Chapter 135: Setting Off

Qin Mu had just finished eating when he heard a sudden commotion erupting outside the inn. Though the place was already quite noisy, this commotion was clearly too much.

“What’s wrong? So much noise.”

Qin Mu’s ears were starting to hurt from the racket. He glanced out the window and saw people frantically rushing out of the city, as if some great treasure had appeared.

From the crowd’s clamor, Qin Mu seemed to catch the phrase “the mist is thinning.”

Lu Shuanger heard the same words. Suddenly remembering something, she let out an “Ah” and quickly said, “Right, it’s the time when the mist weakens.”

Lu Shuanger counted on her fingers as if calculating the days, then laughed heartily. “Haha, I… I forgot. Every year at this time, the mist weakens for a while.”

Lu Shuanger explained that the mist enveloping the outskirts of the Wildlands was the first barrier preventing outsiders from entering. That single barrier alone stopped nearly seventy percent of people.

Although the miasma was troublesome and hard to deal with, there was a period each year when it weakened. Many took this opportunity to go inside and search for treasure.

While the Wildlands were extremely dangerous, they also held countless rare treasures. If one struck it lucky, they could even find treasures from the ancient era.

It was said that a person who had just broken through to the Nascent Soul Realm encountered a spiritual herb that appeared once in a thousand, or even ten thousand years. After consuming it, in less than fifty years, they smoothly advanced to the Soul Formation Realm!

Whether this story was true or not, no one had verified it. But it was common knowledge that there were treasures in the Wildlands—not just a few, but many!

“Such important information—why didn’t you say so earlier?”

Qin Mu shot Lu Shuanger a glance.

Lu Shuanger’s cheeks flushed, and she stammered, “I… I told you, I forgot. Normally, I don’t pay much attention to this… this news.”

After all, it was indeed her oversight. But she herself was a personal disciple of the Gu Tribe’s High Priest. If she wanted to leave, someone would naturally escort her, so she rarely paid attention to whether the mist was weak or not.

When Qin Mengyu heard this, she had originally planned to rest for two nights, but now it seemed that plans had to change.

“In that case, we can’t miss this opportunity. Mu’er, we’ll set off immediately and cross the mist as soon as possible.”

“Nani!”

Qin Mu had just finished accompanying Miss Mengyu on a stroll and hadn’t even caught his breath yet, and now they had to leave.

“Miss Mengyu, how about we—Ah! Ah! Ah!”

Before Qin Mu could finish his sentence, Miss Mengyu draped a cloak over him and pulled him along as she flew away, transforming into a streak of light that shot straight toward the other side of the mountain range.

It truly was a travel that starts on a whim.

Along the way, Qin Mu saw figures both on the ground and in the air, moving at incredible speeds, charging madly into the depths of the mountains. Most of these people were around the Foundation Establishment Stage. A few at the Golden Core and Nascent Soul realms, on the other hand, followed unhurriedly behind.

“Why are those people taking their time?”

Hearing Qin Mu’s question, Lu Shuanger explained, “Hmph, those are veterans. Don’t be fooled by the crowd charging ahead. Only those with strong cultivation can enter the mist’s depths. Those lacking strength won’t be able to penetrate deep no matter how fast they run.”

“Then by that logic, you’re not even at the Golden Core realm. Why aren’t you afraid?”

“Heh heh! I have a protective talisman from my master! My master made it herself, so of course I’m not afraid!”

As she spoke, Lu Shuanger put on a proud expression.

Qin Mengyu led Qin Mu, while Qin Ruoshuang led Lu Shuanger. The four of them moved swiftly and soon reached the peripheral area of the Wildlands.

Visible to the naked eye, a pale green mist lay ahead.

“This must be the miasma.”

It was the first time Qin Mu had seen the miasma of the Wildlands. Calling it miasma was more like calling it poison gas.

Qin Mengyu set down the Mu’er she had been holding, then took out a pill.

“Mu’er, open your mouth.”

Qin Mu obediently opened his mouth. The pill entered his mouth with a sweet taste, like a sugar bean.

After swallowing, Qin Mu clearly saw a faint halo appear around his body.

“Miss Mengyu! Th-this… what is this?”

Qin Mu felt as if he had activated Super Saiyan mode, except his hair hadn’t stood on end.

Qin Mengyu then took out a bottle of medicinal powder. With a wave of her jade hand, she evenly sprinkled the powder over the four of them, then said, “Specially refined for you, Mu’er, to protect you from the miasma’s harm.”

Among the four, Qin Ruoshuang and Qin Mengyu were powerful enough to not need much worry. Lu Shuanger was from the Gu Tribe in the Wildlands, so coming here was like going home, and she also had no need to worry. The only one who needed concern was the weak-cultivated Qin Mu.

Once again, Qin Mu felt the critical hit of cultivation disparity.

‘Wuwu… Just wait! I will become strong!’

‘Even if I can’t defeat enemies now, I have a trump card—Senior Divine Dragon! Please lend me your power! I know it’s a bit embarrassing, but all the new generation does it. I’m just following in my predecessors’ footsteps.’

Preparations complete, Qin Mu followed his sister’s steps and delved into the miasma.

As they went deeper, Qin Mu even saw swarms of small insects flying around, somewhat like miniature longhorn beetles.

“What are these?”

It was Qin Mu’s first time seeing such bugs.

Now it was the tour guide Lu Shuanger’s turn to shine. She knew the Wildlands like the back of her hand.

“These are Gu insects. Their strength is very weak, but in this miasma, they become powerful. They aren’t hindered by the miasma; on the contrary, they feed on cultivators who get trapped in the miasma and can’t escape.”

“Ah! Doesn’t that make them man-eating bugs?”

“Well… not exactly. They don’t spare any living thing. But don’t worry, they only bully the weak and fear the strong. They won’t dare get close to those with strong power. Of course, if you inhale too much miasma and can’t muster any True Qi, you’ll become their food.”

Qin Mu had only been walking for a short while, yet he had already witnessed the terror of the Wildlands.

No wonder people didn’t like coming here. This was only the miasma at the periphery; only after crossing the miasma would one see the true Wildlands.

Qin Mu stayed close to Miss Mengyu, and as the mist grew thicker, he took hold of her soft, delicate hand.

Feeling the warmth in her palm, Qin Mengyu was delighted by Mu’er’s initiative this time. If not for the outsider Lu Shuanger, she might not have been able to resist kissing him affectionately.

“Mu’er, come closer~”

Qin Mengyu thought Mu’er, who looked so frightened, was adorable~

With Lu Shuanger leading the way, Qin Mu’s group managed to pass through without much danger, encountering no crises along the way. Soon, the sky darkened.

Inside the miasma, the light was already poor. As the sky began to dim, the surrounding scenery quickly hid itself in the darkness.