Chapter 93: Entering the Valley

Ansi Valley was surrounded by mountains on all four sides, with a narrow and elongated mountain valley in the middle. Outside the valley, the forests were dense and bizarre rocks stood everywhere, the roads narrow and rugged. Inside the valley, it was shrouded in mist, as it was filled with evil energy year-round. Anyone who touched it would die, so it was also called a “dangerous place” or “heavenly danger,” and generally, people did not dare to enter lightly.

However, this place was not as quiet and secluded as imagined. Instead, there was a bustling crowd and it was lively. Countless body-refining cultivators were either meditating cross-legged in the open areas outside the valley with eyes closed or, naked from the waist up, displaying their toned physiques. When Zhou Qi and the others arrived, no one paid them any mind.

Spirit stones were hard to come by within the sphere of influence of the Daoist sect. Many had chosen another path, which was body refinement. Ordinary foundation-building cultivators had a lifespan of no more than two hundred years or so. If they could not break through to the Golden Core stage, their lifespan would be exhausted, and they would age and die slowly. Body-refining cultivators were different. They could fully develop the potential of their bodies. Not only did their lifespan increase, but under the same cultivation level, body-refining cultivators were far more powerful in combat.

Zhou Qi did not see Dao Fan, perhaps he was inside or had already left, after all, his group had delayed quite a bit on the way.

Upon arriving here, Jiuer and Xiaohua appeared extremely nervous, as if some ferocious beast was opening its bloody maw towards them. They held onto Zhou Qi’s sleeves on both sides, one on the left and one on the right. Zhou Qi understood that this might be the suppression of other races by the dragon clan.

Zhou Qi could only take them out of this place. Staying here for long, he feared something unexpected might happen. Fifty kilometers outside Ansi Valley, Zhou Qi had opened a cave mansion and arranged some trapping arrays and protective formations. Jiuer had the Bewitching Immortal Array he gave her, the Breaking Ground Talisman, and one more. She probably would not have difficulty escaping danger if she encountered it. What she lacked was experience, but this little white one had just that.

“Little White, I entrust my sister to you. She is relatively simple and inexperienced. You must protect her well. If there is no need, do not leave this place. When I come out from inside, I will detoxify for you. You can advance your position early.”

Zhou Qi instructed Xiaobai.

The act of poisoning was merely to deceive him. He had not studied the Dao of the Poison Immortal’s poison pills. Saying so was only to create some caution in his heart, although Xiaobai had performed well previously, one must guard against others. He was an old slick one, whether he would backstab was unknown.

“Boss, rest assured. If anything happens to Miss Jiuer, it will definitely be I who has turned into a corpse first.” Xiaobai patted his chest and guaranteed.

“Little Fox, you must constantly operate the method to conceal your aura. If exposed, the consequences are unimaginable.” Zhou Qi then said to Xiaohua. The fact that Xiaohua had killed him made it hard for him to let go, so privately he still called her little fox.

“That man, rest assured, I do not want to be chased again.” Xiaohua rolled her eyes in reply. The time spent together had also made her understand that Zhou Qi looked fierce but had no malice.

“Brother, be careful. I don’t know what dangers are inside. Take this with you.” Jiuer was very worried and took a protective talisman from around her neck, placing it on Zhou Qi.

“With it protecting you, brother will definitely obtain the Dragon Pearl. Jiuer will pray for brother here at all times until brother returns safely.” Jiuer’s eyes were red, extremely reluctant.

Zhou Qi gently rubbed her head, then strode away.

Returning to Ansi Valley, Zhou Qi no longer waited. He placed his finger into the mist inside the valley, feeling a breath invading his body from the fingertip. This breath was filled with destruction and killing intent, attempting to destroy the flesh and blood tissues throughout the body. However, it was not strong at this time. Zhou Qi’s physique was different from ordinary people, so this level of damage naturally had no effect. It was probably due to being at the valley entrance and the contact area being too small.

Zhou Qi then took out the dragon scale he had obtained earlier. The killing intent and destruction breath quickly disappeared without a trace. Zhou Qi was startled, afraid someone might discover it, and hurriedly put away the dragon scale. If this dragon scale had such an effect inside, it would probably attract covetousness from those with ulterior motives. After all, cultivators were curious about the depths, not unwilling to go deeper but unable to do so.

After hiding the dragon scale, that breath appeared again. Zhou Qi tried operating his spiritual energy again, reaching the fingertip. The spiritual energy did not flow as smoothly as usual, as if blocked by something. Zhou Qi had completed perfect foundation building, with all his qi meridians unimpeded. Usually, he could achieve instant arrival of spiritual energy to where his mind intended. This place indeed suppressed cultivators’ spiritual energy. The deeper one went, the stronger this suppression probably became.

After testing, Zhou Qi had a clear realization in his heart. Since this breath could be used for body refinement, he could not waste it and could not miss any opportunity to gain strength.

Zhou Qi stepped into the valley, instantly enveloped by this breath wrapping around his whole body. The destructive breath and killing intent were everywhere without a hole. Zhou Qi silently comprehended, clearly feeling his flesh body being continuously eroded. The outer evil energy was not too strong, so Zhou Qi perceived a bit and walked forward.

From outside the valley looking in, the valley was shrouded in mist. Upon entering, the line of sight was not obstructed, presenting an overall gray-white hue. Looking far, the gray-white filled the entire space, not knowing how far it was. There were quite a few corpses on the ground, of wild beasts and human races. These should be the mortals and wild beasts who had mistakenly entered this place, their flesh and blood being transformed by evil energy, leaving pale white skeletons, making the place seem somewhat gloomy.

The feeling of spiritual energy suppression was still present, so Zhou Qi did not use spiritual energy, walking forward step by step like a mortal, gradually adapting to the gradually strengthening evil energy.

After walking about 5 kilometers, there suddenly appeared quite a few cultivators ahead. They were naked from the waist up, wearing only short pants blocking the private parts, revealing their muscular physiques. The numerous cultivators were either standing or lying down, or someone slowly punching, arranging various postures. Zhou Qi felt like he had arrived at a gym. This evil energy was beneficial for body refinement. As the time spent increased, the clothes would gradually be destroyed by the evil energy.

Fortunately, there were no female cultivators here. If an unknowing female cultivator came, she probably would not have a place to cry. Zhou Qi’s clothes also had signs of damage. He muttered to himself: if even the underwear was dissolved, that would be too embarrassing, but these cultivators could all keep one short pants, obviously with some secret technique.

“Fellow Daoist, may I ask how you maintain your short pants not being eroded by the evil energy?” Zhou Qi asked a cultivator who was lying down with a kind face.

“This matter is simple. Our short pants are all specially made with heavenly silkworm silk. The evil energy cannot erode it. If you have short pants equivalent to a lower-grade spiritual artifact, you can also maintain not being damaged by the evil energy.” The cultivator answered in a muffled voice.

Upon hearing someone inquire, the cultivator stood up. Zhou Qi only felt his vision blacken. A giant man stood in front of him. At this time, Zhou Qi was already over one meter eight tall, and looking straight ahead, he just saw the cultivator’s protruding two points, trembling with the muscle’s twitch.

“Thank you, fellow Daoist.” Zhou Qi hurriedly thanked. This cultivator’s oppressive feeling was too strong. He did not have the heavenly silkworm silk short pants, nor did he have short pants equivalent to a lower-grade spiritual artifact. What to do? Perhaps rob one.

“Fellow Daoist, do you have any other questions?”

“No.”

“Thank you.”

“Consultation fee, 100 lower-grade spirit stones.” A hand as large as a fan had already reached in front of Zhou Qi’s eyes.

Zhou Qi had no choice but to take out the spirit stones. Originally thinking the face was kind and easy to talk to, he didn’t expect there to still be a consultation fee. His heart was too black.