Old Timers of Forbidden Zone No. 002

"Gu Dong?"

(Did you really kill that giant python? I fought it for two years in Forbidden Zone No. 40 and still couldn't beat it, and you killed it?)

Gu Dong was still skeptical. He sat on the bear's back, looking Qing Chen up and down. Qing Chen, who was originally thin and thin, now seemed unfathomable.

The knight is truly amazing!

Even a young knight is this powerful!

Gu Dong has finally stopped mentioning the idea of jointly governing the world and has become much more well-behaved.

No wonder Gu Dong backed down.

The thing in the Forbidden Zone No. 40 had been keeping him occupied for almost two years. Just when it seemed his conquest was about to be blocked at the Forbidden Zone No. 40, the thing unexpectedly died.

That was so unexpected.

We met one day, but we were gone the next.

When Gu Dong first saw the giant python's corpse, he could hardly believe his eyes.

Moreover, when he realized where the giant python's wound was, his gaze towards Qing Chen held a mixture of confusion and awe...

That's so cruel.

At this moment, not only did Gu Dong feel a sense of awe, but even the Killer Bear he was sitting on was a little scared. It had just fought with Gu Dong and lost, while the opponent that Gu Dong had fought for two years without being able to defeat was instantly killed by the one he was carrying.

No, we need to be more honest.

"What happened to the giant python's corpse after that?" Qing Chen asked. "I didn't care about it after I killed it."

"Gu Dong!"

(Later, the creatures in Forbidden Zone No. 40 and I devoured the giant python, and all the animals were full before we finally finished eating.)

This is also why Gu Dong is a meter taller than Ding Dong. That meter was all grown during that time; it grew a meter in just a few days.

Giants were born in Forbidden Zone, and they were accustomed to the logic that they could become stronger by eating other animals.

Just as Giant Whale swallowed the head of the Genji Clan family and embarked on a path of transcendence.

Just as when Giant Whale dies, other fish swallow Giant Whale body, causing the entire ocean to become Forbidden Sea.

Gu Dong also becomes stronger by eating animals.

"Gu Dong?" Gu Dong asked curiously.

(Why did you kill it?)

Qing Chen said calmly, "Of course it's because I know you've been staying there for two years, and I couldn't stand seeing you like this, so I helped you out."

Gu Dong scratched its head, seemingly a little embarrassed, and said in human language, "Thank you."

Qing Chen was secretly pleased to see the change in his attitude, but didn't say anything.

He smiled and said, "You're welcome. I'm a knight, helping you is what I should do."

Yang Yang rolled her eyes.

Gu Dong scratched his head again, thinking that it made sense. After all, the knights were the patriarchs of all living beings in Forbidden Zone No. 002. That's what those old guys said anyway.

And he is the being born from Forbidden Zone No. 002, so it doesn't seem like there's any problem with the knight helping him.

Qing Chen asked, "Why did you leave Forbidden Zone No. 002 in the first place?"

From the Gu Dong began to show respect to Qing Chen, it stopped calling itself Gu Dong and started speaking human language, explaining to Qing Chen why it had gone out.

Gu Dong went out to fight because his older brother couldn't stand him killing and eating small animals in the Forbidden Zone No. 002, and Azure Falcon was also annoyed by him stealing eggs and would chase him away whenever he saw him.

So, Gu Dong went outside to find something to eat and ran away from home!

From Gu Dong's perspective, if you won't let me eat my own pets, then I can at least eat other people's, right? If I can't eat from Forbidden Zone No. 002, then I'll go and eat from all the Forbidden Zone!

Today we'll eat at Forbidden Zone No. 004, tomorrow we'll eat at Forbidden Zone No. 119, we can eat wherever we want.

This was Gu Dong's original intention in leaving Forbidden Zone No. 002...

Zard, who was listening nearby, immediately had tears in his eyes. "Ahhh, so pitiful. I never thought you were raised on the charity of many families."

Gu Dong: "?"

They grew up eating food from many families, what the hell?!

The giant looked at Qing Chen, then pointed to his head, as if to say: Is there something wrong with your friend?

Qing Chen nodded silently. "Go on."

"Where was I?" Gu Dong forgot the topic they were talking about.

Zard: "Grown up on the charity of many families."

Gu Dong: "Yeah, back in the day I ate at a hundred different places... no! I started looking for food outside Forbidden Zone No. 002, so don't interrupt me!"

Qing Chen looked at Zard expressionlessly. "Don't say anything yet."

Gu Dong: "At first, I wasn't as strong as I am now, so I could only catch small animals to eat. Of course, the animal had to cross the threshold of 'transcendent' to be effective. When I first arrived in other Forbidden Zone, I was always getting beaten up and chased by all sorts of creatures from those Forbidden Zone. It was only later, as I gradually became stronger, that my tastes became more diverse, and I was able to eat all sorts of small animals."

Zard chuckled and said, "You're quite kind-hearted, you love animals so much."

Gu Dong: "?"

Qing Chen fell silent. At first, he felt a little sorry for Gu Dong, after all, she was being bullied while traveling alone and there was no one to help her.

But when he heard the last sentence, he realized that for Gu Dong, the initial meaning of becoming stronger was simply to enrich the flavor of the food.

At this moment, Qing Chen was thinking about a question.

Ding Dong doesn't eat animals; he only eats exotic flowers and herbs, so he's not as strong as Gu Dong.

Gu Dong grew stronger step by step by eating many animals.

The giant python in Forbidden Zone No. 40 also ate and ate, which is why it grew to such a huge size.

Humans can actually eat animals to become stronger. In the past, we didn't have the means to do so, but now that we have Gu Dong, we have the means, right?

It's a pity that Zard, the time-traveling arms dealer, couldn't bring living creatures with him, otherwise the Agricultural Academy could have added new species.

Qing Chen thought for a moment and said, "If there are Forbidden Zone we can't conquer in the future, you can ask me for help. I might be able to go with you."

"Really?" Gu Dong was taken aback for a moment, then became reserved again. "Now that I have the Killer Bear, there are very few Forbidden Zone that I can't conquer."

"What about Forbidden Zone 001?" Qing Chen asked.

Gu Dong said, "That place is strange. We beings born in Forbidden Zone are not bound by rules, but Forbidden Zone 001 is different. Even we have to follow the rules, unless we are beings born directly in Forbidden Zone 001. There seems to be something very powerful in that forest. They don't come out; they just keep pushing the boundaries of Forbidden Zone 001, trying to bring the whole world under its rules. What a pity, there must be lots of delicious food there."

Qing Chen couldn't help but smile wryly; how did things come back to food again?

At this moment, the Killer Bear entered the Forbidden Zone. Strangely, whenever Qing Chen entered the border of other Forbidden Zone, he would be swept by a gust of cold wind.

Everyone in the Federation knows that it's the sign that determines whether you've entered Forbidden Zone.

However, when Qing Chen arrived at Forbidden Zone No. 002, he felt a warm breeze.

This is probably what it feels like to come home.

While pondering, Gu Dong patted the Killer Bear, making it stop.

Qing Chen looked up and saw an unknown creature with a fluffy, white-furred tail, carrying more than a dozen yellow fruits, sticking out from the tree canopy.

Ding Dong smiled and touched the tail, then scooped all the fruit into her hands. The fluffy tail retracted, and a rustling sound came from the tree canopy, indicating that the little animal had already run far away.

From beginning to end, Qing Chen was unable to see what it actually was.

Ding Dong handed the fruit to Qing Chen: "Ding Dong!"

(Let your friends eat it!)

Qing Chen asked in confusion, "What is this?"

Gu Dong explained, "This is a unique fruit from Forbidden Zone No. 002. Each time you eat one, you are free from the constraints of the rules for one day. When we first grew up here, we had no idea that Forbidden Zone had rules. We only learned about them after we went outside and met other humans."

Qing Chen looked at the yellow fruit, which resembled a bright yellow cherry tomato. "Can I take this with me? If you eat this fruit, wouldn't you be able to go to Forbidden Zone 001?"

Gu Dong shook his head. "This stuff only works in Forbidden Zone No. 002. It's like this, just like you humans say there's always an antidote near a poisonous snake, each Forbidden Zone should have a special food that grants immunity to the rules after consumption. In Forbidden Land 002, it's this banana fruit, but in other places, it's hard to say what it might be. In some places it might be a blade of grass, in others it might be some kind of ant, or even soil, or the remains of some small animal... Anyway, it's all very strange, and it's hard to guess."

Qing Chen understood. If each Forbidden Zone was a puzzle, then eating this special fruit was one of the answers to the puzzle.

The answer is due in one day.

While the Killer Bear stopped, Qing Chen jumped to the ground, picked a bunch of flowers, and then returned to the bear's back.

The Killer Bear continued forward, curiously observing this Forbidden Zone No. 002 as it went.

Six hours later, the sky gradually brightened.

Gu Dong said, "We're almost at the World Tree."

"The World Tree?" Qing Chen asked, "Is that what you call it?"

Gu Dong explained, "That's what the old folks call it."

Gradually, they were able to see the trunk of the World Tree. Although it was just the trunk, it gave Qing Chen and the others the feeling of facing the majestic Great Wall, which seemed to stretch endlessly.

It's the spring rainy season now, and under the towering trees are little huts that Ding Dong has built using leaves and branches from the World Tree.

There are two rows in total, with the first row being slightly larger and the second row being slightly smaller.

The shacks were arranged in an orderly fashion, like rows of small green houses.

As the Killer Bear's heavy footsteps approached, Qing Chen saw countless small animals run out from it and scatter in all directions.

Raccoons, rabbits, bats, ferrets, monkeys, wild boars, badgers...

The little animals were all running around in a panic, and the group of monkeys were carrying a bunch of fruit... which they had just stolen from Ding Dong.

As several small green snakes tried to escape, they were mercilessly trampled by a group of rabbits, making them so angry that they flicked their tongues.

Qing Chen was amused. It turned out that not all the creatures in the Forbidden Zone were aggressive, nor were they all ferocious carnivorous beasts and poisonous insects.

Under the influence of the Ding Dong, even the carnivores started eating the fruit.

Beneath this World Tree lies a self-contained animal kingdom, like something out of a fairy tale.

"Ding Dong!"

(Don't run away, we're all friends! And there's a knight!)

Only when the Ding Dong spoke did they stop in their tracks and cautiously observe the guests.

Qing Chen said, "Ding Dong, they trust you."

"Ding Dong!" Ding Dong said proudly and happily.

(Of course!)

Just then, a warm breeze blew through the cemetery World Tree, and the old men chattered amongst themselves, "Hey, the little girl with him is quite lovely. This time, we must make him leave one child behind before he departs!"

"Yes, knights are all daredevils. With so many people attacking him today, he might die out there tomorrow. He must have a child before leaving; a knight cannot die without an heir!"

"This kid isn't even a demigod yet, but he's caused more trouble than his master. It's definitely necessary to keep him alive!"

"No, one isn't enough to go around. We need two: one for the radicals and one for the conservatives!"

"Gu Dong, Ding Dong, tie him and that girl up!"

Qing Chen was speechless...

What is all this nonsense?!

Can't the Knights have a decent guy among them?!

Luckily Yang Yang couldn't understand what the old guys were saying, otherwise the two of them would have been stuck in an awkward situation.

Qing Chen ignored the old men and jumped off the bear's back, gently placing the flowers in front of Li Xiurui's grave.

The old folks erupted in protest. "Why give him flowers but not us? You're being unfair!"

"We've treated you so well, and you still can't treat everyone equally!"

"Ugh, I'm so sad. I just fought for you, and this is how you treat us?"

"That kid surnamed Li isn't a knight. He won't develop any spiritual awareness here. He wouldn't even know if you sent him flowers."

"Go quickly and pick a bunch for each of us!"

Qing Chen took a deep breath and looked at the hundreds of tombstones... How long will it take to pick them all?

At that moment, a deep voice rang out. "Quiet, I have something to ask him."

In an instant, Qing Chen's world suddenly became quiet, and not a sound could be heard anymore.

Someone wants to get down to business.

Qing Chen asked curiously, "Who are you?"

"Qin Sheng".

Qing Chen remained silent.

In the history of the Knight Organization, there are three people who cannot be ignored: Ren He, Ren Xiaosu, and Qin Sheng.

There can be no other knights, but there cannot be no these three. The first two are self-evident: one is the founder, and the other is a god.

Qin Sheng, on the other hand, was the first person to create a new era with the Breathing Technique when the knights were at their wits' end. Without him, the path of the knights would have been cut off long ago due to the appearance of the Forbidden Sea.

This is the true leader of the post-Knight era.

"What do you want to ask?" Qing Chen asked. Finally, a decent person had appeared, and he could have a proper chat with the old guys.

Qin Sheng's voice drifted on the wind. "How many apprentices do you have now?"

Qing Chen answered honestly, "Li Ke, Hu Xiaoniu, Jingūji Maki, and Qing Yi. Strictly speaking, there are only these four at the moment, but Qing Yi is not a knight and cannot become one, so he hasn't Heart's Inquiry."

"Li Ke has passed the Heart's Inquiry, and it is said that he recently challenged the second Life and Death Trial and is now challenging the third. He is making rapid progress."

"Hu Xiaoniu has just completed the fourth Life and Death Trial, but he took the path without Breathing Technique. He can only advance to Rank A after completing all of them."

Today, the Hu Group is doing everything it can to help Hu Xiaoniu complete his challenge, with enormous financial and material resources dedicated to serving him alone.

If someone wants to practice diving, they'll buy a diving venue; if someone wants to practice skydiving, someone will buy an entire training base for them.

The world's best coaches have all been gathered around Hu Xiaoniu by the Hu family, so he doesn't have to worry about anything; someone will naturally take care of everything for him.

These coaches each earn an annual salary of 10 million, but unfortunately, they will now live under Hu's surveillance, as Hu wants to ensure they do not leak secrets.

The confidentiality period is five years; this is the timeframe set by Qing Chen.

This is similar to a question that often appears on Douyin and Zhihu: If you were offered an annual salary of 10 million yuan for five consecutive years, but on the condition that you could not use a mobile phone or contact the outside world, would you be willing?

Whether others are willing is hard to say, but these coaches are certainly willing. They might even feel a little embarrassed. Someone asked the Hu Group if the conditions included eating feces or being chased by snails and mosquitoes...?

If no one is chasing them, they feel a little uneasy about taking the money.

The answer is, of course, no.

For Qing Chen, the path Hu Xiaoniu took will also be followed by the successful challengers of the Time Walker Academy in the future, and the resources that Hu Xiaoniu's family bought will eventually be shared with his junior brothers and sisters.

It can be said that Hu Xiaoniu is a pioneer on the path of knights in the Outer World. He wants to pave a fast path for his junior brothers and sisters to advance and summarize all his experiences.

Just like in the Inner World, the knights found the Green Mountain Cliff, and thus the first challenge for all knights began here.

Our ancestors discovered that the Great Snow Mountain in the southwest was suitable for Ice Consolidation, so all knights would go there to complete this Life and Death Trial, saving time in searching for a suitable environment.

For example, where in the Outer World is it suitable to do skydiving or wingsuit flying? These are tasks that Qing Chen assigned to Hu Xiaoniu.

Qin Sheng asked, "What about Jingūji Maki? Why is it a name from the Kamishiro side? You need to remember, there is no possibility of reconciliation between my Knight Organization and Kamishiro; it must be a fight to the death."

"I understand. Three knights of the past died at the hands of Kamishiro," Qing Chen nodded. "Jingūji Maki is a rather special case..."

"Why is it special?" an old man asked.

Qing Chen sorted out his thoughts and recounted the story of Jingūji Maki.

A descendant of the Genji Clan, a born Onmyoji, whose blood can counter the Onmyoji's shikigami, and who has passed the Heart's Inquiry...

At this moment, the old men all fell silent.

Much later, someone suddenly said, "Having passed the Heart's Inquiry and being able to bring along a shikigami, doesn't that mean our Knight Organization will have another demigod-level Onmyoji Knight? The Onmyoji's physical weakness is their biggest weakness, while we knights are the most physically powerful warriors among all extraordinary beings... Moreover, her blood can suppress shikigami!"

Qin Sheng suddenly said, "The Age of Gods is over."

These four words resonated deeply.

The old men World Tree suddenly shouted, "Hahaha, the Age of Gods is finally doomed! Quickly bring the little girl to us; we want to teach her ourselves!"

Qing Chen stood there expressionless, thinking to himself, "These old guys have existed for hundreds of years, how come they still have no composure at all..."

Or perhaps, they simply haven't spoken to anyone outside the Forbidden Zone in far too long.

After Li Shutong and Qing Chen left, they could only wait anxiously for Qing Chen or Li Shutong to return, just like parents and elders waiting for their children to return home for winter vacation.

They've been lonely for too long, so they've all become chatterboxes.

Qing Chen suddenly said, "Ahem, everyone, don't be too happy yet. She is not Time Walker."

"What the hell?"

"Are you panting like that?"

Qin Sheng asked, "Why didn't she become Time Walker?"

Qing Chen explained, "It was that senior surnamed Yan who sent her to the Outer World to become a beta tester. According to the clues, it seems that she only needs to go to Osaka to become Time Walker, but... she is too young, and I don't want her to get involved in the conflict now."

The old men were stunned.

So it was Yan Liuyuan who chose this person?

"You make a good point," Qin Sheng replied calmly. "Let her grow up slowly in the Outer World first. The Knight Organization doesn't need a little girl to fight."

Qing Chen could sense that this former leader of the knights possessed the pride and principles unique to knights.

Oh no, the word "principle" should be crossed out.

Wasn't this the one who kidnapped the Buddha Lord back then...?

Knights don't need principles...

Qin Sheng asked, "And what's the deal with Qing Yi?"

Qing Chen explained, "He practices the Zhunti Method, which is the inheritance you stole from that Buddha Lord..."

Qin Sheng patiently explained, "How can you call it robbery? He clearly gave it to us. We said we didn't want it, but he threatened to kill himself to force us to accept it. Then we thought, we're all friends, how can we put our friends in a difficult position?"

Qing Chen was stunned for a long time. This must be the legendary friendship forged through life and death.

You're definitely not a decent person either.

So, our Knight Organization doesn't have a single decent person?

At this moment, Qin Sheng said, "It seems you are indeed much stronger than your master. He struggled for so many years and only found one disciple, you, while you found three in just a few months, including someone like Jingūji Maki. That's truly remarkable. Of course, you shouldn't be arrogant. In our most glorious era, twelve knights fought together. You only have three now, far from reaching that level. So it would be best to leave one child for us, lest..."

Qing Chen raised an eyebrow, wondering why the style of the conversation had suddenly changed.

He took a deep breath and said, "I have another plan right now."

"What plan?"

"Train a group of knights," Qing Chen said calmly.

"A batch? You've got some nerve!" someone said.

"Are you planning to train five or six at once?"

"If we can really train five or six, it will be close to our most glorious era. Don't be too harsh on him."

"That's right. If it really works out, there will be nine knights, including a few demigods. That's definitely enough for the Age of Gods."

After a long silence, Qing Chen suddenly said, "It's not five or six, it's very likely fifty or sixty..."

Silence fell over Forbidden Zone No. 002.

A 6,000-word chapter; one more chapter will be released before 11 PM tonight.