The footwork of a group of second-realm cultivators was incredibly fast. With the aid of their magic power, it took them less than half an hour to reach the depths of the marshland.
At a glance, countless swamps and lakes stretched out, dotted with only a few small hillocks that offered a brief respite for landing.
However, for cultivators in the Dian Ling realm, regardless of the depth of their cultivation, short-distance aerial flight was still unattainable. This ability was exclusive to cultivators in the Ming Dao realm.
Furthermore, prolonged flight over swamps and lakes consumed a massive amount of magic power. Even in his prime, Ji Yuan could not guarantee he could endure such conditions for an extended period.
For him, the depletion of magic power was secondary; the primary concern was the immense strain on his meridians from constant aerial leaps. Even with his meridians reshaped and strengthened with the aid of elixirs, they were beginning to falter.
“Fellow Daoists, please exercise extreme caution. We are now very close to the cave dwelling’s location. According to the clues we’ve obtained, this marshland is likely guarded by spirit beasts.”
Huang Tianci turned and cautioned the group.
Upon hearing this, the smiles on their faces vanished. As they channeled magic power within their bodies, they also adopted a stance of readiness.
These clues were acquired collectively, and thus they were aware of the formidable power possessed by the spirit beasts guarding this marshland. Any single one of them was no weaker than a cultivator in the early stage of the second realm.
These were guardian spirit beasts that a grandmaster of alchemy had painstakingly purchased at great expense. They had been nurtured with various elixirs from the moment they hatched, imbuing their bloodlines with even greater strength.
Moreover, these spirit beasts were meticulously selected by the alchemy grandmaster. Each one was innately attuned to water elements, giving them a significant geographical advantage within the marshland.
“Little Daoist priest, according to the clues we have, there are three types of spirit beasts in this area…”
Xu Luoxuan spoke from the side, enumerating the different spirit beasts.
It was evident that these individuals had acquired a considerable amount of intelligence. They were even intimately familiar with the spirit beasts’ innate divine abilities, as well as their respective weaknesses and characteristics.
It was likely that the cultivators who once resided around the marshland had invested considerable effort in this regard, otherwise, these individuals would not possess such detailed knowledge.
After listening to Xu Luoxuan’s words, Ji Yuan, as he flew alongside the group over the swamps and lakes, pondered in his heart.
So-called spirit beasts were essentially demonic beasts. The difference was that the former had been subdued by cultivators, and their demonic aura had been cleansed through various means such as elixirs, talismans, and formations.
However, as time passed, fewer and fewer cultivators were willing to expend such a significant price to cleanse demonic beasts of their demonic aura.
Nowadays, spirit beasts had become a designation for cultivators’ dependents. Only truly major sects or exceptionally wealthy cultivators had the financial means to refine demonic auras.
“It is said that as far back as several thousand years ago, spirit beasts and cultivators had a relatively equal relationship,”
A young man in his late twenties suddenly spoke amidst their flight. “Yet now, spirit beasts have become akin to slaves.”
Ji Yuan turned his gaze to the ordinary-looking young man. If he remembered correctly, this person’s name was Chen Dade, a cultivator in the early stage of the Dian Ling realm.
After speaking, the man wore a pensive expression, as if he held a strong disapproval of the matters he had just described.
In his eyes, it seemed that the equal coexistence of cultivators and spirit beasts was the natural order of the world, rather than the current situation of enslaving demonic beasts.
Chen Dade even believed that a significant reason for the hostile relationship between humans and the demon race, and their continued enmity despite sharing the same land, was precisely this.
Ji Yuan merely sighed inwardly at this viewpoint. He did not, like those around him, voice his own opinions or offer comfort to the melancholic young man.
He held no unique perspective and did not possess the same ‘compassion for the world’ as the other. In his mind, these matters were simply a part of the grand cosmic order, not something requiring excessive interpretation.
However, as Chen Dade voiced his lament, the others also chimed in their agreement, allowing Ji Yuan to glean more information and gradually deepen his understanding of them.
The more he listened to their conversations, the more Ji Yuan felt a growing sense that he might have stumbled into a den of lunatics.
None of these wild cultivators from the mountains and marshes seemed to be of sound mind. Huang Tianci, who always felt all cultivators were family, was a given. The world-weary Chen Dade was also one of them.
The remaining three men each had their own peculiarities: one believed all sects and powers in the world should be dismantled to achieve universal equality, while another posited that the Great Dao was singular, and that immortality, Buddhahood, demonhood, and ghosthood existed merely in a single thought.
The last remaining man, who appeared to be rather taciturn, spoke a statement that truly shocked Ji Yuan: he believed that humans should not have existed in the first place, and that their sole purpose was to harm other races and the world.
The two women, on the other hand, seemed more normal: one believed there should be no gender distinctions, while the other felt that love was the fundamental essence of all living beings.
In a short span of time, Ji Yuan found himself feeling profoundly out of place, utterly unable to comprehend why they so readily believed their own thoughts represented the true principles of the world.
Fortunately, these individuals only conversed amongst themselves and did not turn to question him, otherwise, he would have been unable to endure it for another moment.
After nearly a quarter of an hour, the group finally landed on a small hill. Before them lay a dense, impenetrable white mist.
The entire marshland was perpetually permeated with miasma, but fortunately, its toxicity was not extreme. Ordinary detoxification pills or miasma-dispelling pills could offer resistance.
The white mist before them, however, was miasma that had been concentrated to an unimaginable degree, almost appearing solid. Even a faint whiff from a considerable distance left them feeling dizzy and disoriented.
“This is the Five Poisons Miasma, refined from five types of water-elemental toxic mist. Once released, it can generate and spread on its own,”
Xu Ruoxuan explained in a low voice. “The range of this miasma is related to the environment. An environment like this marshland is its ideal breeding ground, allowing it to propagate tirelessly.”
Propagate?
Ji Yuan’s expression shifted. He instinctively opened his divine eyes and immediately saw countless tiny insects swarming within the dense fog not far ahead!
Witnessing this, he immediately calmed his mind and examined himself internally, repeatedly checking with his soul light. Only after finding no poisonous insects did he let out a sigh of relief.
“The best way to resist this miasma is to set up a sufficiently robust magic power barrier around oneself, keeping it outside the physical body.”
“Once these poisonous insects enter the body, it becomes incredibly difficult to expel them, often resulting in damage to the physique.”
“Furthermore, there are five types of these poisonous insects, each with different toxic properties. Their combinations lead to various effects, and even the order in which they are ingested can result in different toxins.”
Huang Tianci said with a smile. Although he appeared to be enlightening everyone, he was in fact speaking only to Ji Yuan.
They had already learned the crucial details while jointly exploring the cave dwelling. At this point, without needing further reminders, they all released their magic power, forming a barrier several inches thick around themselves.
Following this, they each retrieved elixirs, gently crushed them into fine powder, and attached them to their bodies with magic power, emitting a faint fragrance.
As the subtle fragrances dispersed, the poisonous insects in the nearby dense fog quietly retreated a short distance, appearing agitated and fluttering erratically in the air.
Ji Yuan also circulated his magic power, forming a barrier around himself. He then crushed an elixir and attached it to his body, and moreover, took out three talismans, affixing them to his chest and both legs respectively.
These included two lightness talismans and one miasma-repelling talisman, indicating he was very well-prepared.
However, he still felt it was not enough. After careful consideration, he took out two or three more types of elixirs and, tilting his head back, swallowed them, emanating a faint, indiscernible scent from within.
With all preparations complete, the group then launched themselves forward, plunging directly into the dense mist not far ahead.
With the aid of talismans, elixirs, and other means, the surrounding mist parted, and even the various tiny poisonous insects retreated due to the aura they disliked.
However, as they continued to advance, Ji Yuan discovered that their preparations were gradually becoming insufficient, their effects rapidly diminishing.
No one was surprised by this. After all, this was a layout devised by a third-realm alchemy grandmaster. It was unlikely their meager preparations could easily overcome it.
According to the map provided by Huang Tianci, they had now traversed one-third of the distance. However, both the elixirs and talismans had lost most of their efficacy.
The dense miasma gathered, carrying a strong corrosive property. Countless poisonous insects, visible only with divine eyes, swarmed forward relentlessly.
Ji Yuan could feel his magic power rapidly depleting, constantly replenishing the surrounding barrier.
In less than half an hour, he had already begun consuming elixirs for magic power recovery. Both the miasma and the insects within were severely draining his magic power.
By this point, Huang Tianci and the others had also stopped their casual conversation, their faces etched with solemnity.
With the cessation of their chatter, the only sound in this place was the 'sizzling' corrosion of magic power by the miasma, creating a rather eerie atmosphere.
Yet, no one dared to accelerate their pace, fearing they would be unable to adapt to the increasing toxicity of the miasma, causing their magic power barriers to collapse and allowing the poisonous insects within the miasma to enter their bodies.
At this juncture, Ji Yuan gradually realized that while the miasma’s toxicity was potent, its primary purpose was not to directly harm intruders, but rather to wear down their magic power.
The alchemy grandmaster who had made such arrangements in the past did not expect the miasma to directly kill people. Instead, it was intended to corrode the intruders' magic power barriers to a complete breakdown, allowing the poisonous insects bred within the miasma to enter their bodies.
These poisonous insects, though seemingly lacking spiritual energy, possessed exceptionally unique toxic properties. After being cultivated through special techniques, their interactions could give rise to countless variations.
He recalled Huang Tianci mentioning that once these poisonous insects entered the body, it was extremely difficult to remove them, and any method would inevitably result in damage to the physique.
Not to mention the complex toxicities, even a regular alchemy grandmaster would likely have no confidence in finding a cure.
Suddenly, Ji Yuan remembered the actions of the group earlier: using special elixirs to produce an aroma that the poisonous insects disliked, causing them to instinctively retreat.
“Fellow Daoist Huang, may I ask if you still have the elixirs you used previously?”
He suddenly asked.
Hearing this, Huang Tianci was first taken aback, then took out a jade slip from his embrace. “The elixirs are all used up, but how about the elixir formula?”
Ji Yuan’s eyes immediately lit up. Having the formula was even better. He quickly accepted the jade slip, and after a brief inspection to ensure there were no hidden traps, he immediately sent a strand of his soul light into it.
As an elixir formula materialized in his mind, he felt a surge of energy. He had not expected the contents to be so complex!