178: Fantasy Forest

In the Dragon Phoenix Mountain Range, the deeper one went, the more chaotic it became.

Within those lush woods, scenes of Cultivators fighting could be seen everywhere.

Most Cultivators moved in groups like beasts in a jungle; once they spotted a lone "prey," they would swarm them.

Zhou Luo, who was alone, had tried his best to hide himself, yet he was still pursued by several Cultivators.

However, he had plenty of tricks up his sleeve and his strength was not to be underestimated.

So even when faced with assassination attempts, he was able to escape unscathed.

Three days later, he finally appeared in the area marked in the clues, the Magic Forest.

The Magic Forest was situated within a rugged mountain range, surrounded by peaks that towered into the clouds like natural barriers protecting this ruin.

The entire Magic Forest was covered by dense woods, with trees so verdant they seemed to drip green, their thick foliage blotting out the sun.

Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting spots of light on the ground that swayed gently with the wind, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.

In front of that forest was a plain where Cultivators gathered in small groups, discussing things heatedly.

Zhou Luo silently slipped onto the plain, quietly observing the movements of these people.

From their expressions and actions, they also seemed to be here to explore the Magic Forest.

He just didn't know why they were gathered in front of the Magic Forest instead of entering.

There was no record of the Magic Forest in the Jade Slip he had obtained earlier, and even the clues from the Azure Origin Sect hadn't mentioned it.

Everything would need to be explored on his own.

Zhou Luo took out the mask he had obtained from Wang Tong and put it on his face.

With a flash of light, he took on a different appearance.

Then, he appeared on the plain with a leisurely stride.

As soon as he appeared, he drew sidelong glances from the other Cultivators.

At this moment, a smiling middle-aged man walked over quickly and greeted him warmly, "Fellow Daoist, are you also here to explore the Magic Forest?"

Zhou Luo glanced at the middle-aged man and nodded.

The man immediately beamed and extended an invitation, "It just so happens we are forming a group to enter the Magic Forest, why not join us?"

Zhou Luo didn't actually want to move with others, but he currently didn't know much about the situation in the Magic Forest.

So he spoke up, "It's my first time here."

"That's fine, I'm Wu Gang, and you?" the middle-aged man said with a smile.

"Xu Changsheng," Zhou Luo replied.

"Brother Xu, please follow me." Wu Gang led him to one side.

Several Cultivators were standing there.

After Zhou Luo walked over, Wu Gang introduced them enthusiastically, "This is Brother Xu Changsheng, and these are the members of our team."

Wu Gang's team had five people in total.

Four men and one woman.

Among them were two young men about his age, and two others who looked middle-aged.

As for the woman, she had bright eyes and white teeth, exquisite features, a graceful and slender figure, and snow-white skin that was crystal clear and heart-stirring.

She held a three-foot longsword in her hand, her white dress fluttering in the wind, revealing a small section of her round, jade-like white calves.

Her entire being radiated an otherworldly, elegant, and celestial aura, like an unreachable snow lotus, making her exceptionally eye-catching.

Though she stood among the crowd, she seemed to transcend them, looking out of place with her surroundings.

Even Zhou Luo, who had seen many beauties, couldn't help but feel his heart tremble slightly.

This woman was quite good-looking.

Through Wu Gang's introduction, he learned the woman's name was Shangguan Qianxue.

When Zhou Luo looked at her, she also looked over.

Shangguan Qianxue only gave him a faint glance before looking away.

After a brief introduction, everyone got to know each other.

Then, Wu Gang began to explain the situation of the Magic Forest to Zhou Luo.

Because of a Restriction, the Magic Forest only allowed Qi Refining Stage Cultivators to enter.

However, the interior of the Magic Forest was extremely dangerous; besides various special zones, there were Yao Beasts, traps, and other hazards.

Ordinary Cultivators who wanted to enter had to be careful with every step.

Therefore, most would choose to join an exploration team and enter together.

Every day, many people gathered here to enter.

Some left successfully, while others remained inside forever.

Without exception, none of these people had obtained the so-called Joyful Union Dao Legacy.

Even so, countless people still rushed into the Magic Forest one after another.

Because besides that Legacy, there were many miraculous Spirit Beasts and Heaven And Earth Treasures in the Magic Forest.

These Spirit Beasts lived and bred in these ruins, using the power of the Magic Forest to evolve various elusive abilities.

If one could successfully capture a Spirit Beast, even if it couldn't be kept as a companion, it would fetch a good price if sold.

And those Heaven And Earth Treasures also had unique effects; some were the main ingredients for certain Medicinal Pills, while others were Materials for talismans and arrays.

It was undeniable that the Magic Forest was full of treasures.

However, opportunities and risks coexisted; for the sake of these things, no one knew how many Cultivators had died within or gotten lost in the illusions.

Thanks to the contributions of these predecessors, people had gradually figured out routes into the Magic Forest and marked some special areas.

But very few people controlled this information.

Wu Gang possessed a map of the Magic Forest, which was why he was able to gather these people.

After listening to the general introduction, Zhou Luo also gained some understanding of this Magic Forest.

He looked toward the forest shrouded in dreamlike light, where he could vaguely see many ancient architectural ruins, dilapidated pavilions, and so on.

They stood quietly in the long river of time, witnessing the former glory and vicissitudes of the Joyful Union Sect.

These architectural ruins seemed peaceful, but according to Wu Gang, they also contained various dangers.

"We can go in now, right?" the indifferent Shangguan Qianxue spoke up.

Wu Gang smiled slightly, "Daoist Qianxue, don't be in a hurry. There's strength in numbers, and for the place we're going this time, the more people, the better."

According to him...

This time, he had gone to great lengths to obtain information about a special area from a Cultivator who had successfully left the Magic Forest.

Although that area was extremely dangerous, if there were enough people, they could still enter easily.

As for what was inside, it was currently unknown.

But as long as it was a special area, there would be good things without exception.

This was a truth proven by the lives of those who came before.

Shangguan Qianxue's beautiful eyes lowered slightly, and she said no more.

Beside her, Zhou Luo was lost in thought.

From the look of it, Shangguan Qianxue had likely joined this exploration team midway, just like himself.

Judging by her temperament and appearance, if she wasn't from a Immortal Family, she was most likely a Disciple of an immortal sect.

He just didn't know how strong she was.

Another half-hour passed, and Wu Gang brought over two more Cultivators.

They were a brother and sister; the man was tall and straight, while the woman was graceful.

Their faces carried a look of vigilance, and a faint murderous glint flickered in their eyes—at a glance, they were clearly Cultivators who frequently hung around the Dragon Phoenix Mountain Range.

With the addition of these two, the entire team reached nine people.

Wu Gang was very satisfied and gave a big wave of his hand.

"The numbers are about right, let's go."