Chapter 47: In the Dark

Shen Shuibei, like an isolated island detached from the world, seemed completely out of place in this realm.

Cold and heat qi were both repelled by her, and indeed, all forms of qi that Li Qi could see had no connection with her.

Perhaps there were other forms of qi that could be seen, but they were beyond his range of observation.

Just as he couldn't see the progress bar on Master Zhu's body.

Maybe it was already beyond his capabilities.

The power of Outer paths wasn't omnipotent either.

Li Qi tried to apply his knowledge, using the teachings from the Book "Wu" in real life.

He used this perspective, staring intently, trying to see into the distance.

Then, he suddenly saw the sunset's rays shining over.

And above his own head, some clouds.

The twilight of the setting sun dyed the clouds above Li Qi's head blood red!

Moreover, they seemed to breathe, expanding and contracting, even writhing.

"Blue signifies pests, white signifies death, red means war and famine, black indicates water, yellow represents abundance..." Li Qi muttered, repeating those phrases while staring wide-eyed.

The clouds above his head... seemed to be red, didn't they?

Red means war and famine. Is there a military disaster coming?

It must be fake, right? It should just be ordinary, sunset-colored clouds?

Li Qi tried to comfort himself.

But then, he felt a sudden sense of alarm.

Cold sweat broke out, his heart pounding, causing his skin to flush slightly.

"Is this... a sudden intuition?" Li Qi wiped his cold sweat.

The divination methods recorded in the Book of Divination couldn't be baseless!

This meant the danger hadn't been avoided!

"Old Horse! Miss Shen! Get moving, someone is definitely heading our way! Help me prepare!" Li Qi shouted loudly.

"Think... think about what the book "Wu" says?" Li Qi forced himself to calm down.

He quickly searched through the book, skimming for divination-related information, hoping to find a solution or another method of divination.

Then, he suddenly read a passage.

"The wood element thrives in spring, gaining strength when conditions are favorable. Even if it encounters dead ends, if it moves towards growth and prosperity, it won't truly die." Li Qi slowly recited this passage.

Wood thrives in spring...

Wood thrives in spring...

He fell into deep thought.

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Night fell, the valley's houses and villages hidden in the heavy darkness, barely visible.

Baiyue region is mountainous, and this place is known as the Ten Thousand Great Mountains. Most villages in the wilderness are located within dense forests, which have the highest coverage, making the surroundings mostly forested.

However, not all forests are the same.

Places where people live cannot be considered true "forests."

Humans naturally transform their surroundings to suit their needs.

Further away from "people" and "villages,"

in places with "true forests,"

the surrounding rocks had large cracks, with springs gushing out. Trees grew densely, some twisted and intertwined, others even split by lightning. Vines and plants entangled each other, resembling spider webs from afar. The air was humid and stuffy, which was normal in such forests with thick foliage, tall tree trunks, and marsh gas, preventing heat from dissipating and making the temperature rise, becoming stifling.

In the primeval forests of Baiyue's Ten Thousand Great Mountains, all trees and shrubs crowded together without order, forming irregular shapes, a dizzying sight for city dwellers accustomed to streets.

Amidst this primeval forest, the last rays of the sunset illuminated the mountains, turning green valleys and woods crimson, as if flames were burning or bright blood flowing down the valley.

The daytime heat quickly dissipated, replaced by chilly night winds that stiffened hands and feet.

In the pitch-black valley, filled with primitive atmosphere, moss-covered rocks, broad-leaved shrubs, and climbing vines made the terrain complex. Farther out, the valley was surrounded by towering forests, with several cave entrances on the right side, dark and mysterious.

This place had almost never been tread upon by humans, a paradise for monsters.

Vines and plants tangled together, making the path extremely difficult to navigate, even professional hunters would find it rugged. Moreover, fierce beasts and carnivorous plants abounded, making it a very dangerous place.

Yet, amidst this monster paradise, a squad of soldiers appeared.

A squad of ten soldiers in black armor, each mounted on horses!

Each soldier had a horse, and the leader's mount was seven feet tall, dignified and spirited, exuding pride with every move.

Among them was a standard-bearer, holding a banner fluttering in the wind, producing a rustling sound.

The banner depicted spreading branches, resembling pine trees.

"Xiaoqi, the last sighting of that dragon steed was here, the bloodstains are still fresh. However, after taking your spear strike, it must be severely injured," a soldier said to the officer.

"My spear strike infused with killing intent must have left it heavily wounded. It can't run far. Within five hundred miles, there must be traces. Keep searching," the officer replied coldly.

"By the way, Zhang Wu, your divination skills were accurate before. Why aren't they working now?" the officer turned to a soldier.

Zhang Wu smiled bitterly, "Xiaoqi, my father was a rural shaman, so I picked up some divination skills. How could I be considered a true diviner?"

"But I guess that it worked before but not now suggests that the dragon steed encountered a high-level master whose presence disrupts causal relationships, rendering divination ineffective."

"I've heard that some high-level masters have immaculate bodies, impurities cannot approach, demons and ghosts cannot touch, immune to cold and heat, various spells lose their power against them, even curses cannot affect them, making divination nearly impossible. Being near them creates a shield..." the soldier explained.

The officer sneered, "Immaculate body? That would be at least a Fifth Rank Taoist master who could crush us with a single finger. Would they care about a mere dragon steed? They ride true dragons!"

"So it can't be the reason. There must be something else. What else could it be?" he asked again.

"Perhaps the dragon steed entered an area with strong qi, like a bustling city or a graveyard with intense death qi, masking its tracks," he responded.

"That's possible. Follow that lead," the officer instructed.