Sword Aura to the Heavens
Chapter 119 - 115 Yun Meng Swamp

Chapter 119: Chapter 115 Yun Meng Swamp

In the bustling Yun Meng City, there are many Demon Hunting Teams, mostly located in the southern part of the city. From the southern area, one can quickly reach the Yun Meng Swamp.

"Miss Liu, Brother Yang, the Demon Hunting Team I’m recommending to you this time is absolutely reliable. They are all experienced hunters." On the streets of Yun Meng City, a man was leading Li Fan and Liu Ji towards the outskirts of the city.

This man is a middleman, charging a fee. For those who wish to undergo trials in Yun Meng Swamp, he can help them find a Demon Hunting Team to guide them, greatly reducing the danger.

The group exited the city and arrived in the outskirts, which remained bustling with crowds everywhere, like a city outside the city.

Outside the southern gate, near the Yun Meng Swamp, gathered a large number of cultivators, a mix of good and evil, with hidden talents.

Occasionally, very powerful cultivators appear and enter the Yun Meng Swamp, and sometimes even great practitioners from outside Jiangzhou can be encountered.

Li Fan and Liu Ji followed the man to a location where they saw a group of people from afar. The man went ahead and shouted, "Brother Huang."

After speaking, he rode forward to meet the group.

This group consisted of more than ten people, led by a burly and tall man, standing about two meters high, like an iron tower. He had short hair and thick eyebrows, holding an iron staff. His muscular arms clearly showed tremendous strength.

Beside him was a very petite girl, appearing to be only sixteen or seventeen years old. Standing next to him, she seemed even smaller, with eyes hinting at a deep green hue.

"Brother Yang, let me introduce you. This is Brother Huang Xiong, with natural divine power, having hunted countless demons," the man said. "Brother Huang, this is Brother Yang, Yang Qingshan. He wishes to undergo trials in Yun Meng Swamp, and it’s hard work for Brother Huang to lead the way."

"Leave it to me," Huang Xiong nodded.

"Then I shall take my leave," the man said.

"Liu Ji, you can head back too," Li Fan said to Liu Ji.

"Young Master, be careful," Liu Ji said with a smile, not really worried about Li Fan. She knew he had plenty of cards up his sleeve and, as long as he didn’t go deep into Yun Meng Swamp, there wouldn’t be much danger.

After the two left, Huang Xiong glanced at Li Fan, not appearing to be very concerned.

The young man before him, with fair and tender skin, was clearly a young master from some family, here for the trial. Hiring a Demon Hunting Team to lead the way, he was likely to end up in the red after the trip.

However, the girl beside him kept her eyes on Li Fan. Sensing her gaze, Li Fan looked over at her and nodded with a smile.

The girl shifted her gaze, avoiding eye contact with Li Fan.

"Shall we depart?" Huang Xiong asked Li Fan.

"Yes," Li Fan nodded.

Immediately, the Demon Hunting Team members around them got up and picked up their weapons, saying, "Let’s get to work."

With that, Huang Xiong led the way, and the girl leaped up, sitting directly on Huang Xiong’s broad shoulder. He extended his left hand to support her legs, securing her position.

The group headed towards the direction of Yun Meng Swamp.

Many other Demon Hunting Teams set off simultaneously. Huang Xiong said to Li Fan, "Brother Yang, you’re an outsider?"

"Yes," Li Fan nodded.

"Hiring a Demon Hunting Team as a guide isn’t necessarily a good thing. Many have been tricked and killed. It’s bold of Brother Yang to follow a Demon Hunting Team into Yun Meng Swamp alone, but it’s advisable to be more cautious in the future," Huang Xiong said, looking ahead with an indifferent voice.

"Thank you, Brother Huang, for the warning," Li Fan nodded. The human heart is unpredictable, and it seemed such incidents were indeed common.

From a distance came the sounds of commotion. Crowds gathered towards a direction, and people glanced that way. Someone said, "I’ll go and take a look."

He headed in that direction, returning shortly, saying, "It’s students from Bai Lu Academy. They’re heading to Yun Meng Swamp for a trial. A few days ago, a genius girl joined the academy, causing the formation on White Deer Street to fluctuate. This trial in Yun Meng Swamp is likely a baptism for her, with many from the academy accompanying her."

Bai Lu Academy had a tradition: new members who entered the academy would be arranged for a demon-slaying trial in Yun Meng Swamp as a test of their strength.

"I’ve heard about this. The girl is a Heavenly Pride Girl from the Ji Family of Jiangzhou. On the first day she joined, she was accepted as the last disciple under the Academy Master’s tutelage," another added.

"Those from influential families are indeed born superior, inheriting great talents. Compared to them, we are truly worlds apart."

Many shared such sentiments. Li Fan, on the other hand, showed a trace of a different emotion. So the Academy Master had taken Ji Xue as a last disciple?

For the past few days, he had been concentrating on cultivation and hadn’t paid attention to outside news.

But this wasn’t so bad after all; although it was a misunderstanding, it still offered Ji Xue an opportunity.

"I see, they are academy students," Huang Xiong’s eyes showed a trace of respect.

"Brother Huang, are you still thinking of entering the academy?" someone beside him asked.

"Who wouldn’t want to enter the academy to study, learn etiquette, and practice cultivation?" Huang Xiong said with a sigh. It had been his former dream, but unfortunately, he was just a coarse person, unfit to enter Bai Lu Academy. He could only envy those heavenly talents who had such opportunities.

He strode forward, and in the distance, they could see the academy’s team, with a girl at the center, surrounded by others like stars around a moon.

Li Fan also looked in that direction. Bai Lu Academy held a very high status in Yun Meng City, as Jiangzhou’s Sacred Land.

Until the distant team disappeared from sight, Huang Xiong withdrew his gaze, saying, "Let’s go too."

The group continued forward and soon reached the entrance of Yun Meng Swamp. Ahead seemed to be a primeval forest, with a canopy of green ancient trees blocking the view, stretching endlessly.

"Let’s go,"

Huang Xiong strode forward, saying to Li Fan, "Brother Yang, let’s get something clear first. Once we’re in Yun Meng Swamp, we’ll serve as guides, but the demons we hunt belong to whoever kills them. If we encounter danger, we’ll do our best to protect you, but if we can’t handle it, we’ll choose to retreat."

Demon Hunting Teams charge for their service but mostly act as guides; they don’t risk their lives.

"No problem," Li Fan nodded. Laying things out openly was indeed more straightforward than harboring secret intentions.

The group entered Yun Meng Swamp, with lush ancient trees cutting off the view. Although many people entered Yun Meng Swamp, once inside, the crowd seemed especially small, scattered into groups.

"There aren’t many demons in the outer part of Yun Meng Swamp unless there’s a demon calamity," Huang Xiong explained. "Several points need to be particularly noted when entering Yun Meng Swamp."

"Firstly, be wary of human cultivators. Do not trust them easily."

"Secondly, still be wary of ’humans,’ but ones that are demons in disguise. Some powerful demons can shape-shift, and ordinary cultivators can’t tell the difference."

"Thirdly, try not to go alone. Unless you’re strong enough, it’s easy to become demon prey or be targeted by human cultivators."

Li Fan nodded. No wonder Yun Meng Swamp was considered dangerous.

Besides the danger of demons, one had to guard against humans too.

As the group ventured deeper into Yun Meng Swamp, the ancient trees covered the sky, and sunlight found it hard to penetrate.

Walking along the path, a faint mist filled Yun Meng Swamp, exuding an eerie vibe.

A trace of golden light flickered in Li Fan’s eyes, and he instantly sensed the presence of demon energy.

Huang Xiong waved his hand, and the group immediately slowed down. He glanced at the girl on his shoulder, whose eyes hinted at an eerie green. Scanning the surroundings, she softly said, "There’s demon energy."

Li Fan glanced at the girl, realizing she, too, had something peculiar about her.

"Help me."

A tender voice echoed from ahead. Huang Xiong cautioned in a low voice, "Be careful."

The ground trembled, and the surrounding ancient trees shook.

"It’s Puppet Demons, quite a few," the girl said softly. The group halted, gripping their weapons as a small boy came running wildly towards them, seemingly chased by demons.

"Help me," the boy looked up at the crowd and shouted.

"Over here,"

Huang Xiong stepped forward, and the group followed, watching as the boy leaped towards them.

"Be careful, he’s a demon."

As the boy was about to land, the girl on Huang Xiong’s shoulder let out a startled cry.

Huang Xiong was about to extend his hand to catch him when he suddenly heard the girl’s voice. His right arm lifted, and mocking laughter echoed. Vines suddenly sprouted from the boy’s body, instantly covering and binding Huang Xiong’s iron staff. They rapidly extended towards his arm and body.

Simultaneously, many vines reached for the girl on his shoulder. Though the girl cried out, it seemed too late. As Huang Xiong saw the girl being taken away, he let out a roar, and an astonishing strength erupted, pulling the vine and its host towards him.

Sharp spikes shot towards him, and the girl shouted, "Dodge."

Roaring, Huang Xiong, disregarding his safety, charged forward. Despite having experienced many demon hunting expeditions and knowing the dangers of Yun Meng Swamp, he hadn’t anticipated facing such a perilous situation this time.

What kind of demon was this boy, who could fully transform into human form?

Humans hunt demons, and demons hunt humans.

This time, had they become the prey?

In a split second, numerous thoughts surged in Huang Xiong’s mind. Just as the sharp blades were about to stab him, he braced for a life-or-death struggle when a beam of light suddenly shone, dazzling and brilliant.

"Pfft..." Those blades were severed collectively. It was a flash of sword light. Huang Xiong saw a figure appear before him, moving forward. As the sword light waved, the skyward vines were shattered frantically.

With a cold flash of the sword, the figure chased after the retreating form, slashing another beam of light to sever the vine entangling the girl. Leaping up, the figure caught her, and with the wind sweeping by, brought her back to where they were.

"Are you alright?" Li Fan asked the stunned girl, gently setting her down.

Staring dumbfounded at him, the girl shook her head.

Huang Xiong arrived, drops of sweat falling from his forehead, his heart pounding. His gaze towards Li Fan had changed.

Coming to his senses, he clasped his hands and said, "Thank you, Brother Yang, for saving my life."

"Since we’re companions, it’s the right thing to do," Li Fan replied casually, his gaze fixed on the demon ahead.