitute Sect Leader, then I'll let her go. If she refuses, then I'll kill her here! "
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