Chapter 1311: Strange Stone Valley

Amidst the winds that cut through the gorge, Jiang Wang remained silent.Since the other party harbored no intention of engaging, he too would not seek out trouble with him."Do you wish to enter? I shall yield the path to you." Thus spoke Lin Xian, and he stepped aside."Thank you." Jiang Wang nodded slightly, in a gesture of respect.He passed Lin Xian, and with sword in hand, walked further in.Lin Xian seemed somewhat surprised. His hand, gripping the firewood axe, became restlessly uncertain of where to move.That he had yielded the path and shown weakness was naturally to avoid conflict.But in his heart, he had already prepared for the possibility that Jiang Wang would not let him off.None other than this: Jiang Wang was currently in a state of disappearance. The State of Qi was using this as pretext, seizing the mantle of righteousness to fiercely condemn the State of Jing. The Star-Moon Plain was precisely the battlefield that lay ahead.Yet, Jiang Wang himself was alive and well, even frolicking in the Eastern Region.Would Jiang Wang, appearing now in the Soulbreak Gorge, not kill him to silence him?Killing him, Lin Xian, would not incur any unbearable consequences for the Tianjiao of Qi. Indeed, slaying the Tianjiao of Rong and suppressing the State of Rong accorded with the interests of the State of Qi.But Jiang Wang did nothing...Not only did he not strike, he didn't even offer insult or contempt. There was only a proper and respectful "thank you."This left him bewildered."Ah, right." Jiang Wang, who had walked several steps inward, paused. "My current state is somewhat of a secret. I hope you can help keep it confidential. Although it matters little if the State of Jing knows now, fewer troubles are always preferable...""Understood," Lin Xian nodded."I trust you." Jiang Wang smiled, then turned back no more.Lin Xian cast a glance at the solitary figure entering the gorge, then lowered his gaze.It is precisely such strength, combined with a lack of arrogance and restlessness, that inspires even greater despair.The aura of a great nation is truly suffocating.He often came to Soulbreak Gorge to practice his axe. Each time he would strike nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine blows, aiming for each strike to channel power through the axe's spine, colliding with the cliff face without causing the slightest damage.Today, he had only completed half, but his heart was no longer in it.Gripping his woodcutting axe, he walked out dejectedly.For he had once again realized that the "tree" he had once viewed as his goal was perhaps one he could never cut down.The woodcutter finds no wood, the fisherman no fish.He gained nothing, and returned alone.Jiang Wang walked inward alone. It did not surprise him that Lin Xian would be practicing his axe in Soulbreak Gorge.By calculation, the State of Shen was likely the closest power to Soulbreak Gorge. Of course, forces such as the East King Valley, the State of Shen, and the State of Qu were also not too far from Soulbreak Gorge.It was just that there were no resources of note in this place, and thus no mention of any significant disputes.Moreover, due to its treacherous nature, few came here.This place truly was a good spot for cultivation.His respect for Lin Xian was not merely superficial. Regardless of their stances, Lin Xian's battle with Chu Min on the River Viewing Platform was worthy of respect.What concerned him more was that Lin Xian also seemed not to have seen the knife coin leading the way ahead. This originally extremely ordinary knife coin sparked more curiosity in Jiang Wang.What kind of power had Yu Beidou imbued this knife coin with?Approximately an hour after venturing deep into Soulbreak Gorge, the view suddenly broadened.The narrow Soulbreak Gorge opened up here, and what appeared before his eyes was a vast, open space filled with strange, jagged rocks. It stretched far to the left and right, but due to the towering cliffs on both sides, it was still clearly contained within the gorge.If this was the end of Soulbreak Gorge, then the entire gorge was shaped like a large-bellied bottle, and Jiang Wang was currently within this "belly."But if one flew higher, casting a gaze into the distance, one could see that the end of this vast, open space still narrowed, continuing the narrow path from which he came, and extending into the unknown distance.The slender Soulbreak Gorge merely "thickened" briefly at this point, and would eventually "thin" back out.Jiang Wang brought his gaze back to the present.There were no trees here, no flowers, not even the most tenacious weeds were visible.Those oddly shaped stones gave off a sense of abruptness and grotesqueness, difficult to describe.The knife coin finally changed direction, leading the way to the right.It seemed the favor Yu Beidou was to bestow was within this valley of strange rocks.Jiang Wang flew at a low altitude, trying to make as little noise as possible. He did not know what was here, did not know what Yu Beidou intended for him to do, and maintained a state of cautious vigilance to face the unknown. Had it not been for the goodwill Yu Beidou had shown on that talisman, he would have turned back and left by now.The strange rocks stood like a forest, and Jiang Wang and the knife coin moved through the stone forest.For some reason, this scene of a forest of strange rocks reminded him of the pagoda forest of the Suspended Temple.He had a faint fantasy that perhaps these bizarre stones were also some senior cultivators...But this thought was quickly dismissed.Based on the information perceived, these stones were indeed just stones.Immediately, he wondered if this forest-like collection of strange rocks was some kind of formation? A natural illusion formation, or one laid out by someone?Jiang Wang was suddenly startled—Too many distracting thoughts!Since entering this valley of strange rocks, he had thought about too many things, both relevant and irrelevant. To be so distracted was not how one should be in a state of vigilance.As soon as he became alert, a crimson-gold light shone forth from the Fifth Inner Mansion, illuminating all directions. In an instant, all杂绪 were cleared, and his mind became pure and clear.With the Red Heart divine ability residing within, no external evil could intrude.The crimson-gold light, imbued with an immortal aura, shone throughout the five mansions.As Jiang Wang intently followed the knife coin, the seed of the Forked Path in the Second Inner Mansion suddenly stirred.If someone were to observe Jiang Wang at this moment, they would see that the young cultivator's clear eyes, as still as deep water, suddenly rippled with crimson-gold waves. Beneath the waves, at the bottom of the still water, faint black and white Yin-Yang fish swam by.It was at this moment that Jiang Wang saw, upon that knife coin, a line that was between the virtual and the real, connecting the knife coin to himself in a way that pierced through time and space.Presumably, this was why this knife coin could find its way over a thousand li, and why only he could see it!Jiang Wang had previously been unable to discern any trace, but now, by coincidence, within this valley of strange rocks, wielding the Red Heart to control the Forked Path, he had glimpsed its essence!What kind of line was this?Difficult to distinguish between virtual and real, visible yet impossible to see clearly, seemingly ever-changing, appearing and disappearing intermittently.Jiang Wang could not yet think of any power he could use to influence it. Neither Dao Yuan nor soul power could exert the slightest influence. Perhaps the divine light of the Forked Path divine ability could?It was still needed to lead the way for now, so it was not possible to study it in detail. But Jiang Wang had already developed an extremely intense interest in this line, secretly committing it to memory.For Jiang Wang himself, ever since he had plucked the Red Heart divine ability, he had been exploring its effects. But this divine ability had never been heard of before, and there was no one around to guide him. He was like a blind man walking forward, only able to grope his way.It was only at this moment that he discovered that the Red Heart could actually control the Forked Path.Beyond the state of all five mansions shining together, the Red Heart divine ability could also connect with the Forked Path divine ability individually.Upon closer thought, it was quite reasonable.With the Red Heart in hand, one would not be misled onto a "forked path"!As the last divine ability seed plucked from the five inner mansions, the Red Heart divine ability, emitting a crimson-gold light of immortality, clearly possessed even more possibilities.As the divine light dissipated, that line was no longer visible.But Jiang Wang was now free of杂念. Following behind the knife coin, he continued to traverse the stone forest and move further away.Until—He heard the sound of flowing water.Rounding a large, strange rock, the gurgling stream appeared before his eyes.Suddenly, a splash of red appeared before him.It was a blood-red stream!Jiang Wang sniffed lightly...It was not a blood-colored stream; what flowed was blood itself.

First published at: m.173kxsw