Published: March 3, 2025
Chapter 555: Golden Scale Fruit!
In the line of sight, the Emerald Wave Pool, spanning dozens of miles, gradually shrank and finally disappeared from view, leaving no trace behind.
Ahead, the majestic and towering spiritual mountains gradually became more distinct and imposing.
Liu Yu and the others continued to move forward towards the next challenge.
The route devised by the alliance was not a straight line; it often made significant turns to confuse the demonic cultivators.
This way, even if traces were discovered, it could buy them some time, not allowing their intentions to be easily seen through.
...
Mud, filth, poisonous plants
Three days later, Liu Yu and the five arrived at a swampy area known as the "Crimson Blood Marsh."
As far as the eye could see, it was all black marshland, with many areas covered in patches of poisonous plants.
If one were to carelessly step in, they would be mercilessly swallowed by the black mud!
The reason the Crimson Blood Marsh was named so is not because the marsh itself is red, but because it is home to a species of demonic beasts called "Crimson Blood Crocodiles."
These demonic crocodiles have crimson pupils, resembling human blood, and they can spit venom, hence they are referred to as "Crimson Blood Crocodiles" by cultivators.
The five floated in mid-air, not daring to rashly enter the marsh area, but instead prepared to observe first.
Liu Yu scanned the area with his spiritual consciousness and found that this marsh was incredibly vast; even within his range, he could not detect its boundaries.
Heaven knows how many third-stage demonic cultivators were hidden within.
The specific information provided by the alliance was most detailed for the first three challenges, but the number of successful individuals was still quite low.
Those who passed through Sky Eagle Ridge numbered in the double digits, while only a handful made it through the Emerald Wave Pool.
As for those who could pass through the Crimson Blood Marsh, the combined information from the five sects indicated only three individuals.
However, previous explorations were mostly done privately by major sects without a systematic approach.
After all, for any sect, losing several golden core cultivators in succession is considered a significant injury.
Moreover, the three who managed to pass were from different generations, so the reliability of their information could vary greatly.
Thus, their understanding of the Crimson Blood Marsh was the least among the first three challenges.
What they did know was that the marsh spanned approximately two hundred miles and was inhabited by four to five third-stage demonic cultivators.
As for the first and second stage Crimson Blood Crocodile population, it numbered in the hundreds.
Not far from the Crimson Blood Marsh, the five exchanged glances while observing.
From the information collected by the five sects, Liu Yu learned that the area to the left of the Crimson Blood Marsh was called "Blackwater Lake," where the residing demonic cultivators were unknown.
The cultivators who successfully passed through this area all chose the Crimson Blood Marsh as their breakthrough point.
Those who did not succeed had naturally met their end in the jaws of demonic beasts, unable to return with any information.
As for the area on the right, the alliance's information did not provide clear records, leaving them completely unaware of what kind of demonic cultivators resided there.
The five observed from afar, seeing only a forest of ancient trees, dark and dense, where it seemed that deadly dangers were lurking.
Compared to the unknown demonic beasts on both sides, the area of the Crimson Blood Marsh was undoubtedly safer, and they had successful experiences to draw from.
However, with no knowledge of the habits of the unknown demonic cultivators, they couldn't ascertain their numbers or strength, making it a big question mark.
In contrast, following a path that had yielded successful experiences seemed the most prudent.
"What do you think?"