196: A secluded peach grove, where peach blossoms obscure the air, and deadly poisonous bees lurk!
Chen Changsheng led Chen Chuanwen toward the dense forest in the distance. Only upon approaching did they discover that it was actually a Peach Forest.
"How strange, there are only peach trees here; it's truly strange!"
Chen Changsheng looked at the sea of pink in the Peach Forest with a puzzled expression. Logically, the vegetation on a mountain should be diverse, not limited to a single species. Moreover, peach trees were not a highly aggressive species; they shouldn't be preventing other plants from growing!
"Father, when things are abnormal, there must be demons at work. We should be careful!"
Chen Chuanwen said with a furrowed brow. He had always been cautious and had already taken out his own Magical Artifact.
"Mm, you're right. But since this place is at the bottom of the back cliff of our Jade Dragon Peak, we cannot choose not to explore it. After all, it's far too close to our home!"
Chen Changsheng nodded, then took the lead and stepped into the Peach Forest ahead. Seeing Chen Changsheng enter, Chen Chuanwen feared for his safety and had no choice but to follow him into the Peach Forest!
"There's no danger. I must say, the scenery in this Peach Forest is truly beautiful!"
Chen Changsheng walked into the Peach Forest and traveled forward for a hundred meters, remaining safe and sound without encountering any attacks!
Instead, this pink Peach Forest gave one the feeling of being in a dream. The peach blossoms on the trees and the fallen petals dyed this place into a world of pink.
"Father, don't be careless!"
Chen Chuanwen had already taken out the White Cloud Cover and shielded himself with it. He held the golden seal in his hand, ready to attack at any moment, looking extremely cautious.
"Mm. I know. Let's continue forward and see what lies in the depths of this Peach Forest!"
Chen Changsheng nodded. He did not ignore Chen Chuanwen's reminder and similarly raised his guard, traveling several hundred meters further ahead.
"Eh, what is this smell? It's surprisingly sweet!"
Chen Changsheng suddenly stopped. He smelled a cloying scent, a fragrance like peach juice made from ripe peaches, incredibly sweet.
"Not good, Father, don't inhale! It's miasma!"
Chen Chuanwen furrowed his brow, then, as if suddenly remembering something, quickly shouted to Chen Changsheng.
Chen Changsheng also felt a wave of numbness in his body. He hurriedly held his breath and circulated his mana to regulate his breathing, only then recovering.
"Father, look, that red cloud ahead!"
Chen Chuanwen said, pointing his finger forward. Chen Changsheng looked up and saw that, a few dozen meters away, wisps of pink mist had gathered together like a cloud. This cloying scent was clearly being emitted by that red cloud!
"It really catches one off guard. I didn't expect a Peach Blossom Miasma to be hidden here. I only inhaled a few wisps of the scent and already feel numb all over. If we had rushed into the Peach Blossom Miasma, we likely would have been unable to move immediately!"
Chen Changsheng wiped the cold sweat from his forehead and said with some relief. If it hadn't been for Chuanwen's reminder, he would have likely walked straight into the Peach Blossom Miasma!
"Father, what should we do? Should we advance or retreat?"
Chen Chuanwen looked back at Chen Changsheng, waiting for him to make a decision.
Chen Changsheng frowned, looking at the distant Peach Blossom Miasma, and fell into deep thought. He was unwilling to go back without understanding the situation here, but he truly had no way to cross this Peach Blossom Miasma!
"Eh, Chuanwen, didn't you inhale the miasma just now?"
Chen Changsheng looked at Chuanwen, his eyes suddenly lighting up. Chen Chuanwen shook his head; clearly, his defensive Magical Artifact, the White Cloud Cover, had blocked out the scent of the Peach Blossom Miasma!
"Since that's the case, I think your White Cloud Cover should be able to block this Peach Blossom Miasma. Let's go in and try!"
Hearing Chen Changsheng's words, Chen Chuanwen frowned, but he did not object. He expanded the range of the White Cloud Cover, enclosing Chen Changsheng within it as well!
The two of them cautiously entered the Peach Blossom Miasma. Suddenly, Chen Chuanwen furrowed his brow and said to Chen Changsheng:
"Father, the White Cloud Cover can indeed block the miasma, but with this red cloud before us, I can't tell the direction at all!"
Chen Changsheng pondered for a moment, then suddenly thought of the wondrous item he had refined—the formation-breaking golden eye water-repelling pearl!
This pearl possessed the abilities to break formations, break illusions, see far distances, and repel water; perhaps it could see through the Peach Blossom Miasma!
"Don't worry, Chuanwen, let Father try a method!"
Things had reached this point; he might as well treat a dead horse as if it were still alive. Whether it worked or not, he had to try. Subsequently, Chen Changsheng took out the formation-breaking golden eye water-repelling pearl.
He poured a stream of mana into the pearl. It spun in the air, then emitted a burst of golden light. This golden light shot straight ahead, illuminating the path clearly, and pierced directly through the red cloud of the Peach Blossom Miasma!
"Not bad, it really is useful. Let's go, Chuanwen, let's continue forward!"
Seeing that the precious pearl was effective, Chen Changsheng was overjoyed. He carried the pearl in one hand while leading the way forward.
"Father, this Peach Blossom Miasma is corroding my White Cloud Cover. My mana cannot support it for too long, so we must be quick!"
Chen Chuanwen said with a furrowed brow. Chen Changsheng nodded and led Chuanwen along the path of the golden light.
Finally, at the last moment before Chuanwen's mana was exhausted, the two of them walked out of the range of the Peach Blossom Miasma and arrived in the depths of the dense forest!
"We finally made it out!"
Chen Changsheng looked back at the Peach Blossom Miasma and took a deep breath, then he scanned the depths of the Peach Forest where they now stood.
"Eh, the peach trees here are much taller than the ones outside!"
Chen Changsheng scanned his surroundings. There was no miasma here, only tall peach trees, reaching nearly three meters in height. The peach trees outside were not this tall.
"Father, let's be careful. I feel like this place is also a bit abnormal; it certainly isn't simple..."
Chen Chuanwen said to Chen Changsheng beside him while taking a Medicinal Pill to restore his mana.
"Father knows. I will wait for your mana to recover, then we shall continue!"
Chen Changsheng nodded, holding the precious pearl, and acted as a Protector for Chen Chuanwen.
An hour later, Chen Chuanwen's mana had recovered, and the two cautiously walked into the Peach Forest.
The journey was quite quiet, and there was no danger. Chen Changsheng even began to suspect if he had been overthinking things.
Just at this moment, Chen Changsheng suddenly heard a buzzing sound. He looked back at Chuanwen and asked:
"Do you hear a buzzing sound?"
Chen Chuanwen furrowed his brow and tilted his head to listen. Then, he looked toward the depths of the Peach Forest and said in a low voice:
"Indeed, the sound is coming from ahead!"
Just as Chen Changsheng thought of going forward to investigate, the buzzing sound ahead suddenly intensified, and a black cloud flew over!
What is that?
Chen Changsheng couldn't help but frown. When the black cloud drew near, Chen Changsheng's pupils couldn't help but constrict, and he shouted:
"Not good! It's the damn Man-Killing Bees! And it's a swarm of Man-Killing Bees!"
Chen Chuanwen did not know the ferocity of the Man-Killing Bees, but Chen Changsheng understood them all too well. The "Hundred Gu Arts" recorded the ranking of all Gu insects in the world, and the Man-Killing Bee was ranked seventh among the Mortal Gu!
Its stinger was highly poisonous; if someone at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining was stung even once, they would lose half their life. And once one encountered a swarm of Man-Killing Bees, there was absolutely no path to survival for anyone below the Foundation Establishment stage!
One could only be stung to death in agony!