The Boundless Marsh is an extremely eerie region in the Western Continent. From a distance, there are lofty mountains and ranges, and deep, ancient forests. In the innermost part of the primeval forest lies a vast marshland stretching thousands of miles. Mist and clouds pervade as if trying to shroud the sky. There are continuous lakes, crisscrossing in all directions. Strange beasts roam freely, and many mysterious and strange formations have formed naturally. It is fraught with infinite perils, yet it also contains many precious medicinal herbs and spiritual items.
After flying on his sword for more than half a month, Ding Hao finally arrived at the edge of the Boundless Marsh. The moisture in the marsh, condensed by the sun and moon tides, forms fog that drifts in the void and lingers throughout the year. Even at the edge, Ding Hao's field of vision is greatly affected.
During these days, Ding Hao finally figured out the reason for the Blood Demon Lie Shan's regression in cultivation instead of progress. Since Lie Shan has practiced the Wuji Demon Art, his cultivation level should not have declined. The only explanation is that Lie Shan did it deliberately.
And his escape to the Boundless Marsh further confirms Ding Hao's judgment. The greatest effect of the Wuji Demon Art is to devour others' cultivation to enhance one's own practice. The purpose of the Blood Demon Lie Shan leading the pursuers here is also imaginable - due to the special terrain of the Boundless Marsh, Lie Shan can just devour those who come continuously.
Truly a well-calculated plan. The old ginger is indeed spicier. However, the higher Lie Shan's cultivation level, the more useful he will be to Ding Hao.
Looking at the misty Boundless Marsh, Ding Hao took out the Infant Locking Ring from his storage ring and used a secret method to communicate. Ding Hao smiled softly. The Blood Demon Lie Shan is indeed hiding here. It may be difficult for others to find him, but with the Infant Locking Ring, it is extremely easy for Ding Hao to locate him.
Looking at the gradually darkening sky, Ding Hao no longer hesitated. He soared into the air on his Reverse Heaven Demon Sword and headed towards the depths of the Boundless Marsh.
Along the way, he found all kinds of gigantic creatures in the marsh. Pythons, giant crocodiles, and old turtles are nothing out of the ordinary. There are some animals that he has never seen before, which seem to be only occasionally recorded in ancient books. The waterweeds that are several feet long are as thick as an arm. It is truly a strange place.
After flying several hundred miles, Ding Hao's ears twitched. It seemed that voices were coming from ahead. He then landed with his sword and walked slowly along the muddy water surface.
A moment later, dozens of figures finally appeared in Ding Hao's sight. These figures were clearly divided into two groups of people. When he got closer, Ding Hao found that the two groups were composed of loose cultivators of the Taoist and Demon sects respectively. The powerful auras of cultivation were faintly revealed. The lowest among them was at the initial stage of Heart Stirring. It seemed that they came with their masters.
The two groups were a hundred feet apart, each doing their own thing. Just as Ding Hao appeared, both groups involuntarily looked at him. When they saw that only one person had come and his cultivation level was only at the Fusion stage, they visibly relaxed.
A faint demonic qi rose from Ding Hao's body. Ding Hao walked slowly towards the gathering place of the Demon sect people, while being vigilant about the expressions of both groups.
Seeing the faint demonic qi emanating from Ding Hao's body, the Taoist sect people showed disdain and coldly watched Ding Hao walking slowly. When Ding Hao was still dozens of feet away from the Demon sect people, a bold and old voice shouted, "With a cultivation level at the Fusion stage and not yet able to fly on a sword, yet you dare to come alone to the depths of the marsh. You have extraordinary courage, lad! Only our Demon sect people have such boldness. Unlike those cowardly Taoist disciples who only cower under the wings of their sects!"
Looking in the direction of the voice, Ding Hao found that the speaker was a tall and sturdy old man with a red face. His cultivation level was unfathomable. Although he did not have the peerless auras of the Blood Demon Lie Shan and the Heavenly Demon Nie Tian, he was much stronger than the elders of his own sect.
Before Ding Hao could answer, another old man with a greenish-yellow complexion interjected, "Elder Xia is quite right. Taoist disciples don't have such courage. Hehe, the Boundless Marsh is extremely dangerous. I'm afraid they would have retreated at the periphery!"
The two of them sang in harmony, and the other Demon sect people burst out laughing.
"Xia Changchuan and Mei Tianli, you two fools are only good at empty bravado. Hehe, our Taoist disciples are called sensible. This is obviously a suicidal thing. Only the stupid disciples of your Demon sect would be so reckless!" A tall and thin old man of the Taoist sect also jeered.
Both Xia Changchuan and Mei Tianli were angry, but it seemed that they remembered something and remained silent. It seemed that they had suffered losses at the hands of this old man!
"Kid, which sect and school do you come from? Who is your master? You have quite a lot of courage. Don't you know the danger of the Boundless Marsh?" A cold and gloomy middle-aged man asked. This man was as thin as a pile of ribs but extremely tall. From a distance, he looked like a mummified corpse that had been dead for many years!
"I am a third-generation disciple of the Wuji Demon Sect on Broken Soul Mountain. I came to the Boundless Marsh to collect cultivation materials. I don't know why all of you seniors have gathered here." Ding Hao said half-truthfully.
"Oh, the Wuji Demon Sect! I've never heard of such a sect on Broken Soul Mountain. I only know that besides the Purgatory Demon Sect, there are also the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect, the Blood Fiend Sect, the Black Demon Sect, and the Soul-devouring Sect on Broken Soul Mountain. Kid, you're not fooling me, are you?" The old man named Xia Changchuan asked in confusion.
"Haha, Elder Xia doesn't know. There is really a Wuji Demon Sect on Broken Soul Mountain. I learned about it from an old friend of the Yin-Yang Harmony Sect when I went to Broken Soul Mountain a few days ago. It is said that this sect won the first place in the Soul Refining Sect Assembly on Broken Soul Mountain. My old friend is still resentful about it!" Mei Tianli explained with a laugh.
"Oh, since the Wuji Demon Sect has such strength, why have I never heard of its deeds before?" Xia Changchuan wondered.
"Hehe, that's because the Wuji Demon Sect has always been of low power before. I don't know what kind of lucky break they had this time to win the first place. They used to be completely wiped out before!" Mei Tianli said with a laugh. After a pause, he said, "Since this kid knows about the Wuji Demon Sect, what he said is believable. I don't think anyone would pretend to be from such a small Demon sect."
Seeing this man explaining, Ding Hao was happy to be at leisure and did not speak. He just looked at the two of them with a smile.
After these two finished speaking, Xia Changchuan's red face softened a little and said, "You don't know anything, yet you dare to barge into the Boundless Marsh alone. You're really unlucky. Since you don't know anything, you'd better go back where you came from before the crisis arrives. With your Fusion stage cultivation level, you're really just throwing your life away in the Boundless Marsh. Any of the Taoist sect people opposite can easily kill you!" Xia Changchuan advised.
Although this man didn't look friendly, he was not a bad person at heart. Ding Hao had a certain liking for this man. However, with the speed of the Reverse Heaven Demon Sword, the people present here don't pose a great threat to Ding Hao. Moreover, he has his own plans and won't leave so easily.
"Thank you, Elder Xia, for your concern. However, I still haven't collected a few cultivation materials completely. So I don't plan to leave the Boundless Marsh yet. Besides, since I entered the marsh, I've already put my life and death aside. If someone tries to harm me, I'll accept my fate." Ding Hao said respectfully.
Seeing that Ding Hao was so unappreciative, Xia Changchuan snorted and said nothing more. The others also looked at Ding Hao with pity.
Seeing that no one was speaking, Ding Hao also found it boring.
After looking at the people, he was about to leave when suddenly the dark marsh in the middle of the two groups churned violently. It seemed that a fierce beast was about to break out of the ground. Along with the churning of the marsh, a faint fragrance drifted in the void.
The Taoist and Demon sect people who were sitting cross-legged stood up one after another, with expressions of both joy and fear on their faces.
"The Yin Yuan Fruit has finally shown its traces again. Everyone, get ready!" Xia Changchuan exclaimed in a long voice!