Watching the information slowly disappear from his field of view, a trace of gravity emerged in Wang Chen's eyes.
Although he had easily killed the black snake, the effort expended was not inconsiderable.
And this was just the first monster Wang Chen had encountered in the land palace.
Countless strange and evil creatures inhabited the Nine Dragons Land Palace, undoubtedly representing the biggest threat to explorers.
Over the centuries, who knows how many disciples from Sects and Loose Cultivators went down and never returned. Continue your saga on empire
The majority were victim to these monsters.
Wang Chen could handle three to five or even a dozen of these nameless black snakes with no problem.
But if the number surged into the dozens or hundreds, that would be exceedingly dangerous.
With forbidden air in the land palace and suppression of Purple Mansion cultivation, even escaping was difficult—slight carelessness could lead to a plunge into an abyss with no bottom!
Warning himself, Wang Chen began to dig up the Starlight Grass by the water pool.
He estimated that the black snake he had just killed was the guardian of these Starlight Grasses, akin to an elite monster guarding a checkpoint.
Just one had earned him over a hundred points of Human Virtue.
And of the aged Starlight Grass here, Wang Chen found as many as six plants. Judging by the standard of a century for every inch, the oldest among them exceeded five hundred years!
Wang Chen didn't know how much a single Starlight Grass could sell for in Wanling City, but he suspected it would be no small sum.
He carefully excavated the herbs, roots and all.
The roots, stems, leaves, and pistils of the Starlight Grass were all medicinal, hence the more intact the plant, the higher its value.
Although Wang Chen had not done much harvesting before, he was, after all, a Purple Mansion cultivator. With one technique understood, others came easily, so he naturally did not make beginner's mistakes.
After excavating the six Starlight Grasses, Wang Chen placed them all into a Jade Box and then stored it in the Sumeru Ring.
Ensuring maximal preservation of the herbs' efficacy.
Indeed, there were more Starlight Grasses growing by the water pool, but he did not touch those that weren't aged.
"Hunt without end, there will be fish every year," leaving some for those who come later, in adherence to the natural cycle of life!
With his bounty in hand, Wang Chen continued forward.
He did not know whether the direction he had chosen was correct, but once a decision was made, he would not change it without good reason.
There are no days or nights in the underground world, and without clock or tools, the passage of time is difficult to estimate.
Wang Chen traversed one hill after another, encountering attacks from numerous monsters along the way.
Mainly snakes, scorpions, foxes, and rodents of unusual sorts.
These creatures enjoyed hiding under piles of rocks, beneath soil layers, or in thick weeds, suddenly attacking passersby, launching forward with biting or spewing venom.
Wang Chen also discovered many Spirit Grasses and Spiritual Medicines.
Encountering monsters, he defeated them with fists and sword, harvesting Human Virtue.
Finding spiritual items, he gathered them into his bag, bolstering his stores.
As time passed and battles waged, Wang Chen gradually adapted to the special environment here.
Yet Wang Chen had still not found the exit, and the Nine Dragons Land Palace Geomantic Chart showed no position.
Wang Chen calmed his heart, prepared for a long exploration.
He might have wandered for three or four days without leaving the hilly area.
Nevertheless, his collection in the Sumeru Ring had grown substantially.
Although Wang Chen could persist for a long time in this way, the psychological pressure was always there.
After another two or three days of journeying, a desolate village appeared within Wang Chen's sight.
His eyes suddenly brightened.
Fear of aimless wandering is rooted in the lack of change, the monotonous similarities that make one feel ensnared in an isolated and lonely quagmire, easily leading to the collapse of one's mental state.
Wang Chen's will was far from fragile, but he was not willing to be trapped in a difficult situation.
The appearance of the abandoned village ahead might just be an unpredictable element!
Wang Chen quickened his pace unconsciously.
The deserted village was now within sight.
Nobody knew how many years the village had been abandoned; most of the buildings had crumbled to earth and tile, but a few stone houses still maintained their basic structure.
Only the houses were overgrown with wild grass.
As Wang Chen approached, a creature resembling a weasel suddenly sprang out.
It immediately turned tail and fled out of the village.
Wang Chen did not strike to kill and let the creature go.
He took a turn around the village but didn't find any other evil creatures or beings.
Then he chose the stone house in the best condition.
The door had long been rotted into mud, but the structure was still solid; even the rooftop had not collapsed.
The room was quite large; it was empty, with a thick layer of dust on the ground, emanating a musty scent.
Wang Chen swept the area with his Divine Sense, and after confirming it was safe, he cast the Cleansing Technique.
He cleared out all the dust.
Subsequently, Wang Chen took out some items from his Storage Bag and set up a fire in the room.
Soon, the air was filled with the aroma of roasting meat.
Actually, with Wang Chen's level of cultivation, camping in the wilderness and camping here made little difference.
Such a stone house could hardly provide much defense.
But some habits seem to be engraved in one's genes, living in a house just feels safer and much more comfortable.
Along with Spiritual Wine, Wang Chen enjoyed a hearty barbecue feast.
Having filled his stomach, he used the Mudstone Technique to fashion a stone door for the house.
Wang Chen's Mudstone Technique had reached the tier of Great Perfection, and his Object-Controlling Technique was equally peerless; for him, shaping a stone door by hand was truly simple, and the final product could not only open and close but also had a movable stone bolt.
Although there wasn't much necessity in doing so, it was a kind of pleasure.
After sealing the entrance, Wang Chen took out an Array Plate from the Sumeru Ring and set it up in the room.
This portable Array Plate, seized from the Mysterious Intent Taoist, integrated spirit gathering, defense, and concealment; it was the fundamental safeguard for his rest and cultivation in unknown territories.
The Array Plate was of high tier and required medium grade Spirit Stones to be activated. Wang Chen first initiated the Spirit Gathering Array, practiced the three Circuits of Heaven, completed his day's practice to replenish the Mana in his Dantian, and then activated the Defensive Array.
He sat on the meditation cushion, closed his eyes, and began to rest.
Even though cultivators can go without sleep for long periods, sleep can greatly alleviate mental fatigue, restoring one's Soul Strength and vitality. Therefore, even Golden Core True Persons and Nascent Soul True Immortals have times when they slumber and dream.
Wang Chen's consciousness had just fallen into chaos when suddenly his heart stirred.
His eyes snapped open.
His eyes were shining brightly, already having activated the Clarify Technique!
The Defensive Array had been disturbed.
The next moment, Wang Chen saw black tentacles squeezing through a crack at the bottom of the stone door.
They were silently extending toward his position.
A chill, sinister aura managed to penetrate the Array, and the temperature of the surrounding space plummeted.
The fire beside Wang Chen quickly dimmed, teetering on the brink of extinction!
The second update is here.