Path to Heaven

After affirming that no one had tailed him, and clarifying his location, Wei Suo then casually hid in a random tree hollow before retrieving out the two lotus leaves of the Mythical Underworld Immortal Lotus.

Adding the two lotus leaves together, it was roughly the size of a palm; sparkling and translucent like black jade. Carefully observing at eye level, he could distinctly see tiny veins like blood vessels.

At present, although the leaves were plucked, it still exuberated a bone piercing chill when placed within his hand; feeling as though it accumulated an astonishing amount of spiritual energy. One could also clearly sense a unique ice elemental energy contained within it.

Wei Suo was currently doubtful that were he to directly swallow it, would his stomach turn into a lump of ice.

“This treasure presents a chance for an ordinary cultivator to transform into an Ice Spirit Root cultivator. Do you really think it can be easily refined?” the Old Man scoffed. “You must bind it with true energy, and gradually refine it. With your current cultivation, without a month or two, it will be absolutely impossible to refine it……..however to refine it in such a crude manner, the medicinal powers of the Mythical Underworld Immortal Lotus would be counteracted by your true energy. Therefore, to fully exhibit the maximum efficacy of the two lotus leaves, you must obviously compliment them with other spirit medicines, and concoct a Great Mythical Underworld Pellet.”

Wei Suo could understand the underlying meaning. “Old Man, you know of its concoction recipe?”

The green gowned Old Man arrogantly replied, “Apart from the Great Mythical Golden Pellet recipe that can assist one to cultivate a Golden Spirit Root, I am knowledgeable about the other pellet recipes. Besides, I experienced many generations of masters, and most desired to become spirit root cultivators……but let’s not talk about raw materials, just based on your current concoction standards, concocting one would simply be a waste of raw materials. Either we seek out a powerful concoction master, or until you can reach the Heavenly Circuit stage level 4-5; finally possessing adequate proficiency in fire techniques and after familiarizing yourself with concocting various pellet medicines.”

“Darn, looks like I should just directly swallow and slowly refine it.”

After storing back the Mythical Underworld Immortal Lotus, Wei Suo sneakily crept out of the tree hollow. Following the pointers on his map, the Purple Cloud Ginseng growth region wasn’t far from his current location; roughly a kilometre or 2 east from here.

At this moment, Wei Suo had already kept his Concealment Robe, and while he had just probed out of the tree hollow, his hair suddenly stood on end. Even the green gowned Old Man couldn’t help but gasp in shock.

At the area 6 metres ahead of him, actually perched an old crow that appeared the size of an eagle…..

This old crow was completely crow-black, even its eyes were black; except for its pair of white claws, which gave more contrast to its dark shade.

Ghost King Crow!

One cannot simply observe this foolish stagnating old crow and deem it nonthreatening based on its appearance, because it was a low-tier level 6 demonic beast.

Not only could it conjure up streaks of destructive dark energy, this demonic beast’s specialty lies in its frightening speed that was swifter than most artifacts. Once it swooped in, it would appear like a ghostly image, casting its shadows in all directions; confusing the opposing cultivator to be incapable of determining its true body.

A low-tier level 6 demonic beast. Without the aid of a powerful artifact, aligning to the experiences known within the cultivation world of the Heavenly Profound Continent, only a Thought Division Stage level 1 cultivator could defeat such an existence alone!

For a demonic beast of such level, in the best scenario if Wei Suo were to triumph, he would inevitably have to pay a tremendous price to only earn a bitter victory…….

Hence, Wei Suo turned stiff on the spot. If the Ghost King Crow wasn’t going to initiate any assaults, then he definitely didn’t dare to make a single movement.

That level 6 Ghost King Crow surveyed Wei Suo with a pair of crow-black pupils with great interest. Clearly for a demonic beast of such level, it possessed keen intellectual.

As though weighing its current options, the Ghost King Crow batted a malicious glance at Wei Suo with foreboding deterrence…..Shua! It vanished before Wei Suo’s eyes. It was as though it was urgently seeking out something, and didn’t wish to waste time over here……

“Big brother Ghost King Crow, you truly understand the logic of ‘better to squash enmity than to keep it alive’!”

Wei Suo’s back was drenched in cold sweat.

The speed of the Ghost King Crow was truly terrifying. Moreover, when it was stationary, it didn’t appear much; but when it took flight, its back feathers would morph into a shape of a malevolent ghostly face. It truly embodied the extravagant spectacle of a level 6 demonic beast.

“That Ghost King Crow is also an Yin element type demonic beast. It seems like it has been lured in by the aura of the Mythical Underworld Immortal Lotus.” The Old Man then warned with great apprehension. “From now on, don’t take your Mythical Underworld Immortal Lotus out.”

“Wasn’t it you who wanted to observe it!” Wei Suo cursed silently, deciding that he wouldn’t retrieve it even if one would beat him to death.

A deer-like demonic beast suddenly skipped past the rocky area ahead; a pair of red pointy horns sprouted on its head, and its 4 hooves were combusting with flames……

After a brief moment, a teary face Wei Suo resurfaced from the messy pile of rocks.

Charming Flame Devil Deer!

Yet another level 6, low-tier demonic beast.

It was now, that Wei Suo finally understood the extent of high level demonic beasts present within Sky Valley.

Furthermore, he was presently only in the outskirts of Sky Valley, not even 10-15 kilometres in. If he continued advancing deeper to the mountains of flourishing spirit medicine plants, he couldn’t imagine what kind of demonic beast he’d encounter. Moreover, Wei Suo could confirm that for cultivators daring to enter deeper, they would surely be a class above him.

This further solidified Wei Suo’s resolve that if he couldn’t find that Amethyst Fox rose, he would turn and leave rather than harboring notions of risking to advance deeper……

“We’re here, this should be the place.”

Fortunately, after consecutively encountering 2 powerful demonic beast he had never seen before, Wei Suo finally arrived nearby the growth area of the Purple Cloud Ginseng; the area demarcated on the previous blue robed cultivator’s map.

“The Purple Cloud Ginseng relies on absorbing wood spirit energy to grow. Check if there are any particularly ancient trees within the area.” The green gowned Old Man notified him.

With a sweep of his gaze, Wei Suo noticed a particularly large tree, a massive tree that would require 10 others to surround it.

It was so humongous that even its tremendous branches would have several thick branches growing out of it.

Wei Suo cautiously flew towards the front of this gigantic tree.

In a flash, Wei Suo’s expression changed drastically as he directly summoned out his spirit-class defensive artifact. Concurrently, his black arrow was lodged within his hand…..

At the side of this gigantic tree, a pit had evidently been dug out by someone. Moreover, that person had dug as deep as the tree’s roots.

The scattered soil around the pit was evenly distributed. Naturally, the excavation was done meticulously; undoubtedly, the work of a cultivator.

Since a cultivator had already explored this area, then the Purple Cloud Ginseng must’ve already landed in another’s hand. Furthermore, Wei Suo couldn’t tell for sure if that cultivator wasn’t still hidden around here.

After Wei Suo summoned out his Scarlet Shell shield, he simultaneously activated two layers of divine light screens. Then carefully, he retreated step by step towards the left of this forest.

Though no cultivator had surfaced, Wei Suo still felt extremely dejected after retreating into the depths of the forest.

A Purple Cloud Ginseng worth more than 20 Golden-Spirit Pellets had, just like that, fallen into another’s hands……

However, due to the possibility of the more crucial Amethyst Fox rose, Wei Suo didn’t pause for long. Heading towards the rough direction Shopkeeper Tian had supplied him with, he continued advancing.

While he headed north-east, and approached closer towards the growth region of the Amethyst Fox rose, the white fog pervading the forest grew denser and denser.

Initially after employing a night-vision object allowing him special true sight technique, back at the unhindered region of that earthen pit Wei Suo previously was, he was still able to clearly view the scenery several hundred metres away. However, following his advancement into the north-eastern region, the region where the Heaven’s First Sect had occupied, Wei Suo’s current vision could not even exceed 7 metres.

Moreover, the white fog apparently had a property that could obstruct one’s divine sense. Even the green gowned Old Man’s senses could only reach approximately 10 metres……

Still, Shopkeeper Tian’s message was extremely detailed. Thus, after more than half an hour, Wei Suo had precisely reached the position that Shopkeeper Tian had demarcated.

Before Wei Suo’s eyes, was a mountain valley that wasn’t very large.

Within this mountain valley, were fragmented wreckages of erected stones that resembled the pillars of palaces. Yet on closer observation, one would discover that those remnant fragments of stone pillars were actually formed naturally, and were exceedingly strange.

“Wait!”

Wei Suo surveyed the area; after sensing there wasn’t any movements, he was about to put on his Concealment Robe and enter. But the Old Man’s voice abruptly rang inside his ears, as though a rival had descended.

“What?” Wei Suo immediately tensed up as he scanned his surroundings.

“Immortal Exterminating Vine! It really is an Immortal Exterminating Vine!” The green gowned Old Man’s voice was overwhelmed with amazement. “No wonder, that Amethyst Fox rose that grew 2 centuries ago hadn’t been harvested by any cultivator, or devoured by any demonic beast!”

“Immortal Exterminating Vine?” Upon hearing the old man’s words, Wei Suo finally focused his attention into the mountain valley; those enormous maroon vines that were as big as a human’s thigh.

Previously, when Wei Suo had gazed over, he had mistook them as trees. Instead, now he discovered that those thick vines meandered and bound over those erected stones. Moreover, on those enormous maroon vines, grew incisive leaf blades that appeared like mouths.

“What exactly is that ghastly thing?” Knowing there was definitely something wrong, Wei Suo immediately asked.

The Old Man answered, “What you say isn’t wrong, it is indeed a ghastly object. Its defensive strength is akin to a level 6 mid-tier demonic beast. Once it senses the true elemental energy aura of a cultivator, it would swarm in with insatiable frenzy. A man-eating carnivorous plant that would suck a cultivator into a corpse. In the past, the Mother Heaven Sect utilized such a plant to guard their mountain sect entrance. Even a Thought Division Stage level 5 cultivator would find himself incapable of easily infiltrating, because this ghastly object that normally appears stationary, would actually surge in like a hive of bees once aroused; one would find himself unable to deal with it.”

“Wakao! Then why didn’t Shopkeeper Tian mention this earlier.” Wei Suo couldn’t help crying out. “Then what should we do now?”

“He only heard from others, how would he know. I reckon that cultivator should’ve merely noticed that Amethyst Fox rose as he was flying past the area.” The green gowned Old Man whispered seriously. “But you can still take the risk. You have a Cyan Emperor Gourd on you. The wooden energy from refining the Cyan Emperor Gourd is the ancestor of wooden energy. Who knows, maybe that ghastly thing wouldn’t attack you. Besides, you only need to attempt once. If you can, then good. If you can’t, then so be it. Those ghastly things have no sentience, and is incapable of alluring you in before taking you down inside.”