The preceding group had all safely reached the shore.
All eyes were focused on us.
Seeing Guan Xin stagger and almost fall into the river, the crowd panicked.
After all, Guan Xin was our guide.
Without her leading the way, it was highly likely we wouldn't even find the location of the Black Demon Cult's headquarters.
There was even the danger of getting lost in this forest.
"Guan Xin!"
"Be careful!"
"..."
Everyone cried out in alarm, their faces filled with dread.
Even Aunt Yunxia, who had been leading the way, turned back.
Seeing Guan Xin lose her balance and about to fall into the water, her face was also filled with horror.
"Ah!"
Guan Xin cried out in panic.
She tried to steady herself.
But her leg injury made it difficult.
She knew it was over; if she fell in, she was as good as dead.
The water ghosts in the river, their eyes dark and hollow,
Gazed upwards, mouths agape, raising their withered arms, their claw-like hands opening and closing, watching with eager anticipation.
"They're coming!"
"It's me, it's me!"
"Eat, I want to eat her!"
"..."
These water ghosts shrieked with excitement.
But they were dreaming during the day.
At this critical moment, I leaped forward.
With a dive, I grabbed Guan Xin's waist.
Standing firmly on the protruding rock foothold.
Guan Xin startled and looked up:
"Qin, fellow Daoist Qin Ze!"
I held her waist with my left hand, and she was barely able to stand steadily on the edge of the protruding rock.
I held my sword in my right hand:
"With me here, you won't fall!"
As I spoke, a water ghost lunged at me.
My expression turned cold, and I flicked my arm.
With a "whoosh," the water ghost was instantly slain by me.
This scene was also witnessed by Aunt Yunxia and the crowd on the opposite bank.
They all cheered with joy:
"Old Qin, well done!"
"Brother Qin, mighty!"
"Hahaha, saved, saved!"
"..."
As everyone cheered excitedly, Aunt Yunxia also breathed a sigh of relief.
But she knew they couldn't linger here for too long.
I shouted:
"Keep up!"
After speaking, Aunt Yunxia raised her peach wood sword and continued to lead the way.
As there were no other footholds,
I could only hold Guan Xin's waist and keep jumping forward.
Fortunately, her waist was quite slender, and her figure was quite well-proportioned.
With the boost of my cultivation, I carried her and jumped left and right, which was not too strenuous.
In the last few steps, I slew another water ghost before finally leaping onto the shore.
I quickly let go of Guan Xin.
As a grown man, it was not appropriate to be holding a young girl like this.
As soon as I let go, Guan Xin said to me gratefully:
"Fellow Daoist Qin, thank you, thank you."
I smiled faintly:
"We are all in the same boat, helping each other.
Besides, if you were to get into trouble, no one would be able to lead us."
"It's good that you're alright, it's good that you're alright!"
"What kind of stream water is this, it's too terrifying!"
"Yes! Fortunately, we made it across!"
"..."
The crowd exclaimed with emotion.
In the stream behind us, the water ghosts were still howling and roaring.
"Since everyone is fine, let's continue on our way!"
Uncle Master said.
Everyone also collected themselves, as moving forward was our most important task.
Aunt Yunxia also said to Guan Xin:
"Guan Xin, now that we've crossed the stream, how should we proceed!"
Guan Xin also became serious:
"After crossing the stream and heading east, we will enter a stone forest. Passing through the stone forest, we will have completed half the journey."
Everyone nodded after hearing this.
"Let's go!"
"..."
With Uncle Master's command, everyone began to run forward again.
During this process, Guan Xin told us.
In the past, when they entered this misty forest, although there were ghosts and wandering spirits,
There were definitely not as many as we encountered this time.
She also said she wasn't sure what would appear ahead and told everyone to be careful.
This was easy for everyone to understand.
Now that the Daoist sects had issued a Level C mobilization order,
With such a large mobilization,
Disciples from various sects were heading to Blackwater Mountain to rendezvous at Blackwater Temple.
Only the Black Demon Cult, with eyes and ears, would have caught some wind of this.
And then they would have increased their patrols, which was also understandable.
Everyone believed that as long as they cooperated, there would be no major problems.
After all, this was just a Level C Daoist mission.
We ran and ran in the forest.
In the mist, we had no sense of direction.
Even in the depths, the compass needle had become ineffective.
The only one who could lead us was Guan Xin.
After about two hours of travel,
We finally arrived at the stone forest that Guan Xin had mentioned.
Standing at the entrance of the stone forest now, looking at the mist-shrouded stone forest, we didn't know if there was danger within.
But we had no retreat.
"Everyone stay close, let's go!"
Uncle Master spoke again and ran ahead to clear the path.
Guan Xin, as a core member, was protected in the center.
After we entered the stone forest, the stones were almost identical everywhere.
If I called it a labyrinth, I would be admitting it.
But Guan Xin, using some method, always found the way in the stone forest and led us through it.
However, after half an hour of moving forward,
Uncle Master, who was leading the way, suddenly stopped.
Seeing Uncle Master stop, everyone also halted.
"Master, what's wrong?"
Old Mo behind me asked.
But Uncle Master, with a somber face, looked around the mist:
"There's a demonic aura..."