"Captain, what should we do now?" the giant asked.
Hong Luàn narrowed his eyes, a sharp glint within them. He mused, "The most important thing right now is to complete the mission as soon as possible. The reward for this mission is a favor from Master Xue Butong. If I can complete it, I can even ask Master Xue to take me as his disciple and teach me the art of a Spiritual Craftsman. When that happens, my position in the clan will be even more secure, maybe even on par with those five."
As it turned out...
Hong Luàn's Demon Blood Squad had just returned to Shishui City a few days ago after completing another mission. It was then that they discovered the Restoring Yin Grass mission posted by Xue Butong and accepted it at the Underground Alliance.
They should have arrived here days ago, but an auction at the Underground Alliance was about to take place, so Hong Luàn delayed for some time. Only after the auction ended did he lead the Demon Blood Squad here. He had been resting while the giant and the others went out to find food, never expecting to run into Hong Yu.
A trickle of blood hung from the corner of the giant's mouth. His large, round eyes flickered with venom and resentment as he said in a low voice, "Captain, are we just going to let that brat go?"
"Let him go? Hmph. Have you ever seen anyone who offended me come to a good end?"
Hong Luàn's crimson tongue darted out to lick the corner of his lips, a savage and cold look on his face. He said lightly, "However, the most important thing now is completing the Restoring Yin Grass mission. This matter is crucial. As for that Luoo... *jiejie*... if my guess is correct, he's probably here for this mission too. When the time comes, we'll have plenty of opportunities for revenge."
"Young Master is brilliant!"
The giant said quickly.
Hong Luàn glanced at Skinny's gruesome corpse and frowned. "Bury him. We're picking up the pace and heading to the Valley of the Dead!"
「...」
「Clear Water River.」
This river flowed through the entirety of the Dead Soul Mountain Range. On the bank of one of its segments, a masked youth darted through the trees with the agility of an ape and landed by the shore.
'Damn it, good thing I ran fast enough. Otherwise, I would've been in trouble if I ran into Hong Luàn.'
Hong Yu took off his mask and let out a long sigh of relief.
On the path of the Martial Dao, the higher the realm, the greater the disparity in strength.
Thanks to his Primordial Veins and body, which had become exceptionally tough after being nurtured by the Profound Celestial Tower, and supplemented by his vast combat experience, Hong Yu was not only fearless against powerhouses of the same realm but could even challenge those a level above his own.
However, this kind of cross-level combat had its limits.
Even if he broke through to the Ninth Layer of the Essence Realm in the future and could disregard any powerhouse within the Ninth Layer Realm, he would be no match if his opponent were in the Earth Soul Realm.
After all, once a Martial Artist reached the Earth Soul Realm, their Primordial Veins would be fully formed. After condensing a Primordial Spirit, they would be able to wield the Power of Primordial Spirit. This power was far more formidable than brute strength or physical prowess. Even the weakest Earth Soul Realm powerhouse could easily kill the strongest Peak of Essence Realm powerhouse.
This was a fundamental difference that could not be easily overcome or ignored.
Although Hong Luàn had not yet reached the Earth Soul Realm, he was already at the Peak of the Ninth Layer of the Essence Realm, just one step away from condensing his Primordial Spirit. What's more, he had four members of the Demon Blood Squad with him. In his current condition, it was obviously unwise to fight them head-on.
'Why are Hong Luàn and his Demon Blood Squad in the Dead Soul Mountain Range? Could it be they also accepted the Restoring Yin Grass mission?' Hong Yu splashed the cold river water on his face, his gaze deep in thought. 'I hope this is just a coincidence! Otherwise, I'm afraid this mission won't go so smoothly!'
'Whatever. The Restoring Yin Grass mission concerns Yaoyao's life. Even if I really have to face Hong Luàn, I can only fight to the death.'
Hong Yu's gaze was deep and resolute.
Yun Mengyao was his, and he would absolutely not allow any harm to come to her!
After resting for a while, Hong Yu continued on his way.
The Valley of the Dead was located in the middle section of the Clear Water River. When he had accepted the mission, he had also received a map from the Underground Alliance.
In the middle section of the Clear Water River was a massive waterfall, and the entrance to the Valley of the Dead was behind this great cascade, which resembled a Galaxy Falling from Nine Heavens.
Hong Yu spent a day and a night traveling and finally arrived at the waterfall outside the entrance to the Valley of the Dead.
He didn't rush into the Valley of the Dead. Since he suspected that Hong Luàn and the Demon Blood Squad might also be there for the Restoring Yin Grass mission, he had to be extra cautious. He crouched in a hidden spot and waited for half a day. Seeing no unusual activity, Hong Yu finally began to sneak carefully toward the waterfall.
The entrance was a rock cave about ten meters high. Hong Yu passed through the turbulent curtain of water and finally stepped inside.
Perhaps because of the waterfall outside, the cave passage was extremely damp and cold. The moment he entered, Hong Yu felt gusts of sinister, cold wind, and goosebumps erupted all over his skin. A faint, rotten, fishy smell filled his nostrils, making him feel nauseous. Fortunately, he had prepared for this and had Scented Herbs in his mouth to ward off the odor, which lessened the sick feeling somewhat.
Hong Yu fumbled his way through the dark cavern.
The cave passage was very long, and the darkness made it difficult to advance quickly. It took Hong Yu a full two hours to see the exit. Beyond the cave mouth was the Valley of the Dead!
If the lands outside the Dead Soul Mountain Range were merely treacherous terrain with ambushing Desolate Beasts, then the inside of the Valley of the Dead was an Asura Purgatory.
The entire Valley of the Dead spanned several thousand square meters and was flat as far as the eye could see. But this flat ground was piled high with ghastly white skeletons—human, ordinary beast, and even powerful Desolate Beast skeletons. Not far in front of Hong Yu lay the seven-meter-long carcass of a giant python. A piece of rotting flesh still clung to its stark white bones, emitting a pungent stench, with a swarm of flies circling above it.
All this was the food captured by the Tier One Advanced Desolate Beast that resided in the Valley of the Dead: the Red Yin Poison Scorpion.
As far as the eye could see, there were no fewer than ten thousand skeletons in the entire Valley of the Dead!
"Hm?"
Hong Yu's pupils contracted. He had spotted a black figure slowly moving several hundred meters away.
Not daring to be the least bit careless, Hong Yu quickly ducked to the side and focused his gaze.
About three hundred meters away was an open area where the soil was dark red—the result of being irrigated with blood for years, causing a qualitative change in the earth. In the center of this clearing, a black figure was dragging a Tusked Demon Pig over five meters long and beginning to feed.
This creature was the Red Yin Poison Scorpion.
'So this is the Red Yin Poison Scorpion? What a ferocious beast. It really lives up to its reputation!'
In Hong Yu's line of sight, the Red Yin Poison Scorpion's body alone was five meters long, not to mention the hooked scorpion tail over three meters long on its back. Even from several hundred meters away, Hong Yu could still see the dark venom glistening on its poisonous tail—a deadly poison that even an Earth Soul Realm powerhouse would fear!
Hong Yu didn't act rashly. He was accustomed to formulating a plan before making a move.
「A short while later...」
Hong Yu finally discovered the goal of his trip in the center of the clearing where the Red Yin Poison Scorpion was located—the Restoring Yin Grass!
This Restoring Yin Grass used fresh blood as nutrients and deadly poison as a growth stimulant. This was the only place in the vast Dead Soul Mountain Range where it grew. Furthermore, the Red Yin Poison Scorpion loved to devour poisonous things, and this Restoring Yin Grass was one of its favorite foods. The only way to obtain it was to kill the Red Yin Poison Scorpion!
'I have to set everything up before it discovers me, then lure it over.'
Hong Yu mused.
Faced with a Red Yin Poison Scorpion whose defenses were so tough that even an Earth Soul Realm powerhouse would struggle to break them, and which also possessed an unparalleled poison, even a Late-stage Earth Soul Realm powerhouse would have to deal with it carefully.
He took out the items he had prepared from his bag.
One by one, the Antitoxic Pill, Cloud-Piercing Bow, and Armor-piercing Arrows appeared...
Hong Yu first took an Antitoxic Pill. This was to prevent being struck by the scorpion's poisonous tail during the upcoming battle. Then, using other tools he had purchased, Hong Yu set up three traps, all specifically designed for a Desolate Beast with astonishing defenses like the Red Yin Poison Scorpion.
Once everything was in place, Hong Yu took out the Cloud-Piercing Bow and an Armor-piercing Arrow.
If he hadn't broken through, Hong Yu would have definitely needed to make more thorough preparations. However, with his current cultivation, he no longer feared a Mid-Ninth Layer Essence Realm powerhouse. Combined with the three traps, it was enough to deal with the Red Yin Poison Scorpion!
Staring at the distant Red Yin Poison Scorpion, Hong Yu took a deep breath, nocked an arrow to his bow, and took an Arrow Step forward. With a low shout, he abruptly exerted his strength. Powerful force traveled from his legs, up through his waist, and finally converged in his arms. The muscles in both his arms bulged instantly, filled with explosive power.
The tough Cloud-Piercing Bow was drawn into a full circle with a CREAKING sound.
TWANG!
WHOOSH!
The bowstring vibrated, and the sharp arrow tore through the air.
The piercing, wind-breaking sound echoed through the Valley of the Dead, instantly attracting the Red Yin Poison Scorpion's attention. It instinctively sensed danger and prepared to dodge, but Hong Yu had put all his strength into this shot. The arrow was so fast that the Red Yin Poison Scorpion had no time to evade.
THUD!
With a muffled sound, the Armor-piercing Arrow penetrated the Red Yin Poison Scorpion's thick carapace and embedded itself in its back. The shaft of the arrow trembled, and the fletching at its tail quivered.
ROAR!
The Armor-piercing Arrow was incredibly powerful; it could even pierce the Law Enforcement Divine Armor. The intense, sharp pain caused the Red Yin Poison Scorpion to let out a piercing roar. But the scorpion was simply too powerful. Unless a vital spot like the heart was hit, it was difficult to kill it with a single blow. It violently flung away the Tusked Demon Pig in its maw, its eight long legs scrabbling as it turned to face Hong Yu.
ROAR!
The Red Yin Poison Scorpion locked onto Hong Yu's aura and, with an enraged roar, charged swiftly toward him.
The creature was enormous and immensely powerful. It plowed through skeletons like an autumn wind sweeping away fallen leaves, sending ghastly white bones flying into the air. A storm of bone fragments kicked up in its wake, and its menacing momentum was no less imposing than that of a charging army of thousands.
A sharp killing intent washed over Hong Yu, making his heart sink.
"Damn beast! No matter how ferocious you are, I, Hong Yu, will take your life today!"
Hong Yu showed no fear. On the contrary, his fighting spirit soared!
A long spear appeared in his hand. Normally, this spear could be disassembled into several sections for easy carrying, but it could be assembled into a weapon for combat.
With the spear in hand, Hong Yu's heroic spirit soared.
He too let out a roar and charged toward the Red Yin Poison Scorpion...
The most difficult and dangerous battle of Hong Yu's life had just begun.
Would Hong Yu's skill prove superior?
Or would the Red Yin Poison Scorpion's ferocity prevail?
Everything was still unknown!