Bone Mountain Range
Although the area of Beast Domain is slightly smaller than that of the vast and intricately intertwined Middle Continent, it is still a vast territory that should not be underestimated.
The endless, overlapping mountain ranges before us proclaim the rules of this place to all who step into it in the most primal and wild way—might makes right!
The rich scent of vegetation mingled with the distinctive stench and Sectarian Qi of countless Magical Beasts, creating a unique and wild atmosphere belonging solely to the Beast Domain, which oppressed one's nerves.
Although the Beast Domain is often referred to as the "Hundred Thousand Mountains," this is merely a rough estimate for easy understanding.
If one were to count them carefully, the number of those mountains, winding like the spine of Giant Dragon and undulating endlessly, would certainly far exceed one hundred thousand.
These mountains seem to have existed since the beginning of time, stretching to distant places beyond human reach and even sight. Countless years have flowed silently here, not only giving birth to countless powerful Magical Beasts, but also burying countless traces and treasures left behind by the ages in these endless mountains and deep Treasure Hoard.
The ruins of ancient sects, the secluded Cave Mansion of powerful figures, and rare treasures naturally formed by heaven and earth... are all like scattered pearls, hidden in some corner of the vast mountains and seas, waiting for a destined person and a powerful person to go and unlock them.
The Ancient Ruins that have caused such a stir are located in the Bone Mountain Range, a place with a considerable reputation in the Beast Domain.
The mountain range gets its name from the vast, chilling Bone Sea in its central region!
For reasons unknown, countless Beast Bones of various shapes and species have been abandoned here since ancient times, accumulating over the years to form a terrifying Bone Mountain and Bone Sea bones.
As time goes by, these Beast Bones will gradually release some of the strange beast power and blood essence contained within them, permeating the air and land of the mountains.
This strange energy has almost no effect on human cultivators, and long-term inhalation may even cause some discomfort. However, for Magical Beasts, it is a great tonic for tempering their bodies and purifying their bloodlines.
As a result, the Bone Mountain Range has attracted numerous Magical Beasts to gather and entrenched there year-round. Over time, it has become an important area in the Beast Domain where all sorts of creatures mingle and forces intertwine.
Just as Lin Ming and his group were gazing at the gradually clearing outline of the pale white mountain range, Di Kong, the middle-aged and steady elder of the Dou Zong who was following beside them, stepped forward with a hint of worry on his face, bowed to Lin Ming, and said, "Sect Master, I have something to report."
Lin Ming turned his gaze from the distance to Di Kong, gesturing for him to continue.
Elder Di Kong was personally appointed by Xiao Yi Xian as the "steward" for this trip. He was meticulous and extremely familiar with the power distribution and local customs of the Middle Continent and the surrounding areas. He was responsible for the itinerary and foreign negotiations. If he spoke now, it must be for something important.
Di Kong organized his thoughts and cautiously said, "Sect Master, the Ancient Ruins we've discovered this time are located in the Bone Mountain Range. This area is, in fact, the traditional sphere of influence of the Nether Python Clan. According to the intelligence we've received and the information circulating now, the ruins are very likely to contain a Heaven Tier Dou Technique. Such a treasure would certainly not be ignored by the powerful members of the Nether Python Clan; they will definitely send their elites to get involved."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the enormous and chilling Nine Profound Nether Python beneath his feet, his worry deepening.
"The Nine Profound Nether Python we're riding is, in fact, a distant relative of the Nether Python Clan. In some ancient texts, it's even considered a powerful branch of the Nether Python Clan. Our brazen entry into what the Nether Python Clan considers their territory might... attract unnecessary attention, and could even be seen as a provocation, needlessly inviting trouble."
Upon hearing this, a look of understanding flashed in Lin Ming's eyes.
He had considered this point before, but in his haste to continue his journey, he hadn't delved into it. Now, reminded by Di Kong, he immediately realized the crux of the matter.
As one of the three overlords of the Magical Beast World, the Nether Python Clan has been somewhat overwhelmed by internal affairs in recent years, but its pride and desire to control its territory have never diminished.
The fact that a Nine Profound Nether Python with a strength of the Eighth Order was being driven into the core area of their territory by a group of humans could easily cause misunderstandings, and might even be used as an excuse by some radical Nether Python Clan powerhouses.
Moreover, they are not far from the Bone Mountain Range now. With the strength of their group, the weakest of whom is at the Dou Zong level, they have the ability to fly for a long time, so their speed will not be much slower.
After a moment's thought, Lin Ming nodded, agreeing with Di Kong's assessment, "Elder Di is right; I hadn't considered things thoroughly enough."
Immediately, Lin Ming turned to Qing Lin and said, "Qing Lin, let's put this Nine Profound Nether Python away first!"
"Yes, Brother Lin Ming."
Qing Lin obediently responded, a flash of blue light in her eyes. The enormous Nine Profound Nether Python hovering in the air let out a low hiss, its massive body rapidly shrinking until it transformed into a beam of dark light, which vanished along with the blue light in Qing Lin's eyes.
With their mounts put away, Lin Ming and his group didn't linger any longer. Their Dou Qi surged, and their figures transformed into several streaks of light as they continued their relentless journey towards the snow-white mountain range.
The Beast Domain is now in an uproar because of the emergence of that Ancient Ruins.
As they flew towards the Bone Mountain Range, Lin Ming and his group encountered many powerful individuals whose destinations were clearly the same as theirs.
Some of these figures retained some characteristics of Magical Beasts, such as having a wolf's head, carrying wings, or being covered in scales, exuding a wild and violent aura; others had completely transformed into Human Form, but the ferocity in their eyes and the unique beastly power they possessed still indicated their identity Magical Beasts.
In addition, there were also a considerable number of powerful humans who had come from outside the Beast Domain after hearing the news. They were either traveling alone or in groups of three or five, and each of them possessed an extraordinary aura and sharp eyes. They were clearly ruthless characters who had designs on the Ancient Ruins.
Above, the sound of wind cutting through the air was incessant, and every now and then, figures would flash past them like shooting stars, hurrying towards the Bone Mountain Range. The entire atmosphere was filled with a sense of oppressive tension and restlessness, as if a storm was brewing.
Upon seeing this, Lin Ming didn't react much; his expression remained calm.
After all, this is Ancient Ruins passed down from Dou Sheng Expert, and information about Heaven Tier Dou Technique has even circulated within it. It would be abnormal if it were deserted. This bustling scene is befitting of the name of Dou Sheng Ruins. The fiercer the competition, the more it proves the value of the Treasure Hoard within.
After flying for two days over the vast mountain range of the Beast Domain, one day at noon, as the group passed through a dense miasma area, a blinding, eerie white color suddenly appeared on the distant horizon!
This pale white color contrasted sharply with the lush, vibrant green of the surrounding mountains, appearing extremely discordant and even carrying a sense of deathly stillness and eeriness. It was not the white of snow-capped mountains, but a ghastly white formed by the accumulation of bones and weathering, resembling a huge scar on the earth from afar.
However, when Lin Ming and the others saw this stark white, a mixture of excitement and solemnity flashed in their eyes.
"We've arrived, that's the Bone Mountain Range!" Elder Di Kong's voice carried a hint of relief, but was also full of vigilance.
After nearly ten days of continuous travel, we finally arrived at our destination!
Upon arriving here, the density of people flying across the surrounding sky suddenly increased several times over.
The sound of wind breaking was almost continuous, and countless figures gathered from all directions, like locusts attracted by an invisible force, their target the distant mountains that emitted a pale white light.
Every now and then, a figure with an exceptionally powerful aura would appear, sweeping past from behind like a whirlwind, unabashedly exuding pressure, and then rushing towards the depths of the Bone Mountain Range without stopping. Among them, several concealed auras even made Lin Ming slightly turn his head, reaching the Dou Venerate level.
"We're almost at the Bone Mountain Range. The two deacons sent by the sect to conduct the preliminary reconnaissance should be waiting at the temporary gathering point on the outskirts of the mountain range. Let's meet up with them first, get the latest information and the exact location of the entrance to the ruins, and then discuss our subsequent action plan. What do you think, Sect Master?"
Gazing at the increasingly clear outline of the pale white mountain range in the distance, and even vaguely seeing some huge White Bone Mountain that pierced the sky like the ribs of a giant beast, Di Kong turned to Lin Ming and respectfully asked for instructions.
However, at this moment, his expression became extremely solemn. Even from such a great distance, with his Dou Zong Soul Perception, he could still clearly sense many exceptionally powerful and heart-palpitating aura fluctuations emanating from the direction of the Bone Mountain Range. Some of these even caused his soul to feel a stinging pain. The water here was deeper than they had anticipated!
Lin Ming nodded slightly. His powerful Heavenly Soul perception allowed him to "see" more clearly than Di Kong the countless powerful auras intertwined in the sky above that area, including some that even he had to take seriously.
The Bone Mountain Range is now a true melting pot of people and monsters, with various forces and all sorts of freaks gathered here, making the situation incredibly complex. If one is unaware of the situation and rushes in headlong, they will likely not only fail to find the entrance to the ruins but will also instantly become the target of everyone's attention, watched by countless eyes hidden in the shadows.
Thus, even with Lin Ming's confidence in his own strength and his advantage of being a prophet, he couldn't withstand the public's wrath. Therefore, Lin Ming nodded in agreement to what Di Kong said.