I'm the emperor from the start, and you want me to keep the three-year agreement?

The Burial Mountain was vast, each towering peak piercing the clouds, evoking a sense of inexplicable oppression even from afar.

Historical records indicated that most cultivators who ventured into the Burial Mountain vanished without a trace, with only a few managing to escape.

However, those who successfully emerged from the mountain would inexplicably die violently within two days.

The historical backdrop of the Immortal-Demon War, coupled with the bizarre environment within, led the world to regard the Burial Mountain as a forbidden zone!

Yet, just outside this forbidden zone, there was a conspicuously placed tavern!

"Strange, how could there be a tavern in such a place?"

Lin Ning, who had intended to head straight into the depths of the Burial Mountain, suddenly stopped, curiously glancing at the location of the tavern before resuming his journey.

Just as he set off, a booming voice rang out.

"Young friend, please hold your steps."

Hearing this, Lin Ning turned around.

He saw an elderly man with white hair and a ruddy complexion walking out of the tavern, holding a pot of wine.

In the next instant, the man's information popped up before Lin Ning's eyes.

【Name: Gu Chen】

【Founder of the Forbidden Zone Tavern】

【Cultivation: Great Emperor】

【Age: 10,000 years】

"This old man is actually a Great Emperor?"

Lin Ning suddenly understood why the man dared to establish a tavern outside the Burial Mountain.

Ordinary cultivators would avoid the Burial Mountain at all costs, but this old man had gone ahead and built a tavern right outside the forbidden zone.

Was this the personality of a Great Emperor?

"Young friend, are you planning to enter the Burial Mountain?" the old man asked with a smile. "Allow this old one to offer some advice: the Burial Mountain is extremely dangerous. Why not return the way you came?"

Lin Ning smiled: "It's alright. I'm the kind of person who enjoys going to dangerous places."

Gu Chen stroked his beard and chuckled: "I've been here for many years, and I've seen many young people like you. None of them have ever made it out alive."

Lin Ning asked: "By the way, old man, now that I've met you, let me ask you something. Has a woman recently entered the Burial Mountain?"

"I can't quite recall," Gu Chen said, taking a sip of warm wine. "Does she have any distinguishing features?"

Lin Ning thought for a moment.

"Good-looking, with a fiery figure, and prone to thunder."

"I have an impression," the old man's eyes lit up upon hearing the last description. "She entered the Burial Mountain just this morning. But that place… even Great Emperors can't emerge alive."

"Young friend, if you're looking for her, I advise you to turn back. There are countless women in the world. Why fixate on one flower?"

Having lived for over ten thousand years, Gu Chen had witnessed too many births, deaths, illnesses, and old age.

All who came and went were merely passersby. Why abandon one's own life for the sake of another?

"You misunderstand. She is my master."

Lin Ning cupped his fist in a salute: "Thank you for the information. Since she's inside, I'll go and bring her home safely."

With that, Lin Ning turned around and walked into the Burial Mountain without looking back.

"These young people nowadays truly aren't afraid of death."

Watching his departing figure, Gu Chen shook his head.

A moment later, he suddenly came to his senses: "That's not right. This fellow said his master is inside, yet I couldn't sense any aura or fluctuations from him at all!"

"Could it be that his strength is above mine?"

"Or is it that he doesn't have any cultivation at all?"

Gu Chen found it hard to believe.

Lin Ning was so young. If it was the former, wouldn't he be the youngest Great Emperor in history?

If it was the latter, how could an ordinary person dare to enter the Burial Mountain?

And where would an ordinary person get a master?

"Oh well, oh well, life and death are predestined," Gu Chen shook his head, drinking his wine as he slowly walked back into the tavern.

......

Deep within the Burial Mountain.

A woman in a white dress, tall and slender, holding a sharp sword, looked ahead with icy eyes.

Surrounding her were a group of bizarrely shaped, twisted, and ferocious demonic beasts.

"Shen Nian, it's been thirty years. I didn't expect you'd actually dare to come to my Burial Mountain!"

Ahead, a man in a black robe, with disheveled hair and a pale face, laughed loudly.

This person was none other than Yun Wuxin!

Although Shen Nian had known thirty years ago that the other party was practicing unorthodox and evil methods, and had come here mentally prepared.

But now, seeing Yun Wuxin's bizarre appearance with her own eyes, Shen Nian's heart was stirred.

Cultivation could delay aging, and the higher the cultivation, the more likely one could achieve eternal youth.

After thirty years, Yun Wuxin, whose cultivation had reached the Tribulation Transcension stage, had actually transformed from a spirited and handsome young man into a ghost-like figure!

"Back then, you said, 'Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, do not bully a young woman for being poor,'" Yun Wuxin sneered: "Thirty years have passed in a flash."

"Now, you are only in the Great Ascension stage, while I am already a Tribulation Transcension cultivator. The gap between us is like a chasm!"

"The moment you stepped into the Burial Mountain, you were already seeking death. However, in consideration of our past relationship, I can let you die with dignity."

As his words fell, a powerful aura surged from Yun Wuxin's body, and the powerful aura was even able to cut down the surrounding towering trees at the waist!

Gusts of yin winds howled past Shen Nian's ears, and the miserable sounds seemed to be the wails of fierce ghosts from the abyss!

Shen Nian tightly gripped her sword, and a silver radiance emanated from her body.

Muttering a string of incantations, Shen Nian's aura steadily increased. After a period of accumulating power, the power of her whole body first gathered in her right hand, then continuously transferred to the sword, and finally condensed on the blade.

Facing Yun Wuxin, who was a whole major realm higher than her, Shen Nian knew that she had to fight quickly. She had to unleash her strongest power to settle the score with her former lover!

Just as the two were about to erupt into conflict, a pair of warm hands quietly landed on Shen Nian's jade hands.

The surrounding howling yin winds instantly ceased.

"You... why are you here?"

Looking at the familiar face, Shen Nian was greatly surprised.

The distance between the Azure Cloud Sect and the Burial Mountain was vast, and with her Great Ascension stage cultivation, it would take her more than half a day to fly here.

Moreover, after entering the mountain, she would encounter various confusing formations, and it would take a lot of effort to accurately find this place.

But Lin Ning had already become an ordinary person without any cultivation. How did he find this place?

"Master, don't be afraid, I'm here," Lin Ning said with a smile.

Opposite them, Yun Wuxin, seeing the two holding hands, and seeing Lin Ning's young face, couldn't help but mock:

"Master? Hehe, Shen Nian, it's been many years. I didn't expect you to actually have such a hobby now."

"Tsk tsk, such a tender and delicate young man, actually entering the Burial Mountain alone for you, truly your good disciple."

"Xiao Ning, why did you appear here?" Shen Nian said anxiously, "Do you know that even I, in the Great Ascension stage, have no chance of returning after entering the Burial Mountain? How did you, an ordinary person, come here?"

"You also know that there's no chance of returning? Then did you come here to die?" Lin Ning smiled.

Shen Nian was momentarily speechless, and finally raised her head and said: "I'm here to keep my promise. Back then, he divorced me in front of everyone in the Azure Cloud Sect. Today, no matter what, I must take revenge!"

"You have guts."

Lin Ning couldn't help but give a thumbs up. His casual appearance directly angered Yun Wuxin.

"Interesting, interesting," Yun Wuxin clapped his hands. "Since you master and disciple are so affectionate, then I will send you on your way together!"