Chapter 709
Ren Xue
The night was as dark as ink, and the outline of Spirit City appeared exceptionally solemn and serene under the starlight. Deep within the Papal Palace, the final instruction was whispered in a secret chamber. Ghost Douluo and Chrysanthemum Douluo knelt on one knee, their figures disappearing silently into the shadows as they received the order. Hu Liena stood before Bibi Dong, her eyes, which always held a charming smile, now filled with solemnity and a hint of barely perceptible worry.
"Teacher, please be careful."
Bibi Dong raised her hand and gently stroked her disciple's soft hair. Without saying a word, she simply nodded. She removed her magnificent papal robes and changed into a practical dark purple outfit, her long hair tied up high. The Tear of the Wind God was worn close to her body, and even through the fabric, one could feel its increasingly clear heat, like the beating of a heart, guiding her in the southwest direction.
Dai Chengfeng, too, had changed into an inconspicuous dark robe, his aura restrained, appearing as if he were merely an ordinary Soul Master guard. However, the occasional glint of light in his eyes betrayed his Title Douluo-level strength and alertness. The two did not leave through any obvious passages. Beneath the Papal Palace, several secret paths, known only to successive popes and a select few confidants, led directly outside the city. They chose a teleportation tunnel constructed using underground water veins and ancient soul-guiding arrays. Although the distance was limited, it was enough to silently transport them to a hidden stronghold a hundred miles outside Spirit City.
After a brief moment of dizziness, a fresh night breeze carrying the scent of grass and trees swept over them, replacing the heavy incense in the Papal Palace. This was a hunter's hut nestled in a mountain valley; its exterior was dilapidated, but the interior held a different story, storing supplies and several incredibly fast spirit beasts called "Nightmare Horses." Without lighting any lamps, relying solely on the starlight streaming through the windows and their exceptional spirit master eyesight, the two quickly checked their equipment.
Dai Chengfeng's preparations were thorough. These included a soul-guiding shield generator to withstand extreme wind attributes, highly concentrated soul power replenishment potions, and detailed maps of the Fasno Province and the borders of the Hagendas Kingdom. He even had several low-level soul master robes to disguise his identity.
"Information on the environment of the Wind Howling Rift is limited, and ancient records are mostly vague. They only emphasize two points: the relentless gales, and... the ease with which one can lose their way. It is said that there is a naturally formed 'wind labyrinth' in the rift, which disturbs one's senses," Dai Chengfeng said in a low voice as he handed a specially made positioning soul tool to Bibi Dong.
Bibi Dong fastened the soul tool to her wrist, feeling the increasingly rapid burning sensation in her chest. She said in a deep voice, "With the Tear of the Wind God as our guide, direction isn't a problem. The key is that this sensation came suddenly and strongly; we're probably not the only ones who noticed the anomaly." She looked towards the deep night sky in the southwest, where even the stars seemed to have dimmed. "Let's set off and reach the edge of the rift valley as soon as possible."
The Nightmare Horses, their hooves wrapped in specially made soft pads, galloped almost silently, like two shadows blending into the night, speeding along the desolate path. Bibi Dong and Dai Chengfeng were both top-tier experts of their time; by concealing their auras, they were extremely difficult to detect unless a Title Douluo of the same realm deliberately probed them.
The journey was not without its challenges. The closer they got to the southwestern border of Fasno Province, the more chaotic the fluctuations of soul energy in the air became. Occasionally, they could sense the figures of other soul masters hurrying by, their auras concealed, passing by in the distance, their direction roughly pointing towards the Wind Howling Rift Valley.
"The news did leak out, but I don't know the extent of the leak." Dai Chengfeng's eyes turned slightly cold, and a faint arc of electricity flickered between his fingertips.
Bibi Dong pressed his hand down, gently shaking her head: "No need for unnecessary complications. Our goal is the depths of the rift valley. These people may not be able to find the way." The Tear of the Wind God on her chest warmed even more, as if urging them on, or perhaps resonating with the call of some distant being. They had traveled tirelessly for several days, traversing the vast plains and hills of the Fasno Province. The desolate mountains along the border gradually came into view. The vegetation became low and sparse, and the exposed rocks displayed the jagged appearance of long-term wind and sand erosion. The sound of the wind also changed, no longer a simple whistling, but carrying a sharp, soul-piercing sob, coming from the distant west. The wind element in the air was astonishingly active, even repelling and interfering with other elemental soul power.
"We've arrived. Ahead lies the outer area of the Wind Howling Rift." Dai Chengfeng reined in his Nightmare Horse and pointed to a vast abyss ahead, a sudden drop shrouded in a gray, misty air. Even from miles away, one could feel the fierce, sand-laden air rushing towards them, making their robes flutter wildly.
Looking out, the so-called rift valley offered no view of the opposite bank, only a swirling, almost tangible, grayish-white wall of wind. The earth at the rift's edge was cracked, riddled with bottomless fissures. Some were only a foot wide, others several meters, from which fierce winds constantly surged forth, howling like ghosts and wolves. The place was desolate and lifeless; apart from the wind, almost no sound of life could be heard, and even the most tenacious weeds could not survive.
Bibi Dong leaped off her horse. The Tear of the Wind God was so hot that it stung her chest. But strangely, the heat didn't bother her; instead, it stirred a deep, visceral connection within her. She closed her eyes, carefully sensing the pulse emanating from the necklace. It was a clear, directional pull, imbued with a sense of direction and distance.
“Down below, very deep, and… it’s moving? No, the entrance’s location is not fixed due to the wind.” She opened her eyes, a hint of understanding flashing in them. “No wonder ancient texts record that it’s easy to get lost here; the rift itself might be a huge, moving wind-attribute domain or formation.”
Upon hearing this, Dai Chengfeng frowned: "Are you confident you can lock onto it?"
Bibi Dong nodded, her fingertips lightly touching the necklace. A wisp of extremely pure pale blue energy overflowed from the Tear of the Wind God, coiling around her fingertip and pointing to a seemingly unremarkable spot within the wind wall. "Follow this guidance."
She took the lead, walking towards the gale-force winds powerful enough to instantly tear an ordinary Soul Master apart. Dai Chengfeng followed without hesitation, simultaneously activating the Soul Guidance Shield Generator in his hand. A pale golden oval-shaped light membrane enveloped the two of them. This was the latest achievement of the Spirit Hall Research Institute, capable of withstanding extremely strong energy impacts, especially exhibiting good resistance to wind attributes.
The moment they stepped into the gale-force winds, the protective shield violently trembled, emitting a teeth-grinding screeching sound. Visibility was completely obscured by the raging, grayish-white airflow, less than three meters. A deafening whistling sound filled their ears, as if a thousand sharp blades were simultaneously slicing through the shield. Yet, the pale blue light threads at Bibi Dong's fingertips remained remarkably stable, winding their way in one direction amidst the raging wind. She focused intently on following the guidance, with Dai Chengfeng close behind, doing his utmost to maintain the shield and remaining vigilant for any potential dangers lurking around them. (End of Chapter)