284: Chapter 278 Blood Soul Flower Field

His head hung low, not daring to look directly into those eyes that seemed calm yet were unfathomable.

Behind him, the people of the Ancient Spirit Clan also seemed to wake from a dream upon seeing this.

"Thank you, Elder Chen, for saving our lives!"

Everyone knelt down in unison, their voices sonorous and echoing through this mist-shrouded wetland.

It was a submission that came from the depths of their Souls.

In the Southern Desolate, where strength is worshipped, the power Chen Zhiwen had just displayed had completely conquered them.

"Rise."

Chen Zhiwen's expression was indifferent as he casually waved a gentle gust of wind to lift everyone up.

He did not show the slightest look of triumph because of their worship, as if those he had just killed were merely ants that could be wiped out at will.

"Instead of standing here in a daze, you should hurry and clean up the battlefield."

Chen Zhiwen's gaze swept over the corpses on the ground as he spoke with a meaningful look.

"There should be many good things in their Storage Pouches."

"Since they intended to prey on us but were killed instead, their belongings naturally become ownerless property."

Hearing this, Gu Shan's eyes instantly lit up.

That's right!

These three major forces had joined together; the resources they carried must be substantial!

Especially the Black Wind Stockade and the Corpse Yin Sect; these two forces had run rampant in the Southern Desolate for many years, and the wealth they had accumulated was surely a staggering figure!

"Quick! Everyone, move!"

Gu Shan immediately turned around and shouted to his clansmen, his voice filled with an excited quiver.

"Don't waste Elder Chen's kind intentions! Collect all the Storage Pouches!"

"And that Blood Soul Flower Field, don't leave a single stalk behind!"

The people of the Ancient Spirit Clan immediately erupted with incredible enthusiasm.

Their previous fear was swept away, replaced by the ecstasy of a bountiful harvest.

They quickly dispersed, skillfully searching the corpses and tucking heavy Storage Pouches into their belongings.

Meanwhile, another group rushed into the flower field, carefully harvesting those precious blood soul flowers.

Half an hour later.

The battlefield was cleaned thoroughly.

Aside from the bloodstains on the ground, not even a fragment of a Spirit Stone remained.

Gu Shan carried a pile of the most Advanced Storage Pouches and approached Chen Zhiwen.

"Elder Chen, these are the Storage Pouches of those Golden Core Stage experts, as well as half of the resources seized this time."

Although Gu Shan felt a bit pained, he was a sensible man.

Without Chen Zhiwen, they wouldn't have just failed to get rich; they wouldn't even have been able to keep their lives.

He gave this half of the resources willingly.

"Please graciously accept them, Elder."

Chen Zhiwen glanced at the pile of Storage Pouches and casually swept through them with his Divine Sense.

Although there were some decent spirit materials and Spirit Stones inside, there was nothing that particularly moved him.

At his Realm, ordinary resources were already difficult to value.

"No need."

Chen Zhiwen shook his head and did not reach out to take them.

"These things are of little use to me; keep them all for the tribe."

"After all, the children in the tribe still need resources to Cultivate."

Hearing this, Gu Shan suddenly looked up, his face full of disbelief.

This was a massive sum of money!

It was wealth enough to make a small Sect go crazy!

This Elder Chen had actually refused without even blinking?

"This... how can we allow this?"

Gu Shan was at a loss, for a moment not knowing what to say.

"Take it."

Chen Zhiwen's tone was flat, yet it carried an unquestionable authority.

"It is more important that we hurry on our way; the 'Tide' of this forbidden zone will not wait for anyone."

Gu Shan's heart shook.

He took a deep look at Chen Zhiwen, his eyes slightly red.

He knew that Elder Chen was helping the Ancient Spirit Clan in an indirect way.

This kindness was too heavy.

"Gu Shan... thanks the Elder on behalf of the whole clan!"

He nodded heavily and, no longer being overly modest, stowed the Storage Pouches away.

Then, he waved his hand with an Aura as grand as a rainbow.

"Full speed ahead! Explore the depths!"

...

With Chen Zhiwen, this god of slaughter, presiding over them, the rest of the journey became exceptionally smooth.

Those powerful Yao Beasts that originally occupied various places seemed to sense the faint, terrifying Aura on Chen Zhiwen and remained in hiding.

The group from the Ancient Spirit Clan was like they were walking in their own backyard, sweeping through the path.

All sorts of rare Peak First-Grade and even Second-Grade Spirit Medicines were collected like flowing water.

Everyone's herb baskets were already full, and they had to use the seized Storage Pouches to continue packing them.

Every person's face was brimming with a happy smile.

The harvest from this trip was more than the last hundred years combined!

However.

Happy times are always short.

Time passed by imperceptibly.

In the blink of an eye, it was noon of the second day.

The originally thin grey mist began to undergo a change.

They seemed to be stirred by some invisible force, becoming thicker and thicker, and flowing faster and faster.

The sense of oppression in the air was increasing geometrically.

Gu Shan glanced at the "Miasma-Repelling Pearl" in his hand.

The originally crystal-clear bead was now covered in fine cracks, its light becoming dim like a candle flickering in the wind.

"Stop!"

Gu Shan suddenly raised his right hand, his expression becoming extremely serious.

The clansmen, who were in high spirits and preparing to pick herbs on the slope ahead, all stopped and looked at the Clan Chief in confusion.

"We cannot go any further."

Gu Shan said in a low voice, his gaze showing a trace of reluctance, but more so logic.

"The 'Tide' is about to recede, and the Death Qi is about to strike back."

"Our Miasma-Repelling Pearl has reached its limit; it can only last for two more hours at most."

"We must return immediately! Otherwise, once the bead breaks, we will all die here!"

Hearing this, everyone suddenly snapped out of it.

They looked at the increasingly sinister environment around them, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on their backs.

They had been too excited just now and almost forgot that this place was the Netherworld Land, known as the "Forbidden Zone for Life."

"The Clan Chief is right, we should go back."

Grand Elder Gu Feng also had a solemn look as he stroked his staff, feeling the Spiritual Qi around them becoming violent and full of toxicity.

"The harvest this time is already enough. A greedy snake trying to swallow an elephant will only suffer; let's quit while we're ahead."

Everyone nodded one after another; although they were a bit reluctant, they knew that saving their lives was more important.

Just as everyone was packing their gear and preparing to return the way they came.

Chen Zhiwen, who had been standing at the edge of the team gazing into the distant depths, did not move an inch.

Within his eyes, a faint Chaos light was flowing.

His massive Divine Sense, like an invisible net, penetrated through layers of mist and extended forward.

Eight hundred miles... nine hundred miles... a thousand miles!

Just less than a thousand miles ahead.

Chen Zhiwen felt an extremely special fluctuation.

There, it was as if an invisible barrier existed, keeping all the Death Qi out.

And inside that barrier, there was actually a faint trace of... extremely pure Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi?

"As I thought."

The corners of Chen Zhiwen's mouth curled up slightly, and the stone in his heart finally dropped to the ground.

It was just as he had guessed.

This Netherworld Forbidden Zone was like a massive storm.

The periphery was filled with violent destruction and death.

But at the very center of the storm, the position of the "Eye of the Storm," it was often the calmest and safest place.

Otherwise, with Daoist Tian Xuan's heavily injured body, how could he have possibly been lingering on here for three whole years?

He must have hidden inside that "Eye of the Storm"!

"Elder Chen? We should go."

Gu Shan organized the team and, seeing that Chen Zhiwen was still standing there in a daze, couldn't help but call out.

Chen Zhiwen withdrew his gaze and slowly turned around.

His expression was still calm, but there was an extra bit of resolution in his eyes.

"Clan Leader Gu, you all go back first."

Chen Zhiwen's voice was very light, yet it was like a clap of thunder exploding in Gu Shan's ears.

"I still have some private matters to handle, so I won't be returning with you."

"Wh... what?!"

Gu Shan was stunned, wondering if something was wrong with his ears.

He widened his eyes and quickly walked over to Chen Zhiwen, his voice becoming somewhat sharp due to anxiety.

"Elder Chen, you must be joking?"

"Didn't you hear what I just said? The Tide is ending! The Death Qi here will immediately surge tenfold, a hundredfold!"

"Even Nascent Soul Stage experts cannot last long in the face of this Death Qi storm!"

Gu Shan pointed at the increasingly thick black mist around them, spitting as he spoke to persuade him.

"It's not too late to return now, but if we wait a moment longer, even a deity would find it hard to save us!"

The surrounding people of the Ancient Spirit Clan also gathered around, each of them showing an anxious expression.

"Yes, Elder Chen, it's too dangerous!"

"Come back with us; as long as the green mountains remain, there will be no shortage of firewood!"

"Ahead is a true Desolate Land; no living being can walk out of there alive!"

Faced with everyone's earnest persuasion, Chen Zhiwen's expression did not waver in the slightest.

He looked at Gu Shan, his gaze clear and firm.

"Thank you all for your kindness."

Chen Zhiwen gently shook his head.

"But my mind is made up."

"I have a reason I must go, and a reason I... have to do this."

Gu Shan looked into Chen Zhiwen's eyes.

In those eyes, he could not see the slightest bit of fear or hesitation, only a persistence to forge ahead even if ten thousand people stood against him.

"But..."

Gu Shan gritted his teeth, still unwilling to give up.

"Elder Chen, you are our benefactor; I cannot watch helplessly as you go to your death!"

"What exactly is in there that is worth you risking your life like this? Even a Treasure Trove as vast as the heavens is not as important as one's life!"