Chapter 79: Arrival at Yan Valley
Chapter 79: Arrival at Yan Valley
Bai Ziyue and Mu Kuang swiftly dispatched several bandits, leaving the rest frozen in fear.
"Purple Core cultivators!"
The bandits, mostly at the Pulse Connecting Realm, trembled in the presence of such formidable opponents.
"Kill them!"
Too frightened to face Bai Ziyue and Mu Kuang, the remaining bandits turned their attention to Mu Feng.
Unfazed, Mu Feng calmly hung his bow on his saddle. Qi gathered at his fingertips, and with a flick of his fingers, two golden streaks of energy pierced the heads of two charging bandits.
Thud! Thud!
Both fell dead instantly.
Leaping off his horse, Mu Feng spun and delivered a powerful kick to another bandit's head. The sound of snapping bones echoed as the bandit's neck broke, and his body flew seven or eight meters before hitting the ground lifeless.
In moments, the three youths had killed nearly ten bandits. The rest hesitated, their fear forcing them to retreat.
Even the leader, wielding a massive battle axe, scowled. He had not anticipated these seemingly young boys to be Purple Core cultivators. Though he himself was at the fourth stage of the Purple Core Realm, he now hesitated.
"You trash dare to call yourselves bandits?" Mu Kuang sneered.
"Enough!" the leader bellowed, hefting his axe. With half his men dead, he roared in fury and charged at Mu Feng.
Mu Feng stepped forward, drawing his battle blade from his back. With a single step, he surged forward like an arrow, meeting the bandit leader's strike head-on.
Clang!
Blade and axe collided, releasing a shockwave that blew snow into the air.
Bai Ziyue and Mu Kuang stood back, watching the fight unfold. Having been sparred against by Mu Feng countless times, they knew his strength all too well.
The bandit leader stumbled back several steps, staring at Mu Feng in disbelief. Though only at the third stage of the Purple Core Realm, Mu Feng's explosive strength rivaled his own.
"Come again," Mu Feng said coldly, his blade ready.
Grinding his teeth, the leader swung his axe again, releasing two arcs of golden energy.
Mu Feng sidestepped with ease, leaving an afterimage. The axe energy gouged deep pits in the snow where he had stood.
"Flaming Blade!"
Mu Feng countered with a fiery arc of blade energy, forcing the bandit leader to block with his axe. The impact sent him staggering.
In the next instant, Mu Feng was upon him. His fist, wreathed in faint red flames, struck the axe with explosive force.
Boom!
The leader screamed as he was hurled backward, his weapon clattering to the ground. Mu Feng's fiery punch had consumed the trace of fire energy he had gathered earlier.
Seizing the moment, Mu Feng leapt high and drove his blade downward.
Thud!
The blade pierced through the leader's chest, pinning him to the ground. Blood soaked the snow beneath him as his life faded, eyes wide with terror.
"Boss is dead!"
"Run! Run!"
The remaining bandits fled in panic, not daring to look back at the three ruthless youths.
The merchants watched in stunned silence, then sighed in relief.
"What incredible young warriors!"
"They're all Purple Core cultivators. Which noble family do they belong to?"
"We're saved, thank the heavens!"
The portly merchant approached, bowing deeply. "Thank you, young heroes, for saving our lives!"
Mu Feng helped him up with a smile. "It was nothing. Just doing what's right."
The other merchants crowded around, expressing their gratitude.
As the trio prepared to leave, the merchant hurried back with three pouches of gold, each containing about a hundred coins.
"Please accept this small token of our gratitude."
Mu Kuang chuckled, declining the offer. "We didn't save you for money."
"I understand, but it's just a token of appreciation. Are you heading to Yan Valley by any chance?"
"We are," Mu Feng replied.
"That's wonderful! We're delivering herbs to Yan Valley as well. Could we trouble you to accompany us, just in case we encounter more bandits?"
Mu Feng considered for a moment before agreeing. "Very well, it'll make the journey more lively."
The merchant and his companions were overjoyed.
After clearing the bodies and absorbing their blood energy using the Shura Divine Jade, Mu Feng incinerated the remains with a burst of Yuan fire.
Traveling with the caravan, the merchant shared tales of Yan Valley and its surroundings, making the journey enjoyable.
By noon the next day, they reached the outskirts of Yan Valley. The terrain transformed into a red-hued mountain range with peaks emitting black smoke. The air grew noticeably warmer, and the snow had long melted away.
At the foot of the mountains lay a bustling town, the gateway to Yan Valley.
"So that's a volcano," Mu Kuang marveled, staring at the smoking peaks on the horizon.
"Volcanoes are incredibly dangerous. If one erupts, even cultivators below the Yuan Core Realm can't survive the heat of the lava," Mu Feng warned as they approached the town.
The town was lively, filled with inns and shops catering to adventurers and merchants. The caravan bid farewell to the trio, expressing their gratitude one last time.
Mu Feng, Bai Ziyue, and Mu Kuang dismounted and began exploring the town. They stopped in front of a large apothecary, dismounted, and entered together—Mu Feng was eager to purchase Fire Flame Grass.