Chapter 22: Fierce Beast

  Clouds and dreams in the great marsh.

  The colorful poisonous miasma floated slowly like a rainbow, and under the sunlight, the Yunmeng Great Marsh seemed to be covered with a layer of bright gauze, the scenery was magnificent.

  Yunmeng Dazhe has the most swamps, water ponds and small lakes. Everywhere is covered with lush old trees, and there are no areas with toxic air. The air is fresh and natural. Some slender creatures are eating spiritual grass by the ponds and lakes, and their eyes seem to have a hint of spirituality.

  Beasts that can adapt to the toxic miasma are either enormous with sharp mouths and thick skin, or ugly in appearance with a body full of potent toxins.

  The Yunmeng Great Marsh, which has been uninhabited for years, is a forbidden area for both the Southern Yi and the Shuiyun Kingdom. Not to mention ordinary civilians, even Tian Shi who can wield the power of heaven and earth will find themselves in danger at every step when they enter the Yunmeng Great Marsh. They may be suddenly invaded by poisonous miasma or ambushed by ferocious and cunning beasts, and before they can even pick some spiritual herbs, they will lose their heads.

  In the past, every time a southern barbarian envoy went to Mount Tian to visit the leader of the Qiankun Sect, Gu Dan, they would always travel in groups, choosing paths where strange beasts were less likely to appear, and hurry across the Yunmeng Great Marsh as early as possible, fearing that they might startle the large numbers of ferocious beasts here and bring endless trouble.

  ……

  It has been three days since I arrived at Yunmeng Great Marsh.

  Ji Changkong had always been wandering outside, carefully avoiding the constantly moving poisonous miasma and remaining vigilant for the ferocious beasts that might suddenly emerge at any moment. He was extremely cautious with every step, not daring to be even slightly careless.

  The green toxic mist that lingered in the air above the must-pass location had become an insurmountable natural barrier.

  For three days, Ji Changkong silently observed many unknown agile small beasts. Accidentally entering the area covered by toxic gas, it wouldn't take long for those who rashly entered the desperate land to collapse and rot, leaving only a few white bones.

  Those who can proudly move in the field covered by toxic gas are often ferocious beasts like saber-toothed tigers and single-horned pythons. These beasts, which have adapted to the toxic gas, have incredible strength, and their skin is like a solid armor that is immune to all poisons. They are often irritable and occasionally stage a cruel and bloody battle in the toxic gas.

  Far away.

  Three-headed blood-stained alligator, suddenly rushed out of the swamp together, shining with fierce cold light sharp teeth, fiercely stabbed on a sword-toothed rhino wandering near the swamp, and quickly dragged it into the swamp!

  The swampy waters splashed everywhere, the sword-toothed crocodile struggled violently, and the three-headed blood-stained alligator fought crazily.

  After a while, the saber-toothed tiger that had fallen into the swamp slowly sank down, its crimson blood mixing with the polluted water. The sounds of tearing flesh and gnawing bones in the swamp were only then transmitted, sending shivers down one's spine.

  He took a deep breath, and then downed another mouthful of Huo Long Jiao, feeling the fierce boiling of the liquor inside his body, he finally felt slightly at ease, no longer so fearful.

  It wasn't until now that Ji Changkong realized the meaning of Luo Tian's words three days ago: Drinking more wine can boost one's courage!

  The princess couldn't help but smile wryly, if it weren't for the fire dragon propping her up, after witnessing such brutal and bloody battles, she feared that she wouldn't have had the courage to move forward again.

  Night falls quietly.

  When the bright moonlight spilled onto the Cloud Dream Marsh, Ji Changkong, who had been waiting bitterly for three days, finally got the rare opportunity!

  The green poisonous mist slowly moved and drifted towards the northern part of Yunmeng Great Marsh.

  It's this moment!

  Ji Changkong suddenly moved, holding a jar of Huo Long Shao, and darted out like lightning, carefully avoiding the swampy area where giant crocodges with bloodstains appeared. He recklessly galloped and ran straight towards the deeper part of Yunmeng Daze.

  The giant trees cast their shadows around him, swaying back and forth. He didn't dare to think about the ferocious beasts that often lurked in the darkness. With a surge of courage, he kept telling himself that this journey was for the scar on his aunt's face, and he recklessly dashed through the night.

  Wow!

  The figure stopped abruptly in its tracks.

  In front of a pungent smell, a giant python with green eyes was moving around. In front of it, five golden-backed centipedes, larger than humans, were slowly closing in. The huge centipedes' backs shone with golden light, their small eyes gleaming with ferocity, clearly taking the python as prey.

  Her heart skipped a beat, and Ji Changkong carefully retreated to the side of an ancient tree that was still lush with leaves in autumn, where she skillfully climbed up.

  Bloody and cruel fighting, the curtain was opened when he climbed the tree. He had just stood on the tree, and the bloody battle in front of him had already ended.

  The solitary boa's body was covered in fresh blood, and five golden centipedes were sprawled on top of it, happily enjoying their spoils...

  It only took a short while, and the python's flesh was eaten clean, leaving behind only a vertebra and its dark green patterned skin.

  The golden centipede, having eaten its fill and drunk enough, had its golden back shine a few more degrees brighter, only then did it slowly and contentedly leave.

  ……

  After a long, long time, making sure the golden centipede had gone far away, Ji Changkong first carefully observed his surroundings for a while, and when he saw that there were no more ferocious beasts in sight, he quietly descended from the tree and started running wildly again.

  After a while, the pale purple mist spread out in front of him, and Ji Changkong had to stop again. This time he didn't wait for too long, just a day and a half, and the pale purple mist drifted away to the other side when the sky was filled with colorful clouds.

  Ji Changkong finally put his mind at ease and once again rushed wildly into the depths of Yunmeng Dazhe.

  ...and so, Ji Changkong dodged those ferocious beasts that were not afraid of the poisonous miasma, waiting for the road-blocking poisonous miasma to drift away, and with difficulty, step by step, he made his way deeper into the Yunmeng Great Marsh.

  Time flies, and one month has passed.

  Along the way, Ji Changkong relied on some wild fruits to fill his stomach. After experiencing countless dangers, he finally saw the Black Poisonous Swamp surrounded by dark brown mist. The water in the poisonous swamp was also dark brown, emitting bubbles with a "gurgling" sound. When the bubbles burst, they emitted a faint black smoke that made people feel nauseous.

  Looking far into the distance at the poisonous dragon pool shrouded in black toxic mist, Ji Changkong was on the verge of tears.

  He suddenly discovered that the toxic miasma above the Poison Dragon Pool came from the polluted water in the pool. The dark brown poisonous water in the Poison Dragon Pool kept bubbling, meaning that the toxic miasma above would never disperse.

  According to Luo Tian, the thousand-year-old Purple Golden Toad is near the Poison Dragon Pool, surrounded by black poisonous mist all year round. He can't get close to the Poison Dragon Pool at all, so how can he find the Thousand-Year-Old Purple Golden Toad?

  Ji Changkong's face was bitter and twisted in thought, furrowing his brow as he desperately tried to think of a way to approach the Poison Dragon Pool, but found that there really was no solution.

  She glanced at the small half tank of Huo Long Shao in her hand, which she had finally managed to save up. Originally intending to use this small amount of Huo Long Shao to thoroughly defeat Ji Changkong in the Poison Dragon Pool, she suddenly lost all motivation and silently sighed. She tore open the oilcloth seal and Ji Changkong, with a worried expression, leaned over the tank mouth and gulped down a few more mouthfuls.

  A strong smell of liquor quietly overflowed from the mouth of the fire-breathing dragon's furnace...

  Suddenly, from the ancient tree cluster near the quiet Poison Dragon Pool, a "rustling" sound was transmitted, and the pool water of the Poison Dragon Pool made a "gurgling" noise, as if some strange object had also rushed out of it.

  After drinking a few sips of the fiery Longwangjiu, Ji Changkong felt as if there was a fierce flame burning intensely inside his body. For a moment, he hesitated and couldn't decide whether to continue staying here or not.

  At this moment, Ji Changkong, who heard the strange sound, involuntarily looked towards the Poison Dragon Pool again.

  In an instant, Ji Changkong, who had just been frowning and looking worried, was now shocked and terrified, his heart racing with fear. After being stunned for a moment, he suddenly ran out desperately as if his life depended on it.

  In the Poison Dragon Pool, one by one, strange and ferocious beasts with sinister eyes gleaming with ferocity, as if they had discovered some delicious food, actually charged towards him!

  The blood-striped giant alligator, the sword-toothed rhinoceros, and the single-horned python that had been seen before, at least Ji Changkong, who grew up in Qingyan Mountain, could still call out the names of those fierce beasts. However, the fierce beasts rushing out from near the Poison Dragon Pool were all strange and bizarre, with flying blood snakes, nine-headed strange birds, and scorpions with green wings...

  The first was a three-person-sized toad, its skin covered in purple-golden wrinkles, its wide-open mouth full of dense teeth, and a faint black mist overflowing from the depths of its throat, emitting a foul bloody smell that wafted far away.

  Millennium Violet Golden Toad!

  He silently screamed in his heart, but didn't dare to turn around and take the saliva from its mouth. He was truly chilled to the bone. Not to mention the obviously cruel and bloodthirsty beasts behind it, just the appearance of the thousand-year-old purple gold toad alone made him know that he had no chance of winning at all.

  How can it be so big?!

  Ji Changkong's heart was screaming in despair, he had always thought that the thousand-year-old Purple Gold Toad would be about the size of a washbasin, which would have been manageable. But reality is always cruel, and when the thousand-year-old Purple Gold Toad actually appeared before him, Ji Changkong immediately lost all hope, and for the first time, he felt hatred towards Luo Tian in his heart.

  In his view, Luo Tian was simply letting him come and deliver himself to death!

  ……

  Ji Changkong didn't even have time to dodge, his speed was far inferior to the Thousand Year Purple Golden Toad's. Just as he had barely run out fifteen zhang, the Thousand Year Purple Golden Toad had already caught up to him, and with a flash of lightning, it leapt directly in front of Ji Changkong.

  Before Ji Changkong could steady himself, the thousand-year-old Violet Gold Toad's blood mouth opened wide and bit fiercely at Ji Changkong's left leg.

  Ah!

  Ji Changkong suddenly felt a sharp pain that pierced his heart, his left leg instantly went numb, and fresh blood immediately flowed out.

  "Let you bite! Let you bite!"

  In the split second that pain arrived, he had no more fear in his heart, instead, he channeled the primordial energy within him to his fist and heavily struck it onto the Millennium Purple Golden Toad's body.

  One more time, two more times...

  The thousand-year-old Purple Golden Toad did not relax, but Ji Changkong couldn't withstand the intense poison in its teeth and gradually became dizzy...

  Before his eyelids heavily closed, a shocking and earth-shaking roar suddenly came from the distant Poison Dragon Pool. Ji Changkong saw from afar that a gigantic and ferocious beast had leaped out of the pool and was rushing towards him like a madman.

  All the strange and bizarre beasts, after this ferocious beast let out a loud roar, all fell to the ground motionless. Even those that could fly flew down to the ground with a thud. The thousand-year-old purple gold toad, which had been tightly biting his left leg, also immediately loosened its grip.

  A strong gust of wind came, and the huge ferocious beast suddenly appeared, its curved sharp claws like a giant cold knife, fiercely stabbing at the thousand-year-old purple gold toad, instantly piercing through the body of the thousand-year-old purple gold toad, nailing it firmly to the ground.

  It wasn't until then that Ji Changkong truly lost consciousness, his heavy eyelids finally closing.

  He didn't even know that at this moment, the blood hole on his left leg, which was bitten by the thousand-year-old purple gold toad, was emitting fresh blood, and in the redness... there was actually a hint of purple.

  ……