SpaceMage

The other two members of the group exchanged confused glances, ignorant of the significance of the term. But to cultivators, the title of Qi Lord was something akin to legend - a symbol of the highest echelons of power that one could hope to attain.

To achieve such a title, one must possess a cultivation base of legendary Rank 4 Qi Lord, a feat that was nearly impossible to imagine. The mere thought of such power left the red-haired young man in awe, his mind conjuring images of legendary battles and mountains of corpses.

Qi Lords were the rulers of the world, their word law and their actions absolute. With the flick of a wrist, they could cause rivers of blood to flow and mountains to crumble, their power beyond the comprehension of mortal minds.

Qi Lords were indeed rare and powerful individuals, and the red-haired young man knew this all too well. Despite being a Level 2 Qi Trainee, he understood the gravity of the situation. The Devil's Gut was an extremely dangerous place even for Level 3 Qi Trainees, let alone a mere Level 2 Qi Trainee like himself. The young man's companions continued to voice their concerns, warning him about the danger that lay ahead. "The risks are too high, young master. Even a cultivator at Level 3 Qi Training would struggle to survive in the Devil's Gut," one of them said. The young man's face was inscrutable as he weighed his options. He was the young master of the Noble Song Family, a clan with a revered Rank 1 Qi Expert as its patriarch.

The red-haired young man's mind raced as he considered the implications of the curse. It was a danger unlike any other, a curse that could not be defeated by brute force or Qi prowess. It was something that could not be seen, touched or felt, but its effects were real and deadly.

He looked at his companions, who wore similar expressions of concern on their faces. They were all aware of the risks involved in entering the Devil's Gut, and the consequences of underestimating the curse.

He took a deep breath, his eyes fixed on the swamp in front of them. He was a young master, a member of one of the most powerful families in the Divine Star Continent, but he knew that even his status and power might not be enough to protect him from the curse.

The reverence for the Song Family Patriarch was not unfounded, as he was one of the few people who can claim to have seen and experienced the mysteries of the universe. The red-haired young man had heard countless tales of the Patriarch's exploits, and every single one of them was more incredible than the last.

If the Patriarch said that the curse was real, then it must be true. The red-haired young man would rather be safe than sorry, especially when it comes to a place as dangerous as the Devil's Gut.

The red-haired young man stood at the edge of a precipice, gazing out at the rugged terrain below. The wind whipped his hair about his face as he pondered his next move. He could sense that the kid with the Qi Scroll was not far away, only about two kilometers as the crow flies. It wouldn't take him long to catch up, claim the treasure, and return home victorious.

But there was a problem, and it was a big one. The Devil's Den lay between him and his goal.

The red-haired young man furrowed his brow as he weighed his options. His eyes flickered towards the distant figure of the kid with the Qi Scroll, his mind racing with possibilities. After a few moments of contemplation, he finally made his decision.

"We'll stay here and observe the kid," he said firmly, turning to address the two non-cultivators who had accompanied him on this perilous journey. "If he dies, then one of you, if not both, should go and retrieve the treasure."

"If he does not die, then we simply cross this damned swamp and catch up to him," the red-haired young man continued, a determined glint in his eye.

Dongfang grinned widely. "Brilliant!" he exclaimed. "If he stops moving for a while, then it means he's dead. If not, then that means he safely crossed the swamp and the Devil's Den is not as dangerous as we thought!"

The men sat down cross-legged, their eyes fixed on the distant figure of the kid. The red-haired young man closed his eyes and cast a Qi Technique, strengthening his bond to the tracking magic of Ximen Wei's.

Ximen Wei trudged through the murky swamp, his steps faltering with every passing moment. He could sense that something was off about this place, an eerie energy that seemed to cling to him like a second skin. But he had no choice but to go forward.

As he made his way through the treacherous terrain, Ximen Wei gradually began to feel more at ease. The nausea that had plagued him earlier had dissipated, replaced by a strange sense of calm. He couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he felt a strange resonance with this place. It was as if the very essence of the swamp was flowing through him.

He figured it may be because of his cultivation method so he didn't think too much about it.

After all, the Immortal Devil Sect's sole doctrines revolve around slaughter and bloodshed, to him, it wasn't too surprising to see him forming a resonance with this place.

As Ximen Wei trudged deeper into the swamp, he couldn't help but feel like he was being watched. The howling noises that echoed sent shivers down his spine, and the faint cries of a little girl tugged at his heartstrings. He couldn't help but wonder who, or what, was making those sounds.

As he waded through the murky waters, Ximen Wei began to hear mumbled screams that seemed to come from the very depths of the swamp. They were the kind of screams that could make a man's blood run cold, and Ximen Wei felt a chill spread through his body. He tried to block out the noise, to focus on his goal, but the sounds only seemed to grow louder and more insistent.

It was as if the very swamp was trying to tell him something, to warn him of the dangers that lay ahead.