The wild old madman cried and laughed, running back and forth through the mountains. His clothes were ragged and shockingly old, totally unlike anything worn in this era.
Not far away, Ye Fan stood in disbelief. Could this really be someone from six thousand years ago? That would be far too incredible. A storm surged in his heart.
Ye Fan had once lived in the Desolate Spirit Grotto-Heaven and knew a bit about the sect. The oldest Grand Elder there was only a few hundred years old, already considered a rare surviving senior.
If the madman before him was truly a person from six thousand years ago, it would be astonishing. What kind of concept is that? To live through such long, sweeping years, bridging countless golden or dark ages, he would be a living history book. It was simply unimaginable.
On the other side, the old hag was equally shocking. The fact that she could recognize the madman meant she was likely from the same era. She looked no different from a common elderly village woman, but her age left people dizzy and unsettled. It was both astounding and eerie.
Ye Fan stared blankly, and suddenly froze, the old woman had vanished without a trace. She hadn't made any move; she had simply disappeared, as if she had never existed.
"They're all dead, all of them!" The old madman gradually ran off into the distance.
At that moment, many people rushed toward the small town outside the mountains, pushing and shoving. Ye Fan, not knowing what was going on, followed them to see for himself.
"The Radiant Light Sacred Ground and the Jiang Clan are finally entering the Desolate Forbidden Ancient Realm!"
Ye Fan overheard from the crowd's chatter that the Radiant Light Sacred Ground and the Jiang Clan were recruiting people to go into the mountains. Those who joined them would receive spiritual medicine to resist the curse.
Outside the small town, many cultivators had gathered, waiting for the two powerful factions to distribute the medicine. After half an hour, thunderous rumbling came from the town, like thousands of troops galloping.
Hundreds of soldiers rode on various strange beasts, exuding murderous aura and strong fighting spirit as they charged out of the town. All the beasts glowed with godlight, their scales cold and gleaming. They hovered three feet off the ground, galloping through the air like a tidal wave.
A mighty pressure spread in all directions. All the soldiers were clad in divine iron armor, only their eyes visible. As they rode the beasts into the air, the sky and earth trembled. A chilling aura covered the entire town and the surrounding area.
RUMBLE,
Behind the hundreds of soldiers came fifty bronze war chariots, stained with dark blood and covered in cuts and holes, traces of their past glory, exuding an ancient, desolate aura.
The fifty ancient chariots thundered through the sky, deafeningly loud, like a great tsunami. The cultivators on them radiated even more terrifying power than the soldiers. The sky seemed about to shatter as the chariots rose into the heavens.
Following behind, dozens of divine rainbows shot into the sky. These were clearly even stronger cultivators. They surrounded two particularly special carriages.
Phoenix cries echoed through the sky. Nine strange birds, radiant and colorful like phoenixes, pulled a five-colored divine carriage into the air. Their feathers glowed brilliantly with divine light. Each bird was over ten meters long, majestic like the mythical Phoenix.
"Those birds must carry phoenix blood, they're descendants of divine birds!"
"That's the Radiant Light Sacred Ground's Nine Phoenix Sun Chariot. Only elders with supreme power can ride it."
"Just one of those elders could probably destroy all six great powers of the State of Yan!"
The surrounding cultivators were all amazed. Such a powerful formation was overwhelming.
Suddenly, the roar of desolate beasts shook the sky. Everyone's ears buzzed and their souls trembled. Nine golden beasts, resembling god-apes, pulled a dazzling jade carriage, soaring into the clouds and roaring thunderously.
"That's the Jiang Clan's God Ape Chariot! Only direct descendants of the Jiang Clan can ride it, must be an elder!"
People exclaimed in awe. Clearly, the Radiant Light Sacred Ground and the Jiang Clan were all-in, determined to obtain the divine medicine from deep within the Forbidden Realm.
Then, an elder flew on a rainbow beam above the crowd and declared, "Our spiritual medicine is limited and cannot be given freely. If you want to receive it, you must follow our commands."
The crowd grew noisy. The condition was harsh, and many feared being used as cannon fodder. Some left immediately.
"Too much! I won't accept it. I'd probably die without knowing how."
"Let them keep it. That medicine is too hot to handle. I don't dare take it."
Some stayed, clearly planning to grab the medicine and flee without obeying orders. The elder above continued, his voice shaking the skies: "We will not treat anyone as cannon fodder. Just stand with us and follow our lead."
Despite skepticism, he patiently explained. In the end, a number stayed, but most chose to remain spectators.
Half an hour later, the forces of Radiant Light and Jiang set off into the deep mountains, with many cultivators trailing behind, not to compete for divine medicine, but hoping to find some spiritual herbs on the outskirts.
Though they had displayed great force earlier, once in the deep mountains, everyone restrained their aura and moved quietly. Their earlier show of strength had merely been for intimidation.
"There are many powerful beasts near the Forbidden Realm. Even Sacred Ground elders may not win. We'll split into seven groups and enter the Forbidden Realm via different routes."
No one expected this decision. The following cultivators didn't know which group to join.
A clever cultivator joked, "No need to think. Just follow the chariot heading toward that peak!"
But everyone was disappointed. The Nine Phoenix Sun Chariot and the glittering jade carriage both vanished in a blink.
"The Forbidden Realm is mysterious and dangerous. Even powerful cultivators may become ordinary once inside. The two elders won't go deep but will support us from the edges and help eliminate dangerous beasts."
This explanation disappointed many.
"Entering this Forbidden Burial Ground means certain death. We should just watch from a distance."
Many backed off. The large army split into seven groups and moved out.
Ye Fan chose to follow the central group, walking on the ground through the forest rather than flying. Most people had dropped out, but many still followed. Ye Fan moved slowly and didn't follow until the others had gone far ahead.
"Endless bones… a sea of corpses and blood… it's coming again…" Suddenly, the white-haired madman reappeared, not far from Ye Fan, having followed them.
"Old man, are you serious?"
"Everyone will die," he mumbled, dazed and incoherent.
Why did this crazy old man keep saying things like that? It gave Ye Fan chills. But considering the old man's mental state, Ye Fan relaxed. He wasn't going to turn back just because of a few words. He had to gather the sacred medicine, it concerned his future.
He continued forward, leaving the madman far behind.
Most cultivators flew and advanced rapidly. An hour later, they reached a mountain range about 200 miles from the Forbidden Burial Ground. This area was full of wild beasts, but the large number of cultivators scared them off.
"This journey is going smoothly. The Sacred Ground and the Jiang Clan must be within a hundred miles of the Forbidden Burial Ground now. There's no danger at all."
"Maybe they'll really collect the divine medicine. Should we go near the edge of the Forbidden Burial Ground too?"
Many started relaxing and talking.
ROAR!
Suddenly, a terrifying roar came from the depths of the mountains. Cries of fear followed. Many cultivators fled in panic.
"Run! The Radiant Light and Jiang group is finished!"
More and more cultivators fled, faces full of terror. They had no desire to stay even a moment longer.
"What happened?" someone behind asked.
"A terrifying beast appeared, it swallowed most of the soldiers in one bite, smashed several bronze chariots with one claw, and killed everyone within a mile just by roaring nine times!"
"Horrifying!"
"No one survived from the Sacred Ground and Jiang's main group, they all died!"
Ye Fan felt deeply uneasy. Based on what people said, the outer areas of this Forbidden Burial Ground shouldn't have been this deadly.
Then, terrible energy waves surged from the distance, followed by screams. More cultivators fled.
"What happened?"
"A mighty beast tore apart the front line. Not a single person from Radiant Light or Jiang escaped."
Fear swept the crowd. Another group had been annihilated, far beyond anyone's expectations.
Ye Fan felt increasingly uneasy. Two groups had perished before even entering the Forbidden Burial Ground. He remembered the madman's words.
Suddenly, a phoenix cry shook the skies. The Nine Phoenix Sun Chariot soared, blazing like divine fire.
"The elder is finally taking action! Now we're safe!"
Everyone thought so, until their expressions changed.
The Nine Phoenix Sun Chariot was fleeing!
"My god! That's the legendary Golden Golden Roc!"
In the sky, a massive bird blotted out the sun. Its wings stretched hundreds of meters, radiating divine light, like molten gold, chasing the chariot at blinding speed.
Ye Fan didn't hesitate. He turned and fled. The mountains were not right. Every terrifying beast had appeared. Even Sacred Ground elders were escaping. Something was wrong!
"Was the madman right?" Ye Fan's scalp tingled. He raced through the forest, staying low to avoid detection.
Screams rang out ahead. Cultivators fled back like a tide.
"Beasts ahead, run!"
"So many died, hundreds were smashed into blood mist in the blink of an eye!"
Even their path back was blocked, terrible news. Ye Fan was grateful he hadn't flown earlier. That might've doomed him.
The forest was in chaos. Everyone tried to flee sideways.
Suddenly, the Nine Phoenix Chariot was intercepted for the seventh time. The Golden Roc tore apart two phoenix-like birds.
A furious elder emerged from the chariot, unleashing a blood-red seal the size of a mountain at the Golden Roc.
Blinding golden light erupted. The Golden Roc slashed its golden wings, sending a thunderous boom through the sky, shattering the red seal.
Then, a golden vortex appeared, like a giant sea whirlpool, swallowing the chariot and the elder.
Mountains shook. The vortex devoured everything.
The phoenix-like beasts were shredded, the five-colored divine chariot crushed. The elder unleashed countless treasures, but the Golden Roc's yellow feathers emitted sharp rays, destroying many of them.
"Destroy!"
"Annihilate!"
"Kill!"
Three words thundered out like divine decree. The elder's forehead opened into a vertical eye, firing three purple rays, piercing the Golden Roc's body.
It screeched, bleeding golden light. But the wounds quickly closed. It dove again.
The elder grew into a mountain-sized giant and slashed with a massive purple sword formed from his third eye.
The Golden Roc transformed into a bright sun. A radiant explosion followed. The sword and seal were destroyed. The elder vaporized, turned into light and vanished.
Everyone was shocked. A Radiant Light elder, utterly destroyed.
"The Golden Roc is like an immortal! That must be its descendant."
Ye Fan turned to see the madman again.
Screams came from all sides. Retreating cultivators returned, every direction was blocked by terrifying beasts.
"The Jiang Clan's God Ape Chariot!"
Nine golden beasts fled, dragging a jade chariot. A blood-covered elder stood atop, resisting a beast's pursuit.
But it was futile. A massive claw smashed the chariot and crushed the beasts into mist, killing the elder.
Everyone was stunned. Even a Jiang elder couldn't resist, how strong were these beasts?
A roar shook the soul. Black mist surged as a monstrous beast appeared, shaped like a qilin, but with nine serpent heads, wrapped in thick black fog.
All directions revealed terrifying creatures, huge, radiant, monstrous beyond belief.
Every group was surrounded. All the Radiant Light and Jiang members were annihilated.
So were the tag-along cultivators, none escaped.
Ye Fan's heart went cold. The madman's prophecy had come true!
A suffocating silence broke into chaos. Evil light poured from the sky. The beasts attacked.
Screams echoed. Blood flowed. Corpses piled high.
Each beast could kill an elder. Now they slaughtered the remaining cultivators with ease.
Within moments, the forest turned into a blood-soaked hell.
Ye Fan saw the madman nearby. He rushed forward, grabbed the old man's arm, and shouted, "You really are an old ancestor!"
He didn't know if he'd survive, but he clung to the madman. Maybe only this lunatic could lead him out alive.
The madman's prophecy had come true!