Chapter 22 of 100

Chapter 22

9 min read2,188 words

In the Black Mountain, it was not barren but had many trees, which were extremely lush and towering. The reason it was called Black Mountain was that the trees here were all black, as if shrouded in a demonic aura.

From a distance, it looked completely different from the surrounding desolate mountains.

As soon as he stepped in, Meng Hao heard a low roar in front of him. Two beasts, equivalent to the third level of Qi Condensation, immediately pounced. These two beasts had wolf bodies and python tails, with sparse fur and eerie eyes.

But almost at the moment they approached, Meng Hao did not hesitate at all. Raising his right hand, the bronze mirror appeared and flickered, and immediately one of the beasts' right eye spurted blood, emitting a mournful cry. The other beast was frightened and paused. Meng Hao's eyes flashed, and he knew that the bronze mirror now burst the beast's right eye rather than its buttocks, a situation he had encountered when facing Zhao Wugang. There was no time to think much, and he took advantage of the two beasts' avoidance to speed past them.

As for the two fifth-level Qi Condensation cultivators, they had already turned red-eyed by the time they chased here. Without a word, they swung their flying swords, and the two beasts died instantly. The two cultivators did not have time to search for the beast cores and immediately transformed into long rainbows, rushing forward to pursue Meng Hao.

"This place is a demon mountain. It is said that there is even a demon king on the summit. Meng Hao, by fleeing here, you are seeking your own death."

"Don't run away. Come back and we can discuss it. We can exchange other items for your Drought Spirit Pill." The two cultivators spoke while pursuing, their expressions seemingly sincere, but their hearts were filled with murderous intent.

Meng Hao did not look back or say a word, and his body rushed toward the summit. It wasn't long before he encountered seven or eight beasts, with cultivation levels ranging from the third to fourth level. However, Meng Hao used the bronze mirror to intimidate them and then left. The two fifth-level Qi Condensation cultivators did not have this ability. After a series of killings, they finally broke through, covered in blood, though it was all beast blood. Despite their fatigue, they had already used up a lot of elixirs, but they were in a difficult situation and could only grit their teeth and continue the pursuit.

"Still chasing..." Meng Hao's face was grim. This was the farthest he had ever come in the Black Mountain. If he went further, he would inevitably encounter fifth-level beasts. His eyes flashed with a fierce look, and he gritted his teeth, his body darting toward the summit.

Just half an incense stick later, a low roar suddenly echoed throughout half of the Black Mountain. A giant wolf with a mottled body appeared, transforming into a black wind and rushing forward. The giant wolf was about two zhang in size, with bloodshot eyes full of killing intent. As soon as it appeared, a spiritual pressure equivalent to the fifth level of Qi Condensation immediately spread.

If that were all, it would be fine, but behind this wolf were five smaller mottled wolves, all at the peak of the fourth level of Qi Condensation. There was even one at the fifth level, which immediately caused the surrounding area to be filled with howling winds.

Meng Hao's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and without hesitation, he raised his right hand and the bronze mirror. As the mottled wolves pounced, he shone the mirror forward, and immediately a mournful cry came from one of them. Its chest was torn and blood gushed out. This sudden scene made the other mottled wolves pause and instinctively retreat.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Meng Hao, despite his internal speculations, gritted his teeth and rushed forward. Two flying swords appeared under his feet, carrying him forward for over ten zhang. At the same time, the two fifth-level Qi Condensation cultivators, upon seeing the wolf pack, their faces suddenly changed. They had been pursuing Meng Hao while also being wary of each other. Although this place was within the range of the Mountain Sect, they were outside the sect gates, and even if they killed each other, it would not be considered a violation of the sect rules.

While pursuing, it was fine, but now facing a crisis, the two fifth-level demon wolves posed a significant threat to them, along with the peak fourth-level demon wolves. This made the two cultivators' minds flash with thoughts, and they immediately scattered, one to the left and one to the right, to avoid the danger.

Their speed was fast, but the demon wolves were even faster. As demon beasts, they had some intelligence. Compared to the strange and terrifying bronze mirror, they instinctively felt wary of Meng Hao. They did not pursue him but instead scattered to attack the two fifth-level cultivators who had entered their territory.

The two cultivators were inwardly furious, but there was no time to think much. As they scattered, demon wolves roared behind them, and they quickly moved away.

Meng Hao sighed in relief, looking at the summit and the direction the two fifth-level cultivators had left, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

"These demon beasts will only make them somewhat disheveled. They won't be delayed for long and will continue to pursue me. The fourth hour is almost here, and with the guidance of the elixir light, they can find me again." Meng Hao looked at the summit, gritted his teeth, and his body darted forward.

Not long after, a bright white light suddenly flashed on his storage bag, shooting into the sky and shining brightly, visible from a great distance.

This light was the elixir light that appeared every hour, and it was now the fourth hour.

Meng Hao was cautious and avoided several waves of demon beasts, all of which were comparable to the fifth level of Qi Condensation, making him inwardly alarmed. These demon beasts were not solitary but often appeared in groups. Even with the bronze mirror, Meng Hao did not want to provoke them easily and chose to bypass them, which slowed his speed and made it difficult to rush forward.

Time passed, and halfway through the fourth hour, a furious roar suddenly echoed from within the Black Mountain. At the same time, Meng Hao's body darted out of the forest, his expression somewhat disheveled. Behind him were seven or eight demon apes, which had already developed some intelligence, showing signs of anger, and were rushing toward him at great speed.

Among them, three were comparable to the fifth level of Qi Condensation. Meng Hao inwardly lamented. He had been very cautious, but unexpectedly, the bronze mirror in his hand had attacked on its own when he carefully bypassed this group of demon apes, bursting one of the most hairy apes, which almost dragged its fur on the ground, causing the group of demon apes to become extremely angry.

"Even if the demon ape has lush fur, you didn't have to do this." Meng Hao looked at the bronze mirror in his hand with a bitter smile, feeling that the mystery of the mirror was still not fully understood. There was no time to think much, and he rushed down the mountain, hoping to escape the pursuit of these demon apes. As the demon apes roared and pursued him, Meng Hao occasionally swung the bronze mirror, causing mournful cries to echo.

Suddenly, in front of Meng Hao, at the halfway point of the mountain, the light of flying swords shone.

Meng Hao's eyes lit up, and he rushed toward the light. Upon reaching it, he saw four peak fourth-level Qi Condensation cultivators, one of whom was Shangguan Song, fighting several demon bears. Blood was everywhere, and they seemed to have just gained the upper hand, with two demon bear corpses on the ground.

"Meng Hao!" As Meng Hao saw them, the four cultivators immediately saw him, and their eyes flashed with murderous intent, especially Shangguan Song, whose intent was particularly strong.

They had been rushing and were exhausted, having fought many battles in the Black Mountain. Initially, there were over ten of them, but most had given up, and only these four, relying on their cultivation, had gritted their teeth and followed the elixir light to this place. However, they then encountered this group of demon bears and had been fighting fiercely.

Seeing Meng Hao, they immediately turned red-eyed and instinctively wanted to change the direction of their flying swords.

"Senior Brothers, I have already followed your orders and lured this group of demon apes. Please act quickly." Meng Hao, as he approached, did not even look at the flying swords and immediately said with a tense expression, as if afraid that the demon apes, which had developed some intelligence, would not hear him.

Almost at the moment Meng Hao spoke, a deafening roar echoed behind him, and seven or eight demon apes leaped out of the forest, red-eyed and rushing toward him.

"Meng Hao, you are shameless!!"

"Damn it, you are too despicable!"

This scene immediately made the four cultivators' faces change, and they cursed Meng Hao. They wanted to retreat, but the demon bears they were fighting would not allow it. As Meng Hao passed them, the seven or eight demon apes, red-eyed, rushed toward the four cultivators.

Meng Hao looked back at the four cultivators, a murderous intent flashing in his eyes. He patted his storage bag, and several flying swords immediately flew out. In his heart, he gritted his teeth and shouted,

"Explode!"

With a loud boom, the flying swords exploded, and Meng Hao threw out two fire snakes, causing a massive explosion. Trees collapsed and turned to dust. Taking advantage of the shockwave, Meng Hao, suppressing the urge to spit out blood, changed direction and quickly moved away. However, the four cultivators were hindered by the shockwave and could not escape. The demon apes, enraged, could not see Meng Hao but saw the four cultivators, and immediately began to fight.

Mournful cries echoed, and Meng Hao did not look back, rushing forward quickly.

"This method is good... but it is too dangerous." Meng Hao rushed forward, and when the demon beasts no longer pursued him, he panted heavily, looking around and muttering.

"Swallowing a Drought Spirit Pill is truly difficult." Meng Hao looked down at his storage bag, sighed, and felt extremely pained.

"I have already destroyed thirty-one flying swords, which are all spirit stones... and the elixirs I have swallowed, which are also spirit stones. It's not even five hours yet..." Meng Hao smiled bitterly, feeling extremely conflicted and pained.

"But if I can successfully swallow the Drought Spirit Pill and break through my cultivation, it will all be worth it!" Meng Hao's eyes were bloodshot, like a gambler, and he had already paid a great price, feeling a desperate determination to succeed.

"The four peak fourth-level senior brothers are either dead or crippled, and those who dare to pursue me are almost none. Now, only the two fifth-level cultivators remain." Meng Hao's eyes turned dark, as their cultivation was higher than his, and they were two, making it difficult to resist. Moreover, killing people was not cost-effective for Meng Hao, as it consumed too many spirit stones.

Meng Hao rested for a moment, looked at the summit, and gritted his teeth, running forward. It was soon the fifth hour, and as the elixir light from Meng Hao's storage bag shone brightly, spreading across the sky, two voices echoed from the east and west.

"Meng Hao, you can't escape!"

"Hand over the Drought Spirit Pill obediently, and I will leave you a complete corpse. Otherwise, you will be devoured by beasts, leaving no trace."

The voices of the two fifth-level cultivators echoed, and they transformed into two long rainbows, rushing toward Meng Hao. Meng Hao's eyes showed a determined look, and he rushed toward a place where demon beasts seemed to be resting.

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Yesterday, I didn't refresh the webpage, and when I did, I vaguely saw that it seemed we were first in the recommendation list last night? Unfortunately, when I refreshed again, it was already past midnight, and the rankings had changed... Fellow Daoists, you are awesome. Could you let me see it again? Then I quickly took out my phone to take a photo as a keepsake.

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