txolops Chapter 33 Falling into the Valley
Chapter 33 Falling into the Valley
The wreckage of the flying boat was still falling overhead, and more living creatures were drawn to the valley floor by the smell of blood. If they were a step slower, more than one person would die.
"Stay here and don't wander off."
Huang Chen crouched down and disappeared into the fog ahead.
The woman's lips were pale, and she huddled among broken vines and decaying leaves, clutching her water bottle. Even her voice trembled as she responded, "I...I won't move."
The mud beneath my feet was soft, and each step made a "plop" sound, revealing black water seeping from beneath the decaying leaves. The air was thick with the strange stench of damp, rotten wood and poisonous miasma; inhaling it for too long made my throat feel dry and parched.
Ancient trees entwined all around, thick vines hanging from the tree crowns to the ground, like the tongues of hanged ghosts swaying in the mist.
Huang Chen lowered his breath, activated his concealment technique, and followed the sound.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from ahead; it wasn't a person.
He paused, his blade flashing diagonally. In the next instant, a pair of eerie green eyes lit up in the mist, followed by two more pairs, then three more. Several emaciated, gray-furred monsters lay among the broken logs, their mouths dripping with sap, tearing at a dark shadow.
"roll!"
Huang Chen took a step forward, and the foremost demon beast's neck snapped, causing it to tumble into the mud. The remaining beasts, propelled by the blood aura, not only didn't retreat but instead roared and charged forward.
Huang Chen grabbed a monster skull that lunged at him with his left hand and slammed it against a tree trunk.
boom!
Another one darted in from the side, and Huang Chen turned around and punched it to death, its stench and hot blood splattering all over the ground.
The remaining two finally got scared, tucked their tails between their legs, and disappeared into the depths of the thick fog in the blink of an eye.
The dark figure on the ground twitched. Huang Chen squatted down, parted the torn rags, and revealed the old man from the prison cell.
The old man's shoulder was half bloody and mangled, a deep claw mark was still hanging on his leg, his face was covered in mud, and he was breathing like a broken bellows.
Upon seeing who it was, his cloudy eyes suddenly lit up, and his lips trembled as he managed to squeeze out the words: "Immortal..."
"Can you still move?"
"I can't move... I can't move."
Huang Chen glanced around, then looked at the old man's side. There were two more bodies lying there, both survivors of the fall into the valley, already dead.
If they had been any later, the old man in the prison cell would have been devoured.
"Bear with it."
Huang Chen pulled the old man up with one hand and hoisted him onto his shoulder. The old man gasped in pain but dared not scream. He just gritted his teeth and gripped Huang Chen's back tightly with his fingers.
When they returned to where they had landed, the woman was huddled by the tree roots, her face even more pale than before. When she saw that Huang Chen had rescued the person, she quickly got up and made room for him.
Huang Chen put the old man down, raised his hand and pressed the edge of his wound, his brows furrowing.
The injury is serious; if it drags on any longer, he might not make it to dawn.
He flipped his hand and took out a small elixir, pried open the old man's mouth and stuffed it in, then handed the woman half a bottle of water: "Feed him to swallow it."
The woman nodded quickly. Not long after the pill entered his stomach, the deathly ashen face of the old man in the prison cell finally dissipated, and his breathing became easier.
He took a few breaths, looked at Huang Chen, and said in a weak voice, "Old man... I owe you another life."
"Stop talking nonsense and save your energy."
Huang Chen sat down against the tree trunk and looked down at his palm.
His hand was split open, his arms were covered in bloody gashes from branches and splinters, and there were large bruises on his legs. What was even more troublesome was the sluggish feeling inside his body after being swept by the golden light of the Heavenly Mirror, like fine needles pricking his meridians.
He closed his eyes briefly, his mind racing, trying to find a place to settle down.
You can't just loiter in the valley. If there are too many people, their blood and qi will become mixed, and something will immediately come smelling them.
Intermittent crying and coughing could be heard from not far away.
Huang Chen exhaled a breath of stale air and stood up: "You all stay here, I'll go and bring back those who are still breathing."
The old man in the prison cell nodded with difficulty. The woman opened her mouth as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she only managed to squeeze out, "You...you be careful."
Huang Chen didn't turn around and disappeared back into the fog.
The search took almost half an hour.
The valley floor was like a muddy beast's mouth, swallowing people who were scattered and thrown about everywhere.
Some people were hanging from vines, some were buried in piles of decaying leaves, and some had broken legs, lying in the mud crying silently. Huang Chen made his way through, dragging what he could and carrying what he could carry. When he encountered miasma rats or carrion wolves that pounced on him, he killed them on the spot.
By the time the last two surviving young men were brought back, there were already more than thirty people gathered under the tree.
Almost all the survivors are here; many more have died.
The group huddled together, no one daring to speak loudly; only heavy breathing and suppressed sobs could be heard.
Occasionally, pieces of wood and scraps of iron would fall from above, causing the tree branches to tremble violently.
Huang Chen scanned the area and suddenly his eyes fell on a collapsed patch of vine netting on the left, with what looked like a hole behind it.
He picked up a piece of broken wood and threw it over. The wood rolled into the darkness, but instead of a beast's roar, it brought with it a musty, earthy smell.
"Let's go take a look."
The few people who could still walk immediately became nervous.
"Is there a monster inside?"
"Even if you have the means, you have to go in." Huang Chen's voice was deep. "It's better to wait to die outside."
After saying that, he went inside first.
The entrance to the cave was mostly blocked by vines and fallen logs, but it gradually opened up once you went inside. The surrounding stone walls were slippery, and animal bones and broken pottery jars were scattered on the ground. There were also dried dung stains in the corners, making it look like the abandoned lair of some kind of monster from long ago.
Deep inside, there are several natural stone chambers, which, although cold and damp, are safer than the open air.
After Huang Chen checked everything and confirmed that there were no living creatures, he allowed everyone to move in.
"Seal the hole even tighter."
"Bring over all the wood that can be dismantled."
'
"Those who are seriously injured should stay inside, so they don't block the aisle."
Some people did as instructed, while others stood there motionless.
Huang Chen glanced at them and said, "If you want to live, then move."
After those words were spoken, things finally started moving faster inside the cave.
Several young men endured the pain to move the logs, while two women tore apart usable rags to stop the bleeding. The old man in the prison cell sat against the stone wall, and after recovering, he also helped sort through the water bags that were still intact.
.
The cave gradually quieted down.
Half a day later, the fire outside was completely extinguished, leaving only thick fog and dampness seeping in through the cracks. Some people couldn't bear it and fell into a deep sleep.
Some people couldn't sleep and would just sit there, hugging their knees and staring blankly.
Huang Chen sat cross-legged in the innermost stone chamber, finally finding time to look at the system panel.
The battle with the flying boat saved many lives, further increasing his merit.
"System, one gold lottery draw."
The panel trembled slightly, and the golden wheel spun in my mind, the light and shadow flashing by quickly before finally stopping with a click.
[Ding! Congratulations, host, you have obtained a C-level talent: Blood Fiend Sensing.]
[Bloodlust Sense: Can roughly distinguish the source of auras such as large-scale massacres, human resentment, and soul-binding/spirit-refining.]
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In a place like the Poisonous Miasma Canyon, relying on sight is useless for finding your way, and relying on divine sense is easily interfered with by the miasma and cliff walls. Having this additional sense means you can at least avoid the dirtiest places and also guard against the soul-binding techniques left behind by the Xuan Tian Sect.
[Advanced Qi and Blood Pill: 5000 Karma.]
[Intermediate Karma Purification Talisman: 8000 Karma Points.]
"exchange."
[Ding! Redemption successful.]
The moment the high-grade Qi and Blood Pill entered the mouth, its medicinal power immediately dissolved, like a surge of scalding warmth flowing into the chest and abdomen, then rushing through the limbs and bones. The bruises, tears, and hidden damage left by the previous impact were gradually suppressed by this medicinal power.
He let out a muffled groan, and the veins on his forehead bulged.
This elixir is far more potent than the Lesser Rejuvenation Pill; it doesn't gently repair the damage, but forcefully pulls back the rapidly dissipating vital energy.
Half an incense stick later, Huang Chen slowly exhaled a breath of dark red turbid air, and the blockage in his chest finally dissipated.
He raised his hand and clenched his fist, his knuckles cracking as he regained at least 70% of his strength.
Next, he took out the intermediate-level causal purification talisman.
The talisman shimmered with a pale gray light, its patterns flowing slowly across the surface as if alive. Huang Chen recalled the residue left on his body by the Heavenly Mirror when it shone down, and his heart sank. If he were to be caught by the Xuan Tian Sect's tracking artifacts again on the road, he would be in serious trouble.
"net."
The moment the talisman was placed on the chest, it instantly transformed into a stream of cool air that entered the meridians.
Huang Chen's back tensed instantly.
The next moment, a few extremely faint golden threads appeared on the surface of the skin. They were rolled up by the gray light and made a sizzling sound, like water falling into a pot of oil. The causal pull left by the Heavenly Mirror was gradually peeled away.
Inside the stone chamber, even the air seemed to have cooled down.
Sweat beaded on Huang Chen's forehead. It took him a full quarter of an hour to finally remove the gold thread from his chest.
As the last wisp of strange energy dissipated, he leaned back, his back completely soaked with sweat.
It feels much better now, like a thorn that's been stuck in my flesh has finally been pulled out.
Huang Chen first fed the two people with high fever some powder and water, and then pressed a cold, damp cloth against their foreheads.
The way people looked at him had changed. It wasn't just dependence; there was something else in it that was hard to describe, like looking at the last piece of wood they could hold onto.
The old man in the prison coughed twice and asked in a low voice, "Immortal Master, is it possible to get out of this valley?"
The cave fell silent immediately.
Many people looked up at Huang Chen.
Huang Chen was silent for a moment, then said, "Yes."
As night deepened, everyone took turns resting.
Huang Chen didn't sleep. He had just obtained the Blood Fiend Sensing ability and needed to figure out the way first. If he waited until daytime, the poisonous fog at the bottom of the valley would make it even more difficult to move.
He lifted the broken log blocking the hole and ventured alone into the night fog.
The night at the bottom of the valley is darker than the day.
The fog felt like a damp cloth covering his face. The moon was hidden in the forest, with only occasional flickering lights in the distance, their source unclear—whether phosphorescence or the eyes of a demon. Huang Chen activated his concealment technique, stepping silently through the decaying leaves.
After activating his Blood Fiend Sensation, his brow swelled slightly.
Soon, the auras from all directions were layered in his perception.
The area on the left is suffocatingly stenchy; it's a gathering place for a large number of carrion-eating monsters.
Deep to the right, there is a faint aura of soul-binding, which is of the same origin as the soul-binding banner on the flying boat. It is most likely a trace of evil artifacts left behind by the demon race or the Xuantian Sect in the past.
Directly in front, near the cliff face, there is a faint "blank band" that is almost fading away, as if people have been walking around it for many years, which has worn away the bloodlust and death energy in the vicinity.
Huang Chen followed the strange sensation and touched it.
Climbing vines and squeezing through crevices, the path grew steeper and steeper. Ahead, the cliff face looked as if someone had cleaved it open, with broken wooden stakes and stone troughs embedded in the crack, extending diagonally upwards.
The wood had long since rotted away, but the stone trough still bore traces of human carving.
Ancient plank road.
Huang Chen squatted down, pressed his fingertips against the edge of the stone trough, and felt a layer of wet, slippery moss.
This road has been abandoned for too long.
But it does indeed lead to the outside world.
He peered up the plank road for several dozen feet, then stopped.
The fog above thinned out, and the sound of the wind could be heard. There was no strong demonic aura in the wind, nor any spiritual energy fluctuations from the Xuan Tian Sect pursuers.
enough.
There's no need to delve any deeper.
Since this canyon has an exit, it's not a good time to linger. Who knows what kind of monsters might be buried deep in the valley? Right now, with many people injured and clumsy, venturing out to explore would be suicidal.
Huang Chen retraced his steps and returned to the abandoned demon's lair. By then, the night was almost over.
The people in the cave were light sleepers; as soon as he entered, someone immediately got up and whispered, "Sir, have you found it?"
"Found it." Huang Chen nodded. "An old plank road, we can get up there. Call people now, be careful. Those who can walk should help those who can't, and don't leave anything behind."
"In a little while, as dawn breaks, the fog in the valley will change."
Suppressed yet urgent noises soon rose from inside the cave. Some people rubbed their eyes and got up, while others trembled when they heard the words "we can get out."
The old man in the prison cell leaned against the stone wall to stand up, his legs still weak. Two young men beside him quickly supported him on either side.
The rescued woman also woke up, clutching her water bag, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Really...really can we get out?"
Huang Chen raised his hand and pushed aside the broken wood at the cave entrance. The sky outside was still dark blue, and the mist flowed slowly through the forest, like a large group of unseen things crawling along the ground.
A distant, unknown monster let out a low howl before quickly sinking back down.
"Stay close to me." Huang Chen glanced back at the group. "Anyone who falls behind, don't shout. Pass on messages by patting their shoulder."
The team moved out of the demon's lair section by section.
Huang Chen walked at the front, simultaneously activating his Blood Fiend Sensing and Concealing Breath Technique, deliberately choosing to traverse areas with less death energy and a fainter fishy smell. The group of over thirty people, some injured and some lame, walked slowly, but at least they didn't disturb the large group of demons again.
By the time the group arrived at the crevice in the cliff, the eastern sky was already beginning to turn gray.
The ancient plank road was hidden behind vines. If Huang Chen hadn't touched it beforehand, even someone standing right in front of it might not have been able to spot it.
"One at a time," Huang Chen said. "Don't rush."
The old man in the prison cell leaned against the stone wall, looking up at the road that stretched upwards. His eyes were red, and his lips moved several times, but he ultimately couldn't utter a word.
The wind blew down from above the canyon, dispersing some of the fog.
Huang Chen stepped onto the stone trough first, his boots making a soft sound on the moss. He turned around, reached out, and grabbed a boy behind him whose legs were trembling, helping him to stay steady.
"Step on the places I stepped on."
The boy nodded frantically, his face as white as paper.
The team then clung to the cliff, inching its way uphill.
The valley floor below was still shrouded in thick fog, with occasional dark shadows flashing by in the woods.
Some dared not look down, their eyes fixed on the figure ahead. With each step Huang Chen took, the people behind him followed, the entire line like a string of shadows hanging on a precipice, silently climbing upwards.