Chapter 17: Wanli Gorge
To return from the Earth-Destruction Star Region to the Flooded Star Region, one must pass through the Fire-Slaughter Star Region. At this time, Qu Yi and his group arrived at the border planet of the Fire-Slaughter Star Region, Huo Tian Star. Using a spatial teleportation array, they arrived in Baoyin City on Huo Tian Star, and Qu Yi’s group stepped out of the teleportation hall.
Soon, the twelve of them entered an inn.
“Brother Hu Wei, we’ve now arrived in the Fire-Slaughter Star Region. Let’s rest for a while first,” Qu Yi said with a smile as soon as they sat down.
Worried that those who tried to harm Long Hu Wei might devise more schemes, Qu Yi and his group had been constantly moving using spatial teleportation arrays without resting in the Earth-Destruction Star Region. Now, everyone was quite exhausted.
Long Hu Wei glanced at everyone and said apologetically, “Everyone, because of me, Long Hu Wei, you’ve all had to keep moving without rest. I can only apologize. Once I return to the Tyrant Dragon Sect and find the one who tried to frame me, I’ll kill him before thanking you all.”
Qu Yi waved his hand immediately and said with a laugh, “Brother Hu Wei, there’s no need to talk about repayment. Since I’ve recognized you as my brother, I certainly won’t let others frame you.”
Long Hu Wei was filled with gratitude upon hearing this.
In a moment, the inn’s waiter brought out fine wine and dishes, filling the entire table. Everyone started eating right away.
“Brother Hu Wei, has your father emerged from seclusion yet?” Qu Yi asked with a smile after taking a bite of orca meat.
If Long Batian had reached the level of Heavenly Soul Demon, no one would dare to try to harm Long Hu Wei.
Long Hu Wei shook his head worriedly and said, “Those people still dare to frame me even though they know my father is the sect master of the Tyrant Dragon Sect. It seems they also have ways to deal with my father. I’m now worried about my father, and since I can’t contact him via my communication card, I don’t know how his seclusion is going.”
Qu Yi fell silent for a moment before saying calmly, “Your father should be fine for now. If your father, Long Batian, were dead, those who tried to harm him would have taken over. There would be many more people hunting you, all of them at the level of Earth Soul Demon.”
Long Hu Wei thought about it and realized it made sense, so his expression relaxed.
Just then, at one of the tables in the inn, four adventurers spoke loudly.
“Have you heard? The Wanli Gorge on Huo Tian Star has been covered in Wanli mist for 100,000 years. Recently, the mist has thinned, and some people have sensed strong fluctuations of spiritual herbs inside the gorge.”
“Do we still need you to tell us this? Right now, in the Adventurers’ Guild Hall of Baoyin City, all adventurers are talking about the Wanli Gorge.”
“I’ve heard it too. Master Qiao Yu, the most powerful alchemist on Huo Tian Xing, has been to the Wanli Gorge. He found that there should be a Five-Light Fruit Tree at the bottom of the gorge.”
“Then should our Fearless Adventurers Guild head to the Wanli Gorge?”
“Forget it. The Five-Light Fruit Tree is a spiritual tree at the level of Earth Demons. Surely many adventurer groups with Earth Demon cultivation will rush there. Our Fearless Adventurers Guild only has Human-Demon cultivation—would we go there to die?”
Suddenly, the four adventurers fell silent.
But Qu Yi heard every word they said.
“Instrument God, what kind of spiritual tree is the Five-Light Fruit Tree?” Qu Yi immediately contacted the Instrument God through his immortal consciousness.
After a while, the Instrument God replied lazily, “Qu Yi, for Earth Soul Immortals, the Five-Light Fruit Tree is also a treasure. Each of the Five-Light Fruits corresponds to one of the five elements, and it can at least help all five of your avatars raise their cultivation level by one.”
Hearing this, Qu Yi was indeed surprised and extremely excited.
Now, Jin Zun, Mu Zun, Shui Zun, Huo Zun, and Tu Zun—all had reached the cultivation level of two-star Earth Soul Immortals. If they could obtain the Five-Light Fruit Tree and pick its fruits, their cultivation could quickly advance to three-star Earth Soul Immortals.
“I must get it!” Qu Yi resolved in his heart.
Seeing Qu Yi’s expression change and him remain silent for a long time, Long Hu Wei became curious and asked immediately, “Brother Qu Yi, do you plan to go to the Wanli Gorge?”
Long Hu Wei was well aware that Qu Yi’s expression change was caused by the words of those four adventurers.
Qu Yi smiled and nodded. “Brother Hu Wei, this time let’s first go to the Wanli Gorge, then head back to Di Bao Xing.”
Long Hu Wei nodded right away. He understood now—clearly, the Wanli Gorge held something important for Qu Yi, otherwise he wouldn’t be so eager to go there. He had long been grateful for Qu Yi’s protection and would never speak out against it.
Jin Zun, Mu Zun, and Tu Zun already knew Qu Yi’s goal and were happy, but they kept a calm expression, silently enjoying the delicacies.
Xiang Qing, Xiang Xing, and Xiang Zhong had always been supporting roles and naturally didn’t dare to object.
Soon, the twelve of them hastily ended the banquet and headed toward the Wanli Gorge.
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The Wanli Gorge, sealed for over a hundred thousand years, finally showed signs of being opened.
In the canyon, the various precious medicinal aromas emanating from it had already been detected by people from all walks of life. Naturally, the news spread rapidly. Especially among the adventurers in the Adventurers’ Guild, the most discussed topic at the moment was the Bayli Canyon, with news almost reaching the entire Huotu Star Region. Countless adventure groups and adventurers, even many powerful beings at the Earth Soul Demon level, flocked there. By now, Qu Yi, Long Hu Wei, and twelve others had arrived near the Bayli Canyon. The Bayli Canyon was located between two massive mountain ranges, stretching for hundreds of thousands of miles and almost covering the entire Northern Hemisphere. In the past, the canyon was covered by a thick Bayli mist; once monks entered it, they would easily lose their way, and staying there for too long would deplete their magical energy, leading to death. Thus, the Bayli Canyon used to be a forbidden area. Somehow, the Bayli mist gradually thinned over time, and the medicinal aromas from the various herbs growing inside began to reach the outside world. Now, tens of millions of monks had gathered above the canyon, flying around like bees, searching desperately to be the first to enter and seize treasures and herbs. Qu Yi and the twelve others arrived in the central area of the canyon and stopped on a mountain peak. The Immortal Awareness of the Artifact God had now reached the level of Heavenly Soul Immortal, allowing its detection range to cover the entire Bayli Canyon. At this moment, its Immortal Awareness was scanning the entire canyon. After a while, the Immortal Awareness sent a message: “Qu Yi, the Five-Light Fruit Tree is indeed in this central area, just as those adventurers said. Many powerful adventure groups have also gathered here, including some at the mid-level Earth Soul Demon level. With these groups present, you twelve cannot fly in there; once you do, you will surely be attacked by them.” The medicinal aromas in the Bayli Canyon were strongest in the central area, so naturally, the most powerful adventure groups would occupy this region. Any other groups attempting to enter would be infringing on their interests and would face attacks. In the Demon Realm, killing is done without hesitation. Hearing this, Qu Yi immediately replied, “Artifact God, can’t the Inch Realm Ball handle that Bayli mist?” “Of course!” the Artifact God replied instantly. Qu Yi smiled.
After a while, Qu Yi turned to Long Huwei and smiled, saying, “Brother Huwei, those areas ahead are occupied by powerful adventure groups. If we go there, we’ll definitely be attacked by them. So, you guys step back first. I’ll go alone to gather information.”
Upon hearing this, Long Huwei showed a surprised expression and immediately cried out worriedly, “Brother Qu Yi, those adventure groups have experts at the level of Earth Soul Demons. There are probably thousands of them. No matter how skilled you are, it’s impossible for you to escape their detection.”
Xiang Qing, Xiang Xing, and Xiang Zhong, upon hearing Qu Yi’s words, actually felt a hint of relief. If Qu Yi was killed by those Earth Soul Demons, the three of them would have a chance to escape and continue fulfilling the mission assigned by the Sky Curtain Organization.
Jin Zun, Mu Zun, and Tu Zun simply smiled, showing no signs of concern.
Qu Yi waved his hand and said with a smile, “Brother Huwei, don’t worry. Since I’ve decided to investigate, I surely have my own ways to protect myself.”
Long Huwei had been traveling with Qu Yi for over a decade and already knew Qu Yi’s personality. He also realized that as long as Jin Zun, Mu Zun, and Tu Zun weren’t worried about Qu Yi, his actions were generally safe.
“Alright, Brother Qu Yi, be careful,” Long Huwei warned before suddenly taking out a spiritual talisman and handing it to Qu Yi. “Brother Qu Yi, this is the life-saving talisman I carry with me—the Earthly Demon World-Destroying Talisman. Take it.”
This talisman had been given to Long Huwei by Long Batian to ensure his son’s safety when sending him away.
Qu Yi didn’t even glance at it before immediately returning it to Long Huwei, saying with a smile, “Brother Huwei, keep this talisman for yourself. I have many ways to protect myself, so there’s no need for you to worry.”
With that, Qu Yi flew away.
Just as Long Huwei tried to fly over to give him the talisman again, Jin Zun and Mu Zun stepped in, each grabbing one of Long Huwei’s arms and pulling him away once more.
※※※
At the same time as Qu Yi and Long Huwei parted, on a mountain hundreds of miles away near the peaks, there was actually an adventure group of hundreds of Earth Soul Demon-level members.
The group leader was a middle-aged man with a gloomy expression. He was currently releasing his demonic sense to sense the situation around Long Huwei.
After a while, the leader said coldly, “Everyone, Long Huwei and the others have retreated. It seems they’ve discovered those powerful adventure groups and dare not move forward anymore. Good. Now that Long Huwei and the others have retreated, it’s even easier for us to surround and kill them.”
This group actually came specifically to murder Long Huwei.