259: Chapter 259 The Mysterious Bone Forest

The Blazing Flame Wild Lion was the first to break free from the aftereffects of the Soul-Locking Deterrence, its towering rage overriding its palpitations.

It violently shook its head, attempting to swat away the Golden Erosion Insect, while its giant claws, wreathed in mountain-burning flames, slammed toward the ground, hoping to force out the invisible Shadow Blade Mantis.

However, the Shadow Blade Mantis's movement was uncanny; it continuously shifted through the shadows of the forest trees, its sickle-blades grazing the giant python's scales again and again.

The Black Water Giant Python hissed wildly in pain. Just as its Water Stealth Divine Ability was about to condense, it was interrupted by the Shadow Blade Mantis, making it completely unable to hide again.

The surrounding pack of First-Order Demonic Beasts also regained their senses. Wolf howls and beastly roars rose and fell as they bared their fangs and lunged toward Ye Jing and the other two.

The legs of the two young men went weak, yet they still gritted their teeth, circulating their spiritual power to sacrifice their Magical Artifacts, barely managing to block in front of them. However, faced with the dense tide of beasts, this bit of resistance was no different from a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

But they couldn't help but be horrified that this old man could actually control so many Yao Beasts simultaneously, especially his mount—that majestic Black Dog was actually a Second-Order Demonic Beast.

This made them instantly regret their shallow decision to follow such a powerful Senior.

Ye Jing's gaze was cold and sharp. Knowing he couldn't afford a protracted battle, he shouted coldly, "Control the field! Don't let these First-Order Demonic Beasts get close!"

He gave this specific instruction out of fear that these First-Order Demonic Beasts would find an opening to exploit.

Hei Feng understood. The white light on his single horn gradually dimmed, and he immediately let out a furious roar. A thick pressure swept out, forcing the beasts that were stealthily trying to approach to retreat repeatedly, not daring to advance recklessly.

At the same time, the Shadow Blade Mantis seized a flaw while the giant python was hissing and plunged its sickle-blades deep into an old wound on its abdomen, instantly flooding the python's body with cold spiritual power.

The cold caused the giant python's body to stiffen for a moment.

The Golden Erosion Insect also took the opportunity to bite onto the wild lion's eyelid, its gilded mouthparts gnawing frantically. The pain caused the wild lion to roll all over the ground, and its wild sweeps of flames accidentally injured several First-Order Demonic Beasts that had gathered around, throwing the beast pack into chaos.

"Go!" Ye Jing made a split-second decision, driving Hei Feng to turn around. He swept his meteor hammer out, its blue flames burning a path of fire that forced back the nearby Yao Beasts. "Stay close to this old man, don't fall behind!"

He deliberately sped toward the depths of Red Copper Mountain, both avoiding the direction of the Ganglei Sect's border and following the tracks of the two demon kings to get closer to where Ye Xuan was trapped.

Behind them, the Black Water Giant Python and the Blazing Flame Wild Lion pursued in a rage, cold mist and blazing flames intertwining and roiling. However, with the Shadow Blade Mantis and the Golden Erosion Insect restraining them, the two demon kings were completely unable to give chase at full speed.

They could only watch helplessly as Ye Jing led the two young men through the beast pack's encirclement and sped deeper into the mountain forest.

While fleeing, the older youth looked back in shock, seeing those two Second-Order demon kings being harassed into a pathetic state by two unremarkable small insects and a mantis.

The gaze he directed at Ye Jing was instantly filled with awe: "Senior... your beast-taming arts are simply superb!"

Ye Jing didn't say much, only stating, "You two should leave this place quickly; it is extremely dangerous here."

Seeing this, the older Cultivator said gratefully, "Thank you for saving our lives, Senior. I am Li Zhengxian, and this is my younger brother Li Zhengning. May I ask for your great name? My Li family will surely reward you generously!"

Ye Jing was startled upon hearing this. The Li family? Could it be the Li family that had sought refuge with the Lingxiao Sect?

He immediately asked, "Which Li family?"

At Ye Jing's question, the younger Li Zhengning said with a face full of pride, "The great Li clan of immortal Cultivators from Tiangong Market, under the Lingxiao Sect, of course!"

Li Zhengning helplessly cupped his hands and added, "Senior, my brother and I are both children of a concubine's branch. Our family head is Patriarch Li Xiuhe. May I ask if Senior has some history with my Li family?"

For a moment, Ye Jing's feelings were complicated. He hadn't expected that while coming to save his son, he would encounter people from the Li family here.

Ye Jing's Divine Sense remained locked onto the pursuers behind and Ye Xuan's aura ahead.

He said in a deep voice, "It was just a small effort, don't dwell on it. Leave quickly and do not get involved in this conflict again."

He was in no mood for conversation now, his mind filled with Ye Xuan's safety. As soon as he finished speaking, he urged Hei Feng to pick up speed while simultaneously controlling the Shadow Blade Mantis and Golden Erosion Insect to increase their harassment, preventing the two demon kings from getting close.

Seeing this, Li Zhengxian didn't dare to linger any longer and pulled his brother, who still wanted to give thanks.

They sprinted away in the opposite direction. Before leaving, Li Zhengxian didn't forget to look back deeply at Ye Jing. Although they didn't know what this Senior intended to do, they knew staying here would only cause trouble for him.

Having gotten rid of the two burdens, Ye Jing completely lowered his guard and spread out his Divine Sense to its full extent, firmly locking onto that faint and familiar spiritual power aura ahead.

That was Ye Xuan's unique spiritual power fluctuation; though it was chaotic and scattered, it was still stubbornly holding on.

"Xuaner, hang in there!"

Ye Jing gave a low shout, his spiritual power surging. The blue flames on the meteor hammer suddenly flared up. He immediately ordered the Shadow Blade Mantis and Golden Erosion Insect to stop engaging and instead use hit-and-run tactics to harass the two demon kings, delaying their pursuit.

Hei Feng's four paws kicked up wind as his beastly prestige exploded, carrying Ye Jing as he bolted toward the depths of the mountain forest.

Behind them, cold mist wrapped in flames swept over. The Black Water Giant Python's tail-whip violently snapped ancient trees, and the Blazing Flame Wild Lion's sky-burning black fire scorched the entire forest. Yet, no matter how enraged the two demon kings were, they were constantly entangled by the two tamed beasts and could not get close.

Ye Jing had almost searched the entirety of Red Copper Mountain when he finally felt a pang of heart-palpitation.

When he looked down, even Hei Feng beneath him began to tremble, letting out a terrified bark.

The place where they stopped happened to be exactly where Ye Xuan had disappeared.

Ye Jing's heart began to drum with apprehension. He looked down at a desolate area where giant skeletons stood upright like a forest.

A terrifying power was faintly stirring within, and among it floated the eerie black Qi that Ye Jing was familiar with.

Ye Jing didn't have time to think about what these skeletons were. He immediately flew down and then stored Hei Feng into his Storage Pouch.

Then, he stepped into this territory.

As soon as Ye Jing's feet touched the ground of the bone Forbidden Ground, a bone-chilling cold drilled through his soles and straight into his Meridians.

Even the protective spiritual power Ye Jing was circulating developed a thin layer of frost.

The land here was barren, with a deathly gray hue. Stepping on it felt soft yet bone-chillingly hard, as if it were saturated by the resentment of countless departed souls for a thousand years.

"Xuaner's aura is right in the depths where this black Qi is thickest!"

Ye Jing frowned. He immediately summoned the Poisonous Variant Bee, and strangely, the Poisonous Variant Bee became exceptionally active upon sensing the eerie black Qi here.

It seemed to like this place very much.

Ye Jing knew this place was filled with resentment and Blood Qi. The Poisonous Variant Bee was a poisonous insect he had refined using the Thousand Insect Curse, so it naturally felt an affinity for such treacherous environments.

The roars behind him were getting closer. The Black Water Giant Python's cold mist and the Blazing Flame Wild Lion's fierce fire had already reached the edge of the Forbidden Ground.

Looking at the skeletal forest before them, the two demon kings actually showed a rare look of wariness in their eyes, hesitating to take even half a step inside.

The Shadow Blade Mantis and Golden Erosion Insect hovered at the entrance of the Forbidden Ground. They firmly blocked the path of the two demon kings. As spiritual beasts, they understood their master's current peril and were putting everything into holding this defensive line.

Ye Jing went deeper. He saw the skeletons becoming denser, and shrill wails could be heard echoing in his ears.

"Father!"

Suddenly, Ye Xuan's voice rang in Ye Jing's ear, and he immediately turned to look.