56: Outside Ghost Valley, people from all sides gathered.

"Boom!"

The inky black water arrow and the dark golden Puppet body collided violently, erupting in a muffled roar.

The highly toxic Profound Water, capable of easily corroding a third-tier Magical Artifact, merely spluttered a series of "hissing" white smoke upon the glazed vajra, leaving not even a trace.

The massive body of the glazed vajra was only pushed back several meters by the immense impact before it steadily came to a halt.

"Roar!"

Its attack having failed, a hint of surprise flashed in the Black Water Profound Serpent's eyes.

It hadn't expected this small human Cultivator to possess such a sturdy Puppet.

However, this also ignited the Black Water Profound Serpent's wild nature, making it even more ferocious.

"Hiss!"

The Black Water Profound Serpent let out an excited hiss, and its massive serpent tail, like a towering pillar, swept towards the glazed vajra with immense force!

With this strike, it used its full power!

Wherever the serpent tail passed, the air was ripped apart, emitting a piercing sonic boom!

However, just at this moment...

"Now!"

A cold light flashed in Shen Yuanmo's eyes.

He had never intended to clash head-on with this beast.

He had summoned the glazed vajra Puppet precisely to seize this fleeting moment of respite!

"Buzz!"

His hand seal changed, and another glazed vajra instantly appeared beside him.

"Hold it!"

Shen Yuanmo issued the command.

The eyes of both glazed vajras simultaneously lit up with brilliant golden light.

They ignored the terrifying sweeping serpent tail, took heavy steps, and, like two moving metal mountains, fearlessly charged towards the Black Water Profound Serpent from left and right!

"Boom!"

One of the glazed vajras used its indestructible body to directly withstand the terrifying tail sweep. Although it was sent flying backward, it successfully obstructed the Black Water Profound Serpent's attack.

The other glazed vajra had already rushed close to the Black Water Profound Serpent, its fist, as large as a sandbag, burning with golden glazed true yang power, violently slammed into the Black Water Profound Serpent's seven-inch vital spot!

"Bang!"

A muffled thud!

Even with the Black Water Profound Serpent's formidable Physical Body, being directly struck by this punch imbued with supreme yang and rigidity caused it to let out a painful hiss.

The domineering glazed true yang power made it feel as if it were being scorched by raging flames, enduring unbearable pain.

Seizing this opportunity, Shen Yuanmo's figure had already transformed into a streak of light, fleeing at full speed towards the other side of the swamp without looking back!

At the same time, a flash of light in his hand revealed the crimson sun sword, now firmly in his grasp.

He casually swung his sword backward, unleashing a strike!

A hundred-zhang long glazed golden Sword Qi shot forth, carrying a terrifying might capable of burning mountains and boiling seas, slashing towards the Black Water Profound Serpent, which was entangled with the two Puppets!

He did not expect this sword strike to severely injure the opponent.

Its purpose was merely to further delay time and create chaos!

Having done all this, he no longer looked back, pushing his speed to the extreme.

Within a few breaths, his figure had already appeared on the other side of the swamp, then plunged into the dense forest opposite without a backward glance, disappearing from view.

At the same time, the two glazed vajras also exerted their full strength to repel the Black Water Profound Serpent, then pursued in the direction Shen Yuanmo had left.

Behind him, the furious yet helpless roars of the Black Water Profound Serpent could be heard... Half a day later.

Shen Yuanmo's figure appeared outside a deep, silent valley.

This valley seemed like a rift carved directly out of the continuous mountain range by a giant axe from beyond the heavens.

The valley entrance was narrow, perpetually shrouded in a thick, impenetrable gray mist.

Within the mist, faint sounds of ghosts wailing and wolves howling could be heard, sending chills down one's spine.

A cold, deathly aura, capable of eroding the Divine Soul, emanated from within the valley, causing the surrounding vegetation to display a sickly, withered gray color.

This was one of the perilous lands deep within the Baiduan Mountain Range.

Ghost Soul Valley!

According to Heavenly Secret Pavilion's intelligence, the nine-aperture stone milk was located deep within this valley.

However, as Shen Yuanmo prepared to enter the valley, his steps suddenly paused.

His powerful Divine Sense, far exceeding that of his peers, acutely captured several faint yet distinctly different Cultivator auras, lurking in hidden corners around the valley.

Someone was here!

And not just one group!

Shen Yuanmo's brows instantly furrowed.

He immediately restrained his aura, his figure flickering as he silently merged into the shadow of a large rock nearby.

At the same time, he cautiously used his Divine Sense to probe the sources of those auras.

Soon, he understood the situation.

In a concave section of the mountain wall about three li to his front left, three Cultivators were lurking.

These three all possessed fierce auras, their bodies entwined with Evil Qi, and their cultivation was at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage. Judging by their attire, they didn't resemble Sect Disciples but rather Loose Cultivators who had long lived by the sword.

In a dense forest to his rear right, another group of about five or six people was hidden.

They wore uniform black robes with red clouds, exuding a chilling aura. The leader's cultivation had reached the Foundation Establishment Great Perfection Realm, just one step away from forming a Golden Core.

"Cultivators from the Black Fiend Sect?" Shen Yuanmo's heart stirred.

The Black Fiend Sect was a notorious Demonic Path Sect within Baiyue Prefecture, known for its ruthless actions and cruel methods. He hadn't expected them to come as well.

Besides these two groups, Shen Yuanmo vaguely sensed that other observers were lurking in more distant locations.

"It seems the news of the nine-aperture stone milk has still leaked out."

Shen Yuanmo's eyes grew cold.

He didn't know if Heavenly Secret Pavilion had sold the information to multiple parties for maximum profit, or if these factions already had their own intelligence channels.

But regardless, this meant that to obtain the nine-aperture stone milk, he would not only have to face the Ink Jade Qilin, comparable to a Middle Golden Core Stage expert, but also deal with these Cultivators harboring ulterior motives.

The situation instantly became several times more complicated.

"Fine then..."

A cold light flashed in Shen Yuanmo's eyes.

"It's a good chance to let you all scout ahead first."

He made up his mind, deciding to wait and see.

He possessed two glazed vajras with combat power comparable to Early Golden Core Stage experts as trump cards, as well as the immensely powerful glazed true yang divine thunder talisman. In terms of strength, he feared no one present.

But he preferred to be the mantis stalking the cicada, with the oriole behind.

He completely reined in his mind, merging entirely with his surroundings like a true rock, quietly waiting.

He had enough patience.

Because he knew that these jackals gathered here would absolutely not coexist peacefully.

A bloody struggle could erupt at any moment.