Feng Qingran initially didn’t want to get involved in the matters of Xiong Hu Ling (Bear Tiger Ridge).
However, after reviewing the documents delivered by Qing He Lou (Clear River Pavilion), she changed her mind.
Several major sects had been stationed at Xiong Hu Ling for a month.
They had also taken the initiative to invite aristocratic families into Xiong Hu Ling.
Among them was a family of not very high status, who were also invited in.
This family specialized in medicine and poisons.
This was very strange. After cultivators advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, most of the time they could achieve immunity to all poisons.
Moreover, the people from the four major sects who entered Xiong Hu Ling were all at the Soul Formation stage or above, and should not have been afraid of poison.
So why go to the extra trouble of inviting a small sect to share the benefits?
Furthermore, the Translation Bureau sent news that several Soul Formation cultivators who left Xiong Hu Ling had all fallen victim to a strange poison, suffering greatly, and could find no medicine to alleviate it.
A poison that even Soul Formation cultivators feared; no wonder the four major sects had to invite a family specializing in medicine and poisons.
Connecting all these clues, Feng Qingran deduced that the strange beast appearing in Xiong Hu Ling was likely highly venomous.
Feng Qingran also recalled some other memories.
In the original novel, Ning Shiyue had an extremely powerful strange beast by her side.
Any cultivator bitten by this beast would not only have their internal organs slowly rot, but their extraordinary meridians would also be destroyed.
During the poisoning process, the cultivator’s cultivation base would regress, and they would be in agonizing pain.
This poison had no antidote; one could only endure it. If they endured it, they would suffer for three years, and then die.
If they couldn’t endure, they could only choose to die on the spot.
Later, Ning Shiyue was killed by Su Yanran, and the strange beast fell into Su Yanran’s hands.
Su Yanran extracted the beast’s inner core and also acquired this ability of the beast.
That strange beast was said to have originated from Xiong Hu Ling.
A glint of light flashed in Feng Qingran’s almond-shaped eyes as she looked towards Ning Shiyue walking ahead.
Feng Qingran was still very curious about how the Ning Shiyue from her previous life had obtained that strange beast.
Coo coo coo! —
A sudden bird call made the four of them stop in their tracks.
Ning Shiyue looked around, “Little Junior Sister, something’s wrong. We’re being watched by something.”
Whoosh! —
Baili Wenyue, who was walking at the back, instantly drew his sword and rushed to the front.
“Fifth Senior Sister, what danger is there?” Baili Wenyue was extremely nervous.
“I don’t know, I just feel like we’re surrounded.” For once, Ning Shiyue didn’t retort against Baili Wenyue.
Feng Qingran looked up and noticed the surrounding fog was dissipating.
The area before them gradually turned lush and green, a place surrounded by ancient trees.
Only Mo Jinghong stood firm like a pine, making no move at all.
Baili Wenyue’s fox-like eyes turned cold, “I remember Xiong Hu Ling isn’t that big. We’ve been walking for almost half an hour, we should be at the deepest part by now. Why haven’t we met a single person?”
Ning Shiyue was silent, her eyes fixed on a certain direction.
Ning Shiyue felt that in that direction, there was something important waiting for her…
“Little Junior Sister, what direction is that?” Ning Shiyue turned her head, her voice like silver bells, with lingering echoes.
Feng Qingran pointed her compass towards the direction Ning Shiyue indicated.
Instantly, the compass needle began to spin rapidly.
Crack! —
The needle shattered.
“Fifth Senior Sister, something over there won’t let us use the compass.” Feng Qingran shrugged helplessly.
A glint of excitement flashed in Ning Shiyue’s eyes, “Little Junior Sister, let’s head in that direction. There must be treasure there.”
Ning Shiyue pulled Feng Qingran and stepped forward.
Baili Wenyue turned his head and saw the two suddenly change direction, so he followed suit.
But just then —
Rustle! —
From somewhere, a flock of golden birds flew out, blocking Baili Wenyue’s path.
They also blocked his line of sight.
Unable to see Ning Shiyue, Baili Wenyue became somewhat anxious.
Anything out of the ordinary must be sinister.
“Seventh Junior Brother, quick, help! Fifth Senior Sister and Little Junior Sister are in danger!” Baili Wenyue shouted towards Mo Jinghong beside him.
After shouting, Baili Wenyue started hacking at the birds.
Clang! —
His sword entered the flock but didn’t harm them in the slightest.
Baili Wenyue’s heart tightened; he became even more anxious.
Something that even a ninth-grade magic tool couldn’t harm was definitely not simple.
Baili Wenyue decided to switch to a higher-grade magic tool.
However, before Baili Wenyue could attack again, the flock of birds dispersed on their own.
Not one remained.
Baili Wenyue’s vision became clear, but ahead, the figures of Feng Qingran and Ning Shiyue were gone.
“They’ve fallen into a different space. Don’t worry.” Mo Jinghong’s cool, clear voice sounded.
——————
Ning Shiyue and Feng Qingran felt as if they had stepped on something.
In an instant, the scenery before them changed drastically.
Everything in sight was black, even the mountains were barren and bare.
“Little Junior Sister, hold your breath. The air is toxic.” Ning Shiyue’s eyes sparkled like bright stars, her face full of excitement.
Just as Feng Qingran was about to say something, voices came from not far away first.
A middle-aged man complained: “There’s nothing here, not even a hair. Why do we have to keep patrolling? I really don’t understand.”
Another person replied: “Ji Yuan, don’t say that. The sect is anxious, that’s why they have us keep a closer watch.”
“We’ve been in here for almost two months and haven’t even seen a shadow of the strange beast. We’ve already lost over a dozen Soul Formation cultivators. Is it really necessary to keep searching for this thing?”
“Shh! The Sect Leader has already invited a family specializing in antidotes. They’ll be back soon for sure. We just need to do our own jobs well!”
A flicker of disdain passed through Ji Yuan’s eyes, “Even the Sect Leader is afraid of this poison. Can that old man solve it? I seriously doubt it…”
