After returning to the village, start chasing the mountain from binding Emei

Chapter 1039 Before the Immortal Refining Cave, the demoness Xiao Ling!
"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Yang paused in his actions and turned to look at Juechen.

Juechen stared coldly at the old white fox.

"Where?"

The voice was even colder.

They were about to leave after failing to find Cang Gou, but these foxes insisted on courting death. Now, they've finally met their end, and only now, on the verge of death, do they claim to know Cang Gou's whereabouts.

In other words, these foxes were deceiving him from the very beginning.

Outrageous.

The old white fox said, "Sixty li to the west, the outer river of the White Dragon River flows through a canyon called Sunset Gorge. There is a Refining Immortal Cave in the canyon. If nothing unexpected happens, the Azure Dog is there..."

"The night before last, Cang Gou came to our Fox Hill, took away Fairy Xiao Ling's belongings, and then headed west, which is the direction of the Refining Immortal Cave..."

……

Juechen frowned slightly.

Chen Yang asked, "What kind of place is the Immortal Refining Cave? Why are you so sure he went there?"

The old white fox said, "I don't know what kind of place that is. Our ancestor also strictly forbade us to go near it. I only know that Cang Gou, Fairy Xiao Ling, and our fox ancestor often go there. That place must be very important to them..."

"The Immortal Refining Cave?"

Chen Yang looked towards Juechen.

Juechen, however, looked completely bewildered, clearly unaware of the matter.

“You lead the way. If you dare to deceive us, you should know what will happen to you,” Juechen said directly.

The old white fox cried out in anguish, "Master, I am badly injured..."

"This injury shouldn't kill you anytime soon, unless you want to die right now."

Juechen's voice was icy cold, devoid of the compassion from before, as if he had suddenly transformed from a Buddha into a demon.

"Yes! I'll lead the way!"

The old white fox didn't dare to say anything more and quickly struggled to stand up.

He was now completely sober. He had originally thought that with the formation left by the ancestor, the "Heavenly Gang Divine Fiend Formation," he could at least trap these two people and wait for the ancestor to return before dealing with them.

But to everyone's surprise, in the face of absolute power, all formations became mere objects of digestion.

No matter how strong the formation is, it's useless if you can't use it. In battle, once you've already broken off all pretense, seizing the initiative is paramount. How could they possibly give you time to set up your formation?

Looking back now, it seems ridiculous.

They've really been staying in Fox Hill for too long, acting like tyrants for too long. They really think that with the Fox Ancestor as their backer, even Juechen wouldn't dare to mess with them easily.

In reality, however, this is completely wrong.

Now look what's happened. Of the three Dao True Immortals, two are dead, leaving only him, barely clinging to life.

Moreover, the young man also said that the Fox Ancestor was dead!

This is a truly catastrophic disaster, a catastrophe that will wipe us out.

……

"Master, be careful this fellow doesn't try anything funny."

Chen Yang offered a reminder.

Although the intelligence displayed by these foxes was rather pathetic, the stereotype of foxes is that they are cunning, so it's hard to say what kind of tricks this old fox has in mind to get back at them.

"Don't dare, don't dare."

The old white fox was terrified upon hearing this and hurriedly said, "I dare not play any tricks. Everything I just said is true. I will take you to the Immortal Refining Cave. I only beg the master to spare my life and spare my Fox Hill Fox Clan."

Juechen didn't say much, he just nodded slightly.

Regardless of whether what the old white fox said is true or not, since there is news about the Cang Gou, even if it is false, we still have to go and see.

Immediately, the two people and the fox left Fox Hill and headed further west beyond the mountains.

……

-

The Bailong River originates from Dong'e Mountain, where it converges with many small rivers in the hidden realm to form a great river. Like a white dragon lying on the ground, it flows mightily and turbulently westward, passing through Xi'e Mountain and flowing out of Xi'e Mountain, with no end in sight.

Sixty li west of Fox Hill, the mountains and forests are dense, and the Bailong River flows through the mountains and forests, winding and turning to form a mountain gorge area with mountains and water, and steep terrain, which can be called a wonder.

On a mountaintop.

The two people and the fox stood there, looking down at each other from their elevated position.

The flowing water surges and crashes against the valley, occasionally stirring up waves several meters high.

The old white fox raised its paw and pointed to a canyon bend about two miles ahead. "That's it. There's a dense forest by the river, with a maze-like formation inside. Ordinary people can't get in. I've only come here twice with the ancestor, but both times we stayed on the outer perimeter and never went inside..."

While it was being introduced, Chen Yang and Juechen were already investigating.

A thin, gray mist shrouded the canyon, obstructing the view and making it impossible to see any trees in the distance.

However, the abnormal energy fluctuations were clearly perceptible.

Both radar and the Yuan Shen detection system were interfered with to varying degrees.

Chen Yang immediately activated his Heavenly Eye and used his Qi Observation Technique to take a look.

All that could be seen above the canyon was a thin, pale golden membrane-like barrier, while inside the membrane, dense black energy churned and did not release.

“Master, it doesn’t look like a Refining Immortal Cave to me; it looks more like a Refining Demon Cave,” Chen Yang said.

This was no joke. Under the Heavenly Eye, Chen Yang felt that the place was filled with demonic energy, and instinctively wanted to stay away from it.

But little did they know what Juechen could possibly see.

"Ah."

Juechen took a deep breath.

He had dealt with Cang Gou for three hundred years and thought he knew him very well, but only now did he realize that Cang Gou had many unknown things behind his back.

Chen Yang said, "That black aura, could it be caused by the Black Lotus?"

"Hard to say."

Juechen shook his head.

It was quite far away, and there was a barrier in between, so even if he had great abilities, he couldn't determine the specific situation.

Chen Yang said, "How about we send it over to scout out the situation first?"

The "it" he was referring to was naturally the old white fox standing beside him.

"Master, spare my life!"

The old white fox was startled and quickly begged Juechen for mercy, "Master, you are merciful. If Canggou knew I had betrayed him, he would definitely grind me to dust..."

Juechen glanced at it but ignored it.

With his right hand forming a hand seal, Juechen used his true essence to condense a small crane in his palm. He then shone his primordial spirit on it, and the true essence flapped its wings, quickly flying along the river towards the distant canyon.

But no one knows what kind of secret technique this is.

Chen Yang guessed that it was probably a kind of exploration technique, similar to how he used the bone-eating beetle to explore.

The little crane quickly flew away and disappeared into the misty canyon.

Juechen closed his eyes, presumably sharing the perspective with the little crane.

Chen Yang did not disturb him.

After waiting for about five minutes, Juechen opened his eyes.

Chen Yang hurriedly inquired about the situation.

Juechen gave a brief explanation.

Just as the old white fox said, there was a forest in the valley, and a maze existed within it. He tried to break the maze by controlling the True Essence Crane, but he failed.

"The maze is quite powerful; it will probably take some effort to figure it out."

Juechen's expression was very serious. "Canggou is quite strong. If he is really hiding here, I'm not afraid of alerting him, but I'm afraid he will use the favorable timing and location to turn the tables on us..."

Chen Yang said, "If it's just a maze, perhaps I can give it a try?"

"You've studied formations?"

Juechen looked at Chen Yang in surprise. After all, Chen Yang was too young, only twenty-three years old. It was already exaggerated enough that he could cultivate to the Dao True Realm. The art of formations was considered a miscellaneous unorthodox skill. How could someone so young have time to learn such miscellaneous skills?

It's fine to just dabble in it, but to become an expert is a vast and profound art. Many cultivators who have lived for hundreds of years don't even dare to claim to be experts in it.

Chen Yang shook his head. "I haven't studied formations, but I imagine this maze is supported by the energy of the White Dragon River's water veins. I can sense the flow of the White Dragon River's energy, so if it's just a maze, it might not be difficult for me..."

Juechen was slightly surprised.

He could roughly sense the flow of energy in the water veins, but this maze was probably not something that could be broken simply by identifying the energy flow.

"No matter what, let's go and take a look first."

After a moment of contemplation, Juechen realized that he could only watch from here; he needed to see it in person.

"Cang Gou is cunning and knows some divination techniques. He might already know we're coming. So, be extra careful after we get there. If anything unexpected happens, don't worry about anything else, just run..."

"Yes!"

After giving his instructions, Juechen prepared to head towards the canyon.

"Master, what about me?"

The old white fox asked timidly.

"Do as you please, but keep your fox clan descendants in check, lest they make further mistakes."

Juechen left after uttering a single sentence.

Chen Yang glanced back at the old white fox.

The old white fox felt a chill run down its spine.

It wasn't until Chen Yang left that it caught its breath, looked up, said nothing, and, not daring to linger, quickly turned to leave.

However, as soon as it turned around, it stopped in its tracks, a hint of apprehension in its eyes.

A woman appeared out of nowhere behind it, no more than thirty or forty meters away.

The woman appeared to be in her thirties, wearing a black windbreaker. Her shoulder-length short hair gave her a neat and capable look. While her appearance wasn't particularly striking, her eyes, like those of a hawk, were sharp and piercing.

"You are..." The old white fox did not recognize the woman in front of it, but it felt a strange sense of familiarity with her, especially her eyes.

Late stage of the Creation Realm!
This is just a cultivator in the late stage of the Creation Realm, but why does he give me a familiar yet dangerous feeling?
The old white fox stepped back, its face full of wariness.

It is currently severely injured, so even if the opponent is just a cultivator in the late stage of the Creation Realm, killing it probably won't be too difficult.

The woman calmly looked at the old white fox, "Hu San, how dare you bring someone here..."

The old white fox was taken aback upon hearing this, staring blankly at the woman in front of him.

It seemed that it only realized what was happening at that moment.

"Fairy, is that you?"

The old white fox stared at the woman in front of him in astonishment, his face full of surprise.

It was truly difficult to reconcile the image of the thin, flat-chested woman before me, who showed no trace of femininity, with the figure I remembered.

"Humph."

The woman snorted coldly, giving the old white fox no friendly look. Perhaps the fox's gaze offended it.

Seemingly sensing the murderous intent emanating from the woman, the old white fox's heart skipped a beat. Realizing what was happening, he quickly said, "It's Monk Juechen, and that brat..."

It hurriedly recounted the whole story to the woman in front of it.

It was clear from their words that they were forced into this situation.

The woman's expression remained cold. "So, this is why you betrayed Cang Gou and brought people here?"

"I……"

The old white fox was momentarily speechless. "Fairy, if I hadn't brought them, they would have killed me. My two elder brothers have already been killed by Monk Juechen. That monk isn't as compassionate as he seems..."

"So, you think I won't kill you?"

The woman's words were cold and icy, as sharp as a steel knife scraping one's bones.

The old white fox's face flushed red, and he didn't know how to explain it for a moment.

It's a fact that it brought people here.

"Humph!"

The woman snorted coldly, and with a gentle lift of her right hand, a thorny vine flew towards the old white fox in an instant.

The old white fox was startled.

It was already on guard, but being seriously injured, it was struggling to stay afloat. Faced with the woman's sudden attack, it was powerless to resist and was instantly entangled by the vines.

"what!"

The old white fox cried out in pain.

The thorns on the vine pierced its skin almost instantly, and the vine seemed to have a life of its own, rapidly sucking its blood through the sharp thorns.

It was extremely fast.

The old white fox could even hear the sound of the vines being sucked.

Besides blood, there is also true essence, spiritual power, and all the energy of the physical body, all of which are being frantically absorbed.

"Fairy, spare me..."

The old white fox was terrified and struggled while begging the woman for her life.

However, the woman ignored him.

The vines seemed to be connected to her body, and the blood energy and other energies absorbed from the old white fox seemed to be constantly being absorbed by the woman.

The woman had her eyes slightly closed, as if she were enjoying a delicious meal, her expression one of complete absorption.

"Fairy..."

The old white fox's body withered rapidly, staring at the woman before it in utter disbelief.

They've been together for over a hundred years, and this woman just turns her back on him like that.

Although it was my fault for bringing people here, I was only trying to survive. You don't understand me, and you even tried to kill me?
It wanted to shout, to question, but in the end, it didn't even have the strength to open its mouth.

His primordial spirit was drained and shattered, and his consciousness fell into darkness. In just one or two minutes, the old white fox's body had completely withered away.

It looked like a milk carton that had been sucked dry, flattened into a tiny lump.

The scene doesn't look bloody, but it's still quite terrifying.

When the vine could no longer hold any more, it finally released the old white fox's body.

rustling!
It quickly slipped into the woman's sleeve and disappeared.

"call!"

The woman had a rosy complexion and her aura was elusive; it was clear that she was quite content.

"He's a bit old, but he's got plenty of energy."

The woman stretched her arms, looking quite comfortable.

Her gaze fell on the shrunken corpse of the old white fox.

What do you mean by "coming out to interrogate you"? It's clearly just an excuse to eat you.

The energy from the entire body of a spirit beast in the early stage of the Dao Realm is a rare feast.

The woman glanced at it briefly, said nothing, and leaped into the air, quickly heading towards the canyon ahead.

……

"Master, someone is coming."

At the same time, in the canyon, Chen Yang and Juechen were preparing to enter the forest.

There is indeed a maze in the woods, just like the one on Dong'e Mountain.

As soon as we approached the woods, a thick fog rolled in.

The maze involves the power of laws, so it must be the work of a Celestial Realm expert, and it's unlikely that it was set up by Cang Gou.

There might be a cave dwelling of some powerful Celestial Realm expert here, but it's been occupied by Cang Gou.

Chen Yang was just about to pull up the map of the Bailong River's watercourses, intending to try the method he used on Dong'e Mountain, to navigate through the maze by following the direction of the watercourses.

But just then, the radar detected that someone was coming from behind.

Juechen had obviously noticed as well, and the two of them stopped at the edge of the forest and looked back towards the canyon entrance.

A woman, stepping on a streak of sword light, quickly arrived.

It landed about fifty meters away from them, stood on the canopy of an old cypress tree, and looked down at them.

"Monk, what are you doing here?"

The woman held her long sword at an angle, her gaze coldly fixed on Juechen.

When his gaze swept over Chen Yang, a powerful killing intent was undisguised.

Chen Yang felt a chill run down his spine; this woman's eyes were incredibly sharp.

Looks like that, outfit like that.

Looks familiar!
Judging from her windbreaker alone, it's clear that she's one of the people who came into the secret realm to explore this place together.

Chen Yang thought about it carefully.

I have a vague recollection of it.

This woman is neither a member of the Five Schools and Eight Families nor one of the people recommended by the association. She should be a disciple of a sect outside of Sichuan.

He had some impression of her, but not a deep one, and had never met her, so Chen Yang didn't know which faction she belonged to.

Late stage of the Creation Realm?
Chen Yang's eyes flickered slightly, sensing that this woman was not simple.

Although the person gave him a sense of familiarity, his eyes and overall demeanor gave him another special sense of familiarity.

Although her cultivation level was only at the late stage of the Creation Realm, Chen Yang could clearly feel the intense fluctuations in her aura.

Sometimes it reaches the realm of creation, sometimes it is comparable to the Dao.

"Witch."

Juechen looked at the woman, his eyes widened, and he immediately cursed. Without saying another word, he used the "Dragon-Capturing Hand" to grab the woman.

"Humph!"

The woman was clearly prepared; she stepped on the sword's light and swept past with a whoosh.

The swift claws struck the old cypress tree, and with a loud bang, the tree crown was crushed.

"Monk, come with me if you dare."

The woman snorted coldly, left a sentence, and flew directly into the maze-like forest on her sword.

In that instant, Chen Yang used the system to scan some of the woman's information.

-

Name: Xiao Ling.

Physical strength: 33250.

Mental power: 75880.

Yuan Shen: 487250.

-

"Xiao Ling?"

When Chen Yang saw the information presented by the system, he was completely stunned.

This woman's name is Xiao Ling?

His physique is only around 300 grades, which is consistent with the physique of the late stage of the Creation Realm.

However, his mental strength of over 700 is twice as strong as his physical strength.

Most importantly, this woman possesses a primordial spirit, and its strength is approaching the level of five thousand.

Even in the late stage of the Dao True Realm, it is rare to find such a powerful primordial spirit.

Seize the house!

Chen Yang almost instantly thought of a possibility.

(End of this chapter)