After leaving that eerie bamboo forest, Margaret led the group southeast, following the direction pointed out by the old Taoist in the robe.
The deeper they went, the thicker the mist became.
The rustling sound of bamboo leaves had ceased, replaced instead with a suffocating silence.
Even the faint fragrance of bamboo in the air was now tainted by a subtle, almost imperceptible metallic sweetness.
“Miss, do you really think that old Taoist’s words can be trusted?” Qingzhu whispered, her eyes darting warily around.
Margaret’s expression was grave. She shook her head slightly. “It’s hard to tell… but this is the only clue we have for now.”
If not for Dustin, a cultivator in the Land-Immortal Realm, being by her side, she would not have dared to take such a risk.
After nearly an hour of walking, a deep canyon appeared ahead, just as the old Taoist had described.
The canyon’s entrance was narrow, flanked by sheer black cliffs that looked as though they had been carved by blades. Not a single blade of grass grew upon them—an eerie contrast to the lush bamboo forest they had left behind.
A chilling wind blew out from the canyon’s depths, carrying with it the stench of decay and a coldness that made one’s bones ache.
The dim canyon resembled the gaping maw of some colossal beast, waiting to swallow intruders whole.
“This is the place.” Margaret stopped in her tracks, staring at the canyon entrance. She took a deep breath, suppressing the unease in her chest.
The clue to the Immortal Pill might be hidden within… yet her instincts told her that the danger here far surpassed the man-eating flowers and wailing soul-grass they had faced before. Perhaps it could even rival the white-robed man who wielded lightning.
Her guards, unsettled by the ominous canyon, tightened their grips on their weapons, their formation instinctively drawing closer together.
“Dustin, do you sense anything?” Margaret turned to the man beside her.
“This canyon is… unusual.”
Dustin narrowed his eyes, staring into the depths.
He sent out his divine sense, only for it to vanish like a stone sinking into the sea, smothered by an unseen force. All he could perceive was a haze of chaos.
“Stay close. Stay alert.” Dustin said no more, stepping forward into the canyon.
The group hurried after him, huddling tightly at his back.
As soon as they entered, the temperature plummeted. The cold wind cut through their clothes and pierced into their bones. The ground beneath was damp and soft, muffling their footsteps and adding to the oppressive silence.
The canyon walls loomed high above, blotting out the sky. Only a thin crack overhead let through faint light, barely enough to illuminate their path.
The stench of rot thickened, mixed with a sulfurous reek.
Clink.
One guard accidentally kicked something. Looking down, he saw a bone—long, pale, and unmistakably belonging to some large beast.
The deeper they went, the more bones they found scattered across the ground—some animal, some unmistakably human.
Shattered skulls, broken ribs, and decayed remains lay half-buried in the mud, silent testaments to the canyon’s danger.
A creeping sense of dread spread through the group.
“Steady your minds. Do not let foreign energies invade.” Dustin’s cool voice rang out, solemn and commanding. It was like a temple bell at dawn, dispersing the fog of fear clouding their hearts.
He could sense it—the canyon wasn’t only filled with physical threats. A corrosive energy lingered here, gnawing at one’s mind and spirit.
After about a mile, the landscape shifted again.
The canyon widened, revealing pits of various sizes scattered across the ground. Within them bubbled a thick, tar-like black liquid, releasing sulfurous fumes.
In some areas, grotesque plants grew—twisted, brightly colored, and disturbingly alive, swaying as though they had a will of their own.
Then it came.
A low, guttural roar, as if echoing up from the depths of the underworld itself.
It wasn’t loud, but it carried a dreadful pressure that shook the soul, making everyone’s hearts tighten painfully.
Dustin froze, his sharp gaze fixed on a massive bend in the canyon ahead.
Though his divine sense was suppressed, he could still feel it—something immensely powerful lurked beyond that turn.
Its strength rivaled, if not surpassed, that of the white-robed man. But its aura was even more violent, more chaotic.
“Be careful.” Dustin’s voice was calm, but his right hand lowered toward the hilt of his sword.
Seeing his solemnity, everyone’s hearts leapt into their throats.
The guards unsheathed their weapons, forming a protective formation with Margaret at its center. All eyes fixed nervously on the bend.
The guttural roar came again, closer this time.
Along with it came the sound of massive, dragging footsteps and the clinking of chains scraping against rock.
A putrid, bloody wind gusted from around the corner.
The shadows writhed—then, slowly, a massive and grotesque figure emerged, radiating murderous intent.
It was a monstrous beast, lizard-like in form, but with three heads!
Its body was covered in black, metallic scales, between which glowed molten-red fissures like flowing lava.
Six blazing eyes burned with bloodlust and destruction.
Its four limbs were thick like stone pillars, claws sinking deep into the earth. A long, bone-spiked tail swept against the cliffside, leaving deep scars in the rock.
But most striking of all were the heavy black chains wrapped around its neck and limbs, inscribed with ancient runes.
The chains anchored deep into the canyon walls, limiting its movement. Yet even bound, the beast’s oppressive aura was so suffocating that everyone except Dustin felt their breath falter and their knees weaken. - Marinien
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