High Martial Arts: Liver Becomes the Master of the Universe

Chapter 279 Love is nothing but a conspiracy by an evil god! The Crimson Forbidden Land opens! Enemies are everywhere!

"Holy Spirit Stone Clan? Stone Buddha? Adopted by the Stone Clan?"

A clear look of surprise appeared on Feng Zhiyu's face.

His voice carried a hint of uncertainty, as if he were confirming whether he had misheard the unfamiliar term.

As a former prodigy of the Canaan Star Martial Arts Academy, his knowledge far surpasses that of ordinary people. While he dares not claim to be an expert on the genealogy of all races in the universe, he is confident that he knows about 70-80% of it.

The Stone Race, as one of the pinnacle races in the universe, had long been renowned throughout the cosmos, a fact he was well aware of. It was a powerful civilization composed of rock-based life forms that had developed self-awareness, known for its impenetrable defenses and steady, profound power.

But the prefix "Holy Spirit Stone Clan" felt completely unfamiliar to him, as if he had touched a blind spot in his knowledge.

The thirteenth prince of the Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom patiently explained, “Yes, the Holy Spirit Stone Clan. Brother-in-law, the Stone Clan you know is mostly life forms created later in life. They are either planets with special mineral veins that developed a planetary will over a long period of time, eventually taking shape; or stubborn rocks containing strange spiritual energy that, by chance, awakened their intelligence and slowly grew by consuming minerals. They are ‘stones’ first, and only then do they have ‘spirits’; their foundation lies in matter.”

He paused, seemingly organizing his thoughts to more clearly articulate the essential differences between the two.

"But the Holy Spirit Stone Clan is quite the opposite. They are 'innate spirits'. The universe is not a dead void. In certain special star regions where psychic energy disorder occurs frequently and the mental energy field is extremely complex, pure, invisible psychic energy and mental power, after billions of years of interweaving, collision and compression, will give birth to a peculiar innate consciousness - this is the 'Holy Spirit'."

At the beginning of the birth of this Holy Spirit, there was no physical form; it was merely a pure consciousness.

They will instinctively seek out the vessel that best suits their own attributes, and the most solid, purest, and capable of bearing immense spiritual energy in the universe are none other than the cores of stars or cosmic stones that have undergone countless eras of baptism.

When the Holy Spirit merged perfectly with such a stone vessel, the Holy Spirit Stone Clan was born.

A hint of awe flashed in Yuexuan's eyes: "They came first as 'spirit,' then as 'stone.' Their essence is that of the darlings of cosmic spiritual energy, born with unimaginable control over spiritual energy, and their spiritual power quality far surpasses that of others of the same level."

It can be said that every member of the Holy Spirit Stone Clan is a walking treasure trove of heaven and earth, a born combat genius.

Yuexuan's tone turned serious. "The essence of the Holy Spirit is an irresistible tonic for other Holy Spirits."

There exists a cruel dark forest law among them, and they will instinctively hunt and kill each other, completing their own evolution and transformation by devouring each other's essence.

This is a rule written deep within their very being, unchangeable. Therefore, the Holy Spirit Stone Clan is extremely rare, often appearing only once in an entire era.

He glanced at Qin Feng and continued, "And the Stone Clan, as the pinnacle of acquired stone-type life forms."

They do not engage in the cruel infighting of their own kind like the Holy Spirits. Therefore, the higher-ups of the Stone Clan occasionally intervene to save weak Holy Spirit Stone Clan members who are being hunted and on the verge of death.

They brought her back to their clan and raised her as a precious treasure, treating her as their clan's 'holy son' or 'holy daughter'.

On the one hand, it is to strengthen the clan's power and add a future powerhouse with unlimited potential to the clan; on the other hand, it is also to continue the lineage by taking advantage of the Holy Spirit Stone Clan's talent.

This stone Buddha is the most outstanding of them all; it is a monster cultivated by the Stone Clan's secret sect at the cost of endless resources.

Yuexuan's explanation was detailed and clear, giving Feng Zhiyu a more comprehensive and terrifying understanding of the "Stone Buddha" who ranked second on the Hidden Dragon List.

That was not just a powerful opponent, but also an ultimate prodigy who combined the strengths of two top races and possessed both innate advantages and the nurturing power of massive resources.

Qin Feng remained silent throughout Yuexuan's explanation.

After Yuexuan finished speaking, she looked at Qin Feng with a worried expression, her tone sincere and urgent: "My benefactor, although I don't know how big the scheme behind this is, the fact that all the races have mobilized so much and laid such a net is definitely a shocking conspiracy against you."

The Crimson Forbidden Land is now a den of dragons and tigers, gathering the top talents from 1300 war zones and the surrounding area, all of whom have come to hunt you down.

Therefore... I urge you to reconsider. Your decision to temporarily avoid confrontation is not out of cowardice.

"It doesn't matter."

Qin Feng's answer was simple and calm, and the two words contained an unquestionable absolute confidence.

He did not directly respond to Yuexuan's advice, but instead turned his gaze to the two items in her hands and asked in a calm voice, "May I take a look at the treasure map?"

"Of course, absolutely!"

Yuexuan was taken aback when she heard this, but quickly realized what she meant and didn't hesitate at all.

He quickly handed the ancient scroll and a crystal key that emitted a faint blood-red glow to Qin Feng.

For him, handing these two items to Qin Feng in person was the most important mission entrusted to him by his father.

He said respectfully, "This treasure map and key were originally entrusted to me by my father to be handed to you personally, no matter what. I just never expected that fate would play such a trick on us, and that we would meet under such circumstances."

Qin Feng reached out and took it, the sensation from his fingertips slightly surprising him.

The treasure map was not made of paper or animal hide, but of a very peculiar flexible metal, as thin as a cicada's wing yet exceptionally tough. The drawings on it were not ordinary ink lines, but dynamic light and shadow composed of countless extremely subtle psionic circuits.

The blood-red key is an irregular crystal, warm to the touch, with what appears to be living blood threads slowly flowing inside.

He casually tossed the blood-red key deep into the storage ring.

After that, Qin Feng's entire mind was instantly immersed in that dynamic treasure map.

This is indeed a detailed map of the Crimson Forbidden Land.

As Qin Feng infused his spiritual power, the light and shadow on the scroll instantly came to life, unfolding a three-dimensional and magnificent star map before him.

Countless points of light and lines intertwine to create a bizarre and ominous independent space.

The mountains meander like the bones of a dragon, the rivers are as red as congealed blood, and the land is covered with jagged ravines and eerie forests.

On the map, there are many locations that have been specially marked, and next to them are lines of small characters written in the common language of the human race. These are obviously annotations added later by the Lord of Tianxuan Kingdom, which record in detail the main dangers, possible opportunities, and precautions for each location.

"The Pit of Ten Thousand Souls: Filled with resentment, it is easy to give birth to high-level soul-type evil creatures, and there is also a chance to find 'soul crystals'."

"Rotten Bone Forest: The trees in the forest are all mutated from the bones of powerful beings, and are extremely poisonous. Deep within, there may be 'rotten wood hearts'."

"Shattered God Cliff: The space is chaotic, with natural spatial rifts, extremely dangerous, and there are remains of predecessors at the bottom of the cliff."

Qin Feng's gaze swept over these markings one by one, his mind as still as water. These opportunities, which ordinary black hole-level powerhouses would flock to, did not hold much appeal for him.

His gaze was eventually drawn to two places that were repeatedly highlighted with blood-red halos.

One of them is called the "Blood God Tower".

Located at the very center of the entire forbidden area, it is a towering structure that seems to be cast from blood.

The annotations on the map became unusually concise, consisting of only a few words: "The core of the forbidden area, the greatest opportunity, but also the greatest danger. Nine out of ten chances of survival, enter with caution."

Secondly, there are scattered crystals called "Blood Jade Crystals".

The annotations about this place are much more detailed: "Blood Jade Crystal, a rare treasure of the universe."

This is no ordinary item. It is a crystallization formed over hundreds of millions of years by absorbing the life essence and spiritual imprint of countless powerful beings who perished in the unique environment of the Crimson Forbidden Land, combined with the power of the gods.

It contains the purest essence of life and the primordial spiritual energy.

"Efficacy: Can be directly ingested to enhance the physical and mental qualities of the user."

Unlike rare and precious natural treasures such as the Bodhi flower, the effect of consuming a single Bodhi flower is negligible compared to other similar treasures.

However, the Blood Jade Crystal can absorb and enhance itself infinitely before the user's physical body and soul reach their limits!

Upon seeing this last annotation, a burning light flashed deep within Qin Feng's eyes.

Unlimited upgrades!

These four words represent an unparalleled allure for any martial artist.

For Qin Feng, its significance is even more extraordinary.

The core of his martial arts path lies in pursuing the most perfect, solid, and impeccable foundation.

Everything serves the hard power of one's physical body and soul, emphasizing one's foundation rather than secret techniques.

The Bodhi Flower did indeed bring him tremendous benefits at the galaxy level. After advancing to the golden-red spiritual power level, his strength increased several times over, and he benefited greatly.

However, such opportunities are rare and hard to come by, and the efficacy of a second plant will be greatly reduced after consuming one plant of the Bodhi flower.

However, this Blood Jade Crystal provides a broad road to continuously solidify one's foundation!

Blood Jade Crystal, something simple, direct, and effective at enhancing one's fundamental aptitude, was practically a supreme opportunity tailor-made for him!

It could even be said that it perfectly aligns with Qin Feng's martial arts philosophy of "proving the Dao through strength".

No complex comprehension or lengthy refining is required; only the purest form of devouring and absorption is needed to transform external spiritual energy into one's own most fundamental power.

At this moment, Qin Feng had no more hesitation.

Putting aside the mysterious Blood God Tower, the Blood Jade Crystal mine alone is enough for him to venture into.

You even have to take the plunge!

The opportunity is right in front of him. If he were to shrink back in fear of the so-called "mountains of corpses and seas of blood," then he, Qin Feng, would not be Qin Feng.

Martial arts cultivation is inherently about struggling against heaven, earth, and people, and even more so, struggling against oneself.

If you don't strive, how can you reach the summit?
“My benefactor,”

Seeing Qin Feng's gaze lingering on the map for so long, and his expression growing increasingly worried, the Thirteenth Prince Yue Xuan couldn't help but speak again, reminding him, "It is said that there are twelve keys to this Crimson Forbidden Land. Now, all twelve keys should have appeared in the world and fallen into the hands of the most outstanding geniuses of the myriad races."

My father once said that this key is both a certificate and a beacon.

The forbidden area will not truly open until all twelve keys are collected.

"In other words, if you leave with this key and do not enter the Crimson Forbidden Land, then those who come to hunt you will not be able to obtain the opportunities of the forbidden land, even if they have the key."

This is a drastic measure to eliminate the root cause of the problem.

Yuexuan's words carried a hint of hope. In his view, this was the safest approach at the moment.

As long as Qin Feng doesn't get involved, this trap will naturally fall apart on its own.

However, Qin Feng simply put away the treasure map and said, "It's alright, I plan to go and give it a try."

"Benefactor!"

Yuexuan's voice rose a few decibels, filled with deep anxiety, "Ahead... lies a true mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood!"

The stone Buddha, along with some monsters on the Hidden Dragon Ranking, and numerous well-known extreme black holes, are all outside the Crimson Forbidden Land!

Upon hearing this, Qin Feng looked at the worried Yue Xuan and laughed, "Even if we don't go to the Crimson Forbidden Land, the road ahead is still full of corpses and blood. There's no difference. Going to the Crimson Forbidden Land, on the other hand, is a chance to take a gamble."

From the moment he accepted the death mission of "The Path to the End," and from the moment his name resounded across the battlefield of all races, he had already stood at the center of the storm.

To retreat? To escape?

That will only cause you to miss the opportunity to become stronger, and you will eventually be slowly worn down and killed in endless pursuit.

His path has always been singular—to fight his way through all the swords and shadows, turning every enemy into a stepping stone for his advancement.

This is an invincible path!
"Let's send you back to the capital first."

Qin Feng's tone returned to calm: "You can rest assured about the Heavenly Profound Kingdom Lord; he is most likely to be fine."

This is more like a 'statement', or rather, executing a command.

Why is the Crimson Forbidden Land, which has been sealed for millions of years, being opened at this critical juncture?
Moreover, the timing of its activation happened precisely on the route he was about to reach.

There aren't that many coincidences in this world.

The only explanation is that this was the work of the human high command.

They decided to play along and opened this trial ground, which was full of both unparalleled opportunities and extreme dangers.

This is giving Qin Feng a chance to break the deadlock.

The Heavenly Profound Kingdom Lord, as a powerful figure of the universe kingdom, handed the key to Qin Feng, which was actually carrying out the will of the Human Race Holy Academy.

Since it is the Human Race Holy Academy that is exerting its influence behind the scenes, it must provide some guarantee for the safety of the Heavenly Profound Kingdom Lord.

There is no deep-seated hatred between the human race and the winged race. On the contrary, they have many connections due to the Holy Blood Angels Warband and have always had exchanges, so they can be considered friendly races.

Even if those powerful figures from all races were to besiege the Heavenly Profound Kingdom Lord, they could at most 'trap' him, preventing him from interfering in the affairs of the Crimson Forbidden Land.

They dared not actually kill, because killing a friendly nation's marquis would be tantamount to completely enraging humanity, and even the most powerful races would have to think twice about the consequences.

"Let's go."

Qin Feng didn't say anything more. With a thought, a gentle force enveloped Yue Xuan and Feng Zhiyu, bringing them onto his flying boat.

The flying boat transformed into a streak of light, tearing through the dark matter universe and speeding towards the capital of Tianxuan Kingdom.

……

The capital of Tianxuan Kingdom, as the core of a powerful neutral nation, is far more prosperous than any other capital city of a cosmic kingdom that Qin Feng had ever seen before.

Countless flying boats of various shapes and sizes swam like carp crossing a river, moving in an orderly fashion through the planned waterways.

Towering buildings shimmered with psionic light, and beings of different races roamed the streets, creating a vibrant interstellar metropolis.

Upon arriving in the capital, Qin Feng did not linger, nor did he visit any of the powerful figures in the Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom.

He escorted Yuexuan and Feng Zhiyu outside the imperial city and then left directly.

Yuexuan watched Qin Feng's disappearing figure and bowed deeply.

Qin Feng's figure moved through the bustling city and went straight to the largest resource trading center in the capital.

Without hesitation, he spent a huge sum of money to purchase a large quantity of rare alloys.

After doing all this, he rented a top-notch martial arts room in one of the most heavily guarded and private training areas in the city.

The martial arts room is spacious and filled with spiritual energy.

After Qin Feng entered, he immediately activated the highest level of defensive restrictions, isolating all internal and external probes.

He did not begin cultivating, but instead took out all the alloy materials he had purchased and floated them in front of him.

The next moment, a deep, dark light flashed in his eyes. It was the power of the [Twin Masks] quietly activating.

Since gaining the ability to "twin" with the Machine Race in the Twin River, his understanding of metal, psionic energy, and mechanical structures seems to be innate.

Although I haven't learned many secret arts, it's enough for me to create some exquisite creations.

Of course, this creation, which seems exquisite to humans, would probably seem incredibly crude to mechanical beings.

Qin Feng stretched out his right hand, his five fingers spread wide, and his immense spiritual power, like billions of invisible tentacles, instantly enveloped the mountain of alloy.

There was no furnace, no flame, no hammering.

Those incredibly hard and precious alloys, under his mental control, began to decompose and recombine at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Time passes minute by minute.

A humanoid mechanical creation, gleaming with metallic luster and exuding a streamlined beauty and a sense of power, slowly took shape in front of him.

This mechanical creation bears a striking resemblance to Qin Feng in appearance, but it is entirely made of dark gold alloy, with intricate psionic circuits at its joints and pale blue light shimmering in its eyes.

Under Qin Feng's meticulous training, its physical strength has just reached the threshold of the initial black hole level.

Compared to Qin Feng's terrifying physical body, which was capable of withstanding the power of a black hole-level expert, such strength was as weak as paper.

Any black hole-level powerhouse could easily destroy it.

But Qin Feng didn't care at all.

He did not create this body for fighting.

This is just a backup plan, an insurance policy.

The ability of the Twin Masks grants him the power to transfer his soul between mechanical creations and his own flesh and blood.

As long as there is a pre-designed mechanical construct within a hundred light-years of him, even if his physical body is completely destroyed, his soul can be transferred directly into that mechanical construct at the moment of his fall, completing a "rebirth".

In this way, he will not truly die, and the [Twin Mask] bound to his soul will not be lost.

This means that the "Path of the End" mission, which is extremely difficult, will not fail because of his "death".

In fact, since leaving the Twin Rivers, during his two-hundred-year-long, desolate voyage, he would leave behind such mechanical creations as beacons and backup bodies on asteroid belts or barren planets along the way at regular intervals.

Now that he is about to step into the Blood Forbidden Land, a deadly trap filled with countless malicious intents, he naturally wants to make the most thorough preparations.

When the last part was assembled, Qin Feng flicked his finger, and a wisp of spiritual power containing his unique soul imprint entered the core of the mechanical creation.

The mechanical creation's eyes shone brightly, then dimmed, and it went into standby mode.

After doing all this, he slowly exhaled a breath of stale air and left the martial arts room. At the same time, he renewed the lease for the martial arts room for another hundred years and forbade anyone from entering the martial arts room.

Preparations are complete; now it's time to head to the eye of the storm.

However, as he stepped out of the training area, he unexpectedly saw a familiar figure. Feng Zhiyu was sitting alone on a bench in the rest area outside the training area, his back view appearing somewhat desolate.

There was a cold drink on the table in front of him, but he was oblivious to it. He just stared blankly at the bustling scene outside the window, and his whole being exuded a melancholy aura.

"Ok?"

Qin Feng paused, raising an eyebrow in confusion.

He could clearly sense that Feng Zhiyu's state of mind at this moment was filled with bitterness, loss, and confusion, as if he had just experienced a huge blow.

Qin Feng walked over slowly and sat down opposite Feng Zhiyu.

Feng Zhiyu seemed to snap out of his daze. When he saw that it was Qin Feng, he forced a smile that looked worse than a grimace and said in a hoarse voice, "Qin... Qin Feng."

"ended."

Before Qin Feng could ask a question, Feng Zhiyu gave a self-deprecating bitter laugh, as if he had used all his strength to slowly utter those three words.

His eyes were empty, filled with endless sighs and weariness: "If only life were like the first time we met... Three thousand years of waiting, three thousand years of obsession, in the end, it was all for nothing. In the blink of an eye, everything has changed."

Feng Zhiyu picked up the ice-cold drink and drank it all in one gulp, as if he were drinking in a mouthful of bitterness.

She said that her feelings for me were more of a sense of guilt and gratitude from back then, as well as a touch of nostalgia for those innocent years.

But she has her responsibilities and her sense of duty to her country;
And I am just a pathetic creature trapped in the past.

Feng Zhiyu's voice grew softer and softer, trembling slightly: "If the lifespan of living beings is infinite, can we stay together for a year, or even for millions or tens of millions of years? Perhaps, staying together forever is a luxury that goes against the essence of life. I wasted three thousand years, squandered my time, and wasted my life for a vague promise... It's really... ridiculous."

Qin Feng listened quietly to his story, without interrupting or showing any sympathy or pity.

Only after Feng Zhiyu finished speaking, his emotions plummeting to their lowest point, did he slowly open his mouth, his voice as calm as ever, yet carrying a power that went straight to the heart.

"Once a living being reaches the stellar level, its lifespan becomes virtually endless. For an immortal being, is three thousand years a long time?"

Feng Zhiyu was taken aback and looked up at Qin Feng.

Qin Feng's gaze was deep and indifferent, as if he were expounding the simplest truth: "In the long river of life that seems to have no end, you have enough time to try anything you want to try, to make mistakes, to get hurt, and to experience."

Every experience, whether good or bad, will eventually become part of your experience and wisdom.

From this perspective, learning from mistakes can be a valuable lesson.

"The margin for error in life is far greater than you can imagine. You are only five thousand years old now, which is nothing more than a newborn baby in the lineage of the strongest beings in the entire universe."

Many well-known black hole-level beings are ancient monsters that have been accumulating power for millions of years.

Just like back in high school, a one-year difference can create a huge gap in rankings.

But looking back now, what does that one-year gap even matter?

"Once you truly reach a higher level and stand at a sufficiently high vantage point, you will find that you can easily make up for any lost time, not just three thousand years, but even thirty thousand or three hundred thousand years. The so-called gap will then be nothing."

Qin Feng's words struck Feng Zhiyu's heart like a heavy hammer.

There were no gentle words of comfort, but rather a grand logic that he couldn't refute.

Yes, for a powerful person who can seclude themselves for thousands of years, three thousand years is really nothing.

He simply took this relationship and this period of time too seriously, creating a self-imposed prison within himself.

Qin Feng noticed his thoughtful expression, paused, and continued.

This time, however, his words were sharper, even tinged with coldness.

"As for love..."

"...That was a desire program set up by mortals for the propagation of their race, and by the chaotic evil god to spread faith and harvest emotions, deep within the genes of life."

It's like a potent, intoxicating poison, capable of driving people to madness, making them willingly give everything, sinking deeper into its clutches, unable to extricate themselves.

“I sincerely wish you well in being able to break free from this ‘poison’ and recognize its true nature.”

"Senior Feng, we human martial artists never pursue our path of cultivation for romantic love or fleeting pleasures."

Behind us lies the rise and fall, the glory and shame of our entire race, the survival and hope of countless compatriots. Cultivation is for the greater cause of humanity.

After saying that, Qin Feng stood up, reached out, and patted Feng Zhiyu's shoulder heavily.

The power in that palm was steady and firm, as if it transmitted an unquestionable belief into Feng Zhiyu's body.

"I sincerely wish you all the best, senior. I hope that when we meet again, you will have found your true path."

Qin Feng smiled.

"I'm sorry to have made you laugh."

Feng Zhiyu murmured softly.

He knew Qin Feng was right.

However, when you are in pain, any comfort from others is just a superficial attempt to help you get through it; in the end, only you can help yourself get through it.

Perhaps it's time to wake up completely from this three-thousand-year-old dream.

He slowly stood up, straightened his robes, and although his eyes were still somewhat blank, his hunched back had unconsciously straightened a bit.

The capital of the ancient Tianxuan Kingdom.

Without pausing, Qin Feng bid farewell to Feng Zhiyu and transformed into a streak of light, tearing through space and leaping towards the blood-red forbidden area marked by the star.

For him, Feng Zhiyu's matter was nothing more than a speck of dust on the long road of martial arts.

The resolution of a cause and effect, the helping hand of an old friend—as long as one's mind is at peace, there's no need to dwell on it.

Before him lay a vast and inescapable net laid out by all races, an ultimate killing trap of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, and also an unparalleled opportunity to reach even greater heights in martial arts.

After Qin Feng left, outside the quiet martial arts room, Feng Zhiyu stood alone for a long time in the cold cosmic light.

He kept replaying Qin Feng's words before he left.

"...Love is a desire born from mortals for procreation and from evil gods for spreading their faith..."

"...Martial arts practitioners cultivate for the greater good of humanity, not for personal feelings..."

"...You're only five thousand years old...Once your strength increases, the difference of three thousand years won't matter."

Feng Zhiyu smiled bitterly, but his laughter carried a hint of relief.

Yes, three thousand years is a hundred lifetimes for mortals, but what is it for powerful beings in the universe who can go into seclusion for ten thousand years?
He wasted so many years on an obsession that had long since changed, even becoming a prisoner with a soul-binding restriction placed on him, nearly destroying his entire foundation.

If it weren't for Qin Feng, he would have long been a mindless, self-destructive walking corpse in the Hidden Smoke Tower.

He recalled his junior from the Canaan Star Martial Arts Academy, who was always taciturn but distinguished himself in numerous real battles.

At that time, although there was a gap between them, it was far from the vast difference they have today.

Now, the opponent has become a supreme genius who shakes the starry sea and is the target of the joint efforts of all the top races. He can destroy a black hole-level powerhouse like the master of Cangyanlou with the flick of his finger.

But he himself is still a pathetic loser who needs to be saved.

"Qin Feng..."

Feng Zhiyu muttered to himself, the light in his eyes, which had been extinguished for a long time, was rekindled at this moment, and burned more intensely than ever before.

What he owed Qin Feng was not just a life, but also the grace of continuing his path.

This kindness is heavier than the stars.

His current strength is too weak to fight alongside Qin Feng, and he doesn't even have the qualifications to follow in his footsteps.

But he still has this life.

"The Crimson Forbidden Land...?"

Feng Zhiyu raised his head and looked in the direction Qin Feng had left, his eyes filled with determination.

He is going too.

It wasn't for any ridiculous opportunity, nor was it to improve my strength.

He just wanted to go, to the battlefield closest to Qin Feng.

He knew he would only be cannon fodder if he went, but he thought that if... if it really came to the most critical moment, perhaps his insignificant life could create a moment of hope for the benefactor who had pulled him out of the abyss.

A self-destruction might save him from a fatal attack.

This is enough.

With this in mind, Feng Zhiyu did not hesitate at all. He also packed his bags, piloted a small airship, and resolutely headed towards that star field that was destined to be stained with blood.

Meanwhile, inside the imperial palace in the capital of Tianxuan Kingdom, the thirteenth prince, Yue Xuan, was overwhelmed with a mountain of official business.

With the Emperor trapped and his fate unknown, various factions within the country are stirring with undercurrents, ambitious individuals are eager to make their move, and the entire Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom is on the verge of collapse.

As one of the few princes who knew the inside story, he had to do everything in his power to maintain the stability of the country.

He sent someone to see Feng Zhiyu off and also watched Qin Feng leave, his heart filled with worry and admiration.

He knew that Qin Feng's journey would be fraught with peril, with only a slim chance of survival.

"Brother, are you really not going to the Crimson Forbidden Land? The opportunity left behind by Father..."

A member of the royal family anxiously advised.

When a nation is on the verge of collapse, what hope is there for personal opportunities?

Yuexuan shook her head, her gaze resolute. "Those who wish to go, may go. This journey is perilous; please be careful in all things."

"Yes!"

In an instant, many proud princes and princesses of the Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom royal family, as well as powerful figures who were attached to the royal family, also set off, transforming into streaks of light and following the eye of the storm.

The news of the Crimson Forbidden Land is no longer a secret.

Over the past few centuries, this name, which had been sealed away for millions of years, spread like wildfire, reaching dozens of cosmic kingdoms around the Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom, and even in the more distant depths of the star sea, where countless powerful beings were drawn by its fame.

Legend has it that it was a forbidden place for the Blood God.

There is a supreme treasure called "Blood Jade Crystal" that can infinitely enhance the aptitude of living beings.

Legend has it that the peerless genius of the human race, the infamous "Qin Feng," will appear there. Killing him will allow you to obtain the cosmic artifact, the Twin Masks!

Countless legends and rumors intertwine, rendering the Crimson Forbidden Land a vortex center where unparalleled opportunities and extreme dangers converge.

In an instant, countless flying boats, warships, and the light of space teleportation converged on the territory of the Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom from all directions, like rivers flowing into the sea.

These cultivators, from different races and countries, possessed powerful auras and disregarded the law.

In normal times, they would never be able to penetrate so easily into the heart of a powerful, neutral country.

But now, the news that the Tianxuan Kingdom's ruler is being besieged by several powerful marquises and whose fate is unknown is no longer a secret. The entire royal family of the Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom is in chaos, with a power vacuum. They are too busy to take care of themselves and have neither the energy nor the ability to manage these foreign creatures that are like locusts crossing the land.

The entire Tianxuan Ancient Kingdom has become a huge hunting ground with no defenses against powerful outsiders.

The Crimson Forbidden Land is the heart of this hunting ground.

……

When Qin Feng arrived at his destination, the sight before him was so striking that even he, with his unwavering resolve, couldn't help but take notice.

This is the deep space of the universe, a place of absolute nothingness and death. There are no stars, no planets, not even a speck of cosmic dust.

In the center of this void, a colossal, indescribable crimson portal stands silently.

The portal seemed to be made of the skulls of billions of living beings, with a scarlet, inextinguishable flame of the soul burning in the eye sockets of each skull.

The door frame is carved with countless roars of gods and demons and tragic scenes of the withering of all races. An aura of primordial desolation, bloodshed and tyranny wafts over you. Just looking at it from afar is enough to break the soul of any creature with a weak will.

The portal stretches for millions of miles, resembling a cosmic chasm separating life and death.

In the very center of its lintel are twelve identical circular openings arranged in a ring, as if waiting for something.

At this moment, before this colossal gate, later known as the "Gate of Blood and Skulls," countless beings had already gathered.

Looking around, various flying boats and warships floated in the void, along with countless figures exuding a terrifying aura.

Black hole-level powerhouses are everywhere!
Those black hole-level powerhouses who would be considered patriarchs or founders in ordinary universes and hold sway over a region are as common as pebbles on the roadside here.

Further away, even deeper and more powerful auras soared into the sky. These were beings at the level of extreme black holes. They each occupied a territory, forming distinct camps, wary of each other, and confronting one another.

Qin Feng's gaze calmly swept across this void filled with powerful figures.

He saw many familiar faces, or rather, familiar "old friends".

In a formation composed of countless pure white stone warships, he saw the Stone Emperor's son, Ye Luo, who had hunted him down for thousands of years.

Thousands of years have passed, and Ye Luo has clearly made great progress in strength, reaching the peak of the strong-level black hole, and is only one step away from the ultimate black hole.

At this moment, his face was cold and his eyes were like knives as he stared intently at the Blood Skull Gate.

Not far away, Neil, the tenth-ranked member of the Hidden Dragon List, was bathed in holy light.

His aura had clearly broken through the bottleneck and entered the level of the ultimate black hole.

And then there's Deathstroke, the Necromancer, who remains ethereal and elusive, as if he might merge into the darkness at any moment.

Shui Mo of the Water Clan, Tak of the Golden Armored Beast Clan, Hei Yu of the Crystal Clan... almost all of these top geniuses who had chased after him had arrived.

After so many years of training, their strength has improved significantly.

Neil's breakthrough was clearly due to a huge stroke of luck.

While Ye Luo and the others failed to break through to the limit, they all went far on their respective paths and became absolute powerhouses among the black hole level.

only……

"The gap in strength has widened."

Qin Feng hid in a corner of the void, his heart calm and undisturbed.

These opponents, whom he once looked up to and who required him to use all his trump cards to deal with, no longer pose any threat to him.

His foundation is the Eternal Singularity, his secret technique is the Three Spirits Realm of the Nine Spirits Origin Diagram, and his speed is forty-five times the speed of light.

He can instantly kill even extreme black holes, let alone these beings that have not yet reached their limits.

Besides these old friends, there were many other powerful figures in the arena that even Qin Feng found somewhat surprising.

In an area teeming with demonic energy, several demonic beings of various forms resided, their auras extremely powerful, including Golden Wing.

Clearly, the demon race has invested heavily in this trip to the Crimson Forbidden Land.

At the heart of the Stone Clan's camp, a towering stone lion statue, tens of thousands of feet tall, sat cross-legged in the void with its eyes closed.

At first, Qin Feng thought it was just a statue used to display power, but when his divine sense swept over it, he felt a dormant, terrifying life force, like a volcano.

That was not a statue at all, but a stone creature of extreme power, whose might even faintly overwhelmed all the extreme black holes present.

However, what truly made Qin Feng's gaze turn serious was another void that stood opposite the lion god statue.

There, a Buddha statue also sat cross-legged.

The Buddha statue was also carved from some unknown stone, with a solemn and dignified appearance and a compassionate smile.

It sat there quietly, without any earth-shattering aura or even the slightest energy fluctuation, as if it were a real, lifeless rock.

However, the space around it appears strangely distorted to the naked eye.

Light, dust, and even space itself, once they approach within a certain range, will be repelled by an invisible force, forming an absolute "emptiness".

The domineering aura emanating from that ferocious lion statue vanished instantly upon reaching this area, like a mud ox sinking into the sea.

The two stone statues, one in motion and one still, one domineering and one empty, formed a stark confrontation. Their auras were incompatible, clearly indicating that they were not of the same ilk.

Qin Feng's pupils contracted slightly.

Stone Buddha.

(End of this chapter)