Entering the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area

At this moment, the several Imperial Guards present, along with the Imperial Guard Commander, still wore incredulous expressions.

That was the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area, a terrifying forbidden land that had existed for untold tens of thousands of years.

Even Supreme Emperors could not enter.

Over the past ten thousand years, countless experts had studied how to enter it, all ending in failure.

But now, they had entered just by carrying ladders?

Wasn't that far too simple?

Jin Li's voice was icy. "This matter must not be spread!"

"We are willing to stake our lives on it. This matter shall never be leaked to a second person!" The Imperial Guards present all understood the importance of the matter.

The Imperial Guard Commander, meanwhile, looked thrilled. "Heaven blesses Your Majesty!

"Once we have mastered the method of entering the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area, if we send people in, we will surely be able to gather many Spiritual Herbs from its outskirts!"

For at least ten thousand years, no living creature had entered the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area. There had to be an abundance of Spiritual Herbs within.

With their current strength, they still found it difficult to explore the depths of the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area.

But there were surely many Spiritual Herbs in the outskirts as well, and fewer ferocious beasts.

As the Imperial Guard Commander spoke, she wanted to carry a ladder straight inside.

Because even from the outskirts alone, she had already spotted several incomparably precious Spiritual Herbs.

Jin Li's expression remained cool and detached, revealing none of the excitement in her heart.

There was also a ladder beside her, but she had yet to carry it. She still needed to verify things further.

"Do not act rashly for now. Let's watch a little longer."

Those death-row prisoners were all utterly vicious people.

At this moment, three of them carried ladders and entered the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area.

Their faces held both shock and fear.

One of the men spotted a Spiritual Herb, greed flashing across his face.

He immediately plucked it and shoved the herb into his mouth.

Outside, there were powerful Imperial Guards.

If they wanted to live, eating Spiritual Herbs was their only chance.

As for running away?

Their current speed was no different from that of ordinary people.

With those Imperial Guards watching behind them, how could they possibly escape?

Eating the Spiritual Herbs was the only possible way to survive.

Seeing the death-row prisoners eating the Spiritual Herbs, the Imperial Guard Commander became incomparably anxious.

She could not even bear to eat those herbs herself.

Yet several death-row prisoners were wolfing them down!

Empress Jin Li remained very calm. She said nothing and stared into the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area.

Seeing this, the Imperial Guard Commander could only remain where she was, though her heart ached beyond measure.

It hurt more than having three taels of flesh carved from her chest.

Just then, Empress Jin Li's pupils narrowed slightly.

The Imperial Guards present also sensed something and immediately became alert.

A roar rang out, and a Green Eyed White Fur Giant Bug standing a full zhang tall appeared.

With one stomp, it crushed trees and everything in its way, sending wood chips flying everywhere.

The giant bug was only a few hundred meters away from the three prisoners.

To such a ferocious beast, a few hundred meters was merely a matter of a few breaths.

"Azure Gang Tiger!" The Imperial Guard Commander's expression turned solemn. "A terrifying ferocious beast at the Demon King level!"

She was a King Rank expert, on the same level as the Azure Gang Tiger before her.

But in actual combat, she was absolutely no match for this Azure Gang Tiger.

Azure Gang Tigers were bloodthirsty by nature. Those three prisoners were doomed without a doubt.

And now that the Azure Gang Tiger had appeared, they could not enter the outskirts of the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area either. Otherwise, a clash was inevitable.

Upon discovering the Azure Gang Tiger, two prisoners directly threw away their ladders and fled in a mad rush.

The remaining one was so terrified that his legs had gone weak. He clung tightly to his ladder, utterly unable to move.

"Roar!"

The Azure Gang Tiger let out a roar, blasting a stream of gang qi from its mouth straight at the two fleeing prisoners.

The prisoners' bodies stiffened, and they fell at once, their bodies torn into pieces and their flesh a bloody mess.

The last one, who was sprawled limply on the ground and clutching his ladder, was so frightened that yellow liquid flowed from his crotch.

The Azure Gang Tiger glanced at the final prisoner. An indescribable emotion flashed through its eyes; there seemed to be contemplation there, and reverence as well.

Yet the Azure Gang Tiger simply left.

The Imperial Guard Commander was stunned.

The other Imperial Guards were the same.

Why had the Azure Gang Tiger left?

Wasn't it bloodthirsty by nature?

Shouldn't any human who entered have been attacked by it?

A complicated glint flashed through Empress Jin Li's eyes.

Carrying a ladder allowed them to enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area without obstruction.

Qi Yuan had not lied to her.

What Qi Yuan said was true.

Qi Yuan... who exactly are you?

Jin Li felt somewhat lost, and a trace of inferiority could not help but rise in her heart.

But she quickly cast that feeling aside. "Everyone, carry your ladders and enter with me.

"Remember, even if you encounter terrifying ferocious beasts, you must not let the ladders leave your bodies. Do you understand?"

"Yes, Your Majesty!"

Several Imperial Guards answered.

The Imperial Guard Commander tried to persuade her. "Your Majesty is of noble status. How can you place yourself in such a dangerous land? Let us enter, while Your Majesty waits here."

Empress Jin Li thought of Qi Yuan.

If she did not enter, she would be letting down Qi Yuan's trust far too much.

"It is no matter. I will enter with you." Empress Jin Li's words allowed no argument.

The group carried their ladders and entered the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area.

They also dealt with the surviving prisoner along the way.

"So many Spiritual Herbs!"

"This is Three Flower Fragrance!"

"Mystic Desire Grass!"

"Green Fruit!"

The Imperial Guards who entered the outskirts of the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area were all incomparably excited.

Because there were simply too many Spiritual Herbs here.

For ten thousand years, no one had entered this place.

One could well imagine how many Spiritual Herbs had accumulated here.

Unlike other forbidden lands, where the herbs in the outskirts had long since been harvested by experts.

Only the depths remained, where even experts dared not venture.

Yet now, harvesting in the outskirts of the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area, they could be said to have reaped an abundant harvest.

"In just one hour, we have already gathered twenty-three King Grade Spiritual Medicines." Jin Li could not help sighing.

Even as the Empress of the Nanqian Kingdom, Jin Li had consumed fewer than ten King Grade Spiritual Medicines in her entire life.

Yet in such a short while, they had collected twenty-three.

As for Spiritual Herbs of other grades, there were even more of them.

It could be said that the gains from this short time alone were worth more than a year's revenue of the national treasury.

The Imperial Guard Commander's face glowed red. "With so many Spiritual Herbs, who knows how many experts we can create, how many masters we can invite to serve us!"

Joy also filled Jin Li's heart.

She recalled what Qi Yuan had said: he had already cleared the dungeon that was the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area. Yes, he had called it a dungeon.

Thinking of something, she said, "We must go to the depths of the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area. We must gather Emperor Grade Spiritual Medicines, especially Nine Flower Qi Luo."

Jin Li truly wanted to enter the depths to gather Nine Flower Qi Luo.

But there was another reason as well.

The Imperial Guards beside her changed expression slightly upon hearing this.

There were Emperor Grade Spiritual Medicines in the depths of the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area, but there would surely be Emperor Rank ferocious beasts as well.

If they encountered King Rank ferocious beasts, they could still flee.

But if they encountered Emperor Rank ferocious beasts, escape would be nearly impossible.

Their hands gripping their ladders tightened involuntarily.

They did not know whether these ladders would still work.

"We are willing to accompany Your Majesty!"

"Mm." Jin Li nodded.

If she wanted to turn the tables, merely these twenty-odd King Grade Spiritual Medicines were nowhere near enough.

She had to obtain Nine Flower Qi Luo to heal Aunt Qin's injuries, perhaps even help Aunt Qin advance further.

She also had to gather other Emperor Grade Spiritual Medicines.

Of course, she also wanted to see the depths of the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area, the place where Qi Yuan had once stayed for half a year.

The group of beauties carried their ladders and walked carefully through the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area.

Whenever they encountered ferocious beasts—whether powerful or weak, savage or docile—they all turned a blind eye to the group, even seeming afraid of hurting Jin Li and the others.

This sight left the Imperial Guard Commander clicking her tongue in wonder. "Carrying ladders lets us enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area, and these ferocious beasts do not even attack us.

"This matter is truly beyond all reason."

After she spoke, her tone shifted. "I wonder which extraordinary person told Your Majesty of this method."

The others also looked at Jin Li, their hearts filled with curiosity.

That person had to be a Supreme Emperor, right?