Chapter 56: Night Mist (1)

The atmosphere was thick with tension as Hua-Ren stepped out of the tent. The dense mist spreading across the region, in made the darkness feel even more oppressive. The damp cold seemed to seep into her skin, bringing with it an unsettling sense of unease.

She noticed that everyone had already awakened and was preparing, their serious and tense faces reflecting the gravity of the situation.

The mist that arose in the Eternal Mist Region was no mere natural phenomenon. It exponentially increased the difficulty of facing the beasts that inhabited it, serving both as a barrier and a weapon for the spiritual creatures adapted to this treacherous environment.

It was said that those unfortunate enough to enter a mist-covered area at night were practically doomed. It was like walking blindly into the jaws of hungry predators.

There was no silence in the mist, only sounds of struggle, growls, and howls.

— "Auuu..."

Then, a growl reverberated through the mist, echoing in multiple directions until it drowned out all other sounds.

— "Grrr..."

The sounds came from everywhere, accompanying the subtle movement of the mist around the camp.

Shang Hua-Ren and her companions instinctively gathered in the center of the camp, forming a circle with their backs to each other. Their instincts warned them that they were surrounded, but the worst part was not knowing exactly where the danger lurked.

Hua-Ren gripped her flaming whip. It was the Blazing Vine Whip, a gift from the Shang patriarch. The spiritual artifact pulsed in her hands, its flames flickering slightly, but the comforting warmth couldn't dispel the cold of growing fear.

Bai Xiaxia's eyes narrowed as she whispered, her voice trembling:

— "White Mist Wolves..."

The mere name of the creature sent shivers down everyone's spine.

These beasts were known for their lethality when hunting in packs. They came in large numbers, moved incessantly, and knew how to use the mist to their advantage. They were patient hunters, toying with their prey before delivering the final blow.

The sound of their own breathing seemed too loud.

And then, without warning...

The attack came.

From all directions, white silhouettes emerged from the mist at full speed, making it impossible to react in time. The first impacts were cushioned by the formation barrier protecting the camp, but cracks spread across its bluish glow.

Hua-Ren reacted instinctively. Her whip cut through the air with a fierce crack, wrapped in blazing flames. The precise strike hit one of the wolves, burning its skin and forcing it to retreat with a yelp of pain.

But before she could breathe a sigh of relief, the wolf disappeared back into the mist.

The attack intensified.

Each of the cultivators had to face their own opponents. But it was hard to hit the enemy when they dissolved into the mist before the blade could even reach them.

Howls and barks echoed from all sides, while distant screams mixed with the sounds of battle. The phenomenon repeated itself across the Clear Water Mountains. The battlefield wasn't theirs alone; other cultivators were also fighting for their lives.

The air became an invisible warzone, where ghostly shadows merged with the fog and emerged to attack with sharp fangs and claws.

Strikes and counterattacks followed relentlessly. Each cultivator tried to maintain their rhythm, knowing that a single moment of hesitation could be fatal.

The barrier's energy was rapidly depleting. Small cracks expanded, sparking with each impact.

— "There are too many of them!" — Ma shouted, sweating as he dodged an attack and retaliated with his sword. — "They're draining our spiritual energy and the formation's energy quickly!"

— "If this continues, the barrier will give way in a few minutes!" — Liu Mei Yun exclaimed, throwing a silver powder into the air.

A light breeze swept through the area, dissipating part of the mist around them. But the effect lasted only seconds. As if the mist itself were a living entity, it returned even denser, obscuring vision once again.

Hua-Ren bit her lip. She had some Verdant Qi Pills, known for their ability to restore large amounts of spiritual energy.

— "Take that Verdant Qi Pills! " — she said, crushing a pill between her teeth. A surge of revitalizing energy flowed through her meridians.

And gave to his companions with pain in his heart.

With a flick of her wrist, Hua-Ren lashed out with all her strength. The flaming attack enveloped one of the wolves and sent it flying, its body writhing in agony before disappearing into the darkness.

But there was no time to celebrate.

Another wolf was already lunging at her. Hua-Ren raised her whip and entwined the flames around the beast, pulling with a brutal motion. The crack of the impact echoed as the animal's body was thrown to the ground.

But each strike expended more energy, and with every moment, her reserves dwindled further.

The night was just beginning.

'If this mist lasts until dawn, we're doomed...'

Hua-Ren knew that the only thing keeping them alive was Elder Ki's formation. But how much longer would it hold?

The mist around them seemed to stir.

It was then that Bai Xiaxia's eyes widened, her voice filled with terror:

— "This isn't normal...! Something's wrong!"

As their struggle only seemed to worsen, other places didn't seem to be faring any better…

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Between the inside and outside of the Clear Water Mountains

The mist hung over the outer reaches of the Clear Water Mountains like a silent predator. It advanced slowly, swallowing trees, rocks, and everything in its path in a dense, oppressive gray and white hue. Sounds of battle echoed in the distance – steel against claws, screams cut short by sudden assaults, and cries for help that faded into the haze before anyone could react.

The screams, distant and near, blended into a macabre chorus that echoed. It was impossible to determine the exact direction they came from, making the absolute danger of that night even more evident. There, in the midst of the fog, death seemed to lurk on every side.

One of the places where the battle was particularly brutal was the camp of the Heavenly River Spear hunting group.

Wu Jian, the group's captain, gripped his spear tightly, his keen eyes scanning every inch of the mist for the enemy. His men were in a defensive position, forming a semicircle around the clearing.

They couldn't afford to falter.

They had hunted in that forest for years and were accustomed to the challenges of spiritual beasts, but the mist added an extra layer of danger. No amount of experience could eliminate the invisible threat lurking in the misty shadows.

They were positioned near the boundary between the outer and inner parts of the mountains. If they descended further, they would face even more powerful beasts – creatures of the Primary Origin Realm. Their territory had always been there, on the edge of hell, but today they were about to cross an even more dangerous threshold.

Wu Jian clenched his teeth.

'If it were a low-level Second Realm beast, it wouldn't be a problem... But this damn thing is mid-level – and an expert at hiding in the mist. If I were alone, I might have already been killed by its speed, but even with my companions, this fight is going to be tough! But I won't let anyone die!'

He didn't have time to curse his bad luck. The enemy finally made its move.

The Wandering Mist Feline attacked.

Its figure materialized for a moment in the mist, an agile and distorted shadow, moving so fast that the eyes could barely keep up. It targeted one of the younger hunters in the group.

The man didn't even have time to react.

The claw cut through the air with a sharp sound. The strike was precise, tearing through the hunter's shoulder and spilling blood on the ground. The man staggered back, letting out a choked scream, and fell to his knees.

But Wu Jian was already moving.

His muscles bulged under his heavy armor as he lunged forward, his spear gleaming with a sharp metallic aura. He channeled his energy into the strike – a brutal, direct attack, without hesitation.

Iron Spear!

The impact was devastating. The spear's tip struck the feline flank with a dull thud, forcing the creature back. It let out a roar of pain and disappeared into the mist.

But Wu Jian didn't have time to celebrate.

Before he could retreat, the enemy attacked again.

The feline returned, this time even faster, and tried to strike him directly in the chest. He dodged by instinct, feeling the cold wind of the blow grazing his face.

His men reacted immediately.

Two bursts of energy were launched at the feline – a blade of fire and a pillar of earth shot by the two Primary Origin Realm members. The attack forced the beast to retreat again, but its body soon dissolved into the mist.

The captain frowned.

'He's not even hesitating in his attacks.'

— "Get the wounded out of here!" — He shouted. — "Everyone, stay alert! My attack pissed this thing off!"

Two hunters closer to the injured man pulled him back, trying to stabilize him, while the rest of the team assumed an even more defensive stance.

The feline response was instant.

It attacked again – not once, but multiple times, coming from different directions. Its speed was absurd.

Each strike was a blur of sharp claws, forcing the less experienced hunters on the defensive. They could barely react before it disappeared again.

The two Primary Origin Realm members struggled to protect the group, launching elemental attacks whenever possible, trying to force the creature to expose itself. But the feline wasn't foolish. It knew its domain was the mist and was exploiting it to the fullest.

Wu Jian, meanwhile, sprang into action again.

His fighting style was violent, fast, and brutal.

Every time he swung his spear, he did so with the intent to kill. His goal wasn't to wound, but to destroy.

He dodged an attack and spun his body, his spear cutting through the mist in a devastating motion. The metallic blade gleamed and struck the feline leg, tearing off a chunk of flesh.

A deafening roar echoed.

The feline leaped back, flames and rocks exploding around it as the Primary Origin members attacks hit the spot where it had been. But it wasn't an easy prey.

Even wounded, its body disappeared into the mist once more.

Wu Jian took a deep breath. He couldn't let this drag on.

If this fight continued for too long, more of his men would die.

— "We need to end this NOW!" — He roared.

His men understood the message.

One of the two Origin Realm members channeled his wood energy into seeds and threw them into the mist around the group.

The seeds disappeared into the mist and quickly grew into abundant vines. They weren't meant for attack but to indicate the enemy's location in the mist.

While others also prepared for the final assault, they launched vine talismans to replenish the energy spent on the plants.

The feline seemed to hesitate at their actions.

The mist fell silent, the feline seemed to disappear, but then there was a movement in the vines, indicating its location. The members quickly attacked the indicated positions.

Wu Jian raised his spear, channeling all his strength into a single strike. The tip glowed intensely, concentrating destructive power.

And then, just as he was about to strike, an identical figure of the feline appeared to his left in a fatal attack, but Wu Jian didn't hesitate.

The spear pierced the air with a thunderous sound.

The speed was absurd. The crushing impact landed on the position to his right, and with the impact, the image of the feline attacking from the left melted into mist.

The mist briefly dispersed, revealing that the Wandering Mist Feline had been hit squarely. The attack left a trail on the ground.

The creature's body was thrown against a rock and it fell to the ground, its chest rising and falling rapidly. Still alive, but incapacitated.

The hunters surrounded the beast.

Wu Jian walked up to it, his eyes cold as steel.

He raised his spear.

And, with a single motion, delivered the final blow.

The creature shuddered and then lay still.

After that, the team, though injured, organized themselves as the experienced group they were, securing the creature's body, erasing signs of blood, tending to the wounded, etc.

The vines, without spiritual energy support, disintegrated into dust.

'With luck, this will be the only danger the mist brings' — was the captain's thought as he watched the team recover.

And so he turned to the mist, watching in case another enemy came again. He could hear distant sounds of battle carried by the mist, but it was hard to tell the distance, but just the fact that it wasn't clear meant it was far from the valley they were in.

And luckily, the fight against the second-level beast intimidated other predators, and their night would be quiet now.