Wandering Swordsman |

Led by Su Ming, the two arrived at a secluded valley. The environment here was tranquil, surrounded by dense forests, with an ancient totem pole standing in the center. The totem pole was covered with mysterious runes and patterns, emitting a faint glow that gave people a sense of peace.

At that moment, three people were guarding the area. When they saw Su Ming, they exclaimed in shock, as if they had seen a ghost, "Su Ming!"

Upon discovering that Su Ming was indeed seriously injured but not dead, the three quickly exchanged glances and put on fake smiles. One of them stepped forward and said, feigning concern, "Su Ming, it's so good that you're still alive! Come, let us help you to rest under the totem."

However, a barely perceptible chill lurked beneath their smiles. In reality, these were among those who had abandoned Su Ming and fled alone. The corpses Shen Mo had just discovered were likely the result of them abandoning their companions in the same way.

Su Ming keenly sensed the change in these people's attitude. He took a step back warily and said coldly, "Stay away from me. I know what you're up to."

The three men's expressions changed slightly. One of them, a burly man, shouted impatiently, "Kid, don't be so stubborn! Do you think you can escape?"

Seeing this, Shen Mo calmly stepped in front of Su Ming, his gaze sweeping over the three of them like a knife, his tone icy: "What do you want to do?"

The three men had a sudden realization: even if Shen Mo was strong, he was definitely no match for the three of them combined while dragging along an injured Su Ming.

Therefore, the three decided to attack Su Ming and Shen Mo.

The burly man at the head of the group made the first move, brandishing his long sword, the blade gleaming coldly, aiming straight for Shen Mo's throat.

Shen Mo flashed, dodging the opponent's attack like a ghost, and then gently tapped the man's chest. The man immediately felt a powerful internal force invade his body, and he was struck as if by lightning, flying backward and crashing heavily to the ground. Although he was not dead, he lost the ability to move.

The other two were shocked to see this and immediately tried to fight back.

One of them drew a dagger from his waist, his eyes filled with anger and fear. "Everyone, attack together and take him down!"

However, Shen Mo's movements were as swift as lightning. He moved in front of the second person with lightning speed, his left hand lightly brushing away the attack, while his right hand struck out like lightning, accurately hitting the opponent's vital points. The man groaned, then collapsed to the ground, blood streaming from his mouth, barely breathing.

Seeing the situation was dire, the last remaining person turned to flee. Shen Mo was not about to let him escape so easily. He took a deep breath, quickly calmed his mind, clenched his fists, and rapidly circulated his inner energy to unleash the heaven-defying divine skill - Heavenly Scroll.

A powerful force erupted instantly, and a dazzling light emanated from Shen Mo, illuminating the surrounding area. The man felt an invisible pressure bearing down on him, his body involuntarily flying backward and crashing heavily to the ground, spitting out blood, his eyes filled with the ultimate fear.

A suffocating atmosphere filled the valley, the distant rustling of wind and leaves seeming to fuel the battle. Shen Mo slowly approached the heavily wounded man lying on the ground, his eyes cold and ruthless, each step carrying a chilling pressure. The man lay there, his breath weak, his eyes filled with despair and pleading.

"Please...spare my life," the man pleaded with his last ounce of strength, his voice trembling and powerless.

However, Shen Mo did not respond to his request. Instead, he bent down and placed his palm on the man's dantian, beginning to absorb the man's internal energy. As the man's internal energy was gradually drained away, his body trembled slightly, and his eyes revealed an expression of pain and despair, but he was powerless to resist.

Su Ming stood aside, watching Shen Mo drain the inner strength of his former companions, his face expressionless. Clearly, he no longer considered those who had betrayed him as allies. He knew all too well that those who abandoned their companions for his life were not worthy of any sympathy.

After the first person's power was completely absorbed, that person instantly lost their breath. Shen Mo stood up and felt the newly acquired power flowing through his body, transforming into his own internal energy.

After dealing with the traitors, Shen Mo helped Su Ming to the totem pole. Then, Shen Mo's gaze fell upon the totem pole, which was covered in mysterious runes and patterns, emitting a faint glow that gave a sense of security. Shen Mo carefully examined every detail of the totem pole, trying to find more clues about the locations of the other totems.

However, Shen Mo couldn't figure it out even after looking at it for a long time, because he didn't understand the symbols on the totem.

As if sensing Shen Mo's predicament, Su Ming suddenly spoke up, "Brother Shen, I recognize some of the runes on it."

Upon hearing this, Shen Mo looked at Su Ming with great surprise, as if he had discovered a new continent, and was at a loss for words.

Seeing Shen Mo's curious and surprised expression, Su Ming explained, "My grandfather was responsible for copying the original sect rules into modern script, and the original sect rules left by the first Heavenly Demon God were written in these runes. So, through exposure to them, I also recognize some of these runes."

Shen Mo's eyes lit up immediately; he realized this might be the key to unlocking the totem's secrets. So Shen Mo quickly replied, "Then please help me decipher it!"

Su Ming nodded and began to carefully examine each symbol on the totem pole. His fingers gently traced the ancient inscriptions, his eyes focused and serious. After a moment, he looked up and said to Shen Mo, "According to these runes, this totem is called the 'Heavenly Demon Totem,' and it exists to protect the Heavenly Demon Qi of Refining Demon Mountain."

"The Heavenly Demon Totem?" Shen Mo repeated, his heart filled with curiosity. "Go on."

Su Ming continued, "These symbols also record that this totem can protect those who trespass into the Demon Refining Mountain and can restrain the movements of the Demon Refining Beasts. If all 108 totems can be found, unparalleled power can be obtained."

As Su Ming explained, Shen Mo gradually understood the meaning of these runes. It turned out that these totems were not just simple shelters; they also held unsolved secrets that could help them survive in the Demon Refining Mountain.

After Su Ming finished explaining, Shen Mo looked at him in surprise, his heart filled with recognition of Su Ming's abilities.

"Su Ming, you are really amazing," Shen Mo exclaimed sincerely.

Shen Mo believed that the ability to decipher these ancient symbols was extremely important in the Demon Refining Mountain. The information obtained by deciphering these symbols would allow Shen Mo to gain a deeper understanding of the secrets of the Demon Refining Mountain, thereby formulating more effective survival strategies.