Water Ink Panel: Starting with Bow Technique to Hunt the Sun and Patrol the Skies

Chapter 181: Chapter 7: Huang Tian Sect's Plot, Spirit Mechanism Land

"You take your team this way, and the rest of you head up that mountain."

On the post roads outside Taiping County, a man wearing a yellow cloth on his head loudly commanded.

Following his order, dozens of disciples of the Huangtian Sect in front of him split into two teams, entering the deep mountains.

Among the many disciples of the Huangtian Sect searching the mountains, Shen Xiaohu, who had been forced to join the sect, was conspicuously present.

The two teams quickly disappeared into the vastness of the mountains.

The sun shone brightly overhead, casting dappled light through the forest.

A team of disciples of the Huangtian Sect wove through the forest, searching around as they followed the terrain.

As they ventured deeper, the surroundings gradually became more desolate.

After walking for who knows how long, with the sun growing more scorching, many were completely exhausted, panting heavily.

Even Shen Xiaohu, who had some training in Martial Arts, was now so tired his whole body ached.

Sweat streamed down his dark face, falling to the ground where it was instantly absorbed by the earth, silent and traceless.

"What in this damn weather are we even looking for?"

A disciple of the Huangtian Sect couldn't help but complain, his voice echoing in the empty mountain valley.

The oldest brother in the team halted, turned around, and cast a sharp glance at the complaining disciple, his expression suddenly stern as he asked, "Junior Brother, are you expressing dissatisfaction with the True Master of the Huang Tian? Are you dissatisfied with the sect?"

The complaining disciple's face went pale, and seeing the other's severe gaze, he quickly explained, "I... I'm just delirious from the heat, talking nonsense. I have no disrespect or irreverence towards the sect."

"Hmph…" The older brother snorted coldly, "Being able to join the sect, understanding life and previous lives, breaking through delusion – this is an immense blessing. You must not harbor ill intentions or slacken your resolve."

"If the commanders sent us here, there must be a good reason. Perhaps this contains the opportunity for us to achieve longevity or ascend to Heavenly Qi. It's your chance – why not seize it properly?"

The complaining disciple nodded repeatedly like a pecking hen, "Thank you for the reminder, Elder Brother."

The elder brother surveyed the surrounding disciples and noticed that after climbing over ridges and sweeping through the forest, fatigue was written all over everyone's faces.

He felt they needed to rest on the spot.

Just as he was about to speak, a sharp-eyed member of the team suddenly discovered a spring and cried out, "Look, there's a spring up ahead!"

Hearing this, the others followed his pointing finger and indeed, they saw clear spring water bubbling up from several springs.

With faces lit up with joy, they rushed over without waiting for anyone else to prompt them, greedily drinking the sweet bounty of nature.

Shen Xiaohu was not to be outdone; he shouldered his way through the crowd, dropped to the ground, and scooped up the spring water, gulping it down thirstily.

As the spring water hit his tongue, a wave of coolness instantly spread through his body, making him feel refreshed all over.

"Is the spring water good?"

"Yes, it's sweet."

A Huangtian Sect disciple with a yellow cloth bound around his arm looked up to see a hunter-dressed man looking at him with a half-smiling, half-menacing gaze that made his skin crawl.

"Who are you? I don't think I've seen you before?"

"Hehe... you'll find out who I am soon enough."

As the disciple looked on puzzled, the hunter's eyes turned blood-red, and tiger whiskers sprouted inexplicably on his face; then he pounced forward, plunging into the disciple's body.

There was a shimmer, and then the figure of light darted out again.

The Huangtian Sect disciple trembled, his face drained of color, and his expression froze.

A moment later, he collapsed to the ground, startling those around him.

"Hey, what's wrong with you?"

Suddenly, just as they finished speaking, they noticed a man standing beside them who hadn't been there before, and they couldn't help but look up.

"You are..."

"Aaah!"

A scream rang out among the crowd.

Shen Xiaohu, who was intently drinking from the spring, was drawn by the scream and hastily turned his head to look.

Amidst the chaos, he unexpectedly saw a familiar figure and his face changed dramatically, "Chen Fu!"

Shen Xiaohu remembered clearly, when they moved away from Hongshan Village, many hunters had not left.

In the end, all the hunters who had not left were killed by the tiger demon.

Chen Fu was among these people.

He was clearly already dead, so why was he appearing here in these desolate mountains and forests?

Shen Xiaohu saw that Chen Fu's figure was erratic, like a ghost, and his face turned pale with fright, realizing what was happening, he shouted, "Run, there's a Ghost!"

No sooner had he spoken than he disregarded everyone else and started running for his life. Stay connected through M-V-L

"Huh?"

Chen Fu had been very cautious and had not expected to be discovered.

Seeing that he'd been exposed, and while others were still clueless, he no longer concealed his form and began a massacre, crudely devouring the Essence Qi of these people.

Soon, these people also came to their senses and started to run away in all directions, screaming desperately.

Leading the way, Shen Xiaohu frantically ran without choosing his path, rampaging through the forest.

After braving through countless brambles, just as Shen Xiaohu was completely distraught, the forest in front of him abruptly gave way.

A sight he had never seen before suddenly unfolded before his eyes.

Old trees, majestic and ancient, towered skyward; blades of grass, exquisitely vibrant, danced with spirit; the air was filled with a faint fragrance that rejuvenated the mind upon a single whiff.

Shen Xiaohu's face lit up with joy. Could this be the place of Spirit Essence that Commander had sent them to find?!

"Who are you? How did you come to our place?"

Before him, an ethereal voice emerged out of nowhere, startling Shen Xiaohu.

"Who, who's talking?"

"I asked you first, who are you?" A tiny squirrel climbed down from a tree, its eyes filled with curiosity, constantly turning to size up Shen Xiaohu.

"A demon!"

Shen Xiaohu was startled and quickly took out a Yellow Paper Crane from his bosom, which was fluttering about, trying to escape.

The moment he let go, the Yellow Paper Crane transformed into a stream of light, streaking across the sky like a shooting star.

The former government office of Taiping County had been occupied by the high-ranking members of the Huang Tian Sect.

A man with thick hair and beard sat in the high seat, saying, "Although we have blocked several onslaughts from the Ji Family's dogs, they certainly will not give up easily, and I need to hold on for a while longer. At the very least, we must ensure that we find the Spirit Mechanism Land and collect the Heavenly Qi."

"Commander, the rich in Taiping County have already been robbed by us, and the official warehouses and granaries have been distributed. Our morale is high, and no matter how many times their dogs come, we will surely make them return without success."

"Hmm."

Whoosh!

Just at that moment, a Yellow Paper Crane came flying in, landing on the shoulder of the Huang Tian Sect Commander and whispered in his ear.

The Huang Tian Sect Commander stood up excitedly and declared, "The Spirit Mechanism Land has been found, everyone follow me quickly."

After speaking, he formed hand gestures, and the Yellow Paper Crane led the way with agility, flying out of the government office.

With a thought, the Huang Tian Sect Commander was enveloped in surging True Qi, transforming into a ray of rainbow light that eagerly followed the paper crane, vanishing in a flash.

The other members of the Huang Tian Sect in the government office were also excited and hurriedly followed.

About the time it takes to drink a pot of tea had passed.

Just as Shen Xiaohu was feeling uneasy, facing off against the squirrel demon and worried about the Ghost, the Huang Tian Sect Commander suddenly charged to his side.

The latter appeared as if out of thin air, startling him, and he plopped to the ground.

Upon recognizing it was the Commander, Shen Xiaohu quickly steadied his emotions, pressed his wildly pounding heart, and knelt on the ground, "I've seen the Commander."

The Huang Tian Sect Commander paid no attention to Shen Xiaohu's words, his eyes were fixed on the spirited plants in front of him, excitedly saying, "Such vigorous Spiritual Energy, this is the Spirit Mechanism Land! I knew it, this demon couldn't have appeared out of nowhere, there must be a land graced with Spirit Mechanism nearby. Hahaha, with this, even giving up Taiping County would not be a loss."