The Blade-Wielding Legend

Chapter 1648 - 836: Traces of the Enemy

"It’s just a guess."

Li Yan’s eyes were gloomy as he looked towards the abandoned village, "Find more clues!"

Upon hearing this, everyone immediately scattered into the charred and desolate village ruins, searching separately.

Sha Lifei fiddled with the charred wood of the altar; Kuai Dayou tapped and tested among the crumbling walls; Long Yan’er’s Gu Worms shuttled back and forth amidst the heavy stench...

Unfortunately, days of rain washed away everything; the remains of corpses permeated, all human traces and lingering Qi seemed wiped clean by an invisible giant hand, leaving no clues.

The foul smell was heavy as lead, weighing on everyone’s heart.

"Enough."

Li Yan looked towards the distant mountains, his brows heavy, "We search the mountains next. Also, burn this place to prevent plague and disaster."

"Yes, Mr. Li."

Just as Ma Qianhu was about to order the burning of corpses and cleaning of plague, the sky changed dramatically!

The gray sky seemed overturned by thick ink; lead clouds hung low, pressing towards the treetops. The air was as thick as iron, each breath akin to swallowing wet cotton.

Whirr~

The forest was stilled, birds and beasts fell silent, only the flies remained buzzing annoyingly.

"The weather’s changing!" Ma Qianhu’s face turned suddenly pale, staring at the ink-colored sky above, "This rain is likely to swallow the mountain!"

Before the words were finished—

"Crack!!!"

Lightning like pale twisted roots tore through the clouds, illuminating below instantly.

Thunder roared deafeningly, the size of bowl-mouth raindrops thunderously fell, instantly connecting into a tempestuous rain cascade.

Mud flowed down the slope, carrying charred rotten flesh, rampaging through the ruins unscrupulously.

"Retreat! Find high ground! Avoid the flood!" Ma Qianhu’s complexion changed suddenly, roaring angrily.

The terror of mountain floods, everyone knew.

Often when you see it, survival chances are gone.

Li Yan and others were better off, able to use Lightweight Skill to avoid, but so many garrison soldiers would definitely suffer heavy casualties.

Everyone immediately retreated, fleeing along the slope with the panicked soldiers.

Slippery mud made steps difficult, rain fog obscured vision. Fortunately, Wang Daoxuan’s sharp eyes spotted a stone cave under a cliff.

Soldiers swarmed in, posting guards at the entrance, lighting torches.

Rumble!

Just settled down, outside thunder boomed. Like the Heavenly River rushing down, torrential rain poured, muddy torrents roared into streams, water levels rising visibly.

Added to the ink-like night, it seemed like the advent of doomsday.

Fortunately, the high terrain here, and strong soil and stones, were very safe.

Exhausted soldiers casually gnawed dry rations, then drifted off embracing blades.

At the cave entrance, Li Yan, Wang Daoxuan and others silently watched the rain curtain.

The Lingnan damp heat made these northerners hard to adapt, the encounters with Black Earth Mother, Three-eyed Yin Constables, blood sacrifices on the way, left them clueless.

Suddenly—

"Roar——!!!"

A roar pierced the night, penetrating thunderstorm, exploding from deep within the mountains.

Desolate! Ferocious! Carrying the pressure to crush mountains!

The cave shivered, dust and stones falling.

Torch flames darkened, about to extinguish! Soldiers jumped up startled, faces pale, looked around confused.

Li Yan and others’ eyes pierced deep into the rain abyss, faces full of vigilance.

Wang Daoxuan, who had been calmly meditating, suddenly opened his eyes.

He stared outside into the ink night, usually calm face now rare filled with horror, voice trembling mildly, "This sound... heard it at Shennongjia!"

"It’s... Walking Flood Dragon!"

The words "Walking Flood Dragon" instantly inspired chill in everyone’s hearts.

The Ezhou Shennongjia disaster echoed in their minds immediately.

And now, deep in South Ridge, amidst bloodshed yet unresolved, shadow-filled stormy night, this roar symbolizing heavenly and earthly upheaval descended once again!

Li Yan’s hand tightly gripped the handle of the Duan Chen Blade.

Jade Emperor Sect’s Zhou Qingyuan’s eyes were also filled with uncertainty and suspicion, "Lingnan’s Magic Veins are abundant, each with forbidden zones, additionally mountain patrol soldiers, how could such a fierce beast appear silently?"

Li Yan said nothing, standing at the cave entrance, his gaze penetrating the storm rain curtain, looking deep into the roaring mountains.

He sharply sensed, that roar carried a subtly detectable agitation.

Not mere earthly and heavenly might...

"Something’s fishy!" Li Yan swiftly turned, "San’er, come with me to check what’s causing disturbance!"

"Brother Yan, too risky!" Sha Lifei urged anxiously, wiping rain from his face, "This rain is sinister, who knows what’s hidden in the mountains!"

Wang Daoxuan also stepped forward, worried, "Flood Dragon’s might is extraordinary, coupled with this storm, mountain flood could erupt anytime, better to plan carefully, wait for rain to ease..."

"Can’t wait!" Li Yan interrupted, eyes sharp as knives, "If it’s those pirates causing trouble, delay may lead to greater disaster. San’er’s Beast Taming Skill can communicate with mountain creatures, revealing truth. Don’t worry, I’m clear-headed."

Lv San nodded silently, tightened his backpack and Bone Flute, stood quietly beside Li Yan.

"Take care!" Zhou Qingyuan and Ma Qianhu simultaneously cupped fists.

Li Yan said no more, left hand forming a mantra, right hand darting out like lightning, grabbed Lv San’s waist strap, silently reciting the mantra, shouted lowly: "Rise!"

Buzz!

Water vapor around suddenly boiled, North Emperor Mysterious Water Escape and Divine Movement Skill simultaneously activated to the limit. Their figures instantly blurred, as if integrated into the rain curtain, becoming a barely discernible, faint blue glowing stream of water vapor, shot swiftly into the tempest outside the cave.

In the blink of an eye, disappeared from everyone’s sight...

......

Crash—

Rain drops the size of beans densely like arrows, beating upon rocks and trees, making deafening crackling roars.

Mountain winds whined, stirring mist, forming pale, continuously twisting and changing veils, vision dark, unable to discern direction.

Li Yan led Lv San, racing through this chaotic water world.

North Emperor Mysterious Water Escape made him excel like a fish, the torrential rain wasn’t an obstacle but instead became leverage.