Chapter 29

Jining and his companions rode three black sly beasts, charging out of the edge of the forest.

"Look," Uncle Dala pointed ahead, "that's Dongshan Marsh ahead."

"Dongshan Marsh."

Jining looked into the distance.

He saw the vast marsh stretching endlessly, a vast expanse shimmering with beautiful colors under the spring sun. Even at a glance, one could see some birds diving to catch fish, and the tails of large aquatic creatures moving in the lush aquatic grass, and occasionally a huge head emerging. This was the domain of the demons!

"Dongshan Marsh," Jining murmured, "we've finally arrived!"

Dongshan Marsh is located between the Ji Clan and the Tumu Clan. The Tumu Clan is a dominant force on par with the Ji Clan, and they are enemies of the Ji Clan!

Dongshan Marsh spans a thousand miles, comparable to the territory of a province in his previous life. Such a vast marsh... of course, it gathered many demons. The Ji Clan alone knew of at least twelve demons!

Ever since leaving Xifu City to explore, Jining had wanted to challenge a powerful demon at the initial stage of innate life. However, these demons were hidden in deep mountains and marshes, not so easy to find. He had once waited for nearly a month at a place without success, and in a fit of anger, Jining decisively changed his route and headed straight for Dongshan Marsh!

"There are many demons in Dongshan Marsh, and most of them are at the initial stage of innate life. I don't believe I won't encounter one," Jining, like a young bull unafraid of tigers, was not careless, as many members of the Ji Clan had died in Dongshan Marsh, including his grandfather!

...

"Mouwu, Qiuye," Jining dismounted from the black sly beast and instructed, "Dongshan Marsh is too dangerous, full of hidden dangers. These black sly beasts are useless here. You two take these three black sly beasts to the Tieshi Tribe. Wait for me there!"

Mouwu and Qiuye exchanged glances and could only respectfully respond, "Yes, Young Master."

"Da," Jining looked at the tall, dark man beside him, "you will accompany me into the marsh to familiarize me with the main areas, and then I will return to the Tieshi Tribe with you to rest."

"Yes, Young Master," Uncle Dala also respectfully replied.

"Let's go."

Jining walked forward, and Uncle Dala, carrying a large axe, followed. Qiuye and Mouwu watched their young master head toward the distant Dongshan Marsh, feeling anxious but helpless. One of them served the young master, and the other taught him rich mountain and forest experience, but their strength was far inferior to Jining's.

The vast marsh was beautiful and diverse.

"In this marsh, there are also mud, water, and grasslands," Uncle Dala said with a smile, "and even some small forests. Of course, there are more areas that sink when stepped on, such as swamps... and vast, deep lakes. The paths in this marsh are the hardest to navigate; one misstep and you might step into a swamp."

Jining followed him.

"We, the Tieshi Tribe, have lived in the forests beside this marsh for hundreds of years, often fishing here. We know very well which paths are safe and which are not," Uncle Dala said confidently.

Plop! Plop!

Stepping in the mud, Jining followed the tribal man into Dongshan Marsh.

"Take a look," Jining suddenly produced a piece of animal skin paper and handed it over, "this is a map of Dongshan Marsh. Take me to these circled places."

"Ah," Uncle Dala was startled, "these are all places where powerful demons lurk, the most dangerous areas, places we never dare to approach."

"You don't need to get close," Jining shook his head, "just take me there and tell me where they are from a distance."

Uncle Dala wiped the sweat from his forehead and nodded, "Alright, I'll take Young Master there."

******

Dongshan Marsh was truly vast, and advancing on foot was indeed very slow. Moreover, the places Jining wanted to go were scattered, and the distance he had to travel was several thousand miles. Fortunately, with Uncle Dala's guidance, who knew the hidden paths, they could easily navigate this vast marsh.

In no time, more than a month had passed.

Jining carried food and drink in his storage crystal, and he could also roast the meat of demon beasts. He slept wherever he could find a hill or a patch of grass. Jining didn't rush to provoke the lurking demons but first confirmed their locations. In the future, when he was alone, he could rely on his 'Heaven and Earth Unity' technique to walk on water, and a thousand miles would be a day's journey.

"That's the last place," Uncle Dala pointed to the distance, where the lush aquatic grass, about ten feet tall, swayed in the wind, "right where the grass is most lush, a powerful demon lurks. It's said to be a very large rhinoceros, like a small mountain, a huge water rhinoceros."

"Alright, let's go back. When we return to the Tieshi Tribe, I will reward you generously," Jining said.

"Young Master has already given me enough," Uncle Dala replied.

This seemingly refined young man was truly terrifying. In over a month in Dongshan Marsh, he had been attacked by demon beasts many times, but each time, the demon beasts died with a single sword strike! Jining didn't care about the demon beasts' corpses, but Uncle Dala was very distressed. These were demon beasts' meat, which could make the tribe better off if sold. He couldn't carry them all, so he could only cut and take the most critical parts.

"Hmm?" Jining and Uncle Dala suddenly looked toward the distance.

On a distant hill, there were many figures.

In the depths of the marsh, there were mudlands, swamps, and even mountains, including a high mountain called Dongshan, hence the name 'Dongshan Marsh'.

On the hill near the lake, there were hundreds of figures gathered. Suddenly, ten figures ran over, heading toward Jining and Uncle Dala.

"What's going on?" Jining frowned.

"Quick, let's go," Uncle Dala, frightened, turned to run.

Swish!

One of the ten running figures, wearing green armor, rushed over with astonishing speed, blocking Uncle Dala's escape route.

"You two," the man in green armor coldly scanned them, pausing slightly on Jining's finely tailored animal skin clothes, then ignored them, "come with us!"

"Do you know what you want us to do?" Uncle Dala, seeing the man's armor, bowed respectfully and asked.

The other nine figures also arrived, all wearing armor.

"Hurry up, if you're told to come with us, come with us. Otherwise, you'll die here!" The armored guards, all well-trained, held weapons and looked coldly at them.

Uncle Dala looked at Jining.

"Let's go and see," Jining said calmly. These armored guards were no ordinary men, but to him, they were just like chickens and dogs... but why did these guards want to take him? If not necessary, Jining wouldn't easily resort to killing.

"Go."

"Hurry up."

Under the watchful eyes of the ten armored guards, Jining and Uncle Dala walked toward the hill.

On the hill, there were some weeds, and hundreds of people were gathered, many of them bound and lying on the ground. About a hundred armored guards stood around, and in the center was a stone chair, on which sat a huge, heavily armored man, about ten feet tall, with a domineering gaze.

Jining was startled as he looked at the heavily armored giant in the center. The 'demon stone' he carried began to heat up, clearly sensing demon aura. Jining also faintly felt the unusual aura of the tall, heavily armored man surrounded by the guards.

"There's a powerful demon," Jining carefully scanned the area.

Surrounded by people, the one who could transform into human form was undoubtedly a powerful demon!

Jining had brought many items with him, including the demon stone. The demon stone is a special natural stone that glows and heats up when it senses demon aura. In some cities larger than 'Xifu City,' demon mirrors would be hung at the gates. These demon mirrors are made from demon stones and would glow when demons approached.

Humans have human aura, and demons naturally have demon aura. This aura is actually life energy.

"Da!"

"Uncle Dala!"

Suddenly, several voices called out.

Uncle Dala, walking beside Jining, turned to look. Among the bound people, a dozen or so were lying and shouting, causing Uncle Dala to look anxious: "Black Tiger, why are you bound here?" These dozen people were from his tribe.

"A Da, why are you here too? That giant is a powerful demon, it will eat us one by one," one of the bound tribal men shouted anxiously.

"Powerful demon?" Uncle Dala was shocked.

Jining, however, looked at the heavily armored giant in the center, surrounded by the guards. He could see the bloodstains on the giant's mouth, and the giant was chewing contentedly, which made Jining's killing intent rise: "So the powerful demon my demon stone sensed is him! There are twelve powerful demons in Dongshan Marsh, I wonder which one he is."

"Shut up," an armored guard walked over and kicked the bound people, kicking them wildly, "shut up."

"Helping a powerful demon harm our human kin, and you want us to shut up?"

"Even the mighty Tumu Clan's green-armored guards, you're disgracing the Tumu Clan!"

"Kick us, kick us to death."

The bound people shouted wildly.

"Stop," the heavily armored giant sitting on the large stone chair spoke in a deep, rumbling voice, like a low horn, "if you kick them to death, I'll eat you."

The armored guard looked at the heavily armored giant and reluctantly stepped back.

"Water Rhinoceros King!" The bald leader of the green-armored guards shouted, "we've already captured more than five hundred people for you. Our brothers have scattered to capture them, and we've done our best. Return our young master to us, and we'll pretend this never happened. Otherwise, if things get worse, Water Rhinoceros King... you should know, you can't withstand the wrath of the Tumu Clan."

Jining, watched by two green-armored guards, his eyes lit up.

Water Rhinoceros King?

Among the twelve powerful demons in Dongshan Marsh, there was only one water rhinoceros, a powerful demon at the initial stage of innate life!

"Initial stage of innate life?" Jining's eyes glinted with killing intent, "I've been looking for a demon of this strength for a long time. Truly, what you seek comes without effort!"