After proceeding a certain distance, a dense mist appeared ahead.

The mist shrouded the valley like a thick veil, with visibility extremely low.

The group slowed their pace, cautiously feeling their way forward, with only their own footsteps and heavy breathing audible.

Suddenly, "Iron Flute Scholar" Xiang Kun felt the ground beneath his feet vanish, and he plummeted into a bottomless trap.

He screamed in terror, "Help!"

Wu Zhong, with sharp eyes and quick reflexes, grabbed Xiang Kun's arm and pulled him up with force. Other disciples rushed to help, and with everyone's concerted effort, they finally pulled Xiang Kun out of the trap.

Filled with lingering fear, Xiang Kun looked at the trap, his forehead covered in cold sweat, and said, "Thank you, brothers, I almost met my end here."

The group patted his shoulder, offered a few comforting words, and continued on their arduous journey to find Gong Simeng and the Auspicious Beast.

Meanwhile, "Mandarin Duck Saber" Xiao Lingling, Hengshan Sect heroine Yili, and Heroic Sakura Association's Dharma Transmission Elder and Jishi Hall Master Lin Wanqing, along with the team of "Drum Barrel" Lu Dechu and "Bamboo Pole" Jiang Huotian, were struggling to navigate through the forest.

The forest was like a natural maze, imbued with a damp and decaying scent, like old, rotting things soaked by rain, making one almost nauseous. Raindrops clung to the post-rain leaves, resembling round pearls, occasionally dripping down with a "drip" onto the group, bringing a slight chill, yet unable to dissipate their anxiety.

Suddenly, with keen eyes, Lin Wanqing, her lively eyes like stars in the night sky, instantly captured a fresh whip mark on the trunk of a large tree. The whip mark snaked and twisted, resembling Gong Simeng's soft whip, like a lively snake leaving traces on the trunk.

Following the direction of the whip mark, Xiao Lingling saw a piece of red cloth hanging from a distant branch, gently swaying in the breeze. It was fabric from Gong Simeng's clothes. Her heart surged with joy, her eyes shining with hope, like a flame kindled in the darkness, and immediately led the group to pursue in that direction.

Thorns filled the forest, sharp as concealed hidden weapons, unexpectedly stabbing at the group.

They tore the group's clothing with a "rip" sound, and left bloody marks on their arms and faces, with crimson drops of blood slowly sliding down their skin.

Suddenly, a faint rustling sound came from the front of the forest.

It sounded like small animals scurrying through the underbrush, or as if someone was secretly spying.

Xiao Lingling immediately raised her hand to signal the group to stop. Her graceful figure and alert eyes were like those of a keen leopard, tightly gripping the Mandarin Duck Saber in her hand. The blade glimmered with cold light in the dim light, like a meteor streaking across the night sky, exuding an icy aura.

A few shadows leaped out from the forest, brandishing sharp blades. Their blades reflected a cold light, like winter frost, their eyes fierce as wolves, as if intending to tear the group apart.

The lead figure in black wore a sneering expression, his voice hoarse and icy, echoing as if from the Nine Nether Hell, "You lot have thwarted our plans, and you still seek that girl and the Auspicious Beast? Today, you shall neither come nor go!"

With that, the figure in black waved his hand, and his subordinates rushed at Xiao Lingling and the others like wolves upon prey, with a whistling sound.

Xiao Lingling and the group quickly formed a battle stance, engaging in fierce combat with the black-clad figures.

Lin Wanqing executed the Longevity Swordsmanship. Clothed in white, she glided through the forest like a celestial spirit descended to earth, her movements light and agile.

Every thrust of her sword carried the sound of slicing wind, "whoosh," targeting the enemy's vital points. Her sword moves were continuous, like the unceasing flow of a mighty river. With one move, "Eternal Life," her long sword traced a graceful arc in the air, like the Milky Way pouring down from the night sky, aiming directly at a black-clad man's throat. The man hurriedly raised his sword to defend, with a "clang," sparks flying.

Yili, on the other hand, deployed Hengshan Sect's "Mist Swordsmanship." Her beautiful face was resolute, her swordsmanship varied and layered, like mist in the mountains, elusive. With a shout, she unleashed "Cloud Enveloping Mist," her long sword quickly dancing in front, forming a sword curtain, enveloping a black-clad man within. The friction between blade and air emitted a "hiss" sound.

The black-clad man dodged left and right within the sword curtain but could never break through.

Xiao Lingling seized the moment, executing the Mandarin Duck Saber's technique "Mandarin Ducks Play in the Water," with dual blades in her hands as if they had life, darting swiftly among enemies like lively fish.

Her agile form and smooth movements, her twin blades flashing with cold light, made quick "shush" sounds, instantly felling two black-clad men.

Seeing this, the remaining black-clad men hesitated but still refused to retreat, continuing their frenzied attack. As the intense battle continued, one brother was accidentally hit by the enemy's hidden weapon, letting out a wretched scream, "Ah!" and fell to the ground.

Xiao Lingling's heart was pierced with pain, her eyes flashed with anger and determination. She shouted, "Kill!" Her attacks became even more fierce, her twin blades spinning an impenetrable "whish" sound wall, like a steel barrier, preventing anyone from approaching.

Each of her slashes carried immense power, the blade wind howling, knocking down the surrounding leaves, "rustling" as they fell.

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