Chapter 1328 - 1328: Ghost Marsh

After an intense battle, everyone's nerves were still tense, but Luo Xi's antics helped them relax significantly.

Of course, Liu Zixuan made a detailed explanation, and upon learning that the Celestial Fox Beauty had formed an alliance with Liu Zixuan in the tower, Luo Xi's overwhelming jealousy eased considerably.

Around noon, the group took a moment to rest here. However, Liu Zixuan did not rest; instead, he maneuvered his body to eliminate some hidden threats deep in the Beast Forest.

He was always someone who put words into actions. Since he had already promised to restore tranquility and a home to the beasts, he had to truly take action. Otherwise, just being a person who talks without acting would make it difficult to earn the trust of those around him.

Around three in the afternoon, Liu Zixuan returned from one side of the Beast Forest.

"How did it go?" the group asked.

"At least in their living area, there's no threat now. However, if we want this to truly become a home for the beasts, we need to resolve issues throughout the entire relic," he replied.

"You mean those Unity Realm experts hiding in various places?" the Sword Demon asked with a frown.

Liu Zixuan nodded. "If ordinary Martial Artists, or even some Life and Death Realm experts mistakenly wander in here, they won't benefit from the beast tide. The only ones who can threaten them are undoubtedly those Unity Realm experts. Previously, we only encountered the ancestor from the Divine Court Sect. As per the prior estimation, there are at least three to four Unity Realm experts in the entire relic. So, what lies ahead is still very challenging!"

"Then delay no further; let's head to the Southeast Region before night falls. Many Martial Artists have scattered, but eventually, they'll likely return to the Southeast Region," Luo Xi suggested.

Liu Zixuan and the others didn't continue lingering in the Beast Forest. They followed the route marked on the map and headed straight to the junction between the Beast Forest and the Southeast Region.

This area, besides the Beast Forest, had another troublesome existence.

That was the Ghost Marsh outside the Beast Forest.

For regular Martial Artists, regardless of ordinary realms or Unity Realm, they remain humans, making them relatively easier to handle.

But a naturally formed entity like this poses quite the headache.

Half an hour later, the group arrived in front of the Ghost Marsh.

The Ghost Marsh was expansive, matching Liu Zixuan's rough predictions; it was a swamp entirely blocking the path ahead.

"It's difficult to detour around it." After arriving, Zhao Yi and the Sword Demon explored the way on either side, but both returned shaking their heads.

"In a place like this, even leaping over it is tough, given its length and lack of footholds in the middle," Liu Zixuan frowned.

During a battle, they could indeed rely on their realm and Inner Strength to leap, but only for a moment, not like a deity's long flight.

"There must be a way across. Earlier, your clone saw several Unity Realm experts' figures in the Beast Forest, and we only encountered two of them. We haven't seen anyone elsewhere, so someone must've crossed from here," Luo Xi said.

Liu Zixuan squinted and found a few stones from the side, throwing them into the Ghost Marsh.

Hiss...

Gurgle...

First, there was a swallowing sound. Suddenly, as the stones sank, they transformed into dust and dissipated above the Ghost Marsh.

Seeing this scene, everyone inhaled sharply.

It seems, this isn't just a simple swamp!

Typically, swamps are piled with thick mud; once a heavy object falls onto them, it sinks quickly, and movability is difficult. Eventually, one suffocates under the mud.

In some special forces' field operations, they often use swamps to evade infrared detection devices.

Thus, swamp temperatures are extremely low.

This swamp, however, is not low but high.

A stone drops, instantly evaporating into powder.

If a person went down, they'd last even shorter than the stone.

For a while, the situation in front made everyone headache-filled.

Liu Zixuan's thoughts were somewhat simpler than the others'.

He only needed one person to cross the swamp, allowing others to enter the Relic Pearl and be carried over.

But here, it seemed no one single-handedly could cross.

While pondering, Liu Zixuan took out the Xuanyuan Sword.

The Xuanyuan Sword was the Holy Dao Sword. He wanted to try, to see if he could cut open a temporary foothold path.

Taking a look, the distance from here to the other side was at least three kilometers.

With his strength, he needed to land at least five times temporarily to reach the other side by leaping.

If he could use the Xuanyuan Sword to carve out a temporary foothold, the problem would be solved.

Thinking this, Liu Zixuan lightly tapped the ground, rising into the air. Infused with the Power of the Dragon Veins, the Xuanyuan Sword hummed sharply, swinging decisively towards the swamp.

Boom!

The fierce Sword Intent, at its full strength, could kill an expert of the same Realm. However, upon striking the swamp, it was akin to merely scratching an itch, leaving only a trace on the swamp, but that vanished within a breath.

"This is truly frustrating!"

Liu Zixuan landed on the ground, expressing dissatisfaction.

"The Ghost Marsh isn't an eerie marsh. The swamp is merely its surface form. I believe the perplexing part is the 'ghost' aspect," the Sword Demon murmured, stroking his chin.

Luo Xi furrowed her brow. "Could it be there really are ghosts in this world?"

"Perhaps the ghost here differs from the one we're accustomed to," the Sword Demon said with a significant smile, slowly turning to Liu Zixuan. "In Ancient Times, the word 'ghost' didn't refer to a soul, right?"

Liu Zixuan's pupils shrank, suddenly recalling something.

"I remember reading about the description of ghosts from Ancient Times in ancient texts—not only in old books, but even in 'Yuewei Cao Tang Notes' there are mentions of it."

"What are you talking about?" Luo Xi, Zhao Yi, and the others looked confused, unsure why Liu Zixuan and the Sword Demon were researching the word 'ghost' at this time.

Liu Zixuan chuckled. "Ghost Marsh is an existence from Ancient Times; unable to decipher it with modern thinking, it requires thoughts linked to Ancient Times. Today, a soul after death is called a ghost, but in Ancient Times, ghost had another representation."

"What did it represent?" Zhao Yi asked curiously.

Liu Zixuan glanced at the Sword Demon and then spoke each name slowly, "Hou Qing, Ying Gou, Drought Fiend, Jiang Chen."

"Aren't... aren't those the rumored progenitors of zombies? How do they relate to ghosts? And are these mere legendary characters really existent in Ancient Times?"