EBE Chapter 165: Cloudy Mountains
Chapter 165: Cloudy Mountains
Clutching his last glimmer of hope, Zhang Yifan gripped the magical artifacts and elixirs he had obtained from the Qingyun Sect's patriarch and fellow disciples, and resolutely set off towards the Cloud Mist Mountains. Throughout the journey, his heart remained taut, the image of his beloved family members on their deathbed constantly flashing through his mind. This image, like a thorn, pierced his heart, yet also became a source of inexhaustible motivation, driving him to travel relentlessly.
After flying for half a month, Zhang Yifan finally arrived at the Cloud Mist Mountains. Even before he got close, a vast, thick fog swept over him, like a solidified cloud, so dense it was almost impossible to disperse, completely obscuring the entire mountain range. Looking up, Zhang Yifan saw the undulating mountains appearing and disappearing in the fog, like a giant dragon sleeping in a sea of clouds, mysterious and dangerous. He knew that this mountain range was his only hope now, and even if the road ahead was fraught with thorns, he had no way to retreat.
Taking a deep breath, Zhang Yifan circulated his spiritual energy, suppressing his aura to the extreme, attempting to minimize his presence and avoid attracting the attention of the mountain beasts prematurely. He cautiously stepped into the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, each step taken with extreme care, as if he were walking on a bottomless abyss. The moment he entered, the dense fog instantly enveloped him, turning the world before him into a white blur, drastically reducing his field of vision to only a few feet in front of him.
Zhang Yifan thought to himself that in such an environment, it was indeed easy to get lost without special methods. Fortunately, he had prepared in advance, having found a secret technique called "Misty Mind's Eye" in the Qingyun Sect's library. This technique could help cultivators determine direction by sensing the subtle fluctuations of the surrounding spiritual energy, making it an unparalleled skill in misty environments. Immediately, he quickly activated "Misty Mind's Eye," closed his eyes tightly, and relied on his divine sense to perceive his surroundings. Gradually, he discovered that the surrounding spiritual energy was not evenly distributed, but rather had subtle flows and fluctuations, like invisible threads guiding his direction.
Guided by the spiritual energy, Zhang Yifan slowly made his way forward. Along the way, he remained constantly vigilant, gripping his longsword tightly to guard against any sudden attacks from demonic beasts. Suddenly, a soft rustling sound came from his right. Zhang Yifan's heart tightened, and he abruptly turned his head to see a slender python, its body covered in scales, slithering towards him. The python emitted a faint green mist, its triangular head held high, its tongue flicking, and its cold, vertical pupils fixed intently on Zhang Yifan. It was none other than the "Acid Python," a common sight in the Cloud Mist Mountains.
Zhang Yifan was startled. He knew how dangerous this "acid python" was; its spewed acid was extremely corrosive. Once it came into contact with skin, it would instantly corrode and fester. If a large amount of acid hit a vital spot, it would be fatal. He dared not be careless for a moment, quickly dodging the python's frontal attack. His longsword flashed out, a sharp sword aura slashing towards the python's vital spot.
However, this "Acid Python" was extremely agile. With a twist in the air, it dodged the sharp edge of the sword energy, then lashed out with its tail, sweeping towards Zhang Yifan with a whooshing sound. Seeing this, Zhang Yifan quickly ducked to avoid it, and at the same time took out a "Flame Burst Talisman" from his storage bag. This "Flame Burst Talisman" was an item he had exchanged at the Qingyun Sect's magic treasure pavilion. It possessed powerful explosive fire force and was most effective against this kind of fire-fearing demon beast.
Zhang Yifan chanted incantations, and with a light flick of his wrist, a "Flame Burst Talisman" ignited a raging inferno in front of the python. Sensing the intense heat, the "Acid Python" was terrified, twisting its body in an attempt to escape. But Zhang Yifan wouldn't let it get away so easily. He pressed his attack, brandishing his longsword and unleashing a series of sword strikes at the python. Finally, under the combined assault of flames and sword energy, the "Acid Python" collapsed to the ground, motionless.
Zhang Yifan remained vigilant, knowing this was merely a minor setback after entering the Cloud Mist Mountains; the dangers ahead would only increase. He continued forward for a short while when a powerful pressure swept over him, causing him to pause. Looking up, he saw a gigantic demonic bird circling overhead, its wingspan reaching tens of feet, its feathers shimmering with a ghostly blue light, emanating the aura unique to a Nascent Soul stage demon.
The Nascent Soul stage demon's gaze was icy. After locking onto Zhang Yifan, it let out a sharp cry, then flapped its wings, creating a gust of wind and swooping down towards Zhang Yifan with immense spiritual power. Zhang Yifan was greatly alarmed. He knew that with his mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, directly confronting this Nascent Soul stage demon was tantamount to throwing an egg against a rock. But there was no way to avoid it now. He quickly activated the Chaos Technique, his spiritual power surging wildly within him, forming a spiritual power shield in front of him.
The Nascent Soul stage demon charged forward like a moving mountain, its fierce attack crashing against the shield with overwhelming force! In an instant, a deafening roar echoed through the heavens, as if the entire world trembled. The immense impact caused the surrounding trees to snap like fragile straws, sending broken branches and leaves flying everywhere.
Zhang Yifan, behind the shield, felt as if his arms had been struck by a heavy hammer. A tingling and numb sensation quickly spread throughout his body, and even the blood and qi within him began to surge uncontrollably. However, at this critical moment, he silently recited the incantation of the Chaos Technique.
The Chaos Technique is an unparalleled skill, its wonder lying in its ability to skillfully absorb and transform external attacks, turning them into a continuous source of spiritual energy. The instant the attack from the Nascent Soul demon touched the shield, Zhang Yifan, with his mastery of the Chaos Technique, successfully guided and transformed a portion of the impact for his own use.
In this way, he not only gained a firm foothold, but also discovered to his surprise that his spiritual power had actually increased! Taking advantage of the moment when the Nascent Soul demon missed its attack and paused to adjust its offensive, Zhang Yifan seized this rare opportunity without hesitation.
His gaze was piercing, locked onto the great demon's weakness—those eyes radiating a fierce light. Then, he moved his hands, unleashing the exquisite Xuanqing Sword Technique. In an instant, the longsword in his hand transformed into a dazzling streak of light, hurtling towards the great demon's eyes with lightning speed.
The great demon clearly sensed the deadly threat emanating from Zhang Yifan. It hurriedly dodged to the side, attempting to avoid the swift and unparalleled sword strike. However, it was ultimately a step too late. Although it barely managed to dodge a vital area, the incredibly sharp sword energy still mercilessly sliced across its wings, causing blood to splatter everywhere.
The wounded demon let out a roar filled with rage and pain, its sound like rolling thunder, deafeningly loud. At the same time, an extremely violent aura erupted from its body, seemingly intent on crushing the human who dared to challenge its majesty.
Zhang Yifan dared not linger in battle. Taking advantage of the great demon's injury and slight slowdown, he desperately fled in the direction guided by the spiritual energy. Along the way, he encountered several more attacks from demonic beasts, including the "Cloud Mist Fox" capable of manipulating clouds and concealing its form, and the gigantic, incredibly strong "Giant Stone Ape." Relying on his superb swordsmanship, rich combat experience, and the magical treasures and elixirs he brought from the Qingyun Sect, Zhang Yifan repeatedly escaped danger.
After several days of arduous travel, Zhang Yifan felt that the surrounding fog seemed to have thinned slightly, and the visibility range had also expanded. A thought flashed through his mind: could it be that he was about to approach the depths of the Cloud Mist Mountains? Just as he was secretly delighted, suddenly, a strong fluctuation of spiritual energy came from not far ahead, like a gust of wind howling past, making the surrounding trees rustle.