"This place may be even more terrifying than the Demon Abyss Forbidden Zone…"
Su Chen's mood grew heavy.
Fang Bubai was currently battling deep within the Demon Abyss Forbidden Zone and had no attention to spare for the Ancient Tomb Forbidden Zone. How many horrors were still hidden within heaven and earth?
Su Chen asked, "Have you explored the other regions here?"
Yuwen Wushuang gave a bitter laugh. "Those who went to explore other areas never ca back."
Not returning ant they were dead.
In an instant, the group's morale plumted to rock bottom.
No matter which path they chose, death awaited.
Staying here—even Saint Kings would eventually transform into horrifying monsters.
Su Chen spoke calmly. "Everyone, I intend to venture deeper and search for any trace of a miracle. If you are willing to co with , follow along. If not, I will not force you. Wait for the corpse tide to disperse—there may still be a slim chance of survival."
Xiao Qianling was the first to respond. "I will follow Senior Brother."
Yuwen Wushuang followed imdiately. "I had already planned to risk everything and go deeper. I never expected to see all of you arrive here as well. Nangong Chen, I believe you will not die in this place."
The two surviving Saint Kings also spoke up. "Saint Nangong, we will go with you as well. We seek any chance of survival. Even if we die, we refuse to wait passively for the end."
The remaining Saints hesitated. So preferred to stay and wait for the corpse tide to pass, hoping to find an exit to the outside world. Others chose to place their faith in the number-one genius of the Azure Nether Dao Domain, believing he could once again create a miracle. If even the Saints wavered, the rest needed no further persuasion.
In the end, only about one-third of the group decided to follow Su Chen.
At that mont, from the Black Nether Demon Domain side, Zhu Huangtian spoke up. "Nangong Chen, we are willing to leave with you!"
Few Black Nether powerhouses remained. Apart from Zhu Huangtian, only one Saint King had survived.
Su Yanbai had vanished without a trace. The rest had perished in the corpse tide, torn apart by countless frenzied creatures.
Su Chen nodded. The Black Nether survivors fell in step behind him. Their figures gradually faded into the depths.
…
Su Chen lost track of how much ti had passed. The deeper they went, the stronger the strange, oppressive force beca. Danger mounted with every step. He personally witnessed a Saint vanish into thin air. He also saw a terrifying monster tear a Saint King apart alive.
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After surviving one deadly crisis after another, Xiao Qianling suddenly spoke. "Senior Brother, look over there—is that Second Senior Sister?"
In the distance stood an ancient bronze tree. Skulls condensed along its branches like grim ornants.
Beneath the tree sat an elderly woman, her face covered in deep wrinkles. Yet from the faint traces around her eyes, one could tell that in her youth she must have been an unparalleled beauty.
Su Chen looked closely. It was indeed Ye Jinghong, missing for a century. For so unknown reason, she had aged into this frail, withered state. Yet… she was still alive. Though extrely weak, a thread of vitality remained.
She had been trapped in the Ancient Tomb Forbidden Zone for a full hundred years. And she still lived.
The sight rekindled hope in everyone's hearts.
"If we can rescue Junior Sister Ye, we may uncover the truth behind all this."
Su Chen understood clearly. The only path to survival lay with Ye Jinghong. Her current situation was extrely perilous.
A Saint stepped forward to scout ahead.
The group watched the bronze ancient tree closely.
It remained still. No movent.
Just as the Saint was about to reach Ye Jinghong, everyone suddenly noticed that he was aging at an alarming rate.
In re monts, the youthful cultivator turned into a white-haired elder. His face twisted in terror as though he wanted to cry out. Then he collapsed to the ground, reduced to a pile of bones that gradually dissolved into nothingness, vanishing completely from the world.
A Saint—soone who, in the outside world, could found a great orthodoxy capable of enduring for thousands of years—had died in such a bizarre and horrifying manner. This was far more chilling than being torn apart by so grotesque creature.
Xiao Qianling suddenly spoke up. "Senior Brother, Second Senior Sister is changing!"
The mont the Saint perished, Su Chen noticed that the previously withered and aged Ye Jinghong appeared to be rejuvenating. Color slowly returned to her pallid, lifeless face.
A short while later, Ye Jinghong opened her eyes.
"Senior Brother Nangong? Junior Sister Xiao?"
Surprise and joy flashed through her gaze.
The mysterious bronze ancient tree rapidly shrank and landed in her palm.
Facing the stunned expressions of the crowd, Ye Jinghong patted her chest with lingering fear. "This damned place nearly did in."
Xiao Qianling blinked. "Second Senior Sister, how exactly have you managed to survive all this ti?"
Ye Jinghong gave a proud smile. "Naturally, thanks to this treasure. I found it in this cursed place. It can resist the invasion of the strange substances here, though it consus lifespan in exchange. I was just a hair's breadth from sitting down and passing away. Fortunately, so unlucky fool showed up."
Su Chen's gaze fell on the bronze divine tree in her hand.
It emanated an eerie aura. Capable of effortlessly slaying a Saint and absorbing and refining their vitality.
Xiao Qianling exclaid, "Second Senior Sister is truly amazing!"
Ye Jinghong clearly enjoyed the praise. To the group, she now looked like their savior.
"Ye Jinghong, do you know how we can leave this place?"
Faced with their hopeful gazes, Ye Jinghong shook her head without hesitation. If she had known a way out, she would have left long ago.
Disappointnt swept over the crowd.
But then she continued. "Everyone, although I don't know how to escape, I discovered sothing enormous here—a heaven-defying opportunity. An opportunity left behind by an ancient Great Emperor!"
The group's eyes instantly blazed with heat. An opportunity from an ancient Great Emperor? Perhaps within it lay the key to leaving this place.
Under Ye Jinghong's guidance, they followed her to the front of an ancient hall.
"There's actually an ancient hall here?"
Everyone was stunned.
In such a sinister and terrifying place, where most beings avoided even approaching, there were still traces of habitation.
"Could this have once been the residence of the mastermind behind everything?"
Guesses swirled in their minds. If that were true, then this truly might be a site once belonging to an ancient Great Emperor.
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