Chapter 469: Chapter 35: Shadows on Autumn Walnut Avenue
"Shasha shasha---"
Every autumn, when the mountains of Divine Mountain are covered with a thick layer of fallen leaves, stepping on them produces a similar sound.
This sound can initially bring tranquility to one’s soul, but after listening to the same sound all day, it becomes a kind of torture.
For most people at the Divine Court, the current situation is just like that.
Unlike a few Five-star Mercenaries from the Mercenary Branch, after arriving at the Sky Dragon Palace, the people from the Divine Court did not take any breaks.
The immensely powerful members of the Divine Court immediately broke through the Dark Energy Wall.
People from the Divine Court, having undergone arduous training since childhood, especially exhibit their advantages during long journeys and adventures.
When they previously entered the Sky Dragon Palace, they used the Transmission Array, which also maximally preserved their strength.
So, despite a day of hard work, most are still full of energy, showing no signs of fatigue.
Upon seeing the Four Seasons Path, Sha Xi did not hesitate to choose the Autumn Path for the same reason as Jin Nuo—autumn was her favorite season.
Moreover, Autumn Walnut Avenue is neither barren and scorching like the Fiery Fire Path nor vast icy stretches like the Ice Path.
Autumn Walnut Avenue is a wide avenue that appears only in bustling capitals like Wo Hua Imperial City and Jilu City.
Zong Shaoqing did not object; in fact, this profound Divine Son rarely speaks under most circumstances.
Just like his treatment of Sha Xi—indifferent yet superficially polite.
On either side of the road, trees as tall as maple trees lined the way, and walking in autumn, the oncoming breeze brought down leaves from the trees like withered butterflies, creating a beautiful scene.
After entering the Autumn Path, Sha Xi intentionally followed beside Zong Shaoqing, trying to keep pace with him.
However, Zong Shaoqing, without glancing sideways, continued walking straight ahead. His tall stature and longer legs, combined with a higher level of Cultivation than Sha Xi, clearly showed his intent to leave her behind, and within a few steps, Sha Xi trailed behind by a distance.
Despite this, she still didn’t catch the hint, shouting, "Junior Minister, slow down, I can’t keep up."
Zong Shaoqing didn’t even lift his eyelids and said in a deep voice, "Song Mu, carry on forward with the Goddess."
Song Mu’s mouth twitched, his heart filled with complaints.
Sha Xi, annoyed, stamped her foot and decided not to follow behind Zong Shaoqing anymore, joining Ah Le’s team instead.
Although the scenery of the Autumn Path was beautiful, any beautiful scenery can become tiresome after a while.
After walking for a day, the Fengwu trees with white bark and leaves as big as a palm standing on both sides of the road seemed like never-ending parallel lines stretching into the distance forever.
The people of the Divine Court, clad in their wide robes, walked past the leaf-covered forest path, and the monotonous sound made by their soles and sleeves rubbing against the leaves numbed everyone’s nerves.
"Junior Minister, how much longer before we arrive? I can’t keep going," lamented Sha Xi, regretting her choice of path—if she had known it was endless like this, she would have chosen another path.
This trip to the Ancient Heroic Graveyard was originally opposed by Zong Shaoqing for her participation, and it was only after rigorous persuasion from one of the Core Judgement Officers recently sent by her mother, that he agreed.
"If you don’t want to proceed, then turn back," said Zong Shaoqing indifferently.
Turn back? After having already walked so far, turning back would mean another day’s journey.
Sha Xi clenched her teeth and had no choice but to tough it out and move forward. Annoyed at heart with nowhere to vent, she could only release all her anger by trampling on the dead leaves beneath her feet.
Dark Power gathered at the tips of her feet, and with force, she crushed several innocent broken leaves into powder as she stomped on them.
The group from Divine Court continued forward, but compared to their earlier spirited demeanor, most people showed signs of fatigue after a day and night of travel.
It wasn’t that the journey was particularly exhausting, but rather the seemingly endless path inflicted great mental torment on everyone.
Among them, only Zong Shaoqing remained composed, appearing neither anxious nor irritated. His wide sleeves rustled in the autumn breeze and beneath his feet, the hems of his robe traced a faint trail of light and shadow across the fallen leaves, visible only upon close inspection; Zong Shaoqing’s steps and the edges of his clothing never once touched the fallen leaves.
As if the leaves would sully his garments.
After the crowd passed, the leaves that were crushed into powder by Sha Xi suspiciously moved, rapidly reassembling into whole leaf pieces again.
On the Autumn Path, leaves continued to fall from the trees as if nothing had changed for a thousand years.
"Rustle, rustle, rustle---"
The faint sound eventually wore down everyone’s sharpness to the lowest point.
"Crack!"
It was as if someone accidentally snapped a dry branch beneath a tree, and the fallen leaves on the ground subtly changed.
One leaf, two leaves, three leaves—the avenue filled with leaves turned into whirlwinds of golden maple leaves.
As soon as someone stepped on them, the whirlwinds morphed.
Zong Shaoqing suddenly stopped.
Behind him, not a single person from Divine Court who should have been following remained.
In front of him appeared a silhouette, a person surrounded by Dark Beasts, struggling fiercely in combat.
Approaching closer, the figure turned and looked anxiously at Zong Shaoqing, "It’s you! Come quickly and save me,"
Yue Jinghua! Upon recognizing the face behind the golden mask, Zong Shaoqing’s expressionless face showed a hint of surprise.
Yue Jinghua was entangled with several Sixth-stage Canglan Demon Wolves.
Under the attack of the wolf pack, Yue Jinghua was already covered in wounds.
Zong Shaoqing, with several leaps, entered the fray alongside Yue Jinghua, each taking one side, back to back.
"Why are you here?" Zong Shaoqing felt behind him, the gasping soft body, a familiar scent hitting him.
How could Jin Nuo and his group have entered the Autumn Path before them?
"I don’t know either. After the Imperial Dragon Knights and I entered the Sky Dragon Palace, I randomly chose a path. Following it, I became separated from everyone until I encountered these beasts," Yue Jinghua said, gratefully glancing at Zong Shaoqing: "Together, let’s kill the wolf pack, and then we’ll enter the Dragon Court."
"Alright," Zong Shaoqing nodded in agreement.
A flash of Dark Light in his hand, a purple Xuan Sword appeared, ready to strike at the wolf pack.
As Zong Shaoqing prepared for the battle, a cunning light flashed in Yue Jinghua’s eyes. Silently, she aimed her Lianyun Great Sword at a vital spot on Zong Shaoqing’s back and stabbed without hesitation.