Chapter Seventy-Four: The Predator

“Help Ling Xiao first.” Shen Qingyun moved easily among the swarm of skeletons, his tone calm as he saw the others charging forward. Feng Chuxun had nothing to worry about—no skeleton could come close to him. But Ling Xiao was different. Though he was brave, it was precisely his valor that made him more likely to become the skeletons’ target.

Ling Xiao appeared fierce, shattering any skeleton that neared him. Yet even a mighty elephant can be brought down by swarming ants—not because the elephant is weak, but because its very strength makes it a conspicuous target, its vulnerabilities magnified.

At just the right moment, a skeleton leapt onto Ling Xiao’s back. The black smoke billowing from its form seemed almost sentient, clutching Ling Xiao’s clothes and securing the skeleton’s grip so tightly that no amount of shaking could dislodge it.

The others heard Shen Qingyun’s words. Su Ye, wielding a shadowy dagger, shouted, “Help Senior Brother Ling! Clear the skeletons attacking him from behind!”

No sooner had he spoken than a streak of fiery red lashed down, scattering the skeleton clinging to Ling Xiao’s back.

Ling Xiao immediately felt the burden lift, his movements growing nimbler. Dodging several lunging skeletons, he sent them flying in pieces with a strike from his golden gauntlet.

The fiery red streak was, of course, Wu Xier’s whip, wielded with exquisite control—freeing Ling Xiao without harming him in the slightest.

Wu Xier herself remained composed, as though nothing had happened at all. She swung her long whip, the heat raising illusory waves of flame that incinerated the skeletons rushing from the flanks, reducing them to ash.

Yet these skeletons, heedless of death, kept coming; for every wave destroyed, another surged forth. The greatest threat, however, lay in being surrounded.

But with Shen Qingyun, Feng Chuxun, and Ling Xiao at the front, few skeletons threatened from behind, leaving the disciples of Bambooside Peak under little pressure. Wu Xier and Su Ye guarded the flanks, breaking apart any skeletons that tried to slip past.

Thus, a striking scene unfolded. Anyone looking down from above would see Shen Qingyun and his two companions leading the Bambooside Peak disciples, leaving behind them a clear path—where once the skeletons swarmed densely, now there was nothingness in their wake.

...

“So we made it through…” Many disciples still felt as if they were dreaming. The horde of skeletons that had so terrified them was now reduced to scattered groups of two or three, wandering the outskirts.

“They’re all so strong…” Some disciples gaped at the three figures ahead. From the rear, they had seen everything—the prowess and composure of those three had been on full display. Because of this, they felt all the more determined to follow Shen Qingyun to the end.

With such a formidable leader, perhaps they truly could pass the trial safely. Caution and obedience were key.

Strength is always the main theme in the world of cultivation. To possess strength is to earn the right to be respected. Shen Qingyun, at this moment, had undoubtedly earned that right.

Shen Qingyun glanced down at the three-foot sword in his hand. After so many rapid strikes, its once-sharp edge was now nicked and dulled, the blade marred with scratches. He pursed his lips—an ordinary sword is just that, no match for a spiritual weapon.

“Here, take it back.” Shen Qingyun tossed the sword to Feng Chuxun, who caught it and noticed the chips along the blade. A fine sword, now rendered useless.

But it hardly mattered—he had plenty of others.

“Chief Shen, don’t you find these people a burden, bringing them along like this?” Feng Chuxun’s indifferent voice rang out, unvarnished and heard by all.

“Brother Feng, what are you saying!” Many were startled, truly fearing that Shen Qingyun might cast them out.

“Am I wrong?” Feng Chuxun’s cold gaze swept over them, causing unease among the disciples.

“Since entering the valley, all you’ve done is harvest rewards. But when monsters appeared, how many of you actually fought? Who among you didn’t try to slip away, hoping to become invisible?”

Feng Chuxun smiled, a rare occurrence, but his smile was pure disdain. “And you claim you’re not a burden?”

Some disciples hung their heads in shame, for every word was true. Others, unwilling to be so openly criticized, retorted, “But our cultivation is still useful here in this haunted valley!”

“Yes, you can’t look down on us just because we’re not as strong as you…”

“What does cultivation prove? Ling Xiao, at the ninth stage of Qi Refining, is stronger than any of you.” Feng Chuxun’s mockery was merciless.

Ling Xiao, caught in the crossfire, looked bewildered. Why drag me into this?

“I…” Someone tried to argue but found no words, falling silent in embarrassment.

Shen Qingyun interjected at just the right moment. “Let’s move on.”

He said nothing more about the incident, but his silence only deepened the disciples’ unease.

The journey ahead grew calmer; no more monsters, no herbs in sight. That was, until a trace of dank, rotten air drifted in.

Ling Xiao frowned, uneasy. “Swampland ahead!”

Walking a little farther, a pool came into view. Charred trees had fallen into the water or leaned precariously at its edge.

Shen Qingyun spoke quietly, “Beyond here lies the first safe zone. We can rest there.”

At the mention of a safe zone, some disciples visibly brightened.

But Ling Xiao still frowned, muttering, “There’s danger up ahead!”

His voice was not quiet, and everyone present, all at the Foundation Establishment stage, had keen hearing. His words unsettled them, and they stared at the silent pool—so still, so deathly still.

Could there really be danger in a pool with nothing but water? Many disciples found themselves doubting, casting uncertain glances at Ling Xiao but keeping their thoughts to themselves. In the past, Ling Xiao’s premonitions had never been wrong; whenever he sensed a medicinal herb, it was always there.

“How dangerous?” Shen Qingyun seemed to trust Ling Xiao implicitly.

Ling Xiao’s expression was grave. He looked at Shen Qingyun for a long moment before answering, “Not as dangerous as you.”

Hearing this, the disciples who had been on edge breathed a collective sigh of relief. If it wasn’t stronger than Shen Qingyun, then it wasn’t a real threat. In their minds, Shen Qingyun was still just an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator—no matter how extraordinary his combat skills, that was still his realm.

“What about me?” Feng Chuxun asked coolly. If it was less dangerous than Shen Qingyun, he was intrigued.

“It’s stronger.” Ling Xiao’s expression didn’t change as he stared at Feng Chuxun for a while before concluding, “The sense of danger it gives me surpasses yours.”

Many disciples were taken aback. Feng Chuxun was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, just a step away from the Spirit Aspect Realm! Yet this unseen monster was even more formidable.

Amid their shock, some more astute disciples noticed something else: Shen Qingyun was apparently stronger than that mysterious creature, while Feng Chuxun, at Foundation peak, was not. Did that mean Shen Qingyun was stronger than Feng Chuxun—stronger even than the Foundation peak?

The thought crossed their minds only to be quickly dismissed. How was that possible? Could Shen Qingyun have leapt an entire realm?

“I see.” Shen Qingyun suddenly smiled. “Then I’ll go take a look.”

No sooner had he spoken than several disciples stepped forward, regarding Shen Qingyun seriously. “Chief Shen, you’re the leader. You can’t risk yourself. Let us go instead!”

“Yes, let us…”

Those who spoke were the same ones who had argued with Feng Chuxun earlier. Clearly, they feared Shen Qingyun might truly deem them unnecessary and cast them out, so they stepped up to prove themselves. The slower ones were left regretting the lost chance to shine.

“You’d only cause trouble,” Shen Qingyun said, fully aware of their motives. But what use would they be—just fodder for the unknown monster, letting the rest pass safely while they were devoured?

He refused their offer and strode forward.

“Brother Qingyun!”

“Master Shen!”

Two voices called out at once—it could only be the Qiao sisters.

He turned, puzzled. Since entering the haunted valley, the sisters had spoken little, quietly following behind him. Shen Qingyun understood—it was their way of causing him as little trouble as possible. No matter how he looked after them, they remained the weakest here. By minimizing their burden on him, they offered their greatest help. That was their resolve.

Worry filled the sisters’ eyes; even now, they could do nothing to help.

Shen Qingyun turned away, his body shooting forward like a released arrow.

He stopped only when the shadows behind him had blurred from distance. He came alone for a simple reason—they were all burdens.

Just as Feng Chuxun had said, Shen Qingyun did indeed consider the disciples a burden. But even so, he still brought them along.

As long as he was strong enough, what harm was there in bringing burdens?

He entered the waters. Mist hung low, shrouded further by a faint black haze.

Shen Qingyun spread his fingers, conjuring a suction force that drew the black haze into his palm. In his hand now lay a perfectly black orb, condensed from the haze. What seemed faint, when gathered, was pure darkness.

Holding the orb, Shen Qingyun felt a force trying to invade his body. Even with his strong will, it stirred a restlessness within him. No wonder those infected became so violent and unstable…

Suppressing the agitation, Shen Qingyun’s eyes grew grave. This power must not be allowed to spread, or chaos would ensue!

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes. This haunted valley could not be left to exist.

As he pondered how to eradicate this force, a sudden sense of danger surged within him. Instinctively, he leapt several yards away.

Just as he sprang aside, a colossal beast erupted from the water, sending up a towering spray.

There was no time to register what it was—a gigantic form barreled down on him, the oppressive weight nearly suffocating.

Shen Qingyun vanished from his original spot, reappearing several yards away.

With a thunderous crash, the beast landed, shaking the earth. The distant disciples saw its looming figure and their hearts clenched in fear.

But their shock was nothing compared to Shen Qingyun’s. The creature was as large as a hill, armored with upright, shield-like scales, each tipped with black flame and shrouded in smoke. Its enormous eyes were hollow and vacant, yet now and then flickered with a sinister light.

Standing at its feet, Shen Qingyun was barely the size of one of its toes.

But now he understood—the true form of this monster: a predator—a crocodile.