Chapter 65 Ancient Tree Area

The Cliff of Broken Souls was shrouded in thick fog.

After a day and a night of recuperation, Shen Lian's broken chest bones have begun to heal. Although he is still unable to fight at full strength, he can move around normally without much difficulty.

Lin Feng, Chu Wen, and the others have recovered from their injuries, but like Shen Lian, they are still unable to fight at full strength.

Zhao Ming got up early and checked the traps he had set up the night before outside the cave. After a night's rest, his injuries had mostly healed.

"Brother Shen, fresh footprints have been found on the east side," Zhao Ming reported back. "Two people passed by about half an hour ago, but there is no sign that they approached Broken Soul Cliff."

Shen Lian nodded and said, "It should be other contestants passing by. As long as we don't provoke them, we're safe for now."

Chu Wen took out the last four miasma-repelling talismans from his backpack and gave one to each person: "The poisonous miasma in the Misty Swamp is extremely potent. Without these talismans, you'll be poisoned within the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. We must hurry; we must cross the swamp within three hours."

Chen Yun checked the supplies: "We only have enough dry rations for two days. If we don't replenish them along the way, we'll have to hunt monsters as soon as we reach the ancient tree area."

"Then we'll replenish our supplies as we go," Lin Feng said coldly. "Although the Misty Swamp is dangerous, there should be Tier 1 demonic beasts active there."

After a quick meal of dry rations, the five men tidied up their campsite. All traces were erased, and the cave was restored to its original state, as if no one had ever stayed there.

At 3:45 AM, the five left Broken Soul Cliff and headed towards the Misty Swamp in the northeast.

The fog in the forest grew thicker and thicker, and visibility was reduced to less than twenty feet.

Shen Lian led the way, his [Combat Power Detection] ability fully activated, giving him a clear view of everything within a thirty-foot radius. Chu Wen covered the rear, Zhao Ming guarded the left flank of the group, and Chen Yun and Lin Feng provided support from the center.

After traveling about ten miles, the ground began to become soft and damp, with dead trees standing crookedly in the swamp, pale purple bubbles rising from their roots.

"We've reached the edge of the swamp," Chu Wen reminded everyone. "Everyone, put on your miasma-repelling talismans."

The five people affixed the miasma-repelling talismans to their chests, and a pale blue halo spread out, forming a thin energy shield that kept the poisonous miasma out.

Shen Lian squatted down and carefully observed the ground: "The soil is very soft, so you can't walk in a straight line. See those meadows that are above the water? Walk on them to avoid getting stuck in the mud."

The swamp terrain is extremely complex, overgrown with aquatic plants and filled with dark mud. Some places appear to be solid, but stepping into them reveals a bottomless quagmire.

Shen Lian proceeded cautiously with each step, constantly testing the solidity of the ground ahead with his long sword before moving forward with peace of mind.

"There's movement fifty feet to the left front." Shen Lian suddenly stopped, raised his hand to signal the others to stop, and his expression became much more cautious.

The next moment, three strange, dark green snakes suddenly sprang out of the muddy water.

"It's a swamp viper!" Chu Wen whispered. "Watch out for their venom!"

The three vipers were incredibly fast, moving through the mud and water as if on flat ground. In the blink of an eye, they closed in on Shen Lian and the others, opening their mouths and spurting out three streams of dark green venom.

Shen Lian quickly activated the "Tiger-Taming Stance" footwork to avoid the splashing venom. The venom landed where he had just stood, instantly corroding the aquatic plants.

Lin Feng swung his longsword, slashing at the oncoming viper.

The viper was extremely agile, easily dodging Lin Feng's slash. With a twist of its body, the viper bit towards Lin Feng's wrist.

Zhao Ming attacked from the side, his longsword striking the viper precisely at its vital spot like a venomous snake's tongue. The viper let out a miserable cry and fell into the muddy water.

Seeing this, the other two vipers knew they were no match for them and quickly tried to escape.

Chen Yun and Chu Wen attacked simultaneously, killing the two vipers instantly.

"The venom glands of the swamp viper are quite valuable." Chu Wen cut off the snake's head and extracted the venom glands. "A complete venom gland can sell for fifty taels of silver."

Shen Lian activated [Combat Power Detection] and carefully scanned his surroundings. At the spot where the viper had darted out, he discovered several pale purple herbs.

"It's 'Purple Mist Grass'." Shen Lian's eyes lit up. "A second-tier spiritual herb, one of the main ingredients for refining antidote pills. No wonder there are vipers guarding it."

Chu Wen carefully picked five Purple Mist Grass plants and packed them in a jade box: "This stuff is much more valuable than viper venom glands; one plant can sell for two hundred taels of silver."

"Walk!"

After Chu Wen put away the Purple Mist Grass, the group continued their journey, traversing the poisonous miasma-filled swamp. Even with miasma-repelling talismans protecting them, no one dared to be careless, as the consequences of being invaded by the poisonous mist would be unimaginable.

"Twenty paces ahead, turn right." Shen Lian pointed to a patch of water plants ahead and whispered, "That's the only place to land."

Zhao Ming wiped the cold sweat from his forehead: "This godforsaken place is no place for humans. If it weren't for Brother Shen leading the way, we would have been trapped long ago."

Chu Wen carefully observed his surroundings: "The Misty Swamp is known as a forbidden area because of the extremely toxic miasma within it; a slight misstep could lead to death."

Chen Yun gripped her long sword tightly, watching the water warily, and spotted several dark figures flashing by: "What are those?"

Shen Lian immediately activated [Combat Power Detection] and quickly detected several fast-moving targets: "They are second-tier demonic beasts called 'Mud Crocodiles.' They lurk in the mud and are very good at ambushing. Everyone be careful."

Upon hearing Shen Lian's words, none of them dared to be careless, constantly paying attention to the changes in the muddy water to prevent attacks from the "mud crocodile".

A giant crocodile, nearly two zhang long, charged out. The crocodile was dark green all over and exuded an extremely fierce aura. It immediately rushed towards Shen Lian and the others.

"Watch out!" Lin Feng shouted, brandishing his knife as he charged at the giant crocodile.

clang!

Lin Feng slashed at the giant crocodile with his sword, but was instead forced back several steps by the impact, and a tearing pain shot through the wound on his right arm.

Shen Lian stepped forward, his long sword trembling slightly.

"Mountain-Slaying Style!"

Shen Lian cleaved the mud crocodile's head with his blade, the sound of metal clashing echoing throughout.

Shen Lian held his knife and looked at the mud crocodile. Its skin was exceptionally tough, and this knife only broke through the surface scales, failing to cause a fatal wound.

The mud crocodile, in pain, rolled its massive body in the mud, kicking up clouds of mud. Its tail swept across, whistling through the air, and slammed down towards Shen Lian.

Shen Lian was prepared. He pushed his "Tiger-Taming Stance" footwork to its limit, retreating three zhang (approximately 10 meters) to avoid the mud crocodile's attack. The mud crocodile's tail swept away, slamming heavily into the muddy ground and leaving a deep trench.

"This beast has incredible strength!" Zhao Ming exclaimed, gripping his longsword tightly.

At this moment, four other mud crocodiles approached from different directions, surrounding the five people and staring at them menacingly.

Upon seeing this, the five quickly formed a defensive formation, vigilantly watching their surroundings.

The lead mud crocodile let out a low growl, and all five giant crocodiles attacked simultaneously. They appeared clumsy, but they were incredibly fast in the mud, swooping down in the blink of an eye.

Shen Lian met the crocodile head-on, his longsword transforming into a cold light, aimed straight at its head. The swamp crocodile opened its blood-red jaws, attempting to take the blow head-on.

clang!

The blade struck the crocodile's upper jaw, producing a metallic clang. Shen Lian felt a tremendous force surge through him, his arm went numb, and he was secretly shocked by the beast's defensive capabilities.

At the same time, Lin Feng and Chen Yun also encountered two mud crocodiles on their right.

On the left, Chu Wen and Zhao Ming worked together seamlessly.

Chu Wen flicked his longsword repeatedly, attracting the attention of a mud crocodile. Zhao Ming seized the opportunity to rush in from the side and kill the mud crocodile with a single sword strike.

Shen Lian took a deep breath, his blood and qi surging within him. Ignoring his chest injury, he fully activated the "Tiger Subduing Stance" and charged towards the swamp crocodile in front of him, sword in hand.

"Wave-Cutting Style!"

The Demon-Subduing Blade Technique unleashed three consecutive strikes, each faster and heavier than the last. Though the swamp crocodile possessed a strong defense, its scales crumbled under Shen Lian's relentless onslaught, and the longsword slashed upwards with tremendous force.

scoff!

Its internal organs, mixed with blood, gushed out. The mud crocodile let out a shrill scream, and its massive body crashed to the ground, splashing mud everywhere.

After defeating the leader, Shen Lian didn't stop and turned to support the others.

Lin Feng and Chen Yun have already killed one mud crocodile together and are currently engaged in a fierce battle with another. Although Chu Wen and Zhao Ming are injured, they are barely managing to hold off the last one.

Shen Lian joined the battle and, in the blink of an eye, killed two more swamp crocodiles.

After killing all the mud crocodiles, the five continued onward toward the ancient tree area, as they needed to reach it as soon as possible.

Half an hour later, a relatively dry woodland appeared ahead. Although the trees were dead, the ground was firm and there was no longer any mud.

"Let's rest here now," Shen Lian said, looking around. "Chu Wen, set up the perimeter. Chen Yun, check everyone's injuries. Lin Feng, keep watch on our surroundings."

Chu Wen set up tripwires and bells around the area.

Lin Feng climbed the tallest dead tree, cautiously observing his surroundings. Occasionally, dark shadows would flit by in the mist, but they all kept their distance from this area.

"It seems this woodland is relatively safe," Lin Feng said in a low voice. "There are no powerful demonic beasts nearby."

Shen Lian breathed a sigh of relief, leaned against the tree trunk, took out his water pouch and drank a few mouthfuls: "At this rate, I should be able to recover 80% of my combat strength by tomorrow."

Chu Wen reminded him, "Our rations are running low. We must replenish them as soon as possible, otherwise we won't be able to hold out until tomorrow."

Shen Lian frowned: "Time is of the essence, we must speed up. It will take at least two more hours to cross the swamp, and once we reach the ancient tree area, we must immediately find food."

Lin Feng jumped down from the tree: "There is a pool of water about a mile ahead. I saw some water birds there. We can hunt them for food."

"Alright, we'll set off after a 15-minute rest," Shen Lian said. "We'll hunt waterfowl to replenish our food supply, then cross the swamp at full speed."

Fifteen minutes later, the five set off again.

Lin Feng led the way and they soon found the pool. The water was clear, and a dozen or so gray-feathered waterbirds were roosting around it. These birds were quite large, each weighing five or six kilograms.

"It's a 'Grey Heron,' a first-tier demonic beast. Its combat power isn't high, but its meat is delicious," Chu Wen said in a low voice.

Shen Lian gestured for everyone to disperse and surround the enemy. He took out three pebbles and held them in his palm. After perfecting the 'Tiger-Taming Stake,' his control over power became even more refined, allowing him to unleash astonishing power even with ordinary pebbles.

call out!call out!call out!

Three pebbles shot through the air, striking three grey herons precisely on the head. The herons didn't even have time to react before they collapsed and died.

The remaining herons were startled and took flight, but Lin Feng and Chu Wen had been waiting for a long time. They drew their swords and killed four more.

"That's enough." Shen Lian stopped the hunt. "Seven are enough for us to eat for two days. Don't waste our energy."

Chen Yun and Zhao Ming quickly prepared the grey heron, plucking its feathers and removing any dirt, then skewering it with branches. There was no time to cook, so they simply made a fire and roasted it.

A campfire was lit, filling the air with the aroma of roasted meat. Five people sat around the fire, silently eating roasted bird meat. Although there were no seasonings, everything tasted delicious when they were starving.

While eating, Shen Lian studied the map and calculated the distance: "We are here now, about fifteen miles from the edge of the swamp. At our current speed, we should be able to get there in two hours. But that's assuming we don't encounter any more trouble."

Chu Wen swallowed the last bite of meat and wiped his mouth. "I suggest we change our route and not take the straight line. Although the straight line is the shortest, it passes through deep water areas, which are the most dangerous. We can detour to the west side, where the water is shallow. Although it's five li longer, it's much safer."

Shen Lian carefully examined the map and nodded in agreement: "Let's do as Brother Chu says. Safety first, there's still time."

After a short rest, the five set off again.

This time, they chose the western route. Just as Chu Wen had said, the water here was shallow, mostly only knee-deep, and covered with aquatic plants, which provided good leverage.

However, shallow water can also be dangerous.

"Watch out for leeches!" Chen Yun suddenly exclaimed.

Everyone looked down and discovered that their legs were covered with black leeches of varying sizes, which were greedily sucking their blood.

"Use fire!" Chu Wen said hurriedly, "Leechs are afraid of fire!"

Shen Lian took out a tinderbox, lit it, and held it close to his legs. The leeches immediately curled up and detached upon contact with the heat, but they had already sucked a considerable amount of blood. Each person had more than a dozen wounds on their legs, dripping with blood.

"Damn it, these leeches are poisonous." Zhao Ming's face turned pale, and his wounds began to turn black.

Chu Wen quickly took out antidote pills and distributed them to everyone: "Take them quickly. Leech poison is not fatal, but it will weaken people."

The five took the antidote and continued on their way. However, after being bitten by leeches, their stamina was depleted more quickly, and their speed slowed down noticeably.

Shen Lian activated his [Combat Power Detection], remaining constantly vigilant of his surroundings. Suddenly, his expression changed: "Stop!"

Thirty feet ahead, dozens of red dots emerged from the muddy water.

[Combat Strength]: 8~15

[Combat Strength]: 10~18

……

"It's the 'Iron-Toothed Fish School'!" Chu Wen gasped. "These beasts have sharp teeth that can crush bones. Once surrounded, you'll be gnawed to the bone in an instant."

Iron-toothed fish are among the apex predators of the swamp. Although individual combat strength is not high, they travel in large groups of hundreds or even thousands. Even third-tier demonic beasts will give way when they encounter a school of these fish.

"Retreat! Go around!" Shen Lian made a decisive decision.

The five men quickly retreated, but the school of iron-toothed fish had already spotted them and surged towards them like a tide. These fish were entirely black, with mouths full of serrated, sharp teeth, and eyes that glowed red, making them look ferocious and terrifying.

"It's too late!" Lin Feng gripped his long sword tightly. "Charge out!"

Shen Lian's eyes turned cold as he pulled out his last 'Thunderclap Talisman' from his robes. This was his trump card for survival, but if he didn't use it now, he might never have the chance again.

"Stay close to me!"

Shen Lian threw the Thunderclap Talisman towards the densest part of the fish school, shouting at the same time, "Run!"

Boom!

A thunderclap boomed, and lightning flashed. Dozens of iron-toothed fish were blasted into pieces, and muddy water shot into the sky. The school of fish was briefly thrown into disarray, but quickly swarmed back together.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the five of them ran as fast as they could.

Shen Lianchong was at the forefront, wielding his long sword to slay the iron-toothed fish blocking his way. These fish had very weak defenses, and he could kill several of them with a single strike.

Lin Feng and Chen Yun protected the flanks, while Chu Wen and Zhao Ming brought up the rear. The five formed an arrowhead formation and fought their way through the swarm of fish.

"Fifty feet ahead, we've reached the shore!" Chu Wen suddenly shouted.

With renewed vigor, the group mustered their last strength and sprinted out of the swamp, landing on the shore. Behind them, a school of iron-toothed fish lingered on the bank, but dared not come ashore.

"It's safe now..." Zhao Ming collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

Shen Lian looked around. This was a high ground with a wide view, easy to defend and difficult to attack. In the distance, he could vaguely see the outline of the ancient tree area, about ten miles away.

"We'll rest for an hour before setting off again," Shen Lian said. "We must reach the ancient tree area before dark, otherwise it's too dangerous to spend the night in the wild."

The five of them took their own medicine and regulated their breathing, trying to recover as quickly as possible.

Shen Lian activated the "Tiger Subduing Stance," circulating his Qi and blood throughout his body.

An hour passed quickly, and the five men's injuries stabilized, and their strength recovered somewhat.

"Set off."

Shen Lian stood up and led the way towards the ancient tree area. This time, they were lucky and did not encounter any monster attacks.

As the sun set, the five finally arrived at the ancient tree area.

This place is completely different from the swamp. Ancient trees reach for the sky with dense foliage, and the largest trees require ten people to encircle them.

"Let's set up camp here." Shen Lian selected a clearing backed by a giant tree as the campsite. "Chu Wen will be in charge of setting up the perimeter, Chen Yun will start the fire, Lin Feng and Zhao Ming will collect firewood, and I will be in charge of guarding the perimeter."

Chu Wen set up a series of traps around the area, which, once triggered, would not only sound an alarm but also launch an attack.

Lin Feng and Zhao Ming brought over a lot of dry branches, while Chen Yun was in charge of starting a fire.

As night falls, the ancient tree area becomes completely silent.

The five people sat around the campfire, roasting the last bit of heron meat.

Chu Wen broke the silence, "Tomorrow is the sixth day. Based on past experience, the last two days are the most competitive. Chu Chunqiu and Xiao Chen have probably already started making their moves."

Shen Lian nodded and said, "We must prepare for the worst. Tomorrow, we should focus on stealth and avoid contact with other participants as much as possible. We need to conserve our energy for the final battle on the last day."

Chen Yun asked softly, "Senior Brother Shen, what should we do if we encounter Chu Chunqiu and Xiao Chen?"

Shen Lian was silent for a moment, then slowly said, "Avoid if you can, and fight if you can't avoid it. But in our current state, the chances of winning a direct confrontation are slim."

Lin Feng gripped the hilt of his sword tightly: "My 'Demon-Subduing Sword Technique' is about to break through. If I can break through before the final battle, my combat power will increase significantly."

Chu Wen, Chen Yun, and Zhao Ming all stated that their skills had improved.

"Alright, then tomorrow we'll focus on cultivation," Shen Lian said. "We'll take turns on guard duty, while the rest of us will focus on breaking through to the next level. We have the advantage of the ancient tree area; it's easy to defend and difficult to attack. As long as we don't reveal our position, we should be safe."

The five people began to take turns on duty.

Shen Lian was on duty for the first shift. He climbed up the tallest ancient tree, sat on a thick branch, and observed the surrounding environment.

He took out the jade talisman and checked his points.

Points: 566

This number is among the top in all previous Demon Hunting Trials, but he knows very well that the scores of geniuses like Qin Lie and Lin Qing'er will only be higher.

Chu Chunqiu and Xiao Chen have probably already surpassed six hundred or even seven hundred.

"Not enough." Shen Lian gripped the jade talisman tightly. "To secure a place in the top ten, I need at least six hundred points. It seems I'll need to hunt for some more points."

However, we also need to improve our strength now. Chu Chunqiu and Xiao Chen are both at the fifth level of the Heavenly Realm, and their martial arts skills are no less impressive. If we want to fight against them, we must break through.

Shen Lian examined his own condition.

[Host]: Shen Lian

[Realm]: Body Tempering Realm (4/10)

[Combat Strength]: 38~48

[Martial Arts]: Tiger-Taming Stance (Perfect) (1/10), Demon-Subduing Blade Technique (Mastery) (7/10)

Skill Points: 0

After the previous battles, his proficiency with the "Demon Subduing Blade Technique" has improved, and he is getting closer and closer to breaking through to the Perfect Realm.