102: Chapter 102 Fellow Daoist has misunderstood

Three days later, at night.

Eight Disciples arrived at the forest outside the Sect as agreed; their attire made them look no different from those Loose Cultivators who made a living in the Monster Beast Mountain Range all year round.

The aura on their bodies was also completely different from that of ordinary Tiangang Sect Disciples.

The Sect's higher-ups were naturally aware that these Disciples were following Chen Tai and the other person to the Monster Beast Mountain Range. Not only did they not refuse, but they also specially granted these Disciples some Magical Artifacts to conceal their aura.

Chen Tai and Deacon Lin had also long since prepared everything.

The two of them had also changed into inconspicuous outfits and used a secret technique to mask their auras.

"Depart immediately!" After patting everyone's shoulder as encouragement, Chen Tai was the first to walk out of the mountain forest.

The sooner they waded through these murky waters, the better.

The group of ten left the Tiangang Sect quietly in batches under the cover of night.

Chen Tai and Deacon Lin did not fly on artifacts but chose to travel quickly on foot, supplemented by Talismans that concealed their aura.

Firstly, they didn't want to make a scene, and secondly, it was to prevent spies from other forces within the Sect from exposing their movements.

Both knew the dangers of this trip, so they maintained a high level of vigilance throughout the journey.

More than ten days later.

The Monster Beast Mountain Range stretched on endlessly.

The night wind howled, and the sea of trees billowed.

Occasionally, the roars of low-level Yao Beasts drifted from afar, adding a touch of gloom.

The eight Inner Sect Disciples followed closely behind the two Foundation Establishment Elders, not daring to be the least bit careless.

Although they were full of yearning for the rewards, after gathering in the Monster Beast Mountain Range and being told by Elder Chen and the other that this trip was by order of the Sect Master to investigate the secrets of the Blazing Fire Sect, they couldn't help but feel a bit apprehensive, nervous, and fearful.

"Elder Chen, I wonder how much further this journey is?" a Disciple named Li Ming asked cautiously.

Chen Tai did not look back, his voice sounding somewhat low in the darkness: "At this speed, we can reach the outskirts of the Fallen Phoenix Valley within three days. Remember, our current identity is that of Loose Cultivators. To the outside world, say we are hunting Yao Beasts to sell for Spirit Stones. Unless absolutely necessary, do not come into conflict with other Cultivators. If anything happens, prioritize not exposing your identity and saving your life!"

It wasn't that he truly cared about the lives of these Disciples, but rather he worried that once their identities were discovered by the Blazing Fire Sect, they would likely find it difficult to leave this place.

On the evening of the third day, the group of ten arrived twenty li away from the Fallen Phoenix Valley.

This place was completely different from other areas of the Monster Beast Mountain Range.

The closer they got to the Fallen Phoenix Valley, the more chaotic the Spiritual Qi permeating the air became.

The surrounding trees also appeared exceptionally lush, being unusually tall, seemingly to cover something up.

Furthermore, there was actually a patch of miasma and mist not far away, which was quite different from the intelligence previously obtained about the Fallen Phoenix Valley.

"Stop!" Chen Tai suddenly raised his hand, signaling everyone to halt.

He took out a compass Magical Artifact; the needle on the compass was trembling irregularly, indicating an abnormality here.

"There's something strange ahead." Deacon Lin also released his Divine Sense, his brow furrowed. "Such thick miasma, and there's a faint fluctuation of a Formation. The Blazing Fire Sect has indeed set something up here; I'm afraid it's not as simple as a Disciple trial."

Chen Tai put away the compass and then took out a Talisman shimmering with silver light. After injecting spiritual power into it, the Talisman spontaneously ignited without fire, turning into a silver halo that enveloped the ten people.

This was a Second-tier Medium Grade Breath-Concealing Talisman.

"Zhang Hu." Chen Tai's gaze fell upon a Disciple at the Late Stage of the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

"Disciple is here!" Zhang Hu bowed to receive orders.

Chen Tai took a Talisman from his Storage Pouch and, with a flick of his finger, accurately stuck it to the back of Zhang Hu's neck.

"This is a Sensing Talisman. No matter where you are, I can roughly know your location and safety.

You go ahead to scout the way. Be careful to hide your presence and do not alert the patrolling Disciples of the Blazing Fire Sect.

Once you find something wrong, retreat immediately. After leaving the Monster Beast Mountain Range, find another opportunity to return to the Sect."

"Disciple understands!" Zhang Hu felt a bit nervous and excited.

He had a strong physique, excelled in close combat, and was proficient in Earth and Wood Techniques; he was indeed the best candidate for scouting.

After receiving the order, Zhang Hu began to form hand seals. Soon, spiritual light flashed beneath his feet, and he quickly darted into the dense forest ahead, finally disappearing into the miasma and mist.

After Zhang Hu left, Chen Tai led the group dozens of li away from the spot, found a hidden cave, and set up several concealment Formations.

Inside the cave, Chen Tai held a mirror-shaped Magical Artifact that paired with the Talisman on Zhang Hu's body.

On the artifact, a faint point of light was moving slowly, representing Zhang Hu's position.

After the light point entered the miasma area, it moved cautiously, but its speed was not slow.

"It seems the outer trial defenses of the Blazing Fire Sect are nothing more than this." Seeing the light point moving smoothly, a Disciple couldn't help but whisper, his tone carrying a bit of ease.

Chen Tai did not speak, merely staring at the artifact. Deacon Lin also remained vigilant.

Meanwhile, Zhang Hu, who was in the miasma, had the exact same thought as that Disciple.

For a Qi Refining Cultivator like him who relied on his eyes and experience, this miasma didn't have much of an impact.

He sneaked for several li and did indeed see several teams of patrolling Disciples from the Blazing Fire Sect.

But these Disciples were all listless, and their patrol routes were very rigid. He easily found gaps and bypassed them one by one.

"Humph, is this the Blazing Fire Sect's Disciple trial? I thought it would be more rigorous." Zhang Hu thought disdainfully, and his courage grew a bit.

He quickened his pace, intending to go deeper to scout more valuable information so he could return and claim credit from the Elders.

But just as he passed through a patch of low shrubs and the view suddenly opened up, the look of pride on his face abruptly froze.

The scene ahead hadn't changed at all; it was still the grayish-white miasma and jagged rocks.

But the ground beneath his feet had somehow become as soft as a swamp. A huge suction force came from underground, firmly pinning his feet.

"Not good!" Although Zhang Hu was startled, his movements weren't slow at all. He quickly circulated the spiritual power in his body, intending to use an Earth Escape Technique to escape.

To his surprise, the Earth Escape Technique he was usually so proud of failed this time.

An Illusion Formation!

He realized in an instant that perhaps from the moment he stepped into this area, he had already fallen into the trap set by the Blazing Fire Sect!

Those seemingly lax patrolling Disciples weren't being careless; it was simply unnecessary!

"Swish! Swish! Swish!"

Several figures emerged from the surrounding miasma, all wearing the uniforms of the Blazing Fire Sect. They held Magical Artifacts and surrounded Zhang Hu.

Leading them was a Cultivator at the Tenth Level of Qi Refining, with a smile on his face that seemed to say, "How did another idiot come along?"

"This Fellow Daoist, running into our Blazing Fire Sect's trial Forbidden Ground all by yourself—are you lost, or are you looking for something?"

After a brief moment of tension, Zhang Hu forced himself to remain calm. He put on a panicked and innocent expression, cupped his fists, and said, "Several Fellow Daoists, you misunderstand! I am but a Loose Cultivator from the mountains. I was hunting a first-rank Yao Beast, an Iron-Skinned Porcupine, and unintentionally entered your noble Sect's precious land. I hope you can make it easy for me and let me leave."

To increase the credibility of his words, he had a sudden flash of inspiration and added: "I have more than ten companions waiting for me at the market outside the mountain range. We agreed to meet in three days. If I don't return on time, they will surely come looking for me. If they disturb your noble Sect's Disciple trial then, it wouldn't be good."