Immortality Cultivation

Chapter 314: Heading Towards Ghost Cry Forest

The Black Water Mysterious Snake felt pain and let out a sharp hiss, its scarlet snake pupils locking onto the golden puppet with intense violence and ferocity.

Its massive body twisted violently, and its tail, covered in black scales, swung like a steel whip, whistling as it tore through the air and slammed fiercely toward the golden puppet!

This strike was heavy and powerful, enough to smash a small hill into pieces.

If an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator were struck, they would likely suffer broken bones and tendons on the spot.

However, facing this violent strike, the golden puppet did not budge; it simply raised its right arm, opened its five fingers, and grabbed toward the incoming snake tail!

Bang!

With a dull, heavy sound, the golden puppet’s arm firmly grasped the snake tail; the violent impact failed to shake it in the slightest!

The Black Water Mysterious Snake’s tail was clamped tightly, and no matter how much it struggled or twisted, it could not break free from the hand that felt like an iron hoop.

A flash of crimson gold light appeared in the golden puppet’s eyes.

Its arm exerted force, and it actually swung the giant python, which was several zhang long and weighed over ten thousand jin, like a whip, smashing it fiercely against a massive black rock nearby!

Boom!

Stone fragments flew everywhere!

The Black Water Mysterious Snake was dazed and confused, its scales shattered and dripping with blood.

It let out a painful hiss and opened its mouth to spray a stream of dark green venom, which shot toward the golden puppet’s face like an arrow.

This venom contained potent poison and strong corrosiveness; even ordinary Magic Treasures would suffer a great loss of spirituality if they came into contact with it.

The golden puppet did not dodge or evade, letting the venom spray onto its face and body.

Amidst a hissing sound, the venom quickly corroded the air, but it could not leave a single mark on the golden puppet’s dark gold, hard shell, which was fused with ten thousand year ironwood heart and geng metal marrow; it just emitted a few wisps of green smoke and dissipated.

A look of fear finally appeared in the Black Water Mysterious Snake’s eyes; it realized that this "human-shaped monster" before it was simply not something it could contend with.

It suddenly opened its mouth and spat out a fist-sized black demonic core that emitted thick Demonic Qi and a foul stench.

The demonic core spun rapidly, releasing powerful energy fluctuations, as it intended to detonate the demonic core and fight to the death!

But the golden puppet’s speed was faster!

The moment the demonic core appeared, its other arm reached out like lightning, its five fingers like hooks, and it grabbed the demonic core with absolute precision!

At the same time, an overwhelming and irresistible force passed through its palm, instantly dispersing the violent energy gathered on the demonic core, forcibly suppressing and sealing it!

The light in the Black Water Mysterious Snake’s eyes quickly dimmed.

With its demonic core taken, its life force was severed, and its massive body collapsed limply to the ground; it twitched a few times and then fell silent.

From the moment the golden puppet struck to the moment the Black Water Mysterious Snake died, the entire process took only a few breaths.

A Perfected Golden Core level Demon Beast was like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered before the golden puppet, with no power to resist.

Fang Hao’s expression was calm; he was not surprised by this result at all.

The golden puppet possessed the combat power of a Middle Nascent Soul Stage, so dealing with a Third-tier Peak Demon Beast was naturally a crushing victory.

With a thought, the golden puppet exerted force with its palm, putting the sealed demonic core into the storage ring.

Then, it skillfully sliced open the snake’s belly, took out a dark green snake gallbladder and a long, thin poison gland, and put those away as well.

As for the other parts of the snake corpse, although they had some value, Fang Hao did not pay them any mind, flicking a spark to incinerate it.

After doing all this, the golden puppet turned into a streak of light, entered Fang Hao’s storage ring, and disappeared.

Only then did the middle-aged Cultivator who called himself Liu Feng snap out of his shock.

The gaze he directed at Fang Hao was filled with awe and gratitude.

He struggled to stand up and bowed deeply once more: "Thank you, Senior, for saving my life! If you hadn’t acted, I would surely have died today!"

Fang Hao then turned his gaze to Liu Feng and said indifferently: "It was a mere trifle. How are your injuries?"

Liu Feng gave a wry smile, his face still pale: "I was afflicted with the ’Bone-Corroding Poison’ by that gang of thieves and was forced to use a secret technique to escape. My injuries are quite severe, and I fear... I will need to find a place to recuperate for a period of time before I can recover."

Fang Hao swept his Divine Sense over him and confirmed that what Liu Feng said was true.

This person was indeed suffering from a potent poison, and his Qi was chaotic; his injuries were not light.

After a moment of contemplation, he took out an antidote from Mo Yunhe’s storage ring and flicked it to Liu Feng: "This pill can neutralize the poison in your body. As for your other injuries, you will need to recuperate on your own."

Liu Feng took the Medicinal Pill and smelled it; a flash of surprise crossed his eyes: "This is... a Third-tier High Grade ’Poison-Clearing Pill’? Thank you, Senior, for bestowing this medicine!"

He hurriedly swallowed the pill, sat cross-legged, and circulated his energy to dissolve the medicinal power.

A moment later, the ashen aura on his face had clearly faded, and his breathing had stabilized significantly.

Although his injuries had not yet healed, at least the poison had been mostly neutralized.

"Junior Liu Feng is an Inner Sect Disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect. May I ask for your name, Senior? I will certainly repay this life-saving grace generously!" Liu Feng stood up again and asked respectfully.

"Fang Hao." Fang Hao gave a pseudonym and did not say much more, instead asking: "Why were you ambushed here? Who are the opponents?"

Upon hearing this, a look of resentment appeared on Liu Feng’s face: "I was acting under orders from my Sect to go to Tiangong City to purchase a batch of Artifact Refining Materials.

On the return journey, I passed by the edge of the Yin Sha Swamp and intended to detour to the north to avoid those dangerous areas.

Who would have thought that near the ’Ghost Cry Forest’, I would encounter a gang of robbers!

There were five people in that group; the leader was a One-Eyed Big Man with Late Golden Core Stage cultivation, and the other four were all Middle Golden Core Stage.

They set an ambush here and launched a sudden attack.

I was outnumbered, and only by fighting to the death did I manage to carve out a bloody path and escape to this place, only to be targeted by that Black Water Mysterious Snake..."

"Ghost Cry Forest?" Fang Hao frowned slightly; this was one of the areas he planned to pass through on his route.

"Does that gang of robbers have any distinguishing features? What is their strength?"

Liu Feng hurriedly said: "That One-Eyed Big Man wields a blood-colored saber, and his saber techniques are ruthless.

He also seems to have cultivated some kind of evil technique that can devour a Cultivator’s blood essence.

As for the other four, one is skilled in using poison, one is a Formation Master who set up a Confinement Formation, and the other two are Body Cultivators with extremely strong close-quarters combat abilities.

They cooperate tacitly, so they are clearly habitual offenders.

I suspect they are a gang of robbers that has long been entrenched here, specializing in hunting passing Cultivators."

Fang Hao nodded slightly, having a plan in mind.

On the edge of the Yin Sha Swamp, such robbers often appeared, killing and robbing, committing all kinds of evil.

This group was not weak, and they held the advantage of the terrain; they were indeed a trouble.

"Is Senior planning to cross the Yin Sha Swamp?" Liu Feng asked cautiously, "If so, I suggest that Senior detour around the Ghost Cry Forest area.

That gang of robbers has been entrenched here for many years, is extremely familiar with the terrain, and is said to be in collusion with certain forces deep in the swamp, making them extremely difficult to deal with.

I only escaped with my life earlier by sheer luck."

Fang Hao glanced at Liu Feng but did not answer immediately, instead asking: "What are your plans next?"

Liu Feng gave a wry smile: "My injuries have not healed, so I dare not travel alone anymore.

I intend to first find a hidden place to recuperate, and once I have recovered somewhat, I will think of a way to leave this place and return to my Sect to seek reinforcements.

It’s just... this place is fraught with danger, and alone, I fear..."

Fang Hao pondered for a moment.

What Liu Feng said seemed to have no flaws, and his status as a Flowing Cloud Sect Disciple gave him a bit more credibility.

With his injuries not yet healed, leaving him alone here would indeed be dangerous.

"Do you know of any relatively safe place to stay nearby?" Fang Hao asked.

Liu Feng thought for a moment and said: "When I was fleeing earlier, I passed by an abandoned Immortal Cave.

It seems to have been left behind by an ancient Cultivator; its location is quite hidden, and it has some residual Formation guarding it, so perhaps it can serve as a temporary refuge.

It is in a mountain hollow about a hundred li ahead."

Fang Hao swept his Divine Sense over Liu Feng, confirmed he was not lying, and nodded: "Lead the way.

I will take you there first, and you can recuperate there.

After I finish my business, if it is on the way, I can give you a ride out of the swamp."

Upon hearing this, Liu Feng was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed to thank him: "Thank you, Senior! I will never forget your great kindness!"

Fang Hao said no more and brought out the silver light shuttle again, signaling for Liu Feng to come up.

Liu Feng cautiously boarded the flying shuttle and sat cross-legged in the corner, not daring to overstep in the slightest.

The silver light shuttle rose into the air again, and under Liu Feng’s guidance, flew toward the abandoned Immortal Cave he mentioned.

Along the way, Fang Hao kept his Divine Sense spread out, alert to the surroundings.

The Yin Sha Swamp was fraught with danger, and he dared not be the least bit careless.

About the time it takes to burn an incense stick later, a mountain hollow shrouded in thick fog appeared ahead.

Liu Feng pointed below and said: "Senior, that’s it.

The entrance to the Immortal Cave is covered by vines and loose rocks, making it quite hidden."

Fang Hao controlled the silver light shuttle to land slowly and carefully probed with his Divine Sense.

Sure enough, under a cliff, he discovered a cave entrance covered by vines, large enough for only one person to pass through.

At the entrance, there were indeed weak, residual Formation fluctuations; although broken, they could still play a certain role in concealment and protection.

"This place will do." Fang Hao nodded, took out a set of simple Formation Flags, set up a stronger concealment Formation around the cave entrance, and handed a communication talisman to Liu Feng: "You can recuperate here, but do not move around casually.

Take this communication talisman; if there is an emergency, you can crush it to send a message.

I will return as soon as possible."

Liu Feng took the communication talisman and thanked him again: "Thank you, Senior! I will definitely wait here and will absolutely not walk around."

Fang Hao said no more, flashed his figure, and piloted the silver light shuttle into the air again, flying in the direction of the Ghost Cry Forest.

He did not fully trust Liu Feng, but this person posed no threat for the moment, and that Immortal Cave was indeed hidden; leaving him there to recuperate was doing his duty.

As for that gang of robbers in the Ghost Cry Forest... he did want to meet them.

If he could eliminate them in passing, it would be ridding the people of a scourge, and at the same time, clearing the obstacles on his path forward.

The silver light shuttle turned into a streak of silver light and disappeared into the thick fog.

Liu Feng stood at the entrance of the cave, looking in the direction where Fang Hao had left, a flash of complex emotion in his eyes, then turned and ducked into the Immortal Cave, disappearing from sight.

As for Fang Hao, he sped toward the perilous Ghost Cry Forest.

The path ahead did not seem peaceful.