Chapter 1328 - 1325: Purple Heart Grass, Never to Be Reborn

Slash!

The saber light flashed. A Carrion Iron-backed Hyena that had been about to feed was cleaved in half with a single stroke. Its corpse, as large as a small hill, crashed to the ground with a bang, making the earth tremble.

The commotion startled the hyena’s prey—a Fire Phosphorus Demon Python. Its coiled body sprang forward, about to flee, but as another streak of saber light sliced through the air, it met the same fate as the Carrion Iron-backed Hyena.

"An eighth-level Demon Beast actually appeared here."

Footsteps sounded as Luo Feng walked out from the dense forest. He glanced at the Carrion Iron-backed Hyena’s corpse on the ground, slightly surprised.

Along the way, most of the Demon Beasts active in the Blackrock Mountain Range were mid-level ones. Even seventh-level Demon Beasts were extremely rare, and this was the first time he had seen an eighth-level Demon Beast.

For Xuelian, however, this was a good thing. The higher the Demon Beast’s level, the stronger its blood essence, allowing her to recover her Yuan Qi more quickly.

After letting Xuelian completely draw out the blood essence of the two Demon Beasts, Luo Feng set off deeper in.

Continuing forward, Luo Feng roamed through the depths of the Blackrock Mountain Range for another half day, striking and killing any Demon Beast he encountered, letting Xuelian absorb their blood essence. Wherever he passed, Demon Beast corpses littered the ground.

Back then, he wouldn’t have dared enter such a perilous place at all, but now, this place no longer posed any threat to him.

After three days of slaughter, Xuelian’s Yuan Qi had already recovered to nearly ninety percent.

"It’s time to go back."

Cutting down a top-grade seventh-level Demon Beast, Luo Feng looked up and saw the blood-red setting sun already sinking behind the western mountain ridges, and prepared to return to Panlong City.

After walking for a stretch and killing a few more Demon Beasts, Luo Feng suddenly halted. From ahead came faint sounds of fighting.

Without any intention of concealing his movements, Luo Feng headed straight toward the source of the sound.

Over these three days he had also run into other Martial Artists a few times and had tried his best to avoid them. This time, however, there was a very strong Demon Qi ahead, which piqued Luo Feng’s interest.

Within the dense forest, figures flashed, and from time to time massive beastly roars rang out, making the surrounding trees rustle loudly, shaking one’s heart.

Between the trees, the fierce battle had razed an open space. In the middle, three figures clustered together, besieging a gigantic Demon Beast.

The Demon Beast resembled a leopard, its body covered in multi-colored thorns that emitted Demon Qi laced with potent poison. Wherever that miasma spread, all vegetation withered in an instant. Besieged by the three, it let out earth-shattering roars, spitting multicolored bolts of freezing air from its mouth that blasted deep craters into the ground, freezing the earth solid.

"Eighth-level top-grade Demon Beast, Five Poison Chi Leopard."

Luo Feng’s figure appeared atop a nearby large tree. Seeing the gigantic beast being besieged, his eyes brightened slightly.

Since entering the Blackrock Mountain Range, the strongest Demon Beast he had encountered had only been a mid-grade eighth-level one, far weaker than this Five Poison Chi Leopard.

"Master, this Five Poison Chi Leopard’s Demon Qi is very strong."

Xuelian’s voice sounded in Luo Feng’s heart, tinged with eagerness. Clearly, she was already drooling over this Five Poison Chi Leopard’s blood essence.

Luo Feng nodded slightly without speaking, watching the battle below.

Of the three attacking the Five Poison Chi Leopard, two were men and one was a woman, all with strong auras. The red-clothed swordswoman was a Martial Artist at the late stage of the Seventh Level of the Spiritual Rotation Realm, while the blue-clothed youth wielding a staff beside her, about twenty-four or twenty-five years old, was at the early stage of the Eighth Level of the Spiritual Rotation Realm.

The strongest was a middle-aged spearman with eyes like lightning. His red-tasseled spear was wielded to a state of sublime mastery—his spear moves like a dragon, cold stars flickering, sealing off most of the Five Poison Chi Leopard’s attacks. He was a Martial Artist at the peak of the Eighth Level of the Spiritual Rotation Realm.

The three coordinated seamlessly, keeping the Five Poison Chi Leopard trapped in the center, leaving one wound after another on its body.

Roar!

Suddenly, the Five Poison Chi Leopard let out a wild roar. The multicolored Demon Qi on its body surged, forming a whirlwind as it raised its right paw and slammed it viciously toward the ground.

"Mingyi, protect the young miss!"

The middle-aged spearman warned sharply.

"Yes!"

The blue-clothed youth responded and flashed in front of the red-clothed girl. He drove his long staff fiercely into the ground and shouted, "Gold Peak Lock River!"

Buzz!

The Yuan Qi of heaven and earth trembled as boiling golden radiance condensed into a massive mountain shadow that shielded both the red-clothed girl and the blue-clothed youth within.

At the same time, the Five Poison Chi Leopard’s right paw smashed heavily into the ground.

Rumble!

With a deafening boom, the earth collapsed in an instant. The Five-colored poisonous miasma on the Five Poison Chi Leopard erupted like a hurricane, splitting into three smaller whirlwinds that swept toward the three people separately.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle...

Wherever the multicolored whirlwind passed, the trees instantly turned charred black, losing all vitality, while wisps of five-colored vapor rose from the ground.

"Such powerful poison..."

On the tree, Luo Feng’s gaze flickered, and he also unfolded his Protective Gang Energy.

"Break for me!"

Facing the onrushing poisonous hurricane, the middle-aged spearman shouted. The red-tasseled spear in his hands burst forth with intense azure light. After a feinting half-circle, the spear transformed into a lone cyan rainbow, piercing out to shatter the Demon Qi whirlwind to pieces.

On the other side, the red-clothed girl and the blue-clothed youth were not so fortunate. The two poisonous whirlwinds repeatedly slammed into the golden mountain, rumbling loudly as if they would grind the mountain shadow—and the two within—into powder.

The Five Poison Chi Leopard, knowing how formidable the middle-aged spearman was, intended to kill the red-clothed girl and the blue-clothed youth first. It opened its massive jaws, multicolored light swirling within, and prepared to completely blast apart the golden mountain shadow.

"Beast!"

The middle-aged spearman bellowed in fury, gripping the red-tasseled spear with both hands as his body sank slightly. Three feet of spear light burst from the weapon, splitting the ground beneath his feet.

"Azure Moon Strike Peak!"

His step stomped down, and the red-tasseled spear in his hands swept horizontally.

Slash!

A crescent-like cyan spear force shot out, arriving before the Five Poison Chi Leopard could spit out its Demon Qi projectile. The leopard’s massive body was blasted flying, thin streams of fresh blood leaking from its abdomen.

Seeing that even its full-force strike could not overcome the three, the Five Poison Chi Leopard spewed out a cloud of poisonous miasma and turned to flee.

"Trying to run!"

The middle-aged spearman’s eyes turned as sharp as cold swords. His spear moved with his body, ignoring a distance of dozens of steps as it thrust viciously into the Five Poison Chi Leopard’s right flank.

Splurt!

Blood sprayed as the Five Poison Chi Leopard let out a wail. Its massive body collapsed heavily, black blood flowing from its seven orifices as it died on the spot—the spear force just now had completely shredded its internal organs.

Boom!

The two poisonous tornadoes shattered, and the red‑clothed girl and the blue‑clothed youth walked out.

"Uncle Chen, your Azure Moon Spear Method has gotten stronger again."

Sliding the thin sword back into its sheath, the red‑clothed girl wiped the sweat from her forehead and smiled at the middle‑aged spearman.

"But of course, Captain Chen is a famed expert in our Green Frost City. Give it a few more years and Captain Chen will definitely break through to the True Yuan Realm and be revered by tens of thousands." The blue‑clothed youth looked at the middle‑aged man with worship in his eyes.

Green Frost City...

Luo Feng’s mind stirred; this was the largest city of the Qingyi Territory among the twelve territories of the Canglang Dynasty! Green Frost City was an endless distance of ten thousand li from Dayang City; he hadn’t expected these few to actually be from Green Frost City.

Though a little curious in his heart, Luo Feng did not think much of it.

Why these people appeared here had nothing to do with him; he only wanted to wait until they left, then let Xuelian refine the Five Poison Chi Leopard’s essence blood and restore his Yuan Qi.

"What’s so impressive about me? In this lifetime, the True Yuan Realm is already my limit, while you’re still young. You have limitless possibilities ahead of you; in a few years you should be able to surpass me."

The middle‑aged spearman humbly shook his head.

"That’s true." The blue‑clothed youth nodded.

The red‑clothed girl curled her red lips; she clearly disapproved of the blue‑clothed youth’s self‑important attitude.

After collecting the Five Poison Chi Leopard’s Demon Core and all useful materials, the middle‑aged spearman saw that it was already late. He said to the red‑clothed girl, "Miss, the sky is about to darken. The Evil Qi in this Blackrock Mountain Range is extremely heavy; the night will likely be very dangerous. We should leave here first."

The red‑clothed girl glanced into the depths of the dense forest, her Daimei slightly knit. "What about that Purple Heart Grass? We finally found such a heaven‑sent treasure; are we just going to give it up like that?"

The blue‑clothed youth also said, "A single Purple Heart Grass is equivalent to a sixth‑grade Spirit Pill, worth more than a million second‑grade Yuan Stones. Giving it up just like that is too much of a pity."

"We’re not giving up, just leaving first and making a long‑term plan."

The middle‑aged spearman shook his head, then said, "That Purple Heart Grass is coiled over by a Purple Scale Cloud Eater Python, its Demon Qi is too strong; it’s very likely a ninth‑level Demon Beast. We already had such a hard time dealing with this Five Poison Chi Leopard; taking on the Purple Scale Cloud Eater Python would be far too dangerous. Moreover, there are other Demon Beasts entrenched near that hill. Going there would be too great a risk."

The blue‑clothed youth was still unwilling. "There are quite a few Martial Artists adventuring in this Blackrock Mountain Range. If we leave, that Purple Heart Grass will probably be snatched first by someone else. I think we can give it a try—avoid fighting as much as possible, grab the Purple Heart Grass and leave. If it really is too dangerous, with our strength we should still be able to retreat in one piece."

"This..."

The middle‑aged spearman hesitated a little.

The red‑clothed girl made up her mind. "Wealth is ultimately external; there’s no need to risk our lives for it. Uncle Chen is right—we should leave first and then plan at leisure. If someone else seizes it before us, it can only mean we don’t have that kind of fortune."

"Miss, be careful!"

The middle‑aged spearman suddenly sensed something, his expression changing slightly. His figure flickered as he moved in front of the red‑clothed girl, his gaze vigilant.

Swish!

With the sound of air being split, Luo Feng appeared beside the three.

The red‑clothed girl and the blue‑clothed youth were both startled; the blue‑clothed youth was so frightened he took a step back. When he saw that the newcomer was a young man even younger than he was, his face flushed red at once.

"No need to be nervous. I heard the sounds of fighting just now and rushed over to take a look. I meant no offense." Luo Feng spoke.

Hearing this, the three let out a breath of relief. The blue‑clothed youth had just been frightened and nearly lost his composure, and he vented that anger onto Luo Feng, gripping his long staff tightly as he said coldly, "So you heard what we were saying just now? Were you deliberately eavesdropping on our conversation?"

"Mingyi, watch your tongue!"

The middle‑aged spearman gave a light rebuke. He had met countless people and could see good and evil at a glance. Luo Feng’s features were handsome and refined, his expression clear; he obviously wasn’t a villain. Besides, if the other party really wanted to eavesdrop, there was no need for him to show himself now.

The red‑clothed girl sized Luo Feng up carefully. Seeing that he was younger than herself yet dared to come deep into the Blackrock Mountain Range alone, her curiosity was piqued. "Do you need something?"

Luo Feng said, "I did indeed hear your conversation just now. If you don’t mind, regarding that Purple Heart Grass, I should be able to lend you a hand."

The middle‑aged spearman fixed his gaze on Luo Feng. With his realm, he naturally couldn’t see through Luo Feng’s Cultivation; moreover, ever since Luo Feng’s Qi Concealment Jue had reached Small Success, his aura was even more obscure. If not for the faint killing intent between his brows, he would have seemed more like a scholar.

Although he couldn’t see through Luo Feng’s cultivation, a lifetime of bloody battles kept the middle‑aged spearman from underestimating him. At such an age, daring to come here alone and still maintaining such a calm attitude already spoke volumes.

The blue‑clothed youth, however, had no such discernment and mocked, "You can help us? With what?"

Luo Feng cast him a faint yet sharp glance and drew his saber in a single stroke.

Pu chi!

The saber light flashed; the thick tree behind the blue‑clothed youth, large enough for two men to encircle, split open like tofu. A black spider the size of a washbasin fell to the ground, its body split cleanly in two, green blood spraying out and corroding the ground with a sizzling sound.

"Seventh‑level Demon Beast, Mo Yun Poison Spider!"

The red‑clothed girl cried out in surprise. Her bright eyes turned to Luo Feng. "What exquisite Saber Technique!" she exclaimed in astonishment.

Her father was a Saber Cultivator; she knew that Saber Techniques emphasized straightforward, ferocious, concrete attacks—they cultivated the art of killing.

Luo Feng’s saber just now had no flourishes, only ruthless, razor‑sharp ferocity, pure domineering power and nothing else. His mastery of Saber Technique could be said to be outstanding, far superior to her father’s; yet the other party was only seventeen or eighteen years old. She couldn’t help but feel deep admiration.

The middle‑aged spearman also showed a look of surprise on his face; he too had seen how extraordinary that saber strike was.

"With this."

Luo Feng said lightly, then slid Emperor Yan’s Sky‑breaking Saber back into its sheath. "Let’s not talk about that Purple Scale Cloud Eater Python for now. As for the other Demon Beasts guarding the Purple Heart Grass, I should be able to handle one or two."

The blue‑clothed youth’s face turned ashen; he was left speechless, half from being scared by the Saber Gang and the poison spider, and half from shock.

The middle‑aged spearman took a deep breath and smiled. "I can hold off that Purple Scale Cloud Eater Python for a moment. If you can restrain the other Demon Beasts, then we indeed have a good chance of seizing the Purple Heart Grass. I am Chen Sheng, captain of the Yao family’s guard in Green Frost City; this is Wang Mingyi, also a guard of the Yao family. This is our Yao family’s young lady..."

"My name is Yao Xue. What’s yours? This is the first time I’ve seen a Saber man as amazing as you." The red‑clothed girl blinked her lively eyes, looking at Luo Feng with curiosity.

Luo Feng had no intention of using his real name. He cupped his fists and said, "I am Feng Luo. It’s an honor to meet you all."

What he cared about was not the Purple Heart Grass, but that Purple Scale Cloud Eater Python. He had finally come across a ninth‑level Demon Beast; naturally he would not let it slip by.

The middle‑aged spearman could tell that Luo Feng did not wish to say more about his identity. "Once it’s dark, we’ll be in trouble. Let’s set out," he said.

"Alright."

The four immediately prepared to depart. Before they left, Luo Feng used Emperor Yan’s Sky‑breaking Saber to drain the essence blood from the two Demon Beasts, explaining that he was collecting blood to refine pills. Yao Xue and the other two did not suspect anything.

After finishing all this, the four of them set out toward the depths of the jungle.

Along the way, Luo Feng learned why the three had appeared here; the matter was actually related to Xuelian.

Passing through Dayang City, the three had happened to learn of the Hero Post. The Yao family’s young lady, Yao Xue, had loved all sorts of adventures since childhood. Upon hearing the news, she rushed over at once. Unfortunately, just as the three arrived in Dayang City, word spread that Blood Fiend had been killed by Luo Feng, so they decided to venture into this Blackrock Mountain Range instead.

Upon hearing this, Xuelian’s disdainful voice sounded in Luo Feng’s ear.

"Just three Martial Artists of the Spiritual Rotation Realm and they dare scheme against me. Master, that fellow surnamed Wang actually dared look down on you. Why don’t we kill him? I’ll refine him into a Blood Corpse and make sure he never finds release for eternity!"