Chapter Twenty-Six: The Doomsday Marsh

Li Sibai had never ventured to this part of the Dark Forest before. The air here was far more humid than in the area he usually frequented, and the ground was riddled with marshes and muddy pits. Unaccustomed to these conditions, he hurriedly took one of the sect’s special Silver Horn Pills. This elixir, crafted mainly from the trunk of the Silver Horn Tree, required only a single pill held in the mouth to purify the inhaled air and ward off poisonous gases.

He asked Caiyao if she needed one as well, but she responded with a cheerful smile, assuring him that such swamp gases could not harm her. Only then did Li Sibai feel at ease.

Yet the deeper they went, the thicker the swamp gas became, and a dense mist soon enveloped them. Visibility shrank to mere meters, and what troubled Li Sibai most was that the Silver Horn Pill’s effects were beginning to fade. His brow furrowed with worry; he had not expected the danger here to be so grave.

Caiyao, too, sensed the peril. She turned to Li Sibai and said, “Brother, I think we should leave at once. This place is too dangerous.”

Li Sibai nodded. “That’s exactly what I was thinking.” With those words, he turned to retrace their steps.

But their attempted escape stretched to half an hour, and the place seemed to transform into a labyrinth from which there was no exit. Anxiety surged in Li Sibai, sweat dripping from his brow—whether from panic or the damp mist, he could not tell.

Caiyao was equally worried, recognizing the extraordinary danger of this place. “Brother, why don’t I carry you out by flying?” she suggested.

Li Sibai looked at her and shook his head. “That must be our last resort. If you carry me out, it would be easy, but an inner-sect senior is secretly observing me. If you help me escape, not only will my achievement be invalidated, but your identity will also be exposed. You’ve always cared about that. Let me think of another way.”

Caiyao, having spoken in haste, realized the truth in Li Sibai’s words. That method could only be used as a last resort. Suddenly inspired, she said, “Then let me fly ahead and seek help from the Old Tree Spirit. Would that work?”

Still, Li Sibai shook his head. “Caiyao, do you see any vines here?”

Caiyao widened her eyes and looked closely. There were no trees here, much less vines—only grasses in the marsh. “What’s going on?” she wondered, feeling helpless.

Li Sibai shook his head with a bitter smile. “I’m not entirely sure myself, but I recall hearing from my seniors that there is a damp marsh in the Dark Forest known as the Doomsday Swamp. When you first enter, nothing seems amiss, but only upon venturing deeper do you realize the danger—too late. The vegetation here is entirely different from the rest of the Dark Forest. If I’ve guessed correctly, these are not the Old Tree Spirit’s kin. Even if you find him, he won’t be able to help us.”

Caiyao’s face paled, disappointment writ large upon her features.

“Don’t be anxious,” Li Sibai said after a long pause. “From now on, you must do exactly as I say.”

Caiyao nodded, “I’ll do whatever you ask, brother.”

“Good. Then go. Fly out and find the Old Tree Spirit, gather some herbs for yourself and replenish your energy. Don’t stay with me.”

Caiyao was stunned by his words. “But…brother…what about you? How can I leave you behind? I’d rather stay with you—if you’re ever in danger, I’ll save you at once!”

Li Sibai sighed deeply, then spoke with resolute determination: “Caiyao, don’t worry. There are examiners here; while they monitor us, they also ensure our safety. Unless absolutely necessary, I don’t want them to intervene. Trust in my abilities—I will complete the task and meet you outside.”

Caiyao felt a little more reassured by his confidence. “Brother, I still feel uneasy just leaving like this.”

Li Sibai smiled warmly, “Go. If they discover you, it will be worse. I’ll be distracted, worrying about you during my battles. Go to the Old Tree Spirit. If he can control the plants here, have him intervene only if I’m in grave danger.”

He paused. “If he cannot control the vegetation, then stay there and await news from me. I’ll be fine; remember, I have backup. But I promise you, I will finish the mission.”

Caiyao listened and nodded. “Brother, I understand everything you said, but in the end you’re entrusting your safety to the inner-sect senior. What if he doesn’t act in time? Have you considered that?”

Li Sibai smiled gently, lightly stroking Caiyao’s wings, his tone exuding unwavering resolve: “Caiyao, I trust in the Xuantian Sword Sect and the senior who watches over me. He will lead me out. Please believe me—I will appear before you safely!”

Caiyao felt an unprecedented surge of strength and confidence in him. Suddenly, her brother seemed to stand tall and unshakable, radiating a profound sense of security. In that moment, she realized that spending her life with this young man would be a joyful thing.

She understood that now she must leave and carry out the task he had entrusted to her.

With these thoughts clear in her mind, the familiar smile returned to Caiyao’s face.

“Brother, I’ll go now. I believe you’ll keep your promise. I’ll be waiting for you!”

With that, she vigorously beat her wings, flying out of Li Sibai’s embrace. In moments, her figure passed through layers of mist and vanished from his sight.

Li Sibai breathed a sigh of relief—concern clouded judgment.

Now, he could focus solely on completing his mission.

He knew that not far away, a senior brother or sister must be watching over him. He placed his hopes in them. But for now, he needed to calm his mind and search diligently for the required Xuan-class demon beast. Only after that would he worry about escaping.

Li Sibai made up his mind and took another Silver Horn Pill, temporarily warding off the mist’s invasion. He circulated the Xuantian skill’s true qi within his body, channeling it to his eyes. Instantly, his eyes became a deep, mysterious purple—a basic qi technique of the Xuantian Sword Sect called the Purple Divine Sight. By infusing true qi into the eyes, one could temporarily enhance vision, seeing much farther, though it could not be sustained for long and would harm the eyes.

Only a moment was needed; Li Sibai’s vision cleared completely.