280: Chapter 280 The Powerful Eternal Matter!

Deep within the restricted area.

This place was completely different from the periphery.

There was no black mist, no broken walls, and no withered trees.

Instead,

it was a vast, open clearing.

On the clearing stood a natural stone platform.

Around the stone platform, several figures sat cross-legged.

However,

these figures had long since lost their life force, yet they still retained their appearance from when they were alive.

Although they lacked vitality,

the power of the Soul still fluctuated within their bodies.

Just then,

a sudden voice drifted out from one of the figures on the platform.

"How many years has it been? Finally, a newcomer has arrived." The voice was old and raspy, carrying a hint of emotion and a sliver of expectation.

"Indeed... I just wonder if he can make it all the way here?"

"It's hard to say... Those remnant Souls outside may lack consciousness, but they are numerous. Most people can't get past that hurdle at all."

"It's not just those remnant Souls on this path; there are also countless Killing Formations!" another voice rang out, equally aged but deeper.

"I wouldn't be so sure! Did you feel that golden light just now? It was very strong."

"So what if it's strong? Reaching this place is the real test."

While the remnant Souls were still discussing,

the sound of footsteps suddenly approached from the distance.

Those footsteps

were neither hurried nor slow, but calm and composed!

The several remnant Souls fell silent simultaneously, looking toward the direction of the sound.

Directly in the darkness,

a figure was slowly walking toward them.

He wore a white robe, had a handsome face, and possessed an extraordinary aura.

From his body,

no aura emanated, yet that innate majesty made it impossible for people to look at him directly.

This person was none other than

Wang Chen.

As Wang Chen walked along, besides the remnant Souls he encountered, he also came across many Killing Formations.

Some were Illusion Formations that could make one lose their way.

Some were Trapping Formations that could pin someone in place.

Some were Killing Formations that directly attacked a person's Divine Soul. Those Killing Formations were exquisite and intricately linked; ordinary people couldn't possibly escape them.

If he hadn't been strong enough and known a bit about Formations, it really would have been difficult for him to reach the depths of the restricted area.

However,

to him, these were all a piece of cake.

Because his Emperors Dharma Idol specifically shattered all falsehoods; even the most powerful Killing Formation couldn't withstand a single punch from him.

When he reached the depths of the restricted area

and saw the figures around the stone platform, he was also momentarily stunned.

He never expected that there would be other people in the deepest part of this restricted area!

"Wait! Are they dead?"

Wang Chen frowned and carefully examined the figures.

"No life force at all? But there's a fluctuation of Soul power. What exactly is going on?"

As an existence in the Middle Stage of the Immortal Realm, Wang Chen's powerful Soul power was not inferior to those at the Peak of the Immortal Realm.

With just one glance,

he saw that something was wrong.

The figures sitting around the stone platform had no trace of life in them at all.

In other words,

their bodies, while maintaining their living appearance, no longer showed any signs of life.

What surprised him, however,

was that on these lifeless bodies, there were actually fluctuations of Soul power.

Although that Soul fluctuation was very weak, it definitely existed.

"Interesting."

Wang Chen rubbed his chin and said with a face full of curiosity.

"Dead, but not completely dead? What kind of operation is this?"

Finally,

his gaze moved past those figures and landed on the stone platform.

In the very center of the stone platform, a fist-sized piece of black matter floated in the air.

The matter was as black as ink, yet a faint golden light flowed within it, as if it contained some supreme power.

At the first sight of that black matter, Wang Chen knew what it was.

eternal matter!

It was one of the necessary substances for a Breakthrough to the Eternal Realm!

"The rumors are indeed true; there really is something related to the Eternal Realm here!"

A sharp light flashed in Wang Chen's eyes.

Then,

his gaze fell upon those figures once more.

Through the residual Soul fluctuations on them, he roughly guessed their identities.

These people were likely experts who had entered this place one after another over endless ages.

They had reached this point, seen the eternal matter, and tried to take it.

However,

something must have gone wrong in the process, leading them to become what they were now!

Now, their original life force was gone, leaving only a sliver of residual Soul power.

That bit of Soul power was barely enough to maintain consciousness, let alone take action.

They could only stay here, day after day, year after year, waiting for the next intruder.

"Speak up! Who are you all?"

After Wang Chen finished his question,

the scene fell into silence.

It wasn't until a moment later that a voice finally rang out.

"This old man is Tianyuan Shangren! I entered this place thirty-two million years ago."

"This seat is Miekong Old Ancestor. I entered this place twenty-eight million years ago."

"This humble Daoist is Qingxuan Immortal Master. I entered this place one hundred and twenty-five million years ago."

"This old man is the Taixu Holy Lord. I entered this place ninety million years ago."

"This seat is Wuji Tianzun. I entered this place one hundred and fifty million years ago."

Five voices rang out in succession.

Each name had once resonated throughout the universe.

But now,

they were all just wisps of remnant Souls, trapped in the depths of this restricted area, unable to leave.

"You all came for this piece of eternal matter?" Wang Chen asked.

"Correct."

Tianyuan Shangren's voice sounded, filled with emotion.

"That is eternal matter, the key to breaking through to the Eternal Realm. Who wouldn't want to obtain it?"

"However, when we tried to take it, we suffered a backlash. In that instant, the majority of our Souls were devoured, leaving only a sliver of remnant Soul. Our bodies also became empty shells."

"Backlash?"

Wang Chen frowned; he truly hadn't expected this to be the reason.

"Can you explain what kind of backlash it was?"

"Sigh... It's all because we were too arrogant. eternal matter is not so easily taken," Tianyuan Shangren explained.

"It contains supreme power. If a Mortal touches it, they will suffer a backlash. The stronger the power, the heavier the backlash. The few of us were all in the Immortal Realm, but before the eternal matter, we didn't even have the qualification to resist."

"That ruthless? Even those in the Immortal Realm were killed by the backlash?"

Wang Chen was indeed somewhat shocked.

One must know,

the Immortal Realm was currently the pinnacle of existence, yet they had died from the opponent's backlash.

The key point was,

it wasn't just one person, but five whole experts of the Immortal Realm!

"Interesting. This Emperor wants to see if you are truly that formidable!"

After Wang Chen finished speaking,

without a moment's hesitation, he directly summoned his Emperors Dharma Idol.

His thinking was very simple.

He would strike with all his might; if it worked, it worked; if not, so be it!

At worst, he would just lose a Clone, nothing major!!

Just charge in and be done with it...