Chapter 87: Green Ridge Sword
Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation
Chen Fei couldn’t help but burst into laughter. By focusing on grinding Origin Connection Technique’s proficiency, he estimated that he could reach the peak of the third level in approximately twenty days.
Unless he took a meridian-protecting pill, he couldn’t speed up the process any further.
“I’ve never heard of such a pill before, but Immortal Cloud City might have something like that,” Chen Fei thought to himself, realizing he could visit the city’s medicine shops or seek out similar pills and formulas in the Alchemist Guild.
Little did he expect that his compressed cultivation time was the main reason for his accelerated progress.
After a peaceful night, Chen Fei simplified the third level of the Origin Connection Technique and began to cultivate diligently.
The following day was uneventful. It seemed that the Divine Flame Sect had truly withdrawn. However, the Primordial Sword Sect members at the camp remained vigilant, continuing to protect the convoy and uphold their previous arrangements.
Time flew by. Days passed, and the number of collected medicinal ingredients quietly increased by over half. Though they still maintained caution, everyone couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief. However, they didn’t neglect any necessary precautions.
Feng Xiupu and others even ventured out a few times to check for any signs of activity from the Divine Flame Sect, but they found nothing.
At night, Chen Fei sat cross-legged, focused on cultivating the technique. The energy within his body fluctuated rapidly, shaking his bones and muscles. Whiffs of hot air emanated from him, distorting the air in the surroundings.
An hour later, Chen Fei exhaled a breath of turbid air and opened his eyes.
His meridians were slightly swollen, indicating the need for a brief break before continuing cultivation to avoid potential injuries.
Standing up and surveying the camp, Chen Fei noticed that most people were sitting cross-legged. This allowed them to cultivate while replacing sleep, ready to react at a moment’s notice.
About to take a few steps to relax, Chen Fei suddenly saw a figure leap up. It was his master, Feng Xiupu.
“Bzzz!”
The sword in FengXiupu’s hand emitted a trembling sound. Initially soft, it soon became deafening.
Everyone snapped out of their daze and looked at Feng Xiupu in confusion.
“There’s trouble. Stay alert, everyone!” Feng Xiupu’s expression turned solemn as he gazed into the distance. His brows furrowed tightly, and the jade sword in his hand continued to tremble as if sensing something.
“There’s evil!” Guo Linshan appeared beside Chen Fei, looking at him. “Did your gangrene react?”
“Evil?” Chen Fei was surprised. As he was about to shake his head, he felt a chill on his arm. He rolled up his sleeve and discovered that the gangrene had become active.
Seeing Chen Fei’s expression, Guo Linshan understood the situation.
“Senior Brother Guo, how did you know?” Chen Fei was puzzled. A few days ago, he had informed Guo Linshan, but now Guo Linshan had discovered it before him.
“It’s the Green Ridge Sword. When it senses something strange, it will react automatically,” Guo Linshan explained, his expression serious. “Not all evil occurrences will trigger the Green Ridge Sword, but if it reacts, the strangeness must be significant.”
“All disciples, escort the herb gatherers down the mountain,” Qian Lindu commanded. The Green Ridge Sword trembled more and more, and his face changed. He shouted loudly, then flashed in front of everyone, his eyes fixed ahead.
“That’s where the Big Dipper Tower is stationed!” Qian Lindu and the others approached Feng Xiupu, speaking with a deep voice.
“This evilness is targeting our sects. Let the Big Dipper Tower bear it for us initially.”
“We’ll stay behind and buy some time for the disciples,” Feng Xiupu took a deep breath.
“Understood!” Qian Lindu and the others nodded. Faced with such a degree of strangeness, the chances of ordinary disciples and herb gatherers surviving would be slim.
Perhaps the Marrow Tempering realm would fare slightly better, offering some assistance. However, for those below that level, they likely wouldn’t stand a chance against the strange creatures.
The herb gatherers rushed down the mountain desperately. Though Feng Xiupu had instructed his disciples to escort them, the herb gatherers knew that if they encountered overwhelming danger, the Primordial Sword Sect disciples would prioritize their own safety. They would undoubtedly leave first.
The fact that the Primordial Sword Sect didn’t abandon them at the first sign of trouble was already considered responsible.
“Senior Guo, if you encounter danger, don’t worry about me. I’m quite fast,” Chen Fei said to Guo Linshan in a low voice.
“Yes!” Guo Linshan nodded, though it was unclear if he truly listened.
Running for less than fifteen minutes, a sharp roar suddenly erupted from behind. The sound pierced through eardrums, disorienting anyone within miles.
Without hesitation, the herb gatherers increased their speed. Many even discarded their tools to run faster.
Curious, Chen Fei turned his head to look. A tinge of blood-red tainted the distant sky. It was alluring, yet suffocating.
“The Green Ridge Sword is a spirit sword. Master will be safe,” Guo Linshan reassured.
Just as Chen Fei was about to ask what a spirit sword was, the mark on his arm grew increasingly active. His expression changed as he glanced around and caught sight of a pair of scarlet eyes to his right.
A wave of dizziness washed over him, but he quickly suppressed it with the Clear Heart Formula.
Aware of the strangeness, Chen Fei had been practicing the Clear Heart Formula continuously. Otherwise, a moment’s delay could cost him his life.
“Senior Brother, be careful!” Chen Fei warned.
The black shadow emerged silently behind one of the herb gatherers, opening its mouth wide and swallowing the unfortunate individual whole. Chen Fei and the others had no time to intervene.
In that instant, Chen Fei clearly saw the appearance of the black shadow.
It was green, with layers of stacked skin, a thin body, and a single, bulging eye. Its stomach was disproportionately large, almost touching the ground.
“Attack!” Guo Linshan bellowed. In a blink, he reached the green creature and struck it with his sword.
The green creature stared at Guo Linshan without expression. Guo Linshan hesitated for a moment, and in the next instant, the green creature widened its mouth. The herb gatherer it had just swallowed was spat out toward Guo Linshan.
“Clang!”
Metal clashed as the herb gatherer’s claws met Guo Linshan’s broadsword, nearly reaching his face.
But before Guo Linshan could rejoice, the severed shoulder of the green creature regenerated in the blink of an eye, and a new arm sprouted.
“Senior Brother Guo, let’s go!” Chen Fei grabbed Guo Linshan’s shoulder and started descending the mountain. Without warning, two more green creatures appeared, blocking their way.
They couldn’t hold them off any longer!