Though the Eastern Wilderness nominally remained part of the Central Region, its Spirit Veins were weak and its Spiritual Resources scarce, barely better than those of the Nine Border Region Kingdoms. Moreover, it lay far from both Chang'an and the Eastern Capital; the flourishing grandeur of Great Tang could not reach this place at all.
By comparison, even the small kingdoms in the Border Region that huddled together for warmth had developed systems of their own over thousands of years through their shared hatred of a common enemy, and instead showed some signs of vitality. The Eastern Wilderness cultivators could not bring themselves to swallow their pride and extend goodwill to the "borderlands," so the vast Eastern Wilderness had become an "Eastern Wilderness Corridor" in every sense. Its cultivation world had withered to the point that it was probably scarcely stronger than the Nine Border Region Kingdoms.
At its northernmost edge, the Rainbow River Ancient Road came from the Central Region, traversed the great wilderness, and ran straight into the Eastern Sea.
Near Cloud-Parting Valley, every gust of wind and cry of a crane set nerves on edge.
A bedraggled, bloodstained figure struggled through the forest gullies, every occasional pause accompanied by a fresh surge of blood.
His right arm had been severed at the shoulder. Though he had barely sealed the wound with Law Power, his desperate flight kept making blood seep from it.
Behind him, two groups of Demon Ruins Cultivators had split up to encircle and intercept him.
"Damn it!"
He gritted his teeth. Escape Lights were already faintly approaching from behind, pursuing him relentlessly.
"Is that the man?!"
"Who cares? Kill him first!"
"The elder ordered that this man may be executed on the spot."
Spell radiance condensed from Spiritual Power and Demonic Qi flashed among