bookbashuk Chapter 41 The Forest of Dead Bones
Chapter 41 The Forest of Dead Bones
The Forest of Dead Bones.
This place is located in the southernmost part of Yingchuan County, within the territory of the Ming family.
A gray-black miasma shrouded the entire forest. The trees here had long since withered, but strangely they did not fall. Instead, their branches twisted, standing like dried corpses.
The bark was black and cracked, oozing a dark green venom that hissed as it dripped onto the ground, corroding into pits that emitted black smoke.
Despite the harsh conditions, numerous figures darted through the forest, rushing towards the center.
Zhang Xingyao, the head of the Zhang family, who was at the forefront, had a solemn expression and transmitted his voice to the Zhang family cultivators behind him: "Everyone, be careful of the demonic beasts in the shadows. They may attack at any time."
"Also, avoid inhaling miasma; it's quite difficult to get rid of."
Upon hearing this, everyone immediately nodded and swallowed the miasma-removing pills they had previously wrapped in their mouths. Inhaling even a single breath of the miasma in the Bone Forest caused their throats to burn and their lungs to feel as if they were being pierced by thousands of fine needles. Inhaling too much of it caused them to lose their minds, go mad, and die.
Ordinary people would die from festering sores within fifteen minutes.
Even a tiny bit of it would greatly affect their ability to fight in the future.
Zhang Lingyu followed closely at the back of the group. In order to obtain the two Foundation Establishment spiritual treasures, the Zhang family was led by Zhang Xingyao, along with ten late-stage Qi Refining cultivators and fifteen sixth-level Qi Refining cultivators.
Because the Grand Elder is in seclusion year-round and Zhang Yuanlin has to guard the family, the Zhang family can only send one Foundation Establishment cultivator this time.
Fortunately, intelligence revealed that the remaining two companies were in the same situation.
Although the three family heads were all at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, their side was still slightly stronger in terms of overall strength.
According to the intelligence provided by Zhang Xingfu, the first to discover the Poisonous Spring Orchid were two late-stage Qi Refining cultivators from Tianyuan Market. In order to obtain rare and valuable items, they ventured deep into the core area of the Bone Forest.
It was during this trip that they unexpectedly discovered the two Poisonous Spring Orchids, but dozens of second-tier demonic beasts were guarding these spiritual plants, so they dared not approach them easily.
What made them even more hesitant to act was that there was a third-tier green-eyed toad among them, a demonic beast comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator!
Knowing they couldn't succeed, the rogue cultivators could only grit their teeth and retreat. Unexpectedly, they ran into Ming family cultivators as soon as they left the Bone Forest. After a fierce battle, one escaped, while the other was captured by the Ming family.
Under the severe torture of the Ming family, the captured rogue cultivators confessed everything in order to save their lives.
Upon learning the news, the Ming family was overjoyed and immediately organized a team to seize the spiritual object. However, the Yun family's spies learned of this and immediately informed their own family.
Subsequently, the Yun family patriarch personally visited the family and requested to go together to share the Poison Spring Orchid.
Although the Ming family was extremely unwilling, they couldn't spare all their manpower, and the Bone Forest was fraught with danger, where they could be wiped out if they weren't careful. So they gritted their teeth and agreed.
As for the rogue cultivator who escaped, the Ming family immediately organized people to hunt him down, but they were too late, and he escaped to Tianyuan Market.
Knowing he couldn't obtain the spiritual item, but unwilling to let the other party have it, the rogue cultivator began spreading the news throughout the market.
Combining this intelligence with the recent unusual mobilization of manpower by the Yun and Ming families, Zhang Xingfu was certain that the other party was going into the Dry Bone Forest to obtain the Poisonous Spring Orchid, and quickly relayed this message back to his family.
"Unfortunately, the news has already spread throughout the market..."
Zhang Lingyu sighed slightly. Although this time the three major Foundation Establishment families were the main force, there must be a lot of people in this withered bone forest trying to take advantage of the situation.
The struggle for the Poisonous Spring Orchid is bound to be a chaotic melee.
......
As they ventured deeper, the miasma obscured the sun, preventing even sunlight from penetrating. Occasionally, a breeze would sweep by, causing the miasma to surge and reveal a pale sky, only to be quickly swallowed up by the poisonous fog.
Meanwhile, howls and screams echoed from all directions in the forest, sending chills down everyone's spines.
Needless to say, a large number of rogue cultivators who coveted spiritual items must have met with disaster.
"Everyone be careful!"
Suddenly, Zhang Xingyao's voice transmission at the forefront exploded in everyone's minds, revealing a pool of poisonous water in front of them, from which bubbles were constantly rising.
Suddenly, several second-tier demonic beasts sprang out, their emerald green eyes staring straight at the crowd.
"Seventh Uncle, Tenth Uncle, Thirteenth Brother!"
"clear!"
Zhang Yuanming and his two companions took the lead, followed by several late-stage Qi Refining clansmen who flew out from the group, some wielding magical artifacts and others casting spells, launching a barrage of attacks on the demonic beasts.
In no time, they exploded into a mangled mess of flesh and blood, scattered everywhere.
"This is the Forest of Dead Bones!"
The crowd looked extremely grim. If it weren't for the Foundation Establishment cultivators taking the lead, they sometimes wouldn't even know how they died.
"I really don't know how those two rogue cultivators got to the core area."
......
About an hour later, the bodies of two tragically killed cultivators appeared before everyone's eyes. Although their faces were no longer recognizable, it was not difficult to tell from their clothing that they were from the Yun family and the Ming family.
"It seems the two companies are still one step ahead of us."
Many of the tribesmen in the group were worried when they saw this, but Zhang Xingyao was unconcerned and explained, "That's right, it's natural that the two families joined forces and got ahead of us, but that green-eyed toad is not easy to deal with."
"According to news from Xingfu, two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the market have also been mobilized; they won't just stand by and watch the other side take it."
"Furthermore, there might not be just one green-eyed toad, but possibly other third-tier demonic creatures."
"besides?"
The group felt a chill run down their spines. One green-eyed toad would have been enough for them to fight, and there were even more?
"You think there isn't?"
The clan chief spoke in a nonchalant tone, continuing, "In a little while, we Foundation Establishment cultivators will definitely be dealing with the Green-Eyed Toad. At that time, Tenth Uncle, you should ignore those second-tier demonic beasts and focus all your efforts on seizing the spiritual treasures."
"As for Lingyu and the others, they should focus all their efforts on dealing with those mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators from the Ming family."
Zhang Xingyao wasn't actually worried about those late-stage Qi Refining cultivators attacking his family's sixth-stage Qi Refining members. With the spiritual items first, they would naturally prioritize those items.
Even if they disregarded their reputation and took action, each person had a top-grade first-tier talisman before setting off, enough to protect themselves.
Even if he fails to seize the Poisonous Spring Orchid this time, he will definitely find a way to destroy it and prevent any force from obtaining it.
The purpose of having Zhang Lingyu and his group deal with two cultivators at the sixth level of Qi Refining was to deplete their strength and prepare for their eventual annihilation.
"arrive."
As their view widened, the group finally arrived at the core area. The area around the poisonous pool was already filled with people from various factions, who stood in a standoff, none daring to make a move.
When the Zhang family members arrived one after another, the cultivators, whose faces were already pale, became even more gloomy.
......
......