Chapter 25: The Suspended Milk Forest
Immediately thereafter.
Chen Qiang took out a jade slip and handed it to Xu Zhengyang, saying, “This is the map of the Suspended Milk Forest. The Heart‑Spirit Nectar lies exactly at the red‑cross marked location. Do you remember?”
Xu Zhengyang looked over the map, stored it in his database, and immediately said, “I remember.”
“Mm.”
Upon hearing that, Chen Qiang slightly nodded; he was confident in his junior nephew’s comprehension.
But then.
Chen Qiang worried that his junior nephew, newly returned to the mundane world, might be soft‑hearted.
So he hurriedly added, “Once you enter the Suspended Milk Forest, remember—you must not act out of female compassion! That Du Yifeng is petty and narrow‑minded. Since he declared disregard for life and death, that surely means his disciples will attack you both without mercy! So once inside the Suspended Milk Forest. Bring Hong’er and just go all‑out! All consequences. I will bear them for you; let that Du surname villain try anything against me!”
“I understand, Master.”
Xu Zhengyang smiled lightly and said, “As for this Heart‑Spirit Nectar, rather than having three people share it awkwardly… It’s better for me and Junior Brother Yang to enjoy it thoroughly!”
“Good!”
Chen Qiang heard this and finally relaxed, laughing loudly, “Fulfilling love and vengeance with gusto—that’s how real men ought to be! Hahahaha!”
……
After hearing the conversation between Chen Qiang and Xu Zhengyang, Ma Zhiyuan was inwardly filled with doubt.
So he secretly pressed his fingers into a formation.
Within the depths of his pupils, a trace of spiritual light flickered—almost imperceptible to ordinary eyes!
No mistake…
Ma Zhiyuan thought in puzzlement, ‘That kid really is only at the Body‑Refinement Realm, though he also has the Qi‑Refining Art at the third level. But at Tier 1 of this stage, how could a Spiritual Cultivator stand against a Body‑Cultivator? Could it be that Pei Zhen custom‑forged some immensely powerful magical treasure for this kid? Even with a treasure, with only third‑level Qi refinement and its meager reservoir of spiritual energy, he couldn’t possibly operate it smoothly, so… Where does Chen Qiang’s confidence come from?’
While Ma Zhiyuan was lost in these wild thoughts.
Du Yifeng had already finished giving his disciples some extra instruction, dispersing the mist around their flying ship, then looked arrogantly at Chen Qiang.
Seeing this, Ma Zhiyuan stopped his mental wandering.
He stepped between Du Yifeng and Chen Qiang, acting as a witness, saying, “Since both of you are ready. There’s no time to lose. Why not descend now?”
“I have no problem with that.”
Du Yifeng said, waved his large hand, and released a Water‑Mirror Technique upon the heads of his two disciples.
That spell is a second‑tier Water‑element technique.
It transmits everything the caster sees and hears in real time over great distances, perfectly suited for this situation.
“Hmph.”
Seeing this, Chen Qiang snorted coldly, flipped through his storage pouch, took out two second‑tier talismans inscribed with the Water‑Mirror Technique, and had Xu Zhengyang and Yang Hong also use them.
“Hahaha!”
Ma Zhiyuan saw that neither Du Yifeng nor Chen Qiang objected, and immediately said, “Since that’s the case. Then you two should now take the four junior nephews into the Suspended Milk Forest!”
At this moment, Du Yifeng patted his disciples on the shoulders and said, “You two only need to obtain the Heart‑Spirit Nectar. Do not disrupt the harmony between our two sects.”
“Pfft.”
Chen Qiang sneered disdainfully and said, “Such pretense!”
Having said that.
Before Du Yifeng could respond, Chen Qiang retracted the flying boat, then directly grabbed Xu Zhengyang and Yang Hong and rushed toward the Suspended Milk Forest.
“Hmph.”
Du Yifeng’s face cleared slightly as he piloted his flying boat to follow behind Chen Qiang, slowly descending.
……
At the entrance to the Suspended Milk Forest, a simple sealing array was in place.
By this time.
Many Tier‑1 independent cultivators had already arrived early, hoping for a stroke of luck.
But the sealing array required injection of magical power to unseal.
So even though these independent cultivators came early, they could do nothing about the seal and could only wait for their turn.
When Chen Qiang arrived.
His martial Dao energy suddenly erupted, blowing the gathered independent cultivators to and fro without injuring them.
After establishing his authority.
Chen Qiang then said, “This time the Heart‑Spirit Nectar belongs to the True Essence Sect! In ten breaths’ time— If anyone remains here, don’t blame this old man for being merciless!”
“That’s Elder Chen of Divine Mechanism Peak from the True Essence Sect!”
“Don’t crowd me!”
“Run, Elder Chen will actually take action!”
……
Chen Qiang’s reputation was far‑reaching.
So in just a moment, the independent cultivators who had hoped to take their chances here suddenly wished their parents had given them extra legs, as they fled the area as though escaping a disaster.
At that moment.
Du Yifeng and Ma Zhiyuan arrived late, stood to Chen Qiang’s left.
“I’ll open the array.”
Ma Zhiyuan smiled faintly, stepped forward, and injected magical power into the sealing array.
In the next instant.
Though it was clearly a stone wall, a black opening appeared out of thin air at its center!
At the same time.
A wave of dampness condensed into white mist, carrying a smell of limestone, surged out from the opening.
“Go.”
Seeing this, Chen Qiang finally admonished Xu Zhengyang, “Don’t hold back!”
“Yes, uncle.”
Xu Zhengyang nodded, and together with Yang Hong stepped into the cave entrance, following the map Chen Qiang had given him to search for the Heart‑Spirit Nectar.
“Did you remember everything I told you two just now?” Du Yifeng asked his disciples.
“Yes, Master,” they replied in unison.
“Mm, then go on in!” Du Yifeng said.
“Yes, Master!”
The two responded and promptly followed him into the opening.
Meanwhile.
Ma Zhiyuan closed the array, and the opening in the stone wall disappeared.
Then Ma Zhiyuan smiled and approached Du Yifeng and Chen Qiang, using the Water‑Mirror Technique the two had just cast to observe the interior of the cave.
……
Upon entering the limestone cave, Xu Zhengyang finally understood why it was called the “Suspended Milk Forest.”
The underground cave was about fifteen to sixteen zhang high.
At the top.
Stalactites hung densely—some as thin as a finger, others requiring both arms to encircle, making one’s scalp tingle at the sight!
Upon seeing this, Yang Hong swallowed and said, “If one of those big ones fell, I’m afraid it would crush a person…”
“So just be more careful.”
Xu Zhengyang said as he used the Martial Dao Manager to activate the “Sky‑Riding Steps” body macro, then rushed toward the location of the Heart‑Spirit Nectar!
At that moment.
Du Yifeng’s disciples also entered the Suspended Milk Forest.
Seeing Xu Zhengyang and Yang Hong gaining the lead, their expressions changed slightly, and they each unleashed swift body techniques to speedily give chase!
Hearing the movement behind them, Yang Hong’s face showed excitement.
Without hesitation, he drew the Seven‑Star Technique‑Breaking Sword that Chen Qiang had bestowed at the disciple–recruiting ceremony, gripping it in hand and ready to strike at any moment!
……
At the same time, at the entrance to the Suspended Milk Forest.
Ma Zhiyuan, observing by Water‑Mirror Technique, saw the Seven‑Star Technique‑Breaking Sword in Yang Hong’s hands and suddenly realized and said, “Last time at the Wan‑Treasure Gathering held by the Celestial Treasure Pavilion. Someone spent a fortune to snap up this Seven‑Star Technique‑Breaking Sword—turns out that person was Senior Brother Chen!”
“Hmph.”
Du Yifeng coldly snorted in disdain and said, “If this single sword is your confidence… Then you’d better consider which plot of land on Mysterious Mechanism Peak in our sect has better Feng Shui, so you can reserve a place for your disciples!”