Mou Wenjie and those beside him, Huang Ling'er, Jiang Yu Rou, Xiao Ya Wen, Ding Yan, Tuoba Ying Ying, Qin Xiao Die, Cao Chun Ling, and the mysterious Jin Can Xianzi, after a fierce and arduous battle, finally succeeded in defeating that powerful and deeply mysterious elder.
At this moment, everyone was exhausted but there was a determined glow in their eyes. They continued their relentless advance towards the unknown realm ahead, undeterred by fatigue. Along the way, they meticulously avoided potential dangers, constantly vigilant against any adversaries or traps that might lurk nearby.
Mou Wenjie held a long sword in his hand, leading the way in the front of the team. His posture was tall and straight like a pine tree, his gaze sharp as an eagle, always keeping an eye on the slightest changes in the environment around him. Huang Ling'er followed him lightly, holding a folding fan that seemed casual but contained hidden mysteries.
Jiang Yu Rou's beautiful face revealed determination as she held a long whip, occasionally striking at the grass by the side of the path to prevent any hidden toxins from emerging suddenly. Xiao Ya Wen gripped his short sword tightly in both hands, maintaining a steady step and devoting his full attention to protecting the flanks of their group.
Ding Yan's small and agile figure moved swiftly among the group, like a nimble rabbit, always ready to respond to emergencies. Tuoba Ying Ying, carrying a massive axe, loomed as a formidable guardian at the rear, adding a sense of security to the entire team.
Qin Xiao Die and Cao Chun Ling supported each other as they advanced, although they were somewhat weaker, they were fearless. The Jin Can Xianzi, like a phantom in the air, appeared and disappeared intermittently, providing additional protection for everyone.
In this way, this group of courageous and fearless individuals took one step after another into the mysterious and perilous territory, to explore more unknown secrets...
As they walked, Mou Wenjie suddenly stopped and signaled for everyone to be quiet. In front, a strange mist appeared, emitting an alluring fragrance faintly from within.
"The mist is strange," Mou Wenjie frowned and said.
The Jin Can Xianzi flew near the mist to examine it. After a moment, she returned and said, "This mist contains spirit power, but mixed with hallucinogenic effects. If one inhales too much of it, they may suffer from hallucinations and end up killing each other."
Hearing this, the group became tense. At this moment, Cao Chun Ling took out two pills and said, "Xiao Die and I happened to obtain these 'Avoid Hallucination' pills earlier. Although there are only two, they should be enough to sustain one person as they investigate inside."
Without hesitation, Mou Wenjie took the pills and swallowed them. He took his sword and slowly walked into the mist. Once inside, the scenery changed dramatically, revealing an ancient palace with runes etched into the door. As he approached the entrance, the runes suddenly brightened and a force struck him. Mou Wenjie channeled his qi to resist it, noticing at the same time that an array appeared under his feet, siphoning his spirit energy. He struggled to break free from its grasp. Just as he emerged from the array's boundary, a chilling laughter echoed behind him: "Intruder! You dare enter this place uninvited? All of you shall perish."
Mou Wenjie tightly grasped the sword in his hand, which glimmered with cold light. His arm was slightly trembling, and his gaze was sharp and determined, like a tiger ready to pounce on its prey. At this moment, he was fully focused and ready for battle, secretly thinking in his heart: "Behind these series of bizarre incidents must be a shocking and earth-shattering secret, waiting for us to reveal its mysterious veil!"
Mou Wenjie sneered coldly and replied loudly, "Who has the audacity to flaunt his words here in such a manner?" As he finished speaking, the chilling laughter rang out again. Soon after, a shadow emerged from the corner. Mou Wenjie swung his sword immediately, but the black figure swiftly dodged and revealed its twisted face—it was a zombie.
The zombie moved with incredible speed, and after several exchanges, Mou Wenjie began to feel the strain. Just then, he thought of a plan and deliberately showed a weakness. The zombie fell for it, charging forward, and Mou Wenjie sidestepped, thrusting his long sword into the zombie's back. The zombie struggled a few times before going still.
Mou Wenjie had just breathed a sigh of relief when the palace gate suddenly opened, emitting a bright light. He cautiously walked into the palace, holding his sword tightly. Inside, he saw a crystal ball in the center of the hall, which seemed to be emitting countless images.
Mou Wenjie approached and observed the images, which recorded an ancient celestial-demonic battle over a thousand years ago. It appeared that this place might be hiding relics or secret martial arts from the battle. As he was about to delve deeper, the shouting of his companions outside caught his attention. They had come in concern for Mou Wenjie's safety, disregarding their own peril to charge into the mist.
Standing before the vast and mysterious main gate of the palace, Mou Wenjie pondered his next course of action in his mind. After careful consideration, he made a decision—first to locate his companions, and then explore the palace together, which was hidden away with countless secrets.
Mou Wenjie understood that facing unknown dangers alone could potentially lead him to a dead end. However, if he could unite with his companions and work together, supporting each other, the likelihood of success in unraveling these mysteries would greatly increase.
At this moment, Mou Wenjie looked determined as he lifted his foot. Each step he took appeared so stable and powerful, as if the ground beneath him could feel his unwavering resolve. He took his confident strides without hesitation, gradually heading towards the mysterious spot that he and his companions had previously agreed upon.
Along the way, Mou Wenjie's heart was filled with excitement and tension. He kept muttering to himself, "I have to see them soon!" In his mind, images of Huang Ling'er's sprightly and lovely face, Jiang Yu Rou's gentle and graceful demeanor, Xiao Ya Wen's clever and quick-witted appearance, Ding Yan's lively and playful smile, Tuoba Ying Ying's heroic and dashing style, Qin Xiao Die's cunning and playful character, Cao Chun Ling's dignified and elegant temperament, and the extraordinary ethereal beauty of the Jin Can Xianzi constantly flitted through his thoughts.
Thinking about this, Mou Wenjie's heart burned with an intense passion like a raging fire. The urgency in his heart surged like a tidal wave. His legs seemed to have been enchanted, speeding up without him realizing it. Each step seemed like stepping on a flying swirling disk, creating a gust of wind and fire behind him. At this moment, he longed so much to have wings that he could fly like a bird, reaching the place he yearned for the fastest speed possible. Because there, he would reunite with his fellow disciples who shared the same ideals, and together they would embark on a new adventure filled with unknown dangers and thrilling experiences.
Along the way, Mou Wenjie was filled with anxiety and his mind was constantly flooded with images of his companions and the exciting journey that lay ahead. This intense excitement propelled him to speed up his pace, nearly causing him to run.
Mou Wenjie quickly reached the agreed-upon location and saw that his companions were unharmed, which delighted him. After reuniting, they walked towards the palace together. Inside, the crystal ball shone even more brilliantly, surrounded by some strange objects. Mou Wenjie reached out and touched a jade bottle, and instantly a surge of spiritual energy entered his body. He saw some blurred cultivation methods.
Just then, the ground shook violently, and many small holes appeared on the walls, from which numerous small puppets emerged. They brandished sharp weapons and charged towards the group. Immediately, the group formed a defensive formation back to back. Mou Wenjie was the first to charge forward and strike down a puppet with one stroke of his sword. Huang Ling'er swung her fan, creating gusts of strong wind that disrupted the puppets' movements. Others also demonstrated their abilities, causing spiritual energy to overflow within the palace for a time.
As the battle raged on, the group gradually discovered that the puppets' weak point was their core in the head. So they concentrated their efforts to attack, causing the puppets to fall one by one. Mou Wenjie turned around and looked at the crystal ball once more. He made up his mind to channel all his spiritual energy into it. The crystal ball's light grew brighter, and then slowly opened. A martial arts manual exuding ancient aura appeared from within.
Mou Wenjie and Huang Ling'er, Jiang Yu Rou, Xiao Ya Wen, Ding Yan, Tuoba Ying Ying, Qin Xiao Die, Cao Chun Ling, and the Jin Can Xianzi all smiled at each other. They knew that they had made a great discovery on this secret exploration. With the martial arts manual in hand, they left the palace, looking forward to using it to enhance their abilities and embark on more exciting adventures in the future.
After leaving the palace, the group found a secluded valley to concentrate on their practice. Mou Wenjie felt that his spiritual energy was like a tiny stream flowing into a river, and he made rapid progress. However, peaceful days didn't last long. Suddenly, dark clouds gathered in the sky, and a black lightning bolt flashed across it.
It turned out to be the descendants of the palace's owner who came looking for revenge, believing that the group had stolen the martial arts manual. Mou Wenjie stepped forward to explain, but the other party would not listen. As they were in a deadlock, suddenly the surrounding space twisted, and a mysterious vortex appeared, pulling everyone inside.
When the group was startled, they discovered that they had arrived in a strange place, where spiritual energy was abundant but the rules were chaotic. Mou Wenjie calmed his companions, assuring them that with united efforts, they could overcome the predicament. They fought off the chaotic spiritual energy while searching for an exit.
By chance, Mou Wenjie found a connection between this place and an ancient formation described in the manual. So, following the insights from the manual, the group worked together to activate an inverted formation. A burst of intense light flashed, and they finally escaped from that peculiar land.
After this event, Mou Wenjie and his companions had gained a great reputation and were feared by all in the cultivation world. Their heroic deeds spread like a whirlwind, and many cultivators came to them to join their sect, hoping to learn from them.
However, in the face of this surging crowd and their fervent requests, Mou Wenjie simply shook his head lightly. His deep and resolute gaze looked towards the distant horizon, as if piercing through the layers of clouds and reaching the end of the sky. The others couldn't help but feel puzzled by this, not understanding why this already famous martial artist would refuse such an enticing opportunity.
Hearing this, Mou Wenjie slowly spoke, "I appreciate your kindness, but my aspirations do not lie here. Establishing a sect and gathering disciples, while it allows for the transmission of the teachings, is not my ultimate pursuit. My goal is beyond the mysterious and unreachable Thirty-Six Heavens! There lies countless unknown mysteries and challenges. Only by constantly breaking through oneself and ascending to the peak can one reach that supremely lofty realm."
After saying that, Mou Wenjie turned and left, leaving behind a group of shocked and admiring cultivators standing in place. His figure grew increasingly distant until he finally disappeared into the vast sea of clouds. However, his heart that pursued dreams was like the most brilliant star in the night sky, shining brightly and never fading away.
