Chixiao arrived two days later, and with him, all the key figures in this expedition to explore the 'Heavenly Gate' were finally assembled.

The Dead Silence Marsh was littered with thousands of swamps of varying sizes.

These swamps had existed for tens of thousands of years; any person stepping into one risked immediate sinking and subsequent engulfment.

At this point, the carriages could no longer advance. The carriages and fine horses belonging to the Zuo and Shi families had to be left at the entrance to the Dead Silence Marsh, forcing the party to proceed on foot.

Upon entering the Dead Silence Marsh, Shi Yan spoke even less, constantly vigilant against any sudden dangers.

The Dead Silence Marsh was filled with stagnant green water, and above many of the swamps, multi-hued miasma swirled.

This miasma was highly toxic, often lethally so; a single inhalation was enough to cause a person’s body to rot away swiftly.

Besides the swamps and the poisonous vapors, the Dead Silence Marsh, much like the Gloomy Forest, was teeming with demonic beasts!

The beasts inhabiting this area had long adapted to the marsh, often capable of hiding deep within the sludge, ready to erupt and ambush passing martial artists when they drew near.

Chixiao and Xia Xinyan walked ahead, consciously steering clear of any visible swampland.

As a powerhouse of the Heaven Rank, Chixiao could ascend into the air and fly, rendering him immune to the clinging sludge below.

However, his immunity did not extend to others. Even Xia Xinyan could only achieve the Heaven Rank and take to the skies after activating her ‘Cycle Martial Soul.’

Yet, every activation of the ‘Cycle Martial Soul’ exacted a heavy toll on Xia Xinyan.

Thus, unless absolutely necessary, she was reluctant to employ it, necessitating her cautious approach, following closely behind Chixiao who led the way.

Shi Yan’s cultivation was the lowest among the group, and his understanding of this perilous world was the shallowest.

Consequently, after entering the Dead Silence Marsh, he remained quiet, constantly observing—noting the dangers inherent in the marsh, and studying the countermeasures employed by Chixiao and the others.

"Up ahead is a three-mile stretch of green swamp; this one cannot be bypassed," Chixiao suddenly halted, standing on a muddy patch of ground, his brow furrowed. "The surrounding area is nothing but swamp, and this section seems the safest, relatively speaking. Everyone, be careful; we have to risk it this time."

Shi Yan’s expression turned grave as he peered at the swamp ahead.

The swamp spanned three miles, the entirety covered in green mire, though there were occasional raised patches of dry earth dotting the center where one could stand. These patches were generally small, some large enough for only two or three people.

The distance between these dry spots varied, sometimes tens of meters apart, sometimes only two or three. If they could traverse the swamp by hopping from one dry patch to the next, passing through this area should theoretically be possible.

However, Chixiao’s next words shattered that calculated hope.

"Don't be fooled by the appearance of those dry spots; they might actually cause you to sink faster once you step on them. Many of these patches are merely floating on the surface and cannot bear weight. The moment someone stands upon them, they will immediately submerge."

Shi Yan’s heart constricted, his demeanor growing even more solemn, yet he offered no comment.

"Rest assured, I will test every spot ahead of you and find the patches that can genuinely support weight," Chixiao offered with a slight smile, seeming to perceive their apprehension. "Just follow my footsteps and observe where I land; it should be fine. However, some spots are very small; they might hold my weight alone, but not necessarily the weight of three or four people, so proceed with caution."

The others nodded slowly, their faces heavy. Even the usually relaxed Zuo Shi watched the dry patches ahead with palpable tension.

"Miss Xia, there might be some danger ahead. If you can mobilize the power of the Heaven Rank, could you also keep an eye out for me?" Chixiao hesitated slightly before looking toward Xia Xinyan.

The clear eyes beneath Xia Xinyan’s veil betrayed a clear indecision. After a moment of thought, she replied, "Mr. Chixiao, if you can manage this alone, it would be best for you to guide everyone across this obstacle. If I use my Heaven Rank power, I will be weak for a time afterward, and I wish to reserve my energy for the Nine-Headed Celestial Serpent, not waste it here."

At these words, both Zuo Shi and Wu Yunlian subtly frowned.

Everyone assumed she was reluctant to exert herself and did not view the group as true companions. This naturally caused some discontent, though no one voiced it directly.

Chixiao, however, seemed unperturbed. He nodded, "Very well. I will shoulder the burden this time. But without Miss Xia’s assistance, you must all be even more careful. Do not step anywhere without my guidance; otherwise, if you sink deep into the mire, even saving you will become troublesome for me."

The group acknowledged this with serious nods.

"Right, follow me closely." Chixiao took a shallow breath, and his body suddenly floated out, landing lightly on the nearest dry patch.

As his foot made contact, the patch instantly shrank and plunged abruptly into the sludge.

Shi Yan’s expression shifted slightly, a flicker of gravity in his eyes; he suddenly realized this exploration was proving far less smooth than anticipated, necessitating even greater caution.

Chixiao, unconcerned, watched the spot sink into the mire before remarking, "As you all saw, this one patch could not bear the weight of even one person. If someone were to jump onto it suddenly, they would likely sink along with the earth."

Saying this, Chixiao took to the air again, landing on another dry patch nearby. This one remained perfectly stable upon his landing, showing no sign of submerging.

"This one is safe, but be aware: I might stand here without issue, but if too many people gather, an accident could still occur," Chixiao explained, then stomped his foot lightly.

The patch beneath him shuddered violently and began to slowly sink once more.

"This one can support the weight of three people. Everyone, take note: do not let more than three people stand on this spot simultaneously when you cross," Chixiao clarified, then flew off again, continuing to methodically test the ground and map out the safe path for the others.

Once Chixiao had flown about a hundred meters ahead, Xia Xinyan finally spoke calmly, "We can move now."

With that, her graceful figure shimmered, and she landed as lightly as air onto the dry patch that Chixiao had confirmed could hold three people.

Pausing only briefly, she moved again, shifting to another safe spot ahead, following Chixiao’s established trail with swift strides.

The two towering figures flanking her did not hesitate. As she sprang forward, they too rushed out, leaping across the dry patches in close pursuit.

Zuo Shi, Wu Yunlian, and Chu Ping followed suit, proceeding along the exact route Xia Xinyan had taken.

"Young Master, please, after you," Han Feng bowed toward Shi Yan, "Be careful, Young Master."

"Mm," Shi Yan nodded, then leaped forward himself, falling in line behind Zuo Shi as they moved slowly forward.

A faint, sour scent permeated the air above the swamp.

After walking a mile into the marsh, Shi Yan noticed sluggish, bubbling green pockets emerging from the mire. When these green bubbles burst, thin wisps of greenish smoke would float upwards.

"Careful, this green vapor is poisonous; do not inhale it," Chixiao’s voice drifted from ahead. "None of you have low cultivation; holding your breath briefly should be fine. I will clear the path as quickly as possible; just keep up closely."

While speaking, Chixiao did not stop moving, bobbing between the dry patches, frequently announcing, "This spot is unusable. This one is safe, but be aware, it can only bear the weight of two people—keep that in mind..."

Shi Yan kept his gaze locked on Chixiao, meticulously recording every spot the guide traversed, daring not to let his guard down for an instant.

At that moment, he intensely envied the martial artists of the Heaven Rank. If they possessed the ability to soar through the air, this entire section could have been bypassed with ease.

Shi Yan yearned with increasing fervor for greater strength! He craved a higher level of cultivation realm!

With Chixiao leading the way, the rest of the party found their journey significantly easier. Apart from the trouble Chixiao endured, everyone else proceeded relatively smoothly.

In this swamp that had buried countless martial artists, the group advanced safely, encountering no unexpected mishaps.

However, just as they neared the edge of the marsh, Chixiao’s expression suddenly changed, and he cried out, "Careful! Movement in the sludge!"

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Three demonic beasts, caked entirely in mud, suddenly erupted from the mire, lunging directly toward the dry patch where Shi Yan and Xia Xinyan stood.

These creatures resembled mud eels, bearing a row of sharp spines along their backs, with heads like fish and teeth packed densely like steel needles.

As the three beasts burst from the muck, two rushed toward Xia Xinyan, and one shot straight for Shi Yan.

Shi Yan’s composure did not waver. As the beast closed in, he abruptly extended his right hand; his arm instantly petrified, and he covertly executed the Finger Gun technique, thrusting directly toward the creature’s head!

Screech!

The beast bit down on Shi Yan’s petrified forearm but could not pierce the Stone Soul’s defense. Instead, Shi Yan’s five fingers pierced straight through its skull. With a splatter of green blood, the creature tumbled back into the swamp.

Boom! Boom!

From Xia Xinyan’s position came two muffled, heavy impacts.

Shi Yan twisted his head to see that the two beasts targeting Xia Xinyan had spontaneously exploded before they even reached her, falling apart into the swamp.

A tingling, acidic numbness spread from his right palm, now smeared with the green blood. Shi Yan frowned slightly, retrieving a soft cloth from his pack to wipe the ichor clean.

A host of strange demonic beasts suddenly began emerging from the bubbling green swamps; a rough count revealed no fewer than a hundred of them.

These creatures glared at Shi Yan’s party with palpable hatred, exhibiting an undeniable hunger to devour them.

"Shi Yan, did you perhaps get splashed by the green blood of those Mud Eel Beasts?" Chixiao, standing far ahead, suddenly cried out in alarm.

Shi Yan casually finished wiping the green residue, turned his head toward Chixiao, and nodded. "Is there an issue?"

"Those Mud Eel Beasts have absorbed too much of the poisonous miasma; their blood carries a potent venom capable of rotting human flesh!" Chixiao exclaimed in regret. "I had intended to tell you after we passed this section, as it is rare for Mud Eel Beasts to appear here. I never expected them to show up now."

"Chixiao, what are you doing here again?"

An ugly wretch, entirely covered in sludge and utterly hairless, slowly surfaced from the mire. Half of his body remained submerged, the other half exposed, watching Chixiao with cold fury. "Last time you stole my Azure Incense Grass, what are you trying to pull now?"

...X