Chapter 449: Master Xuankui, Ghost Mist Forest (Two-in-One)

Chapter 449: Master Xuankui, Ghost Mist Forest (Two-in-One)



Shentuping took the initiative to approach Chu Ning, which surprised him a little.

But when he opened his mouth, Chu Ning was even more astonished.

"Fellow Daoist Chu, are you interested in venturing into the Tianji Alliance's territory?"

As Chu Ning looked at him with a puzzled expression, Shentuping continued, "I have a loose cultivator friend who accidentally discovered an ancient cultivator's cave.

Because there are restrictions in place, we couldn't open it to search for treasures. My friend sent me a message, asking me to invite a few fellow Daoists to join him.

I heard that Fellow Daoist Chu is quite skilled in dispelling restrictions, and I would like to invite you to investigate this matter together."

Upon hearing this, Chu Ning didn't answer directly but fell into contemplation.

He had a good impression of Shentuping; this man was quite straightforward.

However, he didn't know Shentuping's loose cultivator friend, and they would be venturing into the Tianji Alliance's territory, which made Chu Ning somewhat hesitant.

Perhaps sensing Chu Ning's hesitation, Shentuping said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Chu, rest assured. My friend is from Longshanwu in the north and has no dealings with the Tianji Alliance.

Moreover, the ancient cultivator's cave that was discovered this time is not in the Tianji Mountains but in the Yunmeng Mountains."

Shentuping continued, "Those sects in the Yunmeng Mountains turned their backs on us and joined the Tianji Alliance.

But, in reality, the Tianji Alliance never paid much attention to them.

I heard that the Nascent Soul cultivators from those sects were all pulled to the front lines to face the Demon Alliance, and some of them even suffered casualties.

We won't encounter any direct conflict with the Tianji Alliance cultivators there.

If Fellow Daoist Chu agrees, I'll also invite Wu Changdong to join us. My friend also knows him."

When Chu Ning heard that Shentuping would invite Wu Changdong, he became even more interested.

Otherwise, with Shentuping's familiarity with the other party and Chu Ning going alone, it would indeed be quite risky.

As for Wu Changdong, the two of them had fought side by side, and Chu Ning trusted both his character and abilities.

However, Chu Ning still didn't agree immediately. Instead, he asked, "Fellow Daoist Shentu, who is this ancient cultivator that has caught your and Fellow Daoist Wu's attention?"

"Have you heard of Master Xuankui?" Shentuping asked.

"Master Xuankui?"

Chu Ning was slightly surprised to hear this name.

"Isn't he the late Nascent Soul cultivator renowned for his unmatched defensive abilities ten thousand years ago?"

Shentuping nodded, "Yes, that's him."

Upon hearing this, Chu Ning's expression turned slightly strange.

He had never heard of this late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator before.

But after the recent incidents involving the Extramundane Demons, he had heard some rumors.

This person was a famous loose cultivator ten thousand years ago, and while his abilities weren't particularly remarkable, his defensive capabilities were unparalleled.

It was said that even Nascent Soul cultivators of the same stage had only a fifty-fifty chance of defeating him.

No one could breach Master Xuankui's defenses.

Moreover, his lifespan far exceeded that of ordinary cultivators.

While his peers from that time had already passed away, Master Xuankui was still alive.

Ten thousand years ago, when the Extramundane Demons wreaked havoc, various forces from the Western Alliance Continent joined forces to resist them. Master Xuankui, as a loose cultivator, participated in this effort.

During the battle against the Extramundane Demons, he held off a powerful demon, and he didn't fall into a disadvantageous position.

In the end, after successfully driving away the Extramundane Demons, he also withdrew safely.

However, after that, he left his original cave and went into seclusion, and no one knew where he went or when he finally passed away.

Chu Ning never expected that Shentuping's friend would be able to find this person's cave.

"I won't hide it from you, Fellow Daoist Chu. With the occasional appearances of Extramundane Demons causing chaos, we are also worried that this world will descend into chaos once again. That's why we want to obtain more means to protect ourselves," Shentuping continued.

"I can promise you on behalf of my friend that if we can indeed enter that cave and obtain treasures, cultivation techniques, and spells, everyone will be able to study them.

If there are any treasures, they will be evenly divided among us."

Shentuping smiled and said to Chu Ning, "If we don't gain anything this time, we are also willing to offer our own treasures as compensation.

Fellow Daoist, you once asked me about the Cold Marrow Pearl, didn't you?

This pearl was obtained by me and my friend together; there are two of them, and the other one is in his possession."

Hearing this, Chu Ning was indeed tempted.

Regardless of anything else, obtaining the Cold Marrow Pearl would be extremely useful to him.

If he could refine another Cold Marrow Pearl, the power of his Mystical Ice Flame would increase further.

After some contemplation, Chu Ning said to Shentuping, "Fellow Daoist Shentu, please ask Fellow Daoist Wu for his opinion. If he is willing to join, then Chu Ning will also accompany you on this trip."

"That's wonderful!" Shentuping's face lit up with joy upon hearing this.

"I've already mentioned it to Fellow Daoist Wu, but he felt that we would be too few in number.

If Fellow Daoist Chu joins us, I believe Fellow Daoist Wu won't have any more reservations."

With that, Shentuping immediately turned and left, apparently going to find Wu Changdong.

The information he obtained from Wu Changdong was largely consistent with what Shentuping had told him.

Shentuping's friend from Longshanwu was named Shi Jing, and while Wu Changdong was acquainted with him, they weren't as close as Shentuping and Shi Jing were.

Shi Jing had previously cultivated in a place within the Yunxiao Alliance's territory, where he achieved the Golden Core stage. Later, he seized an opportunity to advance to the Nascent Soul stage and went to Longshanwu.

Longshanwu was considered a significant gathering place for loose cultivators in the Western Alliance Continent.

While there were some decent spirit veins in the area, they tended to be small, hence the prevalence of loose cultivators, with only a handful of minor sects.

The situation was somewhat similar to that of Qingyuan Source, except that Longshanwu was located further north.

At this moment, Shentuping was flying at the forefront of the group, leading the way. As they were about to enter the Tianji Alliance's territory, he turned to Chu Ning and Wu Changdong and said, "To avoid drawing attention, Brother Shi will meet us near our destination. From here on, we're entering the Tianji Alliance's domain. Although most of the Nascent Soul cultivators have left the Yunmeng Mountains, it's best we conceal our presence to avoid any unnecessary trouble."

Both Chu Ning and Wu Changdong agreed with Shentuping's suggestion.

Chu Ning immediately employed the special talent of his Yin Wood Spirit Body, completely suppressing his aura.

Even though Chu Ning wasn't using the Prohibition God Technique to block divine sense probes at the moment, this move alone was enough to astonish the two mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators beside him.

As they felt Chu Ning's aura suddenly vanish, a hint of surprise flashed in their eyes.

However, having witnessed Chu Ning's abilities before, they were more amazed than shocked.

Without delay, the two cultivators also employed secret techniques to hide their auras.

As Nascent Soul cultivators, they naturally had a few tricks up their sleeves.

While their concealed auras couldn't compare to Chu Ning's, with their secret techniques, it would be difficult for ordinary mid-stage and early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators to detect them.

The trio flew high in the sky, speeding eastward.

Along the way, they occasionally encountered other cultivators, but with their divine senses, they were able to detect them early on and steer clear.

After flying for nearly ten more days, they had ventured deep into the Yunmeng Mountains.

Shentuping glanced at their surroundings to get a sense of their direction and then pointed northeast.

"That's where Brother Shi agreed to meet us."

With that, Shentuping continued leading the way, soon landing on a mountain peak shrouded in mist.

While Chu Ning was unfamiliar with this place, it didn't concern him much.

However, Wu Changdong surveyed their surroundings thoughtfully.

"Fellow Daoist Shentu, if I'm not mistaken, if we go further from here, we should be entering the Ghost Mist Forest in the Yunmeng Mountains, right? Could it be that Brother Shi's discovered cave is actually within the Ghost Mist Forest?"

Shentuping shook his head in response, hesitating slightly as he said, "Brother Shi didn't give me the exact location, but since he asked us to meet here, it's most likely that the cave is somewhere in that forest."

Upon hearing this, Chu Ning raised an eyebrow and asked, "Fellow Daoists, what is this Ghost Mist Forest? It sounds unfamiliar to me."

Wu Changdong smiled and explained, "It's not surprising that you haven't heard of it, Fellow Daoist Chu. Your youth is an advantage. The Ghost Mist Forest gained its infamy about a thousand years ago, but in recent years, that name hasn't been mentioned much, so it's normal that you're unaware of it."

After a brief pause, Wu Changdong continued, "This place used to be called Qingwu Mountain, and there was a medium-sized sect within it. About a thousand years ago, this sect somehow offended several sects in the Demon Path Alliance. Several Nascent Soul cultivators from the Demon Path Alliance infiltrated and annihilated the entire sect. Moreover, a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator from the Youming Sect within the Demon Path Alliance used ghost cultivation techniques to turn all the cultivators' souls into vengeful spirits."

Chu Ning's heart skipped a beat as he heard this. The Youming Sect was the most powerful sect within the Demon Path Alliance.

While the sect still had a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator in its ranks, that person wasn't the one who had come here a thousand years ago.

As Chu Ning pondered this, Wu Changdong continued, "It's strange, though. After that incident, Nascent Soul cultivators from other sects in the Yunmeng Mountains came here and destroyed many of the vengeful spirits. However, this mountain has a Yin Absolute Vein, and with so many vengeful spirits gathering, their Yin Shaqi was stimulated. Many of the vengeful spirits were drawn into the Yin Absolute Vein. Even a late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator from the Tianji Alliance was unable to completely expel the Yin Shaqi and the vengeful spirits. Eventually, since the Yin Shaqi didn't leak out of this mountain, they just left it alone."

Wu Changdong smiled and added, "I've heard that quite a few sects in the Demon Path Alliance have their eyes on this mountain. After all, the Yin Shaqi here is beneficial to the cultivation of many Demon Path Alliance cultivators."

And in most cases, Yuan Ying cultivators wouldn't need this kind of yin sha qi, so over time, this place became rarely visited.

With the formation of this ghostly mist, it came to be known as the Ghost Mist Forest."

After Wu Changdong finished speaking, Chu Ning finally turned his gaze towards the distant mountain range shrouded in yin energy.

"Will that yin sha qi affect us Yuan Ying cultivators?"

"Fellow Daoist Chu, you need not worry." This time, it was Shentuping who replied.

"Several decades ago, I came here once due to some special circumstances. Although the yin sha qi here is dense, it won't be difficult for us Yuan Ying cultivators to resist."

Hearing Shentuping's assurance, Chu Ning felt slightly more at ease.

Although his cultivation realm was lower than Shentuping's, his own cultivation and mystical powers were undoubtedly superior.

Moreover, several of his mystical powers had a restraining effect on yin souls, ghostly mist, and various demonic techniques.

If Shentuping wasn't worried, then he had no reason to be overly concerned.

Before the two of them finished speaking about Shi Jing, the three of them began to meditate and adjust their breaths.

Time passed, and after two full days, Chu Ning, who was in the midst of cultivating, felt a stir in his spiritual sense, and he looked up towards the distant sky.

"Fellow Daoist Shentu, three Yuan Ying cultivators are flying towards us. I wonder if they are the friends you mentioned."

At this moment, Chu Ning spoke out directly.

In the distant sky, although the three Yuan Ying cultivators were concealing their auras, with his powerful spiritual sense, he naturally discovered them very quickly.

At the same time, he also saw that the three of them were mid-stage Yuan Ying cultivators.

And upon hearing Chu Ning's reminder, Shentuping and Wu Changdong immediately looked up.

At the same time, they carefully sensed with their spiritual sense.

After just a moment, a smile appeared on Shentuping's face.

"Indeed, it's Brother Shi. Fellow Daoist Chu, your spiritual sense is so powerful that it surprises me!"

As Shentuping spoke, Wu Changdong also nodded in agreement.

The more they interacted with Chu Ning, the more they discovered his extraordinariness.

In every aspect, Chu Ning didn't seem like a Yuan Ying early stage cultivator at all.

If it weren't for the fact that everyone knew that Chu Ning had just formed his Yuan Ying not long ago, and that many people in the Qingyuan Alliance had witnessed it.

Coupled with Chu Ning's current powerful secret technique for concealing his aura, they would probably suspect that Chu Ning was hiding his true cultivation realm.

The three of them finished cultivating, and after a while, three figures descended from the air.

The newcomers consisted of two men and one woman.

The leader was a man who appeared to be around the same age as Shentuping, with an eight-character beard and wearing a brocade robe.

The other man was short, and it was unclear what kind of cultivation technique he practiced. His eyes were sharp like two rays of golden light, making it difficult to look directly at him.

As for the female cultivator, she had a youthful appearance, and although she had already reached the mid-stage Yuan Ying, she looked to be only forty-something years old.

At first glance, she wasn't particularly stunning, but upon closer inspection, she had a certain allure.

A mole at the corner of her right eye added a touch of charm to her appearance.

The leading man in the brocade robe swept his gaze over Chu Ning and the others, then cupped his hands towards Wu Changdong and said, "Fellow Daoist Wu, it's been some time since we last met. Your cultivation has progressed greatly, and I, Shi, am truly envious."

"Those words should be coming from me to Fellow Daoist Shi. The last time we met, you had just entered the mid-stage Yuan Ying, and now, your cultivation has advanced greatly. It's truly commendable," Wu Changdong replied with a cupped fist salute.

Shi Jing smiled and then turned to look at Chu Ning.

"Fellow Daoist Shentu, who is this?" he asked.

Upon hearing Shi Jing's question, Shentuping immediately introduced them.

"Brother Shi, this is Fellow Daoist Chu Ning. Fellow Daoist Chu, this is Shi Jing, Fellow Daoist Shi."

"Nice to meet you, Fellow Daoist Shi," Chu Ning said.

"The pleasure is mine, Fellow Daoist Chu," Shi Jing replied.

The two of them exchanged polite greetings, marking their acquaintance.

At this point, Shi Jing turned to his companions and said, "Let me introduce my friends as well. This is Huang Zongkun, Fellow Daoist Huang, from the Zhenwu Alliance."

Shi Jing first pointed to the short man beside him.

"We have long admired the fame of Fellow Daoists Wu and Shentu from the Qingyuan Alliance," Huang Zongkun said as he cupped his hands towards Wu Changdong and Shentuping. His tone was quite polite.

After Wu Changdong and Shentuping returned the greeting, Huang Zongkun's gaze landed on Chu Ning.

"I must say, Fellow Daoist Chu's name is quite unfamiliar, and you seem very young. Are you a newly advanced Yuan Ying cultivator?" Huang Zongkun's tone now held a hint of skepticism.

"Indeed, I have only recently advanced to the Yuan Ying stage. It's only natural that Fellow Daoist Huang hasn't heard of me," Chu Ning replied calmly, neither humble nor arrogant.

He could guess Huang Zongkun's thoughts. Among those present, he was the only early-stage Yuan Ying cultivator, while the others were all mid-stage Yuan Ying.

In the eyes of his companion, he might seem lacking in status.

Hearing Chu Ning's response, Huang Zongkun merely glanced at him and said nothing more.

Upon hearing that Luo Yuqiao was from the Qingyuan Sect, Chu Ning couldn't help but glance at her again. Perhaps due to the previous incidents involving the Chu surnamed cultivator and the Yi surnamed elder, Chu Ning always maintained a sense of wariness towards cultivators from the Qingyuan Sect.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Luo," Wu Changdong said as he took the initiative to greet her with a cupped fist salute. "I heard that several sects within the Demon Path Alliance invited you to join, offering favorable conditions, but you refused them all. Later, I heard that you left Qingyuansource and came to Longshanwu for cultivation. It seems that I've underestimated your determination."

Luo Yuqiao returned Wu Changdong's greeting with a polite smile. "I was pestered by them, and I couldn't afford to offend the Demon Path Alliance, so I had no choice but to leave Qingyuansource and head north to Longshanwu. I hope I haven't caused you any embarrassment, Fellow Daoist Wu."

Wu Changdong quickly replied, "Fellow Daoist Luo is too kind. Your integrity and courage are truly admirable, and I am deeply impressed."

"Fellow Daoist Wu is too kind with your praise!" Luo Yuqiao smiled and returned the greeting, also bowing to Shentuping and Chu Ning.

When facing Chu Ning, she wore a gentle smile, devoid of the arrogance displayed by Huang Zongkun.

With these introductions, the six of them had officially met and acquainted themselves.

Shi Jing then took the initiative to speak up. "Fellow Daoists, you all know why I've gathered you here. I won't elaborate further. That place we're seeking is within the Ghost Mist Forest. Now, I'll lead the way, and let's go there together to investigate."

Just as everyone was about to nod in agreement, Huang Zongkun suddenly interjected.

"Hold on!"

He turned to Shi Jing and said, "Brother Shi, we've known each other for many years. A few days ago, when you approached me about this matter, you mentioned that the restrictions on that place were quite intricate and profound. That's why you specifically invited several mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators to join forces and attempt to break the restrictions. I don't mean to belittle Fellow Daoist Chu, but since he has only recently formed his Nascent Soul, do we need to reconsider his participation in this venture?"

Hearing this, Shi Jing's gaze shifted to Chu Ning, and then to Shentuping, his expression revealing his dilemma.

Chu Ning furrowed his brows slightly at Huang Zongkun's words.

Shentuping quickly spoke up, "Brother Shi, don't you trust me? The reason I invited Fellow Daoist Chu to join us instead of calling other mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators is that his cultivation and abilities are no less than that of mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, and he is particularly skilled in breaking formations and restrictions."

"His cultivation and abilities are no less than that of mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators?" Huang Zongkun let out a mocking laugh. "Brother Shentu, you're quite bold with your words."

Shentuping's expression turned sour at Huang Zongkun's response, but he continued, "Brother Huang, I'm not making this up. A few months ago, I fought with all my strength but still lost to Fellow Daoist Chu. Fellow Daoist Wu can attest to this."

Wu Changdong chimed in, "What Brother Shentu said is true. Although I've been a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator for many years, I must admit that my cultivation and abilities are inferior to Fellow Daoist Chu's."

Hearing the testimonies of the two mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators from the Yunxia Alliance, Shi Jing, Luo Yuqiao, and Huang Zongkun turned their gazes towards Chu Ning, their eyes filled with surprise.

Shi Jing and Luo Yuqiao's expressions were astonished, while Huang Zongkun's gaze was filled with doubt.

Chu Ning calmly met the gazes of the three mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, his face serene. He seemed unaffected by Huang Zongkun's skepticism or Shi Jing's hesitation.

Shi Jing's eyes flickered back to Shentuping, and seeing his earnest expression, he let out a hearty laugh and cupped his hands towards Chu Ning. "I never expected Fellow Daoist Chu to be so talented and modest. I was blind earlier, please don't take offense."

Chu Ning smiled and returned the gesture.

Shi Jing then turned to Huang Zongkun and said, "Brother Huang, the reason I wanted to invite mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators was mainly to increase our chances of success. With Fellow Daoist Chu's remarkable abilities, I'm more than happy to have him join us. What do you think?"

Huang Zongkun kept his eyes averted from Chu Ning, his expression unreadable. "Since all of you insist, I have no objections. I never expected that the Yunxia Alliance would produce such a young and talented cultivator. It seems I've been living under a rock."

There was still a hint of disbelief in his tone.

Chu Ning's eyebrows furrowed slightly at Huang Zongkun's words, but he quickly smoothed his expression, maintaining his calm and collected demeanor. With his current cultivation and mental fortitude, he saw no need to argue or prove himself.

However, considering Shi Jing's earnest efforts to gather so many people, it seemed that entering the cave of Xuan Gui Shangren wouldn't be an easy task.

Soon enough, their respective abilities and strengths would become apparent.

Chu Ning was curious to see what kind of abilities this mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator from the Zhenwu Alliance possessed.

(End of Chapter)

Chapter end