Chapter 28

(For the chart, dear friends, please kindly cast your precious vote, a slip of the hand to collect, another slip to click... thank you in advance)

The forbidden area means no entry!

In the cultivation world, places that can be called forbidden areas are often extremely dangerous.

The Southern Barbarian Forbidden Area is no exception.

For the cultivators of Songyan City, the vast Southern Barbarian Mountains, spanning ten thousand miles, not only harbor numerous terrifying great beasts but also have a complex and perilous living environment, akin to a battlefield where demons run rampant. It is not a place where cultivators dare to tread with mere courage.

The Southern Barbarian Forbidden Area is located deep within the ten thousand mountains of the Southern Barbarian Mountains.

Chen Xi, who grew up in Songyan City, had heard of the Southern Barbarian Forbidden Area. Upon learning that they would soon enter it, he naturally dared not advance recklessly.

Hunting beasts on the outskirts of the Southern Barbarian Mountains could ensure one's safety, but entering the forbidden area where great beasts run rampant would not be so simple.

However, the map mentioned by Duan Ying reminded Chen Xi. If he had a map of the Southern Barbarian Forbidden Area, he could completely bypass the dangerous areas, avoid the territories of the terrifying great beasts, and find his target.

"Senior, the reason we three dared to come to this place is because I have an ancestral map that details the geographical environment and beast distribution of the outer area of the Southern Barbarian Forbidden Area. If you are unfamiliar with this place, I can help guide you."

Seeing Chen Xi stop, Duan Ying quickly caught up and respectfully said.

Chen Xi was originally puzzled that these three, who were only at the peak of the Later Heaven realm, dared to hunt silver wind leopards in the Southern Barbarian Mountains at night. Hearing about the map, he finally understood.

"I need to hunt a great beast at the innate realm." Chen Xi spoke frankly, wanting to hear Duan Ying's opinion.

An innate realm great beast?

Lu Shaocong, Qu Cheng, and Duan Ying all drew a deep breath, shocked.

Compared to cultivators at the innate realm, great beasts that have advanced to the innate realm after countless years of training can not only transform into human form but also have deeper cultivation. Coupled with years of battle experience, an innate realm great beast can easily crush a cultivator of the same realm, making them extremely formidable.

Therefore, when they heard that Chen Xi intended to go alone to hunt an innate realm great beast, their shock was unimaginable.

"Senior, on the outskirts of the forbidden area, there is a Spirit Kong Lake. A dual-headed purple rhinoceros great beast resides there, with a strength around the initial innate realm. Its skin and bones are like fine steel, immensely powerful and with astonishing defense, but it is not good at speed. If you want to hunt an innate realm great beast, this dual-headed purple rhinoceros is the most suitable."

Duan Ying took out a jade slip, quickly checked it, and with a hint of excitement on his clear face, said, "Even if you can't defeat it, you can still escape safely."

Spirit Kong Lake? Dual-headed purple rhinoceros great beast?

I now have the cultivation of the eighth level of the innate realm and have also advanced to the innate realm in body refinement. Dealing with this initial innate realm purple rhinoceros great beast is the most suitable.

Chen Xi thought for a moment and directly asked, "Where is the location?"

"I will take you there!"

Duan Ying said firmly, "We three have all reached the peak of the Later Heaven realm. This time, we came to the Southern Barbarian Mountains to collect the claws and fur of silver wind leopards and to improve our strength by hunting beasts, hoping to break through to the innate realm."

"Senior, don't refuse yet." Before Chen Xi could speak, Duan Ying continued, "Senior, rest assured, we three will not interfere with your actions. On the contrary, if you encounter some danger, we can help. We only ask that you let us witness a battle of the innate realm."

Chen Xi was a bit hesitant. If he brought them along, he would need to take care of them if they encountered danger, which would be troublesome. If he refused, he wouldn't know the location of Spirit Kong Lake and would have to search blindly, possibly encountering a terrifying great beast, which would be very unwise.

"Senior, take us along. Life and death are fate. If we really encounter an insurmountable danger, you don't need to worry about us."

"Yes, Senior, take us along."

Lu Shaocong and Qu Cheng also changed their address to Chen Xi, pleading with eager eyes.

Madmen!

Chen Xi couldn't believe that the disciples of Hongye Academy were so reckless, ready to risk their lives again just after escaping danger. Is advancing in cultivation really more important than life?

Despite his thoughts, a hint of understanding slipped through Chen Xi's mind. One must be crazy to live, and cultivators who defy the heavens and seek the Dao must possess such a belief.

In the end, Chen Xi agreed to let the three join his team.

Lu Shaocong and the others were very excited. They dissected a pile of claws and fur from the more than ten silver wind leopard corpses on the ground, intending to share some with Chen Xi, but he shook his head and refused. He had no use for these claws and fur, and carrying them would be a burden.

After a moment, Chen Xi and his group arrived at a low hill without incident.

"Senior, please look." Duan Ying pointed ahead, "That is Spirit Kong Lake."

Chen Xi looked into the distance and saw a vast lake ten miles away, quietly rippling. Under the brilliant starlight of the night sky, it shimmered with a dreamlike hue.

The night mist swirled, and one could vaguely see various beasts wandering among the lush aquatic plants, and birds with wings spanning ten zhang gliding over the lake. This was the domain of the beasts!

"This is Spirit Kong Lake? I didn't expect it to be so beautiful..." Chen Xi muttered to himself.

"Senior, the dual-headed purple rhinoceros resides at the bottom of the lake's center." Duan Ying explained in a low voice, his demeanor becoming even more respectful.

On this journey, although he had a map, they were still attacked by beasts multiple times. These beasts were not strong but were skilled at ambushes. If not for Chen Xi's ability to detect them in advance and kill them on the spot, the three of them would not have been able to reach here safely.

"This place is relatively safe. You three stay here." Chen Xi's powerful divine soul scanned the surroundings, finding no trace of beasts.

"Yes." Although Lu Shaocong and the others were reluctant, they had to respectfully comply. They knew that approaching Spirit Kong Lake with their strength would be courting death.

Whoosh!

Chen Xi's toes touched the ground, and his body shot down the hill like an arrow, heading toward Spirit Kong Lake ten miles away.

The vast Spirit Kong Lake seemed boundless, with abundant water vapor containing rich spiritual energy. If not for the beasts visible everywhere, it would almost be a paradise.

A moment later, Chen Xi arrived at the lake's edge and stopped to look far into the distance.

His powerful divine soul power surged out like a large net, gradually searching the lake's surface.

Gulp! Gulp! Gulp!

The nearby beasts and aquatic creatures seemed to sense something, raising their heads to look around and then hastily fleeing and disappearing.

"My divine soul power can barely search a range of dozens of miles, but this Spirit Kong Lake is so vast. Searching like this, I might not find the dual-headed purple rhinoceros by dawn... Hmm?"

Chen Xi suddenly noticed something unusual. Far from Spirit Kong Lake, on a hill, faint voices could be heard.

Strange, why would someone appear in the Southern Barbarian Forbidden Area in the middle of the night?

Chen Xi thought for a moment and silently crept toward the hill.

The hill was barren, with smooth, hard rocks exposed. At the moment, over a hundred people were gathered there, but only a few dozen were standing, all dressed in black and carrying various weapons, with grim expressions. The others were bound and kneeling on the ground.

"When will the Purple Rhinoceros Old Monster arrive?"

"According to the information, it should be in about an hour."

"Hmph, what a big shot! If not for... hah."

A familiar voice rang out, making Chen Xi, who was hiding in the dark, tremble. He looked up and saw the Wu Butler of the Li family standing in the center of the crowd.

Why is this old dog here?

Purple Rhinoceros Old Monster... Could he also be here for the dual-headed purple rhinoceros great beast?

"Wu Old Dog, I never thought you would be such a disgrace to Songyan City, willing to sacrifice my life to curry favor with a great beast. You truly bring shame to the Li family!" A thin, bound youth suddenly shouted angrily.

"Spit! A disgrace who serves as a beast's lackey, even if you die at the hands of a beast, I won't let you off even in death!"

"Your Li family is truly a bunch of scoundrels, with the hearts of beasts, worse than animals!"

Seeing the youth lead the resistance, the others bound on the ground also began to curse, their voices filled with deep resentment and anger.

"Looking for death!"

A man in black stepped forward and kicked the youth hard, cursing, "You useless scum from the civilian district, if you die, you die. What's with all the nonsense?"

Civilian district... Could these people, like himself, be the poor and destitute of Songyan City?

Hearing this, Chen Xi's killing intent boiled. Wu Old Dog was using human lives to curry favor with beasts, acting as a beast's lackey, utterly devoid of conscience and extremely despicable!

"Who? Come out!"

The Wu Butler suddenly looked toward where Chen Xi was hiding. Chen Xi's emotional fluctuations had caused his aura to leak, instantly drawing his attention.

"Wu Old Dog, today I will make you die!"

With his cover blown, Chen Xi knew there was no place to hide. He stepped out of the shadows, coldly staring at the Wu Butler, his eyes burning with intense killing intent.

"Ha ha ha! I thought who it was, it's you, this harbinger of misfortune. A few days ago, you ambushed me, causing my Li family to lose three core disciples. I was planning to settle the score with you, but I never thought you would come to me willingly. Truly, it's the will of heaven!"

Seeing Chen Xi, the Wu Butler was slightly taken aback, then burst into laughter, waving his hand and ordering, "Go, break this guy's limbs, destroy his cultivation, and make him a complete waste!"

"Yes!"

A black-clad guard eagerly stepped out of the crowd, his face twisted with malice, and he strode toward Chen Xi, ready to pounce.