Chapter 22 :Descent into the Forbidden Lands

Chapter : Descent into the Forbidden Lands

The towering gates of the Azure Sky Sect's Forbidden Lands loomed before Tian Yu and his assembled group. The air around the ancient gate shimmered with restrictive formations, sealing away the untold dangers within. The mission was clear—venture inside, retrieve the Moonshadow Lotus, and return alive.

Fang Xuan, now officially leading the expedition, turned to the gathered disciples. "Remember, the Forbidden Lands are not just a training ground. Countless sect geniuses have entered and never returned. If you falter, you will die."

Tian Yu stood at the center of the group, his expression unreadable. He could feel the faint resonance of Void Energy lingering beyond the gates. Something inside was calling to him, deeper than just the mission.

System Alert: New Quest Issued

Quest: Explore the Forbidden Lands and retrieve the Moonshadow Lotus.

Bonus Objective: Uncover the hidden anomaly within the Forbidden Lands.

Rewards: Sect Contribution Points, "Void Shroud Technique" (Bonus for anomaly discovery)

As the restrictive formation was lifted, the gates groaned open, revealing a thick, swirling mist beyond. Without hesitation, Tian Yu stepped forward, followed closely by Lan Yue and a wary Zhao Han.

A Land of Death and Secrets

The moment they crossed into the Forbidden Lands, the atmosphere changed. The air was dense with Yin Qi, chilling to the bone. Towering black trees stretched toward the sky, their twisted branches reaching like skeletal hands. The faint whispers of the dead could be heard in the wind, remnants of ancient cultivators who had perished here.

Lan Yue kept her sword drawn. "Something feels off. It's too quiet."

"It means we're being watched," Tian Yu muttered, activating Divine Soul Gaze.

[System Analysis Activated]

Target: Shadow Specters (Grade 3 Spirit Beasts)

Danger Level: Moderate (Best counter: Yang-based techniques)

A shadow flickered at the edge of his vision. "Enemies incoming!"

From the dense fog, Shadow Specters lunged forward—wraith-like creatures with hollow eyes and clawed hands dripping with corrosive Yin energy. Their screeches pierced the night.

Fang Xuan was the first to react. "Azure Dragon Slash!" His sword erupted with brilliant blue Qi, tearing through the nearest specter.

Zhao Han followed suit, unleashing a barrage of fire-infused punches, his Burning Sky Fist illuminating the battlefield. The specters recoiled, their incorporeal forms flickering under the heat.

Tian Yu's eyes flashed. His Void Steps carried him through the battlefield like a ghost, avoiding the specters' attacks with minimal movement. Then, with a sharp breath, he activated Lunar Crescent Slash, his blade shimmering with pale silver energy. The attack carved through three specters at once, their forms dissipating like mist.

A system notification flashed in his mind.

[+500 Sect Contribution Points]

As the last specter fell, the group barely had time to recover before the ground trembled beneath them. The shadows converged ahead, forming into something massive.

"It's not over," Lan Yue warned, gripping her sword tighter.

The Nightmare Serpent Awakens

A deep, guttural hiss echoed through the trees as the mist parted. A massive Nightmare Serpent slithered forward, its obsidian scales glistening with a dark luster. Red eyes glowed with malicious intelligence.

[System Analysis Activated]

Target: Nightmare Serpent (Grade 4 Beast)

Danger Level: High

Weakness: Divine Light or Void Techniques

"That's a Grade 4 beast! It's above our level!" Zhao Han cursed, stepping back.

Fang Xuan's expression darkened. "No choice. If we retreat now, we fail the mission."

The Nightmare Serpent struck without warning, its colossal tail sweeping across the battlefield. Disciples scrambled, some barely dodging in time. One unfortunate disciple was caught in the impact, sent crashing into a tree, unconscious.

Tian Yu's mind raced. Regular attacks wouldn't be enough. He needed something stronger.

System Alert: Temporary Unlock – Void Shroud Technique

Effect: Cloaks the user in void energy, rendering them immune to spirit-based attacks and amplifying their strikes.

His body surged with power as a dark aura enveloped him. To the others, Tian Yu appeared almost transparent, as if slipping between reality and the void itself.

The Nightmare Serpent sensed the shift and lunged. But Tian Yu was already moving. Void Steps carried him above the beast's head in an instant. He raised his sword high, channeling every ounce of power into his next move.

"Void Severing Slash!"

A blade of condensed void energy descended, cleaving through the Nightmare Serpent's thick scales. The beast let out a deafening screech as dark ichor sprayed across the battlefield. It writhed in pain, its form flickering as though it were being erased from existence itself.

The battle was over.

The Moonshadow Lotus and the Hidden Truth

With the Nightmare Serpent slain, the group pressed forward. At the heart of the Forbidden Lands, an ancient altar stood, bathed in an eerie glow. Resting at its center was the Moonshadow Lotus, its petals shimmering between reality and illusion.

Fang Xuan stepped forward cautiously. "We finally found it."

But as Tian Yu reached out, a powerful seal formation activated, flooding the air with ancient runes. A voice, echoing from the void itself, whispered:

"You who tread upon forbidden ground, do you seek the truth?"

Tian Yu's vision blurred. For a moment, he glimpsed something impossible—a towering obsidian gate, floating amidst an endless expanse of darkness. The same sensation he had felt at the sect's Void Scripture Pavilion now resonated stronger than ever.

[System Alert: Anomaly Discovered]

Bonus Objective Complete: Unlocking Void Era Fragment…

Tian Yu staggered, gripping his forehead as fragments of forgotten knowledge surfaced in his mind. The Void Era's secrets were buried deep within these lands, waiting to be uncovered.

Lan Yue steadied him. "Tian Yu? What happened?"

He exhaled slowly, his determination solidifying. "We need to return to the sect. But this… this is far from over."

As they secured the Moonshadow Lotus, Tian Yu knew that his journey into the truth of the Void Era had only just begun.

End of Chapter : Descent into the Forbidden Lands