Please find them

Feng Xin approached the large pavilion bearing the name "PENG PAVILION" inscribed above its entrance. The characters radiated a simple yet unyielding aura that even made Feng Xin raise an eyebrow—not because of the aura's strength, but because of the spirit behind the strokes. It was a tenacious will, one that would remain steadfast even in the face of death.

He stepped forward and pushed the doors open. The building's protective arrays appeared to have been disabled, allowing the thick purple-black smog within to burst outward the moment the doors parted.

The smog surged forth like an unstoppable tide, quickly spreading across the entire peak. It blanketed the buildings, plants, and river, drowning everything in its path. The once-clear air turned murky, and visibility dropped to almost nothing.

The Mirage Dragonfly darted away in panic, retreating rapidly upon seeing the overwhelming volume of smog pouring from the pavilion. Within moments, it was hundreds of meters above the peak, still ascending as if distance alone could guarantee safety.

Meanwhile, the faint sound of footsteps echoed softly through the oppressive haze. Feng Xin stepped calmly into the pavilion's hall, his demeanor unaffected by the noxious cloud.

"Should I let the Rainbow Mist Frog out to deal with this mess?" he murmured, his tone casual as though pondering what to have for dinner. He paused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Nah, better to handle it myself. I wonder what it'll taste like."

Above, the Mirage Dragonfly froze mid-flight, its already rapid ascent hastening as it watched Feng Xin below.

"All-Devouring Funnel."

Feng Xin's entire body turned a ghostly pale white, with only a few strands of color lingering in his hair. His eyes transformed into a chilling, deep blue, radiating an icy intensity. As he inhaled gently, a powerful suction force surged outward, drawing everything toward him

The smog, which had spread like wildfire across the peak, began to draw back. It rushed back toward the pavilion like a thick wave of rapidly moving clouds drawn irresistibly toward Feng Xin. In less than three minutes, the entire cloud had vanished, swallowed completely. The peak returned to its tranquil state, bathed once more in clear light and serene air.

High above, the Mirage Dragonfly emitted faint, shrieking sounds of disbelief. It hovered in place, stunned by what it had witnessed.

"What... what is this human's body made of?" it thought, trembling slightly. "That smog—it was enough to make me faint with just a brief exposure. Yet he swallowed all of it, as if it were nothing. Only that Rainbow Mist Toad could maybe handle something like this so effortlessly."

With a mix of awe and apprehension, the Mirage Dragonfly began its descent, cautiously making its way back to the pavilion where Feng Xin stood.

Feng Xin walked into the pavilion, stopping in the middle of a hallway surrounded by countless bodies sprawled across the floor. The number was staggering, reaching into the thousands. Young, middle-aged, and elderly—everyone lay motionless, appearing either dead or unconscious.

The Mirage Dragonfly silently fluttered to Feng Xin's side. By now, his body had returned to normal. Feng Xin stood still, scanning the entire pavilion with his spiritual sense before his tense expression finally eased.

"So this is where the sect members were," Feng Xin murmured, letting out a sigh of relief. "Thankfully, they're not dead—just unconscious."

He crouched slightly, his gaze thoughtful as he observed the scene. "This concoction Peng Zhen and the others brewed is quite impressive. The smog not only knocks people out but also stagnates their qi flow, ensuring the effects linger. Its potency is strong, too. While it might not fully incapacitate someone at the Core Formation realm, it's disorienting enough to cause trouble.

"They've got some skill. The sect's survival in a place as treacherous as the Green Fog Region clearly isn't by chance. It seems they have a budding talent in alchemy," Feng Xin silently thought in praise.

Feng Xin straightened, his eyes sweeping the room one last time. "They're not in immediate danger. Leaving them alone for a while shouldn't pose any risk. Still…" He turned to the Mirage Dragonfly, his tone firm. "I'll need you to keep watch over them."

The Mirage Dragonfly tilted its head slightly, acknowledging the instruction.

Feng Xin's voice dropped, sharp with warning. "Don't try to eat any of them. I've memorized every single person here. If even one goes missing…"

He didn't need to finish. The dangerous glint in his eyes was more than enough to send a shiver through the dragonfly, which immediately buzzed in obedient terror.

With that, Feng Xin turned and headed toward the central peak. The dense qi and intricate arrays in that direction hinted at its significance—likely the sect master's residence or another place of great importance.

Unlike before, Feng Xin moved swiftly, unrestrained by the Mirage Dragonfly. Within minutes, he reached the top of the peak, ascending the winding steps similar to those he had just descended.

The scene that greeted him was breathtaking. The area was vast, three times larger than the space housing the Peng Pavilion. The qi here was even richer and purer, filling the air with an almost tangible vitality.

At the center of the peak stood a single pavilion. Though simple in design, it exuded an undeniable aura of authority. Surrounding it were expansive stretches of land, lush with hundreds of herbs of varying grades and varieties. A river meandered gently through the herb fields, its waters shimmering with qi, adding a serene vibrancy to the landscape.

Feng Xin barely spared a glance at the impressive array of herbs as he approached the pavilion. An old, weathered board at its entrance bore the words "Sect Master Bode." Beside it, a smaller board listed three names:

Liao Heng radiated with a carefree and adaptable aura.

Tang Shanyuan, whose name carried the vitality of a mountain spring.

And lastly, was Cheng Yuan, whose writing exuded stability and steadfastness.

Feng Xin's gaze meaningfully lingered briefly on Cheng Yuan's name. "The other two are likely to have also served as sect masters of the Green Fog Swamp Sect just like Cheng Yuan," he mused.

Instead of entering the pavilion, Feng Xin made his way to the land behind it. The rear grounds had fewer herbs than the front, but their quality was significantly higher. Among them were a handful of Earth-grade herbs and a single budding Sky-rank herb.

The atmosphere here was noticeably different. The air was cool, refreshing, and invigorated with qi. Feng Xin paused for a moment, taking a deep breath, the faintest trace of approval glinting in his eyes as he nodded to himself.

"Seems like their guardian tree is a rare oddity. The calmness and richness of this place rival some of the top-tier Monarch-rank herbs and treasures."

Feng Xin paused as he took in the atmosphere, the tranquil energy seeping into him. "Mmmh, the effects seem to enhance clarity of the mind. Getting into a meditative state here would be effortless."

He continued forward, stepping into an area void of any vegetation. The ground felt sacred, untouched, and inviolable, as if it were meant to remain undisturbed.

In the center of the area, a massive hole stretched a couple hundred meters deep, with several smaller trenches scattered around. Mounds of orange-red soil bordered the space, adding to the strange, solemn atmosphere. Feng Xin moved towards one of the trenches, bent down, and picked up a small leaf.

At first glance, the leaf seemed ordinary, like any other. But then, it began to change. Its color shifted from green to orange, then to red, and back to green again—cycling through its transformation repeatedly, as if it were alive.

Feng Xin examined the leaf closely. He took three talismans from his storage ring, carefully splitting the leaf into three pieces. Then, he activated the talismans, which transformed into three green swallows made of pure wind. They floated around Feng Xin, chirping cheerfully as they circled his head.

Feng Xin watched them silently, his thoughts drifting. "Yang Qing has some strange abilities. One could easily mistake these for living creatures instead of spells."

Talismans were powerful tools, able to store the cultivation spells or techniques of experts. The quality of the ingredients used in their creation determined how much power they could exert. Low-grade talismans could only release about 10% of the original spell's power. Medium-grade could achieve 50-60%, while high-grade talismans could unleash 70-80% of the original ability, the highest possible without risking instability or implosion.

Talismans were life savers though they had their restrictions. For example, it would be impossible for Feng Xin to activate a talisman made from the power of a domain-level expert. The most he could handle activating safely was one from a palace-level expert and it could only be from one at the early stages. If it was one made by someone at the later stages of the palace ream, he would have to pay a price to activate it.

In addition, there was the risk he may get swallowed up in the attack too because of its sheer scale.

Feng Xin fed the three pieces of leaf to the green swallows, watching them absorb the essence.

"Please find the owner of that leaf as quickly as possible," Feng Xin instructed the green swallows.

The swallows chirped once more before taking flight, their wings stirring up gusts of wind as they sped off at alarming velocity. Feng Xin watched them disappear into the distance, then calmly made his way to the roof of the pavilion and settled into a meditative posture, clearing his mind, priming his spirit as he waited for the results from the three green swallows.

He was confident that Peng Zhen and the others hadn't gone far. With the swallows' speed and heightened senses, they would be found no matter how well the group tried to hide.

The talisman's effects would last no more than three hours— but that was more than sufficient window to track them down.