Chapter 69: An Encounter-This Martial Artist Is Too Dangerous(Square Five)

"Move in deeper!" Cheng Yi's expression was icy, his words brimming with murderous intent. "Anyone who dares provoke the Research Institute must die!" "And you all, remember this!" "If you fall into another trap, you’ll die on your own!" His last words were laced with an undeniable chill. He was furious beyond measure.

"Yes, sir!" Several high-ranking martial artists flushed with embarrassment. Along the way, they had suffered through countless traps—a great many of which could hardly be called traps at all. Step on one—snap!—out would spring a wooden middle finger, carved from a branch. Was this what they called a trap? It did little harm, but the insult was grievous. Yet every time, they’d be startled, the whole team thrown into a panic, mortified beyond belief.

But there were other traps, ones that could truly be deadly. This constant blend of genuine and false dangers left them gnashing their teeth in hatred.

Cautiously, the group pressed deeper into the Poison Mist Marsh. Du Lin and Shen Yuan had received a few bottles of healing salve from the high-ranking martial artists. After taking the medicine, they were placed in the middle of the formation, surrounded by no less than four high-ranking martial artists keeping a close watch on them. Du Lin and Shen Yuan understood this was both protection and surveillance. Surviving an enemy encounter naturally made them objects of suspicion. Should either of them show even the slightest hint of anything amiss, these four would not hesitate to end their lives.

Though anxious inside, their expressions remained calm and composed. They had no idea what Fang Qingyun’s plans were and feared he might stir up trouble elsewhere. Fortunately, they had advanced over a thousand meters without any trace of Fang Qingyun.

"Could he have escaped in another direction?" Cheng Yi muttered to himself.

"Impossible!" Three voices replied in unison. Du Lin and Shen Yuan insisted Fang Qingyun had headed this way, as did the tracker.

"Fang Qingyun left faint traces in exactly this direction. If he tried to circle around..." The tracker paused, then exclaimed in alarm, "He would have to step into the second layer!"

The Poison Mist Marsh was divided into three layers and an outer fringe. The outer rim alone could kill an ordinary martial artist. Lingering in the first layer could finish off a warrior of general rank. The second layer was deadlier still—even generals couldn’t last an hour within it. Fang Qingyun had only just become a martial artist. How could he dare venture that far?

The tracker turned, glaring at Shen Yuan and Du Lin, grinding his teeth. "I’ve suspected you two from the start. Tell me, was that really Fang Qingyun?"

Shen Yuan sneered. "You’ve been tracking from the Research Institute all the way here, and only now you ask whether it was Fang Qingyun? Does this mean you’ve been following the wrong person all along?"

The tracker fell silent in an instant.

Cheng Yi turned to the high-ranking martial artists. "Can you still go on?"

Go on, my foot! The high-ranking martial artists had been cursing inwardly for a while. The toxic vapors of the marsh were constantly corroding them. They had only pressed on for Du Lin and Shen Yuan’s sake, since they were wounded, and it should have been those two who faltered first.

Who could have guessed those two would remain silent all this time? Their endurance was astonishing. What the others didn’t know was that Du Lin and Shen Yuan didn’t dare utter a word. Without knowing Fang Qingyun’s plans, they kept as quiet as possible unless directly questioned by Cheng Yi. The more you say, the more likely you are to slip up.

The tracker spoke up. "Sir Cheng Yi, even if we could continue, it’s pointless. We cannot enter the second layer!" They were only in the shallowest part of the first layer—any deeper and disaster was inevitable.

Cheng Yi stared into the poisonous marsh, then suddenly turned and walked away. At this, the others let out a long sigh of relief. At last, they could leave this noxious place.

Fang Qingyun...

Cheng Yi’s eyes burned with deep frustration. Where had Fang Qingyun gone? Had he vanished into thin air? Or had he pressed further into the marsh? He had only just become a martial artist—how could he possibly go deeper?

"Fang Qingyun, I will kill you!" Cheng Yi’s face twisted with rage. This time, he had brought nearly ten high-ranking martial artists to hunt down a mere fledgling, yet they hadn’t so much as glimpsed him—and every last one of them had been injured. His face had been utterly lost. Even the director would be disappointed in him. This was a devastating blow to his ambition and career.

Suddenly, a sharp, forceful energy whistled through the air. Cheng Yi’s expression changed dramatically. "Enemy attack! Be on guard!" he shouted.

Bang! A shield sprang to his arm, blocking the fierce assault. Cheng Yi had always suspected there was something off about this mission. Now that the ambush had come, he felt a twisted sense of relief. At least now he had an explanation. If he could turn the tables and kill the attacker, he would earn great merit.

But the attack was unimaginably powerful. It struck his shield, sending him flying, tumbling embarrassingly across the ground, and slamming hard into a tree.

"Who’s there?" The high-ranking martial artists of the Research Institute shouted in fury, rushing forward to surround the attacker. Only then did they see who it was...

"Li Xinhui!" Cheng Yi roared, clambering to his feet. "Was this all your doing?"

"Nonsense!" Old Li sneered, glancing disdainfully at the Research Institute's martial artists. "Where’s my student? Hand him over!"

"Your student? I’m a high-ranking martial artist from the Research Institute. How dare you ambush me?" Cheng Yi advanced cautiously, shield in one hand, a short rifle in the other, eyes locked on Old Li as if stalking prey.

Old Li looked at him with contempt. "I’m a teacher. You just threatened my student—how dare you blame me for attacking you? If I don’t beat you to death, I’m already showing your mother mercy!"

"You..." Murderous light flickered in Cheng Yi’s eyes. "Kill him!"

"Kill!" Including Cheng Yi, ten men charged at Old Li.

Old Li laughed coldly. "A bunch of small fry. Let me show you the strength of a general-rank warrior."

Bang! The battle erupted.

...

[Physique +1]

[Physique: 27]

...

[Source -100]

[Source: 1456]

Fang Qingyun strode boldly through the Poison Mist Marsh. Sparring with two high-ranking martial artists had helped him gradually adapt to his body. He put all his available points into physique. If increasing strength was the best way to resist pressure, then boosting physique was the best weapon against poison.

Improving physique meant an all-around enhancement—resilience against negative conditions, increased recovery, stronger defense. It even boosted talent, strength, and speed. The three additional points in physique made Fang Qingyun keenly aware of his improvement—greater strength, faster speed, more robust recovery, and finer control over his body. If he were to face Shen Yuan and Du Lin again now, he was sure it would be even easier.

Of course, what mattered most at the moment was escaping the Poison Mist Marsh as quickly as possible.

Huadu City sat on the edge of the marsh, so maps of the area were sold in the markets. Though not exhaustive, detailed guides to the surrounding region could be purchased. When he entered the marsh, Fang Qingyun had taken a straight path. Now, as he prepared to leave, he traced an arc.

"Hmm?" As he moved forward, Fang Qingyun suddenly stopped, suspiciously glancing behind him. Was it just his imagination? Had he just heard sounds of battle?

"Could they have been unlucky enough to run into one of the poisonous creatures here?" he muttered. The Poison Mist Marsh harbored demons, though they were exceedingly rare, and all of them were of highly toxic species.

"How enviable." Fang Qingyun’s eyes glinted with longing. He wished he could encounter one of those poisonous monsters himself. They were like supercharged herbicides—defeating one would provide a way to enhance his source power. Otherwise, he would have to spend a fortune at special martial artist shops, buying poisons capable of harming warriors. That would cost a fortune—could his meager savings possibly cover it?

Lost in thought, Fang Qingyun suddenly caught a whiff of a sweet, metallic scent.