Chapter 1395 - 704: Deeper In_2

She certainly wouldn’t kill him. Ning Xiaoxian gave a slight smile: "Alright."

There was indeed not a trace of killing aura in her eyes, the cultivator then said: "This is a belt sent down by Washing Sword Pavilion two days ago, each person received one, and we’re instructed to wear it."

"What is the reason?" It’s just a very ordinary cotton belt, tied around the waist, not conspicuous at all.

The person shook his head: "I don’t know, just told to wear it properly for these few days and not to take it off."

Upon hearing this, Ning Xiaoxian glanced at Hei Hao, who said: "The spies we’ve caught these days were all not wearing such belts."

"Then it means the enemy deliberately covered it up, in other words, there’s something strange about this thing." She turned her head and said to the person, "An imminent battle is here, and you dare to run to this place, consider the Alliance Army unlucky. Let me ask you first, what kind of secret does Xiaohecang Town have to make the Spiritual Medicine grow so well? After all, you’re not here for the first time to exploit the opportunity, you must know some inside information, right?"

"I know, I know!" The cultivator indeed replied truthfully: "Xiaohecang was built only thirty years ago, initially the population was far more than now. Later, for some reason, townspeople started getting sick with all sorts of difficult and peculiar ailments, some even Elixirs in the hands of cultivators couldn’t cure. Within a few years, people moved away, it was then discovered that animals raised here would become aggressive and anxious, yet crops and medicinal herbs grew exceptionally well, even Immortal Spirit Grass was no exception."

"Once this news spread, many people who were desperate for money came to cultivate Spirit Grass, and the boss of the shop we cooperated with was originally so poor that he couldn’t even afford food; it was only after coming here to do business in herbs that he managed to marry and have children, although his wife and children looked half-dead. But they only cultivate land around here, going deeper isn’t allowed, and any mortal entering would return either within a few days or up to half a month, but they would die eventually..."

She interrupted: "What symptoms?"

He thought for a moment then said: "These past years, no one dares to enter. It’s said that those who’ve been there would develop red spots, swelling, and blisters; oh right, and they’d lose hair in handfuls."

He didn’t notice Ning Xiaoxian’s pupils suddenly contract: "You all haven’t gone in?"

The cultivator pointed at his dead companion on the ground with a bitter smile: "He was curious when he arrived here, dragged us up the mountain, but after walking about three or four miles, even we couldn’t bear it, so we had to retreat. We only stay at Xiaohecang for two or three days at most, not daring to linger any longer."

"Washing Sword Pavilion is the landlord here, didn’t they send anyone to investigate the anomaly at Xiaohecang?"

The cultivator said: "Probably sent, but didn’t hear of any findings. There are at least several thousand small towns within any sect’s territory, Washing Sword Pavilion wouldn’t exert much effort particularly. Anyway, as long as the mortals here can grow Spirit Grass and contribute to the sect, that’s sufficient." Saying this, he pleaded, "I’ve disclosed so much inside information, Granny please spare me a path to live, I’ll escape far away, never return to Xuanling Sect!"

She gave a slight sneer, if such strange movements appeared within Hidden Stream Territory, it wouldn’t have waited for thirty years, even a year or two ago it would have been thoroughly investigated. Washing Sword Pavilion has been established for a long time, indifferent to mortals, even events within their jurisdiction they ignore. Indeed, incompetence in dealing with affairs is common in any world.

To the cultivator’s plea, she only said one word: "Fine," and then walked out without looking back, followed by the sound of a human body softly falling to the ground.

She let him go, but the Hidden Guards didn’t. The Hidden Guards knew she didn’t like hearing about prisoners being tormented, so even killing was done silently.

Not long after, the Hidden Guards surprisingly found quite a few valuable Spirit Grass in this farmhouse-modified cellar, including the white flower snake tongue grass the shop owner had promised, standing out among them. Looks like he wasn’t entirely lying.

Ning Xiaoxian collected the Spirit Grass, her mind racing: Washing Sword Pavilion distributed this belt to all disciples, including those from other sects, what’s the meaning behind it? Water Avoidance Array has only one application, obviously meant for use in places with water, but around here...

"Is there any great river nearby?"

A Hidden Guard said: "Within less than three hundred miles ahead, there’s Wulusu River, thirty miles wide from east to west, the flow is exceptionally abundant, particularly at the Dragon Gate ahead, where the Water Dragon roars year-round, very spectacular. However... Wulusu River is not on our marching route."

Hidden Stream will not pass through Wulusu River, so what is the purpose of Washing Sword Pavilion distributing Water Avoidance Array, could it be to lure Hidden Stream into the great river for a decisive battle? How is that possible, is there a demon surviving in Hidden Stream until today that is such a fool? She couldn’t make sense of it, so she decided not to dwell on it, telling the Hidden Guard: "You send these few belts back to the army and hand them over to General Chi Bihu." What she can do is only up to this point. Hopefully, that old fox General Hu can see through the mystery.

"Lord Ning, are you planning to continue deeper?" Seeing her actions, Hei Hao couldn’t help but speak, "I’m afraid there are some dangers in the mountain, the army will set off in a bit more than two hours..."

Ning Xiaoxian raised her hand, his words immediately paused.

"Don’t worry, I have my plan." She squinted at the slope behind the farmhouse. The deeper it went, the denser the vegetation, tall weeds blocking the view, obscuring the scenery even a few meters away. This scene indeed resembles Bashe Forest.

She knew well herself that she must enter this mountain, because just as she stepped into the farmhouse earlier, the Soul-devouring Arrow that had been nurturing itself and sleeping within her suddenly reacted!