Chapter 86: Absolute Yin Plain

The Absolute Yin Plain is the center of the Silent Swamp.

In the Silent Swamp, the outer areas are filled with countless swamps, and muddy sludge is everywhere, with almost no dry spots.

However, the Absolute Yin Plain at the center of the Silent Swamp is an exception.

There are no swamps here, no ubiquitous sludge. The land is mostly flat, not particularly dry, but also not as damp as the outer areas of the Silent Swamp.

The Absolute Yin Plain is a peculiar place, with grayish-black clouds perpetually swirling overhead, and the sun, moon, and stars are never seen throughout the year.

Perhaps because of this, the Absolute Yin Plain is heavily shrouded in yin energy. Anyone who enters here will feel very uncomfortable at first.

It's not particularly cold here, but the pervasive yin energy makes one feel a chill from the depths of their heart, as if they are in a haunted space filled with evil spirits, making one feel somewhat uneasy.

When Shi Yan first stepped onto the Absolute Yin Plain, he also frowned slightly, took a deep breath, and felt somewhat uncomfortable, though it wasn't particularly cold, it made his whole body feel uneasy.

Standing on the slightly cool ground, Shi Yan looked around and found that the area was filled with all sorts of strange plants.

These plants were not particularly tall, the tallest being only about five or six meters, but they grew in bizarre shapes. Many of the flowers they bloomed were pale and lacked vibrant colors.

Some plants even produced flowers that looked like ghost faces, which were extremely terrifying.

In the midst of these eerie plants, Shi Yan felt somewhat uncomfortable, and looking at them, he felt they might suddenly pounce and bite him.

"Here, the yin energy is heavy, and the plants are very strange. Some plants can even absorb yin energy and corpse energy. Some plants, once they smell the scent of a living person, will pounce and entangle them, not stopping until they are dead."

Zhuo Qi, with a gloomy face, looked at the various plants in the Absolute Yin Plain and continued, "Besides the plants, be cautious of the demonic beasts here. They are very hostile to living people. Once they detect someone, they will attack relentlessly. Most martial artists who pass through the Silent Swamp prefer to take risks in the outer swamps rather than enter this area."

"Hisss!"

Suddenly, several silver-white snakes emerged from the plants ahead.

The snakes were about three meters long, with conical heads and tails that continuously drew circles on the ground. Their small, pea-sized eyes glinted with a chilling light.

Dozens of snakes slithered out from the plants, spreading out and slowly surrounding Shi Yan and his group from all sides.

"Level 2 demonic beast, Corpse Earthworm Snake," Zhuo Qi shouted coldly and suddenly stomped his foot.

A strange ripple spread from his feet, forming a circular wave that instantly rushed out in all directions.

"Pop! Pop! Pop!"

As the ripple passed, the dozens of Level 2 demonic beasts, the Corpse Earthworm Snakes, exploded, spraying brown snake blood everywhere.

"I hate snakes the most!" Zhuo Qi snorted, his face filled with disgust, and he turned to Chixiao, saying, "Before we meet the Nine-Headed Heavenly Snake, I'll take care of the obstacles on the way. Consider it my contribution to the Heavenly Gate."

Chixiao nodded and said indifferently, "You know this place well, so you lead the way."

Zhuo Qi didn't refuse and walked to the front. A strange green toxic mist quietly spread from his body.

The plants of the Absolute Yin Plain, sensing the toxic mist from his body, seemed to shrink back in fear.

Many plants that were originally three meters tall shrank to one meter after Zhuo Qi passed, clearly becoming smaller.

Shi Yan was greatly surprised, his eyes gleaming. Each time he passed the plants, he observed carefully and found that wherever Zhuo Qi went, the plants were very well-behaved.

However, if he didn't follow Zhuo Qi and chose another direction, the same type of plants would indeed pounce and entangle him, determined to wrap him to death.

"Kid, if you don't want to die randomly, you'd better follow me," Zhuo Qi suddenly turned back and gave Shi Yan a cold look, muttering, "I don't understand you. Knowing we're entering the Absolute Yin Plain, you still brought two burdens along. Do you want to sacrifice them at a critical moment...?"

The "burdens" Zhuo Qi referred to were clearly Shi Yan and Zuo Shi, who had the lowest cultivation levels, both at the Human Rank.

Shi Yan remained calm and was unmoved by Zhuo Qi's muttering.

But Zuo Shi was unhappy and pouted, saying, "What are you muttering, big eel? Who are you calling a burden? Humph! If you don't want to go with us, you can leave early. We don't need you."

"Girl, who did you call an eel?" Zhuo Qi's dark green-scaled, fierce face twitched, and he glared at Zuo Shi, "Say it again and see what happens!"

"Enough," Chixiao frowned and scolded Zuo Shi, "Zhuo Qi is an elder, don't be so disrespectful. We wouldn't have such a smooth journey without him."

Chixiao then looked at Zhuo Qi and said, "Why can't you get rid of your foul mouth? If you hadn't been so foul-mouthed back then, I wouldn't have fought you to the death. Now, you're at it again?"

Zhuo Qi snorted, gave Zuo Shi a fierce look, and his face twitched, but he didn't respond.

Zuo Shi wanted to retort, but Chixiao's glare silenced her, and she pouted and didn't speak.

Xia Xinyan and the two towering men were on Chixiao's left. She didn't speak, her expression cold, ignoring Zhuo Qi and not interacting with Chixiao.

Occasionally, she would glance at Shi Yan, her eyes filled with a complex expression, making it hard to guess what she was thinking.

Since they emerged from the swamp that day, she hadn't spoken to Shi Yan again.

Shi Yan was also considerate and didn't try to get close to her.

The relationship between her and Shi Yan left Chixiao, Zuo Shi, and the others puzzled, but everyone pretended not to know and didn't ask awkward questions.

"Follow me quietly. If you want to live, be obedient!" Zhuo Qi snorted and deliberately glanced at Shi Yan.

Shi Yan remained calm and ignored him.

At this moment, Chixiao suddenly frowned, a puzzled look in his eyes.

"What's wrong?" Xia Xinyan's expression changed, sensing Chixiao's unease.

"Nothing," Chixiao shook his head and said indifferently, "I just felt a strange aura, but it disappeared quickly. I'm not sure if it was just my imagination."

Upon hearing this, everyone became tense. Zhuo Qi asked, "Could it be that Heavenly Rank expert?"

"I don't know," Chixiao shook his head again.

Chixiao's reaction cast a shadow over everyone, making them all more cautious.

...

In a dense cluster of plants in the Absolute Yin Plain.

A tall, thin middle-aged scholar with a pale face stood silently.

Beside him were thirty-five other martial artists, all with pale faces and expressionless looks. Among them was a young man in his early twenties with waist-length hair, a handsome face, and an eerie aura.

"Master, did you find anything?" the young man asked curiously.

"The target should have entered the Absolute Yin Plain. I just used my divine sense to probe, and immediately, another divine sense followed," the pale-faced middle-aged scholar said.

"Is it someone from the Beiming family?"

"No, Beiming Shang has already arrived."

"Why hasn't he found us yet?"

"The target has appeared, so Beiming Shang should come soon."

...

A day later.

In the area where this group was, Beiming Shang appeared alone, his body surrounded by a cold aura.

"Lord of Dark Abyss?" Beiming Shang greeted the middle-aged scholar with a bow, "May I ask your name?"

"Zou Ziguo," the Lord of Dark Abyss said calmly, "I have heard much about the head of the Beiming family. It's an honor to meet you."

Beiming Shang smirked, his face expressionless, "Brother Zou is renowned far and wide. Dark Abyss being the dominant force in the Fire Empire shows that you are a great talent. I hope our cooperation this time will be mutually beneficial."

"Where is the girl from the Mu family?" the Lord of Dark Abyss frowned.

"After the exploration of the Heavenly Gate is over, I will personally bring her to you," Beiming Shang glanced at the group from Dark Abyss and said, "Brother Zou, why did you bring so many people? Aren't you afraid of being discovered?"

"Our Dark Abyss excels in concealing our presence, so you don't need to worry about that, Brother Beiming."

"Good," Beiming Shang nodded and continued, "The target has appeared, and their goal is likely the Absolute Yin Valley. If there are any unexpected events, I hope Brother Zou will show up. However, I don't want you to reveal your identity too soon, as Mu Yudie will resist."

"She's just a girl who has lost her family. Does Brother Beiming need to be concerned?"

"I don't care about Mu Yudie, but there's another girl with her. The martial soul of that girl is useful to my Beiming family. I don't want her to know that I'm handing Mu Yudie over to you, as it will affect my future plans."

"Understood. I didn't wear a mask this time to cooperate with Brother Beiming. As the Lord of Dark Abyss, I rarely show my true face. The girl from the Mu family has never seen me, so she won't know who I am. You can rest assured, Brother Beiming."

"Very well. We'll meet at the Absolute Yin Valley. I'll send you a divine sense message when the time comes. I hope you won't disappoint me."

With that, Beiming Shang slowly retreated, his body dissolving into a cold mist in the leaves.

"Master, Beiming Shang is devious. We need to be cautious during this exploration of the Heavenly Gate. He is not a good person."

"Don't worry. Your mother is also here. If there are any treasures in the Heavenly Gate, they will belong to our Dark Abyss!"

"Mother is here too?" the eerie young man exclaimed.

"Yes, she arrived at the Absolute Yin Valley long ago. With her skill in concealing her aura, no one in the Absolute Yin Plain will sense her unless she reveals herself."

"Ha, it looks like our exploration of the Heavenly Gate is a sure thing."

"Indeed."