Chapter Seventy-Five: Feng Chuxun and the Feng Family

Shen Qingyun was slightly startled. Such a massive crocodile—he himself had never encountered one like this in all his years. Normally, after living so long, a crocodile would evolve into a demon beast, then develop sentience and formally become a member of the demon clan. During the process of evolution, a crocodile's size and appearance would undergo significant changes. Therefore, it was impossible for a crocodile of this size to exist in its natural state.

The peculiar environment of Ghost Valley had caused the crocodile to mutate, preventing it from evolving and instead leaving it in this strange, ghostly form. The crocodile’s enormous head swayed, failing to notice Shen Qingyun standing beside its feet, and turned clumsily back toward the water. Shen Qingyun was somewhat surprised—was that all? The crocodile’s behavior left him both amused and exasperated. He had been prepared to spar with the beast, but it simply retreated!

“It still possesses the instinct to hunt, yet it can hardly be called living anymore,” Shen Qingyun murmured, lowering his gaze.

“In that case, let’s not waste any more time.”

He exhaled softly. This was only the beginning; none of the monsters birthed by Ghost Valley had appeared yet, so they must be deeper within its heart. Reaching out his left hand, purple lightning flickered at his fingertips, crackling and gathering in his palm until it formed a single drop of violet liquid. It appeared unremarkable, but only Shen Qingyun knew how formidable its power was.

He dropped it into the water and stepped back several dozen paces, waiting silently for what would come.

Gurgling bubbles began to rise as the water in the pond seemed to boil. The crocodile, like a small mountain, burst forth from the water, black flames on its scales markedly diminished. Some scales had already fallen off, revealing lifeless, pale skin beneath. The crocodile opened its mouth and spat out a mouthful of black blood, its gigantic body rolling uncontrollably across the ground, snapping countless charred trees at the water’s edge. The beast rolled toward Shen Qingyun, as if a mountain were crashing down upon him.

Yet Shen Qingyun evaded effortlessly, as if it were nothing. Surviving the thunderous liquid and not dying was no ordinary feat, and this creature was certainly not easy to defeat. Its scales possessed immense defense; any other member of his team would have been helpless before it. But unfortunately, it had met Shen Qingyun.

His eyes suddenly became fierce. A halberd materialized in his hand, and he thrust it into the spot where the crocodile’s scales had fallen away. With a wet squelch, black blood sprayed forth.

The crocodile writhed in pain, rolling faster, trying to crush Shen Qingyun beneath its bulk. Shen Qingyun leapt high, his figure twisting in midair until he met the crocodile’s gaze. His expression was indifferent as lightning and spiritual power flashed at his fingertips. Pointing at the crocodile, he unleashed a bolt, fusing lightning and spiritual energy.

The lightning pierced the hollow eye socket of the crocodile and exploded instantly, spraying black and white matter everywhere. Shen Qingyun seemed not to notice; landing lightly, he pushed off the ground and leapt again.

He landed before the empty eye socket, black liquid streaming from within. Shen Qingyun ignored it, his fingertips flickering with lightning once more. He said coldly, “Rest in peace.”

With that, he pointed again, sending a bolt of lightning straight into the crocodile’s eye socket. The enormous beast halted abruptly, slumping to the ground without warning…

…

“Will Chief Shen be alright?”

From where the disciples of Bamboo Peak stood, they could see the giant crocodile and hear the thunderous noises, anxiety filling their hearts. Although Ling Xiao had assured them that Shen Qingyun was stronger, the disparity in size still left them uneasy.

When the huge creature suddenly stopped moving, the disciples’ hearts tightened. What was the outcome?

“Sister, Qingyun won’t be in any danger, right?”

Qiao Xinyu’s worry was plain to see; he looked up at his sister and asked softly.

Qiao Xinran pressed her pink lips together, forced a smile, and nodded. “Young Master Shen will surely be fine!”

Despite her words, Qiao Xinran too looked anxiously toward the distant scene, her concern mounting. Just as her anxiety peaked, a figure appeared in everyone’s sight.

As the figure drew closer, the group finally saw clearly—it was indeed Shen Qingyun, his white robe fluttering.

“Qingyun!”

A cry of delight rang out. At the same time, Qiao Xinyu rushed forward, ignoring the surprised gazes of the other disciples, and clung tightly to Shen Qingyun.

“Qingyun, I was so worried about you!”

Hearing Qiao Xinyu’s soft whisper, a hint of fragrance wafted into Shen Qingyun’s nose.

“There was never any danger, why worry over nothing?” Shen Qingyun said quietly, steadying Qiao Xinyu by the shoulders.

After a moment, Shen Qingyun continued, “Alright, everyone’s watching.”

Only then did Qiao Xinyu realize, jumping off Shen Qingyun as if jolted by electricity, her cheeks flushing pink.

“Um, Chief Shen, that monster… what happened to it?”

As Qiao Xinyu stepped aside, the other disciples gathered around, asking in hushed tones.

“It’s dealt with. We can pass safely now.”

Shen Qingyun replied softly, stunning the disciples for a moment before they cheered joyfully, gazing at him with newfound reverence.

That colossal creature, just seeing it from afar had made their scalps tingle and bodies cold. Now that Shen Qingyun had dispatched it, how could they not admire him?

In their hearts, for the first time they placed Shen Qingyun on the same level as Xing Wuque, fully accepting him as the Chief of Bamboo Peak.

Following Shen Qingyun back, they saw the swathes of collapsed trees, the traces of the beast’s rolling passage, and rivers of black blood. All this filled the Bamboo Peak disciples with awe.

Looking again at the crocodile’s mountain-like form, its imposing bulk was overwhelming. Up close, it was far more terrifying than it appeared from a distance. Who could have imagined it would be so enormous?

If such a beast struck one of them…

Many disciples dared not even imagine the outcome.

“Chief Shen, how did you manage this?”

A disciple stared fearfully at the crocodile’s corpse, his voice trembling. He must have been picturing what it would be like to face such a monster himself.

“Mutated beasts like this lack sentience; they’re not hard to kill,” Shen Qingyun said with a light laugh.

The disciples’ mouths opened, but they found themselves at a loss for words.

Shen Qingyun paid no mind to their thoughts. “Let’s hurry through here, rest well at the safe point tonight, and depart again tomorrow!”

His words were met with a resounding response—“Yes!”—from all the Bamboo Peak disciples.

…

After passing the pond and traversing a narrow gorge, a large, square platform appeared before them. At the safe point, a few figures had already claimed their spaces, some standing, others seated in meditation.

As Shen Qingyun and his group entered, those already at the safe point glanced over, surprise flashing in their eyes before they turned away.

It was plain to see that those who arrived before Shen Qingyun’s group bore signs of hardship—disheveled clothes, weary faces. In contrast, Shen Qingyun and his companions were neat, relaxed, showing no trace of battle.

By comparison, Shen Qingyun’s group looked as if they were here on a tour of Ghost Valley.

Ignoring the curious stares, Shen Qingyun spoke, “Rest here for the night. We’ll set out again tomorrow!”

Hearing Shen Qingyun, the Bamboo Peak disciples sat down where they stood, soon chatting and laughing among themselves.

The others watched in amazement. When they’d first set out, these disciples hadn’t been so obedient—yet now, the leader’s every word was treated like gospel. What had happened to them over these days? The question gnawed at their minds.

Gradually, more people arrived at the safe point. Many bore signs of hardship, some even wounded, limping in with the help of companions.

Shen Qingyun noticed fellow disciples from the Cangyun Sect. As disciples of a great sect, their condition was noticeably better than most.

In the crowd, Shen Qingyun spotted Xing Wuque and nodded to him. The early stages of Ghost Valley had not troubled him either.

In fact, Shen Qingyun had chosen a spot near the entrance. Anyone entering the safe point could see it, including other Cangyun Sect disciples, though they pretended not to notice.

“Are those the Feng family?” someone whispered nearby.

Beside Shen Qingyun’s group, others had settled—these were not sect disciples, but scions of noble families. Only nine in total.

This was the difference between sects and clans; the disparity in numbers was evident.

Hearing the whispers, Shen Qingyun remained unmoved, but sensed Feng Chuxun’s aura fluctuate briefly beside him. Feng Chuxun controlled it well, but Shen Qingyun still noticed.

“Is the Feng family related to you?” Shen Qingyun asked softly.

He felt Feng Chuxun stiffen for a moment, all but confirming that the Feng family and Feng Chuxun’s connection was profound.

Feng family, Feng Chuxun…

“Good relations?” Shen Qingyun pressed when Feng Chuxun stayed silent.

Feng Chuxun did not respond, his aura unsettled again. Shen Qingyun said, “So, not good at all.”

“What exactly are you trying to say?” Feng Chuxun’s tone was low, as though suppressing something.

“Nothing, just wanted to make their acquaintance,” Shen Qingyun said, lips curling as he stood and walked toward the newly arrived Feng family group.

“Hey!” Feng Chuxun’s heart jumped, his expression changing as he called out. But Shen Qingyun paid no heed, drawing ever closer to the Feng clan.

Standing before them, Shen Qingyun smiled lightly and said, “I am the Chief Disciple of Bamboo Peak of the Cangyun Sect. Might I ask if you are the young heirs of the Feng family?”