Chapter 142: 142
Chapter 142: The Mystical Beast that Hurts No Human
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
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The Nightwind passed through mountain ridges on the way, galloping on the craggy path between mountains . Ye Chen released his Astral Body to its fullest, surveying the road ahead .
In this path, there were mostly Third or Fourth Level mystical beasts . Even Eighth and Ninth Level Beasts were rare and those above the Eighth and Ninth Level would usually only appear deep in the ancient forests of mountains .
These places were rather different from the Sunken Jade Tower . The mystical beasts in the Sunken Jade Tower had gathered across a very vast region, so it was not strange that there were many mystical beasts above the Tenth Level . As for these places, it was usually not easy to find one Eighth or Ninth Level mystical beast, let alone a Tenth Level one .
Ye Chen ended up empty-handed for three consecutive days .
In the distance, the sky was gradually darkening . He had to find a place to stay as soon as he could . Otherwise, he would have to endure the wild outdoors for another night . Although Ye Chen was not afraid of the mystical beasts that would show up in the mountain forests, staying out in the wilderness each night would eventually become rather depressing .
Ye Chen’s Astral Body did a quick sweep . There was a little town a few miles ahead . He should be able to take shelter there .
“Little Tanuki, we’ll have somewhere to stay tonight . ” Ye Chen smiled as he stroked Little Tanuki’s tiny head .
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“Squeak squeak . ” Little Tanuki seemed to be very pleased .
Ye Chen spurred on the Nightwind and it raced forward on frantic hoofs .
As Ye Chen and his tanuki entered the small town, he noticed that the streets were wide . The shops on both sides were closed and they looked rather desolate . A gust of wind whipped past, stirring up a cloud of sand, and the old folks by the side of the road hastened on .
The scale of this town was huge . There were a few thousand houses . Based on the various stores and shops by the side, one could vaguely imagine how busy it had been in the past . However, for some unknown reason, everyone had left by now . Ye Chen used his Astral Body to survey the sky of the town and discovered that nine out of ten rooms were empty . The only remaining people were white-haired old folks .
Could it be due to the chaos of war?
Ye Chen let out a sigh . He heard his clan members talking about the constant chaos of war outside . From time to time, there would be rebellious mobs . The bleak state of this town was understandable .
“There’s an inn up ahead . ” Ye Chen was rather surprised . He did not think that he would come across an inn in this run-down town . What a rare find! After his Astral Body locked onto the location, Ye Chen suddenly noticed the energies of a few combatants in that place .
In this tiny inn, there were three Tenth Level fighters .
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One of them was mid-Tenth Level while the other two were beginner Tenth Level fighters . With Ye Chen’s strength, he had nothing to fear . Thus, with an easy heart, he urged on his horse toward that inn .
The inn was the tallest building in the town, with three floors in total . Although it was slightly shabby, naturally, it was much better than braving the wilderness for another night .
This inn did not even have a stable boy to look after horses . Ye Chen leaped off his horse and tied it to the stable, then walked into the inn .
“Sir, may I ask if you’re here for a meal or lodging?” An old fellow with grizzled hair and beard came forward . When he walked, his body would tremble slightly .
“Get me something to eat first . ” Ye Chen surveyed his surroundings . There were five tables in the lobby . To his left, there were three people at one table . These three each wore a gold sword, identical to the others, at their waist . Ye Chen’s heart leaped . He had seen this gold sword at the Sunken Jade Tower – they were from the Taiyi Sword Sect!
These three men were the three Tenth Level experts that Ye Chen had observed with his Astral Body earlier . They wore white robes and shared the same elegant manner . Nonetheless, the looks on their faces were not as honorable for their gazes constantly wandered to the other side of the room .
If one followed their gazes, one would notice the table in the rightmost corner . There was a young woman who looked to be around sixteen years old . She wore a white, gauzy dress, and her long, ink-black hair was twisted into delicate coils . She looked refined and composed, with most of her face obscured behind a silk scarf, revealing only her eyes and the bridge of her nose . Her eyes were as clear as water and her brows curved like willow leaves . Her features were incomparably exquisite . Although she was sitting down, one could roughly discern her graceful figure . She was pouring and drinking by herself . With each sip of wine, she would lift the edges of her scarf . Those three from the Taiyi Sword Sect were staring at her and without realizing it, their eyes glazed with infatuation .
Ye Chen had only glanced at the woman when his heart trembled suddenly . Although he could not see her full face, he could guarantee that, beneath that silk scarf, there was a face that could launch a thousand ships . Her features seemed to come from a drawing but there was a cold, subtle look in her eyes that reminded one of the autumn frosts . With a demeanor that seemed otherworldly, describing her as a fairy in a common setting would not be an exaggeration .
Though he had only cast a glance, Ye Chen ascertained that this woman’s cultivation base was not simple as she looked . Previously, when he used his Astral Body to observe the inn, he only noticed three Tenth Level experts but did not notice the woman’s presence . As he realized this, cold sweat began to flow down Ye Chen’s back .
Someone who could avoid being detected by Ye Chen’s Astral Body – who was this woman?
Ye Chen could sense that Little Tanuki was behaving strangely as well, as she burrowed into his lap in a whoosh .
That woman seemed somewhat curious about Ye Chen, flicking a glance at him . Ye Chen instantly felt his Astral Body shiver and almost froze . Fortunately, that woman did not seem to bear him any hostility . After a moment, she withdrew her gaze and continued drinking by herself .
Ye Chen heaved a sigh of relief . He circulated his Astral Body, allowing himself to return to normal .
“Sir, here’s your meal . ” That old innkeeper carried a few dishes and placed them on the table .
There was no waiter in this inn . Everything was done by the old innkeeper himself .
Ye Chen ate ravenously . He had just been frightened until his soul almost left his body . This woman was not human!
A human was unable to release such powerful spiritual energy with just one look . It must be some unknown Celestial Beast that had taken on a human form . It was said that a shapeshifted Celestial Beast, when it came to the human world, would not usually slaughter people wantonly . If Ye Chen did not provoke her, he should be fine because he did not sense any hostility from her . Conversely, it was the three Taiyi Sword Sect members who were doomed . They were merely Tenth Level fighters . If they were senseless to try anything with her, they would probably die without realizing how they died .
“Sir, we’re about to close down for the night . If you’re planning to leave, then do so quickly . Once it’s dark, you might lose your Nightwind,” the old innkeeper said carefully . He knew many people, and in one look, could tell that Ye Chen and the other four were cultivators .
“Why is that?” Ye Chen asked, feeling curious . Could there be robbers in this small town who would steal his Nightwind?
“It’s a long story . Our town was initially the most bustling around a hundred miles radius . In the past few years, for some reason, a vicious mystical beast had appeared from the nearby mountain . That mystical beast doesn’t hurt people but it devoured all livestock and fowl in town . Once, some cultivators came by but they were unable to chase the mystical beast away . Later, all the townspeople left, leaving only us old fellows who can’t bear to desert the place . Sir, if you don’t leave tonight, I’m afraid that Nightwind of yours will be devoured by the mystical beast,” the old innkeeper said, expressing his worries . In the past, when he explained this, many customers who came by horse were frightened away . Nonetheless, he could not help it and was rather honest .