When his younger female cousin brought up those shameful past events, Jiang Shuwen immediately straightened his expression and said, "A temporary victory or defeat means nothing. Once I figure out the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird clan's Innate Divine Ability, the next time I meet Little Golden-Winged Peng King, it'll be the moment I capture him in the Demon Refining Pot and suppress him."
A warm welcome to book friend Qiong Zhu's designated character, Shuwen.
The edge of Barren Ancient Forest, an inn in Small Town.
After Jiang Shuwen and Jiang Caihong, the two disciples of the Desolate Ancient Jiang Family, rested at the inn for a night, they immediately set out for Barren Ancient Forest.
However, just after they rode a rainbow light out of Small Town for several dozen li, they suddenly vanished from the sky.
Immediately afterward, seven or eight rainbow lights of various colors accelerated from low altitude. After reaching the high sky, they stopped at the place where the two had disappeared.
"Where are they?"
An old cultivator with completely white hair and beard swept the surroundings with his Divine Sense, but still failed to find any trace of the two.
"This is bad. They've discovered us. Leave, quickly." A middle-aged cultivator suddenly sensed that something was wrong and immediately shouted to everyone.
At that moment, Jiang Shuwen and Jiang Caihong abruptly appeared before them and said calmly, "You're only thinking of leaving now? Isn't it a little late?"
Seeing the powerful aura radiating from Jiang Shuwen and Jiang Caihong, the cultivators realized that fleeing would not solve the problem. Instead, it might even bring them a fatal disaster.
The old cultivator with white hair and beard immediately smiled apologetically. "Fellow Daoists, you may have misunderstood. The eight of us are all Yan State rogue cultivators living on the edge of Barren Ancient Forest. We weren't intentionally monitoring the two of you here."
"Heh, do you think I'll believe your nonsense?" Jiang Caihong sneered. A mass of Divine Power faintly surged in her palm, as if she would make them experience the might of the Jiang Clan's Divine Art if they failed to give a reasonable explanation.
"Fellow Daoists, you should have come for the things inside the Barren Ancient Forbidden Zone as well. In truth, we all have the same goal. There's no need to harm our harmony over such a minor matter. You don't need us to tell you how dangerous the Barren Ancient Forbidden Zone is. You should know it very well yourselves. Why don't we join forces? Perhaps then, our chances of climbing the Holy Mountains and picking the Divine Medicine will be greater." A middle-aged cultivator beside the old man spoke.
A trace of surprise flashed through Jiang Shuwen and Jiang Caihong's eyes. They looked incredulously at the cultivators before them and said, "You actually intend to enter the Forbidden Zone of Life to pick the Divine Medicine?"
It wasn't that they looked down on the other party. Rather, this act was no different from seeking death.
As successors of an Ancient Family, they understood the terror of the Forbidden Zone of Life far better than these rogue cultivators.
Not to mention that the two of them were merely Dao Palace Realm cultivators—even if they were Great Powers of the Celestial Altar Realm, facing the Forbidden Zone of Life would still mean certain death.
However, after secretly observing them for a while, Jiang Shuwen felt that something was strange. The rogue cultivators across from them seemed a little too confident.
It was as if they had personally seen someone pick the Divine Medicine from the Forbidden Zone of Life and come back out alive.
Otherwise, rogue cultivators, who were always known for cherishing their lives, could not possibly be so certain.
Thus, Jiang Shuwen asked, "Fellow Daoists, has someone recently picked the Divine Medicine from the Barren Ancient Forbidden Zone?"
The middle-aged cultivator replied, "A year ago, a group of people did indeed come out of the Barren Ancient Forbidden Zone alive. Moreover, four of them picked the Divine Medicine from the Nine Holy Mountains inside the Forbidden Zone. After taking the Divine Medicine, not only were their lives not stripped away by the Desolate Power, but they also underwent a complete transformation. They've now been accepted into the sects of the Six Great Grotto-Heavens of Yan State and are being cultivated as Immortal Seedlings. Perhaps it won't be long before they leave their mountain gates and make their names renowned throughout Yan State."
"Are you certain you haven't misspoken? It wasn't one person, but a group who came out of the Barren Ancient Forbidden Zone alive—and they even picked the legendary Saint Medicine?" Jiang Caihong was also extremely shocked.
"It's absolutely true. We confirmed it repeatedly. That day, they were taken away by cultivators from Spirit Void Grotto-Heaven, and we saw it with our own eyes. Although we don't know what changes have recently occurred inside the Barren Ancient Forbidden Zone, we once sent a spirit beast in as an experiment. It seemed that the Desolate Power had weakened considerably. It was no longer the case that anything entering the Barren Ancient Forbidden Zone would instantly age to death. Our spirit beast nearly reached halfway up the Nine Holy Mountains. If we prepare thoroughly enough and move quickly enough after entering, we'll definitely be able to climb those Nine Holy Mountains and pick the legendary Divine Medicine."
As the old cultivator with white hair and beard spoke, an inexplicable excitement appeared on his face.
It was as if he had already seen himself climb the Holy Mountains, pick the legendary Saint Medicine, and ascend to the heavens in a single step.
"Fellow Daoists, I'm truly sorry. My sister and I still have important matters to handle, so we won't interfere with your opportunity." After Jiang Shuwen finished speaking, he cupped his fists toward the cultivators and directly pulled Jiang Caihong away.
On the way, Jiang Caihong asked, "Brother Shuwen, why did you pull me away? I still wanted to ask them for more information about the Barren Ancient Forbidden Zone. If the Desolate Power inside really has weakened, with our Jiang Clan's strength, we'll definitely be able to obtain the Divine Medicine."
Jiang Shuwen pulled Jiang Caihong down onto a large tree in the deep forest below. He stared at her with a solemn expression and said, "Caihong, forget about the Barren Ancient Forbidden Zone immediately. Otherwise, don't blame me for suppressing you right now."
Jiang Caihong looked at Jiang Shuwen in disbelief. "Brother Shuwen, you want to suppress me? What did I do wrong?"
Jiang Shuwen said sternly, "So that Uncle and Aunt won't be saddened by your decline, if you refuse to listen, I'll have no choice but to resort to this."
"Why?" Jiang Caihong had never seen such an overbearing side of Jiang Shuwen before. A trace of confusion flashed through her eyes.
Neither she nor Jiang Shuwen was of the Jiang Clan's direct lineage. The Emperor Blood in their bodies had already grown so thin that it was nearly nonexistent.
Furthermore, they were of similar age and had grown up together. Through their own efforts, they had cultivated to their current realms. Since their two families were close, Jiang Shuwen often accommodated her. Whenever he encountered an opportunity, he usually remembered to share a portion with her.
In Jiang Caihong's memory, Jiang Shuwen had never reprimanded her so sternly.
Now that she had suddenly heard that Jiang Shuwen actually wanted to suppress her over such a minor matter, Jiang Caihong felt extremely upset.
Jiang Shuwen, however, was unwilling to explain too much. He said, "If you still want to continue following me, you're not allowed to go anywhere without my permission from now on. Otherwise, I'll send you to the Old Ancestor right now and have you act together with Jiang Yifei and Jiang Caixuan."
"I-I'll still follow you." At the mention of Jiang Caixuan, Jiang Caihong felt rather uncomfortable. The other girl was the true pearl of an Ancient Family. Although she was also a Jiang Clan disciple, standing beside Jiang Caixuan made her seem like a maid accompanying a pearl.
Rather than being sent back, she would be better off staying beside Jiang Shuwen and giving him an explanation.
Sure enough, after Jiang Caihong backed down, Jiang Shuwen said, "The Forbidden Zone of Life is an ancient absolute domain. No matter how tempting what you hear is, never believe it. Once you develop even the slightest expectation, you'll most likely lose your life because of it. Have you forgotten the fate of Tiansuan Holy Land six thousand years ago? Even a powerful Holy Land like Tiansuan Holy Land, with an Ancient Sage blazing a path ahead, ultimately could not escape destruction."
Jiang Caihong silently nodded.
Afterward, Jiang Shuwen left a mark on Jiang Caihong. Only then did the two continue flying toward the depths of Barren Ancient Forest.
Jiang Shuwen had already fully opened the Five Great Dao Palace Sanctuaries. He was now only one step away from entering the Four Extremes Realm.
Within Barren Ancient Forest, there were almost no Fierce Beasts capable of threatening him.
Jiang Caihong had also opened four Divine Treasures in her Dao Palace Realm, and her strength was not to be underestimated.
As the two flew above Barren Ancient Forest, they did not choose to take a detour.
Along the way, Jiang Caihong asked, "Brother Shuwen, after we capture that Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird, should we tell the clan elders about the Barren Ancient Forbidden Zone?"
A trace of reluctance flashed through Jiang Shuwen's eyes. He shook his head and said, "We'd better not tell the clan elders. If they learn that something has changed in the Barren Ancient Forbidden Zone, who knows how many Jiang Clan knights will throw their lives away for nothing."
Jiang Caihong nodded. "Then I'll listen to you."
Afterward, the two began searching for traces of the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird in the Ancient Deep Forest.
Before long, they saw the nest of a Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird on a cliff.
What surprised them even more was that on the cliff face, they also saw a bald child dressed in animal hide. Like a spirit ape, he moved nimbly as he quickly climbed toward the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird's nest above.
High in the sky, the two standing atop a rainbow radiance were astonished.
"Brother Shuwen, look at that child. His physique is astonishing." After observing for a moment, Jiang Caihong pointed at Li Zhi, who was rapidly climbing upward.
The Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird soaring above Barren Ancient Forest had unexpectedly given birth to a nest of Little Golden Pengs. This was something Li Zhi had not anticipated beforehand.
Originally, he had intended to observe the adult Golden Roc.
But now he had changed his mind. He planned to secretly climb into its nest and steal a Little Golden Peng to raise by his side.
Only then could he gain a more comprehensive understanding of the Golden Roc's Claw Art and the Mysterious Method of high-speed flight.
After observing for several days, Li Zhi had discovered that the adult Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird went out hunting every day, usually leaving the nest for about an hour.
As long as he was fast enough, he could take one of the chicks before the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird returned from hunting.
Moreover, Li Zhi had already determined that the adult Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird's cultivation was extremely high. It was far beyond what he could observe from close range at present.
Thus, raising a chick would be safer and more worthwhile.
Under Jiang Shuwen and Jiang Caihong's watchful eyes, Li Zhi quickly climbed into the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird's nest on the cliff.
Three Peng birds the size of roosters, their bodies completely covered in gray down, were sleeping there.
Without the slightest hesitation, Li Zhi took out a Beast Skin Bag and packed one of them away.
To prevent the chick from making a sound, he had also prepared fresh meat soaked in knockout medicine inside the Beast Skin Bag.
As long as the Little Peng Bird took one bite, it would sleep soundly for two days.
Sure enough, before the Little Peng Bird packed into the bag could cry out, it smelled the fresh meat and immediately began eating.
Just a few seconds later, the Little Peng Bird inside the bag fell unconscious.
At that moment, Li Zhi heard a cry from the sky in the distance.
The Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird had actually returned half an hour early.
Meanwhile, Jiang Shuwen and Jiang Caihong, who had been observing Li Zhi's every move from the air, underwent a drastic change in expression when they heard the cry.
The two immediately transformed into rainbow lights and flew toward Li Zhi, who was descending the mountain.
Before Li Zhi could react, he felt someone seize him by the shoulder. Then he was carried rapidly toward the outside of Barren Ancient Forest.
The speed was so great that it nearly blew the Beast Skin Bag containing the Little Peng Bird off Li Zhi's back.
Only Jiang Shuwen knew how terrifying the adult Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird was.
Just the cry that came from afar made him feel an aura even more terrifying than that of Little Golden-Winged Peng King—at least equivalent to a Dragon Transformation Realm Cultivator.
As disciples from an Ancient Family, Jiang Shuwen and Jiang Caihong naturally flew extremely quickly. Especially when facing a crisis, their flying speed was even more astonishing.
In the blink of an eye, they had carried Li Zhi several hundred li away.
They had clearly used the Divine Escape Talismans they carried to save their lives.
By the time the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird landed at its nest, they had already disappeared outside Barren Ancient Forest with Li Zhi.
Seeing that one of its children was missing from the nest, the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird angrily let out a series of cries.
Then it spread its wings and soared into the sky, transforming into a golden streak of light that continuously circled above Barren Ancient Forest.
When it saw the group of cultivators who had previously followed Jiang Shuwen and Jiang Caihong gazing toward the Forbidden Zone from its edge, the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird instantly flapped its wings and released Ten Thousand Daos of golden light toward them.
The seven or eight cultivators did not even have time to react before they were shot full of holes by the Ten Thousand Daos of golden light descending from the sky.
They probably never imagined that before they could even attempt to enter the Barren Ancient Forbidden Zone and pick the Divine Medicine, they would die at the edge of the Forbidden Zone.
After the Golden-Winged Great Peng Bird flew several circles around the Barren Ancient Forest at the edge of the Barren Ancient Forbidden Zone at incredible speed, it still failed to find any trace of its child. In the end, it let out a high-pitched, mournful cry before flying back to its nest.
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