I am grinding experience in another world

Chapter 509 - 500 Planning

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A beam of sunlight with a hint of coldness penetrated through the half-collapsed roof into the room, illuminating the dusty interior.

Shattered tiles, broken beams, and ruined tables and chairs entered Chen Mu’s field of vision one by one.

Looking outside through the half-remaining door, towering mountain peaks flanked the enormous valley, within which lay scattered debris of collapsed houses. The broken room beneath his feet was, in contrast, the most intact structure.

Although he had anticipated this, Chen Mu couldn’t help but sigh in disappointment.

This was his fifth day since leaving Black Wind Hollow.

Following the rough directions provided by the gaunt elder, Yang, Chen Mu had carefully searched and finally found this valley more than two hundred li to the east of Black Wind Hollow.

The remnants he found indicated that people had once lived here; with high probability, this was the mountain stronghold where Elder Yang had resided years ago.

It was clear, however, that after being ravaged by Strange Demons, the place had been thoroughly abandoned.

"I thought perhaps people might have regathered here," Chen Mu sighed.

After carefully scanning the area with the Truthful Listening Technique and confirming the absence of any Yin Spirits, he could only return disappointed.

...

Half a month later.

On the eastern slope near Black Wind Hollow.

Sitting in a small bamboo chair, leaning against the wall by the window on the east side of the doorway of a thatched-roof wooden hut, Chen Mu sipped tea.

The tea leaves were a gift from Elder Yang from down the mountain, said to be wild mountain tea picked from the surrounding hills. The aroma was subtle; despite being brewed with hot water, the tea felt cool to the taste.

Over twenty days had passed, and a few red Moonlight Trees had sprouted on the slopes around the hollow. The people of the hollow were now spread out in the area, tediously collecting Jade Dew for watering.

Nourished by the Jade Dew, the fiery red leaves of the Moonlight Trees swayed left and right like living things, rustling in a way that sounded quite cheerful.

After watching for a while, Chen Mu turned his gaze away. With a sip of the tea, the brisk taste spread, clearing his spirit and significantly dissipating the frustration from days of fruitless searching.

"Keep searching slowly, it’s not the first time I’ve been stranded in the wilderness," Chen Mu breathed out, accepting reality.

"Moreover, although the path back to the Yang Realm is temporarily obstructed, I’ve had the serendipity of making good progress with the Five Dragons Scripture."

At that thought, he immediately summoned the gray wall to take a look.

Five Dragons Scripture: 115/10000/Fourth Rank;

Accidentally swallowing a Strange Demon seemed to have pointed the Five Dragons Scripture in the right direction.

Through the process of constantly dispersing and reassembling the Five Dragon Dharma Body, Chen Mu’s understanding of the True Intent of the Candle Dragon deepened. Coupled with the guidance from the gray wall, his daily cultivation also provided him with a wealth of experience.

Due to this, the Five Dragons Scripture had entered a brand new phase just yesterday.

With a thought, the newly refined Five Dragon Dharma Aspect emerged.

Five fierce dragon heads silently materialized in front of the wooden hut.

The original Dharma Aspect was made entirely of gray mist, appearing majestic from afar but revealing a constantly changing, unclear outline upon a closer look, much like a strange cloud formation in the sky.

As if a sudden downpour had hit the ground, countless pumpkin-sized pale green fireballs fell from the sky, hammering into the white mist like a barrage of arrows.

Boom boom boom...

A series of explosions rang out as the green fire soared into the heavens.

The silent white mist around the bridge suddenly erupted with ghastly shrieks, revealing a massive, flesh orb several stories high, covered in numerous bizarre snake heads.

The pale green flames burned over it incessantly. The flesh orb with its snake heads writhed and rolled, trying to extinguish the fire, but to no avail.

Then, a multitude of snake heads simultaneously spewed out black venom, and a foul stench filled the air.

The spreading green flames were momentarily checked, as if they encountered a gust of wind, with the blazing flames suddenly reduced by half.

But the fireballs from the sky were relentless; in the blink of an eye, the intensity of the fire was restored.

No matter how the bizarre flesh orb struggled and roared in rage, it was eventually engulfed entirely by the sea of fire, covered by the pale green flames. Finally, with a loud explosion, it burst apart, scattering into countless Netherworld Worms with human heads.

A grey Yin Wind swept through the sky, and the sea-like pale green flames abruptly extinguished, disappearing without a trace.

In the sky, Lü Liang and Lü Thirteen, wrapped in the black Yin Wind clouds, simultaneously let out a long breath of relief.

"Young master, is this the fifth Strange Demon since winter set in?" Lü Thirteen’s face was grave: "Does Qingyang City know that the city lord has gone to Beyond Heaven?"

"They might not know for certain, but they must have their suspicions," said Lü Liang with a grim expression. "After all, he hasn’t shown his face for half a year. Managing to keep it hidden this long is at its limit."

"Then these Strange Demons that have been approaching recently are probably probing us," Lü Thirteen said with a troubled look. "They are forcing the city lord to show himself."

"If the city lord appears, he could naturally repel the Strange Demons; if not, it would signal that something is wrong with him. They might take the opportunity to destroy us in Feng’an City under the cover of the Strange Demons," Lü Liang suggested, nodding slowly, his brow furrowing into a deep frown.

"Young master, why don’t you leave Feng’an City for a while?" Lü Thirteen asked, urging him to consider it.

"It’s too late to leave now," sighed Lü Liang, shaking his head. "The outskirts of Feng’an City are likely enveloped by Qingyang City’s Heavenly Net, just waiting for me to make an appearance."

"If I run, they will strike immediately, using me as a weakness to attack my father."

"We can only stand guard in Feng’an, creating the illusion that my father is still in seclusion, practicing cultivation, and bluff our way through," Lü Liang continued somberly.

Lü Thirteen wanted to keep persuading, but after opening his mouth, he ultimately fell silent.

"Hasn’t Mr. Lu been found yet?" asked Lü Liang.

"The Heavenly Demon Spirit Seed is untouched, so Mr. Lu is most likely still alive," Lü Thirteen shook his head. "But there’s no way to know where he has been taken."

Upon hearing this, Lü Liang’s expression grew even more troubled: "Our recent easy victories over the Strange Demons were largely thanks to Mr. Lu’s teachings of the Bearing Mountain Secret Technique."

"It’s infuriating that Qingyang City is pressing us step by step. The city is riddled with spies, making it difficult for us to conduct a large-scale search."

"That old home in Qingyang City deserves to die!"

"Alas... with the situation as it is, there’s nothing we can do," Lü Thirteen said to comfort him.

"I’ve deployed two more teams to continue the search for that round-faced spy."

"Finding that person might give us a chance to uncover some traces."

"Well... for now, that’s all we can do," Lü Liang sighed upon hearing this. "Let’s wish Mr. Lu the greatest of luck."