C43 They Slaughtered Their Way into the Camp

In his previous life, Qiao Mao was lost in a fog of confusion. His true awakening occurred within the depths of the Heaven Traversing Forest, which also marked the darkest period of his life.

Qiao Mao witnessed the destruction of his family and the murder of his mother and uncle at the hands of Qiao Guang, yet he was powerless to change their fate. Consumed by rage, he fled Martial Sun City and sought refuge in the Heaven Traversing Forest.

Unexpectedly, Qiao Mao encountered a Nether Clan Expert lurking within the forest. After enduring half a month of relentless battles, he found himself in dire straits, nearly meeting his end in that place.

But ultimately, Qiao Mao's life was saved by a woman shrouded in mystery. Her cultivation level was merely at Mortality Transcending Level Nine Heaven, yet she possessed the strength to defeat the Nether Clan Experts hidden in the forest. These formidable foes were left in utter despair and nearly wiped out.

Reflecting on this event, Qiao Mao became lost in thought. Once he had risen to become the strongest in the world, he sought out the woman, but to no avail.

She had seemingly evaporated from existence, leaving no trace behind. This led Qiao Mao to question whether the entire encounter had been a figment of his imagination.

"It's such a failure. Despite having stood at the World Peak, I don't even know her name," Qiao Mao murmured, a wry smile forming in his heart.

Yet, Qiao Mao vividly remembered the woman's spectral visage, marked by a single tear, with the corners of her mouth turned up ever so slightly, as if mocking the entire world.

"Is it possible that even at the World Peak, I was still unworthy of her presence?" Qiao Mao pondered. If that were true, it would suggest the woman's origins were incredibly profound.

"No, I cannot let this become an unresolved issue in my heart," Qiao Mao resolved, shaking his head vigorously to clear his thoughts. He vowed, "In this life, I must find her and express my gratitude in person."

Zhang Yu observed Qiao Mao as he oscillated between sorrow, contemplation, and bursts of joy. After hearing Qiao Mao's declaration, Zhang Yu couldn't contain his curiosity and inquired, "Who do you wish to thank?"

"No one," Qiao Mao said with a slightly embarrassed smile, yet the obsessiveness in his heart only grew stronger.

"You're so powerful, I doubt anyone is qualified to help you," Zhang Yu murmured under his breath.

In Martial Sun City, Qiao Mao's abilities meant he could command the wind and summon the rain; he had no need to seek help from others. Zhang Yu was well aware that, although the Zhang family appeared to be cooperating with Qiao Mao in a mutually beneficial relationship, in reality, they owed him a great favor.

It was the Zhang family who should be thanking Qiao Mao.

Qiao Mao let out a chuckle and didn't bring up the subject again. Instead, he turned to Zhang Yu and said, "I just remembered there's a gang of bandits in the Heaven Traversing Forest. Let's go take them down."

What Qiao Mao referred to as bandits were actually members of the Nether Clan, but Zhang Yu had never encountered them before, and it wasn't the right time for Qiao Mao to explain. So, he stuck with calling them bandits.

"Bandits? How did you find out about them?" Zhang Yu asked, his curiosity piqued.

As far as he knew, Qiao Mao had never been to the Heaven Traversing Forest. The last time he left Martial Sun City was to craft Blood Lotus Pills for Qiao Shen, which involved a trip to Fire Cloud Valley to collect Blood Lotus.

Zhang Yu had already witnessed the formidable power of Qiao Mao's master, so he revised his question, "Did your impressive master tell you about it, as part of your training?"

Qiao Mao inwardly broke into a sweat, thinking to himself, "The excuse I've concocted is just too good."

"You hit the nail on the head. It seems my master knew I'd end up in the Heaven Traversing Forest, so he instructed me to go on this training expedition ten days ago," Qiao Mao admitted, feeling somewhat embarrassed but maintaining a composed exterior.

"You're already this formidable. It just goes to show how much more incredible your master must be," Zhang Yu said teasingly, though he couldn't help feeling a twinge of envy. Why couldn't he have such a powerful master?

No sooner had he spoken than Zhang Yu added hastily, "Since it was your master's directive, you should lead the way. I'll join you in taking down these bandits."

With no further conversation, Qiao Mao and Zhang Yu mounted their warhorses and set off across the Heaven Traversing Forest.

Time was running short before the opening of the Red Moon Secret Realm, and they were determined to eliminate the bandits before then.

The butterfly effect of his rebirth didn't alter subsequent events. Consequently, Qiao Mao remained uncertain about whether he would encounter the enigmatic woman who had saved him in his past life.

Driven by a deep-seated obsession to meet this mysterious woman, Qiao Mao moved with exceptional speed. They soon reached a particular area within the Heaven Traversing Forest.

Upon their arrival, they were a mere ten-minute journey from the hidden stronghold of the Nether Clan. Qiao Mao and Zhang Yu stashed their horses and proceeded on foot to avoid detection.

"The presence of the Nether Clan," they noted.

Quickly, Qiao Mao and Zhang Yu sensed the Nether Clan's aura, a discovery that thrilled them. As Qiao Mao had hoped, the Nether Clan remained, and the chance of the mysterious woman reappearing seemed likely.

Without hesitation, Qiao Mao drew his Profound Iron Bow and stealthily eliminated all the Nether Clan guards. With the enemy dispatched, they masked their presence and rapidly closed in on the clan's outpost at the mountain's mouth.

The mountain entrance was modest and well-concealed, with a broad path leading to the front and a narrow trail to the rear, connecting to other areas—a prime location for concealment.

An unwary intruder, ignorant of the layout, would likely fall prey to the Nether Clan Expert. But Qiao Mao was intimately familiar with the terrain.

"Cover me with the Profound Iron Bow while I slip inside," Qiao Mao instructed, passing the bow to Zhang Yu, who was ready to infiltrate.

Having been confined to a wheelchair for a decade, Zhang Yu craved freedom. Despite his inability to ride, he had devoted time to mastering archery. The Profound Iron Bow, a treasure of the Zhang family, was second nature in his hands.

"I never imagined I'd one day wield the Profound Iron Bow against an enemy," Zhang Yu remarked with a tinge of bitterness. Grasping the bow, his eyes emitted a fierce gleam akin to the piercing arrows it launched.

Concentrating his Mental Force, he summoned Spiritual Energy within his body, forming a chilling arrow upon the Profound Iron Bow, ready to support Qiao Mao at a moment's notice.

Qiao Mao stealthily infiltrated the Nether Clan's encampment and silently dispatched four Nether Clan Experts.

Despite their status as Martial Dao Great Masters, they stood no chance against Qiao Mao, falling to him as effortlessly as if they were mere ants.

Having eliminated the four Nether Clan Experts, Qiao Mao moved closer to a massive tent, his demeanor growing more solemn.

"It's surprising to find such a concentration of masters here," Qiao Mao murmured, taken aback by the powerful presences he detected. Inside the tent, there were seven experts.

What's more, in the event of a Nether Clan invasion, these seven experts could easily spearhead the assault. Such a force would spell catastrophe for any city in their path. It was imperative, then, that he eliminate them.