276: Chapter 276 Purple Bamboo Forest

The outer perimeter of Zhelong Hill, in the southeastern region. Amidst the trees, shadows flickered, and the atmosphere was grim and murderous.

About thirty Cultivators, dressed in uniform blue-gray tunics with small sword emblems embroidered on their chests, were fanning out, meticulously searching every patch of grass, rock crevice, and ancient tree.

Their eyes were sharp, their coordination seamless, and they held standardized longswords with faint wind patterns flowing across the blades. These were the elite "Wind Patrol Guards" of the Wanren Sword Pavilion. Their average cultivation ranged from the Late Stage of the Ningyuan Realm to the Early Stage of the True Martial Realm, with the squad leaders reaching the Middle Stage of the True Martial Realm.

They searched with extreme care, leaving no trace unchecked. Occasionally, someone would crouch to examine broken grass or bloodstains on the ground, while others climbed tall trees to scout the surroundings.

Further away, atop a millennium-old tree standing dozens of zhang tall, Afu sat with his eyes closed in concentration, holding a bronze mirror in his hands. The mirror's surface was hazy, rippling like water. It was a sub-mirror replicated from the "Heaven-Peering Sword Mirror," capable of sensing special Sword Intent like that of the ancient sword pill.

Beads of sweat appeared on his forehead; clearly, activating this mirror consumed a significant amount of energy.

"Commander Fu, in the third area to the northeast, we have discovered what appears to be fresh bloodstains. They have dried, but faint residual energy fluctuations remain, and they do not belong to our Pavilion's Cultivation Technique." A Wind Patrol Guard squad leader reported in a low voice via a sound transmission jade talisman.

"Continue the search, expand the perimeter, and watch for any caves or hiding spots. Maintain vigilance. If you encounter the target or that Yao Beast, do not engage without authorization; signal immediately!"

Afu opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance crossing them, and injected another burst of True Essence into the sub-mirror.

The mirror's surface fluctuated, vaguely pointing toward the direction of the cave where Ye Tian and his companion had departed, but it seemed to be interfered with by the unique aura of Zhelong Hill, making the image very blurry.

Afu frowned, put away the sub-mirror, and with a flicker of his figure, dashed toward the direction reported.

He knew the Pavilion Master was determined to obtain the ancient sword pill; this manhunt could not fail. Ye Tian and the Yao Beast were both severely injured and could not have escaped far!

Meanwhile, on the other side of Zhelong Hill, near a swampy area perpetually shrouded in pale gray miasma.

The air was humid and stifling. A few low-level Yao Beasts drinking at the edge of the swamp suddenly raised their heads in terror, whimpering as they dashed into the depths of the dense forest.

"Rustle... rustle..." Heavy footsteps echoed from the forest, each step causing the ground to tremble slightly.

An exceptionally tall and burly figure parted the dense shrubbery and stepped out.

This person was nearly a zhang tall, bald, and had a rugged face. A hideous scar ran diagonally from his left temple, across the bridge of his nose, to his right cheek, almost splitting his face in two.

He wore only a simple leather shoulder guard on his upper body, revealing a muscular, bronze-colored torso covered in terrifying scars left by various weapons, the freshest of which seemed to still be oozing beads of blood.

On his shoulder, he carried a massive horse-slaying blade the size of a door panel, with a serrated edge and a dark red body that looked as if it had been soaked in countless amounts of blood. Merely carrying it gave one an incomparable sense of oppression. This was Qiu Qianchuan.

He stood there like a moving tower, his shadow completely enveloping the several men in black behind him.

His eyes were not manic; instead, they held an indifference like a deep pool.

"Lord Deacon, the Spirit-Seeking Mouse's reaction is strongest about fifteen li to the northeast, but due to the interference of the chaotic aura here, it cannot pinpoint the location. Additionally, the Wind Patrol Guards of the Wanren Sword Pavilion are searching in the southeast direction, numbering about thirty, led by Afu." A subordinate in black reported respectfully, holding a small gray mouse with a twitching nose and blood-red eyes. The mouse appeared agitated and restless.

Qiu Qianchuan did not speak, but reached out a large hand and gently stroked the blade of the massive horse-slaying blade on his shoulder, his movements carrying an eerie quality.

His gaze drifted toward the northeast direction indicated by the Spirit-Seeking Mouse, then slowly turned toward the southeast.

"That old fox, Ling Juexiao, is quick to act," Qiu Qianchuan said. "Pity, he only knows how to send some small fry."

"Lord Deacon, should we avoid the Wind Patrol Guards and go directly..." the subordinate asked.

"Avoid them?" Qiu Qianchuan's mouth curled, pulling at the scar on his face, making him look even more ferocious. "Why avoid them? Let them search. Only by beating the grass can one startle the snake. When they find them, or... force that rat and the beast to run out themselves, wouldn't that be less effort?"

He paused, a bloodthirsty glint flashing in his eyes. "Besides, this Deacon is quite interested in the Wanren Sword Pavilion's 'Wind Spirit Sword Body.' I wonder if the blood of Ling Juexiao's son, Ling Jianming, will be sweeter? Hehehe..."

The low laughter echoed in the silent forest, chilling to the bone. The subordinates remained deathly silent, knowing full well that this Deacon had a perverse and violent temperament, viewed slaughter as a game, and possessed terrifying strength; he must never be crossed.

"Release more 'Shadow Bats' to cover a twenty-li radius in the northeast direction. Focus on monitoring any areas with abnormal energy fluctuations or where powerful creatures might be hiding."

Qiu Qianchuan ordered, "This Deacon is going to meet Ling Juexiao's 'Wind,' and by the way... see what kind of 'surprises' this Zhelong Hill is hiding."

He took a step and walked unhurriedly toward the southeast, the area where the Wind Patrol Guards were active. The massive horse-slaying blade dragged on the ground, carving a deep furrow, and the vegetation along the way was crushed and flattened by his power.

Everywhere he passed, even the pervasive pale gray miasma dissipated slightly.

Yunni City, Xuanjing Division, top floor of the Star-Gazing Tower. Leng Wenzhou stood with his hands behind his back before a massive crystal window, overlooking the city shrouded in clouds and mist outside.

Behind him, a secret agent of the Xuanjing Division was reporting in a low voice.

"The Wind Patrol Guards of the Wanren Sword Pavilion have entered the southeast region of Zhelong Hill. Qiu Qianchuan of the Shadow Calamity Tower, along with his direct 'Shadow Kill Squad,' has also entered the hill from the northwest side. His direction is unclear, but he has released a large number of 'Shadow Bats,' covering a wide monitoring range. Additionally, remnants of the Water Ghost Gang and several mercenary groups are gathering outside the hill, seemingly with ulterior motives. Currently, no exact trace of Ye Tian and that Yao Beast has been found."

Leng Wenzhou listened quietly, his face devoid of any expression.

"Qiu Qianchuan... this madman has come too." He muttered to himself, "A Body Cultivator at the Middle Stage of the Huahai Realm, combined with that 'Shattering Peak' which has drunk countless blood—Ling Juexiao is likely going to have a headache. Good, let them fight it out."

"My Lord, do we need to send more men to monitor? The depths of Zhelong Hill, after all, involve ancient secrets; if they trigger them..." the agent hesitated.

"Ancient secrets?" A cold sneer curled the corners of Leng Wenzhou's mouth. "That place is a cursed land; whoever touches it meets misfortune. Let them fight, let them scramble. The Xuanjing Division only needs to record, and when necessary... clean up the mess. Remember, our goal is always to ensure the stability of Yunni City, and... the whereabouts of that 'item' the City Lord entrusted us with. Ye Tian and the ancient sword pill are merely bait."

"Yes!" The agent bowed and retreated.

Leng Wenzhou stood alone at the top of the tower, his gaze seeming to pierce through the clouds and mist, cast toward the distant Zhelong Hill, a deep and inscrutable light flashing in his eyes.

Deep in Zhelong Hill, Ye Tian was carefully threading his way through a strange, dark purple bamboo forest. The bamboo stalks were as hard as iron, and the edges of the leaves were razor-sharp.

The resonance of the fragment in his hand grew clearer, guiding him deeper and deeper.

The Dragon Ape on his shoulder suddenly pricked up its ears and warned in a low voice, "Master, something is watching us, many of them, up above!"

Ye Tian's heart tightened. He looked up and saw that above the bamboo forest, within the shadows of the dense purple bamboo leaves, countless tiny blood-red dots seemed to be watching him.

Meanwhile, about ten li away in the southeast, Afu had just finished examining the residual bloodstains. With a gloomy expression, he looked toward the northeast—the exact direction where Ye Tian was. The sub-mirror in his hand was slightly warm.

Further away, Qiu Qianchuan seemed to have sensed something; he stopped, cocked his head to listen, and a cruel smile appeared on his face.