"Fellow students, the valley shrouded in mist ahead is the Huà Lóng Ghost Valley," Lu Qianqian announced, halting the group before a mountain valley.
Zhou Hong quickly interjected, "Instructor Lu, please wait here. I'll go in alone."
"Zhou Hong, be careful."
"Don't worry," Zhou Hong nodded.
"If you don't find it within three days, come out. It's not advisable to stay too long."
"Three days?" Zhou Hong blinked in surprise. He had been thinking if emerging after 30 minutes would be too early, only to be told three days.
"Yes, although people who came here before usually took ten days to half a month, they were all senior students. You are not, so you can only search for three days at most."
"Oh, okay." Zhou Hong nodded.
Without further ado, Zhou Hong immediately entered Huà Lóng Ghost Valley.
As expected, the moment Zhou Hong stepped inside, he felt a strong spiritual force in the air. This force constantly made people lose themselves, transforming according to one's inner desires. For instance, if someone yearned for beautiful women, upon entering this valley, they would see beauties everywhere, leading to their demise.
However, Zhou Hong was evidently unaffected. This was not due to his strength, but because the dark Golden Crow had offset the effect for him.
"Brother Golden Crow, help me find the Nine-Colored Phoenix Cry, please?" Zhou Hong asked in his mind. In this situation, Zhou Hong naturally needed the dark Golden Crow's assistance; otherwise, finding it on his own would be challenging.
"Forward, keep going forward."
Guided by the dark Golden Crow, Zhou Hong arrived beneath a large rock about ten minutes later. The area beneath the rock looked empty, yet the dark Golden Crow said, "This is an illusion. The Nine-Colored Phoenix Cry is right under this stone."
"Alright." Zhou Hong lunged forward. Indeed, a spiritual herb was trying to escape from beneath him. Generally, once a spiritual medicine gained sentience, it could teleport, which was why it had been so difficult for previous visitors to find.
The next second, Zhou Hong pulled with all his might, and a multicolored spiritual herb was uprooted from the ground.
"Haha, found it in just ten minutes!" Zhou Hong roared with laughter, finding it incredibly easy.
"Zhou Hong, do you want to increase your strength?" At this moment, the dark Golden Crow suddenly asked.
"What do you mean?" Zhou Hong was taken aback. "You're not suggesting I eat this Nine-Colored Phoenix Cry myself, are you?"
"Of course not. The Nine-Colored Phoenix Cry is only effective when refining specific elixirs; eating it directly is meaningless. What I mean is, we can use the spiritual force of this valley to help you advance a realm."
"How can we use it? If I can advance a realm, that would be wonderful." Zhou Hong was overjoyed. He was currently in the early stage of Heart Movement and breaking through to the middle stage would be marvelous. Not only would he complete the mission by finding the spiritual herb, but he could also break through another level.
"I've just discovered that the reason this valley is enveloped by a mysterious spiritual force is that a powerful cultivator once perished here. Before dying, this cultivator had an unfinished, extremely regrettable matter. Thus, he transformed all his spiritual energy into resentment, which has lingered in this valley ever since."
"And then?"
"Now, I will stop resisting this spiritual force for you. Let it affect you naturally. Then, follow this spiritual force, do not resist, and fulfill the unfinished matter of this spiritual force. Perhaps, once you accomplish it, your spirit will be sublimated, and breaking through a realm will happen naturally."
"Okay."
"Then I'll begin."
Having spoken, the dark Golden Crow immediately ceased resisting the valley's spiritual force for Zhou Hong.
As expected, the next second, Zhou Hong felt a splitting headache, and sounds assailed him from all directions.
"Come here, young man, come here."
"Come, eat me."
Phantoms appeared before Zhou Hong's eyes, drifting and floating. At first glance, they were beautiful women; at the second, they were demons.
"Ahhh!" Zhou Hong felt his head was about to explode, constantly using his spiritual power to resist and his willpower to counter.
"Zhou Hong, do not resist at all. Everyone who has entered here before has immediately tried to resist with their spiritual power. You, do not resist now, just go with the flow," the dark Golden Crow's voice echoed in his mind.
"But, how can I go with the flow?" Zhou Hong found it incredibly difficult. This was an instinctive reaction, much like instinctively retreating when you feel fear.
"You must be hearing or seeing many illusions. Whatever the illusions make you do, do it," the dark Golden Crow said.
"It wants me to come over."
"Then go over."
Zhou Hong calmed himself. A white, misty shadow floated before him again, whispering, "Young man, come here."
Zhou Hong no longer resisted. If it wanted him to come over, he would.
So, Zhou Hong hurried over, but the shadow instantly floated away to another spot, still calling him over.
Zhou Hong followed again.
This repeated over and over, and Zhou Hong was growing impatient. What kind of ghost was this? He went over, and it ran away again.
"Brother Golden Crow, are you sure you're not mistaken? I'm playing cat and mouse with this ghost thing, it's so annoying," Zhou Hong grumbled.
"Don't rush. If one day isn't enough, then two. If two aren't enough, then three. Nothing is accomplished instantly. Although I am not helping you resist the spiritual interference now, I will ensure you do not lose yourself. Whatever this spiritual force wants you to do, just accompany it."
"Alright."
Hours later, or perhaps more.
Zhou Hong was at his wit's end, playing with the elusive shadow.
However, at that moment, the flickering shadow suddenly stood still.
Zhou Hong was puzzled. It had been drifting around just moments ago, why had it stopped?
The shadow no longer beckoned Zhou Hong, and naturally, Zhou Hong did not approach it proactively.
After a while, the shadow gradually became clearer, and slowly, a distinct face appeared before Zhou Hong.
Seeing the face, Zhou Hong inwardly marveled. It was a beautiful woman, but her expression was cold, with a hint of disdain.
"Hmph!" The next second, the beautiful woman let out a cold snort at Zhou Hong and her expression suddenly changed.
Zhou Hong remained silent, as he was now embodying the will of this spirit. This beautiful woman before him was likely the source of the spiritual force's resentment.
"How dare you, a toad, covet me." Not long after, the stern beauty furiously cursed Zhou Hong, her eyes filled with a condescending gaze.
Zhou Hong was completely bewildered. It seemed that the cultivator who had fallen in this valley had ultimately failed in his cultivation because, years ago, he had been disheartened by a woman he admired, which became his knot and eventually his inner demon.