I forge immortality with a pagoda.

Sure enough, within a day, the mountain ahead suddenly became steep and precipitous.

Two dark mountain peaks stand facing each other like a gate, with a deep canyon between them.

Thick fog surged and churned in the valley, flowing ceaselessly like a living thing, completely obscuring the scenery inside.

With Shen Yu's eyesight, he could only see the surface of the swirling mist.

Shen Yu put away the Luan Hua Ling, staggered to the ground, and involuntarily gasped for breath, his face as pale as paper.

After more than a month of fleeing, his vital energy was almost completely depleted. If it weren't for the pills in his Qiankun bag, he would probably have been caught up by that purple-faced man long ago and met a tragic end.

"Jian Da, is the snake demon you mentioned here?" Shen Yu's voice was weary, but his sharp gaze swept across the sea of ​​fog ahead.

Zhu Jianda swallowed nervously and nodded repeatedly: "This is the place. The mountain shape and terrain described by that rogue cultivator are exactly the same as here."

He kept looking back, his face filled with panic. "Senior brother, that guy is getting closer and closer. What should we do?"

Shen Yu remained silent for a moment, sensing with his divine sense that the fierce aura behind him was rapidly approaching.

He took a deep breath and said resolutely, "Go down."

"Go down?" Zhu Jian was horrified, almost thinking he had misheard. "Senior brother, think twice! The demonic energy in this valley is overwhelming; going down there would be a nine-out-of-ten chance of death!"

"If we don't go down, we'll both be doomed!" Shen Yu said resolutely.

He knew all too well that this was a risky move.

However, he had very few pills left in his Qiankun bag. The Qi-Nourishing Pills, which were originally intended for cultivation, had long been used up by him as ordinary medicine to restore his vital energy.

Such extravagance would surely cause other cultivators great distress if they knew.

But circumstances forced him to act against his will, and he had no other choice.

Seeing a purple dot appear on the horizon behind him, Shen Yu steeled his heart and leaped into the fog-shrouded valley.

Seeing this, Zhu Jianda had no choice but to grit his teeth and follow.

The two had just entered the valley when the purple-faced man chased them to the valley entrance.

He stood in mid-air, gazing at the churning mist below, his brow furrowed.

The demonic aura emanating from the valley startled him; it was clear that a powerful demon with considerable cultivation was lurking there.

Having cultivated himself for many years, he knew all too well the horrors of such a perilous place.

A battle of wits depends not only on one's own strength, but also on the right timing and location.

Even if his cultivation level were higher, he might not be able to defeat the demonic beasts in this demon's lair.

"Is this kid really courting death?" The purple-faced man was filled with doubt and apprehension.

However, when he thought of the talismans and other treasures that Shen Yu possessed, greed ultimately overcame his caution.

"Fortune favors the bold." He grinned maliciously, his true energy flowing around him, transforming into a stream of light that shot into the valley.

The thick, almost tangible fog was stirred up as the three entered.

Outside the valley, the sun was shining brightly, but inside the valley, it was pitch black.

Light seemed to be swallowed up here, and the field of vision could only reach five zhang. Even if one exerted all one's divine sense to extend it outward, one could only explore a radius of ten zhang.

The valley floor is filled with jagged rocks, with piles of black, strangely shaped stones of varying sizes, creating a desolate landscape.

This vast valley was completely barren, not even a trace of the most common moss could be seen.

A deathly silence enveloped everything, with only the faint sound of two people's footsteps echoing through the valley.

Zhu Jianda couldn't help but shiver. "This valley is too cold and damp."

Ordinary Kaiyuan cultivators are already immune to heat and cold, so Zhu Jianda's statement naturally reflects the unusual nature of this secluded valley.

Shen Yu felt the same way. He used the Three Lights Jade in his hand to send out a beam of red light that enveloped the two of them, and the chilling feeling dissipated considerably.

He was on edge at that moment, taking each step with extreme caution.

Zhu Jianda followed closely behind Shen Yu, not daring to leave her side for even a moment.

After walking for about half an incense stick's time, Shen Yu's ears twitched slightly, and he suddenly stopped.

"Hmm?" He listened intently and heard a rustling sound coming from the darkness, as if something was rubbing and crawling on the stone surface.

"Could it be that demonic beast?" Shen Yu's heart tightened.

But their footsteps led them toward the direction from which the noise was coming from.

Instead of passively defending, it's better to take the initiative and firmly grasp the initiative in your own hands.

The further they went, the clearer the sound became.

As visibility improved, Shen Yu stared intently and saw several small, jet-black snakes slithering among the rocks ahead.

These black snakes were only about a foot long, their scales gleaming in the dim light.

In the center of the snakes, a peculiar plant grows alone among the rocks.

The plant is no more than half a foot tall and has seven narrow leaves, each leaf being dark green with veins as red as blood.

Unlike the fishy stench that permeated the valley, this plant exuded a rich medicinal fragrance, mixed with a faint, sweet, and fishy scent that made one feel dazed.

Although Shen Yu was not knowledgeable in pharmacology, he could tell that this was no ordinary product.

Herbs that grow in such treacherous places often have unexpected and miraculous effects.

"Don't move around here. I'll be right back," Shen Yu instructed telepathically.

Zhu Jianda nodded hurriedly, holding his breath and standing still.

Shen Yu gathered her energy and moved lightly, taking a step forward silently.

When he got close to the herb, he immediately took out his halberd and pushed the small snakes away.

He bent down, grabbed the herb in his hand, and immediately put it into his Qiankun bag.

The action was performed in one smooth motion, without any hesitation or delay.

Just as he turned around, he suddenly saw a dark figure dart out from the shadows.

He immediately shouted, "Watch out!"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Jianda activated the Earth Dust Bead without hesitation, and a layer of earthy yellow light instantly enveloped his entire body.

Almost at the same time, a fierce and unparalleled gust of wind came from behind and slammed heavily into his back.

"Bang—"

Zhu Jianda was sent flying backward like a kite with a broken string, spitting out a mouthful of blood in mid-air before crashing heavily into a pile of rocks six or seven zhang away.

"You two brats, let's see where you can run now!"

The purple-faced man laughed wildly, as if the two men were already his for the taking.

Shen Yu's forehead veins throbbed violently; this commotion was likely to alert the demon king in the valley.

He didn't have time to care about Zhu Jian's injuries; he only hoped that the Dust Bead could save his life.

Shen Yu did not act rashly, but spoke up: "Senior, I am a disciple of the Lu Jing Sect. I do not know where I have offended you. Please tell me."

"Slay Emperor Jingzong!"

"really!"

The purple-faced man felt a chill run down his spine upon hearing this.

He had anticipated that, given Shen Yu's cultivation level of Kaiyuan, it was impossible for him to spend lavishly at the Treasure Pavilion.

Now it seems this kid really does have an extraordinary background.

Given this, he was even less likely to let Shen Yu go.

Shen Yu was well aware of the intricacies involved.

Speaking out now was merely to buy some time and wait for a turning point.

The purple-faced man wore a mocking smile and said coldly, "Young man, you don't think I'll let you off the hook now, do you?"

"Senior, this is the superior-grade talisman sword, the Spirit Cry Sword. If you release me, I will give you this talisman sword, and I will not pursue the matter today."

As he spoke, Shen Yu handed over the Spirit Cry Sword with both hands, his attitude sincere.

The purple-faced man was unmoved. "Ridiculous! If I kill you, this sword will be mine too."

Shen Yu remained unmoved and continued, "Since that's the case, could you please let me know your name, senior, so that I may know who defeated you and die knowing the truth?"

"Stop talking nonsense, no one can save you today!"

After the big man finished speaking, he lunged forward to capture Shen Yu.

Behind him, the thick fog churned violently, and a pair of enormous green vertical pupils slowly lit up in the darkness, emitting a chillingly fierce light.

......

......