noffsinger Chapter 121 Unfathomable Abyss
Chapter 121 Unfathomable Abyss
Just as he reached out to pick it, the ground suddenly shook.
A giant python emerged from an underground cave.
The python was as thick as a water bucket, its body covered in golden scales, and its eyes burned with golden light, completely different from the black-scaled python they had encountered before.
It opened its blood-red maw and lunged at Zhou Ning.
Zhou Ning was prepared and dodged the python's attack with a swift movement.
At the same time, he drew his Qingfeng sword and slashed at the python's head.
"Ding!"
The sword blade struck the scales, sending sparks flying, but no wound appeared.
Such hard scales.
This python's defenses are even stronger than those of the Black-scaled Lizard of Black Wind Mountain.
Zhou Ning felt a chill run down his spine, pulled out an "evil-repelling talisman" from his waist, and threw it at the python.
"disease!"
The talisman transformed into a golden ray of light and struck the python's abdomen.
The python let out a scream as a charred wound appeared on its abdomen, from which wisps of black smoke rose.
Enraged, it lashed out with its tail and swept towards Zhou Ning.
Zhou Ning used his lightness technique to leap into the air and avoid the snake's tail.
At the same time, he concentrated his true essence at the tip of the sword and unleashed the "Demon-Slaying Technique".
A dazzling golden light shone from the Qingfeng Sword.
The light grew stronger and brighter, like a small sun, dispelling all the surrounding mist.
"cut!"
A massive golden sword aura shot out from the tip of the sword, like a golden dragon, heading straight for the python's head.
The python seemed to sense the danger and tried to dodge, but the sword energy was too fast and it was too late.
"Pfft!"
The sword energy pierced through the python's head, and golden blood gushed out.
The python let out a desperate hiss, then collapsed to the ground and remained motionless.
Zhou Ning, panting heavily, sheathed his sword.
He walked to the ambergris plant, carefully picked the golden fruit, wrapped it in cloth, and put it in his bag.
"I've got the ambergris fruit."
He turned and walked towards the shore.
Back on the boat, Boss Zhao breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that he had returned safely.
"Young Master Zhou, did you succeed?"
Zhou Ning nodded: "We succeeded. Brother Zhao, let's go back."
Old Zhao pushed off with a bamboo pole, and the small boat slowly sailed away from Longxian Island.
By the time we returned to the water village, it was already dark.
Zhou Ning paid the remaining fare and gave Zhao Laoda a reward of fifty taels of silver.
"Brother Zhao, thank you very much."
Old Zhao laughed and said, "Young Master Zhou, you're too kind. If you need to visit Ze again next time, feel free to come find me."
Zhou Ning nodded and left the water village.
He found an open space by the lake, lit a campfire, and prepared to spend the night there.
Now that he has the ambergris fruit, he will go to find the ten-thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum.
According to the "Local Landscape Records", the ten-thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum grows deep in the vast mountains of the north, a place rarely visited by humans and infested with monsters.
When he went to Cangmang Mountain before, he only found one thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum. Ten-thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum is even rarer and needs to be found in deeper forests.
"It seems we'll have to make another trip to Cangmang Mountain," Zhou Ning sighed.
He sat cross-legged by the fire, closing his eyes and regulating his breathing.
The true energy within the body circulated slowly, bringing a warm and comforting sensation.
His cultivation at the late stage of the Golden Core realm made him even more adept at controlling his true essence.
He took out the map given to him by Yan Chixia and carefully studied the terrain of Cangmang Mountain.
The map marks Tongtian Peak, the main peak of Cangmang Mountain, as the place where thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum grows.
The ancient Ganoderma lucidum grows in the deeper mountains north of Tongtian Peak, in an area known as "Death Valley," which is shrouded in poisonous fog year-round and few dare to enter.
"Death Valley... doesn't sound like a good place." Zhou Ning frowned, but did not back down.
For the sake of the Nascent Soul Pill and to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, he would go to any place, no matter how dangerous.
The next morning, Zhou Ning left Yunmengze and headed north towards Cangmang Mountain.
Before the morning mist of Yunmeng Marsh had even dissipated, Zhou Ning had already embarked on his journey north.
He carefully wrapped the ambergris fruit in talisman paper and placed it together with the Earth Spirit Milk. The two main ingredients exuded their unique aromas, complementing each other in his bag.
One last ingredient is needed.
Ten-thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum.
The materials for the Infant Condensation Pill are now complete.
The distance from Yunmengze to Cangmang Mountain is thousands of miles.
Zhou Ning traveled day and night, heading north along the official road.
His late-stage Golden Core cultivation level made him much faster than before, but even so, it still took him five whole days to reach the foot of Cangmang Mountain.
The Cangmang Mountain still stands majestically, with steep slopes and dense forests.
But unlike the last time I came, the mountain fog was thicker, and there was a faint stench in the air.
The village at the foot of the mountain was deserted; houses had collapsed and courtyard walls had crumbled, clearly indicating that no one had lived there for a long time.
"Death Valley is north of Tongtian Peak, so you need to climb Tongtian Peak first."
Zhou Ning recalled the route on the map, gripped his Qingfeng sword, and began to climb.
He had been to Tongtian Peak once before, when he was picking thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum and was almost injured by the giant snake guarding it.
His cultivation level was now vastly different from before, making the climb much easier.
In less than two hours, he reached the summit.
The view from the summit remains magnificent, with a sea of clouds surging and mountains appearing dark and inky.
But Zhou Ning had no time to appreciate it; he headed straight north.
North of the summit lies an even more precipitous mountain range, with steep slopes and virtually no path.
Zhou Ning used his lightness technique to leap and climb among the rocks, his movements as agile as a monkey.
After walking for about an hour, a deep canyon appeared ahead.
The canyon is flanked by steep cliffs, and the valley floor is shrouded in thick fog, making it impossible to see its depth.
The air was filled with a pungent, putrid stench. Unlike the demonic aura of the Black Mountain Demon, this aura was more ancient and carried an indescribable eeriness.
"Death Valley." Zhou Ning stood at the edge of the canyon, looking down.
The mist in the valley was grayish-white and swirled endlessly, as if something was wriggling beneath it.
He picked up a stone and threw it down. The stone fell into the fog, and there was no echo for a long time.
"Unfathomable depths." Zhou Ning frowned.
He walked along the edge of the canyon, looking for a way down.
After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he discovered a narrow crevice in the rocks, through which a path, almost completely covered by weeds, meandered downwards.
"This is it."
Zhou Ning pushed aside the weeds and walked down the path.
The path was very narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time.
The two sides are slippery rock walls covered with moss.
The loose stones underfoot kept slipping and falling into the bottomless canyon.
Zhou Ning channeled his true energy into his feet, making each step steady and firm.
The further down you go, the thicker the fog becomes, and the lower the visibility gets.
Zhou Ning poured his true essence into his eyes, activating his spiritual eyes, and barely managed to see the road ahead.
His divine sense had already spread out, covering an area of several thousand feet in radius, constantly alerting to any movement around him.
After walking for about half an hour, he finally reached the bottom of the valley.
The bottom of the valley was even more gloomy than the top.
The ground was black mud, soft and spongy underfoot, like stepping on rotting leaves.
The air was thick with a stench of decay, making one want to vomit.
There was complete silence all around; not even the chirping of insects could be heard.
Zhou Ning looked around, searching for traces of the ten-thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum.
According to the "Local Landscape Records", the ten-thousand-year-old Ganoderma lucidum grows in a cave deep in Death Valley, where there is a spiritual spring, and several Ganoderma lucidum grow next to the spring.
The largest of them is over 10,000 years old.
He walked along the valley floor, deeper into the valley.
After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, a cave appeared ahead.
The entrance to the cave is small and hidden by vines, making it difficult to spot unless you look closely.
White mist, carrying a faint fragrance, continuously rose from the cave entrance.
"This is it." Zhou Ning pushed aside the vines and entered the cave.
The cave was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face.
Zhou Ning poured his true essence into the Qingfeng Sword, and the sword emitted a faint golden light, barely illuminating what lay ahead.
The passage was narrow, allowing only one person to pass at a time. The walls were rough rocks, and water droplets fell from above from time to time, making a dripping sound.