Yue Jinghua and the others traveled along the Boundary River Xiangshui, and after so distance, the feeling of stepping into a new world was palpable. They walked on and off, finding quite a number of Hidden Deer Antlers, but as they continued, the number of antlers diminished.
The Xiangshui area, with its water and soil enriched by sedint over the years, boasted lush aquatic plants. The barren landscape previously encountered transford into a distinctly different scenery as they reached the middle section of the Xiangshui River.
The desolate stone beach was gradually replaced by rows of rush grass as tall as a person. These rush grasses were robust, growing straight and tall. At this ti of year, their blooms were dazzling.
The river breeze gently cast a layer of goose down-like fluff across the river’s surface.
"These reed beds have grown well, providing good cover for hiding. We’ll camp here for the night. Further along, the number of Hidden Deer Antlers has significantly decreased. It seems the Artifact Master who set them up has noticed soone collecting them. Continuing further is pointless. We’ve been journeying for five days since leaving the city; it’s ti to head back," Yue Jinghua considered the sky, feeling their caravan cumberso. Before their departure, they had temporarily left the herd at the Boundary Army’s camp, traveling light.
Shalman and Qian Luo acknowledged and took camping gear from their rings, setting up tents and starting a fire beside the rush grass.
In the Mainland Battlefield area, as the sun set behind the western mountains, the air turned cold.
At night, so toxic insects ca out to hunt, and Yue Jinghua planted so Burning Poison Algae near the camp for protection.
The three of them, to prevent spoilage of food when traveling, carried only the coarsest rations and made do with a al before retreating to their camp.
As night fell, all that was left outside the camp was a flickering campfire, its light dancing, appearing as a lone star from afar.
After noon, the campfire also gradually dimd.
Among the rush grass, about a person’s height, a subtle rustling could be heard. Amidst the constant insect chorus, it was hard to notice.
Rows of rush grass bent down as if soone was treading over them, but strangely, no one was visible.
"Damn human Dark Practitioners, taking all my Hidden Deer Antlers. Fortunately, I discovered this early and drank Hidden Deer Blood. Following them here, you won’t escape my grasp this ti," growled a voice, thin and long, neither male nor female.
It turned out that when Yue Jinghua harvested the first batch of Hidden Deer Antlers, they triggered the spiritual imprint, alerting the Artifact Master ambushed near the Boundary River.
Initially, the self-assured Artifact Master thought it was a coincidence. He had confidence in his control over the Hidden Deer Antlers’ spiritual imprints and believed no human could easily erase them.
However, over the following days, he noticed soone was deliberately destroying the Hidden Deer Antlers ambushed in the Four Symbols City leading to the Boundary River.
This person was quick and ruthless, often harvesting all the local Hidden Deer Antlers before the Artifact Master could track his movents.
It was like a ga of hide and seek, back and forth, until the antlers in that region were entirely harvested.
News reached the Artifact Master’s camp, and he was ridiculed ruthlessly by his comrades.
The self-proclaid Dark Artifact Master from the Demon Clan was furious, determined to capture the Dark Practitioner who dared steal his Hidden Deer Antlers. Therefore, he lay in wait by the Boundary River, enduring three days, until Yue Jinghua and the others arrived.
Discovering the opponent was rely a human Dark Practitioner with only a Small Achievent of Dark Heavenly cultivation, the Artifact Master was enraged, resolving to annihilate them under the cover of night.
The Demon Clan’s Dark Artifact Master, although not highly cultivated, had the equivalent skills of a Dark Practitioner’s Small Success, but was adept at using hidden weapons and poison, thus considered a minor prominent figure in this demon army prepared to ambush Four Symbols City.
Seeing the Burning Poison Algae near the camp, the Dark Artifact Master sneered with disdain, pulling out a bottle from his chest and sprinkling Poison Powder downwind. As the fine particles touched the algae, they imdiately withered and blackened, as if burned by fire.
The Dark Artifact Master silently approached the camp, ready to push aside the tent flap and enter. Suddenly, an eerie chill raised the hairs on his neck, instinctively prompting him to turn, only to find a gleaming Heavy Sword pressed against his neck.
At nearly the sa mont, a powerful blow struck his knee, forcing him to the ground like a fallen mongrel, a hand swiftly pressing on a vital acupoint.
A lantern lit up instantly in the dark tent, with Shalman and Qian Luo, both with sharp gazes, one holding a Blue Snow Candle and the other taking ash from the campfire and sprinkling it on the ground, revealing the Dark Artifact Master’s form in complete embarrassnt.
"Is this the invader from the Different Plane?" Shalman moved the candle closer, revealing a figure on the ground that closely resembled the Dark Practitioners of Canglong Continent, except its skin was dark blue, covered in scales, with sharp, elongated ears.
"Demon Clan?" Yue Jinghua sensed the Evil Qi on this individual.
This Evil Qi allowed Yue Jinghua to quickly detect the concealed Dark Artifact Master.
"Despicable humans, kill if you must," the Demon, short and ugly, yet stubborn, realizing his capture by Yue Jinghua, turned his head defiantly, refusing to beg for rcy.
"Master, I’ve found a Dark Demon Ring, a letter, and several bottles of Hidden Deer Blood on him," Qian Luo handed the ring, letter, and bottles to Yue Jinghua.
The Dark Artifact Master showed no fear upon seeing Yue Jinghua taking the letter. The Demon Clan’s language was indecipherable to the Human Clan, and the Dark Demon Ring bore a spiritual imprint, preventing any military secrets from being leaked.
However, Yue Jinghua summoned the Gold Eater Worm, which looked at the letter, and known among the Dark Beasts as the ’translator,’ it didn’t disappoint. "Awwooo, ugly creature, pack up and flee for your life, a large Demon Army is plotting an attack on Four Symbols City."
The Gold Eater Worm glanced at the letter, revealing that the Dark Artifact Master’s unit was the Vanguard of a powerful Demon force known as the Dark Demon Army. They had arrived at the Boundary River only seven or eight days ago, planning to poison the area after the Hidden Deer Antler attack.
"Poison? What a vicious plan. The Demon Clan indeed is demonic, but you underestimate Four Symbols City. The Dan Realm Experts are not easily overco by re toxins," Yue Jinghua and the others were taken aback.
Xiangshui is the primary freshwater supplier for Four Symbols City. Poisoning it would only harm the Dark Beasts nearby.
Seeing Yue Jinghua could decipher the letter and casually summon a Dark Insect, the Dark Artifact Master realized the dire situation. His crafty eyes darted about, and he attempted to bite the Poison Pill hidden under his tongue while everyone was distracted.
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