Chapter 198

A forest had grown in the barren desert, its trees swaying eerily under the night sky.

The sight carried an unnatural strangeness that chilled the bones.

"Send some death warriors to investigate."

To check for traps, the Eastern Wilderness accompanying cultivators ordered three death warriors forward.

The trio crept closer, surveying the woodland. Though the forest stretched only a hundred yards deep, tangled roots and thorny vines carpeted the ground, forming an impassable thicket.

They hacked at the vegetation with their weapons, but the plants clanged like iron against steel. Their blades left mere scratches, sparks flying with each strike until their arms went numb from the impact.

"These aren’t ordinary trees," one gasped. "A Master’s work."

"True," another agreed. "We can’t break through this."

As they sheathed their weapons to retreat, nearby trees abruptly twisted toward them, branches coiling around the warriors like serpents.

Eastern Wilderness soldiers and cultivators watched in horror as the trees began digesting the men alive, flesh merging with bark in a grotesque fusion.

Screams tore through the night, freezing the blood of all who heard. Even imagining such agony made spines tingle—yet here it unfolded before them.

"For… Eastern Wilderness!"

One warrior triggered an explosive technique within his body. Light flared from his chest—but before the blast could erupt, the tree constricted him entirely within its branches.

A muffled *pop* echoed, quieter than a firecracker submerged in a deep pool. When the tree unfurled, only shredded cloth remained.

Soldiers shuddered, their fearful gazes locked on the deadly grove. Even the accompanying cultivators frowned. While ordinary soldiers saw only man-eating trees, the cultivators recognized worse—these plants devoured both flesh and spiritual power from techniques.

With this forest guarding Ju He Pass, neither common soldiers nor cultivators below mid-level could breach it.

"I’ll test it myself."

A ninth-level Gathering Qi Eastern Wilderness cultivator stepped forward, summoned several fire techniques in his palms, and hurled them into the forest.

Since the five elements counteract each other, ordinary wood should naturally fear flames.

His fire attacks did show some effect, charring a few leaves, but nothing more.

He then poured all his strength into conjuring three fiery serpents that slithered into the woods, yet achieved minimal impact.

These techniques only scorched some twigs, leaving the main tree trunks completely unharmed.

Moreover, the residual spiritual power from the spells got swiftly absorbed by the surrounding vegetation.

The forest appeared to be enchanted with some secret method, granting it extreme fire resistance. Despite elemental advantage, large-scale burning proved impossible.

"This won’t work. We can’t afford delays."

The Eastern Wilderness’s full-level cultivator leader immediately approached the sect members at the rear.

To maintain troop mobility, they could only bring a few serpent crossbows for skirmishes – no heavy siege weapons.

Now trapped by this enchanted forest, their assault stalled. If this dragged on, Tiger-Chasing’s reinforcements would arrive soon.

"To claim the reward for slaying those two in the city, we need your assistance, friends."

"Leave it to me."

An eleventh-level Gathering Qi sect direct disciple stepped forward. Activating his Spiritual Manipulation state, his Spirit Projection materialized as a gleaming great blade that sliced through trees like butter.

"Hmph. Thought it’d be tougher. Just a paper tiger bluffing."

With contemptuous swings, he carved a thirty-meter-wide path through the woods.

"Hmm?"

Upon clearing the final tree, his eyes narrowed at a shadow beneath Ju He Pass’s walls – a tall, ethereal-looking man with jarringly plain features.

"Tenth Level cultivation. Must be one of Tiger-Chasing’s talents."

As the thought formed, his Spiritual Manipulation blade already shot towards Yang Lingrui’s throat.

The strike felt lightning-fast, yet Yang Lingrui sidestepped it effortlessly with half a pace.

"Oh? Not bad. Try this!"

Four additional blades materialized through surging spiritual power. Five weapons attacked simultaneously in a relentless barrage.

Even Yang Lingrui’s superior footwork couldn’t evade every strike.

"Hit!"

The disciple grinned as his concealed blade connected with Yang Lingrui’s waist.

"Senior brother, I’ll claim this bounty fir…"

A panicked shout interrupted him: "JUNIOR BROTHER!"

Coldness gripped his throat. Glancing down, he saw fingers clutching his neck, oozing yellow wind.

"You…"

Crack!

His head tumbled before he finished speaking. The clean neck wound showed no blade marks – just corroded flesh resembling yellow rust.

An eleventh-level Gathering Qi direct disciple – instantly slain!

Impossible!

Eastern Wilderness cultivators stared wide-eyed. Northwest sect disciples had always dominated Tiger-Chasing’s accompanying cultivators in border conflicts.

Direct disciples were practically invincible here. In years of conflict, only twenty regular sect disciples had fallen. No direct disciple had ever died – few even got injured.

Yet now they’d witnessed the unthinkable.

The Eastern Wilderness leader reacted first. Battle-hardened instincts screamed they’d hooked a sea monster, not minnows!

He opened his mouth to order retreat when death’s whisper echoed through the ranks:

"Yellow wind shrouds heaven."