Translator: CinderTL
"This junior misunderstood you, Senior. Please forgive my presumption," Song Wen said, bowing respectfully despite inwardly scoffing at Xiao Ying's words.
"Enough wasting time. Let's set out," Ye Bing urged.
"Yes, ma'am!"
Song Wen and Yan He leaped forward, soaring into the air.
The ropes connecting them gradually tightened as the Giant Flying Ship began its ascent.
Three months later.
The group of five arrived at the foot of a towering mountain range.
Though their previous journey had also traversed mountainous terrain, the overall elevation had remained relatively gradual. In contrast, the mountains before them rose abruptly, their peaks piercing the sky.
According to the route map, crossing this mountain range, spanning approximately 100,000 li (50,000 kilometers), would mark their successful escape from the Rotting Miasma Ridge's core region.
At that point, the miasma concentration would drastically decrease, naturally reducing the suppression on their divine sense.
With their divine sense restored, both combat and exploration would become far more manageable, significantly reducing the inherent dangers.
However, crossing this mountain range would prove no easy feat.
The miasma concentration in the mountain range had reached a terrifying level, making it the most miasma-dense area in the entire Rotting Miasma Ridge, second only to certain isolated pockets where miasma converged.
Even a Divine Transformation Stage cultivator's divine sense could only perceive distances of a few dozen meters.
Moreover, the mountains teemed with demon beasts, including many sixth-tier creatures. Rumor even had it that seventh-tier demon beasts lurked within.
Ye Bing waved her hand, tossing two jade bottles that landed near Song Wen and Yan He respectively.
"Each of these jade bottles contains ten Spirit Pivot Detoxification Pills," she said. "Each pill will render you completely immune to the poisonous mist's effects for three hours."
"Thank you for the pills, Senior," Song Wen said respectfully, accepting the jade bottle.
Song Wen had taken these Spirit Pivot Detoxification Pills before. Jiang Chao had given him some when they were searching for the Nine Deaths Grass.
He examined the pills in the jade bottle and confirmed they were identical to the ones Jiang Chao had given him—undoubtedly Spirit Pivot Detoxification Pills.
Both Song Wen and Yan He had brought their own medicinal pills to resist the miasma's effects, but these Spirit Pivot Detoxification Pills were far more effective.
Having cultivated the Ten Thousand Poisons Body, Song Wen possessed a resistance to toxins far surpassing that of ordinary cultivators. Throughout their journey, even without actively channeling the Ten Thousand Poisons Body, the miasma posed no threat to him.
However, to deceive Ye Bing and the others, he had been periodically taking detoxification pills along the way.
Song Wen estimated that once they entered the mountain range, his physical resistance alone would no longer suffice to withstand the miasma's corrosive effects.
Therefore, the Spirit Pivot Detoxification Pill Ye Bing had given him still held some utility.
Furthermore, the past three months of their journey had proceeded smoothly. Apart from encountering a dozen fifth-tier demon beasts, they had faced no other dangers.
For three Divine Transformation Stage cultivators, isolated fifth-tier demon beasts posed little threat.
But for Song Wen, disguised as a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator, and Yan He, these creatures were akin to death-dealing Fierce Ghosts.
At such times, the rope Xiao Ying had tied around their waists proved invaluable, repeatedly saving their lives.
After Song Wen and Yan He swallowed their medicinal pills, Xiao Ying urged them on.
"Alright, let's not waste any more time. We'll depart immediately; this isn't a place for rest. For the upcoming mountain crossing, we'll adjust our strategy. Yan He, you'll scout ahead alone. Gou Jun, follow about five miles behind her. I'll control your distance from the Giant Flying Ship with these ropes. If I detect any slacking, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Yan He's expression immediately turned desolate. Xiao Ying's arrangement was practically sending her to her death.
"Senior, the miasma in these mountains is too dense. My divine sense can only perceive about twenty yards. I beg you to reconsider and not make me scout alone."
Xiao Ying's face darkened, making her already hideous features even more terrifying.
"Either you scout ahead obediently, or I'll send you on your way right now."
"Junior... obeys."
Forced by Xiao Ying's oppressive might, Yan He reluctantly took to the air and slowly flew toward the mountains.
After estimating that Yan He had traveled about five miles, Xiao Ying urged Song Wen to set off as well.
Whether it was due to Song Wen and his companions' extraordinary luck or the Dual Polarity Sect's flawlessly accurate route, their perilous journey across the mountain range proceeded with remarkable ease.
They encountered not a single sixth-tier or seventh-tier demonic beast, nor even a fifth-tier one.
In less than half a day, the group reached the edge of the mountain range, where the terrain began to slope downward noticeably.
Just as Song Wen believed they would successfully traverse the mountains, Yan He, who should have been five miles ahead, suddenly appeared in his line of sight, flying toward him at breakneck speed.
Song Wen immediately retreated, darting backward.
"Fellow Daoist Yan He, what's happening ahead?" he called out as he fled.
"Swarms of poisonous insects," Yan He replied, "including many fourth-tier ones."
Hearing this, Song Wen felt a surge of relief.
A swarm of fourth-tier poisonous insects posed little threat to him, especially with three Divine Transformation Stage cultivators—Ye Bing and the others—covering their rear.
After fleeing for about two or three miles, Song Wen suddenly heard rustling sounds behind him.
Turning back, he discovered swarms of spiders covering the ground.
These spiders were roughly the size of human heads, their bodies iridescent with vibrant colors—a clear indication of their potent venom.
Their six long limbs slid effortlessly across the jagged terrain, moving as smoothly as if they were on flat ground, rapidly closing the distance between them and Song Wen and Yan He.
As the swarm of Five-Colored Poisonous Spiders drew closer, Song Wen suddenly accelerated, widening the gap slightly.
However, Yan He was falling further behind, the spiders gaining on her with each step.
The leading spiders suddenly leaped high into the air, lunging at Yan He with deadly intent.
Terror flashed across Yan He's face, but with no better option, she summoned a high-grade magic treasure shield to protect her back.
Yet she knew this was merely a desperate act.
Once the tidal wave of spiders caught up, her fate would be sealed: death, with no escape.
At that moment, she desperately hoped Xiao Ying would pull the rope.
Suddenly, she felt the rope around her waist tighten, a tremendous force yanking her forward, narrowly avoiding the lunging spiders.
But it wasn't Xiao Ying who had saved her—it was Song Wen.
About a hundred zhang ahead, Song Wen was pulling the rope with all his might, dragging her to his side.
"Fellow Daoist Gou Jun, thank you for saving my life," Yan He said gratefully.
"A trivial matter," Song Wen replied casually.
As they spoke, the Giant Flying Ship came into view.
But where was everyone?
(End of the Chapter)
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