novelapdf #332 - Blackwater Swamp
#332 - Blackwater Swamp
The Blackwater Marsh was thirty thousand miles away, and even at Frog Saint's running speed, it would take at least a month to reach.
However, Li Chengfeng was not in a hurry to succeed; he enjoyed every moment of the journey.
On the Nameless Heavenly Book, he constantly wrote and comprehended, the Confucian path growing deeper in his heart, his aura of righteousness becoming stronger, and the path of fortune and prosperity entering a new realm.
During the journey, Li Chengfeng would often stop, standing on the top of high mountains, or sitting on the treetops of large trees, quietly watching the clouds rise and fall, while continuing his writing and comprehension.
Frog Saint, on the other hand, would often lie on the ground, snoring loudly, drooling profusely. Whenever this happened, Li Chengfeng would wake him up with a bolt of lightning, and then Frog Saint would helplessly begin to recite ancient and modern classics.
Such days, although seemingly ordinary, were full of philosophy and profound meaning.
The three women observed all of this from a distance. From the initial boredom to the later shock, they gradually discovered that every move of Li Chengfeng contained profound truths, as if every action of his was in harmony with the Dao of Heaven, which was unbelievable.
They realized that this seemingly ordinary young man was actually a master of great depth.
As the journey progressed, the distance between the three of them and Li Chengfeng and Frog Saint became closer and closer, and finally, they arrived at Blackwater Market.
This was a gathering place for rogue cultivators, without fixed shops, because the Blackwater Marsh was full of strange and bizarre demon beasts and poisonous beasts, its environment was harsh, and the stench was unbearable, making it difficult for ordinary cultivators to set foot in.
However, it also contained huge benefits. Many rogue cultivators, in order to capture these demon beasts and collect poison pills, did not hesitate to venture deep into the marsh.
These poison pills, after special treatment, could become life-saving elixirs, so although Blackwater Market was not large, it was unusually prosperous.
In this Blackwater Market, rogue cultivators gathered in groups of three or five, either active on the periphery or deep inside the marsh, each with their own purpose.
Qi Refining stage cultivators sought opportunities on the periphery, Foundation Establishment stage cultivators went further, and Golden Core stage experts dared to step into the deeper areas, pursuing the legendary heavenly treasures.
However, no matter the cultivation level, the harsh environment here made it difficult to stay for long, and once the goal was achieved, they would leave in a hurry.
Li Chengfeng came to this place, but seemed different from the others. He had cultivated poison techniques, and not only did he not avoid the poisonous gas and miasma here, but he regarded them as a great tonic.
Despite this, he still pretended to be helpless, and put a poison-avoiding talisman on himself to show caution.
The frog, on the other hand, was completely unaffected. It was born here and had a natural resistance to poisonous gas, and was even immune to certain toxins.
Frog Saint revisited its old haunt, feeling emotional. It missed its former Black Swan sister, and its words revealed a bit of longing and expectation.
However, Li Chengfeng ruthlessly shattered its fantasy, jokingly calling it "a toad wanting to eat swan meat."
Frog Saint refused to be outdone, retorting, "I am now the Frog Saint, and I have taken such a powerful master as my teacher, carrying an aura of righteousness, and I am confident that I can attract the attention of the Black Swan."
Just then, a burst of delicate laughter interrupted their conversation.
A woman of eighteen years, with picturesque eyebrows, walked over. She was peerlessly beautiful, standing out from the crowd like a crane among chickens. Her jewel-like eyes sparkled with bright light, and her voice was as pleasant and melodious as a trickling stream.
Behind her followed seven or eight rogue cultivators, dressed in different clothes and of different ages, all obviously attracted by the woman's beauty and temperament.
The woman was very interested in the frog. Her laughter was crisp and melodious, like a spring breeze caressing the face. She smiled charmingly at Li Chengfeng and said, "Greetings, fellow Daoist, I am Xia He.
Your frog is truly unique, witty and humorous. I like it very much. Why don't you sell it to me? I will definitely give you a satisfactory price."
Li Chengfeng heard this, his demeanor still refined, a smile on the corner of his mouth, and slowly said, "Fairy, you don't know, a gentleman does not take what others love.
Although this stupid frog is dull, after my training, it has gained some spirituality. We have developed a friendship, how can we easily give it up?"
At this moment, Frog Saint suddenly burst into laughter, interrupting Li Chengfeng's words. It said triumphantly, "What kind of person is my master? How could he care about your mundane things?
You actually want to buy me? Don't you look at yourself! Listen carefully, my name is Frog Saint, and in the future my name will resound throughout the human world. All scholars who mention me will respectfully call me 'Teacher'!"
The woman was not angry at Frog Saint's words, but found it even more interesting. She smiled and said, "A frog who loves to brag and a refined swordsman, truly a delightful contrast. I wonder what the two of you are here for?"
Li Chengfeng smiled and replied, "We are naturally here to seek opportunities, otherwise, why would we step into this filthy place?"
Frog Saint proudly raised its head and said, "Today is the day that I, Frog Saint, return to my hometown. I want to take my master back to my hometown to see my childhood sweetheart—that peerlessly beautiful Black Swan.
Alright, let's set off now, Master, I will take you there."
However, Li Chengfeng did not get up immediately. He was still leisurely lying on the lounge chair and said, "Let's go."
But the woman suddenly spoke to stop him, "Fellow Daoist, please wait.
If it were in the past, I would naturally not stop you, but now a great change has occurred in the Blackwater Marsh.
For some reason, all the poisonous creatures are surging outwards, and even three extremely powerful poisonous creatures have appeared, which is definitely not ordinary.
Something big must be happening inside, and if the two of you go alone, I'm afraid your lives will be in danger.
Why don't we travel together and take care of each other?"
The woman continued, "The reason why we haven't left yet is because we have taken on a task to collect Green Sprout Poison Grass.
This is our duty and we cannot refuse. If fellow Daoist is willing to travel with us and help us obtain the Green Sprout Poison Grass, we will do our best to help you find your opportunity."
Hearing this, Frog Saint couldn't help but shudder. It knew the terror of the highly poisonous demon beasts lurking in the Blackwater Marsh.
It suggested, "Master, in my opinion, we should travel together. There is safety in numbers.
Those poisonous beasts are all extremely ferocious. Although I have lived here for a long time, I have not inherited their toxicity, but only have the ability to be immune to poison."
Li Chengfeng nodded slightly, a trace of consideration flashing in his eyes, and then said, "Your concerns are not unreasonable, cooperation is also feasible.
But the premise is that you must provide detailed maps. With my spiritual beast leading the way, we can definitely avoid many unnecessary detours and ensure an efficient journey."
The woman readily agreed, "Naturally, no problem. As long as Daoist Li is willing to travel with us, we will naturally work together to face strong enemies.
We have entered and exited the Blackwater Marsh no less than a hundred times and have rich experience. We will definitely be able to support each other."
Li Chengfeng nodded with satisfaction, and then changed the subject, "Then, when is it advisable to set off?"
Xia He pondered for a moment, "There's no time like the present, let's go now. As for the necessary supplies, we have plenty on this trip and can share them with you."
Originally, Li Chengfeng preferred to travel alone, thinking that these companions were nothing more than that and would be a burden.
However, when his divine sense surged like a tide and instantly discerned the subtle changes in the Blackwater Marsh, an ominous feeling could not help but rise in his heart.
He realized that the abnormality of the marsh concealed unknown risks, but opportunities were also hidden within it.
In particular, the extraordinary power of thunder tribulation on Frog Saint's body, which obviously originated from the long-term immersion of a mysterious treasure, made him even more determined to bring Frog Saint back to his hometown.
And bringing these companions was undoubtedly the best cover.