As part of the special action team, we were naturally aware of our mission.
Hearing Senior Bai Daozi speak, we all nodded in agreement, refraining from moving for the moment.
We simply watched from afar as the two hundred fellow cultivators who had already charged forward.
The cultivators who had come this time hailed from all corners of the land.
Each of them was considered a significant figure in their respective regions.
They were not comparable to those old, insignificant fellows.
Today, we were here for one belief: to act on behalf of heaven, to slay demons and eliminate evil.
We hid in the dense forest, watching the two hundred fellow cultivators charge towards the low mountain.
This was because the low mountain was a primary stronghold for the demonic cult's corpse cultivation.
Naturally, it was guarded by demonic cultivators, and the actions of the two hundred were quickly detected by them.
Suddenly, the continuous sound of horns erupted.
"Buzz buzz buzz..."
As soon as the sound appeared, everyone's hearts tightened.
"We've been discovered!"
"There's no helping it, too many people, and this is a crucial pass. We're bound to be discovered once we get close!"
"..."
Those around us spoke up.
But at this very moment, from afar, we saw a person leap up, landing directly onto a distant green stone.
Drawing his long sword, he let out a low growl:
"Kill!"
His voice was loud, and we could hear it clearly from a distance.
In an instant, dozens of figures "whoosh, whoosh, whoosh" charged towards the pass.
More than ten figures also appeared on the pass.
These were black demonic cultivators, holding black banners and beginning to wave them.
A gust of yin wind arose, and the corpse qi of the entire low mountain surged.
The next second, the entire low mountain echoed with waves of corpse roars.
"Roar..."
"Roar roar..."
These demonic cultivators had awakened the corpse monsters and zombies.
However, the two hundred fellow cultivators continued to press forward, one after another.
Leading the charge was True Master Qi Shang, his treasure sword unsheathed, instantly cutting into the pass.
The sounds of wails and exploding talismans could be heard.
"Dong dong dong" continuously echoed, and figures were continuously rushed out of the pass.
We could no longer see the situation inside.
But it was clear that the battle was bound to be exceptionally fierce.
Among these two hundred people were friends, fellow disciples, and even masters and elders from our special team.
Each of us watched from afar with solemn expressions.
The sounds gradually faded, and even large fires appeared.
The sounds of corpse roars grew more numerous.
It was hard to imagine what they were encountering at this moment.
When the sounds of corpse roars lessened, and were no longer so dense.
Senior Bai Daozi, who was at the front, addressed the group:
"Everyone, follow me!"
With that said, Senior Bai Daozi leaped forward, jumping off a stone cliff about five or six meters high.
The remaining forty-odd of us followed suit, like shadows.
Forty-eight of us swiftly moved through the wooded areas between the mountain hollows.
Soon, we arrived before the pass of the low mountain.
As soon as we reached here, we smelled a heavy stench of corpses.
Continuing forward, the ground was littered with pools of blood and decaying corpses.
There were even corpse monsters that were continuously turning into black blood.
At a glance, all parts of the low mountain were covered in such corpses.
The only fortunate thing was that, at a glance, we did not see any of our fellow cultivators' bodies.
Seeing this, everyone was somewhat relieved.
But Senior Bai, who was leading the way, did not stop, and continued to lead us forward.
We proceeded along the low mountain, without crossing over it.
Instead, we detoured to the northeast, circling around the side.
We avoided the intense main battlefield on the mountainside.
The Misty Marsh we were heading towards required us to turn from the foot of the low mountain and finally reach the Misty Marsh, passing through it quickly to achieve the effect of a surprise attack on the Gathering Formation Platform.
Because the two hundred fellow cultivators ahead had cleared the path and engaged in a major battle,
We, who followed behind, not only encountered no demonic cultivators but did not even see a single corpse monster.
We smoothly passed the foot of the low mountain.
After walking for about twenty minutes, white mist gradually appeared before us.
Overhead, the moon was almost invisible.
It seemed we were approaching the Misty Marsh.
At this moment, as we walked forward, we listened to our teammates in the same squad chatting.
I heard Meng Fang speak at this time:
"I've heard local people talk about this Misty Marsh.
Legend has it that this place is a forbidden zone for life.
Whether human or beast, anyone who enters will die within, it's extremely dangerous."
Yun Long sneered after hearing this:
"If it weren't dangerous, they wouldn't have assigned us elites to form a small team."
Old Mo also nodded, his expression solemn:
"Yes, because of the danger, our value can be shown.
No matter how dark the place, it will eventually be broken by light.
I will carry divinity and radiance to judge this sinful land..."
As for Old Mo's chuunibyo attitude and expression, I listened to it and it was as if nothing had been said, just entering one ear and exiting the other.
But Gu Qian Yue, Li Cong, and the others were dumbfounded.
They were so embarrassed they almost called this kid an idiot...
We continued to travel continuously for about an hour, passing through steep mountain forests, and arrived before a cliff face.
Here, everyone stopped.
Standing in the mist, everyone looked at the cliff before them and the vast expanse of white mist.
Even with their Heavenly Eyes, their sight was limited.
They could only see that the white mist was mixed with yin qi.
Below the cliff, it was likely not a good place.
Just as I thought this, Senior Bai Daozi, who was not far away, spoke:
"Below the cliff is the Misty Marsh.
It is not an ordinary marsh; it contains corpse monsters and malevolent spirits.
Once we go down, you must all follow me closely.
If you get trapped in the marsh, you will not only face sinking feet but also malevolent spirits and corpse monsters."
We all dared not be careless.
Bai Daozi did not hesitate and issued another order:
"Now, climb down the cliff!"
With that said! He grabbed a vine extending downwards from the cliff face and began to jump down.
Everyone present was no ordinary person.
They had not encountered malevolent spirits or fierce ghosts before, so they were not frightened.
They all grabbed vines and began to jump down the cliff.
This cliff was not particularly high, only about thirty meters, like ten stories high.
With their cultivation, jumping down a small cliff by holding onto a vine was effortless.
Upon reaching the bottom of the cliff.
We found that the mist here was not as thick.
Under the Heavenly Eyes, our sight extended about ten meters.
Everyone stood in a line, looking ahead.
Before them lay a vast marsh, with yin energy soaring and malevolent qi surging from within the marsh.
Within these mud and swamps, it was unknown how many fierce ghosts and malevolent spirits were hidden.
To safely pass through such a marsh might truly be no small feat.
Senior Bai Daozi, meanwhile, was not idle.
He took out a bag and then, from this bag, took out map after map.
As he distributed them, he said:
"The Misty Marsh is actually a fierce formation, arranged according to the Nine Palaces.
The location we are currently in is the Ninth Palace within the Nine Palaces.
Now, we only need to follow the instructions on the map, entering from the Ninth Palace and exiting from the Sixth Palace..."
As he spoke, Old Mo and I, along with others, had received these small maps.
The reason they were only given to us now was likely for confidentiality.
I opened it and glanced at it; it was a map of the Misty Marsh.
It was also marked with the positions of the Nine Palaces.
The Nine Palaces: First Palace Kan (North), Second Palace Kun (Southwest), Third Palace Zhen (East), Fourth Palace Xun (Southeast), Fifth Palace Zhong (resides in Kun), Sixth Palace Qian (Northwest), Seventh Palace Dui (Northwest), Eighth Palace Gen (Northeast), Ninth Palace Li (South).
We were currently in the Ninth Palace, Li position.
This was the southernmost location, and the exit of the Misty Marsh was the Sixth Palace, Qian position, in the northwest.
The map showed a general route.
And within the map, there were small red crosses.
These places were likely dangerous areas.
As I was observing the map, Senior Bai Daozi spoke again:
"Now that everyone has the map.
If you get separated along the way, you can advance or retreat according to the map.
Now, please follow me..."