It must be known that the mysterious forbidden zones of the Nine Heavens have always been silent, indifferent to the rise and fall of dynasties, the passing of immortal epochs, and the affairs of the mortal world. They remain utterly isolated, with no interaction with the outside realm!
Secluded from the world, they never venture forth. As time flows endlessly, burying era after era, they remain as desolate as ever.
Yet, everyone knows that within these forbidden zones, there must exist living beings. These are forbidden lands—places none may tread, lest they face merciless execution!
Throughout the endless ages, though all know terrifying creatures dwell within, none can fathom their true nature or the extent of their power.
To the world, they are too enigmatic, forever beyond reach—as if they inhabit a separate reality.
Today, hearing Tuoba Yulong speak of this, how could it not shock everyone? Invitations had truly been delivered to the living forbidden zones of the Nine Heavens—this was a monumental event.
“Will beings emerge and come to the Imperial Pass?” a young cultivator asked softly, his words drawing the attention of all, for the implications were immense.
“Very likely, for they have shown great interest in this map,” Tuoba Yulong replied.
“Did you see them in the forbidden zone? What race are they?” Even the Ten Crown King couldn’t resist asking, deeply curious.
“The messengers did not see them, only received a response,” Tuoba Yulong answered.
This alone was remarkable. In the past, no matter how one prayed, worshipped, or pleaded outside the forbidden zones, no being would appear or respond.
Moreover, if one dared trespass into the forbidden depths, death would come swiftly and without mercy!
This time, the messenger not only entered safely but also received a reply—an unprecedented occurrence, revealing the attitude of the beings within.
The beast hide was unfurled, and all gathered to examine it. Though severely damaged, the terrain markings were still discernible.
At first glance, their hearts sank—this place was undeniably perilous, nearly impossible to approach.
“Between the Heavenly Beast Forest, the Ancient Burial Grounds, and the Divine Medicine Mountain Range—are we encircled? How can we enter? It’s certain death!” someone lamented.
How was this any different from a forbidden zone? To recklessly charge in would mean annihilation.
“No, look—these areas are accessible; they are not fully enclosed,” Tuoba Yulong pointed out.
“But the destination is missing a piece. It feels like crucial information was lost, unmarked,” another noted.
Indeed, the missing section was critical—likely containing warning symbols. The remnants of a half-black skull were still visible.
This signified extreme danger!
That half-black skull was deeply unsettling!
Everyone felt that there should have been annotations or explanations there, now lost.
Moreover, the missing section was sizable, likely containing other warnings.
Most importantly, the beast hide map was marked with numerous arrows, densely clustered near the missing section before abruptly breaking off.
“This is deadly. Missing so many markers is dangerous. I suspect those were safe paths.”
“Something’s off. Look—why are there sparse arrows pointing toward the Heavenly Beast Forest, the Ancient Burial Grounds, and the Divine Medicine Mountain Range, linking them together?”
The crowd scrutinized and debated, sensing something extraordinary. What kind of fortune could lie there, worth the secret search by beings from the other realm?
Shi Hao also studied it intently, memorizing the ancient beast hide’s contents.
“Those above have researched this for a long time and even dispatched experts to investigate, but none returned,” Tuoba Yulong said.
This sent chills down their spines. If even the elites sent by the higher-ups vanished without a trace, this was no ordinary matter—it was deeply alarming.
Their group was still young, with great potential, but perhaps not yet suited for such a venture.
“Do we truly know nothing of the destination?” someone asked.
“Nothing. The beast hide is too damaged, missing the critical central section—no records or explanations remain,” Tuoba Yulong replied.
It was clear this map was significant. Otherwise, why would the other realm send secret operatives to search for it? Had Imperial Pass experts not stumbled upon them, this would have remained unknown.
“Hmm? What’s happening?”
Suddenly, commotion arose from afar—someone was approaching, and many were shouting.
This was an island in the Bihuo Lake, accessible only to invitation holders. Many young cultivators on the shore, lacking entry, watched from a distance.
Now, they were the source of the disturbance.
“It’s… a being from the forbidden zone has arrived!” someone shouted, rushing into the hall with the news.
The young elites inside were stunned, rising to their feet in shock.
A being from the forbidden zone had come—this was earth-shattering.
Moreover, they held a special invitation, allowing passage through the Imperial Pass and arrival here.
“Only one forbidden zone sent a being?”
“Yes!”
Even so, it was astonishing. Many stepped out of the hall to look, both to greet and to satisfy their burning curiosity—what did a forbidden zone inhabitant look like?
After all these years, everyone longed to know which race could claim land as their own, existing as a world apart.
Across the Bihuo Lake, a figure approached, stepping lightly over the water, piercing through the mist, serene yet stirring tension among the onlookers.
Finally, they saw.
For a moment, no one could speak, all eyes fixed on the sight.
Words failed them—this was nothing like what they had imagined.
In their minds, forbidden zone beings were either majestic and transcendent or terrifyingly grotesque. But this… was beyond description.
It was neither a handsome deity nor a beautiful fairy—but a rooster.
An old rooster, towering several zhang tall, its feathers mostly shed, nearly bald in places.
Only its comb remained vibrant, crimson like flame.
Its wings were bare, revealing flesh, its body patchy with sparse feathers and wrinkled skin.
Silence reigned. This was too Disruptive—was this truly a being from the forbidden zone, one capable of awing the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths?!
The rooster’s eyes were cloudy, its steps sluggish—hence the prolonged disturbance before its arrival.
“Such a massive chicken, alive since ancient times, brimming with heavenly essence—stewed into yellow-braised chicken, it must be delicious!” Shi Hao mused to Cao Yusheng via divine sense.
Naturally, this was private—voicing it aloud would horrify everyone. Who would dare offend a forbidden zone being?
“Esteemed senior, we apologize for not greeting you sooner,” Tuoba Yulong said politely, as he had arranged the invitations.
Yet the old rooster showed no reaction, moving slowly with an air of aloofness.
“Senior!” Tuoba Yulong called louder.
Others, like the master of the Five Spirits Chariot, Qi Hong, also spoke up to ease the awkwardness.
No matter how lofty the forbidden zone, such arrogance was excessive—especially when they had come seeking aid regarding the beast hide map.
*Ahem!*
A cough sounded—not from the rooster, but from its back.
From the sparse feathers emerged an old man, rubbing his bleary eyes. “We’ve arrived?”
He spoke in the language of the Immortal Ancient Era, incomprehensible to most.
But he quickly switched to the modern tongue, smiling at the youths. “Forgive me, young friends!”
“My mount suffers from old battle wounds—its senses, including hearing, are nearly gone. It didn’t ignore you; it simply couldn’t hear.”
With that, he stood, revealing himself.
The crowd was stunned—they had mistaken the mount for the guest. But the true visitor was just as peculiar.
A wizened elder, barely three chi tall, as thin and frail as a child, with yellowed hair like withered grass.
His face was deeply lined, his age unfathomable. Only his golden eyes stood out—no whites, no pupils, just two glowing lanterns.
What race was this diminutive being, with yellow hair and golden eyes?
And why did he ride such a bizarre mount?
With a flicker, he leaped down, landing lightly.
Then they noticed—his left pant leg was empty, fluttering. He had no lower left leg.
At his level, regenerating limbs should be trivial. Why had he not restored it?
As if reading their thoughts, he first muttered in the ancient tongue before correcting himself. “This was severed by an enemy.”
Rolling up his pant leg, he revealed the truth.
His left leg was cut cleanly above the knee, the wound still oozing blue blood, shimmering eerily.
Blue blood—he was no human, at least not purely so, despite his humanoid form.
The cut was precise, exposing bone, flesh, and vessels in a smooth plane, the blood seeping from it.
“Senior, were you attacked on the way here?” Tuoba Yulong asked.
The wound seemed fresh, unhealed.
“No, this is from a battle long past—one hundred and fifty millennia ago,” the elder murmured, lost in memory before shaking his head.
But to the listeners, his words struck like thunder, leaving all astounded.
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