Journey to the Ancient Spirit Forbidden Land

"Queen, is this really the right call?"

An aged voice drifted from afar, and an Old Woman hobbled in, leaning on a staff.

A flicker of ruthlessness and wariness passed through Fu Ya's eyes as she said gravely, "There's no choice. The arrival of such a powerhouse is a tremendous opportunity for us."

The Old Woman's murky eyes gazed into the distance at that purple silhouette and said helplessly, "There's no other way. Let the Saintess accompany her tomorrow, and have her grasp the world's authority. That way, you can also take a good look at the outside world."

Fu Ya nodded calmly. "Mm, I'll inform the Saintess. I'll also have her take these people to the place of opportunity, or else I fear..."

The Old Woman nodded, shuffling slowly toward the depths of the palace, leaving behind a voice that said, "This is fine, fine. A thousand million years is enough..."

"Get your candied hawthorns here!"

"Top-grade herbs, clearance sale!"

"A thousand gold for a fortune—heaven, earth, air, I'll calculate it all!"

When Xiao Yi Xian stepped out of the palace, what met her eyes was nothing like the noble, elegant halls and gardens she'd seen before.

Ancient-style buildings lined the streets, filled with simple, honest folk. That wasn't the most striking part, though—some had ears that were sharp and long, others bore translucent wings on their backs...

Some people were tiny, no bigger than a palm... and none of that mattered as much as the fact that every single one of them was female...

In front of some shops, girls in scant clothing sat with eyes half-lidded, their cloth handkerchiefs waving lazily in the air...

Xiao Yi Xian stared at the market, which felt like a kingdom of women, at a loss for words...

Little Spirit gripped Xiao Yi Xian's sleeve expressionlessly, walking beside her, though her darting eyes—glancing left and right—betrayed her true thoughts.

Even Liu Yan, who had been celibate for who knew how many years, felt his blood stir at the sight of so many beautiful women.

Chi Han even popped out of Xiao Yi Xian's sleeve, staring at the scene with great curiosity.

This was the first time he'd seen a kingdom full of female beasts, and he desperately wanted to take human form, then...

The Green-clad Maid leading the way walked respectfully ahead, the occasional breeze lifting the veil on her face.

The face beneath that veil was stunning—no wonder she was the Queen's maid!

Before long, after walking for some time, the Green-clad Maid led Xiao Yi Xian to a courtyard.

The characters on the plaque were from an unknown era, but when she probed with her soul force, she could tell they read "Azure Cloud Palace."

Xiao Yi Xian gazed at those three ancient characters, sensing a deep Dao resonance within them, as if she could glimpse the silhouette of a powerful figure.

That dark silhouette held the sun and moon in its hands, plucking stars from the sky—an overwhelming pressure that flashed and vanished, leaving Xiao Yi Xian's back drenched in sweat in an instant.

The Green-clad Maid, seeing Xiao Yi Xian lost in thought, felt a stir in her heart. Could this powerhouse have entered the legendary artistic conception within the plaque?

She had once heard the Queen say that traces of a former expert lingered here, and seeing them meant a connection to this place.

The Green-clad Maid silently noted this in her mind—she absolutely had to tell the Queen about today.

Xiao Yi Xian stepped into the light brown room, where the character "Dou" at the center of a hanging scroll caught her eye. The calligraphy on the desk's four treasures seemed to belong to no era she knew.

The deep, quiet night passed without incident, as if nothing had happened at all!

Xiao Yi Xian sat cross-legged on the bed, her Cultivation Method cycling through one full rotation before stopping. Her light purple eyes swept across the room.

She couldn't shake a vague sense of unease. This trip into the forbidden zone wasn't just about leaving quickly—this small world was full of mysteries.

With her current strength, she could only leave these matters for later. Getting out fast without being discovered was the priority...

A faint glow emanated from Xiao Yi Xian's right hand, and a figure darted out.

"Sister?"

Little Spirit looked at the serious Xiao Yi Xian with some confusion. What could be troubling her sister so much?

Xiao Yi Xian gave a slight smile and a reassuring look to Little Spirit, then carried her out of the room...

Outside a glowing formation, a crowd had gathered, each one at least at the Da Dou Shi level.

A figure stepped out from the crowd, walked up to Xiao Yi Xian, and bowed with a hand over her chest. "Senior, my name is Yue Lin. I am the Saintess here. Allow me to guide you on this journey!"

"Mm. But where is that little girl Fu Ya?" Xiao Yi Xian's eyes, hidden behind her mask, glanced at the Elf Goddess as she spoke coolly.

Yue Lin was momentarily stunned—calling the Queen a little girl? Then she smiled. "Her Majesty the Queen has matters to attend to and cannot accompany Senior for now."

Atop a mountain peak, the Four Elders surrounded Fu Ya in a formation aligned with the four cardinal directions.

Fu Ya nodded at the elders, her fingers forming an unfamiliar seal as dense Dou Qi surged into the ghostly talismans beneath her.

Her robes billowed without wind, her long hair streaming in the air, and even her veil fluttered, revealing her breathtakingly beautiful face.

Before Xiao Yi Xian, the white barrier blazed with immense light, and a white door materialized in front of her.

Xiao Yi Xian frowned slightly at the swirling light within the door. Was this the entrance to the world?

Did this world contain an inner world within it?

Yue Lin was the first to step inside. Seeing that the Saintess had already entered, Xiao Yi Xian and the others followed suit.

In an instant, the light gate closed. Countless people buzzed with discussion, and many worried for their Saintess—she was, after all, the next Queen.

At this moment, atop a mountain peak, five people knelt on one knee, panting heavily. Fu Ya's forehead was slick with sweat, stray strands of her disheveled hair clinging to her skin.

Her delicate face was covered in perspiration, yet her eyes blazed with unwavering hope. She cast a glance at the unchanging sky.

She wanted to tear off the mask of this world and step into the true one...

Meanwhile, Xiao Yi Xian and the others were tossed through a dizzying upheaval, arriving beneath a dim, ashen sky.

As far as the eye could see, there was only gray sky and uneven, pitted ground. Everywhere lay corroded armor and broken weapons.

Even the earth beneath their feet was the color of blood. Here and there, silver-white bones stood impaled on rusted spears.

"This..."

Yue Lin stared at the scene in shock. A mournful wailing echoed incessantly in her ears, and even the landscape before her seemed to tremble.

Slap!

Xiao Yi Xian patted Yue Lin's shoulder, snapping her back to reality...

Startled awake, Yue Lin looked at the worn mask with gratitude in her eyes. It seemed the pull of her bloodline had dragged her into some kind of vision.

Behind them, Liu Yan narrowed his eyes. He too had sensed a peculiar soul force just now, but it was still too weak.

Yue Lin was only at the three-star Dou Zhe level—it was only natural that she had been affected.

Crack!

Crack!

One by one, white skeletal figures clawed their way out of the ground. Blue ghost flames flickered endlessly, and the air was filled with sounds like weeping spirits.