1398: Feeling like home

Wang Chen, of course, was unaware of the old medicine seller's sigh.

But even if he knew, he would only smile and not take it to heart.

With his strength and life-saving abilities, if his chances of survival after entering the Yunshan Forbidden Area were less than one in ten, then other Four Realms and Five Realm cultivators entering would likely face complete annihilation.

At this moment.

After entering the Yunshan Forbidden Area, everything was gray, a scene completely devoid of life.

The ground was dry and cracked, with no trace of green, and even the wind seemed non-existent here.

At the same time…

Wang Chen stood on the ground and looked up; the sky was also gray, with no stars visible, nor the sun of the small star system where Yunhu Star was located.

“The entire Seal formation seems to have directly isolated this area completely from its surroundings, like a cage with all six sides welded shut, just magnified countless times,” he thought to himself, reconfirming his position using a simple method, then flipping his hand to take out a map.

When he was at the Liuyun Sect Foreign Affairs Hall, Senior Brother Chu, to express his apology, gave Wang Chen a free hand-drawn map of the Yunshan Forbidden Area along with the Pass token (pass token).

This map was drawn by many cultivators who entered the Yunshan Forbidden Area, based on their own observations; it was updated monthly and could accurately reflect the conditions in various parts of the Forbidden Ground.

The entire map was square, and in the center was a palm-sized area circled in red, with a skull drawn in the middle.

This indicated that the danger level of this area was the highest in the Forbidden Ground, because it was sealing a portion of the Seven Realm Nightmare Ghost Contamination Source that the Liuyun Sect intentionally left behind after each cleanup of the Forbidden Ground.

As time passed, the strength of this Nightmare Ghost Contamination Source continuously recovered; even with another Seal set up by the Liuyun Sect around it, it remained very dangerous for ordinary cultivators.

Now, two years later, the strength of this Nightmare Ghost Contamination Source has probably recovered to at least Five Realm, and it's even possible it has reached Six Realm due to the external turmoil.

Outside the red circle where the Contamination Source was located, different danger levels of Nightmare Ghost gathering areas were marked, ranging from One to Five Realm.

However, Senior Brother Chu also said when giving the map not to blindly trust it, as powerful Nightmare Ghost had gradually broken free from their insane state, gaining a trace of reason, and would not stay in one area indefinitely.

Especially when the number of cultivators entering the Yunshan Forbidden Area increased, these powerful Nightmare Ghost would also begin to act and hunt.

“The strength of the Nightmare Ghost Contamination Source at the center is unknown; going to check it now would be a bit rash. I’ll first kill some Nightmare Ghost in the outer perimeter to allow my normal state strength to pass the First Heavenly Tribulation and enter Five Realm, and then I’ll push straight through to investigate the situation.”

After examining the map, Wang Chen quickly made a decision: first accumulate experience to pass the First Heavenly Tribulation, allowing himself to undergo a transformation.

He currently activates his secret art to gain a four-fold combat power boost, making his strength comparable to the Five Realms Initial Stage, but in his normal state, he is still only Four Realms Late Stage. If his normal state strength reaches Five Realms Initial Stage and he then activates his secret art, he wouldn't fear even encountering a Five Realm Peak.

At that time, going to the central area to check the situation of the Nightmare Ghost Contamination Source would greatly ensure his safety.

“Then let’s go here first; the map indicates that many Four Realm Nightmare Ghost frequent this area.”

After selecting an area, Wang Chen put away the map and began to act.

...

...

“Roar, roar, roar!!”

In the dry, decaying jungle, where trees resembled grotesque ghost claws, hoarse roars echoed continuously.

Pairs of crimson eyes filled with malice, like laser beams, locked onto an uninvited guest who had arrived here.

“The map indicates that many Four Realm Nightmare Ghost frequent this area; last month, two hunting teams led by Four Realms Middle Stage Nightmare Ghost also met their demise here.”

Wang Chen was deaf to the surrounding roars, merely scanning his surroundings with calm eyes.

The evil Qi, which would cause strong discomfort and even lead to a loss of composure in the outside world, had a negligible effect on him.

In fact, at this moment, the eerie and terrifying environment around him made Wang Chen feel a hint of nostalgia, a sense of returning home.

After all, every time he entered such an environment, for him, it meant that a large amount of experience points were about to be gained.

Swoosh!

Just then, a strong whooshing sound suddenly rang out; from behind a dry tree, a black shadow crashed through branches and charged out, its claw, sharp as a blade, directly striking towards Wang Chen's back.

This was a Three Realm Nightmare Ghost with a human-like appearance; only two-thirds of its head remained, its entire skull exposed, revealing a black mud-like substance churning inside. Its body was shriveled like wind-dried jerky, and its fingernails were a full thirty centimeters long.

If it appeared before someone at night, a person with a weak mind would likely be scared into incontinence on the spot.

However, for Wang Chen, this was merely child's play.

He had seen countless monsters far more terrifying and disgusting than this.

“No wonder it dared to be the first to show its face; turns out it has no brain!”

Wang Chen sneered, his body twisting, and he punched out towards the attacking Three Realm Nightmare Ghost.

Bang!

Powerful force erupted, and under this terrifying punch, the charging Three Realm Nightmare Ghost was directly blasted into fragments, not even having time to let out a scream.

But at this moment, the appearance and death of this Three Realm Nightmare Ghost seemed to be a signal; the long-prying, already restless gazes in the surrounding forest could no longer be restrained.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh!!

Streaks of whooshing sounds rang out.

In an instant, dozens of black shadows appeared around Wang Chen, and a raging evil Qi surged like a tidal wave, engulfing him.

Boom!

However, in the next second, a roaring sound erupted from the center of the encirclement.

From within the swirling dark evil Qi, a massive white tiger, nearly a thousand meters in size, burst forth.

“Roar!”

The white tiger roared to the sky, its sharp intent raging, and the swirling dark evil Qi retreated as if encountering a natural enemy, being cut apart.

At this moment.

Many Nightmare Ghost, who had rushed forward with the dark evil Qi, also saw Wang Chen on the ground beneath the giant white tiger, his body covered in brilliant light armor.

“Sorry everyone, I’m in a hurry, so I might have to make this quick!”

As the Nightmare Ghost cast their gazes upon Wang Chen, he bared his white teeth in a grin, and his entire being instantly vanished from his original spot.

Boom!

The next second, a violent Qi wave exploded in the air; the seven Nightmare Ghost directly in front of Wang Chen didn't even have time to figure out what was happening before they instantly shattered into fragments and scattered.

“Roar!”

At this moment, the giant white tiger followed like a shadow, roaring to the sky as it leaped out, swinging its tiger claws towards the opposing Nightmare Ghost.