Chapter 685
Sweeping Across All Sides
Upon hearing this, Feng Xuan awkwardly shut his mouth.
As Li Chenzhou said, he indeed spent most of his time in slumber in order to prolong his lifespan as much as possible, knowing very little about the outside world. If Gu Qingfeng hadn't disturbed the dragon corpse and caused the riot in the forbidden zone today, he might have continued to sleep until one day he silently passed away in his sleep.
Gu Qingfeng glanced at Li Chenzhou thoughtfully.
This person was able to remain clear-headed for countless years, and even remembered to gather information from those who came after him. His tenacity and meticulousness of thought were far beyond what Feng Xuan could match.
"continue."
"Yes."
Li Chenzhou responded and then said.
"Thirdly, located on the western edge of the starry sky, there is a forbidden zone called the 'Chaos Sea'."
This forbidden zone is different from ordinary forbidden zones of life. It was not formed because of the fall of a powerful being, but originated from a naturally formed chaotic region.
That area has existed since the beginning of time, and its chaotic energy is violent and disorderly, so much so that even ordinary celestial beings would face a near-death experience if they entered.
But legend has it that in the deepest part of that chaotic sea, a primordial god-demon who existed since the beginning of time lies dormant—a true half-step immortal being whose existence is even older than most life forms in this starry sky.
Whether it perished is unknown; all that is known is that the Chaos Sea Forbidden Zone has existed since ancient times, and its danger far surpasses that of ordinary forbidden zones. Rumors even suggest it rivals the five supreme forbidden zones.
The Chaotic Sea.
Gu Qingfeng's eyes lit up slightly.
Primordial gods and demons, ancient beings that existed since the beginning of time.
If such a being truly existed, its value would likely be no less than that of an immortal crystal.
After all, the innate gods and demons were born in chaos and grew up in chaos. Their way was the same as that of heaven and earth, and their method was the same as that of creation.
If one can comprehend the residual Daoist essence within it, it will undoubtedly bring immeasurable benefits to the perfection of one's own Great Dao.
"What about the other two places?"
"There are two more. One is called 'Sword Burial Mausoleum,' located in the northern region of the starry sky. It is said to be a forbidden zone formed by the sword of a supreme swordsman after his fall."
Although that Sword Dao Supreme had not reached the half-step immortality, it was said that he was only one step away. His residual sword intent was extremely domineering. Once, an Eight Tribulation Heavenly Venerable tried to enter to search for treasures, but was killed on the spot by a residual sword intent, his body and soul destroyed.
Its danger level is no less than that of a true forbidden zone containing near-immortal remains.
"Another place called 'Valley of Reincarnation' is located in a hidden void somewhere in the starry sky. Its location is elusive and extremely difficult to find."
There are rumors that it is the place where a half-step immortal who cultivated the Great Dao of Reincarnation fell. The remaining Dao charm there is strange and unpredictable. Those who enter often inexplicably fall into the illusion of reincarnation and eventually die in the illusion.
However, there are also rumors that the Valley of Reincarnation contains the Reincarnation Dao Fruit, a being at the half-step Immortal stage; if one can comprehend its secrets, one might be able to glimpse the true essence of the Great Dao of Reincarnation.
Li Chenzhou finished listing the five forbidden zones in one breath, and then respectfully looked at Gu Qingfeng: "Senior, these are all the forbidden zones that this junior knows might contain the remains of a half-step immortal."
Among them, the Burial Immortal Ruins, the Demon Abyss, and the Chaos Sea are three places where I am more than 70% certain that there are half-step immortal remains.
"While there are rumors about the Burial Sword Tomb and the Valley of Reincarnation, they are unconfirmed, and I dare not speak presumptuously."
Gu Qingfeng nodded slightly.
What Li Chenzhou said largely matched the information he had just received from Feng Xuan.
Feng Xuan also mentioned the three places: the Burial Immortal Ruins, the Demon Abyss, and the Chaos Sea. However, he did not mention the Burial Sword Tomb or the Valley of Reincarnation. Clearly, the old man had been asleep for too long and was far less informed than Li Chenzhou.
"very good."
Gu Qingfeng said calmly, "The information you two provided is useful to me."
What I promised, I will certainly fulfill.
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the two men: "Next, I will visit these forbidden areas."
"If you two wish, you may accompany me; if not, you may leave now. For a million years, the Heavenly Dao will not seek trouble with you."
Upon hearing this, Feng Xuan and Li Chenzhou exchanged a glance and, almost without hesitation, bowed in unison.
"This junior is willing to follow in the footsteps of my senior!"
Why hesitate?
To be able to travel alongside such an unfathomable being is an immense opportunity in itself!
Not to mention the guidance they might receive along the way, just witnessing firsthand how this person suppressed the forbidden zone and collected the remains would be enough to benefit them immensely.
Moreover, they had just left the Forbidden Zone of the Burial Gods. Although Gu Qingfeng's drop of blood concealed the secrets of heaven, they still felt a nameless fear towards this starry sky that was both familiar and unfamiliar.
If one could accompany this peerless expert, safety would be assured.
"In that case, let's go."
Gu Qingfeng didn't say much. With a flick of his sleeve, the void twisted again, engulfing the two of them and disappearing without a trace.
……
Three days later.
Somewhere in the starry sky.
Gu Qingfeng and his two companions stood in a desolate asteroid belt.
Feng Xuan cautiously observed Gu Qingfeng's expression and tentatively asked, "Senior, which forbidden area are we heading to?"
Gu Qingfeng did not answer, but closed his eyes to sense for a moment, then opened his eyes and looked towards a certain direction in the starry sky.
"Let's go to the Burial Immortal Ruins first."
Li Chenzhou's expression shifted: "The Burial Immortal Ruins are located at the easternmost edge of the starry sky, extremely far from here. At our speed, it would take at least a month to reach them."
However, the senior possesses extraordinary abilities; if we travel at full speed, perhaps—"
"Not urgent."
Gu Qingfeng interrupted him and said calmly, "On our way to the Burial Immortal Ruins, we will pass through several ordinary forbidden zones recorded in the ancient sacred lands."
"A side trip might yield some results."
Upon hearing this, Feng Xuan secretly clicked his tongue in amazement.
A casual visit?
Those places listed as "ordinary forbidden zones" by the Ancient Netherworld Holy Land, while not as dangerous as the Forbidden Zone for Burying Gods, are still deadly places capable of trapping and killing Heavenly Venerables.
Normally, he wouldn't even dare to get close; he would have to take a long detour.
The person in front of him regarded it as a tourist attraction he was "visiting on the way," speaking so casually as if he were just dropping by a neighbor's house.
That's the difference...
Feng Xuan sighed inwardly, increasingly convinced that his decision to follow Gu Qingfeng was absolutely correct.
"Let's go."
Gu Qingfeng flicked his sleeve, and the void twisted once more.
This time, however, he did not tear through space to make a long-distance jump. Instead, he carried the two of them slowly through the starry sky. Each step covered the distance of several star fields. Although the speed was fast, it gave them enough time to observe the surrounding environment.
Feng Xuan and Li Chenzhou exchanged a glance, understanding each other perfectly.
This senior was waiting for them to give him directions.
"Senior, three hundred star fields ahead lies a forbidden zone called 'Blood Abyss'."
Li Chenzhou spoke first.
"The Blood Abyss is said to be the place where a supreme blood cultivator fell. After his fall, his blood essence transformed into a sea of blood spanning tens of thousands of miles. Countless blood spirits are born in the sea of blood, devouring the blood essence and soul of those who intrude."
A Seven Tribulation Celestial Venerable once attempted to enter and retrieve the relics of that Supreme Being, but was swallowed by the sea of blood, his essence and blood transforming into nourishment for the sea.
"Are there any half-step immortal remains in the Blood Abyss?"
"This... I'm not sure."
Li Chenzhou truthfully stated, "It is said that the Blood Dao Supreme once attempted to break through to the half-step immortal realm before his death, but ultimately failed and died after his lifespan was exhausted."
Its residual Daoist aura should be at the peak of the Ninth Tribulation level, but it is still far from being half a step into Immortality.
However, it is said that deep within the Blood Abyss lies a 'Blood God Pearl,' condensed from the life's cultivation of that Supreme Being. Though not as powerful as the Half-Step Immortal Dragon Pearl, it is still a rare treasure for Heavenly Venerables who cultivate the Blood Path or the Great Dao of Life.
Gu Qingfeng nodded slightly.
Blood God Pearl...
Although it is not a relic of immortality, it is better than nothing.
Moreover, if he could collect the Blood Abyss, he might be able to glean from it the reason why that Blood Dao Supreme failed to break through to the half-step immortal realm—these experiences would also be of reference value for him to take that step in the future.
"Go take a look." ...
Half a day later.
Blood Abyss Forbidden Zone.
This is a strange star field shrouded in blood mist, covering an area of tens of thousands of miles, all enveloped in a thick, viscous, blood-red fog.
The blood mist surged, and within it, a vast sea of blood could be vaguely seen. Waves surged within the sea of blood, and countless strange, blood-red creatures rose and fell in the waves.
Standing at the edge of the Blood Abyss, Gu Qingfeng swept his divine sense across the entire forbidden zone.
Deep within the sea of blood, there was indeed a fist-sized crimson bead floating silently, its body swirling with dense crimson light, within which countless blood shadows could be vaguely seen struggling and roaring—the remnant souls of countless beings swallowed by the sea of blood, imprisoned within the Blood God Bead, never to escape.
"It does have a certain mystique."
Gu Qingfeng said calmly.
Then, he stepped into the Blood Abyss.
Feng Xuan and Li Chenzhou exchanged a glance and quickly followed.
The moment they stepped into the Blood Abyss, an overwhelming cloud of blood mist surged toward them like living things. The blood mist contained extremely strong corrosive power, and if an ordinary Celestial Venerable were to be tainted by it, his Dao body would inevitably be damaged.
But as soon as the blood mist touched Gu Qingfeng's body within three zhang, it retreated frantically as if it had encountered a natural enemy, and actually took the initiative to avoid it.
Feng Xuan and Li Chenzhou followed behind Gu Qingfeng and were horrified to find that the blood mist not only dared not approach, but even dared not look at them—it felt as if the person standing behind them was not a person, but an unparalleled ruler who was above all the Dao, and any existence that dared to offend would be instantly annihilated.
"This is... Dao pressure?!"
Li Chenzhou was shocked.
The so-called Dao pressure is the natural suppression of a lower-level Dao by the cultivator's own Dao.
But what level of cultivation would be required to create such a significant pressure that causes the entire forbidden zone to actively give way?
Peak of the Ninth Tribulation?
Half-step immortality? Or...?
He dared not think.
I didn't dare ask.
The three of them ventured deeper into the Blood Abyss. Wherever they went, the blood mist dissipated, and the sea of blood automatically parted to create a passage. The blood spirits hid far away, trembling, and dared not even look in their direction.
In less than the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, Gu Qingfeng had already arrived at the depths of the Blood Sea, in front of the Blood God Pearl.
He reached out and made a grasping motion.
The Blood God Pearl trembled violently, as if sensing impending doom, and struggled frantically, its body emitting a blinding blood-red light in an attempt to resist. But that force of resistance was as fragile as an ant trying to shake a tree in front of Gu Qingfeng.
The next instant, the Blood God Pearl was captured in his palm.
The blood-red light on the surface of the pearl flickered violently a few times, then quickly dimmed. The remnant souls that were imprisoned within were also released by an invisible force, turning into specks of light and dissipating into the world.
Gu Qingfeng glanced at the Blood God Pearl in his palm and casually put it into his storage space.
"Let's go."
He said lightly.
Feng Xuan and Li Chenzhou looked at each other in bewilderment.
Is this over?
Throughout the entire process, this person did not even use any supernatural powers or employ any special methods. He simply walked in, reached out, and grabbed the Blood Abyss Forbidden Zone, which had trapped and killed a Seven Tribulation Celestial Venerable and struck fear into the hearts of countless powerful individuals, as if it were nothing.
The whole thing took less than half an hour.
The infamous Blood Abyss Forbidden Zone was thus "swept away".
"S-senpai..."
Feng Xuan's lips trembled as he tried to say something, but he found that no amount of words could adequately describe the shock he felt at that moment.
Gu Qingfeng glanced at him and said calmly, "This is just the beginning; there's much more to come."
Having said that, he flicked his sleeve and disappeared with the two of them into the sky above the Blood Abyss.
The infamous Blood Abyss Forbidden Zone, after losing the suppression of the Blood God Pearl, saw its blood mist gradually dissipate and its blood sea slowly dry up.
Those blood spirits born in the sea of blood, having lost their source of power, sank weakly into the seabed, where a slow demise awaited them.
The once-feared restricted area was completely wiped out in less than an hour.
If this news gets out, it will shock countless people.
……
Over the next two weeks, Gu Qingfeng, along with Feng Xuan and Li Chenzhou, swept through the seven ordinary forbidden zones recorded in the Ancient Netherworld Holy Land, located on the way to the Burial Immortal Ruins.
On the seventh day, they arrived at the "Corpse Mountain Forbidden Zone".
That was the place where a Nine Tribulation Supreme who cultivated the Corpse Path fell. Countless corpse puppets roamed the forbidden area, the strongest of which was comparable to a Seven Tribulation Heavenly Venerable.
With a casual wave of his hand, Gu Qingfeng turned all the corpse puppets into ashes and took out a "corpse pill" from the depths of the corpse mountain, which contained the life cultivation of that supreme being.
On the tenth day, they arrived at the "Ice Abyss Forbidden Zone".
It was a desolate place frozen by extreme cold. Legend has it that a Nine Tribulations Supreme who cultivated the Great Dao of Frost passed away here, and his remaining Daoist aura froze the entire star field into an eternal ice prison.
Gu Qingfeng stepped inside, his body untouched by any chill, and directly retrieved an "Ice Soul Pearl" from the deepest part of the Ice Abyss.
On the thirteenth day, they arrived at the Burning Heaven Forbidden Zone.
It was a forbidden land covered by eternal divine fire, where, according to legend, a half-step immortal being who cultivated the Great Dao of Fire slept. However, after Gu Qingfeng explored with his divine sense, he discovered that the so-called "half-step immortal remains" were just a rumor. The real source was a "Fire God Pearl" from a Fire Dao Supreme who was at the peak of the Ninth Tribulation.
He took it just as easily.
Day 15—
When Gu Qingfeng retrieved a "Thunder God Pearl" from the seventh forbidden area, Feng Xuan and Li Chenzhou were completely numb.
Half a month, seven forbidden zones, seven priceless treasures.
Each one is a rare treasure that would drive even the most powerful beings in the world to fight madly for it; any one of them could trigger a bloodbath.
But in this person's hands, it was as easy as taking something out of a bag.
"senior……"
Feng Xuan finally couldn't help but ask, "Senior, what is the purpose of collecting these supreme relics?"
These beads only contain Daoist principles at the Ninth Tribulation level. They shouldn't be of much use to someone like you, senior, right?
Gu Qingfeng glanced at him and said indifferently, "To me, these beads are indeed of little use."
"Then why, senior..."
"But it will be of great use to you."
Feng Xuan was stunned for a moment, then his heart pounded wildly.
Li Chenzhou also suddenly looked up, his eyes flashing with disbelief.
Gu Qingfeng stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the distant starry sky, his voice calm.
"Since you two have followed me, I will certainly not treat you unfairly."
When this journey is over, these beads will be given to you two.
If one can glean insights into the supreme principles from this, perhaps one can take that step, break through the Nine Tribulations, and attain the supreme position.
"As for whether you can seize the opportunity, that depends on your own fate."
The words fell.
Feng Xuan and Li Chenzhou stood there dumbfounded, as if struck by lightning.
a long time.
The two exchanged a glance, then bowed deeply at the same time, their voices trembling with excitement.
"Thank you for your kindness, senior!"
"This junior... will surely repay your great kindness with my life!"
Gu Qingfeng did not respond, but simply said...
"Let's go, next place." (End of Chapter)