The First Venerable of All Paths

Three days later.

The bright moon hangs high in the sky, casting its light upon the small town of Red Circle.

"Creak!"

The door was gently pushed open, and Li Tianjiao, dressed in a tight-fitting outfit, walked into the room.

"Brother Fang Xuan, are you ready?"

Fang Xuan slung the sword case over his shoulder and said, "Let's go."

The two walked outside.

Since the strange events, fewer and fewer people have been living in the town.

Even if nothing strange happens on the night of a full moon, no one will go out at that time.

The entire street was eerily quiet.

Fang Xuan and Li Tianjiao walked side by side, heading straight towards Red Spring Lake.

Just as Li Tianjiao had said, the chilling atmosphere that had been present before did not appear on the night of the full moon.

But he did not let his guard down because of this.

Li Tianjiao found it somewhat amusing and said, "Brother Fang Xuan, there's no need to be so nervous. As long as it's a full moon night, those red mists won't appear."

"Red mist?"

Fang Xuan said, "You mean the thing that appeared at night?"

"Um."

Li Tianjiao nodded and said, "At night, red mist appears over the town. We guess it comes from Red Spring Lake."

"So, all those people who disappeared before were caused by this red mist."

"uncertain."

Li Tianjiao said, "But we should know after tonight."

"What's wrong?"

Fang Xuan laughed and said, "Even at this point, you still want to keep it from me?"

"Is there?"

Li Tianjiao looked at Fang Xuan and found that Fang Xuan was looking at him with a serious expression.

"It seems nothing can be hidden from Brother Fang Xuan."

Li Tianjiao sighed and said, "Actually, there is something I need in that Red Spring Lake."

"What is it?"

"have no idea."

Li Tianjiao shook his head and said, "But I've been there a few times on the night of the full moon, and I can always sense that something is waiting for me in the Red Spring Lake."

"Are you sure you're not mistaken?"

Fang Xuan recalled the various tempting voices that had reached his ears last night.

"I'm very sure."

Li Tianjiao said earnestly, "But I'm sorry, I can't tell you the reason right now, but I hope Brother Fang Xuan can believe me."

Realizing Li Tianjiao wasn't lying, Fang Xuan changed the subject, asking, "Besides us and the Hyena Mercenary Group, will there be anyone else tonight?"

"I don't know."

Li Tianjiao said, "After all, this has been going on for so long, we can't be sure that others don't know."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xuan fell silent.

Hongquan Lake is not far away.

Half an hour later, Fang Xuan and his companion arrived at the edge of a square in the center of the town.

Fang Xuan finally saw the red lake.

Under the moonlight, the red lake was deathly still, without even the slightest ripple.

It's like a stagnant pool.

A thin red mist hangs over the Red Lake.

"This red mist is the culprit that haunts us every night."

Li Tianjiao explained, "And every time the moon is full, this red mist will not leave Red Spring Lake, nor will it drift outwards."

Fang Xuan nodded, looking around.

The buildings surrounding Red Lake are severely decayed.

Fang Xuan could even see some remaining bloodstains.

"Brother Fang Xuan, have you discovered anything?"

Li Tianjiao looked at Fang Xuan.

Fang Xuan shook his head, his brows furrowing even deeper.

Apart from its strange color, everything else about Red Spring Lake is perfectly normal.

Who would believe that it has claimed the lives of hundreds?

"What should we do next?"

Fang Xuan asked, "Do we have to go in?"

Just as Li Tianjiao was about to speak, a sinister laugh suddenly rang out.

"Little girl, I didn't expect you to actually come!"

Fang Xuan looked up.

Then, a group of people were seen walking quickly across the lake.

The leader was a young man of ordinary appearance.

But those eyes, like those of a wild beast, were filled with a sense of savagery.

Moreover, this person's aura is extremely strong.

"Commander Nie's nose is quite sharp."

Li Tianjiao smiled calmly and said, "I just arrived, and Commander Nie arrived right after me."

"That's Nie Song, the leader of the Hyena Mercenary Group."

Li Tianjiao explained softly, "He is at the eighth level of the Condensation Realm and has an extremely fierce fighting style. He has killed a martial artist at the ninth level of the Condensation Realm."

Behind Nie Song were seven or eight other people.

Fang Xuan looked surprised and looked at Li Tianjiao again.

This girl is quite something to be able to establish herself in Hongquan Town.

"What? You only brought this kid?"

Nie Song glanced at Fang Xuan behind Li Tianjiao and grinned, "Aren't you afraid of losing your life here?"

He could naturally tell at a glance that Fang Xuan was only at the Qi Gathering Realm.

At this age, such cultivation is indeed remarkable.

But trying to steal anything from Red Spring Lake is simply overestimating one's abilities.

"That's none of your concern, Commander Nie."

Li Tianjiao said calmly, "As for you, I heard you brought help from Mingyang County, but I haven't seen you."

"No rush."

Nie Song said calmly, "Anyway, no one else has arrived."

"Nie Song, what do you mean?"

Li Tianjiao's expression changed.

What do you think?

Nie Song smiled coldly: "You don't actually think I'd believe that the disappearance of the Sun family back then was really the work of this strange red mist, do you?"

His words were clearly pointed.

Fang Xuan looked at Li Tianjiao again.

Noticing Fang Xuan's gaze, Li Tianjiao's lips moved, and she quickly used her divine soul to transmit her voice: "Brother Fang Xuan, this matter is a long story, I will explain it to you in detail later."

Fang Xuan sighed softly to himself.

How many things is this girl still hiding from him?

Just then, a sharp, piercing sound suddenly rang in everyone's ears, breaking the standoff between the two sides.

"So it was you, little girl. I should have known."

The group turned their heads at the same time and saw a dark alley not far away.

Three figures slowly emerged, their gait strange, their bodies radiating chilling Yuan energy fluctuations.

These three are very distinctive and leave a deep impression at first glance; they are definitely not good people.

The leader was a dwarf with a face like a demon, less than three feet tall.

His face was contorted, his eyes bulged, drool dripped from the corner of his mouth, and his eyes were filled with a bloodthirsty light.

Beside him stood an elderly man with a hunched back and white hair.

His face was covered with deep wrinkles, his hands were withered and thin like chicken claws, and his fingertips were tinged with an eerie bluish-black. A faint, chilling aura of death surrounded him.

The last person was a scantily clad, beautiful woman with a seductive figure, fair skin, and alluring eyes.

All three of them were at the seventh level of the Qi Condensation Realm, possessing profound and powerful auras that were far beyond that of ordinary martial artists.

"Ghost Child, Withered Old Monster, Poisonous Enchantress?"

Upon seeing these three people, Li Tianjiao's pretty face instantly changed drastically. Her hands clenched unconsciously, her fingertips turning white, and her eyes were filled with fear.

These three were notorious rogue cultivators from the border region of the three prefectures. They were cruel, eccentric, and usually lived alone. It was unexpected that they would appear together today.

"Tsk tsk, in just one year, you've grown even more beautiful and charming."

The hunched, withered old monster slowly opened its mouth, its voice hoarse and dry, like the friction of rusty iron, sending chills down one's spine.

His gaze swept greedily over Li Tianjiao, his tone flippant: "What have you thought about the suggestion I made to you before?"

"If you're willing to cultivate with me for a while, I'll help you obtain the item from Red Spring Lake. What do you say?"

"Old monster, you've got a good plan."

The Poisonous Enchantress beside her chuckled coquettishly, her waist twisting in a seductive arc.

She gave Fang Xuan a seductive wink and said in a sweet, coquettish voice, "Since you want this little girl, then I'll take this handsome young man."

"Judging by its appearance, it looks very fresh and tender; it must taste delicious."

"Okay, okay, I agree!"

The demonic child, its face contorted like a ghoul, screamed shrilly, its features growing increasingly ferocious, drool dripping from its mouth: "When you're done playing with them, I'll suck their lifeblood dry and devour their flesh!"

"You brat, this isn't your place to speak!"

Poisonous Enchantress slapped Ghost Child on the head with considerable force, causing him to stagger.

She looked at Fang Xuan again, puffed out her chest, and said in an even more seductive tone, "Young man, how about coming with me?"

"I promise, I'll make you feel like you're in heaven, way more fun than this little girl."

Fang Xuan remained calm and indifferent, as if he hadn't heard anything and didn't even lift his eyelids.

In his eyes, such seductive tricks were nothing more than the antics of a clown.

"You slut!"

Li Tianjiao, his face filled with disgust, shouted angrily, while simultaneously stepping in front of Fang Xuan and glaring at Du Meiniang, "Brother Fang Xuan, ignore them! These people are all crazy!"

"Oh, this little girl is quite protective of him?"

Poisonous Enchantress's smile grew even more alluring, but the ruthlessness in her eyes intensified.

"Since you're so protective of him, then after I kill you, I'll have a good taste of him!"

Nie Song stood aside, observing everything with a cold eye, a playful smile playing on his lips, but he did not step forward to stop them.

For him, having more enemies is more interesting, as it allows him to reap the benefits without lifting a finger.

"Brother Fang Xuan, be careful later."

Li Tianjiao whispered, "The three old monsters are extremely powerful and ruthless. Try to stay away from them."

Fang Xuan nodded.

He knew, of course, that these three were no ordinary people.

No matter how powerful he is, he is only at the Qi Gathering Realm.

If you were to actually face these three, you wouldn't have much of a chance of winning.

"Alright, enough with the nonsense."

At this moment, Nie Song glanced at the full moon in the sky and said, "It's about time, let's begin."

As he spoke, Nie Song took out a blood-red stone and held it tightly in his hand.

The same was true of the people behind him.

The three withered monsters each took out a red stone.

"Brother Fang Xuan, please take this."

Li Tianjiao handed a blood-red stone to Fang Xuan and said, "This stone was originally the foundation stone of Red Spring Lake. With this, we can ward off the strange phenomena in the lake."

Fang Xuan took the stone; it was icy cold to the touch.

Apart from that, there's nothing else special about it.

"Gentlemen, let me make this clear from the start."

Nie Song said coldly, "If there really are any treasures inside, then it's up to each person's strength. Anyone who dares to stab you in the back will face consequences..."

However, before Nie Song could finish speaking, the once lifeless Red Lake suddenly began to churn violently.

"BOOM!!!"

The next moment, the lake water churned.

Then, the red lake water swept across the sky like a tornado.

Everyone was shocked by what they saw.

But what happened next caused everyone's expression to change drastically, and they exclaimed in surprise.

Because the red tornado once again transformed into a sky full of lake water, crashing down fiercely towards everyone.

"Wow!"

"Run!"

"..."