19: Hounds in cages, blood and flesh as bait

A streak of azure light tore through the sky.

A terrifying pressure, like a mountain, descended upon the edge of the Mist Forest.

The person who arrived was an old man dressed in a cyan alchemist robe. His face was gaunt, but his eyes were as sharp as two unsheathed swords. His Late Stage Golden Core aura was released without reservation, making the surrounding air viscous.

Hundred Herb Valley Inner Sect Elder, Mu Changqing.

With a flick of his sleeve, a butterfly radiating a seven-colored glazed light flew out.

The Valley's Spirit Beast, the Tracing Butterfly.

This butterfly's ability to track Bloodline auras was unparalleled in the Sanhe City region. As long as the target had a trace of Hundred Herb Valley's blood flowing through them, it could accurately pinpoint their location, even across thousands of mountains and rivers.

"Go, find Su Qingxue."

Mu Changqing's voice was ice-cold.

The Tracing Butterfly flapped its wings, transforming into a streak of light, and plunged into the mist without hesitation.

Mu Changqing and dozens of Hundred Herb Valley Disciples who had rushed over upon hearing the news followed closely behind.

However, the next moment...

The Tracing Butterfly, which had just rushed into the forest, suddenly paused.

Its beautiful glazed wings began to flap wildly and erratically, like a drunken man spinning in place.

In its perception, Su Qingxue's Bloodline aura, which had been crystal clear a second ago, suddenly exploded at this moment!

One, ten, a hundred!

Hundreds of identical "targets," mixed with the medicinal scent of the nine revolutions soul restoration grass and Su Qingxue's blood Qi, appeared simultaneously in all directions of the forest!

"Buzz buzz buzz!"

The Tracing Butterfly let out a painful shriek. Its small head couldn't process the vast and chaotic information, and it fell directly from mid-air.

"Useless!"

Mu Changqing caught the Spirit Beast, his face so gloomy it looked like it could drip water.

He understood.

The enemy had erased all traces and created hundreds of false lures using the aura of his beloved Disciple!

This was a provocation!

This was a blatant humiliation of his Hundred Herb Valley!

"Split up and chase!"

Mu Changqing's voice carried an uncontrollable rage.

"Divide into ten teams. Each team will follow one of the directions given by the Tracing Butterfly. Even if you have to turn this forest upside down, you must find her!"

"Yes!"

Dozens of Disciples received the order, immediately split into teams, and, guided by the Tracing Butterfly's chaotic directions, rushed into the depths of the mist.

An Inner Sect Disciple named Li Ran felt a surge of excitement.

The aura he was pursuing was the strongest among all the scent sources.

In his opinion, this must be the true location!

If he could rescue Junior Sister Su Qingxue, it would be a tremendous Merit, and the Valley Master would surely reward him handsomely!

He crossed a patch of bushes, and an open black swamp appeared before him.

That alluring aura emanated from the center of the swamp.

Without the slightest hesitation, he circulated his spiritual power, lightly tapped the water surface with his toes, and his body soared like a bird towards the center of the swamp.

He did not notice.

The moment he stepped into the swamp's range, dozens of pre-carved, miniature Formations, integrated with the Earth Fiend Qi, were subtly nudged by an invisible force at the bottom of the dead silent swamp.

The entire swamp came alive.

The swamp, which had only been emitting a putrid smell, transformed into the most terrifying meat grinder at that moment.

Li Ran's body had just reached the center of the swamp.

The water surface beneath his feet, without warning, swelled into a huge bubble.

The bubble burst!

What gushed out was not black mud and water, but a gray-black "Earth Fiend Corrosive Qi" so dense it had solidified!

"Oh no!"

Li Ran was greatly alarmed, and his protective spiritual light instantly activated.

However, it was useless.

That Earth Fiend Corrosive Qi, as if the most malicious curse in the world, ignored all spiritual power defenses.

Upon contact, Li Ran's protective spiritual light melted instantly, like ice and snow under the scorching sun, emitting a series of "hissing" sounds.

Next, it was his Physical Body.

"Ah—!"

A shrill, inhuman scream erupted from his throat.

His skin, flesh, and bones, enveloped by the gray-black corrosive Qi, dissolved and vaporized at a visible rate.

In less than two breaths.

A living Late Stage Qi Refining Cultivator, along with his robes and Storage Pouch, completely vanished from this world.

He transformed into a puddle of bubbling pus and blood, merging into the swamp.

And his lifeline, which should have had decades left, suddenly extinguished in Jiang Chen's perception.

On the other side.

Another team, consisting of five Disciples, was led by the scent to a valley.

Inside the valley, large patches of enchanting purple flowers bloomed.

"It's Illusionary Heart Flower! Everyone, steady your Sea of Consciousness, don't look!"

The leading Disciple, experienced, immediately issued a warning.

But it was too late.

The Illusionary Heart Flowers here, nourished by the Mist Formation, were more than ten times potent than those outside!

The floral scent had already invaded their Sea of Consciousness through their breathing.

One Disciple's eyes suddenly turned blood-red.

He looked at his Senior Brother beside him, but what he saw was not a fellow Disciple, but the enemy who had murdered his entire family.

"You dog! Return my family's lives!"

He roared, and the Flying Sword in his hand ruthlessly stabbed towards his Senior Brother's back.

"Pfft!"

Blood splattered.

The Disciple who was ambushed died without understanding why his Junior Brother would try to kill him.

A bloody fratricide quietly unfolded in this beautiful valley... Deep within the forest.

Mu Changqing, anxiously awaiting news, heard a "crack" as one of the soul lantern Jade Slips at the end of the row on his waist shattered.

His heart sank suddenly.

Before he could react.

"Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack! Crack!"

Five more crisp sounds followed one after another!

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, six of the Disciples sent out had already perished!

A chill ran from Mu Changqing's soles straight to the top of his head.

He finally realized.

This forest was not right.

This wasn't a simple killer at work.

This forest itself had become a living, malevolent, giant trap!

And the killer was not the prey.

He was the will of this forest, a devil who could arbitrarily control the life and death of his Disciples!