417: Chapter 417 Doing things that would betray Xiaoxuan

The Ten Thousand Miasma Demon Forest stretched for millions of miles.

From high above, the dense canopy layered like waves, dark green, deep emerald, and verdant greens intertwining into a vast ocean where the sun never shines.

Occasionally, flocks of black birds were startled from the canopy, circling and wailing before hurriedly dropping back into the boundless gloom.

Sunlight spilled through gaps in the clouds but was entirely swallowed by the heavy canopy; only at the edges could a few stray rays be caught, plating a dull gold edge onto the dark green sea.

Three figures hung high in the sky.

Ling Hao stood at the front, his green robe snapping in the wind, his gaze scanning the eerie and dark forest, his brow slightly furrowed. Shi Yunyu and Yue Xinxi stood by his side.

Shi Yunyu cast her gaze toward the faint layer of scarlet mist within the woods; the mist steamed up from the gaps in the canopy, like the earth's wounds slowly bleeding.

"When I came in three months ago, the erosion qi wasn't this thick. There must be a change deep inside."

Ling Hao's Divine Thought extended, spreading downward like an invisible tide. Countless hideous auras lurked in the shadows.

Behind tree trunks, under rotting leaves, in caves—dense and packed, like dormant insects and ants. Most were low-level Erosion Beasts, with cultivations ranging from Foundation Establishment to Golden Core; some hadn't even developed intelligence, possessing only bloodthirsty instincts.

Sensing the presence of living humans, they were restless, yet suppressed by some instinctive fear, not daring to approach.

"There's nothing on the outskirts."

Ling Hao withdrew his Divine Thought, his tone indifferent. "Let's go."

With a movement of his body, he took the lead and flew forward.

The three transformed into three streaks of light, piercing the dull sky above the Demon Forest.

Deep inside for tens of thousands of miles, the canopy became increasingly dense, almost forming a solid green dome. From high above, those twisted canopies looked like countless struggling arms, silently grasping toward the sky. The scarlet mist in the air grew thicker and thicker.

Suddenly, the canopy below shook violently, letting out a loud rustling sound, and a massive black shadow burst out from among the branches and leaves.

It was an Erosion Python as thick as a bucket, its body covered in dark red scales, black slime oozing from between the scales, and a pair of vertical pupils glowing with scarlet light.

It opened its massive mouth, revealing four rows of bone-white fangs, and pounced toward Ling Hao, who was in the lead, with a foul-smelling gale.

Ling Hao lightly raised a finger.

An invisible surge of energy shot out, hitting the Erosion Python's head directly. The massive snake's body stiffened abruptly and fell straight from mid-air, crashing into the canopy and sending a shower of broken branches and leaves flying.

Dark red blood flowed from its seven orifices; where the blood dripped, the branches and leaves hissed and emitted wisps of white smoke.

However, this strike seemed to have stirred up a hornet's nest.

More rustling sounds echoed from below, becoming denser and closer. The canopy shook violently as countless Erosion Pythons lunged out from the branches and leaves, varying in size—the smallest only as thick as an arm, while the largest was several times thicker than the previous one.

Their scales shimmered with dark red light in the dimness, their tongues flicked, and hisses rose and fell, merging into a wave of sound that made one's scalp tingle.

Nascent Soul Stage, Soul Transformation Stage, Body Integration Stage... there was even a giant python exuding the aura of the Void Refinement Stage coiled on a distant tree trunk, its vertical pupils full of bloodthirsty greed, coldly watching them.

Yue Xinxi's expression changed slightly, and she subconsciously moved closer to Ling Hao. Shi Yunyu's brow furrowed tightly, her spiritual power surging.

Ling Hao turned his head and smiled at Yue Xinxi.

He raised his hand and gave a light sweep.

A majestic power surged out like a tide, devastatingly turning those lunging Erosion Pythons into fly ash.

From the smallest to the largest, from the nearest to the furthest, not a single one remained. Gray-white powder drifted down, covering the canopy, the vines, and that layer of faint scarlet erosion qi.

The forest suddenly became quiet.

Those restless auras lurking in the shadows seemed to have been choked by something, instantly vanishing.

Ling Hao turned back to look at Shi Yunyu: "Yunyu, is our current position near the habitat of the Golden-Scaled Black Pythons?"

Shi Yunyu withdrew her gaze:

"It should be. With so many Golden-Scaled Black Pythons here, this must be their territory. As for the other Yao Beasts..."

She looked into the distance, the worry in her eyes deepening,

"Even the Void Refinement Stage has been eroded to this extent... the current situation is probably worse than I expected."

As dusk fell, the sky above the sea of trees changed from gray-blue to dark purple, then sank into ink-black.

The erosion qi condensed into a faint red mist in the low-lying areas, as thick as blood.

Occasional low roars came from the distance, mixed with the rustling sound of something moving through the branches and leaves, making one's skin crawl.

"Let's find a place to rest."

Ling Hao's gaze swept across the surroundings, and he chose a towering stone peak.

The three landed above that steep stone peak. The peak rose abruptly from the ground like a giant sword thrust into the sky; the summit was flat and spacious, just enough to fit a small courtyard.

Ling Hao raised his hand and waved; a ray of light flew out from his sleeve and landed on the peak.

The light dissipated, and an exquisite small palace appeared. The palace wasn't large, but it had flying eaves, bracket sets, carved beams, and painted rafters; complex spiritual runes were engraved on the doors and windows, with a faint flow of brilliance.

In front of the hall was a small courtyard paved with bluestone, surrounded by white jade railings, with several spiritual bamboos planted in the corner, rustling in the night wind.

Ling Hao pushed the door open and entered; the interior was already well-arranged. The main hall was covered with a snow-white Spirit Beast fur rug, soft as a cloud to step on; several red sandalwood chairs were arranged in an orderly fashion, with brocade cushions draped over the backs; a set of celadon tea set was placed on the table, with steam still rising from the teapot's spout.

Ling Hao casually set up several Restriction Formations outside the hall and took out a fist-sized Night Pearl to embed in the ceiling. A soft, warm light spilled down, illuminating the entire hall warmly and brightly.

Yue Xinxi followed him directly inside. Seeing that Shi Yunyu was still dazed outside, Ling Hao smiled and beckoned her in:

"Come in. When traveling, we shouldn't mistreat ourselves."

Shi Yunyu stepped into the hall, the rug beneath her feet so soft she almost sank into it. She looked around, her gaze falling on those spiritual bamboos in the corner. The leaves were emerald green and dripping with moisture, and there was a faint flow of Spiritual Qi at the nodes; they were clearly a carefully cultivated variety.

She couldn't help but glance at Ling Hao, speechless for a moment. This man carried a palace with him when he went out?

Yue Xinxi had already sat down on the soft couch by the window, hugging her knees and staring out the window at the darkness blocked by the Restriction's light, somewhat lost in thought.

Ling Hao took out three white jade cups, poured some spiritual tea, and handed one to Shi Yunyu and one to Yue Xinxi.

Yue Xinxi took the tea cup but didn't drink. She stared at the boundless darkness in the distance and said softly:

"Is Laner... really here?" Her voice was so low it was like she was talking to herself.

Seeing Yue Xinxi like that, a surge of pity rose in Shi Yunyu's heart. She sat down beside her and said gently:

"Since we know she came this way, we'll eventually run into her."

She didn't voice the doubts in her heart. How could a Mortal woman survive in the Ten Thousand Miasma Demon Forest? Even if she were a Cultivator, unless she was at the Undergoing Tribulation or Mahayana stage, she would likely face certain death.

But she knew that to Yue Xinxi, this slim hope was more important than anything.

Yue Xinxi nodded, her gaze falling on Shi Yunyu's gentle face, and whispered:

"Lady Shi Ji, thank you."

At this close distance, she could truly feel that sensation... Lady Shi Ji's motherly love.

No wonder he wanted to make a move.

The corners of Shi Yunyu's lips curved slightly, but she said nothing.

The moon reached the middle of the sky.

Yue Xinxi stood up and went to a side room to Cultivate. Her footsteps gradually faded, and the hall returned to silence.

Ling Hao walked out of the hall door to the pavilion in the courtyard. Moonlight spilled onto his green robe, plating it with a faint silver glow.

Shi Yunyu looked out from inside the hall.

She looked at his back.

The moonlight outlined the silhouette of his shoulders and back, elegant and upright.

A subtle feeling suddenly welled up in Shi Yunyu's heart, growing stronger and stronger.

Countless images flashed through her mind.

When he drank that cup of milk tea and said, "It tastes like a mother's flavor," when he brushed a fallen leaf from her shoulder, and all those ambiguous moments over the past month...

Was she going to do something wrong to Shi Qingxuan?

She regretted it a little; perhaps the marriage partner could actually be herself?