Chapter 529: Chapter 529

They gathered in the Wang Family courtyard.

They had stayed for one night, and the service was quite satisfactory. The food was well-prepared and delicious. Although they were Immortals and didn’t need to eat, the simplest Jade Liquid was still provided.

"Everyone, from here on, everything depends on you. Rest assured, the Wang Family has recruited you for a reason. As long as the Immortal Elixir is found, the reward will certainly satisfy all of you." Elder Wang clasped his fists and said.

The Wang Family Master did not show up here. Considering his current condition, he wasn’t fit to face others. His injuries were severe, almost tragic. As a dignified Immortal Monarch who failed to overcome a heavenly tribulation and succumbed to the Heavenly Person Five Decays, it was pitiful to be seen by others, lest it become a laughingstock.

Immortal Chen quietly discussed with six other Immortal Monarchs.

How to proceed upon entering the small Forbidden Land.

How to deal with other Immortals they might encounter.

The issues were numerous.

It wasn’t as simple as one might think. Sometimes, one not only had to face the dangers within the small Forbidden Land but also to be wary of fellow cultivators entering the place.

Elder Wang approached the seven Immortal Monarchs with respect and said, "I shall trouble the seven Immortal Monarchs."

Whether the Wang Family Master could be saved now depended entirely on whether the seven Immortal Monarchs would lend their support. While it was difficult to predict the intentions of the six others, Immortal Chen would surely rescue his old friend.

After all, the friendship between the Wang Family Master and Immortal Chen ran deep.

The seven Immortal Monarchs led the group through the Void, arriving at the entrance to the small Forbidden Land. The area was barren and desolate, strewn with white bones—most of them the remains of beasts. The bones had been here for a very long time, with many already merging into the surrounding environment.

The setting evoked an unpleasant feeling.

For some Immortals of the Heavenly Immortal Realm, the eerie atmosphere of the place caused their hearts to thump nervously, giving rise to an urge to retreat.

But since there were too many onlookers, declaring one’s cowardice and desire to leave would undoubtedly result in ridicule.

In their minds, they reassured themselves. It wouldn’t be dangerous.

Besides, with so many people here, if something did happen, it definitely wouldn’t involve them.

Lin Fan surveyed the surroundings closely, and he couldn’t deny the strong feeling that arose within him. It was as though this place might hold extraordinary treasures waiting to be discovered.

Such fantasies were normally unwelcome.

But in Lin Fan’s opinion, harboring such thoughts was proof that something valuable might lie within.

One couldn’t forget that their trio was famously known as the "Fortune Trio."

And their good fortune was renowned.

"Once we enter the small Forbidden Land, if anyone regrets their decision, now is the time to announce it. Regret after entering will receive no mercy from me," Immortal Chen said, gazing at the weaker Immortals.

He could see that quite a few cultivators were overcome with fear.

Clearly, the forbidding environment had taken its toll on them.

The title "small Forbidden Land" wasn’t without merit. If it were easy, it wouldn’t bear such a name.

One Immortal of the Heavenly Immortal Realm found the surroundings unsettling. The bone-chilling feeling was like an ominous warning, telling him plainly that this place was dangerous and staying here would mean death.

"Senior, I just remembered that I have an unfinished matter to attend to. I’ll take my leave now," he said tentatively. Seeing no reaction from the Immortal Monarch seniors, he clasped his fists and departed immediately.

One after another, several others left as well.

Those remaining were mostly driven by greed and ambition—willing to risk their lives for fortune.

No matter how hazardous the small Forbidden Land may be.

They merely needed to tread carefully.

"Good, since no one else wishes to leave, let’s proceed inside," Immortal Chen said and led the group into the small Forbidden Land.

Outside, one could still feel traces of warmth, but the instant they set foot into the small Forbidden Land, an oppressive cold seized them.

A suffocating, heavy atmosphere descended upon them.

Immortal Chen waved his sleeve, enveloping the group in a gentle stream of mana.

They were ultimately too weak.

Before any actual danger presented itself, even this oppressive aura proved too much for them to withstand. How disappointing.

"This place is intriguing," Qin Yang murmured quietly. It was his first time entering the small Forbidden Land, and it felt distinctly different from the Secret Realms they had ventured into before.

Take, for example, the realm of the Mouse Immortal Emperor.

Despite the danger there, at least one could pinpoint where the peril lay.

But here, it was different.

Before even delving deeper, simply standing outside and looking into the distance made one’s heart reel with anxiety. The atmosphere was overwhelmingly terrifying. Far-off mountains, shrouded in eerie and dreadful mist, presented an uncanny danger.

Normal eyesight was powerless against it.

Even those with Heavenly Eyes couldn’t penetrate it.

Lin Fan observed closely, utilizing his Innate Divine Ability for Heat Perception. He detected numerous figures far ahead, fused seamlessly with the natural surroundings.

"Be cautious; danger seems imminent," he warned.

Led by the seven Immortal Monarchs, the group abandoned flying through the air. Even though the cultivators possessed the ability to fly, the pressure of this place rendered them incapable.

When their feet touched the ground, the Immortals let out breaths of relief.

The solid ground offered an inexplicable sense of security.

In the presence of this small Forbidden Land, the seven Immortal Monarchs dared not act recklessly. Outside, their cultivation made them formidable enough to ignore many threats. Within this Forbidden Land, however, they adopted an air of caution.

In such a place, even Immortal Monarchs could meet their end, devoured entirely without a trace.

Everyone vigilantly surveyed their surroundings.

Many chose to stay close to the Immortal Monarchs.

If a threat arose, at least the Monarchs could act as barriers.

As they ventured deeper.

The environmental conditions shifted unpredictably. From afar, everything appeared serene, but upon walking some distance, the changes were abrupt.

Bone-chilling frost descended.

They could only summon mana to form protective shields, but the immense mana cost was far greater than expected.

The temperature spiked drastically, akin to an inferno.

Without deploying mana.

Burning to ashes seemed inevitable.

A piercing scream erupted.

One Immortal was abruptly hoisted into the air. His feet left the ground, and his arms flailed chaotically. His expression contorted horribly as an inexplicable force manipulated his body.

Immortal Chen’s expression remained stoic as he extended his palm toward the Immortal. Before his hand could make contact, the Immortal’s body abruptly exploded with a loud bang, scattering flesh and blood across the ground.

The earth seemed to come alive, absorbing all the spilled blood.

"What exactly is this thing? Why can’t we see it?"

Panic overtook the group of Immortals. The menace had arrived without warning. If its true form could be seen, panic might be less rampant. However, not knowing what was attacking them heightened their fear to near hysteria.

First comes sudden abduction.

Followed by an unceremonious explosion. The terror was far too intense.

"What kind of monstrosity is this?"

Lin Fan was dumbfounded. He hadn’t seen anyone approach the area, yet chaos erupted out of nowhere. He quickly activated his Innate Divine Ability again, and what he saw was truly shocking.

It was a humanoid figure, yet something seemed awry. The figure was engulfed in blue flames, flames that weren’t warm but eerily cold. The ground beneath its feet froze solid.

The temperature was astonishingly low.

"Invisible to ordinary eyes," Lin Fan spoke up to warn the group.

A silhouette appeared near Qin Yang, poised to grasp him just as it had the previous Immortal, presumably to crush him on the spot.

Qin Yang’s hairs stood on end, his awareness suddenly swept over by the sensation of imminent peril. ʀᴇᴀᴅ ʟᴀᴛᴇsᴛ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀᴛ novel·fire.net

Yet behind him, nothing was visible.

Was it merely unease, or had he truly perceived danger?

Lin Fan acted immediately, unleashing his Martial Arts Power that overwhelmed the force. With a resounding crash, the assailant was obliterated.

"Watch out. These ghostly entities can’t be seen with regular eyesight," Lin Fan said.

Qin Yang’s heart raced. The sensation earlier wasn’t a false alarm but an actual threat. What kind of being could possess such domineering prowess?

He concentrated his mana into his eyes, causing immortal light to shimmer as he attempted to pierce through illusions. His effort revealed figures aflame in blue fire scattered in the distance, startling him.

"What kind of creatures are these?"

It shocked him just how dangerous the small Forbidden Land was.

They hadn’t even advanced far before encountering these perils. The small Forbidden Land’s notoriety was unquestionably well-earned.

Immortal Chen’s face grew grave as he said, "Everyone activate your Vision-Awakening techniques."

The Immortals immediately concentrated their mana into their eyes. The scene that revealed itself froze the blood within their veins.

In the near distance.

Numerous figures cloaked in flickering blue flames started appearing and approaching.

They lacked any discernible aura, seeming almost nonexistent.

"These are residual souls, remnants of the Immortals who perished within the Forbidden Land. Over countless years, they have been resurrected in this form," Immortal Chen said grimly.

The small Forbidden Land had endured countless years.

No one could know how many lives had been lost here. Though many had been erased entirely, the Forbidden Land’s unique conditions allowed these remains to revive as residual souls. Without consciousness or memories of their past selves, they existed solely for slaughter.

"This is too dangerous!"

"This is too terrifying! The small Forbidden Land is far too perilous. I’m leaving! I want no part of this; I don’t care about any rewards!"

One Immortal’s mind broke completely. Witnessing the countless residual souls advancing toward them, he panicked and ran frantically toward the rear.

Immortal Chen frowned, considering using force to stop him. He had warned them earlier—if anyone wished to leave, they should do so before entering. Once inside, departure was no longer an option.

But he ultimately refrained.

Because he knew the fleeing Immortal was as good as dead.

The path was sealed shut, shrouded in thick mist.

Soon, the Immortal charged into the fog, and before long, a mournful scream rang out.

Then it gradually faded away.

Lin Fan turned back to observe, sinking into deep thought. The area was undeniably strange. Even their retreat path had been sealed off. Without stepping into the mist, no one could know what lurked within.

"Brother Qin, Brother Xiang, stay close. Let’s push forward. These residual souls were powerful in life, but now their strength is relatively diminished—barely a fraction of what it used to be."

Lin Fan harbored no interest in these residual souls.

They wouldn’t yield any loot.

It wasn’t a matter of low drop rates.

Rather, it was because they weren’t truly living entities.