CHAPTER 172: CHAPTER 172: TOGETHER THROUGH LIFE AND DEATH

"Sister South Moon, are we just going to let those two go?" Zi Yuan watched the two departing men in black, her delicate brows furrowed and her tone slightly indignant.

Luo Feng said with a smile, "Zi Yuan, have you forgotten where we are?"

Upon hearing this, Zi Yuan’s eyes lit up.

This was deep in the Ghost Howl Forest. The two men had lost their cultivation and were drenched in blood. They would probably be devoured by Demon Beasts within a few li.

Realizing this, Zi Yuan saw Luo Feng looking at her, and her delicate earlobes turned red. She huffed, "Of course, I know. I was just saying."

This girl still hasn’t learned her lesson after one setback. I should have hit her a few more times back then!

Luo Feng recalled her astonishing elasticity and couldn’t help but touch his nose.

Cang Nanyue had been gazing into the depths of the Ghost Howl Forest. She turned back to the group and said, "Alright. I’ve taught you everything I can. From now on, your cultivation depends on your own understanding. You should all go back. In a month, I will personally go to watch the New Talent Championship."

After nearly a month of training, the strength of all five had increased significantly.

Zi Yuan, Xu Mei, and Yang Hong’s auras had all reached a state of fullness, bringing them to the verge of a breakthrough.

Bing Ruolan’s cultivation had stabilized at the mid-seventh level of the Essence storage Realm, and her Star-piercing Swordsmanship had also reached the fourth stage. Her strength was now on a completely different level compared to before.

Of course, the person who had improved the most was undoubtedly Luo Feng.

He had comprehended the intent realm of Centimeter Hundred Changes. Coupled with his breakthrough to the fifth stage of the Teng Dragon’s Step, his strength had surged by severalfold. He had surpassed Zi Yuan, one of the Four New Talents.

"Sister South Moon, aren’t you coming with us?" Luo Feng heard the underlying meaning in Cang Nanyue’s words and asked calmly.

Cang Nanyue looked deep into the Ghost Howl Forest, a chilling murderous intent surfacing on her exquisitely beautiful face. "I have something else to handle; I need to go deeper into the Ghost Howl Forest."

Huh?

Luo Feng noticed the murderous intent in Cang Nanyue’s eyes and furrowed his brows.

This was the first time he had ever seen Cang Nanyue with such an expression.

Things are probably not simple...

After some thought, Luo Feng asked, "Sister South Moon, can I help in any way?"

Cang Nanyue looked at Luo Feng and after a moment, nodded. "That would be good. Your strength can indeed help clean up some minor nuisances."

Changing her tone, Cang Nanyue continued, "However, this time I am going to kill a Demon Sect expert; it will be extremely dangerous. You’d better think carefully about whether to come with me."

Luo Feng did not hesitate and nodded. "I will go with you, Sister South Moon!"

If it hadn’t been for Cang Nanyue, his strength wouldn’t have progressed so quickly. Luo Feng had always been one to repay kindness with kindness and enmity with enmity. Judging by Cang Nanyue’s tone, the person she was going to kill on this trip was certainly no ordinary figure, so he couldn’t refuse.

Moreover, if he could personally witness a battle between Spiritual Rotation Realm experts, it would greatly benefit his future cultivation.

Seeing Luo Feng’s straightforward agreement, surprise flashed in Cang Nanyue’s eyes, and a rare smile touched her lips.

"Sister South Moon, we’ll go with you too!" Zi Yuan stepped forward and said.

Cang Nanyue shook her head. "Zi Yuan, this journey is fraught with danger; more people would just be a hindrance. If Luo Feng hadn’t broken through to the fifth stage of the Teng Dragon’s Step and gained the ability to protect himself, I wouldn’t have let him come either."

Seeing Cang Nanyue’s firm attitude, Zi Yuan knew there was no room for negotiation and said reluctantly, "In that case, we’ll wait for you in Wind Howl City."

Cang Nanyue nodded. "Once this matter is settled, Luo Feng and I will go to Wind Howl City to find you. You should hurry and leave the Ghost Howl Forest before nightfall."

Zi Yuan and the others knew of the terrors the Ghost Howl Forest held at night. After exchanging a few words of caution, they departed.

Watching Zi Yuan and the others enter the jungle, Cang Nanyue gestured with her hand, and the Red Moon Sword appeared beside her. She gracefully landed on the sword’s blade and said to Luo Feng, "You come up too."

Hearing this, Luo Feng looked at the Red Moon Sword beneath Cang Nanyue’s feet and frowned. "Can this sword carry two people? I can use the Teng Dragon’s Step to follow."

Cang Nanyue shook her head slightly. "Your Teng Dragon’s Step is no match for my Red Moon Sword in speed. Besides, our journey is hundreds of li long; it’s best to conserve your strength. The depths of the Ghost Howl Forest are ten times more dangerous than this area, and we’ll also have to deal with Demon Sect disciples."

Luo Feng knew Cang Nanyue was telling the truth, so he nodded and stepped onto the Red Moon Sword.

This was also Cang Nanyue’s first time carrying someone else on her flying sword, so it wobbled a bit. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, "The wind up there will be fierce; hold on to me tightly."

Luo Feng gazed at the woman’s captivating silhouette from behind, and his heart skipped a beat.

What am I thinking...

Snapping out of his momentary daze, Luo Feng shook his head, shook off the distracting thoughts, and placed his hands on Cang Nanyue’s slender waist.

Their bodies pressed together, and Luo Feng’s arms inevitably brushed against her skin. It felt like the finest silk, and a faint, delicate fragrance drifted into his nostrils. It took all his willpower to suppress the stirring in his heart.

This was also Cang Nanyue’s first time in such close contact with a man who wasn’t family. Feeling the hot breath near her ear, the Spiritual Rotation Realm expert’s jade-white earlobes gradually turned a faint pink, and her delicate body trembled slightly.

"Let’s go!"

Cang Nanyue exhaled softly. The Red Moon Sword erupted with a brilliant red light and shot straight up into the clouds.

As the flying sword entered the clouds, a biting cold wind howled around them, the currents of air cutting like knives.

Luo Feng felt as if he were strolling among the clouds. Looking down, he saw only an endless expanse of forest stretching to the horizon, like a vast ocean of green!

"Such a magnificent sight! I wonder when I’ll be able to reach the Spiritual Rotation Realm and achieve void flight," Luo Feng exclaimed, his heart thrilled by the scene before him.

Feeling Luo Feng’s hands tighten around her, Cang Nanyue’s face flushed an alluring crimson. She was glad Luo Feng couldn’t see her current expression. Hearing his words, she replied, "With your potential, you’ll surely reach the Spiritual Rotation Realm."

Luo Feng grinned at her reply. Suddenly, he remembered something and asked, "Sister South Moon, I heard you once had an opportunity to enter a sacred land of martial arts. Why didn’t you go?"

Hearing this, Cang Nanyue’s aura changed abruptly, and the surrounding air seemed to cool by several degrees.

"I am going on this trip specifically to resolve that matter."

Luo Feng sensed Cang Nanyue’s reluctance to discuss the matter and didn’t press further.

"Alright, we’re now deep within the Ghost Howl Forest. There are many flying Demon Beasts around; we should go down." A moment later, Cang Nanyue’s voice sounded again.

Hearing this, Luo Feng looked downward.

The forest below became even more towering. The trees, like grotesque monsters, seemed to brandish their claws.

A layer of dark grey mist drifted between the trees, obscuring the ground below.

WHOOSH!

The Red Moon Sword slowed, changed direction, and plunged with Luo Feng and Cang Nanyue into the forest.

ROAR!

Just as they landed, a sinister gust of wind arose. A massive shadow, reeking of blood, pounced towards them, its Demon Qi surging!

CHH! With a faint sound of something slicing through the air, a red light flashed through the trees. The massive shadow plummeted to the ground, twitched a few times, and then lay still.

"A Red Peak Python!"

Only then did Luo Feng clearly see the creature. It was a colossal serpent, as thick as a water barrel.

The serpent’s body was armored in fiery scales, its fangs sharp as blades, and its pupils like fresh blood. Its tail had a barb with a metallic sheen that faintly reeked of blood; it was obviously highly venomous.

At this moment, a bloody hole was visible on the Red Peak Python’s forehead, its eyes already devoid of spirit.

Looking at the Red Peak Python’s corpse, Luo Feng secretly clicked his tongue in amazement.

The Red Peak Python was a mid-Tier 3 Demon Beast, its strength equivalent to an early-stage Essence storage Realm Martial Artist. Yet Cang Nanyue had slain it in a single, effortless strike!

Cang Nanyue withdrew her Red Moon Sword, glanced at the Red Peak Python’s corpse, and said to Luo Feng, "The Demon Beasts in this vicinity are mostly mid-Tier 3, just right for your training. The Demon Beasts along the way are yours to handle."

Luo Feng nodded.

Cang Nanyue headed deeper into the forest, and Luo Feng followed closely behind.

Though it was high noon, the forest was dim. Thick vines crawled all over the massive tree trunks, exuding faint, terrifying wisps of aura.

CRACK!

Luo Feng stepped on a vine. Abruptly, the vine that had been lying quietly on the ground seemed to come alive. An arm-thick vine suddenly lashed out at Luo Feng, its surface covered with barbs that glinted with a frightening cold light.

Luo Feng frowned. His Tiger Soul Saber whistled out, creating a net of saber light that instantly sliced through the foremost vines.

SQUEAK! SQUEAK!

An ear-piercing shriek echoed through the forest.

The moment the shriek sounded, the surrounding giant vines instantly retracted, disappearing without a trace.

Luo Feng wrinkled his nose, smelling a faint scent of blood. He looked at the severed vines on the ground; their cut ends were still bleeding and twitching.

"What is this?" Luo Feng was greatly astonished.

Cang Nanyue saw Luo Feng’s agile movements and his calm, mountain-like composure. Appreciation flickered in her eyes as she said, "This is the Ghost Blood Vine. It’s not a plant, but a type of Demon Beast. It likes to disguise itself as tree roots. When prey approaches, it ensnares them, its barbs piercing their bodies. In the blink of an eye, it can suck its victims dry. Look..."

Cang Nanyue pointed to a nearby corner.

When Luo Feng saw it, he couldn’t help but draw a cold breath.

Amidst the rotting leaves lay a mound of white bones. Some were enormous, likely belonging to Demon Beasts, while others were human skeletons. Piled up like a small hill, it was a shocking sight.

"Many of the Demon Beasts in the Ghost Howl Forest are insidious and cunning, so you must be careful every step of the way," Cang Nanyue said as they walked.

Luo Feng nodded. Indeed, if not for his powerful Soul Power, he might have fallen into the Ghost Blood Vine’s trap just now and ended up as one of those piles of bones.

The two continued their advance.

As they went deeper, the surrounding black mist grew denser. The wind whistling through the trees made low, mournful sounds that were unsettling.

ROAR!

As they passed a tree, Luo Feng suddenly sensed immense danger. A Blood Shadow leaped down from a nearby tree, pouncing towards them.

"Courting death!" Luo Feng’s gaze turned icy. He stepped forward instead of retreating, both hands gripping the Tiger Soul Saber, and slashed upwards in a counterattack!

WHOOSH!

A flash of saber light, and the Blood Shadow froze in mid-air before crashing to the ground. A horrifying gash was visible on its enormous head.

"A low-Tier 3 Demon Beast: Blood Fiend Tiger!" Luo Feng recognized the Demon Beast on the ground.

Cang Nanyue, however, didn’t look at the Demon Beast’s corpse. Her beautiful eyes fell on the Tiger Soul Saber in Luo Feng’s hand, a hint of interest in them.

"Luo Feng, let me see your saber."