Chapter 8
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Chapter 8: The Enigmatic Valley
The night passed in tranquility, marred only by the occasional disturbance of a few demonic beasts, which Zhao Wuji effortlessly repelled with a wave of sound. As the first light of dawn touched the eastern horizon, Zhao Wuji adjusted his robes, stood up, cast a glance at Fengyun Wuji, and then gazed towards the distance, saying, “I intend to spend some time at the abode of my mentor’s esteemed friend, the Demon-Slayer Hand. If you are so inclined, you are welcome to accompany me.”
“I am unfamiliar with this place and have no particular destination, so I shall join you. At the very least, we can watch each other’s backs along the way.”
Zhao Wuji smiled warmly, then turned and leaped from the cliff’s edge, leaving a trail of radiant light as he soared towards the east. Fengyun Wuji, employing the art of Sword Flight, followed swiftly in his wake.
After three days, Fengyun Wuji finally arrived at an immense valley with Zhao Wuji. The valley was enveloped in a dense fog that obscured the view. As they approached the entrance from a distance, Zhao Wuji signaled for Fengyun Wuji to descend, and they proceeded on foot. The entrance to the valley was quite narrow, marked by two bold characters in cinnabar ink—’Enigmatic Valley’. Fengyun Wuji looked at Zhao Wuji with a puzzled expression, but Zhao Wuji seemed oblivious and walked straight ahead, bowing deeply to two elderly men with white beards lying near the entrance. He then picked up a rusty knife from the ground and made a swift, shallow cut on his index finger. Despite its dull appearance, the knife was sharp and easily drew blood, which dripped into a stone bowl embedded in the rock below. The bowl, a vivid red, had a layer of dark red substance at the bottom.
The two white-bearded elders briefly opened their eyes when Zhao Wuji cut his finger, seemingly inspecting the bowl, and nodded with satisfaction before turning their gaze to Fengyun Wuji.
“Do as I did,” Zhao Wuji handed the knife to Fengyun Wuji and explained, “This is a precaution to prevent high-level demons from infiltrating the valley. Some demons possess extraordinary shape-shifting abilities, making them nearly indistinguishable from humans, even to the most skilled warriors. Blood is one of the few ways to discern them.”
Understanding, Fengyun Wuji took the knife, made a gentle cut on his finger, and let his blood fall into the stone bowl.
“You may both enter now. Remember, life and death are matters of fate,” the white-bearded elders said, waving their hands and closing their eyes, signaling the end of the conversation.
Inside the Enigmatic Valley, the cliffs rose steeply, and countless caves were carved into the rock faces, densely packed with figures seated motionless within.
“In the Enigmatic Valley, the higher one’s power, the higher one’s dwelling. A boundary of three hundred meters is observed; those below are not to disturb those above in their meditation. I have visited this place once eons ago and again a few millennia past, but I have never encountered the revered beings who reside above three hundred meters. Some have been in solitary cultivation for hundreds of thousands of years, unmoving.”
Fengyun Wuji was intrigued by the idea and thought that simply flying up for a look would suffice. Zhao Wuji, with a knowing smile, seemed to read his thoughts and said, “Try to ascend to three hundred meters and see for yourself.”
Fengyun Wuji, feeling a strange sensation about the area above three hundred meters, said nothing further and propelled himself upwards with a burst of energy. As he ascended, he felt the air resistance growing stronger. Above two hundred meters, his flight speed was comparable to walking, and he struggled to reach a little over two hundred and fifty meters before he could go no further. It was as if the space above had solidified, resembling a massive block of cold iron, barring further progress.
His inner energy suddenly faltered, nearly depleting, and with no other choice, Fengyun Wuji slowly descended back to the ground.
“How was it?” asked Zhao Wuji.
“I could only reach two hundred and fifty meters,” replied Fengyun Wuji.
“A decade ago, I could only reach two hundred and eighty meters, and since then, I have only managed to advance a meter or two further. Beyond that, it is impossible. The higher one goes, the more intense the aura of the powerful becomes. The unintentional emanations of their presence gather and form an assault akin to a physical attack. Our strength is far too inferior to enter the upper levels. Those in the Enigmatic Valley now are all below three hundred meters. The ones above have not made an appearance in many years.”
Fengyun Wuji gazed upwards, contemplating the dense spiritual energy and the swirling true energy currents above, and mused, “Are they all in seclusion?”
“Indeed,” Zhao Wuji confirmed.
“The Enigmatic Valley is graced with a spiritual array set by the supreme beings, which gathers spiritual energy at a rate hundreds or thousands of times faster than solitary cultivation. Hence, many free sects gather here to practice. However, the most crucial point is…” Zhao Wuji looked into Fengyun Wuji’s eyes and continued calmly, “This ancient world is not like the spatial plane we originate from, where a technique can be perfected in just a few decades. Although our people may not be as exceptional as the celestial beings or the demons from other planes, our numbers are not few. Yet, along our journey, have you seen many people? No, that is the point. In this world, the more potent and divine the technique, the longer it takes to master, often tens of thousands, or even hundreds of thousands of years. The scarcity of ancient humans is largely due to the fact that most are in seclusion. I myself have cultivated for tens of thousands of years and have only achieved a modest level of success. However, my nature finds it difficult to endure such endless years of cultivation, which is why I have come out for a journey. Above three hundred meters in the Enigmatic Valley, there must be those who are cultivating powerful techniques.”
“For so long! …” Fengyun Wuji was at a loss for words, thinking of the Mind Sword Body he had obtained from the Holy Palace, unsure of how long it would take to reach its pinnacle—tens of thousands, or perhaps hundreds of thousands, or even millions of years? Already at a significant temporal disadvantage compared to others, the prospect of such an extended period to master the technique was daunting. If he were to face formidable demons or even hostile forces within the human race during this time, how would he fare?
As these thoughts weighed on him, Fengyun Wuji’s brow furrowed deeper. Although he understood that martial cultivation was a process that could not be rushed, the harsh reality that even the lower-level demons were not easily manageable was a source of great concern.
“Come, things will take their course, let’s go inside first,” Zhao Wuji said, patting Fengyun Wuji on the shoulder before striding confidently into the thick fog. Fengyun Wuji shook off his reverie and followed closely behind.
The deeper they ventured into the Enigmatic Valley, the more expansive the space became, and the fog gradually thinned out, until at about a kilometer from the entrance, there was no trace of mist.
Beneath a cliff, at the entrance of a dark cave, Zhao Wuji halted and, facing the profound darkness within, bowed respectfully and announced loudly, “Your junior, Zhao Wuji, has come to pay his respects to the esteemed Demon-Slayer Hand.”
The cave was eerily silent, like a stagnant pool, devoid of any signs of life. Yet, as soon as Zhao Wuji’s voice echoed through the stillness, a tempest seemed to stir within, and a powerful aura, like a whirlwind of blades, burst forth from the cave. The sheer force of the invisible pressure caused Fengyun Wuji to retreat several steps, his chest tightening as if he might choke on his own blood.
The resonant voice of the cave’s master echoed in Fengyun Wuji’s ears, “Who is this person, and why have you brought a stranger I have never seen before? … Strange, the person you’ve brought, their skills are so weak, I doubt there is anyone weaker in the entire ancient era.”
“This is a newly ascended individual, who has been ascended for only three years. I encountered him on my journey, and with his help, I escaped a calamity, so I brought him here to the Enigmatic Valley,” Zhao Wuji replied with utmost respect.
The cave’s master expressed surprise, then fell silent again. Fengyun Wuji noticed Zhao Wuji’s lips moving subtly, clearly communicating with the cave’s master through a secret sound technique.
After a long while, a sigh echoed from within the cave, “I had not expected news of your master… Alas… Enter, both of you.”
…