C484 Misty Mountain Range(1)
The Misty Mountain Range doesn't have any random portals. However, once inside, people naturally split up, each seeking their own opportunities, usually sticking with one or two trusted companions to avoid internal conflicts.
During this period, the youths from various villages moved together. Woo Zhengyang had gotten to know Liu Xiangdong and Yu Xiaoshui quite well and wasn't worried about them plotting against Liu Dahu. Zhan Yifei and Zhan Yinuo wanted to team up with Woo Zhengyang, but he declined. They didn't mind and were the first to enter the Misty Mountain Range.
Woo Zhengyang, carrying Rice on his back, was still at the rear. Lin Yuyue glanced at Rice but said nothing in the end. Woo Zhengyang knew that the people from Azure Sun Martial Mansion had reservations about Rice, considering her a burden. However, they kept quiet because of his willingness to include her.
What they didn't know was that Rice, despite her small size, had combat abilities far beyond the ordinary. Even Zhan Yifei wouldn't be a match for her. If Rice and Woo Zhengyang teamed up to perform the "Flawless Spear and Sword Formation," Zhan Yifei and Zhan Yinuo together might still face defeat.
Rice's greatest potential lay in her extraordinary constitution. As long as she had Qi Blood Crystals, her cultivation could skyrocket, making it easy for her to break through to the Inner Stage.
After turning in their old Hidden Heaven Bags and receiving new ones, Woo Zhengyang and Rice ventured into the Misty Mountain Range. As soon as they entered the mist, Zhengyang felt a peculiar pulling force surrounding him. This force caused the energy within him to surge, sometimes slowly, sometimes rapidly.
"Zhengyang, I'm really hot!" Rice complained, pouting. This was due to the surging energy.
"You'll get used to it soon. Just don't use your energy recklessly," Zhengyang advised, carrying Rice as he quickly chose a direction and moved forward.
As all five hundred participants entered, the mist within the mountain range thickened significantly, continuing to intensify until it reached its peak density. Within the gates of the Misty Mountain, a special aura prevented flight. Attempting to fly would cause one's internal energy to explode, leaving nothing behind.
Moreover, the energy consumed here couldn't be replenished. Once it dwindled to a certain level, the mist would generate a force that would eject the participants. Only those who met specific conditions could survive; otherwise, the dense fog would be fatal.
Liu Dahu and his companions aimed to minimize their energy loss while maximizing their gains.
Woo Zhengyang and his companions, including Zhan Yifei, aimed to reach Bewilderment Dragon Stream as quickly as possible. In this area, there was no thick fog, offering a chance to recover their energy. Additionally, their presence would alleviate the pressure on others in the Misty Mountain Range, achieving two goals at once.
However, entering Bewilderment Dragon Stream wasn't as simple as it seemed. The Misty Mountain Range was deceptive; the fog was just a facade, while the real challenge lay in its disorienting nature. Within this mist, there was no sense of direction. Finding the stream relied entirely on luck—some might stumble upon it quickly, while others, less fortunate, would wander in circles until their energy was depleted and they were expelled, only to realize they had been going in circles all along.
Woo Zhengyang wasn't one to leave things to chance. Upon entering the Misty Mountain Range, he took out the Array Origin Bead. Such trial grounds were usually crafted by predecessors with a purpose. Since it was man-made, there should be traces of formations. Woo Zhengyang didn't expect to break the formation; he just needed to roughly determine the direction of Bewilderment Dragon Stream.
Yet, soon after, Woo Zhengyang's expression grew serious. The surrounding mist was peculiar. Even with the Array Origin Bead's capabilities, the flow of vital energy he sensed was chaotic, leaving no trace of the formation's operation.
Woo Zhengyang remained undeterred, continuing to sense his surroundings. Suddenly, a snow-white beast leapt out from the mist. Its color blended with the fog, and it wasn't until the creature was close that Woo Zhengyang noticed it. The No Life Sword appeared in his hand, and with a powerful slash, the beast let out a wail and was split in two.
This was the edge of the Misty Mountain Range, where the beasts weren't particularly strong. With the sharpness of the No Life Sword, slaying a beast was effortless. After retrieving the demon core, Woo Zhengyang moved on, constantly sensing his surroundings.
Along the way, a few more beasts blocked their path. This time, Woo Zhengyang didn't need to lift a finger. Rice, wielding a long spear, took care of them. Woo Zhengyang found it amusing, though, as he carried Rice on his back, and Rice fought from his position, it felt like riding into battle on horseback.
Nearly two hours had passed, and Woo Zhengyang still hadn't found any trace of the formation. It was clear the beasts they encountered were becoming increasingly stronger. This was the second path, a common tactic used by many disciples of the Martial Mansion.
