Translator: CinderTL
The Giant Flying Ship, piloted by Jiang He, moved at incredible speed, quickly covering over 100,000 miles before hovering above a lake.
After waiting for about an hour, a graceful figure appeared on the distant horizon.
Jiang Yushan watched the approaching beauty with a flicker of excitement in his eyes.
As soon as Ye Bing boarded the ship, Jiang Yushan rushed forward to greet her warmly.
"Aunt Ye, you've come."
Ye Bing exuded a cold aura that kept everyone at arm's length. She nodded slightly without replying, her gaze fixed on Song Wen.
Seeing this, Jiang Yushan explained, "This is my nephew's good friend. He's never been to the Rotting Miasma Ridge and wants to join us for the experience."
Noting that Song Wen was merely a nascent soul cultivator, Ye Bing didn't say much. She simply stated, "I'll go rest in my room."
With that, she floated towards the ship's main building.
Once Ye Bing entered one of the many rooms in the building, Jiang Yushan glanced at Song Wen with a raised eyebrow, as if marveling at Ye Bing's unparalleled beauty or perhaps subtly boasting about his own cleverness.
Then, turning to Jiang He, he ordered, "Full speed ahead! Get us to the Rotting Miasma Ridge as quickly as possible."
"Yes, Young Master," Jiang He replied.
The Giant Flying Ship streaked across the high sky like a meteor, crushing fluffy white clouds in its wake, leaving a long, lingering trail.
Suddenly, a towering spire, reaching a hundred feet into the air, appeared below.
This spire was built by the Jiang Family to monitor the Rotting Miasma Ridge. If a large number of demon beasts or poisonous insects were detected, the Formation within the spire would automatically activate, relaying the information.
The Rotting Miasma Ridge spanned the entire western edge of the Qianchang Wilderness, making it impossible for the Jiang Family to cover every inch. Thus, these spires were erected. If signs of a beast tide were detected, the Jiang Family would either attempt to lure the tide toward Demon Subduing City or rush to the nearest city to intercept the advancing horde.
The appearance of the spire signaled that the Rotting Miasma Ridge was near.
To avoid alarming Jiang Lanruo in Demon Subduing City, Jiang Yushan deliberately bypassed the city, entering the Rotting Miasma Ridge from ten thousand miles away.
As the surrounding air grew thick with miasma, the Giant Flying Ship gradually slowed, eventually coming to a complete stop.
At this moment, Ye Bing emerged onto the deck.
"Aunt Ye, the Rotting Miasma Ridge is overrun with demon beasts and poisonous insects. The Giant Flying Ship is too large and will attract their attention. We should travel by air instead," Jiang Yushan said.
Ye Bing remained silent, offering no response. Instead, she simply flew off the ship.
After signaling Jiang He to put away the Giant Flying Ship, Jiang Yushan approached Ye Bing.
"Aunt Ye, Jiang Chao and the others perished in a place called Yin Spider Valley. I have their original route map. Following this path should lead us to some clues they left behind."
"Although Jiang Chao's soul lamp has been extinguished, a faint trace of his divine soul remains, indicating it still exists, likely trapped somewhere. If we can find his divine soul, we can avenge Jiang Hu and bring solace to his spirit in the heavens."
"In those days, I was Jiang Hu's closest friend, like a brother to him. Alas, fate is cruel. He fell victim to Jiang Chao's treachery, dying far too young. Every time I think of it, my heart aches. I wish I could tear Jiang Chao's flesh and sleep on his skin!"
A look of sorrow crossed Ye Bing's face.
"Yushan, I never expected that after more than two hundred years, my Hu'er would still have such a devoted friend. If he has a spirit in the heavens, he must be comforted by your loyalty..."
Standing ten yards behind them, Song Wen listened to their conversation, a chill spreading through his heart.
Jiang Chao's divine soul had clearly fallen into Ye Bing's hands. What was she really after by coming here?
Could it be that she had learned something from Jiang Chao's divine soul?
Meanwhile, Jiang Yushan was still gloating, oblivious to the danger he was in.
Song Wen couldn't care less whether Jiang Yushan lived or died; he was far more concerned about his own safety.
Ever since their first encounter at the Elegant Music Pavilion, Song Wen had been wary of Jiang Yushan's unpredictable temper, fearing he might attack him without provocation. He had often met with Jiang Yushan using a transformation body to avoid revealing his true form.
But today, Song Wen had come in his true form.
Controlling the Cosmic Transformation Body had distance limitations, restricted by the range of Song Wen's Divine Sense. He knew he couldn't secretly follow Jiang He's Giant Flying Ship at full speed.
Left with no choice, he had come in person.
A subtle sense of wariness stirred within Song Wen, and he grew wary of Ye Bing. This woman was clearly not someone to be trifled with.
Jiang Yushan, holding a map, led the way. The map in his hand was identical to the one Jiang Chao had used to guide Song Wen and the others to Yin Spider Valley years ago.
Jiang He and Jiang Shi (formerly Jiang Shan, now renamed Jiang Shi to protect Jiang Yushan) flanked Jiang Yushan, constantly guarding his safety.
Ye Bing followed closely behind Jiang Yushan.
Song Wen walked at the rear.
He had expected Ye Bing to strike the moment the opportunity arose, launching a surprise attack. But she remained stubbornly passive.
On several occasions, Song Wen had thought the perfect moment for an ambush had arrived. If Ye Bing had acted, Jiang Yushan would surely have met his end. Yet she had done nothing as Song Wen anticipated.
"Could Jiang Yushan be carrying some protective artifact that Ye Bing fears?" Song Wen wondered.
As the five of them pressed deeper into the valley, the miasma grew thicker, and they drew closer to Yin Spider Valley.
Suddenly, Jiang Yushan veered to the left.
According to the map, a powerful fifth-tier demon beast lay in wait ahead, posing a grave threat.
But Ye Bing abruptly stopped.
"Aunt Ye, what's wrong?" Jiang Yushan asked, halting and turning back.
Ye Bing pointed to a patch of rocky ground below.
"There are some marks here, as if cut by a sharp blade. Could Jiang Chao and the others have been attacked by a demon beast here that year?"
Jiang Yushan followed her gaze and saw a mark that looked like it had been left by Sword Qi.
The mark was several feet long, half an inch wide, but incredibly deep, with a perfectly smooth cut. It was clearly not the work of a demon beast.
Jiang Yushan's expression froze. He had no desire to provoke the demon beast that had made this place its territory.
Not only would it complicate matters, but it could also derail his plan.
The location he had chosen to ambush Ye Bing was not here.
"These... these sword marks don't necessarily have to be left by Jiang Chao and the others," Jiang Yushan said, attempting to persuade Ye Bing to leave.
"We've traveled this entire path without finding any suspicious traces. Now that we've finally found something that might be related, how can we just let it go?"
With that, Ye Bing flew towards the demon beast's lair.
Simultaneously, a white plum blossom fan materialized in front of her.
The fan, pure white in color, spun around her body, radiating an icy aura.
Jiang Yushan's eyes flashed with a cold glint.
With everything prepared, he couldn't afford to fail at the last moment.
In a split second, Jiang Yushan made his decision: since Ye Bing refused to follow his plan, he would have to advance it.
He urgently signaled Jiang Shi to follow Ye Bing closely.
(End of the Chapter)
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