novelE2F Chapter 151: En Route to Red Maple Heavenly Valley
Chapter 151: En Route to Red Maple Heavenly Valley
The night passed peacefully and without any incident, and as the first light of dawn broke through the horizon, Jiang Chen and Xie Xiaojing made their way to Ji Ruxue’s residence.
To their surprise, Ji Ruxue was already waiting eagerly at the entrance of her grand palace, her excitement about the upcoming trip unmistakable and clearly visible in her bright eyes. With her father not around to watch over her or impose any restrictions, she was more than ready to embark on their adventure.
Seeing Jiang Chen and Xie Xiaojing approaching from a distance, Ji Ruxue called out with anticipation, "Hurry up! Let’s get going before the sun rises higher!"
She then quickly tossed a delicate jade flute toward Jiang Chen, saying, "This is my precious flying artifact; you’re in charge of steering, Jiang Chen!" Her voice carried a note of trust as she handed over control to him.
"Got it!" Jiang Chen replied with confidence, catching the jade flute effortlessly. He examined it closely, noting its intricate carvings and the subtle aura it emitted—it was a top-grade Heavenly Origin-level flying artifact, just as powerful and refined as his own Unbroken Thousand Strings Holy Vessel.
Jiang Chen felt that if Ji Ruxue’s cultivation base were strong enough to handle a higher-ranked artifact, her father, Ji Mingxiu, would have undoubtedly bestowed upon her something at least of the Inquiring Journey rank.
Holding the jade flute firmly, Jiang Chen funneled his Dao Origin Power into it with focused intent. In an instant, the flute slipped from his grasp, floated gracefully in mid-air, and began to expand. It stretched to a remarkable length of ten feet—spacious enough to comfortably accommodate all three of them.
"I call the front seat!" Ji Ruxue declared, her excitement bubbling over as she eagerly leaped onto the jade flute, claiming the foremost position with a gleeful grin.
"Guess I’m in the back then," Xie Xiaojing remarked, chuckling softly as she shook her head, her amusement evident in her eyes.
"Then I’ll take the middle," Jiang Chen added, his smile tinged with a hint of mystery. "It’s the best spot for handling the flying artifact, after all."
With one stunning beauty in front and another behind him, the setup was undeniably enjoyable and visually pleasing. Unfortunately, the jade flute’s impressive length of over three meters meant that they were quite spread out from each other.
After making sure both Ji Ruxue and Xie Xiaojing were securely settled in their positions, Jiang Chen announced with a commanding tone, "Let’s head out!"
With just a thought, he channeled his Dao Origin Power, propelling the jade flute forward. It transformed into a brilliant streak of light, slicing through the morning sky with incredible speed and grace, soon disappearing into the distant horizon.
...
In this situation, the utility of the Spirit Condensation Bianstone Jade had been completely eclipsed. No longer needing it, Jiang Chen carefully stored it away inside the Heavenly Demon Hidden Heart Ring.
With Jiang Chen’s unwavering vigilance as their safeguard, the trio successfully entered a vast and expansive red valley. The immense scale of this valley exceeded even the impressive reach of Jiang Chen’s divine sense. Dipping deep into the earth, it resembled a gigantic, vermilion bowl carved from the heart of the land itself.
’Is this really just a valley? It looks more like a basin,’ Jiang Chen thought to himself, pondering the peculiar formation. He then turned his focus to a thorough examination of the valley’s unique and distinct features.
Nestled within the heart of the Red Maple Heavenly Valley lay an expansive forest of colossal red maple trees, each with a trunk diameter exceeding ten meters. Beneath these towering trees, a dense and intimidating carpet of purple-red thorns flourished, accompanied by other vibrant foliage in rich shades of crimson, creating a mesmerizing and somewhat foreboding landscape.
"Wow! What a breathtaking view!" Ji Ruxue exclaimed, her voice filled with awe and wonder. "I can hardly believe I hadn’t discovered this place earlier; I’m so glad we came."
Sharing in the excitement, Xie Xiaojing chimed in, "Sister Ruxue, quickly! Let’s use the Image Projection Stone to capture this incredible moment forever and preserve the memory!"
The Image Projection Stone was a special gem artifact, able to encapsulate the surrounding scene within its crystalline structure. Yet, its use was limited; each stone could only capture one scene. To Jiang Chen, this particular item reminded him distinctly of what he might call a ’camera’ from his previous life.
"Ah yes, you’re right, let’s do that!" Ji Ruxue agreed enthusiastically. Without hesitation, she and Xie Xiaojing disembarked from the jade flute-like flying artifact. Excitedly, they retrieved their Image Projection Stones, and began to ’photograph’ each other, capturing the enchanting scenery and their joyous expressions in the radiant light of the valley.
Witnessing this scene that felt oddly familiar, Jiang Chen couldn’t help but smile to himself, a wave of nostalgia washing over him. His attention, however, quickly returned to their surroundings, remaining ever vigilant.
It didn’t take long for Jiang Chen to detect the presence of five or six demonic beasts of the Heavenly Origin realm lurking nearby.
These creatures, belonging to the same species, were known as Hexa Spiked Flameclad Beasts, resembling rhinoceroses in form.
Cloaked entirely in dark red scales, they sported six menacing spikes on their massive heads. Additional spikes adorned their broad backs, sturdy limbs, and powerful tails, accentuating their fearsome appearance.
Just from their name alone, it was clear that these were demonic beasts associated with the fire element.
As Jiang Chen observed the small group of Hexa Spiked Flameclad Beasts, he noticed an unusual vigor in their aura, filled with vivacity and tinged with excitement and irritability.
Upon closer and more meticulous examination, he discovered something even more peculiar about their behavior, which heightened his curiosity and caution.