Chapter 748: Chapter 748

While Qin Sang and the others were still contending with vicious insects and strange beasts deep within the forest, using both wits and strength to survive..

In front of the Sky Tower.

On the plaza stood a dozen or so silent figures. Their auras were subdued, their clothing strange and clearly distinct from that of the human race. All of them were Spiritual Infant grandmasters of the witch race.

At the forefront was an elderly woman with snow-white hair.

She wore the ceremonial robe that marked the most exalted identity of the witch race: the grand witch priest. A translucent, colorful mask as thin as cicada wings covered the upper half of her face. Her chin and lips remained visible beneath the mask, the latter unusually rosy.

She stood gazing up at the towering structure, lost in thought. After a while, she suddenly turned her head and looked into the empty air, her voice cold. "Devil Lord, since you’ve graced us with your presence, why do you skulk in hiding instead of showing yourself?"

At her words, the other Spiritual Infant cultivators’ expressions changed. A wave of tension rippled through the group.

"Hehe, the grand witch priest’s perception is as sharp as ever. Even though I did my best to conceal my aura, I still couldn’t hide it from you."

A voice rang out from the void, followed by a sudden flash of strange light. In the blink of an eye, a figure landed brazenly before them. It was a middle-aged man, calm and confident.

This man was none other than the infamous leader of the devilish path, the one who struck terror across Canglang Sea, the Devil Lord.

Now that the Divine Lunar Ghostlight had dissipated, there was no longer a trace of devilish qi on his body, nor any hint of malevolent or violent qi. His gaze was composed, his demeanor distinguished, resembling more like a great scholar.

Yet as soon as he appeared, every Spiritual Infant cultivator of the witch race revealed expressions as if facing a mortal enemy.

The Devil Lord, whose presence had just been exposed by the grand witch priest, seemed entirely unconcerned. He paid no attention to the wariness of the witch race cultivators and met the old woman’s gaze head-on.

Only the grand witch priest remained expressionless. She studied him deeply, then spoke calmly. "You’ve already shown yourself once before. Naturally, I must remain cautious. However, I’ve heard that the place within Seven-Kill Hall where the true treasure lies only becomes accessible when it emerges on its own. Are you suggesting that something outside is worth your personal trip?"

The Devil Lord chuckled and spread his hands. "Must you ask what you already know? The witch race made it very clear you would spare no cost, forcing our human race to agree to share access to the Seven-Kill Hall. Then you went through great trouble to break the array. How could we not take precautions? Unfortunately, that sly old man from the Heavenly Dao Sect claimed his cultivation art was flawed and that he had suffered internal injury, forcing him into seclusion. So I had no choice but to come in his stead. I’m curious myself too. Seven-Kill Hall has practically been turned inside out. What could possibly be worth all this effort from your side?"

The old woman sneered. "Whether Daoist Lingzhuzi is truly injured or merely feigning it, who can say? Even if you lay ambushes outside Seven-Kill Hall to intercept us, I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised."

"The feeling is mutual..."

The Devil Lord laughed casually. "Isn’t your own Daoist Fang hiding as well? That puts me just as much on edge."

The old woman gave a cold snort. "So, you’re determined to follow me?"

The Devil Lord smiled and said nothing.

"If that’s your choice, I won’t stop you. Let’s see what each of us is capable of."

The old woman withdrew her gaze from him, then addressed the others. "Fellow Daoists, your tasks were assigned long ago. I won’t say more. Success or failure hinges on this moment. Move out."

At her command, the Spiritual Infant grandmasters of the witch race scattered in all directions. Their evasion speed was astounding, and in the blink of an eye they vanished into the depths of the surrounding mountains, like flower petals carried off by the wind.

The old woman, meanwhile, entered the Sky Tower alone.

The Devil Lord had not expected the witch race to divide their forces so drastically.

"Is this old hag playing tricks, or is she genuinely searching for something?"

After a moment of hesitation, he conjured several streaks of strange light from his palm and sent them flying into the mountains, then followed the old woman into the Sky Tower himself.

Once the brief commotion passed, silence returned to the area outside the Sky Tower.

Some time later, figures emerged atop a nearby mountain. They had been spying on the confrontation between the Devil Lord and the grand witch priest. Fortunately, no one had noticed them.

Some hesitated, then quietly chose to leave. Others gritted their teeth and charged into the tower.

"Follow this river upstream."

Thanks to the alliance's thorough preparations, Qin Sang and the others remained unharmed.

Xiang Yi had led them to the bank of a river.

The river was quite strange. Its wide surface was covered with floating purple algae, and even the water itself was purple. This large river flowed through the dense forest, though no one knew where it originated.

The purple water gurgled gently, the thick algae obscuring the view. Beneath the surface, it was dark and deep, making it impossible to see what lay below.

Everyone felt uneasy just being near it, instinctively keeping their distance from the riverbank. The vicious insects and beasts they had encountered in the forest had left a deep impression on them.

A river that looked this bizarre could only mean one thing: danger.

"This is the legendary Purple River!"

The cultivator surnamed Pan suddenly looked grim, and with the mask embedded in his face, he appeared even more sinister.

"If we follow the Purple River upstream, we’ll enter the most dangerous part of this forest—a place shrouded in poisonous purple mists. It’s known as the ‘Purple Mist End,’ a name that has terrified countless cultivators. Many have died there, swallowed up without a trace. Xiang Yi, surely you’re not planning to lead us into the Purple Mist End?" His eyes widened as he questioned sharply.

The others were also visibly shaken. They halted on the spot and turned their eyes to Xiang Yi. Get full chapters from novel⚑fire.net

The Purple Mist End was one of the most perilous locations within Seven-Kill Hall, renowned as one of its three great poison zones. Elders of past generations had warned those who came after never to step foot into such places.

None of them had expected that the alliance would send them there.

Given their current cultivation, they didn’t even know if they could resist the erosion of the poisonous mist, let alone survive the countless other dangers that lurked inside.

Going there was as good as walking to their deaths. Completing the mission would be nearly impossible.

Xiang Yi remained calm and nodded. "Since we’ve come this far, I won’t keep it hidden any longer. The alliance has ordered us to enter the Purple Mist End. For that reason, the alliance leader personally bestowed upon me a rare treasure to ward off poison, which he refined himself. As long as we don’t venture into the core depths of the Purple Mist End, this treasure will be enough to shield us from the mist. So, fellow Daoists, you need not worry."

The Liu couple frowned. "I seem to recall a senior who once ventured into the Purple Mist End mentioning that the toxicity of the mist can change. However, Daoist Xiang, let us be clear. If that astra shows signs of being unable to resist the mist after we enter, we must abandon the mission and retreat. We have no intention of dying mysteriously in that place."

The rest nodded in agreement.

They had expected the alliance’s mission to be difficult, but they had not imagined being sent somewhere so deadly.

A thought flickered in Qin Sang’s mind. I wonder if the Poison-Warding Armor of the fat silkworm can withstand the poisonous mist.

Up to now, he had only tested it against poisons from Demonic Core Realm demonic beasts.

After its metamorphosis, the Poison-Warding Armor had been able to effortlessly resist even the deadly venom of great demons.

But that toxin came from living creatures. The Purple Mist, however, was a strange toxin born of the heavens and earth, so there would certainly be a difference.

Xiang Yi, unbothered, replied, "Would the alliance go to such lengths and make so many preparations just to harm us? You can rest assured, fellow Daoists. I have my own judgment. If things become truly impossible, I won’t force anyone to proceed."