stjorthotic Chapter 112 Hidden Currents Lurk in the Middle Level of the Secret Realm
Chapter 112 Hidden Currents Lurk in the Middle Level of the Secret Realm
As the last rays of the setting sun slid down from the treetops, the valley suddenly dimmed. It wasn't darkness, but rather the dense foliage of the ancient trees that blocked out the remaining light. Shadows seeped from beneath the tree roots, like water, slowly engulfing the entire mountain path.
The five men didn't stop. Qin Hao and his henchmen were tied up on one side of the valley, a dozen or so people crammed together like a pile of unwanted cargo. Leng Feng picked two trustworthy men from his old military subordinates to stay and guard them, while the rest followed Lin Chen forward.
Su Muyue walked in the middle of the group, holding a formation flag in her hand. Every few steps, she would flick a rune behind her. The silver patterns landed on the path they had walked, flashed twice, and then disappeared into the soil and fallen leaves, as if nothing had happened. But if anyone followed their aura, these runes would act like a bewitching spell, leading their senses in the completely opposite direction.
"I've taken everything from the cave." She put away the array flags, glanced back at the valley entrance that had disappeared into the twilight, and said, "I've made copies of all the arrays, cultivation techniques, and pill formulas that I could. There are no more opportunities left here, so it's not advisable to stay any longer."
Chu Fan walked behind Su Muyue, holding the well-worn map in his hand. His fingers moved slowly along a winding line on the map, pausing occasionally to lightly pinch a spot with his fingernail, as if measuring a distance.
"The middle level of the secret realm is a buffer zone for the core of the trial." His voice wasn't loud, but it could be heard clearly in the quiet forest. "It's also the area where the evil race has the most dense presence."
He tilted the map towards Lin Chen, pointing to an area marked with dense contour lines.
"This area is inhabited by fourth-tier social beasts and ancient restrictions, making it the place with the highest casualties in every trial. Half of the school's top teams gather in this area to compete for resources and engage in fierce battles and ambushes—this is the obvious danger."
He paused, then put the map away and tucked it into his pocket.
"In the shadows, there are infiltrating cultivators from the evil race. After the Black Wind Ridge stronghold was destroyed, the remaining evil followers all retreated into the middle level of the secret realm. They relied on the remaining array patterns of the ancient restrictions to conceal their auras, specifically hunting down newcomers with special physiques and core cultivation techniques. Your Star Martial Core and Mu Yue's Martial Emperor bloodline are their primary targets."
Leng Feng walked at the front, his back slightly hunched, each step light and deliberate. His battle sword was already drawn, the blade held horizontally in front of him, tip pointing forward, ready to strike at any moment. The wounds on his shoulder and back had scabbed over; the medicine had worked well. The newly grown flesh beneath the skin was still a little itchy, but it didn't affect his strength.
"The terrain in the middle layer is complex." He lowered his voice, as if afraid of disturbing something. "Caves, dense forests, and fault canyons intertwine, and there are places to hide everywhere. I will lead the way from now on, and you follow closely, keeping a distance of five steps. When I stop, you stop; when I walk, you walk."
Su Ling'er took out several jade bottles from her medicine chest, categorized them, and placed them on her lap, counting them one by one. The Cleansing Pills were running low; three had been used at the cave entrance, leaving her supplies critically low. The Healing Pills were sufficient, more than enough for one bottle per person. The Barrier-Breaking Pills were newly refined, specifically targeting the corrosive effects of evil poisons; she didn't know how effective they would be, but she had added double the amount of Ice Soul Orchid powder, so they should be fine. She put the bottles back in the medicine chest, patted the lid, and stood up.
"Leave the matter of evil poisoning to me. Whether it's being bitten by a ferocious beast or being corrupted by evil energy, I can cure it. Everyone, feel free to speak up, don't try to tough it out."