After Lu Li and Wu De divided up the snake gallbladders, they pressed on without stopping. Even at night, they only took turns resting cross-legged for less than an hour.
Finally, as the sky turned hazy with dawn the next day, the two emerged from the purple mist.
Lu Li immediately felt a weight lift from his body, his entire being relaxing considerably.
Although a faint, thin mist still drifted ahead, it was ordinary morning fog. Not only did it lack the suffocating oppression of the purple mist, but it even carried a refreshing chill.
More importantly, after trekking through the swamp for over ten days, even the grassy terrain had been soft and spongy, leaving him constantly afraid his foot might punch through the turf. Now, he was finally back on solid ground and could step forward with confidence.
Wu De also looked much more relieved, but he hadn't completely let down his guard. He warned Lu Li, "Kid, don't celebrate too early. The ground here may be normal, but there are even more troublesome things lurking about."
"Even more troublesome things?"
"Yes. There is a mutated centipede here called the Great Marsh Centipede, a specialty of this marsh. An adult Great Marsh Centipede possesses strength equivalent to the eighth level of Qi Refining. If we encounter one, we'll be in deep trouble."
"That powerful?" Lu Li's heart immediately leapt into his throat.
"Of course. However, while these creatures are fierce, their spiritual intelligence is not high-even lower than the three-headed snakes we just killed. If we run into a lone one, we could try joining forces to kill it. After all, the corpse of a Great Marsh Centipede is incredibly valuable."
"Are you out of your mind?" Lu Li cast a disdainful look at Wu De, figuring the old man must have fallen into a money pit, continuing to speak as he walked.
"Hehe, men die for wealth as birds die for food. Although this old man has lived for many years, I still cannot escape worldly desires." Wu De stroked his goatee, his face filled with emotion.
"Heh, then you'll probably end up dying on that very word 'wealth' someday."
"You brat, you dare curse this old man?"
"Am I wrong? As the saying goes, a gentleman loves wealth but acquires it through the proper path. This path isn't just about principles, but methods. If you lack the methods and overestimate your strength, what is that but courting death?" Lu Li said casually.
"You... how do you have such a bizarre interpretation?" Wu De stared at Lu Li in amazement.
"Haha, of course I comprehended it myself along the way."
"You're a truly interesting kid. But... what you said makes a lot of sense."
Wu De nodded, adding with a sigh, "Thinking back, it was precisely my greed for wealth and my love for joining in on the excitement that tripped me up. Otherwise, I wouldn't be stuck here today listening to your nonsense. But alas, it's easier to move mountains and rivers than to alter a person's fundamental nature..."
"Oh?" Lu Li's face filled with curiosity. "How so?"
"Forget it, why would this old man bother telling a little brat like you about this?"
"......"
Just as the two continued forward.
"Master, Senior Brother, he..."
Deep underground beneath the Endless Great Marsh, inside a cave dwelling enveloped by an eerie green glow, the crisp voice of a young girl suddenly rang out.
The girl's voice carried traces of worry and fear.
Following the voice inside, one would see a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl in black robes anxiously twisting her fingers, her gaze darting between a black-clad man lying on a stone bed and a black-robed old man standing beside it.
"He won't die." The black-robed old man's voice was grim and hoarse, grating on the ears.
This person was none other than the black-robed old man who had traveled to Youlong Town in pursuit of Lu Li. He was also the Grand Elder of the Corpse Sect-a secretive Sect hidden beneath this Great Marsh, completely unknown to the outside world-Mo Shang.
If the orthodox Sects knew that such an eerie Sect was hidden down here, it would instantly set off a massive storm in the cultivation world.
"Master, it is this disciple's uselessness that has caused you trouble," the man on the bed said with a sense of inferiority.
"Hmph!" Mo Shang snorted coldly. "Trouble, you certainly have caused this old man plenty of trouble! Who allowed you to secretly take Weiyue out? If anything had happened to her, could your worthless life bear the responsibility?!"
"Yes, it was this disciple's fault." He Jin felt a wave of bitterness in his heart, but he did not dare show the slightest disrespect toward his master.
He Jin knew exactly how much weight his Junior Sister carried in his master's heart. He had simply felt pity for his little Junior Sister, who had lived her entire life in this misty gloom without ever seeing the outside world, and had kindly taken her out for a stroll.
He had assumed his master would be away for quite some time. He just hadn't expected them to be caught red-handed the moment they returned.
"Fault? Go to the Punishment Hall and receive one hundred cane strikes. Next time, if you secretly take Weiyue out again, you will be thrown into the Ten-Thousand Corpse Pit for good." After saying this, the old man turned to leave.
"Master, Senior Brother has injuries on his body... O-one hundred cane strikes..."
"Junior Sister, you don't need to say more. I will go." He Jin struggled down from the bed and staggered unsteadily toward the exit. The girl named Weiyue moved to support him, but he shook his head and stopped her.
He understood perfectly well that when his master said he would be thrown into the Ten-Thousand Corpse Pit, it wasn't to cultivate. That place was exclusively for the dead. If he dared to utter a single word of rebuttal right now, he might be sent to the Ten-Thousand Corpse Pit immediately.
As he hobbled past Mo Shang, He Jin did not forget to mention, "That Profound Yin Land..."
"That matter is no longer your concern." Seeing He Jin act so sensibly, Mo Shang's expression softened slightly. "The Profound Yin Land is no longer needed. However... the fact that those two managed to escape from under Weiyue's Soul-Taking Bell holds some research value. This master will send Wu Qi to deal with them."
Seeing his master speak so much to him, He Jin immediately felt a tremendous sense of favor. Even the impending misery of receiving one hundred cold cane strikes no longer seemed so difficult to bear. He bowed happily. "This disciple understands."
With that, he limped out of the cave dwelling.
"Master, I was the one who asked to go out. Isn't this a bit too unfair to Senior Brother..." Weiyue looked at the doorway, feeling somewhat distressed.
"Ah, Weiyue, you must remember that your status is noble. You and that boy are not from the same world. If he hadn't brought you back, this master wouldn't have even spared him a glance, let alone taken him as a disciple."
Toward this young girl, Mo Shang's tone was incredibly gentle, even bordering on humble.
He then continued, "The outside world is still not at peace, and we need an opportunity. When the time is ripe, this master will lead you out of this dreary Great Marsh. The world is vast, and you... may go anywhere you please."
"Really?" Weiyue's eyes revealed a deep, intense yearning.
"Of course. Believe your master, that day is not far off." The bloodless skin on Mo Shang's face stretched into an ugly smile, but he was indeed smiling.
"I understand. Please rest assured, Master, I won't secretly leave the Great Marsh again." Weiyue figured Mo Shang was simply worried she might sneak out once more.
Hearing this, Mo Shang smiled even more happily. He knew that this girl was kind-hearted right now, and she never lied. As for the future... perhaps she would change. He only hoped she wouldn't forget him, her master.
Weiyue was actually quite confused. She couldn't even remember anything from her childhood.
She didn't even know where she came from. She only remembered that the very moment she opened her eyes, she was already here, with her master and several strange old men staring at her with intense excitement.
She was bewildered, completely ignorant of what had happened, who she was, or why she was here...