Forbidden Land

******

Qi Yuan found a suitable spot and sat down cross-legged, preparing to rest. Just as he was about to close his eyes, a voice called out to him.

"Are you Junior Brother Qi Yuan? My surname is Chen—I am Chen Qiaoqian's elder brother."

Qi Yuan turned to see an elegant middle-aged scholar. Immediately, he stood and clasped his fists in greeting. "Greetings, Brother Chen."

So, this is the elder brother-in-law!

The middle-aged scholar casually fanned himself, shaking it open and closed a few times before speaking. "Junior Brother Qi, you are indeed as talented as my sister described. She's mentioned you so often that my ears have practically grown calluses."

Qi Yuan smiled, maintaining his composure. "Brother Chen, you jest. Junior Sister Chen tends to exaggerate. I am just an ordinary cultivator—nothing particularly special."

Chen gave a half-smile. "Once you establish your foundation, find an appropriate time to visit my Chen family for a formal proposal."

The scholar had no intention of taking Qi Yuan's words at face value. He was already considering how to leverage Qi Yuan's connection to Hong Fu to strengthen the Chen family's influence and ensure its continued prosperity.

After a brief exchange, the scholar took his leave. Qi Yuan had barely sat back down before another visitor arrived.

"Brother Qi, I am Xiang Zhili. I wish to discuss the forbidden land with you. This concerns our survival. Would you be willing to speak with me?"

An aged voice spoke, and in an instant, Xiang Zhili appeared before him.

Qi Yuan steadied himself. After all, the man before him was a cultivator in the Spiritual Transformation Stage—someone who could end his life with a mere breath. "I'm sorry to disappoint you, Junior Brother Xiang, but I plan to venture alone for now."

With his Qi training at the thirteenth level, along with his gold brick talisman and Heavenly Thunder Seed, Qi Yuan had enough confidence to navigate the forbidden land independently. Why split the spoils with others? Besides, he suspected that Xiang Zhili had ulterior motives, possibly using others as cannon fodder to uncover space nodes.

Hearing this, Xiang Zhili's aged face showed a flicker of disappointment. He bowed slightly and left without another word.

---

The next day, sects began arriving one after another—Qingxu Sect, Huadaowu, Lingshou Mountain, and Jujian Sect.

Li Huayuan offered his disciples a few final instructions before flying up to greet them.

With the arrival of multiple factions, the once desolate mountain area buzzed with activity.

Qi Yuan observed quietly, noting that only the Yanyue Sect had yet to appear. As the strongest among the seven sects, they were expected to arrive last.

At that moment, a sudden commotion arose—a bet between Li Huayuan and the Qingxu Sect's Daoist priest. Just as they were about to seal the wager with a high-five, an unexpected presence interrupted them.

Old Monster Qiong had arrived.

This enigmatic cultivator had one foot in the Nascent Soul Stage and was known for his invincibility at the Core Formation level. However, as his time ran short without a breakthrough, his temperament grew increasingly eccentric. He delighted in teasing Core Formation cultivators, and despite his antics, none dared to challenge him due to his immense magical prowess and deep connections.

Li Huayuan and the priest of Qingxu Sect exchanged wry smiles and cupped their hands in greeting. "Greetings, Senior Qiong."

"I want to join this bet. Any objections?" Old Monster Qiong drawled lazily.

Li Huayuan's eyes gleamed with excitement. "Senior, what are you wagering?"

Qiong revealed three talismans inscribed with intricate seven-colored needles. They shimmered with a mystical glow. "These are Invisible Needle Talismans. I have no heirs—who else would I leave them to if not through gambling?"

Upon seeing the talismans, Li Huayuan's face flushed with eagerness. He exchanged a glance with the Qingxu priest, both recognizing the extraordinary value of these treasures.

Without hesitation, they finalized the bet with a resounding high-five.

Old Monster Qiong then shifted his gaze toward the gathering of Qi training disciples. After scanning their cultivation levels, he let out a strange cackle and vanished in an instant.

"If he isn't leading the Yanyue Sect, then who is?" Li Huayuan mused.

"Given Senior Qiong's nature, it would be shocking if they entrusted him with leadership. We simply have to wait," the Qingxu priest replied with a yawn.

Time passed.

Eventually, a white dot appeared on the horizon, growing larger as it approached.

A massive treasure ship, carved from jade, loomed overhead. Its oppressive aura surpassed even that of the dragon chariot.

As its light shield dissipated, a graceful woman descended with a group of disciples. Half were male, half female—all strikingly beautiful.

Fairy Nishang bowed elegantly. "Greetings, fellow cultivators. Fairy Nishang extends her respects."

The leaders of the seven factions promptly returned the gesture.

Qi Yuan's eyes scanned the disciples, searching for Nangong Wan. However, he found himself momentarily distracted.

The Yanyue Sect, with ties to the Hehuan Sect, followed the dual cultivation path of yin and yang. Their disciples were chosen not only for their spiritual roots but also for their exceptional appearances.

As a result, the female disciples, upon noticing Qi Yuan's presence, met his gaze with flirtatious smiles.

Qi Yuan, well aware of his own attractiveness and aura, found himself the unintended target of their charms. He hesitated, but before he could turn away, he felt the burning hostility of the male disciples directed at him.

Is it a crime to be handsome?

With a bold smirk, Qi Yuan returned the attention, even letting his gaze linger momentarily on Fairy Nishang.

Fairy Nishang, noticing the disruption among her disciples, let out a cold snort and shot a warning glance in Qi Yuan's direction.

Sensing the awkward tension, Li Huayuan stepped in. "Enough distractions. Let us proceed with opening the entrance to the forbidden land."

The leaders of the seven factions unleashed their immense magical prowess, bombarding a specific void point with spells and enchanted artifacts.

After three to five hours, a pitch-black cave entrance materialized before them.

"Hurry! We can't hold this open for long!" urged a Core Formation cultivator.

Without hesitation, the disciples surged forward, disappearing into the darkness one after another.

Qi Yuan activated his defensive talismans and readied his magic weapon before stepping into the abyss.

A fleeting sensation overcame him—time stretching infinitely, as if ten thousand years had passed in a heartbeat.

Then, his vision cleared.

He quickly surveyed his surroundings. Dense woods enclosed him on all sides, but there was no immediate danger.

Good. At least I wasn't ambushed the moment I entered.

With that reassurance, Qi Yuan took a deep breath and pressed forward.

(End of Chapter)