Chapter 1054: External Path Yuan Ying

The two stood before the stone forest.

“This is it! The Gloomy Valley is not far beyond the stone forest.”

Ning Wuhui observed for a moment, then stepped into the stone forest, signaling Qin Sang to follow.

Chilling winds swept through the forest. While they couldn't move the fossilized stone trees, they created an irritating, eerie sound as they passed through the forest—sometimes sharp, sometimes a mournful wail.

“Ferocious beasts inhabit the stone forest, Fellow Daoist Qin, be careful. The stone trees are too dense, which will restrict movement techniques,” Ning Wuhui transmitted as a warning.

Qin Sang nodded, secretly awakening the Heavenly Eye Butterfly to be on alert.

They slowed their pace, moving silently through the forest. Fortunately, they encountered no danger even as they ventured deeper into the stone forest.

Gradually, the stone forest showed signs of thinning out.

After traveling a bit further, Qin Sang suddenly heard a strange wailing sound, as if someone was crying in distress ahead.

At first, the sound was faint. Having spent so long in the stone forest, they had grown accustomed to strange noises and assumed it was just the chilling wind blowing through the treetops.

However, after a while longer, the crying not only didn't fade but grew increasingly distinct. In such a place, it was indistinguishable from a ghostly wail, making their hair stand on end.

They exchanged glances, realizing the sound was deeply unsettling, and both felt a chill.

The crying emanated directly from ahead. The dense stone forest blocked their view, and the light was dim, making it impossible to see anything. They also didn't dare to rashly activate their spiritual sense to investigate.

“There won't be any ghost king-level specters in the inner hall, will there?” Qin Sang’s heart tightened.

Ning Wuhui shook his head. “I’ve never heard such rumors. Quite a few Nascent Soul cultivators have perished in the inner hall, but none have survived as specters. The only living beings in the inner hall are various ferocious beasts. At most, when opening some secret realms, one might find guardian puppets or similar entities… We’ll go around!”

Ning Wuhui made a decisive choice, unwilling to take risks and preferring to bypass the area.

Unexpectedly, at that moment, the wailing grew louder and began actively approaching them.

Both their expressions changed drastically. They immediately moved in another direction, sweeping away to avoid the unknown entity.

‘Rumble!’

Ahead, there was a sudden deafening roar of collapsing rocks. The entity had indeed discovered them, accelerating its pace and violently crashing through stone trees as it charged towards them.

Stone trees collapsed one after another, creating utter chaos.

At the same time, they finally sensed a trace of the opponent’s aura.

“A top-tier fierce beast!” Qin Sang was greatly alarmed.

The Heavenly Eye Butterfly’s vision pierced through the dust, revealing a dark silhouette: a colossal, terrifying beast resembling a giant owl.

The giant owl’s fierce eyes fixated on them, its gaze revealing a cruel and bloodthirsty glint.

“This kind of fierce beast should be dwelling deep within the Gloomy Valley! Why is it here?” Ning Wuhui gasped in surprise.

The Heavenly Eye Butterfly had already noticed the giant owl’s abnormality. “Look at its injuries! This giant owl might have been severely wounded and escaped all the way here!”

The giant owl appeared normal externally, but on its chest, a small patch of feathers was broken, revealing a clear sword wound that had pierced right through it.

“To pierce through a top-tier fierce beast’s body with a single sword, astonishing it into fleeing all the way here… The one who attacked is certainly no ordinary Nascent Soul Grandmaster!” Ning Wuhui’s expression turned grave. “I don’t know what’s happening inside the Gloomy Valley. Fellow Daoist Qin, you go first. I’ll lead it away, and we’ll regroup once we’re out of the stone forest.”

The giant owl violently smashed through countless stone trees, rapidly closing in on them.

The wailing grew increasingly shrill, as if it could bore into their minds and disturb their spiritual senses.

The situation was critical. Ning Wuhui quickly made arrangements, surprisingly preparing to personally distract the giant owl and let Qin Sang escape first.

Qin Sang was extremely surprised. Although injured, the giant owl was still a Nascent Soul-level entity. Even if they fought together, it would be incredibly dangerous. Did Ning Wuhui have some hidden trump card?

With only one leg of the journey left, he didn't want anything to happen to Ning Wuhui here.

The Thunder Manipulation Art could threaten a Nascent Soul.

Additionally, to be safe, he had already lent the Star Conch to Bai.

Bai had never possessed a good defensive magical treasure.

Qin Sang himself possessed powerful methods like the Demonic Banner, Sword Wheel, and Thunder Manipulation Art, each incredibly potent but with astonishing consumption. When facing strong enemies, it was difficult to cycle through them all, so he had temporarily lent the Star Conch to Bai for unforeseen circumstances.

Bai’s cultivation was higher, and using the Star Conch, its power would be greater than when Qin Sang used it himself.

The simultaneous activation of the Thunder Manipulation Art and the Star Conch would unleash considerable combat power instantly, representing his biggest trump card for this journey.

However, the Star Conch had only one charge, and Bai was burdened with the crucial task of acquiring the Soul Cleansing Liquid, so he had held back from using it in the Soul Bewildering Cave.

Qin Sang opened his mouth, about to say something.

However, he saw Ning Wuhui sweep his hand across the top of his head, and a fist-sized figure jumped out. Its features were remarkably similar to Ning Wuhui’s, and its expression was lively, a perfect miniature version of Ning Wuhui.

“A Nascent Soul!” Qin Sang froze instantly, in disbelief.

No wonder he had felt pressure from Ning Wuhui.

He had an unreal feeling. He couldn't have imagined that Ning Wuhui had actually broken through to the Nascent Soul stage in the trial realm!

The difficulty of forming a Nascent Soul was well-known, as was the terrifying Nascent Soul heavenly tribulation one had to face.

Even with the protection of the Jade Buddha, he hadn't dared to be complacent, striving to make full preparations.

Yet, Ning Wuhui had simply toured the trial realm, found a spiritual herb, and easily formed his Nascent Soul. There was no trace of a tribulation, let alone a near-death experience.

It was impossible for him to have fully recovered in such a short time, yet there were no signs of weakness.

When had forming a Nascent Soul become so easy?

Even stranger, why did Ning Wuhui choose the most taboo method of a Nascent Soul leaving the body, especially when his main body’s aura was clearly still at the late Core Formation stage?

Ning Wuhui’s Nascent Soul was adorable and exquisite, yet its expression was as solemn as his main body’s, exuding an extraordinary aura as it directly confronted the giant owl.

The giant owl stared intently at the Nascent Soul, its fierce eyes instantly filled with a greedy glint.

“Fellow Daoist Qin, leave quickly. This is an Outer Path Nascent Soul I refined using a secret technique; it has significant limitations. It won't be difficult for me to escape, but I cannot protect you completely during combat.”

Qin Sang gave Ning Wuhui a deep look.

This person actually possessed such a secret technique. An Outer Path Nascent Soul was still a Nascent Soul, which was why Ning Wuhui dared to fight the giant owl alone.

Even with a hundred questions, he knew this was not the time to probe. Once a major battle began, it might attract more fierce beasts, so it was best for him to obey and avoid burdening Ning Wuhui.

“Fellow Daoist, be careful! Remember not to prolong the fight!”

Qin Sang decisively activated his escape technique. A flash of light enveloped him as he streaked in another direction, disappearing into the depths of the stone forest in the blink of an eye.

The giant owl was completely drawn to Ning Wuhui and showed no intention of pursuing Qin Sang.

At the last moment, Qin Sang turned his head and witnessed Ning Wuhui making his move.

Ning Wuhui’s Nascent Soul opened its small mouth and spat out a miniature spirit sword—the same crimson-gold spirit sword that had killed the strange bird earlier.

The same spirit sword, the same owner, yet the two attacks carried vastly different auras.

The crimson-gold spirit sword expanded against the wind, its sword light illuminating the stone forest. The spirit sword moved like a meteor.

The next moment, a sharp, ghostly shriek suddenly erupted, carrying traces of pain and anger.

The ground trembled.

The stone forest collapsed.

Qin Sang’s figure flickered repeatedly as he distanced himself from the battlefield.