Lin Xun looked behind Shi Jun and saw several Blood Lion Clan experts with cold expressions and weapons in their hands.

“I have nothing to say.” With a deep breath, Lin Xun suppressed his killing intent.

“Like you would have dared!” Shi Yu sneered before he retrieved the Moon Essence Grass with a wave of his sleeve.

“Oh, that's a sweet bow you have there. Lend it to me so I can have a look.” Shi Jun’s eyes suddenly brightened when he saw the No-Nonsense Bow on Lin Xun’s back.

“Dao Friend, that’s a little too much.” Although Lin Xun’s expression remained unchanged, he was already prepared to respond. The No-Nonsense Bow was a powerful weapon that could ambush enemies with the most bizarre and unpredictable attacks, making it impossible to guard against.

It also possessed two extraordinary abilities, ‘absolute calm’ and ‘omni-vision’, which made it incomparable to other treasures.

As such, Lin Xun would never hand the bow over.

“Shi Yu, there’s not much time left. The Saintess is waiting for us.” One of the Blood Lion Clan experts in the distance called out to remind Shi Yu not to waste more time.

Shi Yu frowned and temporarily gave up on the bow. “Come with us for a bit.”

“Is something the matter?” Lin Xun asked as he stealthily stored the Broken Blade and No-Nonsense Bow.

“Cut the crap. If I tell you to follow, then hurry up and come!” Shi Yu grew impatient as he displayed a threatening expression, clearly not caring about Lin Xun’s opinion.

Meanwhile, Lin Xun noticed that there were several cultivators like him who were being herded together like prisoners by the Blood Lion Clan experts.

Lin Xun narrowed his eyes as he glanced at Shi Yu, but ultimately held back.

Shi Yu suddenly felt a chill only for it to disappear a split second later, making him question his senses.

One of the Blood Lion Clan experts loudly shouted, “Quickly, we don’t have much time. The saintess is already calling for us. The palace with the saint elixir is about to appear.”

It was a fierce-looking middle-aged man with cold piercing eyes. From the dao rhythm that chimed around him, he was clearly an older-generation Heaven Ascension expert who possessed frightening power.

He was called Bao Ya and was one of the leaders among the Blood Lion Clan experts.

Bao Ya indifferently said, “Everyone, let’s get going.”

Lin Xun could only endure it for the moment and follow the Blood Lion Clan experts.

Like him, numerous other cultivators had also been captured and forced to follow.

Lin Xun subsequently discovered that the Blood Lion Clan intended to use them as cannon fodder to explore a dangerous place they had found.

Thirty minutes later.

The group arrived at a desert.

The barren desert was covered in golden sand that stretched far beyond where they could see.

Unlike the deserts in the outside world, it felt extremely cold during the day. The desert was filled with a terrifying chill that would make anyone tremble.

When Lin Xun and the others arrived, there was already another group of Blood Lion Clan experts waiting.

The group was led by a beautiful young lady with a cold and haughty expression. She had soft blood-red hair and a slender figure. Dressed in a black robe, she gave off a cold yet bewitching presence.

“Greetings Saintess!”

Upon seeing the young lady, Bao Ya, Shi Yu, and the others turned respectful. She was clearly of high status in the Blood Lion Clan and was definitely an important individual.

“Is that the famous Saintess Lin Lang of the Blood Lion Clan?”

“It should be. I heard that she’s cruel, cold-hearted, vicious, and has unfathomable cultivation. It’s worrisome that we’ve fallen into her hands.”

The captured cultivators whispered among themselves, their expressions filled with worry and dismay.

Lin Xun’s expression remained calm as he covertly observed everything.

Bao Ya walked forward and asked in a hushed voice, “Saintess, how are your injuries?”

“They are nothing to worry about.” Lin Lang shook her head.

Shi Yu ground his teeth and angrily said, “Abominable. How dare the Dragon Whale Clan Saint, Yu Xiaosheng, ambush us?! We will definitely pay him back!”

Bao Ya murderously said, “It won’t just be payback; we will also be taking back the Gold Treasure Tree sapling! It was planted by a Saint expert and has been imprinted with the secrets of the gold dao. Such a valuable treasure absolutely cannot be allowed to fall into the Dragon Whale Clan’s hands!”

“There will be an opportunity to settle this debt sooner or later. For now, the most pressing matter is to enter the palace as soon as possible. The saint elixir hidden within possesses mystical properties, and we cannot afford to lose out on such treasures.”

Saintess Lin Lang waved her hand, signaling the group to begin moving deeper into the desert.

Gold Treasure Tree sapling…

Lin Xun was shocked to finally find out that the small golden tree he had seen in the forest contained the profound secrets of gold dao!

What a rare and peerless treasure! When planted, anyone would be able to freely decipher the profound secrets of gold dao from it.

Such a priceless treasure was extremely scarce even in the ancient sects.

From what he had gathered, the Blood Lion Clan originally had their sights on the sapling, but had been ambushed amidst the chaos by the Dragon Whale Clan Saint, Yu Xiaosheng, who ultimately managed to steal it from them.

In addition, the Blood Lion Clan Saintess, Lin Lang, had been injured during the ambush.

Lin Xun was soon no longer able to think about such things because they were nearing their destination.

The cold wind seemed to cut right to the bone, and snow had begun to fall, covering the land like crystal-clear feathers.

Despite his cultivation, Lin Xun could feel a bone-chilling cold. It was far too cold. Even a breeze felt like a cold wave that could freeze everything.

The most shocking part, however, was that a lava lake had appeared amidst the snowy desert!

The lake had a radius of ten thousand feet. Scarlet-red lava churned and roared within it, creating devastating waves of fire and unbearable heat.

The falling snow evaporated before it could come anywhere close to the lake.

It was a rare and bizarre spectacle. The desert was not only plagued by bone-chilling snow, but also contained a boiling lava lake. It coincidentally resembled the mystical coexistence of yin and yang.

“We’ve arrived.”

The Blood Lion Clan experts’ gazes turned excited as they came to a stop.

Saintess Lin Lang took out an apricot-yellow flag and gently waved it, releasing a dazzling pulse of light.

The scenery before everyone’s eyes immediately changed. A straight path emerged on the lava lake, leading straight to its center where an island had appeared.

The island was covered in a purplish-gold mist. A majestic mountain stood amidst the mist, giving off a burning divine radiance as if it were made from purple gold.

The most astonishing part was that there was a palace on the mountain peak. It looked to be constructed from ancient green wood, but had numerous black marks as if the wood had been struck by lightning. As such, it gave off an indescribable aura of mystery.

“Is the legendary saint elixir hidden inside?” Shi Yu swallowed as desire and greed filled his eyes.

The others were also stunned by the scene. Amidst the snow and wind, a path led through the boiling lava lake to the island in the middle. A grand purple gold mountain rose on the island that gave off a divine radiance. An ancient green palace had been built on the mountain peak, spreading a holy glow that felt mysterious and ethereal.

It was a scene that nearly made everyone’s eyes pop out of their sockets and made them realize that an incredible treasure must be hidden within!

However, it would also be filled with extreme danger. Although they were still far away, everyone could sense a mysterious restriction power flowing in the air, filled with unknown horrors.

As a rune founder, Lin Xun was more astonished than anyone else.

It was definitely a sacred land where the five elements coexisted in harmony and could develop endlessly. Snow was water, lava was fire, the path was earth, the mountain was gold, and the palace was wood…

Moreover, there was wind power in the snow and remnant lightning power around the palace!

The purple gold mountain was on top of the lava, creating a ‘gold refined by fire’ scenario, while the wood palace atop the purple gold mountain created yet another harmonious fixture…

It was as if every part of the entire scene was somehow in natural harmony, creating an aura of fullness and perfection!

Such methods were godly, to say the least!

Who had created such a frightening masterpiece all those years ago?

It was practically the work of the creator himself!

At the same time, however, the extreme danger within made Lin Xun’s hands and feet turn cold. Even with his current knowledge of runes, it was difficult for him to gauge its true might.

If they recklessly entered, the consequences would be unpredictable!

All of a sudden, Bao Ya announced, “Everyone, amazing things are hidden here, and all of you are very fortunate to have the chance to explore this place together with us. Now, you may begin to move out.”

𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

The Blood Lion Clan experts began to herd Lin Xun and the others forward, forcing them to scout out the way while the Blood Lion Clan experts followed behind.

The captured cultivators’ expressions sank as they began to grow restless and uneasy. This wasn’t ‘exploring together’, but using them as cannon fodder!

“What’s there to be afraid of? We’re right behind you guys. If anything happens we’ll immediately come and save you.” Shi Yu smiled sinisterly.

He pointed at one of the cultivators and said, “You there, you’ll be first! If you don’t comply, I’ll kill you right here and now!”

The cultivator trembled as his expression fluctuated indeterminately. He begged in a low voice, “Everyone, I will hand over all of my treasures. Please, just let me off, I…”

Scree!

Before he could finish, sword light flashed and beheaded the cultivator. Blood spurted out like a fountain, painting a grisly and shocking sight.

The attack was from Saintess Lin Lang. Her blood-red hair fluttered around her while her pretty face was filled with terrifying frostiness.

“You guys have no choice. Scout the way or die.” Her gaze swept across the captured cultivators as if she was looking at a bunch of dead people.

This woman is as ruthless and vicious as expected…

Lin Xun shivered inside, knowing that she was basically a devil.

Although everyone was angry, they had no choice but to submit because they were terrified of Saintess Lin Lang’s ruthlessness.

“We cultivators have already chosen to go against the flow and should not be afraid of any difficulties. If we retreat the moment there’s danger, how will we ever achieve anything?”

Bao Ya indifferently continued, “This is a grand opportunity that all you must grasp well! Do not betray our good intentions.”

The cultivators were silent although they cursed inside. The old man was shameless and black-hearted. They were clearly being sent to their deaths, and yet he was trying to spin it off as some grand undertaking. Abominable!

However, there was nothing to do but comply.

Forced to lead the way, they stepped onto the mysterious path above the lava that led to the island at the center of the lake.