Chapter 40: Deep Into Sunset Valley

After finally shaking off that scalp-crawling swarm of ants, the two rested briefly and continued deeper along the valley path.

But after truly entering Sunset Valley, they discovered that searching was far from as easy as they had imagined.

The valley paths crisscrossed. Crimson rock covered everything: the ground, the cliff walls, the rubble.

Almost everything in sight was dark red. Staring too long made their eyes blur.

Above Sunset Valley, fire spiritual energy raged in chaos. The higher one went, the more violent it became. Sword flight not only doubled spiritual energy consumption, but one careless move could leave a cultivator struck by the turbulence.

What was more, Sunset Crystals were mostly hidden in rock crevices and fault seams, so most cultivators who entered Sunset Valley chose to search on foot.

The air was constantly thick with scorching fire spiritual energy. Occasionally, other cultivators could be seen moving through the distance.

Some traveled alone. Some moved in groups of three or five. There were even sect teams of over a dozen searching everywhere.

When they occasionally met head-on, they only sized each other up and rarely struck up conversation.

Yan Li and Xuan Shiyan both deliberately restrained their auras and moved quietly along the valley path.

After all, when treasure hunting in a secret realm, the most dangerous things were never just demon beasts.

And people’s hearts.

The deeper they went, the higher the temperature around them rose, until the air began to distort.

As they pressed on, the chill from the fire-repelling beads grew fainter, and resisting the heat waves became harder.

The two searched along the valley floor for nearly two hours but found nothing. The scorching fire spiritual energy kept eating away at their protective spiritual power. Even breathing made their throats burn.

Yan Li stopped to catch her breath and glanced around. Her gaze suddenly froze.

Not far away, from a crack in a split rock layer, a faint dark red glow leaked out.

She walked over and used the tip of her sword to brush aside the gravel on the surface. A walnut-sized crystal was quietly embedded in the rock crevice, dark red all over, semi-transparent, with a faint firelight flowing inside.

It was a Sunset Crystal.

Yan Li pried out the crystal, glanced at it once, and put it into her storage ring.

Low grade.

Taking it to the Red Fire Pavilion wouldn’t fetch more than a few spirit stones. They were still far from their goal.

Just as she was about to replace her fire-repelling bead with a new one, laughter and voices came from ahead. Several rogue cultivators walked out from another valley path.

There were two men and two women, their cultivation levels uneven. The highest was only early Foundation Establishment.

The other group clearly hadn’t expected anyone here either. Their steps halted at once, and the two sides faced each other from ten zhang away.

Soon, their gazes fell on Yan Shu in Yan Li’s arms. Their expressions shifted from surprise to something strange.

Sunset Valley was a dangerous place few dared to enter, yet someone was actually carrying a baby into it. In the whole valley, there was probably no second person like that.

One thin, tall cultivator couldn’t help but look Yan Li over a few more times.

A thought stirred in him. He suddenly felt he had seen through something, and his gaze changed.

The two female cultivators beside him whispered.

“…What kind of person is this, bringing a baby to Sunset Valley?”

“Probably not right in the head.”

“Or else their skills are off the charts. Otherwise, who’d dare do this?”

Yan Li’s expression didn’t change. She gave Xuan Shiyan a look, then turned with Yan Shu in her arms, intending to take another valley path around them.

But the thin, tall cultivator’s gaze seemed stuck to Yan Li. He nudged the saber-carrying man beside him with his elbow. “Can you tell what cultivation they have?”

The saber-carrying man frowned and shook his head. “Can’t see through them.”

The thin, tall cultivator sneered. “Putting on airs. Two greenhorns who don’t know their limits.”

After all, in a place like Sunset Valley, even early Foundation Establishment cultivators might not dare enter alone. These two, on the other hand, were charging in with a baby.

But the saber-carrying man shook his head. “Making it here alive might not be just luck.”

The thin, tall cultivator didn’t answer. His gaze stayed on Yan Li: white robes, hair tied up, delicate, pretty features, and yet carrying a baby. The men’s clothing looked awkward no matter how one looked at it.

“Take a closer look.”

The saber-carrying man followed his gaze.

“Hm?”

The thin, tall cultivator curled his lips into a smile. “I say that one in white is probably a girl.”

The saber-carrying man frowned deeper. “Don’t let your imagination run wild.”

The thin, tall cultivator acted as if he hadn’t heard. Watching Yan Li’s departing back, his eyes darted.

“We’re all here for crystals. Another companion or two isn’t bad.”

With that, he strode after them.

The saber-carrying man frowned but still followed.

He quickened his pace, and before the thin, tall cultivator could speak, cupped his hands toward the two.

“Fellow Daoists, please wait.” He spoke politely. “There are many demon beasts deeper in Sunset Valley. Traveling with a child must be quite inconvenient, no?”

Hearing this, the two stopped and turned back.

Xuan Shiyan moved half a step forward without seeming to, placing himself by Yan Li’s side, his gentle smile still in place. “It’s fine.”

The saber-carrying man nodded and asked, “There are more demon beasts ahead. Do you two have companions?”

“No.”

The thin, tall cultivator immediately cut in with a warm smile. “Since we’re all heading into the valley, why not travel together? It’s dangerous here; more people means more help.” His words were friendly, but his eyes kept drifting toward Yan Li.

Yan Li’s brows had already knitted.

Xuan Shiyan’s smile remained, but his tone cooled. “No need. My senior brother has always preferred quiet and isn’t used to traveling with others.”

This was already a very tactful way to say it, and the meaning was clear: each goes their own way.

The thin, tall cultivator was stunned for a moment, but inwardly scoffed.

‘Senior brother? He’s putting on a good act.’

He became even more convinced he had seen the truth: the white-robed person before him was clearly a woman, disguised as a man for convenience. Even the way they addressed each other had changed to match.

The more he thought, the warmer his smile became.

“Hey, Fellow Daoist, no need to be so formal. We’re all out here trying to make a living. Helping each other is only right. Besides…”

He glanced toward Yan Li again.

“This Fellow Daoist is carrying a child, so moving around can’t be easy. The demon beasts in the valley don’t care who you are. If you run into trouble, it won’t be easy to handle.”

Xuan Shiyan’s smile faded. “There’s no need to trouble yourselves.”

The thin, tall cultivator still refused to give up. “Don’t be so distant.” As he spoke, he suddenly pulled out a palm-sized bronze plate artifact from his robes.

The bronze plate was entirely red, its edges covered in fine runes, with a constantly spinning fire-colored crystal needle embedded in the center. It did look like it had something to it.

He shook the bronze plate proudly. “It’s a treasure I paid a huge price for. You won’t find a second one in the whole cultivation world. As long as there’s a Sunset Crystal nearby, it can sense it. It’s much better than spiritual sense.”

The two female cultivators nearby looked at the bronze plate with unconcealed envy.

Seeing this, the thin, tall cultivator grew even more pleased. “How about it? Traveling together won’t be a loss, right?”

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