Volume 1: Hidden Dragon in the Abyss Chapter 148: Perilous Situation

An archaic, heavy, and oppressive aura bore down fiercely.

It was as violent and terrifying as a mountain.

The city walls seemed to tremble under the crushing pressure.

"Forgive!"

The Fourth Prince bore the attack by himself, teetering on the verge of collapse.

Yet it mattered not.

His hands moved swiftly in intricate patterns, forming hand seals before pressing down heavily.

He drew forth a profound aura.

With a crackling sound, the giant suddenly began to emit the noise of splitting apart.

The Fourth Prince grabbed and squeezed, finally reducing it to dust.

"The barbarian army has arrived, return to the city!"

The Fourth Prince called out to them.

With those words, he soared upward, confronting the enemy general and striking fiercely with his hands.

His martial arts were sharp and breathtaking.

The black miasma enveloping the enemy suddenly vanished.

The entire action transpired in the blink of an eye.

The Jin army wheeled around and headed back to the city. Timely volleys from the Sun-Chasing Bows atop the ramparts rained down, piercing deeply into the pursuers.

Meanwhile, any barbarian soldiers who had followed them into the city in pursuit were gradually surrounded and slain.

The city gates were tightly bolted once more.

The barbarian army suffered a crushing defeat.

Joy bloomed across the faces of the soldiers.

"Dealing with these few thousand barbarians was already no easy feat, let alone an army a hundred times their size."

Lord Yun could not bring himself to celebrate just yet.

...

"What lies in the Extreme North?"

Wang Chuan and his companion had been traveling for two days. The further north they went, the more desolate the landscape became.

Let bygones be bygones; there was no need to dwell on past events.

Ever since their journey began, Wang Chuan had conscientiously fulfilled his role, scouting the weather and path ahead.

So many people had died that fateful night that Miss Qian had compensated him with some more silver.

Such gestures had a way of touching one's heart.

At every available opportunity, Wang Chuan seized the chance to cultivate.

On this occasion, he finally asked the long-held question.

If she chose not to answer, he would let the matter rest and refrain from prying further.

"In the Extreme North? I do not know what awaits there," Miss Qian replied.

"Then what are you searching for? What do you wish to see?" Wang Chuan asked again.

She fell silent.

Wang Chuan pondered for a moment before speaking. "Have you ever considered that the world beneath our feet is round? If we were to walk in a single straight line, we would likely return to our starting point. Would you still find the thing you seek if that were the case?"

"Round?" Miss Qian asked in astonishment. "Why?"

It seemed she had not yet reached that level of understanding, or she would not be so ignorant of the cosmos.

"Look at this stone. If it were spherical, people would live all around it like ants," Wang Chuan said, lifting a slightly larger rock to illustrate his point.

"Wouldn't the people on the bottom fall off?" Miss Qian interrupted him.

"This..." Wang Chuan froze, blinking his eyes. "You've spotted the blind spot. Well asked."

Wang Chuan had no choice but to start by explaining why the masts of a large ship appeared first on the horizon...

And then gravity...

Sigh...

"So if one wishes to leave, must they break free from gravity and journey to another plane?" she asked him.

That would mean breaking through shackles and traversing the void.

She was not entirely oblivious.

"In theory, yes," Wang Chuan told her.

"What about you? Why do you know so much?" Miss Qian inquired.

"I came here from another plane. Something went wrong, and this is how I ended up," Wang Chuan sighed, speaking the truth.

She stared straight at him, as though trying to see through to his very essence.

"What was your previous cultivation level?" she asked.

"About the same as yours now." This question was much easier for Wang Chuan to answer.

Perhaps framing it this way would make it clearer to her.

Miss Qian nodded.

Once they had rested sufficiently, the two resumed their journey northward.

The mountain streams gradually converged into a small river. As the terrain leveled and they ventured deeper, the waterway grew shallower and narrower.

Along the bumpy road, they encountered numerous spiritual beasts and exotic flora.

"There are people in the distance," Wang Chuan said a moment later.

"What?" Miss Qian paused.

She had not yet perceived them.

"This is the Art of Qi-Viewing. Where there are people, there is human qi, accompanied by thick fortune. I can discern other aspects of their destiny. Just like these mountains and rivers, all living things possess their own qi and fortune," Wang Chuan explained.

As they walked further, Miss Qian finally sensed the presence of others.

The place appeared inhabited, graced by clear mountain springs, lush woods, and the joyful chirping of birds and spiritual beasts.

"With the evening glow out, tomorrow will be fine weather for travel," Wang Chuan observed.

Yet the further north they went, the drier the climate became, though wild grass still grew densely, obscuring the path.

"Hopefully we can find a village ahead," Wang Chuan said. "We need to find a place to rest. The outdoors is dangerous. Although you can handle any situation, it is far too exhausting, and I would prefer not to spend the whole night feeling restless."

The mere thought of vicious beasts hunting him down was distressing enough; how could he possibly sleep?

What a pity that Wang Chuan had only recovered ten percent of his cultivation.

"Is the baleful qi here very heavy? Must we be on guard?" Wang Chuan asked, suddenly growing vigilant. "The dead qi is also overwhelming; I fear we might meet with misfortune."

This was bad!

Some places were strictly forbidden to the living.

If one stayed in a harsh environment too long, even survival would leave them half-human and half-ghost.

"There has always been a legend on the continent that a barrier exists at the poles—the boundary of the world," Miss Qian brought up another topic.

"A boundary?" Wang Chuan thought for a moment. "So you intend to explore the boundary in order to leave this place."

Miss Qian nodded.

"Why do you want to leave?" Wang Chuan asked.

Could it be related to the apocalyptic tribulation?

He did not want to probe too deeply or pry into too many secrets.

"Rumor has it that the continent is beginning to fracture. I must go to the boundary and see for myself," Miss Qian told him. "If it is true, I will have no choice but to leave."

"I thought you intended to save the world," Wang Chuan smiled.

"That is beyond my power," Miss Qian shook her head.

As the sky grew darker, Wang Chuan prepared some torches in advance.

When pitch darkness finally descended, he ignited them.

"Someone is approaching," Wang Chuan spoke first.

He always seemed a step ahead of her.

Miss Qian furrowed her brow, gazing intently ahead.

Soon enough, the flicker of torchlight truly came into view.

If the threat wasn't exceptionally powerful, she could handle it alone.

(The chapter is not finished. Please turn the page.)

"Who goes there?" Wang Chuan called out.

"The Bai family of Dayuan City," the voice replied. "Who are you?"

Who were they?

Wang Chuan looked back at Miss Qian inquiringly.

She clearly had no intention of engaging in social pleasantries.

Wang Chuan had no choice but to state his own affiliation. "My name is Wang Chuan, just passing through..."

The torches ahead were held high as several burly men escorted an old man toward them.

The old fellow had graying temples and wore a green scholarly robe, the hem of which was caked in mud.

Such attire was hardly suited for traversing mountain paths.

He glanced at Miss Qian—she possessed foresight and knew how to dress appropriately.

"Bai Yun of the Dayuan City Bai clan, greetings to you both," the old man cupped his fists in salute.

"Ah, you can just talk to me; my name is Wang Chuan. We are out hunting," Wang Chuan said.

Unless absolutely necessary, Miss Qian would never speak.

Regardless of how she normally interacted with people, anyone could tell she would never make friends.

And indeed, she had always been alone.

"A pleasure, a pleasure," Bai Yun said. "We are likewise out hunting snow foxes. Further north lies the snowfield, where thousands of miles remain frozen year-round."

Was it truly that severe?

Wang Chuan whispered a question. "Do you know about the snowfield?"

"I do," Miss Qian murmured softly.

That was fine then.

Very well.

If she felt there was no problem, they could go together.

"Why aren't you heading back? Did you harvest nothing?" Wang Chuan asked.

In the dead of night, the jungle was fraught with extreme danger.

"Merchants chase profit; we haven't gained enough yet," Bai Yun said. "Though this northern border is perilous, it abounds in mineral ores, and the mountains teem with rare treasures and beasts. We do it to earn a living."

"The profit margin must be huge," Wang Chuan said with a hint of envy.

"If Yang Hao were here, he would likely be very happy as well."

Beneath the night sky, the dense vegetation rolled like waves. The undulating terrain stretched endlessly into the distance as the group trudged forward laboriously.

With other people around, Wang Chuan finally relaxed considerably, especially since Miss Qian was capable of protecting everyone.

A narrow trail lay ahead; though tight, it showed signs of human traffic.

Walking further, they finally caught sight of a flat, broad road.

And lights.

Everyone's spirits lifted, filled with immense joy.

After walking for so long, they had finally encountered a village.

Signs of human activity.

They naturally accelerated their pace.

The previous fatigue and exhaustion suddenly vanished into thin air.

The outline of a cluster of houses finally emerged in their field of vision, winding out along the foot of a mountain.

The narrow path intersected at the village entrance, extending deep inside.

The houses were tall and spacious, constructed mostly of timber.

Yet before their joy could fade, a sudden sense of unease welled up in their hearts.

The back of his collar was grabbed; Miss Qian was holding him back.

Wang Chuan wanted to issue a warning as well, but the people in front might not listen at this moment.

Wait a little longer.

Bai Yun looked back and saw that they had stopped, acting on guard.

Realizing something was amiss himself, he quickly shouted, "Stop!"

The entire village seemed hidden within the pitch-black night.

It was dead silent.

Not a single gleam of light was visible.

Only the sound of their own breathing and the flickering dance of the torches remained.

"Could it be uninhabited?"

The people in front had halted.

Someone muttered under their breath.

"Steward, make a decision," someone urged. "We've traveled the jianghu for so long, yet we've never seen anything this bizarre."

"That just shows your ignorance," Bai Yun scolded. "They don't wish to be disturbed, but that doesn't mean they're unwelcoming. They must have left vacant quarters ahead. Everyone, keep your voices down..."

"See that? The houses ahead have water and firewood, but no one is tending the hearth—they are left specifically for guests."

It seemed to be the case.

The old man was truly knowledgeable and experienced.

One couldn't help but feel inferior.

As if to confirm his words, a lantern flickered to life in a large house further ahead.

Like a bright moon rising in the boundless darkness, it illuminated the path before them.

Everyone could not help but rejoice once more.

They simply disliked dealing with outsiders from the outside world, that was all.

The group walked forward silently, approaching slowly to find suitable rooms for rest first.

"We should go secure a place as well," Wang Chuan said. "Staying out in the open is never ideal."

Miss Qian nodded.

Very well, that would do.

There happened to be a two-room dwelling.

Wang Chuan stepped out for a moment, and when he returned, he brought back two wild hares with their necks snapped.

He skinned them, set a fire, and roasted them with practiced ease.

This left the group of people nearby, who were still gnawing on dry rations, green with envy.

The bunnies were so cute that some of them almost wanted to fight Wang Chuan to the death.

"Do you often do this?"

Miss Qian took a small bite of the meat he handed her and asked.

"Not really. There used to be a girl who always needed looking after," Wang Chuan smiled gently. "I feel like I've been away from home for a long time; I want to go back soon."

Was the night sky here somehow more brilliant and bright?

Wang Chuan looked up at the firmament thoughtfully.

All around was stillness; many people had already drifted off to sleep.

He wanted to rest as well.

Suddenly, his gaze fixed on the horizon.

Amidst the towering clouds, a dark shadow seemed to be moving at lightning speed.

And it was accelerating rapidly.

The bizarre shadow gradually drew closer. It seemed to possess a human face, yet it was covered in dense, fine scales—though not quite like fish scales.

As the figure approached, Wang Chuan saw it clearly.

It had no hair, and its eyes were deep, glowing like emerald ghost fire.

When it swooped down, Wang Chuan felt his scalp tingle.

The demonic creature had a very long body covered in dense, thick, and robust scales.

They presented an iron-armor-like gunmetal hue, looking utterly spectral under the night veil.

A fishy stench washed over it, accompanied by sharp claws shaped like hooks.

Wang Chuan lunged forward, dodging sideways with a flying leap.

Sensing a fierce wind whistling behind him, the creature abruptly folded its body and pursued him.

"Ah..."

A miserable shriek suddenly rang out ahead.

In one of the other houses, someone had met with misfortune.

Wang Chuan had no time to ponder. He drew a dagger and slashed fiercely at the creature!

Clang...

The moment their forces collided, it sounded like a clash of arms, sending sparks flying.

Wang Chuan's hand went numb; his current strength was simply insufficient.

The dagger was knocked from his grip and flew away.

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The sheer force felt like a runaway locomotive crashing into him.

The true qi within his body surged rapidly, sending a warm current through his meridians.

Finally, Miss Qian appeared.

Wang Chuan had waited a long time for this moment.

The serpent-bodied monster possessed two limbs and moved with incredible agility and speed.

Clang...

A long sword slashed out, striking the creature's body, yet it sounded as though it hit iron armor, showering sparks.

Those sharp claws actually managed to grab hold of the long sword tightly.

Moreover, seeing the creature's shape filled Miss Qian with a sense of disgust and revulsion.

Those sharp claws appeared to still be stained with mud.

Things should not have been like this.

Hum—

Its countermeasure was equally horrifying.

Having gripped the sword and steadied itself, the creature suddenly whipped its tail around, lashing toward her.

A sound of tearing wind pierced the air.

Miss Qian instinctively dodged, twisting her neck to the utmost limit.

A few strands of hair fluttered as the tail swept past her.

A few more screams echoed; the situation outside did not look good.

Miss Qian pulled hard on her sword, but it seemed glued to the creature's body.

A streak of fresh blood appeared on the blade, trickling down its length.

The creature opened its mouth, revealing sharp, hook-like teeth.

Its ferocious fangs bared.

Its head and neck suddenly thrust forward, mouth agape, lunging to bite her.

Bang...

Miss Qian abandoned the sword, hurling it forward with force.

The demonic creature was carried backward by the momentum.

Then, palm winds descended like a dense, overwhelming storm!

Hisssss...

The creature shrieked bizarrely. Wang Chuan caught a glimpse of its bright red tongue.

At that moment, it seemed to spit out venom.

Miss Qian dodged in time, watching as the venom landed behind her, corroding a large patch of ground.

The creature lunged at him once more.

Wang Chuan was startled; it seemed he was always the one targeted.

Dodge swiftly, he extended five fingers and summoned the long sword back through the air.

This feat likely stunned both human and demon alike.

Like a dragon, he spun and glided down from above.

Gripping the sword, he thrust it fiercely downward into the creature's body.

Swish...

Its carapace was far too hard; the blade failed to pierce or penetrate it.

Miss Qian closed in as well, suddenly extending two fingers to jab straight at the creature's head.

The demonic creature shrieked in strange agony.

Her two fingers landed right in its pupils—its most vulnerable spot.

Blood seeped out.

Miss Qian felt a burning, searing pain shoot through her hand, as if she were touching red-hot charcoal.

Hardening her heart, she thrust harder.

Her slender, snow-white fingers began to tremble slightly.

Dark green liquid welled up.

The creature's body thrashed violently, as if trying to shake something off.

Wang Chuan pinned it immovably with the Dragon-Catching Claw technique.

Deep within its pupils, the malignant dark-green light finally faded.

It slowly relaxed its grip.

Wang Chuan tossed the carcass into the campfire, where it immediately began to crackle and sizzle.

A faint aroma seemed to waft up.

Miss Qian retrieved her long sword, thrusting it into the ground to support herself as she breathed heavily, panting for air.

Her entire body shivered, cold sweat pouring off her in sheets.

"Let me check."

Wang Chuan was startled and pressed his fingers to her pulse.

The chilling, freezing qi was utterly chaotic, and her body was terrifyingly cold.

Her pale, exquisite face was rapidly losing all traces of color.

"This poison is terrifying."

In the past, Wang Chuan could have easily regulated her yin and yang, but he lacked that strength now.

Furthermore, ordinary medicine could not treat this condition.

Miss Qian grabbed his sleeve, her pale lips parting as if she wanted to say something.

"Quickly enter meditation, don't overthink," Wang Chuan urged hastily.

Yet her cultivation technique also leaned toward the yin and gentle side, making this problem even worse.

Not knowing what else to do, Wang Chuan's mind raced.

"Try to seal the poison first," Wang Chuan suggested.

He gazed at the river of stars, his sight seeming to pierce through layers of the void.

Tomorrow the sun would surely rise, and Wang Chuan could channel the power of solar essence into her body.

Incinerating all things would be a breeze.

Only, given his current cultivation, he had no idea how long the refinement would take.

Upon hearing this, Miss Qian complied.

This meant she would have to suppress her cultivation further; otherwise, a backlash would easily occur and break her suppression.

"Let's go join the others!"

The screams had ceased.

Wang Chuan looked outside again; several more auras had vanished.

Murmuring an apology, he swept her up in his arms, scanned the surroundings vigilantly, and walked outside.

Wang Chuan had long since checked Bai Yun's qi and fortune—he was a man protected by good fortune and would not easily meet his end.

He strode toward the old man's dwelling.

"Mr. Bai!" Wang Chuan shouted loudly.

He no longer feared being discovered at this point.

"Young Master Wang, are you alright?"

Entering the room, he saw the torches burning brightly. They had gathered together to watch over one another.

Put me down—Miss Qian gently tugged at Wang Chuan's sleeve.

That was enough. Wang Chuan quickly set her down and remained on guard.

"Why haven't we seen anyone from the village?" someone wondered aloud. "The ones who attacked us earlier must have been the villagers themselves."

Having lost several companions, they felt deeply aggrieved.

The others were stunned upon hearing this, falling into deep astonishment.

Even if they disliked dealing with outsiders.

With such a massive commotion just now, not a single soul had come out to investigate.

How could there be no fishy business here?

A chilling frost suddenly surged into the depths of their hearts.

(End of Chapter)