Chapter 100: A Hidden Paradise

Chapter 100: A Hidden Paradise

Qi Fei had endured countless hardships to reach the Innate Realm of Martial Arts—the seventh level of martial cultivation. In the Reflection Cliff of Danxia Mountain, he trained diligently every day, finally stepping into the ranks of Innate masters. He was well aware of the formidable strength of Innate-level beasts. Although he had also mastered the Daoist primordial spirit, beasts were naturally endowed with tremendous power and inherited ancient martial techniques. Innate-level beasts could easily contend with five human masters of the same realm.

Qi Fei paused briefly, lowering his voice. “If it’s only Innate-level beasts, it would be possible to hold them off for a while. With some caution, we might avoid major mishaps. Grandpa Tong He, it’s not that I insist on entering this place alone, but you must have noticed that this area has many poplar trees. Judging by their robust trunks, many are likely close to a thousand years old. We might just find the Iron Poplar Needle here!”

Tong He furrowed his brow slightly, then spoke with some unease, “That may be so, but if you go alone, I can’t help but feel worried.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Fei’s expression grew solemn. In a low, steady voice, he replied, “The sea swallow must learn to soar on its own, and the leopard must hunt alone. Senior Tong He, I have lived too comfortably under your protection. Now it is time for me to see the world, to experience hardships on my own. Without those experiences, I cannot truly grow.”

Having said that, Qi Fei no longer spoke. Bowing slightly to Tong He, he strode confidently into this pastoral land emitting a strange aura.

Outside the stone walls, Qi Fei still felt the chill of midwinter, but once inside, the temperature became remarkably warm. Were it not for the lingering strange aura, one could almost believe this place was a paradise on earth. No wonder the greenery thrived here even at this season—it was clearly related to the climate within.

Qi Fei first surveyed the surroundings, noting the expanse stretched at least a hundred miles. He marveled at how the original owner had found such a sanctuary. Although he considered the possibility that this hundred-mile area had been artificially created, such a notion seemed too incredible to accept.

Deep down, Qi Fei believed this place was naturally formed—a true hidden paradise. Yet, setting aside his personal feelings, he reminded himself of his purpose. He had no intention of capturing the golden-silver wolf now; instead, he moved forward slowly, examining the ancient trees one by one in search of the iron poplar needles Tong He had mentioned.

He soon realized many of these poplars were indeed a thousand years old. Yet after nearly forty-five minutes of searching, he was disappointed to find no signs of lightning or fire damage on any tree—no traces of the iron poplar needles that sprout from charred wood. Of course, half an hour was only enough to inspect the outer perimeter, and given the abundance of poplars, continuing might yet yield results.

So, after a brief pause, Qi Fei delved deeper into this strange land. Perhaps owing to the well-preserved ecology, he soon encountered numerous beasts, including many low-level monsters of ranks three and two. The deeper he went, the higher the proportion of monsters became.

After traveling nearly ten miles, all the creatures he saw were monsters, some even of mid-level rank five or six. This made Qi Fei frown slightly. The area reminded him of the Moonfall Mountain Range, where the deeper one ventured, the stronger the monsters grew. Indeed, after another ten miles, he spotted monsters of ranks seven and eight, unsettling him further.

Considering the area spanned over a hundred miles, encountering rank-seven and eight monsters after just thirty miles suggested that deeper in, rank-nine monsters or even sacred beasts at the Innate level might appear, filling the path with danger and peril.

Nevertheless, Qi Fei was determined not to return empty-handed. He continued to examine the thousand-year-old poplars, hoping to find the iron poplar needles before meeting any sacred beasts. As for the rank-nine monsters, given his current strength, he need not worry too much. With caution, he believed he could avoid injury from most.

The golden-silver wolf, despite being rank eight, was just an ordinary beast here. As he ventured further, the rank-seven beasts disappeared, replaced entirely by rank-eight monsters. Fortunately, Qi Fei’s agility and powerful primordial spirit allowed him to evade their senses, preventing delays. Yet, no matter how strong his spirit, after fruitless searching, he knew he would eventually confront a high-level monster.

After pushing forward about five more miles, reaching a depth of forty miles, Qi Fei, though trying to conceal himself, finally encountered a monster face-to-face: a rank-nine eight-winged earthworm.

This creature resembled typical eight-winged earthworms, but its body was three zhang long and half a zhang wide. Distinctly, it had a pair of crimson fleshly wings on its back. With a flap, it hovered swiftly in the air, blocking Qi Fei’s path completely.

“It seems I have no choice but to fight,” Qi Fei muttered. Drawing the Bloodheart Sword from his spirit jade, he shouted and launched an attack. Facing a monster of this rank, he had no room for play or luck; he unleashed his most potent sword-drawing technique.

The earthworm, unaware of the sword’s power, flapped its wings fiercely and dove, baring its dark yellow fangs to meet Qi Fei’s strike.

With a faint “puff,” a fang the length of a finger was cleanly severed. Thanks to the Bloodheart Sword’s divine sharpness, Qi Fei’s technique was over thirty percent more powerful, allowing him to strike a decisive blow.

Without this weapon, even his rusty throwing darts wouldn’t have sufficed to sever the fang. The earthworm howled in pain, then, before Qi Fei could strike again, it flapped its wings and fled like lightning into the dense forest.

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