Lin Feng remained blissfully unaware that a deadly secret now resided in the hands of a treacherous enemy. After leaving the scene with Chang Gong Xiaojing, the incident quickly faded from his mind as they resumed their search for precious spirit herbs and treasures.
Xiaojing felt like she was living in a dream. Following Lin Feng, rare and valuable treasures seemed to fall effortlessly into their hands. Formidable early or mid-stage Tier 3 demon beasts were dispatched with startling ease, making the perilous dangers others had warned her about feel like distant echoes.
Lin Feng's spirits were high. Previously, confronting Tier 3 beasts required the immense energy drain of the White Tiger Soulrend Talisman. But now, with the Molten Core Fire upgraded to mid-grade, unleashing the Strange Fire alone could overwhelm even a mid-stage Tier 3 beast. It was far more intuitive than the talisman, consumed significantly less energy, and proved itself an utterly reliable superweapon.
They traversed the Black Mist Herb Valley almost leisurely. While they gathered numerous Tier 3 spirit herbs, Tier 4 eluded them—they hadn't yet reached the valley's true heart.
Perhaps they'd chosen the wrong direction. After two full days of travel, every landmark they encountered lay outside their map's boundaries—uncharted territory. Their hope for a swift reunion with their companions dwindled. Eventually, they embraced exploring these unknown lands. Finding Yan Can and the others in mapped areas might prove difficult anyway, they reasoned. They'd meet again after leaving the valley.
Several more days of exploration yielded a rich harvest of treasures and significantly filled in gaps on their sect's map of the valley—a substantial future contribution.
…
That morning, cresting a two-hundred-meter peak, they gazed upon a lake several kilometers distant. Surprise washed over both.
Lin Feng exclaimed, "Is that… Blackwater Lake?!"
"It does look like it..." Xiaojing replied, disbelief coloring her voice. "We've actually reached Blackwater Lake already?!"
Blackwater Lake, roughly five miles across, earned its name from the dense black mist shrouding the sky, casting the waters into deep shadow. It marked a boundary. Beyond it lay the valley's true depths—rumored to hold countless Tier 4 spirit herbs... and inevitably, Tier 4 demon beasts.
Legends told of numerous Golden Core and even Nascent Soul cultivators venturing within ancient times. Few returned alive. But those who did emerged with unimaginable fortunes.
Since the valley became a proving ground for sect disciples, few dared venture so deep. Many sects explicitly forbade disciples from crossing Blackwater Lake, marking it as the absolute limit of the trial.
Xiaojing looked at Lin Feng, who wore a thoughtful expression. "Lin Feng? Do we go further?"
Lin Feng shook his head. "Not for now. Let's scout this area for a few days. Rumors say Tier 4 beasts roam beyond the lake... stumbling upon one would be disastrous. This zone should still hold excellent treasures. We can explore while waiting for the others. Lao Zhang and the group should head this way if they push deeper."
Relieved that Lin Feng wasn't letting overconfidence drive him recklessly forward, Xiaojing nodded. "Yes, that makes sense."
"Then let's keep searching." Lin Feng smiled, turning to Xiao Qiu perched on his shoulder. "Xiao Qiu? Which direction?"
"Qiu..." The little creature tilted its head, sensing intently for a moment before pointing decisively to the right-front.
"Alright, let's go that—Huh?!"
Lin Feng's words cut off abruptly. His gaze snapped toward the distant sky ahead. There, against the gloom, bloomed a brilliant white signal flare!
The sharp crack of its detonation echoed moments later.
"Which sect's signal is that?" Lin Feng murmured, puzzled.
Before the white light faded, a purple, flower-petal shaped flare exploded beside it. Simultaneously, a deep-yellow, sword-shaped flare burst through the air.
Three distinct sect signals—all fired from the exact same location!
Lin Feng processed this for a heartbeat, then turned to Xiaojing. "Something's wrong over there! Let's investigate!"
…
They raced towards the signal's origin. From the mountain, it hadn't seemed far. Yet they ran for half an hour, pushing through dense undergrowth, before breaking into the clearing where the flares had been ignited.
The sight that greeted them brought both Lin Feng and Xiaojing up short. They stared, stunned, at something utterly out of place here...
A black hall!
Before them rose a sheer cliff face. And nestled against it, partially veiled in swirling, shadowy mist, stood a massive black stone hall. It seemed both solid and ethereal, shimmering like a mirage-like illusion.
Yet Lin Feng knew it was real. He could feel it. An overwhelming concentration of spiritual energy, richer and purer than even the celestial aura emitted by the Spirit Spring back in Giant Python Mountain, seeped from within the hall's depths!
"A cultivator's sanctum?!" The thought struck Lin Feng immediately. Could this be the hidden retreat of some immensely powerful cultivator? But… how could such a sanctum exist within the Black Mist Herb Valley? It was unheard of!
The hall radiated an aura of profound significance. If it truly was the sanctum of a mighty cultivator, unimaginable treasures must lie within!
As his mind raced, Lin Feng's eyes scanned the open ground before the hall. A crowd had gathered there—clearly divided into three distinct groups, matching the three signals. They stood locked in a tense standoff, the air thick with hostility.
It seemed conflict had already erupted. Not a full melee, but a clash between the group leaders—three Golden Core cultivators. And judging by the scene, one had emerged victorious against the other two combined.
The two defeated cultivators were being supported by their companions. Both looked pale, their auras diminished—signs of severe energy depletion or injury. The man on the left wiped a smear of blood from his lip and snarled:
"Mu Qingfeng!! Don't push us too far! Do you truly intend to monopolize this hall?! Don't get arrogant! Even if it costs mutual destruction, I swear you won't escape unscathed!!"
The cultivator on the right, equally pale, chimed in venomously:
"Exactly! Mu Qingfeng, don't assume everyone trembles before Verdant Wind Valley! Try to bully us today, and I'll make sure you pay a steep price—even if it costs me my life!"
Opposite them stood a handsome young man clad in elegant cyan robes. A gleaming cyan flying sword hovered above his head. He regarded the two groups with undisguised contempt.
"Mutual destruction? Make me pay?" Mu Qingfeng's voice dripped with scorn. "You DARE speak of mutual destruction? Don't insult me by claiming you held back when fighting me together just now. If you truly feel wronged… by all means, try again." A chilling smile touched his lips. "Though I offer no guarantees of mercy this time."
"..." The two Golden Core cultivators stiffened, expressions twisting with humiliation and helpless fury. The truth stung—they had fought him together, and they had lost. A second attempt would only bring worse defeat.
Mu Qingfeng swept his cold gaze over both groups.
"Fine. I won't claim sole access to the entire hall." His tone was dismissive. "You may enter… after I've been inside for ten minutes. Violate that rule…" His flying sword pulsed ominously. "…and the consequences will be severe."
He turned to the three cultivators behind him—one man and two women.
"Let's go!"