"Sigh."
Chu Liang sighed softly and sheathed his sword.
The second half of the journey was uneventful, encountering only two floral monsters. A smooth journey was naturally good news to others, but to someone whose goal was to fight monsters, it was inevitably a bit disappointing.
However, this shallow disappointment was soon dispelled by the scene in front of them.
As the group stepped out of the narrow and cramped forest path, the first feeling that emerged was one of shock.
Despite still being within the range of the dense forest, the towering trees reached a dozen meters in height, as if forming the vaulted roof of a high palace, giving a sense of spaciousness. Ahead was the entrance to a valley, with rugged stone cliffs suspended upside down, and vines, plants, and strange flowers blooming everywhere on the black stones. Faint fluorescent lights danced up and down, casting intermittent faint light.
It was a completely primitive and deep otherworldly domain.
"This..." Lin Bei opened his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but his voice echoed in the valley, making him hold back.
It seemed to carry a hint of "dare not speak aloud, lest we startle the heavenly beings."
Fang Ting spoke in a deep voice, "According to the guidance, the Human-Faced Jade Spirit Flowers are not far ahead in the valley. Although there are no floral monsters here, the danger level is even higher... we must be careful."
"Yeah!" Everyone nodded in agreement.
The rationale was simple: in a place teeming with demons and monsters, if a piece of pure land suddenly appeared, it meant that there must be an even bigger demon's territory here.
Walking through this vast and wild land, humans couldn't help but feel small. As they continued on the rugged black valley, not far away, they indeed found a cluster of large flower branches growing on an open space at the edge of the valley.
“A stem with two flowers, each flower bud as big as a human head, with tightly clustered petals in pure white, surrounded by long, straight leaves, appeared pure and abrupt in this valley.
“This is the Human-Face Jade Spirit Flower... just like it is in the illustration,” Linbei commented.
Fang Ting looked up at the cliff above covered in a jumble of rocks and said, “It's just after dusk now. When the moonlight falls on this flower later tonight, it will bloom. Before that moment, absolutely do not touch it.”
Chu Liang had already learned about the process of picking Human-Face Jade Spirit Flowers on the way here.
This thing is quite mystical and loses its spirituality if picked at any other time. It must be picked at the moment it is mature enough and absorbs the moonlight to bloom to maintain its spirituality.
But at that moment, anyone looking at it will enter an illusion, which may be its way of protecting itself.
At that time, someone must hold a copper mirror in front of the Human-Face Jade Spirit Flower at the moment it blooms, so its illusion will instead confuse themselves. Then, another person can successfully pick the flower from behind.
With only two people needed for this task, the reason that five people were required was that the three others had to form a protective Three Talents Sword Formation around the flower while it was being picked, to guard against the protective monsters near the Human-Face Jade Spirit Flower.
...
“Sister Ziqing, take the 'Person' position, Junior Brother Chu, take the 'Ground' position, and I’ll take the 'Heaven' position. Lu Ren holds the mirror, and Linbei picks the flower,” Fang Ting ordered decisively.
The Three Talents Sword Formation was not simply one person guarding one side but rather the 'Person' position guarding one side, the 'Ground' position guarding two sides, and the 'Heaven' position guarding one side while also being responsible for supporting the other sides when necessary.
This placed the greatest responsibility on the strongest point, compensating for the uneven strengths of the formation setters.
Naturally, no one had any objections, and they all took their places around the flower.
The wait was not long, and soon, a sliver of moonlight broke through the obstacles and fell on the clearing. In the desolate valley, this sliver of moonlight was exceedingly precious.
The moonlight gradually shifted until it hovered directly above the Human-Face Jade Spirit Flower.
“Concentrate!” Fang Ting suddenly shouted.
Chu Liang, Xu Ziqing, and Fang Ting immediately stood their ground, facing away from the flower, no longer looking in that direction.
Because...
As the Human-Face Jade Spirit Flower matured, the valley also emitted rustling sounds. Some of the creatures that had long coveted the flower could no longer restrain themselves.
"Roar!" The first to leap out of the trees was a black-spotted fierce tiger, its ferocious roar shaking the mountain forest! It had a fearsome pattern and, astonishingly, a pair of flesh wings under its ribs - clearly, it had been cultivating for many years.
The forest creatures were extremely cunning and, as expected, this one immediately made a beeline for Xu Ziqing.
The young girl clenched her silver teeth, showing considerable fear but not backing down. Instead, she stepped forward, ready to confront the enemy with her sword.
Just then, a thundering sword qi, like a golden dragon, whizzed by at an angle!
Boom!
As the surging sword qi passed, the beast's figure vanished, leaving behind only a few wisps of ash drifting down.
Naturally, it was Fang Ting's turn.
Chu Liang glimpsed this scene, marveling at the formidable strength of the Golden Core Realm, but couldn't help but sigh inwardly.
What a waste.
If only he could land a blow himself.
Fang Ting scanned the surroundings and also saw Chu Liang's sigh, saying, "Junior Brother Chu, there's no need to sigh. As long as you practice diligently, in time, you can also achieve my level of cultivation."
Hmm... does he think that his cultivation makes me feel inferior?
Chu Liang was taken aback for a moment, then nodded at Fang Ting.
Ah, yes, yes.
No time for idle chatter, as the appearance of the tiger demon seemed to signal the arrival of a thick python, a luminous golden eagle, and a three-eyed jackal...
Monsters sprang forth from all directions!
Chu Liang's eyes immediately lit up.
But as soon as this happened, Fang Ting shouted again, "Wind and Thunder Sword Technique! Swift!"
With a gesture from his left hand and the Thunder Sword held high in his right, he called out, and lightning surged, the sword's edge circling. In an instant, sand and stones flew, thunderous clouds rolling around him, before sweeping out in an instant.
Boom boom boom—
With just one sword, the flying monsters were all enveloped in wind and thunder, instantly reduced to dust!
Annihilated.
"Hmph!" Fang Ting sheathed his sword, snorting disdainfully, his gaze sweeping around with an air of authority. Then, he glanced at Xu Ziqing and Chu Liang at his side, head held high, though his face was expressionless, his eyes seemingly shimmering with a certain expectation.
He was like a golden retriever who caught a mouse and was waiting for praise, yet still pretended to be aloof.
In stark contrast, the spark that had just ignited in Chu Liang's eyes was extinguished in an instant.
There was no light in his eyes...
The more ferocious Fang Ting's killing, the more pain he felt...
Xu Ziqing, either accustomed to her older brother's abilities or too nervous to notice, didn't express any admiration for Fang Ting's heroic performance.
As a result, after maintaining a pose for some time, Fang Ting did not receive the anticipated reactions. In the end, he blinked and said to himself, "Junior Sister Ziqing, Junior Brother Chu, as long as you practice diligently, in the future, you may also display such swordsmanship."
"Hehe," Chu Liang smiled.
Amid the successful battles on the outskirts, the two who were responsible for picking were finally able to witness the moonlight falling on the first flower's center.
"It's blooming!" Linbei immediately exclaimed.
Lu Ren quickly raised a large bronze mirror in his hand.
Moonlight scattered, and the huge human-faced jade spirit flower, like a waking beauty, slowly stretched out its petals... revealing a pure and jade-like face.
Yes, the bones of the human-faced jade spirit flower opened, revealing a face that was truly resembling a human face! And it was a fair, androgynous face.
When this human face first appeared, its eyes still carried a strange and alert look, but then it saw the large bronze mirror in front of it. And, its own reflection in the mirror.
In those eyes, a look of enchantment soon appeared...