145: The Mystery of the Ancient Forest and the Mask

The Black-Robed Man's steps were not fast, yet they carried a strange rhythm; each step landed precisely on a node where Spiritual Qi flowed through the mountains and forests. Liu Shan followed behind him, feeling the surrounding air grow increasingly viscous. The Spiritual Qi contained a faint, moist scent, similar to the bottom of Chenyuan Lake, but with an added hint of decay.

The trees in the Ancient Forest were unusually tall, their trunks so thick they required several people to encircle them. Their branches and leaves intertwined, blotting out the sky and sun, allowing only sporadic patches of light to filter through the gaps. The ground was covered in a thick layer of dead leaves, making footsteps silent, with only the occasional chirp of an unknown insect breaking the suffocating stillness.

"Is this... the Forbidden Ground of the Duan Yun Mountains?" Liu Shan couldn't help but ask. He had heard the Dan Wang Valley Master mention that deep within the Duan Yun Mountains lay a Forbidden Ground, filled with Formations left over from antiquity. It was said that even the Xuan Jin Snake Clan dared not easily venture inside.

The Black-Robed Man didn't turn around, merely giving a faint hum. "A thousand years ago, this was the Altar of the Xuan Jin Snake Clan."

Altar? Liu Shan's heart stirred. The memory fragments of the Xuan Jin Dragon did indeed contain vague images of an Altar—it was a High Platform built of white jade, carved all around with Runes similar to the Mark on his brow, though they were much older and more complex.

"Who exactly are you?" Liu Shan asked again, his tone filled with caution. The extent of this person's knowledge regarding the Xuan Jin Snake Clan and the Duan Yun Mountains far exceeded his imagination; they were certainly no ordinary Black-Robed Man.

The Black-Robed Man finally stopped, turning around, his Bronze Mask facing Liu Shan. Through the eye holes of the mask, Liu Shan could see a complex emotion flash in his deep eyes, like nostalgia, yet also pain.

"You will understand naturally once you see the Altar." He paused, then suddenly changed the subject. "Has the Mark inside your body been heating up frequently lately?"

Liu Shan's pupils suddenly contracted.

It was true. Ever since returning from the Blood-colored Canyon, the Three-colored Imprint on his brow, though still faint, often heated up at night, especially when he neared the withered locust tree. It would burn intensely, as if something was about to break through the Mark.

He had always assumed it was the Blood Master's power acting up, but he hadn't expected the other party to know even this.

"The Blood Master's power is eroding the Mark." The Black-Robed Man's voice carried a hint of solemnity. "By using the Mark to forcibly purify the bloody Qi of the Earth Veins, you gave the Blood Master a coordinate. His power is slowly infiltrating your Divine Soul through the Mark."

Liu Shan's heart sank. His worst fear had indeed come true.

"Can that Bronze Token stop all this?" He looked at the token in the Black-Robed Man's palm. The Runes on the token were faintly glowing, emitting a power similar to the Mark, but much purer.

The Black-Robed Man did not answer directly, merely turning and continuing forward. "We're almost there."

After passing through a dense thicket of bushes, the scene before them suddenly opened up.

A ruined jade High Platform appeared ahead. The platform was about three Zhang high, its base supported by twelve Jade Pillars carved with Xuan Jin Snake patterns. However, most of the Jade Pillars were broken and scattered nearby, covered in traces of wind and frost erosion.

At the top of the High Platform, a groove could faintly be seen, its shape perfectly matching the Bronze Token in the Black-Robed Man's palm.

"This is... the Altar of the Xuan Jin Snake?" Liu Shan's voice was filled with shock. Even in its ruined state, he could feel the powerful residual energy on the Altar. That energy resonated strongly with the Xuan Jin Bloodline within him, causing his blood to boil.

The Black-Robed Man walked up to the Altar, looking up at the ruined Jade Pillars, his voice carrying a subtle tremor. "A thousand years ago, the Xuan Jin Snake Clan used their Essence Blood here to draw the Great Formation that suppressed the Blood Master."

He turned around and handed the Bronze Token in his palm to Liu Shan. "Take it."

Liu Shan hesitated for a moment, then reached out and took the token. The Runes on it instantly lit up. A warm power surged into his body through his arm, flowing to the Mark on his brow. The previously burning Mark instantly calmed down, making him feel so comfortable that he couldn't help but squint his eyes.

“This is...”

"The key to the Altar." The Black-Robed Man looked at him, his gaze complex. "It is also the only thing that can completely sever your connection with the Blood Master."

Liu Shan held the token, feeling the power on it repairing the Mark within his body. The parts contaminated by the Blood Master were slowly receding, and the Three-colored Imprint on his brow even relit with a faint glimmer of light.

"What exactly do you want to do?" he asked again, his tone less cautious and more confused.

The Black-Robed Man remained silent for a moment, then slowly raised his hand and removed the Bronze Mask from his face.

Seeing the face beneath the mask, Liu Shan felt as if he had been struck by lightning, standing frozen in place, nearly dropping the Bronze Token in his hand.

That face... was seven or eight parts similar to the Dan Wang Valley Master! Except it was younger, and his eyes carried a weariness born of great experience.

"You... you are..." Liu Shan's voice trembled; he could barely believe his eyes.

"Dan Chen." The Black-Robed Man—no, it should be Dan Chen—said softly. "The Dan Wang Valley Master is my elder brother."

The Dan Wang Valley Master's younger brother?!

Liu Shan's mind was in chaos. The Dan Wang Valley Master had never mentioned having a younger brother, and judging by Dan Chen's age, he looked to be at most in his thirties. How could he be the Dan Wang Valley Master's younger brother?

"You don't believe me?" Dan Chen seemed to sense his confusion. He pulled out a Jade Pendant from his clothes. The pendant was shaped like half a Xuan Jin Snake Scale. "This is the token between my elder brother and me. When put together, they form a complete Snake Scale."

Liu Shan subconsciously reached for his chest. Before the Dan Wang Valley Master passed away, he had also given Liu Shan a similar Jade Pendant, which was likewise half a Snake Scale.

Trembling, he pulled out his Jade Pendant and fitted it together with Dan Chen's.

With a soft "click," the two Jade Pendants perfectly merged, forming a complete Xuan Jin Snake Scale, emitting a gentle Azure-Gold light that resonated with the power of the Altar.

Liu Shan was completely stunned.

It was true. The person before him was truly the Dan Wang Valley Master's younger brother!

"Where... where have you been all these years?"

"I've been deep within the Forbidden Ground, guarding this Altar." Dan Chen's eyes dimmed. "A thousand years ago, during the great battle between the Xuan Jin Snake Clan and the Blood Master, my ancestors swore a Blood Oath to guard the Altar for generations, preventing the Blood Master from breaking the Seal. My elder brother chose to go to Luoxia Valley, while I remained here."

He paused, looking at the token in Liu Shan's hand. "The Blood Master is about to Break the Seal. The power of the Altar alone is no longer enough. Someone must be able to simultaneously control the powers of the Xuan Jin Bloodline, the Xu Seal, and the Shadow Eaters to reactivate the Great Formation."

Liu Shan's heart leaped fiercely. "Are you saying... me?"

"Only you." Dan Chen's gaze was exceptionally firm. "Your Mark is the only existence in a thousand years capable of balancing these three powers."

Liu Shan gripped the token, looked at the ruined Altar, and suddenly understood something. "You knew I would come long ago?"

Dan Chen nodded. "Before my elder brother passed away, he sent me a message via the Jade Pendant, saying that he had found the person who could inherit the Xuan Jin Bloodline and asked me to help you when the time was right."

So that was it! Liu Shan was overwhelmed with mixed emotions. The Dan Wang Valley Master had arranged everything long ago!

"And the bloody Qi of the Earth Veins..."

"It was the Blood Master's probing." Dan Chen's expression turned solemn. "He was forcing you to use the power of the Mark so he could seize the opportunity to locate the Altar. Just outside Luoxia Valley, I could feel that the Blood Master's aura had already locked onto this place."

Liu Shan's pupils suddenly contracted, and he abruptly turned his head to look deep into the Ancient Forest.

Sure enough, a familiar, icy aura was rapidly approaching. The aura was denser and more... violent than it had been in the Blood-colored Canyon!

The Blood Master's power had truly tracked them down!

Dan Chen's expression also became extremely grim. He grabbed Liu Shan's hand and pulled him to the top of the Altar. "Hurry! Put the token into the groove and activate the Great Formation! Only the Great Formation can withstand the Blood Master's first wave of attack!"

Liu Shan did not hesitate and immediately pressed the Bronze Token into the groove at the top of the Altar.

The token perfectly fit the groove, instantly erupting in dazzling Azure-Gold light!

The light spread along the Altar's Runes, and the ruined Jade Pillars surprisingly began to repair themselves slowly. Broken sections reconnected, and the Xuan Jin Snake patterns came alive in the light, emitting a low hiss!

The entire Ancient Forest trembled. Countless fissures cracked open in the ground, and dense Spiritual Qi surged out of the gaps, converging into the light of the Altar!

The Great Formation had begun to activate!

Deep within the Ancient Forest, the icy aura was already close at hand. They could vaguely hear a low, avalanche-like sound of footsteps rapidly approaching the Altar.

Dan Chen's expression was extremely solemn. He looked into the depths of the Ancient Forest, then at the Great Formation currently activating, and a hint of determination flashed in his eyes.

"Liu Shan, remember, no matter what happens, do not stop the Great Formation from activating!"

The moment his words fell, his body suddenly erupted with intense light, and he transformed into a streak of Azure-Gold light, shooting toward the depths of the Ancient Forest!

Clearly, he intended to buy Liu Shan time to activate the Great Formation!

Liu Shan watched Dan Chen's retreating figure, then looked at the increasingly bright light on the Altar, his heart pounding frantically in his chest.

He could feel the power of the Great Formation rapidly gathering, but the Blood Master's aura had also reached the edge of the Altar!

Deep within the Ancient Forest, a muffled groan came from Dan Chen; he had clearly engaged the Blood Master's power!

Liu Shan gritted his teeth, continuously pouring the New Power remaining within his body into the Altar!

The Azure-Gold light shot up into the sky, forming a massive Pillar of Light that violently collided with the bloody aura surging from the depths of the Ancient Forest!

Heaven and Earth seemed to stand still at this moment.