119: Chapter 119 Black Wind Swamp, Starlight Clears the Way

Three days later.

Outside the North Gate of Luoxia City, one hundred Sharp Soldiers Camp Cultivators were fully assembled and ready to depart.

Everyone wore specially made "Miasma Protection Armor," the surface of which was plated with a thin layer of spirit radiance stone powder, gleaming with a faint golden luster under the sun.

Besides standard Magical Artifacts, they also carried a light rattan wooden shield on their backs—

This was the "Spirit Cleansing Wooden Shield" urgently crafted by Elder Lin Shi, specifically designed to counter the corrosion of toxic miasma.

Lin Yue stood at the head of the team, having exchanged his green robe for dark, practical combat attire. He wore the spirit slaying star scar at his waist, and an arcane gold wrist guard on his left arm, etched with fine Dragon patterns.

That was the "Dragon Qi Talisman" refined by Star Radiance using leftover Dragon Blood Crystal scraps. Wearing it slightly increased resistance to toxic miasma and corrosion.

Beside him, Star Radiance was still clad in her star patterns white robe, but she wore a dark gray cloak over it.

The cloak's surface was drawn with concealment runes using star sand, which could mask Spiritual Qi fluctuations and reduce the risk of being sensed within the miasma.

In her hands, she held a strangely shaped lantern.

The body of the lantern was carved from a Spirit Cleansing wood core, shaped like an octagon, with a thumb-sized Star Radiance Stone inlaid on each face.

Suspended within the wick area was the Dragon Blood Crystal, currently emitting a soft golden-red light. Wherever the light reached, the surrounding air became much fresher.

The miasma breaking star lantern was complete.

"City Lord, all personnel and supplies have been accounted for."

Lin Hu stepped forward to report, "One hundred Elite Soldiers from the Sharp Soldiers Camp: twenty-five in the Middle Foundation Establishment Stage, forty in the Early Stage Foundation Establishment, and thirty-five in the Late Stage Qi Refining. We are equipped with three hundred Spirit Cleansing Pills, five hundred spirit recovery pills, one thousand two hundred Talismans of various kinds, and detoxification agents..."

"That's enough."

Lin Yue raised a hand to interrupt. "Just keep track of those details. Remember, the goal of this trip is not annihilation, but destruction. If the task proves impossible, preserving our strength comes first."

"I understand."

Lin Hu nodded heavily.

Just then, the sound of tearing through the air came from the southern horizon.

Three streaks of azure light approached rapidly and landed in front of the team.

They were the three Golden Core Elders of the Qinglan Sect—Qing Yunzi, Cloud Crane, and Pine Waves.

Behind the three men followed three hundred Qinglan Sect Disciples, all wearing azure robes with tied-up hair, their auras condensed, clearly the elite of the sect.

"City Lord Lin, sorry to keep you waiting."

Qing Yunzi cupped his hands. "All our sect Disciples are present. We can depart at any time."

"I appreciate the effort, three Elders."

Lin Yue returned the greeting, his gaze sweeping over the Qinglan Sect contingent.

Among the three hundred people, there were over eighty Foundation Establishment Cultivators, and the rest were all in the Late Stage Qi Refining.

Such a lineup was a force that could not be underestimated anywhere in the Southern Region.

It seemed Sect Master Mo Chen had made a significant investment this time.

"Since everyone is here, let's depart."

Lin Yue wasted no more time, transforming into a streak of light and flying towards the northwest.

The one hundred Elite Soldiers of the Sharp Soldiers Camp followed closely. The three hundred Qinglan Sect members split into three teams, each led by one of the Elders, forming a protective V-formation on the flanks.

Star Radiance flew side-by-side with Lin Yue, the light from the miasma breaking star lantern in her hand illuminating the path like a lighthouse.

The group of over four hundred people moved majestically, like a sharp arrow piercing straight towards the Black Wind Marsh... The Black Wind Marsh was located in the northwest of the Southern Region, a wetland spanning thousands of miles.

The periphery consisted of ordinary swamp terrain, riddled with poisonous insects and miasma, which ordinary Cultivators avoided.

The core area, however, was perpetually shrouded in dense, black-gray miasma. This miasma was not only highly toxic but also interfered with Divine Sense perception and disrupted the circulation of Spiritual Qi.

Once, a Golden Core Cultivator, refusing to believe the danger, forced his way into the core area. Three days later, when he was found, he had turned into a bizarre corpse covered entirely in black mushrooms.

Since then, the Black Wind Marsh had become a notorious "Place of Omen" in the Southern Region.

By the time Lin Yue and the others reached the edge of the swamp, it was already evening.

The sun was setting, and the afterglow spilled onto the surface of the swamp, reflecting an eerie purplish-red luster.

The air was filled with a pungent, foul smell. Occasionally, bubbles emerged from the mud and burst, releasing faint green poisonous smoke.

"Halt."

Lin Yue raised his hand to signal.

The team hovered ten miles away from the edge of the swamp.

"Star Envoy, begin."

Star Radiance nodded and raised the miasma breaking star lantern above her head.

"Star Lantern, activate!"

Spiritual Qi was injected, and the eight Star Radiance Stones on the lantern body lit up simultaneously!

Brilliant starlight erupted from the lantern, spreading outwards like a tide, instantly enveloping an area of a hundred zhang.

Wherever the starlight passed, the pervasive miasma quickly melted and dispersed, like ice and snow meeting the sun.

The faint green poisonous smoke was directly purified into harmless water vapor.

"It works!"

Whispers of amazement came from the Qinglan Sect Disciples.

"This is just the beginning."

Star Radiance looked serious. "The miasma on the periphery is thin, so the Star Lantern can easily purify it. But the deeper we go, the higher the miasma concentration, and the stronger the Earth Fiend Yin Qi mixed within. At that point, the Star Lantern's consumption will greatly increase, and its coverage will shrink."

"How long can it last?" Lin Yue asked.

"If fully operational, three hours at most. After three hours, the Star Radiance Stones will deplete their energy and require at least one hour to recharge."

Three hours... The straight-line distance from the edge to the Corrupt Dragon Pool was about eight hundred miles.

However, flying speed would be drastically reduced due to the miasma interference, coupled with potential combat and detours... Time was tight.

"Then let's make haste."

Lin Yue looked at the crowd. "Everyone, maintain formation and follow the light of the Star Lantern. If you encounter an enemy, do not linger in battle; focus on breaking through. Lin Hu, you lead the Sharp Soldiers Camp to clear the path ahead. The three Elders, flank security is entrusted to you."

"Understood!"

With the order given, the team set off again.

This time, guided by the miasma breaking star lantern, their speed of advance significantly increased.

But after penetrating only fifty miles, an anomaly occurred.

Dozens of black tentacles, as thick as buckets, suddenly shot out from the mud swamp ahead!

The surface of the tentacles was covered in suckers, which were lined with fine, sharp teeth, resembling countless small mouths, lunging madly at the team!

"It's the Corrupt Swamp Demonic Vine!"

Star Radiance cried out urgently, "This Demonic Vine feeds on swamp corpses and accumulates a large amount of corpse poison in its body. Its tentacles are tough as iron, and its regeneration ability is extremely strong; they will quickly regrow after being severed!"

Before she finished speaking, Lin Hu had already led the Sharp Soldiers Camp forward to meet the attack.

"Form the array, strike!"

One hundred Cultivators drew their swords simultaneously, and Sword Qi, like a net, intersected as it slashed towards the tentacles.

Pfft, pfft, pfft—!

Most of the tentacles were severed, and dark green, foul-smelling fluid sprayed from the cuts.

But just as Star Radiance had said, the severed tentacles fell into the mud and regrew at a visible speed, restoring themselves in a few breaths!

Not only that, but even more tentacles shot out from the mud, doubling the previous number!

"Something's not right..."

Lin Yue's eyes narrowed. "These Demonic Vines are attacking too systematically. It's like... they're being controlled."

His Divine Sense swept towards the depths of the mud swamp.

Sure enough, where the roots of the Demonic Vines converged, he sensed a faint mental fluctuation carrying the aura of a Spirit Devourer!

"Something beneath the swamp is controlling the Demonic Vines."

Lin Yue looked at Star Radiance. "Can you pinpoint the source?"

"I'll try."

Star Radiance closed her eyes, activating the Star Gazing Pupil Technique.

Three breaths later, she pointed to a mud pool a hundred zhang away to the front left.

"It's there! Thirty zhang underground, there is a Spirit Devourer Insect Nest!"

A Spirit Devourer Insect Nest is an incubation ground where the Spirit Devouring Clan cultivates low-level soldiers.

The "Insect Mother" within the nest can use a mental link to control all creatures within a radius of several miles that have been infected by the Spirit Devourer aura—including these Corrupt Swamp Demonic Vines.

"I will deal with the Insect Mother."

Lin Yue stepped out, his figure moving like lightning, heading straight for the mud pool.

Along the way, countless tentacles frantically tried to intercept him.

But he ignored them completely. The spirit slaying star scar was unsheathed, and wherever the Sword Light passed, the tentacles snapped off.

Ten breaths later, he arrived above the mud pool.

"Get out here!"

A sword pierced into the mud pool!

The Power of the Stars erupted from the sword body, transforming into countless fine starlight Sword Qi that drilled underground, striking straight at the heart of the Dragon!

A sharp hiss came from deep underground.

Immediately afterward, the entire mud pool churned as if boiling, and a bloated monster resembling a giant maggot burst out of the ground!

The Insect Mother!

It was ten meters long, entirely grayish-white, and covered in mucus. Its head consisted only of a massive mouthpart, which was filled with dense, spiral-shaped sharp teeth.

At this moment, it was twisting its body in pain, its surface pierced by dozens of bloody holes from the starlight Sword Qi, with dark green blood continuously gushing out.

"Die!"

Lin Yue's second sword strike arrived.

The Sword Light was like a shooting star, accurately plunging into the Insect Mother's head.

Pffft—!

The Insect Mother convulsed violently a few times before finally becoming still.

As the Insect Mother died, the surrounding Corrupt Swamp Demonic Vines, which had been attacking furiously, simultaneously froze, then softly slumped back into the mud, losing all vitality.

"It's resolved."

Lin Yue sheathed his sword and returned to the team.

"Continue advancing."

The team set off again.

But a trace of vigilance had risen in Lin Yue's heart.

They had only gone fifty miles and already encountered an Insect Nest controlled by the Spirit Devouring Clan.

What kind of scene awaited them in the Corrupt Dragon Pool, deeper inside?

Two hours later.

The team had penetrated four hundred miles into the swamp.

The surrounding miasma concentration was now visible to the naked eye—it was no longer thin fog, but darkness as viscous as ink.

The light of the miasma breaking star lantern was compressed, only able to cover a thirty zhang radius around the core of the team.

Sweat beaded on Star Radiance's forehead; clearly, the energy consumption required to maintain the Star Lantern was increasing significantly.

What was even more troublesome was that they had encountered three more attacks along the way.

One was a swarm of "Poison Wing Bats," each possessing the strength of the Early Stage Foundation Establishment and rushing forward fearlessly like a tide.

Another was the "Corrupt Bone Corpse Puppet" that crawled out from the depths of the swamp, pieced together from numerous Yao Beast skeletons, emitting dense Death Qi and Spirit Devourer aura.

The last time, they even encountered the remnant of a "Swamp Poison Jiao-Dragon" equivalent to the Middle Golden Core Stage—a monster clearly "re-animated" after being corrupted by the Spirit Devouring Clan.

Although they were all repelled or killed, the team's consumption was significant.

Seven Elite Soldiers from the Sharp Soldiers Camp were injured, and the Qinglan Sect had lost over ten Qi Refining Disciples.

"Stop and rest."

Lin Yue ordered, "Everyone, meditate in place for a quarter of an hour. Star Envoy, how much longer can you hold out?"

"One hour... at most."

Star Radiance gasped, "The Earth Fiend Yin Qi in the miasma is too strong, and its corrosive speed against the Star Lantern far exceeds expectations. At this rate, we might not... reach the Corrupt Dragon Pool."

Lin Yue frowned.

He looked ahead.

As far as his eyes could see, there was only endless darkness and viscous miasma.

His Divine Sense, when extended, was also severely interfered with, allowing him only a vague sense of activity within a hundred zhang.

"Haotian, recalculate the route and time required."

In his Sea of Consciousness, Haotian quickly responded:

"At the current speed, it will take another two and a half hours to reach the Corrupt Dragon Pool. However, if the miasma concentration continues to increase, the speed will drop further, and the actual time required may exceed three hours."

"The Star Lantern cannot last that long."

"Therefore, the strategy needs to change."

Haotian paused briefly. "Master, I suggest... splitting the forces."

"Splitting the forces?"

"Yes. Have the main force establish a temporary stronghold here and hold their position awaiting support. Master and Star Radiance, the Star Envoy, should travel light and advance into the Corrupt Dragon Pool at maximum speed."

"The reasons?"

"First, the more people there are, the larger the target, and the higher the frequency of attacks. Second, the main force's slow speed hinders overall progress. Third, the situation at the Corrupt Dragon Pool is unknown; bringing too many people inside might become a burden instead."

Lin Yue pondered.

Haotian's analysis made sense.

But leaving the main force deep within this perilous swamp also carried immense risk.

What if they encountered a large-scale attack... "City Lord Lin."

Star Radiance suddenly spoke. "I have a method that might extend the Star Lantern's usage time."

"What method?"

"Using the Star Lantern as the core, I can set up a small 'Starlight Protection Array' to temporarily isolate the miasma. Then, I will use a secret technique to connect myself to the Star Lantern and burn a portion of my Origin to forcibly enhance the Star Lantern's power."

Star Radiance's tone was calm, as if discussing something insignificant.

"The cost of doing this is that I will fall into a state of weakness for at least three days, and my cultivation might regress by one minor Realm. But at least... it will allow us to hold out until the Corrupt Dragon Pool."

Burning her Origin... Lin Yue looked at her pale face, his heart slightly moved.

Although this woman came from a major sect in the Central Region and seemed aloof and distant, at a critical moment, she possessed determination and responsibility that rivaled anyone.

"There's no need."

He shook his head. "I have another way."

Under Star Radiance's puzzled gaze, Lin Yue took out three fist-sized, emerald-green crystals from his storage ring.

"This is... Wood-attribute Spirit Crystal?"

Star Radiance recognized the material of the crystals, but the life force contained within them far surpassed ordinary Wood-attribute Spirit Crystals.

"To be precise, they are 'Life Source Crystals'."

Lin Yue explained, "I obtained them by chance from a ruin. They contain pure life Origin and can greatly enhance resistance to negative energy."

This was, of course, a lie.

These three crystals were "Pseudo Source Crystals" temporarily condensed by Haotian using the remaining Spiritual Vein Origin within the spatial haven, combined with the life aura overflowing from the World Tree.

Although they could only last for twelve hours, the effect was genuine.

He handed the crystals to Star Radiance.

"Embedding these crystals into the Star Lantern formation eye should enhance the Star Lantern's resistance to Earth Fiend Yin Qi and extend its usage time."

Star Radiance took the crystals. After carefully sensing them, a trace of shock flashed in her eyes.

"Such pure life Origin... it truly counters the Earth Fiend Yin Qi. City Lord Lin, this is too precious..."

"Use them."

Lin Yue waved his hand. "A few crystals are nothing compared to failing the mission."

Star Radiance stopped declining and embedded the three Life Source Crystals into the Star Lantern's spare formation eyes.

The instant the crystals entered the array, the Star Lantern's light abruptly changed from faint gold to an emerald green!

Wherever the light reached, the viscous miasma retreated frantically, as if meeting a natural enemy!

The coverage immediately expanded from thirty zhang to eighty zhang!

"The effect... is amazing!"

Star Radiance exclaimed in surprise. "Following this trend, the Star Lantern can last at least four more hours!"

"Then let's continue advancing."

Lin Yue looked at the team. "Everyone, speed up!"

The team set off once more.

This time, with the augmentation of the Life Source Crystals, the speed of advance greatly increased.

An hour and a half later.

From deep within the miasma ahead, the faint sound of flowing water could be heard, along with... a heart-pounding Dragon Might.

Although weak and mixed with dense Death Qi and Spirit Devourer aura, it was undeniably Dragon Might.

The Corrupt Dragon Pool had been reached.

Lin Yue raised his hand, signaling the team to stop.

He looked ahead.

There, the miasma was like a wall, obscuring all vision.

But through the light of the Star Lantern, enhanced by the Life Source Crystals, a vast expanse of black water was faintly visible.

In the center of the water area was a small island.

On the island, a massive black altar stood tall.

At the top of the altar, a fist-sized black crystal was slowly rotating.

The surface of the crystal was covered with twisted runes.

Every time those runes flashed, the surrounding space trembled slightly.

It was as if something was slowly descending... from the other side of the Void Realm.

"That's the place."

Lin Yue whispered.

"The Night of the Lunar Eclipse is still a day and a half away."

Star Radiance looked up at the sky.

The dense miasma obscured the stars and moon, but the Star Gazing Pupil Technique could still sense the celestial changes.

"The timing... is just right."

Lin Yue gripped the spirit slaying star scar tightly.

The sword body hummed slightly within its sheath.

As if yearning to... slay all the evil creatures before it.