Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land

[Ye Fan: Brother Shi Jue, is there anything I should watch out for next?]

Now that he knew Shi Jue understood his future, even if he did not ask about everything that would happen, learning a few key details would still let him prepare in advance.

[Shi Jue: Next, you'll make a stop on Mars. Remember to bring the ancient artifacts from the temple with you. That Bodhi Seed is one of the most valuable ones. Afterward, you'll ultimately land in the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land. Drink more of the spring water and eat more of those red fruits—the benefits are endless.]

Shi Jue did not tell him what would happen. It was mainly a matter of opportunity. In a moment, he also wanted to try one of the Chat Group's only two functions: Cross-Realm Teleportation.

[Ye Fan: All right, thank you so much.]

[Shi Jue: When you reach the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land, let me know. I want to go take a look too. Just remember to approve my request when the time comes!]

If there had been a function for sending items, he would not have needed to go in person. The Nine Marvels Undying Medicine and the Desolate Ancient Divine Spring Water were both priceless treasures. Even if they alerted Empress Ruthless, it was worth trying. Besides, with Ye Fan there, Empress Ruthless presumably would not do anything.

[Ye Fan: Sure, I want to meet the group owner too.]

[Yan Ruyu: What a pity. I can't meet the group owner.]

[Duan De: Yeah. If it were somewhere else, that would be one thing.]

The Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land was a Life Forbidden Zone. Every cultivator feared it deeply.

Over the years, how many people unafraid of death had entered? And how many had ultimately come back out? All of them had remained there, their lives and deaths unknown. Even those who emerged were mostly driven mad.

Ten days later, Ye Fan sent a message.

[Ye Fan: I've arrived at the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land. This has been the smoothest long-distance journey I've ever taken. Shi Jue, you can come over now.]

[Shi Jue: Wait a moment. I'll send the request now.]

[Ding! Shi Jue has sent you a cross-realm request. Accept?]

Seeing the request, Ye Fan did not think much of it and accepted immediately.

At the same time, back in Stone Village.

"Is this the passage to the era of Shrouding the Heavens?"

Looking at the passage that had appeared inside the room, Shi Jue could not help swallowing. After hesitating for a few seconds, he finally gritted his teeth and stepped inside.

"He disappeared?"

When Shi Jue vanished from Stone Village, Liu Shen was startled awake. Gentle light radiated from her tree body, while her vast, boundless divine sense swept across an area of nearly ten thousand li. In the end, she came to one conclusion: Shi Jue had vanished into thin air.

"Just who are you?" Liu Shen murmured.

Judging solely by its scenery, the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land did not resemble a Life Forbidden Zone at all. Its splendid mountains rolled endlessly, strange rocks stood in every shape, ancient trees rose strong and vigorous, green grass spread like a carpet, and wildflowers gave off their fragrance. It looked like a peaceful Pure Land of life.

The people who had ridden the Bronze Ancient Coffin were still cheering with excitement. Compared to the darkness within the coffin, the peaceful atmosphere here made them lower their guard at once.

Ye Fan and Pang Bo had already left the vicinity of the bronze coffin and begun searching for Divine Spring Liquid and red fruits.

"Pang Bo, do you feel like your stamina has inexplicably drained a little?" Ye Fan asked gravely.

Because of Shi Jue and the others' warnings, Ye Fan had never let his guard down. He had pushed his senses to their limit.

"Ye Fan, now that you mention it, I do feel a little tired. Normally, walking this short a distance wouldn't leave me like this." Pang Bo's expression changed slightly as he touched his burly body.

"That's perfectly normal. This is a Life Forbidden Zone—how could it possibly be as safe as it looks?"

A stranger's voice sounded from behind them, startling both of them.

"Hey, brother, are you a local here?" Seeing that it was only a seven- or eight-year-old boy, Pang Bo immediately relaxed and eagerly tried to gather information.

"That beast-hide outfit is pretty handsome. It's way better than leather."

"What's it made of, crocodile hide? We saw a huge freaking crocodile earlier."

"Ye Fan, does this guy always talk this much?" Shi Jue asked helplessly, pointing at the chattering Pang Bo.

"Ahem, Pang Bo, he's a friend of mine." Ye Fan covered his face, unable to hide his embarrassment.

"Brother Shi Jue, are you from ancient times?"

He wore beast hides and had long hair. No matter how one looked at it, he did not seem to have much to do with modern people.

Shi Jue looked at his beast-hide clothes, then at Ye Fan and Pang Bo's modern casual outfits. It was not strange that they would ask such a question.

Everyone in Stone Village wore clothes like this. Once he reached the Imperial Capital of Stone Country, he would buy a new set of clothes.

"More or less. I'm separated from your era by who knows how many epochs. Although I look younger than you two, in terms of seniority, I'd have more than enough standing to be your ancestor."

Pang Bo looked utterly bewildered, while Ye Fan quickly understood. He could not help becoming even more curious about the Chat Group. It could actually span different eras—what an unimaginably mighty power.

"Tch. As expected of the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land. It starts absorbing Life Essence the moment I arrive." Shi Jue felt his blood energy uncontrollably spilling from his body, forming a faint crimson flame. A strange force continuously drew out the Life Essence within him.

"Brother, are you okay? Why are you setting yourself on fire? Water, water, water..."

Pang Bo was immediately alarmed and began searching everywhere for a source of water.

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Hurry up and find the red fruits!" Shi Jue shook his head. With the strength of one hundred and thirty thousand jin, his blood energy was incredibly vigorous. What was being absorbed now was his blood energy; once it was nearly depleted, the force would begin drawing on his Life Essence.

"Shi Jue, are you saying this place absorbs people's life force?" Ye Fan's expression changed drastically. He finally understood the cause of that slight fatigue.

Pang Bo felt awful all over. He could already picture himself with white hair, a face full of wrinkles, and the appearance of a frail old man. His face went pale.

"Yes. Your constitution is special. Though it has not fully awakened, your Life Essence is abundant. Pang Bo's constitution is also better than an ordinary person's, so nothing will happen to him for now. But if enough time passes, that may not remain the case."

Shi Jue did not say it aloud: You might be the reincarnation of Empress Ruthless's brother. Until that is completely confirmed, you won't die so easily—especially not in the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land, where Empress Ruthless is in seclusion.

"The ones who should truly be worried are your classmates. They don't have constitutions as strong as yours. By the time you return, you'll probably find a group of white-haired old men and women," Shi Jue said flatly.

He did not know those people, so he had no reason to care whether they lived or died.

"For now, let's find the spring water and red fruits first!"