In Zhu Xian, people start to rise from plundering entries

When settling out at the inn, the innkeeper kindly reminded them: "Are you three gentlemen heading to the Southern Frontier? The roads have been quite dangerous lately. I've heard that there are monsters that attack travelers."

Su Han thanked the shopkeeper, but his mind was made up to leave.

After leaving Linan Town, the three traveled south along the trade route.

The further south you go, the more peculiar the surrounding scenery becomes.

The originally gentle hills were gradually replaced by steep peaks, and the vegetation became lush and strange, with many plants being species rarely seen in the Central Plains.

The air was thick with a humid heat, which made people feel slightly uncomfortable.

Following Biyao's directions, they chose a relatively secluded path, which, although difficult to traverse, would indeed save them a lot of time.

On the way, Biyao's familiarity with the customs and culture of southern Xinjiang made Su Han even more convinced that she was not simply someone who had "gone there a few times with her father".

She can not only accurately identify various poisonous plants, but also decipher some markings that only local people understand.

“These marks were left by the witch hunters, indicating that there is danger ahead,” Biyao explained, pointing to the strange symbols carved on a tree.

Lu Xueqi suddenly asked, "Miss Biyao seems to know a lot about the Witch Clan?"

Biyao's expression stiffened slightly, then she smiled and said, "Our Ghost King Sect has some dealings with the Witch Clan, so we know a little about it."

Su Han didn't expose her secret. Everyone has their own secrets, and as long as it doesn't affect the overall situation, he didn't want to delve into it.

After traveling for five days straight, they had ventured deep into the heart of southern Xinjiang.

The mountains here are increasingly steep, with ancient trees reaching for the sky and vines entwining the ground. The howls of unknown wild beasts can often be heard from afar.

That evening, the three of them set up camp and rested by a mountain stream.

Su Han hunted a few wild animals and roasted them over a fire.

Lu Xueqi sat quietly to regulate her breathing, while Biyao packed her belongings beside her.

Suddenly, Lu Xueqi opened her eyes and whispered, "Someone is approaching."

Su Han and Bi Yao immediately became alert.

A moment later, a series of hurried footsteps came from the woods, mixed with anxious breathing.

A young girl dressed in the traditional clothing of southern Xinjiang staggered out of the forest. Her clothes were torn, and she was covered in wounds, looking extremely disheveled.

The girl was startled when she saw Su Han and the other two, then her eyes lit up with a pleading look. She said in heavily accented Mandarin, "Help! A monster is chasing me!"

No sooner had she finished speaking than a terrifying roar echoed through the forest, causing leaves to rustle and fall.

Su Han's eyes narrowed, and he shielded the girl behind him, saying in a deep voice, "Don't be afraid, come behind us."

Lu Xueqi had already gripped the Tianya Divine Sword tightly, and Biyao had also taken out her magic weapon, ready for battle.

Suddenly, a huge monster emerged from the forest. It resembled a cheetah, but was entirely crimson, with piercing eyes, protruding fangs, and dripping foul-smelling saliva.

Most peculiarly, it has a single horn on its forehead that gleams with an eerie purple light.

"It's a one-horned red leopard!" Biyao exclaimed. "This kind of monster is extremely rare, and it is said to have the bloodline of ancient mythical beasts."

The unicorn leopard let out a low growl, its eyes fixed on the girl from the southern border, seemingly determined to possess her.

Su Han stepped forward and stood between the monster and the girl.

Upon seeing this, the unicorn red leopard roared and pounced on Su Han.

Its speed was astonishing; it transformed into a red blur and arrived in front of Su Han in an instant.

Su Han remained calm and composed, slightly shifting his body to avoid the fatal pounce, while simultaneously striking the beast's side with a palm.

With a "bang," the palm strike hit the target, but the unicorn red leopard only swayed slightly, seemingly unharmed.

Su Han was slightly startled. Although he hadn't used his full strength in that palm strike, it was still enough to shatter stone tablets. He hadn't expected this demonic beast to have such a formidable defense. The unicorn red leopard was enraged, and its horn blazed with purple light as a bolt of lightning struck straight at Su Han.

Seeing this, Lu Xueqi drew her Tianya Divine Sword, unleashing a sword aura to meet the lightning.

The two forces collided in mid-air, bursting forth with dazzling light.

Biyao also seized the opportunity to strike, sending several beams of emerald light toward the demon beast.

Under the combined attack of the three, the unicorn red leopard gradually weakened, and several wounds appeared on its body.

It seemed to realize that its opponent was not to be trifled with, and with a reluctant growl, it turned and darted into the forest, disappearing from sight.

Su Han did not give chase, but turned around to check on the situation of the girl from southern Xinjiang.

"Are you okay, miss?"

The girl, still shaken, took a moment to catch her breath before saying, "Thank you so much for saving me. My name is Alan, and I'm from the Black Witch Clan."

"The Black Witch Clan?" Su Han's heart skipped a beat. "Is it the Black Witch Clan who lives on Black Witch Mountain?"

Alan looked at Su Han in surprise: "How do you know about Black Witch Mountain?"

Su Han didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Why was that unicorn red leopard chasing you?"

Alan looked somber: "Our village has recently suffered a great calamity. Half a month ago, after strange phenomena appeared in the sky above Black Witch Mountain, the monsters in the mountain became extremely violent and frequently attacked nearby villages."

She continued, "Today, I went up the mountain with some companions to collect herbs, but unexpectedly we encountered this one-horned red leopard. Everyone else was killed by it."

At this point, Alan choked up and could not continue.

Biyao stepped forward to comfort her, saying, "Don't be sad, you're safe now."

Su Han handed Alan some water and food, and after she calmed down, he asked, "Miss Alan, is the strange phenomenon you mentioned the light that appears in the sky above Black Witch Mountain every night at midnight?"

Alan nodded in surprise: "You know too? Ever since that light appeared, the elders in the village have been saying that a great change is about to happen, and they are preparing for the Witch God Festival."

Su Han exchanged a glance with Lu Xueqi and continued to ask, "Are there any legends in the village about this strange phenomenon?"

Alan thought for a moment and said, "The elders say this may be a sign that the 'Bronze Palace' is about to appear in the world."

Su Han's heart skipped a beat, and he forced back his excitement as he asked, "The Bronze Divine Palace? What is that?"

“That’s a legend passed down through generations of our Black Witch Clan,” Alan explained. “It is said that every three hundred years, a bronze palace appears on Black Witch Mountain, containing countless treasures and the secret to immortality.”

"But the temple is surrounded by powerful restrictions, which only weaken on the night of a full moon, making it possible to enter."

Su Han was basically certain that the "Bronze Palace" that Alan mentioned was the ancient bronze temple they were looking for.

He continued, "Will the shrine appear on the next full moon?"

Alan nodded: "The elders predict it will be on the night of the full moon in about ten days."

This is completely consistent with the information Su Han obtained from the bronze mirror.

"Miss Alan, may we go and meet the elders of your village?" Su Han asked.

Alan hesitated for a moment: "Outsiders are usually not allowed to enter the village, but you saved my life. I can try to plead with the elders."

Su Han expressed her gratitude: "Then I'll trouble you."

Led by Alan, the three continued their journey toward Black Witch Mountain.

On the way, Alan told them that recently, not only have monsters been frequently active around the village, but many outsiders have also appeared near Black Witch Mountain, all of whom seem to be interested in the Bronze Palace.

“A few days ago, a group of people dressed in identical white clothes came near the village, acting aggressively. The elders wouldn't let us get close to them,” Alan said. (End of Chapter)