Ling Tian Sword God

Chapter 119: Chapter 118 Lake Heart Island_1

Half an hour had passed, and Ling Chen was nearing the depths of Black Wind Ridge.

Along the way, he had encountered some First-level Exotic Beasts. Ling Chen chose to avoid them, only resorting to combat when he could no longer do so, killing the beasts.

The stench of blood, in such a place, could easily attract even more powerful Exotic Beasts.

This trial, while ultimately assessed based on the level of Exotic Beasts hunted, was more importantly a test of the survival skills of these True Disciples.

Without any supplies, surviving for seven days in Black Wind Ridge was not an easy task at all.

Food and water all had to be acquired by oneself.

For many inexperienced True Disciples, this was a true test.

WHOOSH!

Ling Chen dropped from a large tree into a swamp. The slightest misstep could mean getting stuck in the mire, a certain death.

He took a bottle out of his Heavenly Mansion Ring and sprinkled some yellow powder on himself. This Poisonous Powder could deter the numerous venomous insects and fierce beasts here.

Glancing around, Ling Chen fixed his gaze on a grey lump of earth about ten meters away. In the middle of the lump, a small plant covered with silver scales stood erect, emitting a faint glow.

Silver-scaled Grass.

Ling Chen’s eyes lit up. Silver-scaled Grass! Quite valuable, and the main ingredient in concocting the Silver Armor Pill.

The Silver Armor Pill was a Second-grade High-Level Elixir. After consumption, it could temporarily condense a silver layer on the skin, increasing defense, which was very useful in combat.

Without hesitation, Ling Chen leaped into motion. He swept over the Silver-scaled Grass, and with a swipe of his Heavy Sword, the grass uprooted and flew into his hand. Before he could get a closer look, a cold light converged from the marsh below, locking onto him.

SLAP!

A python tail several meters long whipped through the air at Ling Chen, fiercely striking the mound where he stood.

BANG!

Soaring from the mound, Ling Chen managed to avoid the strike, but the mound was smashed into several pieces, sinking into the swamp.

SPLASH!

A Python Exotic Beast burst from the water. Its nearly twenty-meter-long body, emitting a strong corrosive aura, pounced at Ling Chen. Its mouth, full of dense fangs, opened wide in midair, and a foul, fishy stench assaulted his senses.

Ling Chen calmly slashed his sword at the Python Exotic Beast’s head.

To Ling Chen’s surprise, his slash, delivered with sixty percent of his strength, only made the Python Exotic Beast recoil a few meters. Only a bit of its skin was broken on its head, and it didn’t seem to have any serious injuries.

Ling Chen dropped from the sky, landing atop a piece of deadwood.

The Python Exotic Beast whipped its tail, flinging mud everywhere. It opened its blood-red maw again and lunged at Ling Chen.

Sword in hand, Ling Chen launched himself off the deadwood. He spun like a drill, plunging right into the Python Exotic Beast’s mouth, and the Heavenly Emperor Heavy Sword pierced through with unstoppable momentum.

Ling Chen himself bypassed the Python Exotic Beast’s head. He grabbed the Heavenly Emperor Heavy Sword as it shot out from the back of its skull, then, stepping on the driftwood floating on the swamp’s surface, landed on the shore.

Fresh blood dripped from the blade of the Heavenly Emperor Heavy Sword.

SPLASH!

The Python Exotic Beast’s massive body collapsed into the swamp, sending up a huge spray of mud and water.

After stowing the Silver-scaled Grass, Ling Chen left the swamp.

Black Wind Ridge was a place of baleful yin energy. The Exotic Beasts here, warped by this long-term influence, had become exceptionally powerful, their bodies far more robust than those of beasts elsewhere.

However, after about fifteen minutes, Ling Chen saw a mountain ravine. It was completely enveloped in a multi-colored miasma that obscured any clear view, leaving only a vague silhouette visible.

Ling Chen took out the map of Black Wind Ridge, spread it on the ground, and observed it closely.

Every Disciple had been given such a map, which also marked some dangerous locations.

I should be here now.

Ling Chen’s gaze landed on a mountain ravine marked on the map. This location featured a lake stretching for several miles, matching the scene before him well.

This lake was known as Demon Lake. Thirty years ago, a Top Sky Apex Strong named the Demon Elder was rumored to have disappeared here. He vanished without a trace, his name subsequently struck from the records of the Martial World.

The lake, originally unnamed, was later called Demon Lake by posterity.

Walking to the edge of the lake, Ling Chen scanned it. The water was so clear he could see the bottom—it was drinkable spring water.

After testing for poison with a silver needle, Ling Chen took out his water skin and began to fill it.

It seems I’ll need to row across to the other side.

A thick, multi-colored miasma shrouded the entire lake surface. The surrounding terrain was treacherous, with no discernible path, making it impossible to cross even using the Wind Shadow Step.

Ling Chen went back, felled a large tree, hollowed out its core to make a crude raft, and began to row towards the other side of the lake.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Ling Chen spotted an island in the middle of the lake. This Lake Heart Island was approximately a square mile in size and was shrouded in the multi-colored miasma. He probably wouldn’t have discovered this place if he hadn’t ventured so deep.

Legend says that where a Top Sky Apex Strong falls, Heavenly Heart Grass will grow. Every drop of blood from such an expert is said to sprout a Heavenly Heart Grass. I wonder if there’s any here.

Ling Chen went ashore and began to look around. If the rumors about the Demon Elder are true, then this place must have Heavenly Heart Grass.

Deciding to try his luck, Ling Chen soon found a small, six-leafed plant emitting a blood-red glow in a narrow stone crevice about a hundred meters away.

He carefully dug out the six-leafed plant and gently placed it inside a jade box he had prepared.

It seems the rumors are true.

A smile touched Ling Chen’s lips. Only the Essence Blood of a Top Sky Apex Strong could nurture Heavenly Heart Grass.

Warriors who reach the Sky Apex Realm can defy heaven and alter fate, possessing incredibly powerful bodies. Even in death, their Essence Blood can persist for years. This blood merges with the soil and, combined with vital energy, gives rise to Heavenly Heart Grass.

Heavenly Heart Grass is far more precious than ordinary Second-grade High-Level Elixirs, its value even comparable to Grade-3 Spirit Pills. This is because it can be chewed and swallowed directly to enhance a warrior’s Cultivation and strengthen their physical body.

Not rushing to refine this Heavenly Heart Grass, Ling Chen continued searching. I have to explore this place thoroughly before other Disciples arrive. Even if I can’t gather all the Heavenly Heart Grass, I must get the vast majority of it.

Half an hour later, Ling Chen found another Heavenly Heart Grass in a stone crevice.

WOOO... WOOO...

Just then, a sound like a ghostly wail emerged from the hill at the center of the island.

What is that strange sound?

Hearing this sound, Ling Chen felt his very soul tremble, and goosebumps erupted over his skin.

Instinctively, Ling Chen wanted to get away from the small mountain. He executed his Wind Shadow Step and leaped to the top of a large tree. But just then, at the foot of that very mountain, he spotted a third Heavenly Heart Grass.

Staring at the eerie small mountain, Ling Chen hesitated. Ultimately, with utmost caution, he decided to approach.