I'm in Yellow Maple Valley, and I have one equipment slot!

Chapter 43: A Bountiful Harvest Emerges from the Forbidden Zone; The Boss's Acting Skills!

The massive, snow-white body of the black dragon lay silently at the edge of the swamp, devoid of any life.

Zhou Yuan took a deep breath, suppressing the fatigue and excitement after the fierce battle, and quickly got to work.

Holding the Broken Gold Sword, he began to carefully dissect the priceless dragon corpse, like a seasoned hunter.

Although the Broken Gold Sword is not good at agility, its unparalleled sharpness makes it the most handy tool at this moment.

The sword blade sliced ​​through the tough dragon's hide, making a hissing sound and sending sparks flying.

Zhou Yuan's technique was precise. He carefully removed the jet-black, shiny horn that subtly shimmered with a dark luster.

Next came the black dragon's sharp claws, their cold light chilling, their three toes sharp as hooks.

He carefully cut along the joints, removing the complete claw; each toe and claw possessed a remarkable sharp metallic aura.

Its tail fin is broad and covered with fine scales. It is tough and elastic, making it a good material for making flying magical artifacts.

Zhou Yuan cut it off completely.

Next, Zhou Yuan didn't waste any of the good stuff, such as the dragon's skin, scales, and tendons.

After completing all this, Zhou Yuan looked at the various materials arranged in categories and faintly glowing with spiritual light, and his heart was filled with the joy of a fruitful harvest.

Fortunately, he had accumulated more than a dozen storage bags during his trip, including killing and robbing treasures and fighting back against powerful enemies; otherwise, he really wouldn't have been able to hold all the materials piled up like a mountain.

After sorting the materials into different storage bags, Zhou Yuan walked towards the area near the place where the Hidden Moon Sect had coveted the spiritual herbs and where he had taken advantage of the chaos to loot them.

There, an ancient bronze treasure chest lay quietly on the soft, damp ground, its surface covered with indistinct patterns and emanating a faint aura of restriction.

Zhou Yuan tried to pry it open gently with the Broken Gold Sword. When the tip of the sword touched the lid, a light blue light screen instantly appeared, gently but firmly pushing the sword open. Runes flowed on it, faintly forming a small protective array.

"As expected, there are restrictions."

Zhou Yuan frowned slightly. With his Qi Refining Perfection cultivation and divine sense, it would be quite difficult to forcibly break through this obviously extraordinary restriction, and he didn't know if it would cause unpredictable consequences.

After a moment's thought.

He abandoned his plan to forcibly break the ban.

The most urgent thing is to get out of here!

Zhou Yuan waved his hand and put the entire bronze treasure chest into an empty storage bag.

The box isn't large; it fits easily into a storage bag.

As for the restrictions mentioned above, we can deal with them after we get out, when our cultivation level improves or we have more methods.

After taking stock of all his spoils, Zhou Yuan glanced at the timer.

"It's the fourth night now —"

He was calculating the time in his mind.

The Crimson Forbidden Land will be open for a total of five days. On the afternoon of the fifth day, the seven sects of Core Formation cultivators from the outside world will once again join forces to open a gap in the restriction and guide the surviving disciples.

If you miss that time, you will be trapped here for sixty years, waiting for the next weakening of the restriction.

Sixty years?

Zhou Yuan shook his head inwardly. Based on his vague memory of the original work, it seemed that it wouldn't be long before the cultivation world of Yue Kingdom would be plunged into war due to the invasion of the demonic path. At that time, it was unknown who would control this place, and he didn't want to take that risk.

"We must get out of here as soon as possible!"

Zhou Yuan's gaze was firm as he looked up at the edge of the underground world's rock strata.

The passageway that had been sealed by the "Minor Five Elements Sumeru Restriction" has disappeared.

We had no choice but to force our way through!

He summoned the Broken Gold Sword again, and with a slight thought, the Broken Gold Sword transformed into a dark golden stream of light, fiercely stabbing towards the rock wall above!

"clang!"

Sparks flew out, and pebbles fell in a flurry.

Zhou Yuan was not discouraged. He had abundant magical power and was least afraid of exhaustion!

"Golden Sword Technique, begin!"

Twelve golden sword blades appeared, and together with the magical artifact, the Golden-Breaking Sword, they began to bombard the same rock wall continuously!

For a time, sword energy crisscrossed the underground world, accompanied by constant booming sounds.

Gravel fell like raindrops, quickly piling up into a small mound at Zhou Yuan's feet.

Zhou Yuan opened the yellow silk umbrella and held it above his head to block the falling rocks.

He was single-minded.

Like a tireless machine, it continuously drives the Broken Golden Sword and the Golden Sword Technique.

As soon as mana is slightly depleted, the recovery effect from the four mid-tier spirit stones in the equipment slot continuously replenishes it.

This allowed him to maintain near-peak output at all times.

An hour later, a pit several feet deep was carved out of the rock face.

Two hours later, the pit had sunk several feet deep and extended upwards.

Zhou Yuan continued to widen the passage without stopping. He also took out some captured, low-quality offensive magical artifacts from his storage bag from time to time, infused them with magic power, and directly activated their maximum power, throwing them at the rock wall like one-time explosive talismans to accelerate the excavation process.

These magical artifacts were no longer of any use to him, so using them to clear a path was putting them to good use.

Finally, after nearly three hours of continuous bombardment, the area in front of them suddenly became empty!

"Splash!"

Large swaths of light, mixed with fresh air, rushed in, accompanied by bits of soil and vegetation.

It's connected!

Zhou Yuan's spirits lifted, but he didn't rush out immediately. Instead, he became even more vigilant, instantly adjusting himself to his optimal state.

"Golden Armor Technique!"

Golden light covered his entire body.

"Bright Light Armor!"

The silver-white armor was automatically donned, with runes flowing around it.

"Yellow parasol, rise!"

The yellow light shield expanded again, completely protecting the entire body.

The three layers of defense were completed in an instant. Who knows if someone is lying in wait outside?

The commotion of clearing the passage was quite significant and is likely to attract attention.

With everything fully prepared, Zhou Yuancai used the Broken Gold Sword to scout ahead, while he followed closely behind, his figure as swift as lightning, leaping out of the narrow, sloping passage that could only accommodate one person at a time!

The blinding sunlight made him squint, but his divine sense spread out like mercury the moment he left the cave, sweeping across the surroundings.

This place appears to be a rocky slope behind the stone palace, overgrown with weeds, with the outline of a ring-shaped mountain range faintly visible in the distance.

Just as his divine sense swept over a dense grove of trees to the side, a slightly surprised voice rang out: "Senior Brother Zhou?"

The voice was familiar, yet it carried a hint of probing.

Zhou Yuan's gaze sharpened as he looked towards the woods, his hand seals still in place, the yellow umbrella's protective light still shining through.

Han Li emerged from behind an ancient tree, his face showing surprise and wariness. He only breathed a sigh of relief when he saw Zhou Yuan's signature three-layered defense—especially the yellow parasol and the bright armor—and quickly walked over.

"Junior Brother Han?"

Zhou Yuan relaxed slightly, removing the light shield from his Golden Armor Technique and Yellow Silk Umbrella, but he didn't retract his Bright Light Armor. "What are you doing here?"

Han Li approached and explained, "I originally wanted to go check out that stone hall up ahead, but as soon as I got close, I heard continuous bombardment and tremors coming from behind, so I hid in the woods to observe as a precaution. I didn't expect it to be you, Senior Brother—How did you come out from underground, Senior Brother?"

He looked at the newly opened hole behind Zhou Yuan, where rubble was still falling, his face full of doubt.

Zhou Yuan had already prepared his explanation, and said without changing his expression, "I accidentally triggered a hidden restriction inside that stone hall and was teleported to a sealed underground cave, where I was trapped for nearly a day. It took a lot of effort to force my way out."

His tone was calm, as if he had just experienced a common accident.

Han Li was skeptical, but seeing that Zhou Yuan was unwilling to talk more and that his aura was powerful, indicating that he had gained a lot and his strength was not diminished, he did not press the matter further.

For him, the stronger Zhou Yuan was, the safer it would be for the two of them to continue their cooperation.

"I see. It's good that you're alright, Senior Brother." Han Li nodded, then asked, "What are your plans next, Senior Brother? There's less than a day left before the exit opens."

""

Zhou Yuan glanced at the sky and said, "Naturally, we'll head towards the exit. If there's an opportunity along the way, we'll collect some more spiritual herbs. How about Junior Brother Han? How's the harvest?"

A hint of satisfaction flickered across Han Li's face as he mumbled, "Not bad, we found some seedlings."

He paused, then looked at Zhou Yuan, "Since we've run into Senior Brother again, why don't we travel together again? This last stretch of road is probably not going to be peaceful."

After a moment's thought, Zhou Yuan nodded in agreement: "Okay."

The two joined forces again and headed in the general direction of the exit they remembered.

This time, their combination is even more terrifying than before.

After his battle in the underworld, Zhou Yuan gained a clearer understanding of his own strength and became more decisive in his actions.

Han Li seemed to have gained a lot from acting alone, which gave him more confidence and made their cooperation more seamless.

When they encountered lone cultivators or those attempting to ambush them along the way, the two showed no mercy as long as the other party displayed hostility or greed.

The two worked together and were extremely efficient.

In just a few hours, they turned the tables and killed two more groups of cultivators who had ill intentions.

Beyond the forbidden area, on that desolate wasteland.

Seven Core Formation cultivators hovered in mid-air, each forming hand seals, and beams of precious light bombarded a certain point in the void.

Compared to five days ago, opening the passage this time was much easier. In less than half an hour, a stable, dark passage entrance reappeared, without the need for continuous input of mana to maintain it as before.

Once the passage was secured, the seven people retrieved their magical artifacts and waited quietly.

Behind them, the Foundation Establishment stage leaders from various factions looked tense, their eyes fixed intently on the entrance to the passage.

The outcome of this forbidden area expedition will directly affect the distribution of Foundation Establishment Pills over the next few years.

It is closely related to them.

The old monster from the Hidden Moon Sect reappeared on a nearby boulder, legs crossed, looking like he was leisurely watching a show, but his eyes kept glancing at the passage, clearly very interested in the outcome of the bet.

-

About half an hour after the passage opened, the first survivor emerged.

He was a middle-aged Taoist priest from the Qingxu Sect. His Taoist robe was torn and stained with blood. Although his expression was calm, he could not hide his exhaustion.

He bowed to Fuyunzi and the others, then walked to his sect's area and sat down to meditate.

Subsequently, disciples from sects such as Huadaowu, Tianquebao, and Huangfenggu emerged one after another, most of them injured, with varying expressions—some relieved, some dejected, and some bewildered by surviving a calamity.

On the other side of Huangfeng Valley, the Chen siblings helped each other out. Although they were in a sorry state, there was joy in their eyes, indicating that they had had a good harvest.

As time went on, more and more disciples emerged from the passage, and they began to walk in twos and threes.

As the various factions gradually gathered, a count revealed that more than twenty people had emerged.

However, not a single disciple of the Hidden Moon Sect was seen!

Li Huayuan and Fuyunzi exchanged a glance, both seeing surprise and a hint of expectation in each other's eyes.

The Hidden Moon Sect is the strongest of the seven sects, and it is absolutely impossible for them to be completely wiped out!

But why haven't they shown up yet? Could it be that they've encountered some serious trouble or haven't achieved their goal?

The two glanced at the old monster on the boulder at the same time.

Old Monster Qiong was still smiling, but if you looked closely, you could see that the frequency of his fingers twirling his beard had increased slightly.

The Fairy of Rainbow Robes stood in front of the Hidden Moon Sect's procession, outwardly calm, but her jade-like hand clenched quietly within her sleeve.

Time ticked by, and only one hour remained before the passage closed.

Two more disciples from other sects staggered out of the passage, but there was still no sign of the Hidden Moon Sect.

Old Monster Qiong's smile faded slightly, and Fairy Ni Chang couldn't help but take a few steps forward, staring intently at the entrance of the passage.

Just then, a flash of light appeared in the passage, and a figure walked out steadily.

It was Zhou Yuan.

His clothes from the Yellow Maple Valley were slightly dusty, but his demeanor was composed and his gaze was calm. He had no obvious injuries, which contrasted sharply with most of the disciples who came out in a disheveled state.

The moment Zhou Yuan stepped out of the passage, he felt several powerful divine senses sweep over him, especially the gazes of several Core Formation cultivators, which felt almost tangible. His expression remained unchanged; he lowered his head slightly and walked towards the Yellow Maple Valley group.

At this moment, he had already unloaded the four mid-level spirit stones from his equipment slot.

replaced by:

[Equipment 1]: Ten Purple Monkey Flowers (one of the main ingredients for refining Foundation Building Pills)

[Equipment 2]: Ten Jade Marrow Mushrooms (one of the main ingredients for refining Foundation Building Pills)

[Equipment 3]: Ten Heavenly Spirit Fruits (one of the main ingredients for refining Foundation Building Pills)

【Equipment 4】: A thousand-year-old Blood Jade Ginseng.

The first three equipment slots each contained ten main ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills. These were his "personal stash" carefully selected and kept for his own attempt at refining pills.

He originally only planned to keep five or six of each kind, but the harvest from this trip to the forbidden area was truly astonishing, especially the gains from the underground world and the subsequent counterattack with Han Li, which brought the total amount of spiritual herbs he seized to a terrifying number.

If all of them were handed over, the total number would likely exceed forty! This is too shocking and would inevitably attract countless suspicions and investigations.

Therefore, he only kept the thirty main medicinal herbs and the unexpectedly acquired thousand-year-old blood ginseng in his equipment inventory, while most of the other spiritual herbs were placed in his storage bag in preparation for handing them over.

The items in the equipment slots seem to exist in another dimension, and no external detection method—including the "Spirit-Smelling Beasts" specially raised by various factions that can smell the scent of spiritual herbs over a hundred years old—can detect them.

A moment later, Han Li also walked out of the passage.

His cultivation level was only at the eleventh level of Qi Refining, so the fact that he survived was already quite remarkable.

He looked cautious and quickly walked to stand near Zhou Yuan.

Before the people from various factions could even take a good look at Han Li, another figure tumbled and crawled out of the passage.

He was an old man with white hair and a face full of wrinkles. Judging from his clothes, he was a disciple of Huangfeng Valley, and his cultivation level was only the tenth level of Qi Refining!

He looked terrified and disheveled, as if a ghost was chasing him. As soon as he came out, he collapsed to the ground, panting heavily.

"Pfft—"

"Yellow Maple Valley really does produce a lot of talented people. How could someone at the Qi Refining Level 1 emerge alive from the Crimson Forbidden Land? Or were they hiding in some rat hole all this time?"

The Core Formation cultivator from the Giant Sword Sect was already in a bad mood because only two of his sect members survived. Upon seeing this, he immediately made sarcastic remarks, which spread throughout the entire area.

The other factions also began to murmur and laugh.

The disciples of Huangfeng Valley looked rather grim, and Li Huayuan frowned as well, but said nothing. After all, surviving was a feat in itself, and those with low cultivation levels faced even greater challenges.

Looking at the old man, Zhou Yuan sighed inwardly, "This Nascent Soul cultivator's acting skills are truly superb. He portrays a low-level cultivator who is greedy for life and afraid of death with incredible skill."

He secretly complained to himself.

However, on the surface, he showed the same helplessness and embarrassment as his fellow disciples, and dared not reveal the slightest abnormality.