Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans.

Chapter 393 Five Elements Forbidden Zone [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

At the foot of the sacred mountain.

Outside a colossal gate that seemed to reach the heavens, cultivators continued to arrive.

This time, in the crowd, Lin Chang'an felt for the first time the situation where Nascent Soul cultivators gathered in large numbers, while Core Formation cultivators stood like ants.

"It's the Sixteen Sects of Zhenhai!"

"Quickly move away and don't look directly at these seniors and offend them."

A commotion broke out in the crowd, and many rogue cultivators hurriedly hid to the side, while the light on the jade platform kept flashing, and batches of cultivators arrived one after another.

"Those from the Azure Sea Palace, I wonder how many of you will die on this trip to the secret realm."

"Heh heh heh, old ghost, how are you going to settle this score for your men killing my disciple?!"

Lin Chang'an, standing in the crowd, looked at the so-called Sixteen Sects of Zhenhai and couldn't help but marvel.

There were also internal conflicts among the sixteen sects of Zhenhai, and because they were located in different sea areas, their customs and clothing also differed greatly.

"In the entire Demon Beast Sea Abyss, the Azure Sea Palace has two late-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, while the Sixteen Sects of the Sea Suppression have three, and there are also two rogue cultivators in the outer sea."

As far as he knew, there were a total of seven Nascent Soul stage cultivators in the Demon Beast Sea Abyss.

There have been many conflicts between them since ancient times. According to the rumors he knew, the two palace masters of the Azure Sea Palace joined forces to repel three monsters during the last Demon Beast Sea Abyss Formation.

"Old ghost Jin, you robbed my island of spirit stones, you must give me an explanation today."

"Haha, Pei, have you gone mad from cultivating your brain? You speak worse than a three-year-old. Since when did the cultivation world start to care about manners? If you have the guts, come and take it!"

Seeing these Nascent Soul cultivators locked in fierce combat, their animosity towards each other numerous, some rogue cultivators could only obediently hide to the side, bowing their heads and remaining silent.

These are things they have absolutely no right to get involved in.

At the same time, Lin Chang'an also secretly discovered that, in addition to the Sixteen Sects of Zhenhai and Bihai Palace, there were also many neutral or even rogue Nascent Soul cultivators.

This strength is not weak.

"This Demonic Beast Abyss is really chaotic. No wonder the Azure Sea Palace has two palace masters who are said to be the strongest below the Nascent Soul stage, yet they still haven't been able to lead the Azure Sea Palace to unify the Abyss."

Just one look today is enough to show how chaotic this Demon Beast Abyss is.

Not to mention that many independent cultivators or neutral Nascent Soul cultivators have not yet arrived.

After all, not every Nascent Soul cultivator would risk coming to this place.

The Nascent Soul cultivators who come here are either confident in their own strength, or their lifespan is about to end, or their cultivation has stagnated, and they want to come here to compete for a chance.

Many cultivators who were in seclusion, as well as those who were cultivators to protect their sects, could not all come at once. Bihai Palace only sent three Nascent Soul elders on the surface.

At the same time, the Grand Elder of Bihai Palace also arrived, but Lin Chang'an could vaguely sense this subtle aura.

The cultivators present huddled together in small groups, but almost all of them harbored a subtle hostility towards the Azure Sea Palace.

At present, it can be said that the sixteen sects of Zhenhai are at odds with Bihai Palace, while the rogue cultivators and neutral forces are secretly waiting to see them fight to the death.

There are checks and balances between them.

But any alliance will be utterly powerless in the face of so-called treasures.

"It seems that the situation ahead may not be very good."

Lin Chang'an, standing in the crowd, pondered silently. At that moment, he remembered the Yin Soul Sect's maze map, which recorded many details about the secret realm.

Just then, the gate to the secret realm suddenly trembled.

"Look, the secret realm is about to open!"

Amidst gasps of surprise, the colossal gate, shimmering with light, revealed only a barely perceptible wisp of its aura.

In an instant, it caused countless people to gasp in surprise, and even Lin Chang'an's expression changed.

The purest spiritual energy of heaven and earth surged forth like a tide.

"It's just a tiny leak; I can't even imagine how abundant the spiritual energy is within the secret realm."

Just as Lin Chang'an was marveling, the sixth elder of Bihai Palace took a deep breath and appeared directly in front of them.

"With the fragment of the secret realm map, you can enter the secret realm through the gate, but all locations are randomly teleported, and the restrictions within this secret realm are very strong."

The Nascent Soul cultivators will be directly teleported to the rear. The good news is that, apart from the dangers of the secret realm itself, your opponents will all be of the same level. The bad news is that I will be unable to lend a hand.

Besides the cultivators from Bihai Palace, Lin Chang'an's group included nine third-tier high-grade array masters that the Sixth Elder had found this time.

Lin Chang'an was well aware that among the nine third-tier high-grade array masters, only five needed to reach the destination.

Whether you can make it to the end depends on your fate.

Under the Sixth Elder's indifferent gaze, he casually bestowed upon each of them two near-fourth-tier talismans with a wave of his hand.

Lin Chang'an and the others bowed and thanked him.

"Thank you, Sixth Elder."

After receiving the benefits, Lin Chang'an secretly communicated with his sword attendant.

"Take the Yin Spirit Two-Headed Tiger with you, along with these three Yin Fiend Corpse Puppets..."

Although the sword servants were quite strong, no less so than ordinary late-stage Core Formation cultivators, the lowest level of cultivation among those who came here was Core Formation cultivators, and each of them came with a determined attitude.

He didn't want his sword attendant to suffer any mishap due to his negligence.

"Yes, Master."

With elixirs, talismans, magical artifacts, and even spirit pets, the sword servant is now fully equipped.

"The secret realm has opened! Enter quickly!"

"Hehe, my lifespan is coming to an end. I ask for nothing else but to witness the splendor of the first secret realm of the Demon Beast Sea Abyss before I die!"

There were also some cultivators who had cultivated their entire lives but ultimately failed to break through the Nascent Soul stage, and with a death wish, they resolutely passed through the giant gate.

Amidst the flashing lights, figures were teleported into the secret realm.

Upon seeing this, Lin Chang'an in the crowd was secretly amazed. He wondered how powerful the ancient cultivator who set up this secret realm must be.

As streaks of light flew toward the secret realm, Lin Chang'an saw Yun Yao following behind the Xuan Yin Old Demon, and also saw Huang Tianxiao.

Meanwhile, among the scattered cultivators, they also sensed the hidden figure of the Fairy of Rainbow Robes.

There were many Nascent Soul cultivators here, and they dared not communicate in secret, lest they reveal their secrets due to momentary carelessness.

"Hopefully, this time we can find a spiritual object related to the formation of the infant."

Upon arriving at the colossal gate, Lin Chang'an felt as insignificant as an ant. However, as soon as he entered the gate, a white light flashed.

Once the giant gate at the entrance opens, any cultivator who passes through will be teleported into the secret realm.

……

After a dizzying flash of white light, Lin Chang'an appeared in a dense forest.

The moment he landed, Lin Chang'an released the Green Horned Ox to guard against the attack. Only after seeing that no one was around did he secretly breathe a sigh of relief.

"I had long heard that this secret realm was a blessed land, even larger than Haiyuan City. Therefore, after being teleported in, it was extremely rare for cultivators to be teleported to the same location."

"Moo!"

The blue-horned ox, its four hooves firmly planted on the ground, seemed to sense something, and its large, bell-like eyes widened as it began to moo.

Within the dense forest, clouds and mist swirled, not only blocking divine sense but also carrying a familiar aura.

"This is poisonous fog, or rather, poisonous miasma."

He and the Green Horned Ox were very familiar with this miasma; they used to go through it all the time back in the Cloud Mist Mountains.

After using his spiritual eyes to survey the surroundings, Lin Chang'an released the Phoenix Bird.

"Master, you've finally decided to release me."

After emerging, the phoenix circled once before landing on Lin Chang'an's shoulder, its eyes shining as it stared at its surroundings.

In poisonous miasma-ridden areas, there are naturally many poisonous insects, which is one of the favorite foods of the Phoenix Bird.

"Alright, stop making a fuss. This secret realm has various restrictions, especially the prohibition of flying. You cannot fly using spells, supernatural powers, or magical artifacts."

Lin Chang'an looked up at this strange secret realm. Who would have thought that just a moment ago he was outside the giant gate, and the next moment he seemed to be in a mountain range.

"According to the information about the secret realm provided by the Yin Soul Sect and the Azure Sea Palace, this secret realm is circular, with five forbidden zones on the outer perimeter, corresponding to the five elements. The poisonous miasma in this place is the forbidden zone of wood."

As Lin Chang'an took out the jade slip from the secret realm, a solemn expression appeared on his face.

Then, as if he had thought of something, he put on a black cloak and robe to cover his face.

"Conceal your identity first. After all, there are many cultivators who are hostile to the Azure Sea Palace. Although directly attacking them will leave some traces of magical energy, there are too many ways to harm people in this secret realm."

This was also a disadvantage of having the Azure Sea Palace as a backer. Then, Lin Chang'an disguised his identity, and as if he had thought of something, he put the Green Horned Ox back into his spirit beast bag.

"Let's go. Each of the Five Elements Forbidden Zones has a time limit. If you don't get out within the time limit, you'll be stuck here forever."

"Master, leave this place to me."

In the misty, poisonous forest, Lin Chang'an felt right at home, unlike the other cultivators who feared the poisonous miasma like the plague.

For Lin Chang'an himself, every breath was refreshing and invigorating, without the slightest discomfort.

Meanwhile, within the vast poisonous forest, various snakes, insects, and venomous ants appeared, and many cultivators perished in this ordeal.

For many cultivators, the consumption of poison is too great.

Especially with the restrictions on air movement, cultivators must be extremely cautious when advancing, as they can only rely on their own two legs and their spiritual sense is limited.

……

half a month later.

Holding a Five Elements Positioning Compass, Lin Chang'an moved forward swiftly and nimbly.

Unlike other cultivators whose divine sense is limited, he relies on his spiritual eye's ability to see through fog and stone, allowing him to detect many poisonous insects in advance.

Even the miasma that other cultivators feared most—that is, the occasional appearance of dense miasma—was something he could move through without hindrance.

"The Xuan Tian Immortal Vine's ability to nourish the body and make it immune to poisons is indeed very useful."

Lin Chang'an examined the mutilated skeleton and shook his head.

It's a pity that the bones were corroded by miasma and had no value whatsoever, otherwise they wouldn't have been left to rot in the wilderness.

Judging from the traces, it should be the cultivators from three hundred years ago.

"The storage bag was also gnawed through, and all the spiritual items inside had long been eaten away by the snakes, insects, rats and ants here."

"Owner!"

Just then, a golden light flashed, and the Phoenix Bird excitedly flew back, its sharp claws still holding a poisonous insect. Right in front of him, it excitedly pecked out a demon core.

Then he swallowed the corpse along with it.

For the past two weeks, it has been nothing short of a paradise for phoenixes.

Arriving here is like entering a self-service food area.

"Alright, don't waste any of these precious materials. As for these demon cores, you can have as many as you want if they're in the early stage of the third tier, but save the high-tier ones for me."

"Don't worry, Master."

The usually greedy phoenix was now patting its chest with its wings, speaking with assurance, and occasionally letting out a burp, a scene that left Lin Chang'an speechless.

It seems I ate too much, otherwise I wouldn't have enjoyed myself so much today.

The phoenixes frolicked and excitedly hunted along the way, while Lin Chang'an headed to the nests of these poisonous insects to collect some useful materials.

"It's true that places with highly poisonous plants are rich in spiritual herbs."

After picking some rare spiritual herbs in a nest, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

Although the Cloud Mist Mountains have been harassed by cultivators for thousands of years, how can they compare to this place?

It only opens once every three hundred years, and each time it opens, cultivators tend to want to go deeper into the area, so naturally, the spiritual herbs and exotic fruits here are abundant.

"The poisonous miasma here is very similar to the miasma in the Cloud and Mist Mountains, except that the poisonous miasma here is much more concentrated."

This extremely familiar feeling made Lin Chang'an secretly suspicious and speculate that there must be a connection between the two.

That undoubtedly refers to demonic energy.

However, these are things he can't speculate on right now; he should just focus on completing this mission as quickly as possible.

"The fire attribute aura on the Five Elements Compass is starting to react strongly. I estimate that we will be able to enter the next location in a few days." Looking at the fire attribute symbol on the Five Elements Compass, which was flashing with spiritual light, he realized that he was approaching the fire attribute perilous land from the wood attribute perilous land.

In the Five Elements, wood generates fire.

"Master, there is a massive miasma ahead."

Just as they were moving forward, the phoenix suddenly flew back, excitedly pointing ahead with its wings and saying something.

Lin Chang'an leaped and flashed, then appeared on the top of a towering tree. Through his spiritual eyes, he naturally saw a dense miasma area in the distance.

"Let's get away from here, let's hurry."

"No, Master, there are at most two late-stage Tier 3 poisonous insects in the distance. I won't need much time."

The greedy phoenix was clearly unwilling to part with the fat meat it could get its mouth on, leaving Lin Chang'an speechless.

"Alright, let's not waste any more time here. This secret realm is too strange. We should conserve our strength."

Ultimately, under the phoenix's reluctant gaze, it had no choice but to give up the food that was about to be eaten.

Although Lin Chang'an seemed relaxed on this trip, it was all thanks to his thorough preparation.

The immunity to the most dangerous poisonous miasma alone has already killed 99% of cultivators.

In fact, many cultivators are fine staying in this poisonous miasma area for a while, but as time goes on and they encounter poisonous insects and dangerous places that consume their mana, the poisonous miasma will enter their bodies.

He also possesses intelligence about the Azure Sea Palace and the Yin Soul Sect regarding the secret realm.

Not to mention the Crimson Fire Demon and Blood Fiend True Man, who had personal experience from the last time.

"With such ample preparations, if we still encounter various difficulties here, then more than 90% of the other cultivators will be rendered useless."

Thinking of this, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but shake his head. It was dangerous as it was, but most people came here with some preparation.

The Five Elements' dead zone is a place where the sands of time are washed away.

"Master, it seems our plan to avoid this has failed."

Just as they were on their way, the phoenix suddenly let out an excited laugh.

Lin Chang'an looked with his spiritual eyes and saw a dark mass of poisonous insects attacking from the front, while two cultivators were fleeing in panic.

Why do I sense that you seem a little happy?

Lin Chang'an glanced at the Phoenix Bird with annoyance, while the Phoenix Bird hurriedly shook its head, indicating that it was impossible, as they were the ones who bumped into them and dragged them into the mess.

……

"Damn it, who told you to provoke this poisonous insect?"

"Do you think I wanted this? Divine senses are hard to fathom here. Who knows if such a group of poisonous insects would be hiding all around us?"

Under the angry rebuke of the two Core Formation cultivators, and due to the restrictions on air movement, the two could only continuously use talismans to fight back.

It wasn't that the two didn't want to use the magic weapon, but the poisonous insects behind them could spew out a terrifying black mist that had the ability to corrode the magic weapon.

"Damn it, this can't go on any longer, or no one will be able to leave."

A cold glint flashed in the eyes of the middle-aged cultivator walking in front, and with a wave of his hand, he launched his magical artifact, a wooden staff, backward.

However, at the same time, a cold light flashed from behind, and the two of them immediately showed expressions of shock and anger.

"No!"

Amidst the booming of magical artifacts, those in front launched a sneak attack, while those behind were prepared, their resolute rage fueling a determination to die together.

The Core Formation cultivators who can enter the secret realm naturally all have their own methods, and it is impossible for them to be seriously injured so easily.

However, this sneak attack between the two caused them to pause, giving the poisonous insects behind them an opportunity.

Hidden in the woods, relying on the advantages of his own martial arts, Lin Chang'an's figure blended almost perfectly with the trees, quietly watching everything that was happening in the distance.

"Fight!"

As swarms of flying insects attacked, the two cultivators, in desperation, no longer held back and unleashed their magical treasures in an attempt to find a way to survive.

At this moment, the two realized that if they were to reunite, they would inevitably sabotage each other, so they wanted to separate and escape.

"Die to me!"

The magical artifact unleashed terrifying power, along with various fire-based spells.

However, Lin Chang'an, who was hiding in the shadows, saw everything clearly.

"It's a rove beetle!"

This insect is extremely venomous and lives in groups.

Under Lin Chang'an's spiritual eyes, he saw the two fighting hard. However, the blood of these fallen poisonous insects fell onto the protective magic shield and magic treasures.

They all emitted a hissing sound, their spiritual light dimmed and flickered, and cracks appeared on the protective barrier.

"This insect's venom has the ability to corrode magical artifacts and protective protective shields. Even when its venomous blood evaporates, it produces a potent poison that sluggishly disrupts a cultivator's magical power..."

Sure enough, right under Lin Chang'an's gaze, the two of them let out screams of unwillingness and fear.

The protective barrier shattered the next moment, and the two were horrified to find that their magical power was sluggish and difficult to mobilize. In a moment of carelessness, one after another, poisonous insects crawled onto their bodies.

In an instant, the venom corroded his body, and his cheeks revealed the stark white bones.

Lin Chang'an had no intention of saving anyone, since entering the secret realm meant being prepared to die.

Just as the two screamed and died, Lin Chang'an finished surveying the surroundings and, finding no hidden danger, a deep phoenix cry echoed through the forest.

"Haha, go into my belly."

The Phoenix Bird suddenly appeared in the sky above the forest, its wings spreading as it transformed into a giant bird fifty feet long, with terrifying flames surging forth.

Then, the enormous mouth opened wide, and a terrifying golden net descended, covering everything. The next moment, a terrifying suction force, along with the golden net, drew countless poisonous insects from below into the mouth.

Lin Chang'an was speechless upon seeing this.

That phoenix bird is really greedy; in order to catch them all and not let a single one escape, it even used a magical artifact.

This golden net was a magical artifact he crafted for the Phoenix Bird. It was usually used to build a bird's nest, but in reality, it had an extremely strong binding function.

"Where to go!"

After swallowing the swarm of black, poisonous insects in one gulp, the Phoenix Bird excitedly let out a burp, but it was still not satisfied. It transformed into a golden light and shot off into the distance.

It was two late-stage Tier 3 poisonous insects, along with the remaining poisonous insects, that seemed to have encountered their natural enemy and tried to flee in terror.

Lin Chang'an, however, reappeared in the same spot, looking at the two cratered corpses.

"I don't know what method this Five Elements Forbidden Land uses, but the poisonous insects it breeds seem to be even more ferocious. They can even easily corrode holes in a cultivator's third-tier magic robe."

Using the manipulation technique, the two corpses were tidied up, and the items in their storage bags were taken out.

"Consider these as payment for collecting the bodies of my two fellow Daoists."

He even took away the magical artifacts that had been corrupted from the two of them without any hesitation.

Then, with a wave of his hand, the soil surged, and the two bodies slowly sank into the ground, sinking three zhang deep. He had finally given them a proper burial.

"Another fortune. No wonder he's a Core Formation cultivator. The resources in his storage bag are all incredibly valuable. No wonder so many people choose the path of Tribulation Cultivation."

After taking stock, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but show a satisfied expression.

The two were not weak, but unfortunately they came to this poisonous land, which was countered by something, and there was also internal conflict between them.

Otherwise, there is still a chance to escape.

Meanwhile, in the distance, the Phoenix Bird raged fiercely, and the Heavenly Counter's suppression caused two Tier 3 Poisonous Insects to bleed profusely, ultimately falling with mournful cries.

Lin Chang'an also used his escape light to arrive in front of the two third-tier poisonous insects. He used his palms to probe and sense their presence, and sure enough, he discovered something amiss.

"Legend has it that this secret realm seals the Demon Abyss. Every time the secret realm opens, the leakage of demonic energy causes some demonic beasts and cultivators to become demonic."

However, the demonic beasts within the secret realm have not been corrupted, so the problem seems to lie in the restrictions of this Five Elements Forbidden Zone.

The condition inside the two third-tier poisonous insects gave him a very familiar feeling; he had sensed this change in the Green Horned Ox before.

"It should be the unique array restrictions of the secret realm, as well as the layered penetration of the Five Elements Absolute Ground, which can be regarded as a kind of purification method, resulting in the effect after each opening of the secret realm."

The purified demonic energy accelerated the evolution of various monsters and poisonous insects in the area.

Having tempered his body with demonic energy over the years, Lin Chang'an naturally understood this perfectly.

"Master, two third-tier demon cores."

The Phoenix Bird excitedly delivered the demon core, while Lin Chang'an was not idle either. He dismantled the corpses of the two poisonous insects, keeping the useful materials and giving the useless ones to the Phoenix Bird to enjoy.

Finally, Lin Chang'an went deep into the nest of the poisonous insects to clean it up. Of course, he also sealed some of the larvae away, as they could fetch a good price if taken out.

"The commotion here is too loud, let's get out of here quickly."

After cleaning up the battlefield, Lin Chang'an quickly left with the Phoenix Bird.

He hadn't forgotten the purpose of his trip.

……

Several days later, they finally crossed the Poisonous Miasma Mountains of the Woody Wasteland, only to be replaced by a scorching hot land.

The blinding red light, the surrounding high temperature, and the occasional gusts of hot wind blowing in.

Even Lin Chang'an, who was at the late stage of Core Formation, could feel this heat.

"With my body refining physique at the mid-stage of the third rank, I can still feel this heat, and even cultivators of the same rank would probably feel it even more."

The crimson earth and rolling mountains resemble a scorching world.

"It feels so comfortable."

The phoenix, now smaller than before, plunged directly into the earth, letting the scorching soil wash over its feathers, revealing a look of comfort.

However, a series of fine sizzling sounds rang out, and Lin Chang'an bent down and grabbed a handful of red sand.

"This is Crimson Flame Sand!"

The tiny, sharply defined grains of red sand left no trace on the phoenix's feathers, yet Lin Chang'an's boots were made of a third-tier material.

As a result, deep scratches were already left after only a short time.

Each grain of sand is like a sharp blade.

"No wonder it's called the Five Elements Forbidden Land. This secret realm is truly dangerous. Without preparation, I can't even imagine what kind of hardships the first batch of cultivators who entered here would have to endure."

With a solemn expression, Lin Chang'an slowly opened the secret realm map he had obtained from the Yin Soul Sect.

Although it mainly describes the map of the underground palace, the Five Elements Dead Zone also has a route.

"It seems that Sword Servant, Yun Yao, and Fellow Daoist Ni Chang are going in a slightly different direction. Hopefully, we can meet them on the road soon."

Before they came, they had secretly cooperated and planned their route. If the location of the random teleportation was close enough, the further they went, the greater the chance of them meeting up.

Unfortunately, they did not meet in the outermost, most dangerous area of ​​the Wood.

"Yun Yao's methods need no further explanation. With the preparation of the Nascent Soul cultivator Xuan Yin Old Demon, she is definitely not lacking. Fellow Daoist Ni Chang has also been preparing for many years."

Finally, Lin Chang'an thought of the sword servant and couldn't help but feel secretly fortunate that he had transferred a lot of Xuan Tian magic power to the sword servant before entering the secret realm.

In addition, the sword servant has the bloodline of a demon race, which makes him far more resistant to poison than other cultivators of the same level. He also has a three-headed Yin Sha corpse puppet and a Yin spirit two-headed tiger.

The Wood Forbidden Zone wasn't too difficult, but in this second Flame Forbidden Zone, almost all of the spirit pets and corpse puppets were ruined.

"With such ample preparations and no Nascent Soul cultivators present, even if we encounter a formidable opponent, we can still escape if we can't win."

Thinking of this, Lin Chang'an put away the map and raised his hand to cast a water shield on himself, even though he was not afraid of the heat.

But here, it has to be hidden, even if it's not.

He then led the phoenix bird deeper into the area.

Under the restrictions, not only is air travel prohibited, but even communication talismans are rendered ineffective.

To meet here, one must be familiar with the secret realm and follow the route, hoping to encounter each other along the way.

　The author initially intended to write a long novel about this secret realm.

　　But upon closer examination, the protagonist has been preparing for this secret realm for so long. If even someone of the protagonist's strength is in great danger, then everyone else must have perished.

　　Therefore, after much consideration, I decided not to write too much about this secret realm, especially the Five Elements Desolation Grounds at the beginning, which will be quickly covered, and the main focus will be on the later plot.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)