Setting Out

Leaving the Barbarian Race treasure vault and returning to the Ruins of the Barbarian Race Land shrouded in blood and death, the three felt differently than when they arrived.

Not only because they had avenged their great grudge and reaped a rich harvest, but also because the Secrets recorded on the Animal Skin scroll shrouded this eerie Saint Demise Valley in an even more mysterious and heavy veil.

That night, Lin Ming and his two companions sat around the campfire. After some casual conversation, Lin Ming said in a deep voice, "This Saint Demise Valley is more complex than we imagined. The Altar of that High-Tier Half Sage passed away may still hold many more secrets."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yi Xian recalled what Lin Ming had seen under the Animal Skin about the Cremation Grounds High-Tier Half Sage had passed away, and the Sectarian Demon formed by the out-of-control, powerful Beast Soul...

Thinking of all this, Xiao Yi Xian asked, "Lin Ming, are we still going there?"

After speaking, Xiao Yi Xian looked towards the deeper part of Saint Demise Valley, where the dark red mist was even thicker, like the maw of a giant beast ready to devour its prey. Even with her cultivation as Two-Star Dou Ancestor, she could feel the heart-palpitating oppressive aura.

Upon hearing this, Lin Ming also looked down towards the center of the valley. After gazing at it for a long time, he said solemnly, "Since we're already here, let's go take a look. If we encounter any problems along the way that we can't solve, then we'll leave."

Before Xiao Yi Xian Lin Ming even speak, Zi Yan immediately stood up. Far from fear, her eyes blazed with fighting spirit as she declared, "Yes! We have to go! The lair of that villain who tried to capture our Ancient Void Dragon —humph! I must go see it! Maybe I can even find some trace of his misfortune!"

Seeing this, Lin Ming and Xiao Yi Xian exchanged a smile. They could only sigh inwardly, "It seems Zi Yan truly harbors resentment towards that stranger from the Main World!"

Although the three decided to continue towards the central area of Saint Demise Valley, it was, after all, the place where a High-Tier Half Sage had fallen. Even the Barbarian Race familiar with the area had come to the edge rather than stay there, which showed that it was by no means an easy place to conquer. If they hadn't made preparations, they probably wouldn't even know how they died.

So the three of them immediately began preparations for the upcoming trip.

Of course, this was mostly prepared by Lin Ming.

After receiving the Storage Ring from the Venerable Yao, Lin Ming sorted out its contents. Lin Ming first sought out the mid-to-high-level pill formulas. Now, based on those formulas, Lin Ming began refining some pills that he thought might be useful here.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. During this time, Lin Ming had refined most of the medicinal herbs he had obtained from the Barbarian Treasury, as well as those he carried with him. His Storage Ring now contained dozens of medicine bottles, and he finally stopped refining.

After two weeks of rest and recuperation, all three had returned to peak condition. So, with everything prepared, the three embarked on their journey once more.

Leaving the edge of the Barbarian Race Land, the three of them once again entered the Saint Demise Valley. The Soul Erosion Wind attacked them again, and at the same time, in addition to the Soul Erosion Wind, streams of Yin Fire also spewed out from some cracks in the ground from time to time.

When the Yin Fire comes into contact with the Earthly Fiends, it immediately transforms into extremely powerful Yin Fiend Fire, forcing anyone facing it to fight back with all their might. Under the harsh environment, the Sectarian Demon mentioned on the Animal Skin also manifest from time to time.

Fortunately, Lin Ming and his companions were no ordinary people, and they managed to get through safely without any major incidents.

As the three ventured deeper into the Fallen Saint Demise Valley, they arrived at its core, where the environment instantly became even harsher. The cracks in the ground no longer spewed forth Yin Fiend Fire, but instead emitted a more bizarre "Nine Nether Cold Qi," capable of directly freezing the soul.

What floated in the air was no longer the pale red Sectarian Qi threads of malevolent energy, but rather dark, Shadow Sectarian Cloud that writhed like living creatures, attempting to attach themselves to the protective aura.

Spatial Rift appeared more frequently and varied in size, like black scars reflected in a shattered mirror, radiating a destructive suction force.

"Stay close to me, and don't stray too far from the area covered by my Heavenly Flames!" Lin Ming said in a deep voice, expanding the range of the Jade Profound Heart Flame to form a flame shield about three zhang in diameter, enveloping the three of them.

The Supreme Yang and supreme rigidity aura of the Heavenly Flames is the natural nemesis of these yin and cold Sectarian Qi. Wherever the flame passes, the nearby Shadow Sectarian Cloud emit a "sizzling" sound and melt away like ice and snow.

However, the Sectarian Demon here are far more formidable than those on the outskirts. They are no longer formless shadows, but have coalesced into various clear and ferocious Magical Beasts forms, even retaining some of their innate abilities from their previous lives. Many of them have reached the Dou Emperor level, and there are even powerful beings at the Dou Zong level!

"Roar!"

They had traveled less than ten miles when a Bone Wing Sectarian Demon, their bodies made entirely of black bones and their eye sockets burning with green soul fire, spotted them and swarmed like locusts, numbering in the hundreds! They were as fast as lightning, and their bone wings vibrated to emit ear-piercing Sound Wave attacks that disturbed their minds.

"Five Rounds Leaving Fire Method, Fire Wolf Devour!"

Lin Ming pointed his fingers like a sword, Emerald Flame roared out, transforming into a ferocious Fire Wolf that clashed with the Bone Wing Sectarian Demon. The flames were highly effective against the undead; wherever the Fire Wolf passed, the Bone Wing Sectarian Demon were ignited and shattered.

However, the number of Sectarian Demon was too great, and they were extremely fearless. Xiao Yi Xian waved her jade hand, Calamity Poison Mist transformed into countless tiny poison needles, pouring down like a torrential rain, accurately shooting at the Sectarian Demon were trying to bypass the Fire Wolf's attack shield. The corrosive energy contained in the poison needles quickly disintegrated their Sectarian Qi aura bodies.

Zi Yan charged directly out of the protective barrier, unleashing her Dragon Fist with bursts of purple light. Each punch carried the power to shatter mountains and split rocks, instantly obliterating any approaching Sectarian Demon with her overwhelming power.

The three worked together seamlessly: Lin Ming focused on defense against group attacks, Xiao Yi Xian delivered precise single-target kills, Zi Yan violently cleared the field, like a sharp knife struggling to move forward in the tide of Sectarian Demon.

This is just the beginning. The deeper they go, the more powerful the Sectarian Demon they encounter become.

There was the "Soul Devouring Giant Demon," a colossal being formed from countless Remnant Soul, capable of unleashing Soul Roar; there was the "Shadow Sectarian Demon," a ghostly creature that could blend into the shadows to assassinate, its claws laden with venom; and on one occasion, they even encountered a "Three-Headed Hellhound" Sectarian Demon aura reached the level of Five-Star Dou Ancestor, its three heads capable of spewing poisonous fire, ice, and corrosive energy respectively. This forced Lin Ming and his companions to go all out to defeat it, but it also significantly depleted their own Dou Qi.

Battles raged almost constantly. Pills were consumed like candy, and the three were on high alert. This core area was like a giant meat grinder, devouring any intruding creature.

Besides the Sectarian Demon, the more dangerous ones are some naturally formed spatial Deadly Land. Fortunately, Zi Yan is there, which allows them to discover these forbidden zones in time, and some of them can even serve as temporary shelters for them.

And so, the group continued their journey, and whenever they encountered something they couldn't handle, they would use Zi Yan's help to find places in space to hide. Their destination drew ever closer.

A few days later, after overcoming numerous hardships and trekking for an unknown amount of time, the three finally approached the core area of Saint Demise Valley, the place where the High-Tier Half Sage Cremation Grounds, as recorded on the Animal Skin scroll.

The scene here was completely different from other places. The Sectarian Qi had thinned considerably, but a heavier and more majestic aura permeated the air— the Residual Pressure of a Half Sage Expert, which still made one's soul tremble even after countless years. The earth was dark gold, as if it had been tempered by some powerful force. Ahead, a huge, relatively flat plaza appeared at the edge of the field of vision.

In the center of the square, a majestic Altar stands silently.

The Altar stood a hundred feet tall, forged entirely from an unknown dark golden metal, covered with incredibly complex runes. These runes weren't static; they flowed slowly, as if possessing life. The Altar consisted of nine layers, each shrinking in size, with the edges of each layer carved with lifelike images of various Magical Beasts, including some Ancient Fierce Beast that Lin Ming had only seen in ancient texts. The top of the Altar was shrouded in a faint golden halo, indistinct, but it was from there that a sense of awe, originating from the Life Origin, emanated.

The entire Altar was shrouded in a huge, semi-transparent, dark golden light shield. Runes flowed across the shield, emanating a powerful aura that was indestructible and impervious to all magic.

"Is this... the Altar where that Half Sage passed away?" Xiao Yi Xian gazed at the majestic and mysterious Altar, her beautiful eyes filled with awe. Just looking at it from afar, one could feel the immense power and supreme majesty it contained.

Zi Yan also put away her usual playfulness, her little face becoming solemn. She could clearly feel the lingering Dragon Might might emanating from the Altar, as well as the terrifying aura of various powerful Beast Soul mixed together, causing the Ancient Dragon Bloodline within her to slightly boil.

Lin Ming stared intently at the Altar, his Soul Power cautiously probing towards the Dark Gold Light Shield.

"Buzz!"

The moment his Soul Power touched the light barrier, a powerful backlash struck Lin Ming, causing his head to slump and taking a long time to recover.

Shaking his head, Lin Ming said solemnly, "This light barrier is the last barrier left behind by that Half Sage, containing the Restriction he set up before his death!"

"There are Restriction, so how can we get in?" Zi Yan asked immediately, dissatisfied.

You see, they'd gone through a lot to get in here. She wouldn't stand for it if they left empty-handed. So, Zi Yan clenched her fist, looked at the light barrier, and said with a hint of eagerness, "Why don't we just break it!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Ming immediately shook his head. "No. This Restriction contains the Half Sage Law. If we force an attack, it might trigger a devastating counterattack, which we cannot afford."

Upon hearing this, Zi Yan could only purse her lips, plunging the entire Altar into silence.

He scanned the area around the Altar, trying to find other clues.