Chapter 33: Landscape Stream

In the next moment, the three of them transformed into a streak of golden light and burrowed into the earth.

Deep within the forest, a thousand meters away. Three streaks of golden light suddenly shot out from the ground. Li Meng, Yuan Baobao, and Xuan Hao materialized out of thin air.

“Junior Brother, Junior Sister, let’s go!”

Li Meng soared into the air, riding his flying sword. Yuan Baobao and Xuan Hao followed closely behind. The three of them shot out of the dense Ghost Mist Forest on their swords.

“Senior Brother, the mist… the mist wave is coming!” Yuan Baobao looked back in terror at the overwhelming tide of mist rolling towards them.

Behind them, a massive wave of mist, like a colossal wall of fog, was sweeping across the landscape. Before this immense fog wall, the three of them seemed as insignificant as ants.

The fog wall spread with terrifying speed. It was closing in on them at a visibly rapid pace.

Seeing the sky-obscuring wall of fog behind them, Li Meng’s expression darkened. Such earth-shaking supernatural power… could it truly be a Mist Demon?

“Junior Brother, Junior Sister, land now!” Li Meng directed his flying sword downward, heading for the Ghost Mist Forest below.

A flicker of hesitation passed through Xuan Hao’s eyes. The mist wave was right behind them. Wouldn’t entering the Ghost Mist Forest now be seeking death?

“Senior Brother, I’m following!” Without a moment’s hesitation, Yuan Baobao chased after him. Xuan Hao’s expression shifted through several emotions before he reluctantly followed suit.

Within the Ghost Mist Forest, Li Meng descended and landed on the ground. Yuan Baobao and Xuan Hao landed right after him.

Li Meng formed a hand seal with one hand. A brilliant golden talisman flew out from his storage pouch. The talisman spun around Li Meng once before attaching itself to his back.

Li Meng reached out with both hands, grasping the shoulders of Junior Sister Yuan and Junior Brother Xuan. In the next instant, the three transformed into a golden streak and plunged into the earth.

In a forest twenty li away. A golden light flashed, and the three appeared out of nowhere. Immediately after, they turned into golden light and burrowed into the ground again.

For a time, golden flashes illuminated the gloomy Ghost Mist Forest. Each flash covered a distance of twenty li. In less than three breaths, they had already appeared two hundred li away.

On the bank of a stream winding through the mountains. A golden streak shot out from the earth. The figures of two men and one woman materialized on the riverbank.

Yuan Baobao looked around curiously. They were no longer in the mist-shrouded Ghost Mist Forest. Instead, they were surrounded by towering peaks that pierced the clouds.

“Senior Brother, have we left the Ghost Mist Forest?” Yuan Baobao turned to look at Senior Brother Li.

Li Meng gazed up at their surroundings. The surrounding mountains were incredibly steep. Their summits were obscured by clouds and mist.

“Hmm. If I’m not mistaken, this should be the outer region of ‘Landscape Stream’!”

Li Meng turned to face Junior Sister Yuan and Junior Brother Xuan. “Junior Brother, Junior Sister, this Senior Brother still needs to gather some spiritual plants for alchemy. Let us part ways here and each seek our own opportunities!”

With a wave of his hand, Li Meng sent a storage pouch flying towards Yuan Baobao. Yuan Baobao instinctively caught it. Li Meng then soared into the sky on his flying sword and sped away into the distance.

“Demonic cultivators have infiltrated the teams of the five great sects. Junior Brother, Junior Sister, do not trust any third person!” His voice faded into the distance along with his departing figure on the sword. Soon, both vanished from their sight.

“Junior Sister… that technique Senior Brother Li used just now… could it be…”

To travel hundreds of li underground in an instant. A talisman that could be used multiple times. Each use allowing one to traverse dozens of li underground. It could only be a first-grade Divine Firmament Talisman Treasure.

How could Senior Brother Li possess such a treasure?

Yuan Baobao swept her divine sense over the storage pouch. Her eyes curved into crescents. The slight sadness she felt at parting with Senior Brother Li was instantly swept away.

Senior Brother really is afraid I might die.

“Senior Brother Xuan,” she said softly. “Everyone has their own secrets. You shouldn’t dwell on Senior Brother Li’s too much.” She took out two high-grade Earth Shrinking Talismans and pressed them into Xuan Hao’s hand.

Xuan Hao looked down blankly at the talismans in his palm. High-grade talismans again.

He knew Senior Brother Li could draw talismans. But if these high-grade talismans were crafted by Senior Brother Li himself… Then… that was truly a pity.

A trace of regret flashed in Xuan Hao’s eyes. Senior Brother Li possessed exceptional talent in alchemy and talisman-making. It was just that his innate aptitude was too poor.

Had Senior Brother Li devoted all his cultivation time to alchemy and talisman research? Was that why he faced his lifespan limit without enough time left to reach Foundation Establishment?

Xuan Hao smiled faintly and stored away the talismans. These were life-saving treasures; he wouldn’t be hypocritical about accepting them.

“You are right, Junior Sister.”

Yuan Baobao looked up at the steep peaks surrounding them. “Senior Brother Xuan! Let’s go take a look over there!”

She leaped up onto her flying sword and shot towards the sky. Xuan Hao formed a hand seal with one hand, summoning his flying sword. He mounted it and chased after her.

The two chasing figures resembled mandarin ducks frolicking in water. With mountains and streams as their backdrop, it was an exceptionally beautiful scene.

Meanwhile, amidst another cluster of peaks elsewhere…

Li Meng flew on his sword. At times he would dive into banks of cloud and mist. At other times he would soar upwards, skimming over mountain peaks.

“I really hope I don’t encounter another bizarre monster like that Mist Demon!” Recalling that overwhelming tide of mist sent shivers down his spine.

“I wonder if that Mist Demon was an innate spirit or an acquired one.”

All things under heaven possess spirit potential. Whether dead objects or living beings, all have the possibility to awaken spiritual intelligence and embark on the path of cultivation. Even a white cloud in the sky could awaken intelligence and transform into a demonic being.

So-called innate spirits were those born naturally from heaven and earth. Acquired spirits were those born through some medium or vessel. Humankind was an example of an acquired spirit race.

“Time to search for Mystic Emperor Grass!”

Li Meng formed another hand seal with one hand. A brilliant golden Spirit-Guiding Talisman flew out from his storage pouch. It spun around him before suddenly stopping to hover in front and slightly to his left.

Li Meng directed his flying sword towards that direction. As he ventured deeper into Landscape Stream, a magnificent vista unfolded before him.

Below countless peaks stretched an endless expanse of water. Massive mountains rose majestically from this vast aquatic realm. At a glance, mountains and water merged into one breathtakingly grand panorama. Occasionally, enormous dark shadows could be seen gliding slowly beneath the water’s surface.

Three days later…

“Thousand-year Seven Mystic Grass? Excellent find!”

Li Meng brought his flying sword to a halt before a cliff face on one mountain peak. Growing within cracks in the rock wall was a cluster of spiritual plants. Although they were well-hidden, they couldn’t escape detection by his Spirit-Guiding Talisman’s spiritual power perception.

With a wave of his hand, over ten stalks of Seven Mystic Grass flew towards him, which he promptly stored away in his storage pouch. The art of object manipulation was something every cultivator knew, let alone someone like Li Meng who practiced alchemy, talisman-making, formation arrays, and artifact forging!

Hiss!

Just then, something unexpected happened! A flash of white shot out from within one rock crevice! It opened its enormous maw wide, lunging straight for Li Meng!

“What an enormous white… snake?!” Li Meng was badly startled!

The Golden Shield Talisman attached to him flared brilliantly! A golden light barrier enveloped him completely! The massive serpent head slammed against this golden shield!

Bang!

The tremendous force sent Li Meng flying backward several hundred meters! Fortunately, second-grade demonic beasts lacked flight capability! Half its long snow-white body remained coiled within the crevices, while the other half reared outside, roaring furiously at him!

“What a beautiful white snake!” Looking at the pristine white serpent, Li Meng couldn’t help but utter a word of praise!

This white snake somewhat resembled an Earth king cobra, though only somewhat—its head lacked the terrifying hooded appearance the king cobra possessed!