8: Chapter 8 The Forbidden Land of the Desolate Ancient Regions: The Battle for the Sacred Fruit

Qingyun Temple was built on the side of a mountain.

Although called a temple, it was actually just a courtyard surrounded by a dozen dilapidated wooden houses. The main hall consisted of three connected rooms. Hanging under the eaves was a faded plaque with the characters "Qingyun Temple" written in ink; the brushwork was vigorous, but the paint was mottled. In the center of the courtyard was an old stone-built well, its mouth covered in moss. The temple was very quiet, with only two young Daoist monks in gray robes sweeping the floor. Seeing the Daoist Master of Azure Cloud return, they bowed respectfully.

"Temple Master."

The Daoist Master of Azure Cloud nodded and turned to face the players following behind him. Over five thousand people were squeezed into the small open space in front of the temple, appearing somewhat cramped, but no one dared to make a sound—the faint pressure emanating from the Daoist made everyone subconsciously remain quiet.

"This is Qingyun Temple." The voice of the Daoist Master of Azure Cloud was flat, yet it clearly entered everyone's ears. "I have been entrusted by the Yan State royal family to guard Falling Star Valley for a hundred years. Today, the Nine Dragons Pulling the Coffin has descended. According to the ancestral teachings, I shall provide three days of shelter for the visitors from beyond the heavens and explain the basic rules of this world. After three days, you are free to stay or leave as you please."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd: "However, before that, I need to remind you of a few points."

"First, this world is called Beidou, and it is a vast world of cultivation. Spiritual Qi is abundant between heaven and earth, and all things can become spirits or Yao Beasts. You have just arrived and have no cultivation base to rely on. Walking in these mountains and wilderness, you are no different from Mortals, so you must be cautious."

"Second, Beidou has five regions: Eastern Wilderness, Western Desert, Southern Ridge, Northern Plain, and Central Plains. This place is the Southern Region of the Eastern Wilderness, within the territory of the Yan State. Although the Yan State is a small country, it still has Cultivator Sects, aristocratic clans, and deep mountains and forests where Yao Beasts lurk. If not necessary, do not risk danger easily."

"Third, the path of cultivation prioritizes the Foundation. If you wish to gain a foothold in this world, you must first open the wheel sea secret realm. The wheel sea is the beginning of cultivation and is divided into four realms: Bitter Sea, Life Spring, Divine Bridge, and Other Shore. Only after successfully opening it can you draw the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi into your body and practice Cultivation Technique and Divine Ability."

Speaking of this, the Daoist Master of Azure Cloud took a Jade Slip from his sleeve and threw it gently.

The Jade Slip hovered in mid-air, emitting a soft white light. Within the light, a dynamic map of human meridians emerged, marking the positions and characteristics of the four realms of the wheel sea.

"This is the 'Basic Understanding of the Wheel Sea', which records the basic methods and precautions for opening the wheel sea." The Daoist Master of Azure Cloud said, "You may comprehend it yourselves, but remember, cultivation must be done step by step. Do not be greedy for progress, otherwise, your Foundation will be unstable, and there will be endless future troubles."

The players' eyes lit up.

Cultivation Technique! Finally, there was a Cultivation Technique!

Although it was only the most basic method for opening the wheel sea, it was better than having nothing. Many people couldn't wait to close their eyes and try to sense the "Bitter Sea" in their bodies according to the diagram in the Jade Slip.

Lin Ye was also looking at the diagram, but he wasn't focused on the content—he already knew all of this—but rather on the Jade Slip itself.

The Jade Slip was pure white, with natural cloud patterns on the surface and a faint blue light on the edges. Judging by the material, it was ordinary "Spirit-Condensing Jade" and wasn't worth much. But the energy fluctuations circulating inside the Jade Slip... made Lin Ye frown slightly.

It wasn't pure Spiritual Qi, but mixed with a trace of an extremely faint... monitoring mark?

It was very well hidden. If he hadn't encountered similar methods in his previous life, he wouldn't have noticed it at all. This Jade Slip was not just for teaching Cultivation Technique; it was also recording the players' cultivation data, Aptitude assessments, and perhaps even their Soul fluctuation characteristics.

"As expected..." Lin Ye sneered inwardly, "They have been screening from the very beginning."

He recalled some rumors from his previous life. It was said that in the early days of the "covering the heavens era", various governments reached secret agreements with certain NPC factions in the game to monitor and screen players with potential through NPCs, preparing for subsequent "talent reserves".

Qingyun Temple and the Daoist Master of Azure Cloud were likely an "observation point" for the Yan State royal family, or perhaps some faction behind the Yan State.

However, Lin Ye didn't care.

Let them monitor if they want; the secret of the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body wasn't so easy to see through. Moreover, at this stage, he did need the protection of Qingyun Temple; at the very least, he needed these three days to familiarize himself with the environment and replenish supplies.

"You may move freely within the temple." The Daoist Master of Azure Cloud continued, "There are guest rooms in the east wing; although simple, they can shelter you from the wind and rain. There is a dining hall in the west wing, providing vegetarian meals at the Chen, Wu, and You hours daily. There is a Martial Arts Practice Field in the backyard where you can practice basic Martial Skills. Private fights are prohibited in the temple; violators will be expelled."

After speaking, he stopped paying attention to the players and turned to walk into the main hall.

The two young Daoist monks walked over and began to guide the players to disperse. Most players swarmed toward the east wing—after traveling for a day and experiencing life-and-death crises, everyone was exhausted and in urgent need of rest.

But Lin Ye did not move.

He looked toward the west wing, where a faint scent of food drifted over. Seven or eight hours had passed since he entered the game (game time). Although the System had lowered the hunger level of the game character, he did need to replenish food.

"Let's go eat first, then rest." He said to Chen Hao and Su Qingyue, "Get some rest, and we'll set off early tomorrow morning."

"Set off? Where to?" Chen Hao asked.

Lin Ye looked toward the west.

The sunset had already gone down, and there was only a touch of dark red afterglow on the horizon. In the twilight, the outlines of the nine black mountains were even clearer, like nine giant beasts crouching in the darkness.

"The Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land."

"Ah? We're going tomorrow?" Chen Hao was startled, "Didn't the Temple Master say it's very dangerous there? And we just arrived, we haven't prepared anything..."

"It's precisely because we just arrived that we need to go." Lin Ye said in a low voice, "The nine sacred fruit in the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land are the fastest and most stable way to open the wheel sea secret realm. Now most players are still in panic and confusion, which is our Opportunity. By the time they react in a few days, the sacred fruit will have already been snatched up."

"But we are only level seven or eight..." Chen Hao still felt insecure.

"Level seven or eight is enough." Lin Ye patted his shoulder, "The danger on the periphery of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land mainly comes from the 'Ancient Desolate Aura', which consumes life essence, but it treats everyone equally regardless of cultivation level. As long as you don't go deep into the core area, the threat of Yao Beasts is not that great. Besides..."

He paused, a flash of sharpness in his eyes: "I have a way to avoid most of the danger."

Chen Hao wanted to say something else, but seeing Lin Ye's firm gaze, he finally nodded: "Okay, I'll listen to you."

Su Qingyue had not expressed any objection from the beginning, only saying: "I need a sword. Ice cones consume Divine Power too quickly, and I need a weapon for melee combat."

"There should be some in the temple." Lin Ye said, "After eating, I'll go ask those two young Daoist monks."

The three of them came to the dining hall in the west wing.

It was called a dining hall, but it was actually a large room with a dozen simple wooden tables and benches. At this moment, it was already full of players, and everyone had a coarse pottery bowl in front of them, containing thin rice porridge and a few pickles.

The food was very poor, but no one complained—after experiencing the life-and-death crisis on Yinghuo Ancient Star, being able to eat warm food was already a blessing.

Lin Ye fetched three bowls of porridge and found a corner to sit down. The porridge was very thin, with few rice grains, and the pickles were salty, but he ate very seriously. Food in the game could not only replenish physical strength, but long-term consumption of specific spiritual food could also slowly improve attributes. Of course, the ordinary food in front of him didn't have that effect.

Just as he was eating, an argument came from the next table.

"Why do you get two bowls? I clearly saw there was only one left!"

"I got it first, so it's mine! Who are you?"

"Looking for a fight, huh?"

"Come on! Do you think I'm afraid of you?"

Two players started arguing over a bowl of porridge, and it looked like they were about to fight.

But just as they were about to throw a punch—

"Hum!"

An invisible pressure enveloped the entire dining hall.

The two players looked like they had been hit by a freezing spell, frozen in place, their faces pale, sweat on their foreheads. Not just them, everyone in the dining hall felt difficulty breathing, as if an invisible giant hand was clutching their throats.

From the direction of the main hall, the indifferent voice of the Daoist Master of Azure Cloud came:

"I have said that private fighting is prohibited in the temple. Considering this is your first offense, this is a minor punishment. If there is a next time, you will be expelled from the temple, and your life or death will be your own responsibility."

The pressure dissipated.

The two players slumped to the ground, panting heavily, and dared not argue anymore. Other players were also as silent as cicadas in winter, lowering their heads and drinking porridge silently.

Lin Ye narrowed his eyes.

That pressure just now... was at least the Late Stage of the Dao Palace Realm, or perhaps even the Four Extremities Realm. This Daoist Master of Azure Cloud was stronger than he had expected.

But that was fine; with such a strong person sitting in command, at least the temple was safe.

After eating, Lin Ye found the two young Daoist monks who were sweeping.

Both were very young, looking only fifteen or sixteen years old, with the Daoist names "Qingfeng" and "Mingyue". Lin Ye took out a few stalks of red glow grass—this ordinary herb was useless to Cultivators, but it was a good thing for Mortals to heal wounds.

"Two little Daoist masters, I wonder if there are weapons for sale or rent in the temple? We are new here and need some items for self-defense."

Qingfeng took the red glow grass, his eyes lit up, and his attitude became much more enthusiastic: "Benefactor is too polite. There are indeed some weapons in the temple, left behind or donated by passing travelers, but they are all ordinary iron, without any spiritual nature. If you need them, you can follow me to the warehouse to choose."

Lin Ye followed Qingfeng to the warehouse in the backyard of the temple.

The warehouse was not big and was filled with sundries: damaged farm tools, rusty knives and swords, old clothes, and a few bundles of dried herbs. There was a musty smell in the air; it was clear that no one had taken care of it for a long time.

Qingfeng lit an oil lamp and pointed to a wooden shelf in the corner: "The weapons are all there, Benefactor, please help yourself."

A dozen weapons hung on the wooden shelf, all of the most ordinary iron, not even counting as white quality. Lin Ye glanced at them; most of the attributes were terrible: Attack +2 to +5, low durability, and some even had the negative effect of "fragile".

But one item caught his attention.

It was a short sword, about one foot and two inches long, entirely black, without a scabbard. The hilt was wrapped with old hemp rope, and there were blurry cloud patterns on the crossguard. At first glance, it looked plain, but Lin Ye noticed that there was a tiny, almost invisible dent on the blade near the hilt.

The shape of the dent was like half a broken rune.

"This short sword..." Lin Ye picked it up, and it felt slightly heavy in his hand. The blade was icy, with a thin layer of rust on the surface, but when he wiped it with his finger, the metallic luster underneath was as dark as water.

[Obtained: Nameless Short Sword]

[Quality: Ordinary (White)]

[Attack: 3-5]

[Durability: 12/30]

[Description: A short sword of unknown Origin, the blade has slight wear, and it seems to have experienced a fierce battle]

[Note: There is faint energy residue on the hilt, perhaps it can be repaired?]

White quality, ordinary attributes.

But Lin Ye's heart stirred.

In his previous life, he had heard a rumor: in the early days of the game's opening, some NPC strongholds would "randomly refresh" some items that looked ordinary but actually had mysteries inside. These items usually required specific conditions to trigger their true form, such as dripping blood for ownership, nurturing with specific energy, or meeting the prerequisites of a hidden quest.

This short sword, the energy residue on the hilt, and that broken rune dent... all fit the characteristics of "repairable items".

"I'll take this one." Lin Ye kept the short sword, "In addition, I need two handy weapons for my two companions."

Qingfeng picked out a long saber and a staff. Both were white quality, with slightly better attributes than the short sword, but limited.

Lin Ye paid the "rent"—ten stalks of red glow grass—and then took the three weapons back to the guest room.

The guest room was a dormitory, and one room could sleep twenty people. Chen Hao and Su Qingyue had already occupied their positions, and when they saw Lin Ye return, they both looked over.

"Here." Lin Ye handed the long saber to Chen Hao and the staff to Su Qingyue, "Use these for now, and we'll change them when we have better ones later."

Chen Hao took the long saber and swung it a few times; it was quite handy. Su Qingyue took the staff, her brows slightly furrowed—she was used to using a sword, and she wasn't used to long weapons like a staff.

"Use the staff first." Lin Ye explained, "There are many vine-like plants on the periphery of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land, and a staff is more suitable for clearing the way than a sword. Moreover, staff techniques are easy to learn, and with your good Foundation in martial arts, you will be able to get started quickly."

Su Qingyue nodded and said nothing more.

Lin Ye took out the Nameless Short Sword and examined it carefully.

He used his fingernail to scrape off the rust on the crossguard, revealing the complete cloud patterns underneath. Those patterns looked chaotic, but if you looked closely, they seemed to connect into a certain pattern... like an eye?

He tried to inject a trace of weak Divine Power into the short sword.

No reaction.

Switched to Mental Energy.

Still no reaction.

Finally, he bit his fingertip and dripped a drop of blood on the crossguard.

The moment the blood touched the metal, it was quickly absorbed. Immediately after, the cloud patterns on the crossguard lit up with a trace of extremely faint red light, but it only lasted for half a second before extinguishing, as if it were a light bulb with insufficient power.

[Nameless Short Sword has changed]

[Durability restored to 18/30]

[Attack increased to 4-7]

[New property: Damage to evil spirits +5%]

It worked!

Although the improvement was not large, it proved that this sword could indeed be "repaired". It just might not need ordinary blood, but... blood containing special energy?

Lin Ye thought of the Origin of the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body, but now the wheel sea was not opened, and the Origin was still sleeping and could not be called.

"Keep it for now." He tucked the short sword into his waist, "I'll study it when my strength is sufficient in the future."

The night was deep.

The players fell asleep one after another, and snoring was heard everywhere. After a day of rushing and fright, everyone was exhausted.

But Lin Ye couldn't sleep.

He lay on the dormitory bed, looking at the beams on the roof, sorting out his plans for tomorrow in his mind.

The Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land, nine sacred mountains, nine sacred fruit.

According to the original description, the nine sacred mountains were arranged in a ring, and there was a spring eye on the top of each mountain, with divine medicine growing beside the spring eye, and the sacred fruit grew on the divine medicine. But to climb the sacred mountain, one needed to face three trials:

First, the erosion of the Ancient Desolate Aura. The closer you get to the sacred mountain, the faster your life essence is lost. Ordinary people can persist on the periphery of the Forbidden Ground for at most half an hour before they age and die.

Second, the guardian Yao Beasts. Each sacred mountain is occupied by a specific group of Yao Beasts, which are nourished by the Spiritual Qi of the sacred mountain and are much stronger than their peers outside.

Third, the Restrictions of the sacred mountain itself. That is the Formation left over from the ancient times, which will interfere with perception, distort directions, and even create illusions.

In his previous life, Lin Ye entered the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land on the fifth day of the game's opening, by which time some players had already figured out some patterns. But in this life, he wanted to be the first to reach the top.

"Need to form a team..." he calculated silently, "I need at least three more people with Su Qingyue and Chen Hao. It's best if they can complement each other: one skilled in reconnaissance, one skilled in healing, and one skilled in defense."

But where could he find reliable people?

There were many players in the temple, but people's hearts were unpredictable. The temptation of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land was too great; one sacred fruit could allow a Mortal to open the wheel sea. In the face of such an Opportunity, the so-called team friendship might be vulnerable.

In his previous life, Lin Ye had seen too many examples of people turning against each other because of treasure.

"Forget it, let's see the situation tomorrow." He closed his eyes and forced himself to fall asleep.

But just as his consciousness was about to sink into sleep—

"Hum!"

The Nameless Short Sword at his waist suddenly vibrated slightly.

Very lightly, so light that he could barely feel it.

But Lin Ye woke up immediately.

He sat up and gripped the hilt. The blade was icy and there was nothing unusual. The vibration just now seemed like an illusion.

But he knew it wasn't.

This sword... was "sensing" something.

Lin Ye quietly got up and walked out of the guest room.

The temple was silent, with only the sound of insects and wind. The moonlight spilled into the courtyard, plating the old well, stone steps, and eaves with a layer of silver white. The door of the main hall was closed, and there were no lights inside; the Daoist Master of Azure Cloud should have already rested.

The short sword vibrated again.

This time it was clearer, and... it had directionality.

Lin Ye looked in the direction of the sensation, which was the direction of the Martial Arts Practice Field in the backyard.

He walked over on tiptoe.

The Martial Arts Practice Field was an open space paved with bluestone slabs, about the size of half a basketball court. At this moment, it was empty, and the moonlight was like silver water pouring onto the ground, making the bluestone slabs look white.

The vibration of the short sword became stronger and stronger.

Lin Ye walked to the center of the Martial Arts Practice Field, crouched down, and felt along the bluestone slab with his hand.

Soon, he felt a depression underneath one of the stone slabs.

It was in the shape of a handprint, the size perfectly matching his palm. The depression was very shallow; if one were not specifically looking for it, it would be impossible to discover.

Lin Ye hesitated for a moment, then pressed his palm onto it.

It fit perfectly.

The next second, the bluestone slab emitted a faint light. The glow was very dim, almost invisible under the moonlight, but Lin Ye could feel a weak suction force coming from the slab, drawing out... some kind of energy from within his body?

It wasn't Vitality, nor was it Divine Power, but rather... Soul fluctuations?

He wanted to pull his hand away, but it was already too late.

With a flash of light, Lin Ye disappeared from the spot.

It wasn't teleportation; it felt more like being "pulled into" a certain space.

His vision blurred, and when his sight recovered, he found himself standing in a narrow secret chamber.

The secret chamber was square, about three meters long and wide, and two and a half meters high. The surrounding walls were made of smooth cyan stone bricks, with no doors or windows. In the center of the ceiling was embedded a fist-sized night-luminescent pearl, emitting a soft white light that illuminated the entire space.

In the center of the secret chamber was a stone platform.

On the stone platform lay an ancient book with yellowed pages, its cover made from some kind of animal hide, with four ancient characters written on it: "Qingyun Sword Technique".

Lin Ye's pupils constricted slightly.

Qingyun Sword Technique... wasn't this the signature sword technique of Qingyun Temple? In his past life, he remembered that this sword technique required at least the reputation Rank of "Inner Sect Disciple" at Qingyun Temple and completing a series of quests to learn. Moreover, it was only a remnant, and the complete version was said to have been lost long ago.

How could it be here?

He walked forward and opened the ancient book.

The pages were brittle, as if they would shatter at a touch. But the text and illustrations were very clear: sword move diagrams, Mind-Cultivation Technique chants, Qi circulation routes, and even some small annotations of cultivation insights.

[Discovery: "Qingyun Sword Technique" (Complete)]

[Quality: Rare (Blue)]

[Description: A Foundation Establishment sword technique created by the Ancestral Master of Qingyun Temple. It consists of nine forms and emphasizes controlling the sword with Qi and moving the sword with the body. It is a superior sword art that balances both offense and defense.]

[Learning Requirements: Level 10, Mental Energy 15, Comprehension Ability 12]

[Effect: After learning, you can master the nine forms of the Qingyun Sword Technique, each with different effects (attack, defense, control, displacement, etc.)]

[Note: This sword technique must be practiced in conjunction with a specific Mind-Cultivation Technique, otherwise its power will be halved.]

The complete version! And it's of Blue quality!

Lin Ye was ecstatic. A Blue quality Cultivation Technique was absolutely a Divine-Grade existence in the Early Stages of the server opening. One must know that most players didn't even have a White quality Cultivation Technique yet, and the "Qi Induction Technique" he had obtained earlier was only White.

More importantly, he met the learning requirements for this sword technique perfectly—although he was still 3 levels short, the attribute bonuses from the Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body meant his actual attributes already exceeded the requirement. He had 13 points in Mental Energy (Base 5 + Chaos Heavenly Emperor Body bonus 5 + scripture bonus 1 + bodhi seed bonus 2), and his Comprehension Ability was as high as 15 points.

It was almost tailor-made for him!

But he did not learn it immediately.

Out of caution, he first checked the secret chamber. All four walls were solid, with no mechanisms and no other exits. The only "entrance" was the stone slab from before, but now the slab was on the ceiling of the secret chamber, two and a half meters off the ground; without a ladder, it was impossible to reach.

"How do I get out after getting the item?" Lin Ye frowned.

He tried injecting Divine Power into the stone slab on the ceiling.

No reaction.

He injected Mental Energy.

Still no reaction.

Finally, he held the nameless short sword up toward the stone slab.

This time, the stone slab reacted. The cloud patterns on the hilt of the short sword glowed slightly, resonating with the stone slab. Immediately after, the light on the stone slab shone again, enveloping Lin Ye.

His vision blurred again.

He returned to the Martial Arts Practice Field, standing on the bluestone slab as if he had never left.

The ancient book was still in his hand.

It was not a hallucination.

Lin Ye took a deep breath and put the ancient book into his Storage Space. Then he quickly left the Martial Arts Practice Field, returned to the guest room, and lay back down on the bunk.

His heart was still pounding.

Opportunity... this is the Opportunity of a Rebirth!

If he hadn't known those hidden rumors, if he hadn't happened to obtain that nameless short sword, if he hadn't been unable to sleep in the middle of the night and come out to investigate... it would have been impossible to discover this secret chamber.

This must be an Easter egg left by the game designers for the "observant." It's just that in his past life, this Easter egg might have been triggered by someone else, or perhaps it was never discovered at all.

"Heaven helps me." Lin Ye closed his eyes and began to digest this pleasant surprise.

With the "Qingyun Sword Technique," his combat power would be upgraded to a new level. When he reached the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land and faced the guardian Yao Beasts, his chances of success would be much greater.

However, he couldn't learn it now.

Learning a Cultivation Technique requires time to comprehend and will produce anomalies. Learning it inside Qingyun Temple would be troublesome to explain if Daoist Master of Azure Cloud were to notice. It wouldn't be too late to learn it after leaving the temple tomorrow and finding a safe place.

The night passed without incident.

Early the next morning, just as the sky was beginning to brighten, Lin Ye woke up Chen Hao and Su Qingyue.

"Pack your things, get ready to go."

"So early?" Chen Hao rubbed his eyes. "The others haven't woken up yet."

"That's exactly why we need to go before they wake up." Lin Ye had already packed his belongings. "Once the sun comes out and the temple gates open, a large number of players will surely swarm toward the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land. We need to get ahead of them."

The three of them washed up briefly and ate some dry rations—Lin Ye had traded red glow grass with a young Daoist for ten coarse flour pancakes last night; although they tasted bad, they could stave off hunger.

When they left the guest room, most players were still sleeping. Only a few who woke up early cast curious glances at Lin Ye and his group as they walked out, but no one followed—the terror of the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land had been emphasized by Daoist Master of Azure Cloud yesterday, and no one dared to go rashly.

When they arrived at the temple gate, two young Daoists were sweeping.

"Three benefactors, where are you going so early?" Qingfeng asked.

"Just going out for a stroll to familiarize ourselves with the environment." Lin Ye said without changing his expression.

"The Temple Master has ordered that the temple gates not be opened before sunrise." Mingyue shook his head. "Please wait a moment."

Lin Ye was prepared; he took out a few more stalks of red glow grass: "Could you two young Daoists make an exception? We will just stroll around nearby and definitely won't go far."

Qingfeng and Mingyue looked at each other, hesitated for a moment, and finally accepted the herbs.

"Then... go quickly and return quickly." Qingfeng lowered his voice. "The mountains haven't been peaceful lately; it's said that wolf packs are roaming, so you three should be careful."

"Many thanks."

The temple gate opened a crack, and the three of them slipped out.

Outside, the sky was still dark, and the mountains were shrouded in thin mist. The air was cold and crisp, carrying the scent of dew and vegetation. In the distance, birds chirped, clear and melodious, forming a stark contrast to the deathly silence inside the temple.

"Head west." Lin Ye identified the direction. "The Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land is thirty miles away. If we travel at full speed, we can reach it in an hour."

The three of them began their journey.

The mountain road was rugged, but fortunately, there were tracks from predecessors to follow. Lin Ye took the lead; his Agility attribute was the highest, allowing him to move on complex terrain as if it were flat ground. Chen Hao struggled to keep up, while Su Qingyue moved with ease—the light martial arts Foundation of an ancient martial arts family was no joke.

They indeed encountered Yao Beasts on the way.

The first wave consisted of three "Iron-Backed Mountain Boars," levels 5-7, with thick skin and flesh, and simple attack patterns. Lin Ye used the bronze lamp to lure two of them away, while Chen Hao and Su Qingyue worked together to finish off the third, ending the battle quickly.

The second wave was a pack of "Wind Shadow Leopards," levels 8-10, fast and with tricky attacks. This time it took some effort; Su Qingyue's ice spikes played a key role, slowing and controlling the field, allowing Lin Ye and Chen Hao to break them down one by one.

After the battle, Lin Ye leveled up to 8, and Chen Hao and Su Qingyue leveled up to 7.

"Continue, don't stop." Lin Ye did not rest and continued on his way.

The further west they went, the sparser the vegetation became. The originally dense forest was gradually replaced by low shrubs, and the ground began to show signs of desertification. The concentration of Spiritual Qi in the air was dropping, replaced by a... desolate, ancient, and unsettling aura.

The Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land was near.

An hour later, the three of them stood on a ridge, overlooking the area below.

It was a vast basin. In the center of the basin, nine pitch-black, barren mountain peaks stood in a ring, piercing directly into the clouds. Grayish-white mist permeated between the mountain peaks, flowing slowly; wherever it passed, even the rocks became gray and cracked.

On the outskirts of the basin, some players were already wandering about.

There weren't many, about a hundred or so, all of whom were bold or confident in their own strength. They stood in groups of three or five at the edge of the Forbidden Ground, peeking in, but no one dared to truly step inside.

Lin Ye saw a few familiar faces—players who had been relatively calm in the bronze coffin. Among them was the streamer with the ID "Mad Blade," who was holding a crude, homemade streaming device and commentating on the Forbidden Ground.

"Viewers, do you see that? This is the legendary Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land! Nine sacred mountains, nine sacred fruits! However, it's said that entering will drain your lifespan. Are there any warriors who dare to charge in with me?"

The chat stream was flying by, but no one responded.

Lin Ye withdrew his gaze and began to observe the terrain.

Of the nine sacred mountains, from their current position, the closest were the third, fourth, and fifth. According to the original description, the distribution of the sacred fruits was random, and the attributes of the sacred fruits on each mountain differed: some focused on Strength, some on Mental Energy, and some on Physique.

"We need three. It's best if we get one of each: Strength, Mental Energy, and Physique." Lin Ye said in a low voice. "Ah Hao and I are the main attackers, so we need Strength. Su Qingyue is a mage, so she needs Mental Energy. Physique is a universal attribute that everyone lacks."

"Then which mountain are we going up?" Chen Hao asked.

"The fourth one." Lin Ye pointed to the mountain that was relatively gentle and of medium height. "The guardian Yao Beast of that mountain is the 'Stone Ape,' a Strength type, but it's slow, which is suitable for a small team like ours. Moreover, the sacred fruit on the fourth mountain focuses on Physique, which can comprehensively improve survival capabilities."

Su Qingyue nodded in agreement.

But just as the three were preparing to descend the mountain, a commotion came from behind.

"Move aside! Everyone move aside!"

"Wind Cloud Guild is conducting business, bystanders keep away!"

A team of over twenty players came swaggering over from the eastern mountain path. Leading them was a burly man wearing leather armor and holding a long spear, with the ID "Overlord Spear." His level had actually reached 9, clearly having killed many monsters.

The members behind him were also of high levels, generally 6-8, and their equipment was better than that of ordinary players; at least everyone had a piece of armor or a weapon.

"Wind Cloud Guild..." Lin Ye narrowed his eyes.

A famous second-rate guild from his past life, known for acting domineeringly and liking to steal monsters and resources. The guild leader, "Overlord Spear," was a fight coach in real life with decent gaming talent, but mediocre character.

He didn't expect them to arrive so quickly.

Overlord Spear walked to the edge of the Forbidden Ground, scanned the surrounding solo players, and grinned: "This place is now covered by our Wind Cloud Guild. If you're smart, get lost, otherwise don't blame us for being impolite."

The solo players were angry but dared not speak. Wind Cloud Guild had many people and high levels; they were indeed not to be trifled with.

But someone refused to accept it.

"On what grounds?" A solo player with the ID "Lone Wolf" stood out. "The Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land is a public map; on what grounds does your Wind Cloud Guild get to monopolize it?"

Overlord Spear's eyes went cold; he shook his long spear and thrust it directly at Lone Wolf.

The speed was extremely fast!

Lone Wolf's reaction was not slow either; he dodged to the side while drawing the short blade at his waist to counterattack. But he was only level 7 and had poor equipment. Within a few rounds, his weapon was knocked away by Overlord Spear's spear, and he was kicked in the chest, flying backward and vomiting blood as he hit the ground.

- 87!

His health dropped directly to the bottom.

"On these grounds." Overlord Spear put away his long spear and sneered, "Who else is not convinced?"

No one dared to speak.

Overlord Spear nodded with satisfaction and then looked toward the Forbidden Ground: "Brothers, get ready to enter the mountain! We must get at least five of the nine sacred fruits!"

The members of Wind Cloud Guild cheered and began to organize their equipment.

Lin Ye and his group stood on the ridge, watching coldly.

"Brother Ye, what do we do?" Chen Hao asked in a low voice. "They have many people; we can't beat them in a head-on fight."

"We won't clash with them head-on." Lin Ye said. "The Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land is huge; with only twenty-something people, they can't search every place. We'll circle in from the side and climb the fourth mountain before they do."

"But what if they go to the fourth mountain too?"

"Then..." A cold light flashed in Lin Ye's eyes. "We'll see who has the better skills."

He checked the time; the sun had already risen, and the mist was beginning to dissipate. Visibility inside the Forbidden Ground was improving, but the erosion from the Ancient Desolate aura would also increase.

"Let's go."

The three slid down the side of the ridge, avoiding the sight of Wind Cloud Guild, and quietly infiltrated the edge of the Forbidden Ground.

The moment they stepped into the grayish-white mist, the System prompt sounded:

[Entered special area: Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land (Outer Perimeter)]

[You are being eroded by the 'Ancient Desolate Aura,' and your life essence is beginning to drain.]

[Current drain rate: -0.1% of maximum Vitality per second]

[As you go deeper, the drain rate will gradually increase.]

[Warning: Dying within the Forbidden Ground will double the experience penalty and increase the probability of equipment dropping.]

0.1% per second means they could only last at most 1000 seconds in the outer perimeter of the Forbidden Ground, which is less than seventeen minutes.

Time was tight.

"Follow me closely, don't get separated." Lin Ye quickened his pace.

The grayish-white mist was very thick, with visibility of less than ten meters. Underfoot was loose sandy soil, making no sound when stepped on. The surroundings were deathly silent; there was not even the sound of wind, only their own breathing and heartbeats.

This kind of environment easily caused hallucinations and panic.

But Lin Ye was very calm.

In his past life, he had come to the Ancient Desolate Forbidden Land more than once and was too familiar with the environment here. He knew where the safe paths were, where the traps were, and where they would encounter Yao Beasts.

"Turn left, avoid that patch of sand that looks darker in color; there's quicksand underneath."

"Go around the place with the dead trees on the right; there are 'Ghost-Faced Spiders' on the trees, and their poison is very strong."

"The stone forest ahead, pass through the middle, but don't touch any of the stones; some of the stones are disguised 'Petrification Lizards'."

Under his guidance, the three of them passed through the outer area without any danger, gradually approaching the fourth sacred mountain.

As for the Wind Cloud Guild side, it was obviously not that smooth.

Sounds of fighting and screams could be vaguely heard in the mist, along with Overlord Spear's roar: "Watch out! There are Yao Beasts! Form up!"

It seemed they had encountered an attack from a group of guardian beasts.

Lin Ye paid no attention and continued moving forward.

Twenty minutes later, the three of them arrived at the foot of the fourth sacred mountain.

Looking up, the mountain peak towered into the clouds, the mountain body pitch-black as ink, its surface covered with cracks, like a dry riverbed that had been parched for ten thousand years. At the foot of the mountain was a natural cave entrance; that was the only path up the mountain.

Beside the cave entrance lay three huge creatures.

They were Stone Apes, the size of elephants, their bodies entirely made of grayish-black rock, with only their eyes being dark red, like two burning charcoal fires. They lay there motionless, as if they were truly stones, but Lin Ye knew that once someone approached, they would wake up instantly.

[Stone Ape (Elite)]

Level: 12

Vitality: 1800 / 1800

Skills: Rock Throw, Earthquake Wave, Stone Skin (Passive)

Description: A simian Yao Beast mutated by the nourishment of the sacred mountain's Spiritual Qi. It has immense strength and extremely high defense, but its speed is relatively slow.

Three level 12 Elites!

Lin Ye took a deep breath.

This hurdle would not be easy to pass.

But he had to pass it.

He turned to look at Chen Hao and Su Qingyue: "Are you ready?"

Both of them nodded, their eyes firm.

"Then..." Lin Ye drew the nameless short sword, "Charge!"