freenovelworld Chapter 722 An Encounter in the Misty Valley
Chapter 722 An Encounter in the Misty Valley
After leaving Qing Shi Town, Lin Muxue headed west. She didn't have a specific destination, but she had heard that the continuous mountain ranges to the west were often inhabited by demonic beasts and also contained many rare herbs and minerals, making it a popular destination for adventurers.
Along her journey, she witnessed towns of varying appearances and encountered all sorts of people. There were chivalrous martial artists, shrewd and cunning merchants, simple and kind mountain villagers, and highway robbers. For those ignorant bandits, Lin Muxue didn't kill them, merely administering a light punishment before knocking them unconscious or driving them away. Her purpose on this trip was to gain experience, not to kill. These small encounters did indeed give her some initial insights into the wickedness of human nature, and her combat skills improved slightly with each minor conflict.
Several days later, Lin Muxue entered an area called the "Misty Forest." This forest was vast and boundless, shrouded in a light mist all year round, with low visibility. It was said to be home not only to powerful demonic beasts, but also to lost travelers who had wandered into it and never returned.
Lin Muxue, skilled and daring, did not back down. She had heard that deep within the Misty Forest lay a place called "Cold Moon Valley," where a spiritual herb called "Cold Moon Grass" grew, possessing miraculous effects on stabilizing one's Earth Realm cultivation and nourishing inner strength. Obtaining the Cold Moon Grass would greatly benefit her breakthrough to the peak of the Earth Realm.
In search of Cold Moon Valley, Lin Muxue cautiously ventured deeper into the Misty Forest. She concealed her aura, circulated her inner energy, and remained constantly vigilant of her surroundings. The forest was dimly lit, filled with miasma, and beneath her feet lay a thick layer of fallen leaves and humus, soft and yielding. The occasional cries of unknown birds and beasts added to the eerie and sinister atmosphere.
Supported by her advanced Earth Realm cultivation, her perception was extended to its limit; nothing within a hundred meters could escape her notice. Relying on some navigation and tracking skills learned from her family's ancient texts, she trudged through the fog with difficulty.
Along the way, she encountered several demonic beasts with strength equivalent to the peak of the Human Realm or even the early stage of the Earth Realm. She managed to defeat them all without serious harm, relying on her far superior cultivation level and exquisite swordsmanship. Each battle with the demonic beasts was more threatening than the bandits she had encountered before, and it also honed her combat skills more effectively. She gradually adapted to the pressure of being on the brink of life and death, and her attacks became more decisive and ruthless.
However, the fighting style of demonic beasts is relatively direct, relying more on instinct and brute force. Compared to human martial artists of the same level, they are ultimately inferior in skill and wisdom. Although Lin Muxue benefited from this, she did not encounter any opponents who could truly put her under immense pressure.
On this day, based on the vague clues she had obtained earlier and her own judgment, Lin Muxue believed that she was approaching the location of Cold Moon Valley. The surrounding mist seemed to have grown even colder, and a faint medicinal fragrance wafted through the air.
A surge of joy filled her heart, and her spirits lifted. Finding the Frost Moon Grass would mean achieving the primary objective of this training.
She quickened her pace, following the faint scent of medicine, and walked deeper into the valley.
The deeper she went, the thicker the fog became, and the lower the temperature dropped; a thin layer of frost even formed on the ground. The surroundings were eerily quiet; even the calls of birds and beasts had vanished, leaving only the sound of her own footsteps and breathing, which sounded exceptionally clear in the silent valley.
Lin Muxue's heart skipped a beat. This excessive silence often foreshadowed danger. She slowed her pace again, raising her inner strength to its peak, and slightly unsheathed her longsword, ready to deal with any unexpected situation.
Just as she rounded a bend, the fog seemed to thin slightly, revealing a relatively open valley—
A powerful, sharp aura, like a divine sword being drawn from its sheath, suddenly spread out from the mist ahead!
The power of that aura far surpassed any opponent Lin Muxue had encountered before! Its tangible pressure instantly enveloped the entire valley, making Lin Muxue feel as if she were being stared at by a prehistoric beast that had been dormant for thousands of years, and the hairs on her body stood on end!
It was a condescending scrutiny, a chilling killing intent, a... unfathomable terror!
"Peak of the Earth Realm!"
Lin Muxue's pupils suddenly contracted, and her heart was filled with shock! She judged the other party's realm almost instantly! Only a martial artist at the peak of the Earth Realm could exude such a powerful and oppressive aura!
This was the first time she had ever felt the pressure of a peak Earth Realm expert so closely! That pressure was far more terrifying than she had imagined! Just the mere lock of their aura made it difficult for her to breathe, and even the flow of her internal energy became slightly sluggish!
Her heart began to pound uncontrollably. Tension, vigilance, and even a hint of uncontrollable fear, like a cold, venomous snake, instantly coiled around her heart.
Almost instinctively, she wanted to retreat, to escape this dangerous place. Her grandfather's admonition echoed clearly in her mind: "When faced with an opponent you cannot defeat, always prioritize your own survival!"
Her opponent's strength was clearly superior to hers! Moreover, it was a suppression of a whole realm! The difference between the Great Perfection of the Earth Realm and the Peak of the Earth Realm may seem to be only one step, but in reality, the gap is like an insurmountable chasm! Whether it's the quantity and quality of internal energy, or the understanding of martial arts and the application of combat skills, there is a world of difference between them!
However, when she tried to retreat, she found herself seemingly trapped in a quagmire. The other person's aura was like an invisible net, locking her firmly in place, rendering her completely immobile.
"Ok?"
A deep, slightly hoarse voice came from the fog ahead, carrying a hint of surprise and scrutiny.
Immediately afterwards, the fog surged, and a figure slowly emerged from the mist.
He was a middle-aged man of medium build, dressed in a faded blue cloth robe. His face was ordinary, even somewhat unremarkable, except for his eyes, which were like deep, cold pools, sharp enough to pierce through one's heart. He stood there casually, yet he gave off an aura of unwavering strength and indomitable spirit.
He didn't exude any deliberate pressure, but Lin Muxue felt the invisible pressure grow even heavier. It was as if he himself was an indestructible sword, and even though he had concealed his sharpness, his inherent ferocity could not be hidden.
He stared at Lin Muxue silently, his eyes cold and devoid of any emotion, as if he were looking at an inanimate object.
Lin Muxue's palms instantly broke out in a cold sweat. She knew she had probably trespassed on the other person's territory, or rather, disturbed their peace. Encountering a lone expert at the peak of the Earth Realm in this desolate wilderness, whose identity and purpose were shrouded in mystery, was extremely dangerous.
"Senior...Senior..." Lin Muxue began with difficulty, her voice trembling slightly. She tried to remain calm and clasped her hands in a fist salute to the middle-aged man. "This junior, Lin Muxue, has wandered into this place by mistake and had no intention of disturbing your cultivation. I will take my leave now!"
After speaking, she tried to retreat slowly, hoping the other party would spare her. Facing a peak Earth Realm expert, she had no intention of resisting; she only wanted to leave this dangerous place as quickly as possible.
However, the middle-aged man seemed not to hear her words, continuing to scrutinize her with his cold eyes, a mocking and indifferent smile playing on his lips.
"Reaching the Great Perfection of the Earth Realm? At such a young age, he's quite a promising talent. It's a pity... he's too weak."
His voice wasn't loud, but it reached Lin Muxue's ears clearly, carrying the tone of absolute dominance of a superior over a subordinate.
Lin Muxue's heart sank. She sensed the hostility in the other person's tone. It seemed that she couldn't avoid this trouble today.
"What do you mean by that, senior?" Lin Muxue gripped her sword hilt tightly, her eyes sharpening. Despite the tension and fear in her heart, she was, after all, the pride of the Lin family, possessing the inherent pride of a martial artist. Even if her opponent was at the peak of the Earth Realm, she could not surrender without a fight and await her death!
"What do you mean?" The middle-aged man sneered, his killing intent in his eyes undisguised. "This valley is my cultivation ground. Your intrusion here is an disturbance. Considering your young age and the fact that you have reached the Great Perfection of the Earth Realm, I will give you a chance."
He paused, then pointed a finger at Lin Muxue: "You, make your move. Let me see just how much the younger generation is capable of. If you can last ten moves against me, I'll let you go."