Chapter 57 – Exposing one’s location
Translated by: Pumpkin
Edited by: Fumma, Earl
From the conversation between the yellow gowned cultivator and that purple gowned old daoist, the location where the people of the Iron Policy had gone to hunt for the Mind Devouring Beast ought to be the Cyan Wind Mound.
Although the Cyan Wind Mound sounded like an ordinary place, Wei Suo’s heart trembled upon thinking about it.
The Spirit Peak City was located at the edge of the Heavenly Profound Continent’s southern section’s Heaven Dome Wall. Furthermore, the Spirit Peak City was built facing the north towards the mountain. The Cyan Wind Mound was located three thousand miles to the south of Spirit Peak City. Thus, it was already at the edge of the Heaven Dome Wall.
Thus, if the high level cultivators of the Spirit Peak City wished to take the closest route out to the Heaven Dome Wall and experience the high level demonic beasts, they would be able to do so just by proceeding for the Cyan Wind Mound. However, the high level cultivators of the Spirit Peak City would generally make a roundabout method by going through the southeastern region of the Spirit Peak City if they wished to go out of the Heaven Dome Wall to gather materials or Demon Pellets. The southeastern region was a place abundant with Black Chicken Trees, the Black Chicken Mountain.
The closer a place was with the Heaven Dome Wall, the more demonic beasts there would be. Although many high level demonic beasts were unable to pass through the Heaven Dome Wall at all, many low level demonic beasts were able to pass through the Heaven Dome Wall. Other than being a place with a lot more demonic beasts than other places, the Cyan Wind Mound was a large eerie mound.
Perhaps that place was an area with great Feng Shui back in ancient times, the place contained many underground tombs of powerful individuals. When Wei Suo had previously reached the edge of the Heaven Dome Wall, he had also gone through the Black Chicken Mountain, a relatively safe route with majority of the demonic beasts killed over and over again by cultivators. He did not try to go through the Cyan Wind Mound. However, based on the rumors and records, Wei Suo was certain that the various underground tombs gathered at that region, when combined, possessed an area no smaller than that of Spirit Peak City.
In these tombs, there were also a kind of level three high-level demonic beast that was not found in other places, the Rotten Corpse Bug. This sort of demonic beast had an appearance like that of a black shelled beetle. However, many palm-sized tentacle-like ugly things grew on their bodies. This sort of demonic beast fed on the internal organs of rotten corpses. With merely this, it was already sufficient enough to cause people to feel like vomiting. However, after this sort of demonic beast ate all the internal organs of the rotten corpses, they were capable of attaching themselves to the insides of the rotten corpses, controlling and moving the corpse, turning the corpse into a shell. Furthermore, they would constantly secrete a kind of mucus-like substance on the body of the rotten corpse, causing the surface of the rotten corpse to be as tough and durable as the skins of demonic beasts.
Rotten Corpse Bugs that are active during the night were extremely abundant in the Black Wind Mound. If someone not knowing what was going on was to encounter the Rotten Corpse Bugs, they would think that they have encountered a group of zombies. The zombies were, however, all rotten corpses that were being controlled by Rotten Corpse Bugs.
Killing this sort of demonic beast was also extremely troublesome. That was because the majority of the Rotten Corpse Bugs hid themselves in the brains of their rotten corpse hosts. However, there were also a lot of characteristic Rotten Corpse Bugs who would decide to hide at other regions of their host. When such a characteristic Rotten Corpse Bug was encountered, one must hack the entire rotten corpse to bits before being able to defeat the Rotten Corpse Bug.
From the southern region of the Spirit Peak City to the Cyan Wind Mound, Wei Suo must go through two conveying arrays. First, he must go through the conveying array at Spirit Peak City that connected to the Wide Hill Ruins. After that, he must take the conveying array from the Wide Hill Ruins to the northern section of the Cyan Wind Mound.
While proceeding to the conveying array at the Spirit Peak City’s southern region, Wei Suo also left behind some information in the surrounding bulletin boards. He had directly wrote that there was someone planning to plot against the people of the Iron Policy at the Cyan Wind Mound. He also wrote about the Cyan Wind Mound possessing Spiritual Herbs and such.
As for whether this would cause the yellow gowned cultivator and them to not act because their scheme had been exposed or cause the other cultivators to go to the Cyan Wind Mound, as it was not even dawn yet, Wei Suo did not have any certainty in the outcome. To Wei Suo, the most secure method for him was to try his luck and see if he can discover the people of the Iron Policy after reaching the Cyan Wind Mound.
Following a flickering of white light, Wei Suo walked out from the Wide Hill Ruin’s conveying array.
Wide Hill Ruins used to be a strategic town built by cultivators. Later on, for some unknown reason, a herd of high level demonic beasts besieged the town. Although those high level demonic beasts ended up being killed by the strong cultivators from Spirit Peak City, Falling Moon City and the other surrounding cities, this place still ended up becoming a ruins. In the end, it became a hub for the Heaven’s First Sect’s conveying array.
Due to the fact that it was still nighttime, there were not many people in the Wide Hill Ruins. It was extremely cold and cheerless like a brothel with its top lady snatched away by its competitor.
“Wei Suo?”
Right when Wei Suo walked out from the conveying array that connected to the Spirit Peak City, light shined in a conveying array not far from the one he walked out from. Two people walked out from that conveying array. Upon seeing Wei Suo, these two people were also surprised. After that, they displayed joyous expressions. It turned out that the two people were Wei Suo’s acquaintance, the brother and sister, Ye Xiaozheng and Ye Guwei.
Wei Suo was also surprised. “Why would the two of you be here?”
“Brother Wei Suo!” The simple and honest big guy Ye Xiaozheng immediately gave Wei Suo a bear hug after walking toward him. As for the gentle and quiet Ye Guwei, her face grew slightly red. It appeared that she didn’t dare to walk forward to hug Wei Suo. “We have been entrusted to catch some owls and just happened to pass by. Originally, the two of us were planning to go to Spirit Peak City to see you. Never would I expect that we’d encounter you here instead. It’s already so late in the night, why are you over here?”
“Someone is planning to plot against the Iron Policy. Nangong Yuqing is with them.” Had it been someone else, Wei Suo would definitely not tell them about it. However, Ye Xiaozheng and Ye Guwei were people that he had experienced life and death with. They could be said to be the same as Nangong Yuqing, one of the few trustworthy people that he knew. Thus, after pulling Ye Xiaozheng and Ye Guwei a distance away from the conveying array, Wei Suo rapidly told them the conversation between the yellow gowned cultivator and the purple gowned old daoist that he heard in the northern city district’s market.
Upon hearing that, both Ye Xiaozheng and Ye Guwei’s expressions changed. “Brother Wei Suo, we have indeed not befriended you for nothing.” After exchanging glances with Ye Guwei, Ye Xiaozheng immediately said, “We shall go to the Cyan Wind Mound together with you.”
“It’s too dangerous for you all to go with me. How about this, you two go to the Spirit Peak City and assist me in spreading the news.” Wei Suo immediately shook his head. That was because Wei Suo was able to tell that Ye Xiaozheng and Ye Guwei were still only level three Divine Sea Stage. With the strength that they displayed last time, if they were faced with Heavenly Circuit Stage cultivators, the two of them would not be able to assist Wei Suo at all. Instead, they would only be a burden to him.
Ye Xiaozheng was truly honest. Once he heard what Wei Suo said, he immediately felt that Wei Suo was even more righteous. Moved, he said, “Since we also know about this matter, how could we possibly have Brother Wei go and risk his life by himself?”
Seeing Ye Xiaozheng’s expression, Wei Suo felt depressed. He can’t just flat out tell them that the two of them couldn’t help and would only be a burden. Thus, he ended up saying in an extremely serious manner. “Big Brother Ye, returning to Spirit Peak City and spreading this information is much more important than following me to the Cyan Wind Mound. That is because if the information is spread out, it might be possible for those people to discover that they have been exposed and stop their plot. I am merely going to inform those of the Iron Policy. It is not dangerous. Like this, all of us would be safe. This is much better than going with me and then end up being besieged by some Heavenly Circuit Stage cultivators…”
After hearing Wei Suo giving all sorts of justification for them to go to the Spirit Peak City, Ye Xiaozheng finally felt that what Wei Suo said was reasonable. He nodded and said, “Okay, we shall go to the Spirit Peak City and try to spread the news as much as we can.”
“You two must be careful. Make sure to not have others discover that it was the two of you that is spreading the news. I fear that if you were discovered, those Heavenly Circuit Stage cultivators might go and deal with you two.” Wei Suo added.
“Brother Wei Suo, take care!” Ye Xiaozheng once again gave Wei Suo a bear hug. “We do not have anything good on us. As for this Spirit Mist Pearl and Concealing Talisman that we obtained, I believe that they might be of use to you.”
“Spirit Mist Pearl? Concealing Talisman?” Seeing the two items Ye Xiaozheng and Ye Guwei took out, Wei Suo’s eyes opened wide.
Spirit Mist Pearl was an artifact crafted from the eyeballs of the White Night Fish. It could release thick fog and envelop a range of a thousand feet. It was a great item to block the line of sight of one’s opponent when escaping.
Concealing Talisman was capable of creating a light cover that distorts the light. This in turn gave the user an effect of concealing the user. The light cover could last for half an incense stick worth of time.
Spirit Mist Pearl was not a rarely seen item. However, a special usage technique talisman like the Concealing Talisman was a type of ancient talisman that had long since had its recipe gone extinct. It was something that people would only come by in the ruins or corpses of ancient cultivators.
“Take care!”
While they were parting, Wei Suo hugged the slightly red faced Ye Guwei. However, this time around, Wei Suo did not feel that he was being vulgar. After all, if he hadn’t even hugged girls a couple times and were to die this time around, then his luck would truly be bad.
“If I knew this was going to happen, I should’ve gone to the Willow Back Alley yesterday.”
At the moment when the light of the conveying array shined at the outskirts of the Cyan Wind Mound, Wei Suo howled in grief in his heart.
The scene before him was truly inhospitable and filled with dangers. At the conveying arrays of other places, there were at least buildings constructed around them. However, for this place, once Wei Suo walked out from the conveying array, he was immediately hit with a dangerous sensation. That was because this conveying array that wasn’t far from the Cyan Wind Mound was actually placed within the cracks in the middle of the mountain. Outside of the conveying array was a concealing formation array. As this conveying array was hidden in the mountain cracks and had a concealing formation array placed over it, it clearly showed that there were many demonic beasts in the surroundings and also might have powerful demonic beasts. Thus, it could only be hidden away. Even the person who was in charge of watching over this conveying array was a level five Divine Sea Stage disciple from the Heaven’s First Sect. Furthermore, this disciple was holding several Spiritual Stones on his hand and had an alert expression. It seemed that if the situation was to turn bad at any moment, he would immediately spend the Spiritual Stones and escape through the conveying array.
…
The Cyan Wind Mound appeared like an enormous tomb site. The place was covered with ash-black colored mountain rocks, muddy grounds and all kinds of grotesquely shaped trees. The aura of this place was extremely sinister. To the south side was an enormous marsh. Within that marsh floated some rotting branches and bones. This sort of place truly cannot be said in the same sentence as a treasured place with great Feng Shui.
Not long after Wei Suo’s figure disappeared into the mountain path that lead to the Cyan Wind Mound, seven to eight cultivators walked out from the conveying array within the mountain. They were led by the yellow gowned middle-aged cultivator and the purple gowned old daoist.
“According to the description given by the Heaven’s First Sect’s disciple, the person who exposed our plan ought to be that brat we encountered in the northern city district’s market!”
Right after walking out from the cracks within the mountain, the yellow gowned middle-aged cultivator immediately turned to the purple gowned old daoist and the others and said in an extremely cold manner. “Right now, it seems that we could only gamble! It should be impossible for that brat to discover the people from the Iron Policy right away. Fellow Zixiao, you, Brother Liu, and I would scatter to find that brat!”
“Brother Wen, you all are to pretend to be people from the Iron Policy. Say that the Iron Policy is surrounding a powerful demonic beast here and block this place off. Other than our people, allow no one else in!”
…
The sky far away had already began to grow slightly clear. To the south of the Cyan Wind Mound seemed to be an uncivilized wilderness that one cannot see the end off. However, within that place was a faintly discernable white colored light cover that connected the heaven and earth. The end of the light cover couldn’t be seen at all. It created an obvious separation between the uncivilized wilderness and the Cyan Wind Mound.
The sinister Cyan Wind Mound was still extremely dusky. At this moment, Wei Suo stopped before a pond with an ugly expression on his face.
The situation was extremely bad.
Due to the fact that he had never been to the Cyan Wind Mound before and also did not possess a map of the Cyan Wind Mound on him, he unavoidably became confused and disoriented upon entering the Cyan Wind Mound. He seemed to have gotten lost. It had been an hour now. However, Wei Suo still did not discover anyone from the Iron Policy at all.
In the past hour, Wei Suo had instilled True Elemental Energy into his Transmission Jade Talisman at least five or six times. However, other than them shining while he instilled his True Elemental Energy into them, the three Transmission Jade Talismans he had on him did not shine even once.
This meant that he likely had not even reached the three hundred miles range from Nangong Yuqing, the range for the Transmission Jade Talisman to work.
At this moment, dawn was approaching.
Not know that the yellow gowned middle-aged cultivator and them had already changed their plan, Wei Suo who had acted immediately felt that he must do something right now.
“Old man, how’s your True Elemental Energy? If you are capable, can you assist me once more?” Wei Suo who stopped beside the pond took out a couple Fireball Talismans. At the same time, he said to the green gowned old man.
“You ought to know how to use the Dark Demon Blade, right?” The green gowned old man coldly humphed. He seemed to know very well what Wei Suo was thinking. “Rest assured, no matter how much I use it, I would not die from that. Just make sure that if you’re able to survive this encounter, make sure to train harder and faster. It would all be fine as long as you do not allow me to perish before you reach the Golden Pellet Stage.”
Wei Suo nodded. He did not bother to say anything more. Instead, his gaze was directly fixed upon the other side of the pond.
On the other side of the small sized pond was a face-sized black toad. This black toad had been squatting there the entire time and bulging its yellow eyes ferociously. However, it seemed that this black toad was also afraid of Wei Suo and did not act for the time being.
“Boom!”
A blazing fireball was cast from Wei Suo’s hand. The fireball was shot toward this black toad. When it saw the incoming fireball, fear flashed through the eyes of this black toad. With a ‘puu’ sound, the toad sprayed forth a cyan colored water arrow. After some sizzling sound, the fireball had grown half a size smaller. However, it continued onward and smashed onto the black toad.
Without stopping at all, Wei Suo immediately cast another Fireball Talisman. It smashed onto the black toad that was howling in pain and trying to rush back into the pond. The fireball caused the black toad to roll over onto its stomach. No trace of life remained in the black toad at all.
Although he had killed this black toad, Wei Suo continued to cast a fireball directly above.
After standing there motionlessly for a while, the green gowned old man’s voice suddenly sounded in Wei Suo’s ears. “They’re here!”
Once this voice was heard, Wei Suo who was wearing the Wind Cloud Shoes immediately jumped into the sky and hid himself on top of a large tree. At the same time, he activated an ancient talisman. Following the flickering of a faintly discernible light, Wei Suo disappeared from the tree.