Chapter 971: The Bones of the Forbidden Land

"I want to check out the forbidden grounds first," Xiao Nanfeng said.

"Immortal Emperor Xiao, there's nothing worth seeing in the forbidden grounds. Why not take down the thief who stole my body first? I'll personally guide you into the grounds afterwards. Besides, I have some treasures that thief took which can shield against the poisonous miasma in the forbidden grounds," Ao Xi suggested.

Xiao Nanfeng shook his head. "We'll head to the forbidden grounds first, then deal with the imposter."

He didn't trust Ao Xi and wasn't inclined to follow his plans. Although he wanted to capture the imposter Dragon King, now wasn't the right time. The imposter had invited numerous powerful figures from the Western Sea to a gathering; making a move now would yield no advantage.

Additionally, the golden sapling within Xiao Nanfeng's body was trembling, seemingly drawn to something in the direction of the forbidden grounds. There might be something there the sapling urgently needed.

"But why?" Ao Xi asked curiously.

Before Xiao Nanfeng could explain, Ao Zhou suddenly interjected, "Xiao Nanfeng, do you think there's some kind of treasure hidden in the forbidden grounds?"

Xiao Nanfeng hadn't expected Ao Zhou to jump to that conclusion, but it saved him the trouble of explaining. He nodded.

Ao Zhou turned angrily to Ao Xi. "Ao Xi, you're being dishonest! The forbidden grounds are where the ancestral dragon returned. A place tied to the ancestral dragon couldn't possibly be without treasures. Were you planning to freeload without sharing anything with us?"

Ao Xi froze. "That's not true! I swear!"

"If that's true, then bring us there so we can see for ourselves," Ao Zhou demanded.

Ao Xi: ...

Why was it so hard to persuade Xiao Nanfeng to go after the imposter Dragon King? How did this end up turning into a trip to the forbidden grounds instead?

"Lead the way, Ao Xi," Xiao Nanfeng ordered.

Sensing the group's firm attitude, Ao Xi had no choice but to agree reluctantly. "Fine."

With Ao Xi leading the way, the group soon arrived at the edge of the forbidden grounds. There, a massive barrier enveloped the area in roiling black fog.

Ao Xi formed a seal with his hands. "This method of entry was left behind by the ancestral dragon."

With a hum, the barrier trembled. A series of runes appeared where Ao Xi had manifested his seal, forming an opening before the group.

The five cultivators stepped inside. With a whoosh, the opening snapped shut.

As soon as they entered, a gust of black wind surged toward them.

"Careful!" Ao Xi exclaimed, quickly hiding behind Xiao Nanfeng.

The black wind penetrated the cultivators' qi barriers and struck their bodies.

Ao Zhou's eyes widened in surprise. "This black wind is trying to get inside my body! It has incredibly potent corrosive properties, almost as if it's deadly poison."

Ao Xi urged, "I told you, it's dangerous! We can't stay here. Let's go!"

"I feel just fine," Croak said.

"Hm?" The others turned to Croak.

"The cursed spiritual power makes me uncomfortable, but that's it. The poison in the black wind isn't a problem. Warble and I are immune. We can even absorb it for our cultivation."

Warble nodded in agreement.

Ao Zhou gaped. "You two toxic freaks are unbelievable."

Xiao Nanfeng could sense the cursed spiritual power and miasma in the air, but his Jade Emperor's Frame could purify all such toxins, leaving him unharmed.

However, the cursed spiritual power here was unusually potent. It was more destructive than any that he had encountered to date. Even so, it couldn't damage his Imposing Avatar of Rulai.

In addition to the cursed spiritual power and poisonous miasma, there were scattered remnants of heart force in the area. This heart force seemed to have attracted the golden sapling's attention.

With a hum, a golden light radiated from his body as the golden sapling rapidly began absorbing the heart force. He realized this energy was emanating from somewhere deeper within the forbidden territory.

"Let's go take a look," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Though Ao Zhou was discomfited by the black wind, he was sure that there was treasure in the vicinity. He refused to back down.

Croak and Warble, as always, followed Xiao Nanfeng's lead.

"What if I wait outside the barrier? My cultivation is very weak at present. I can't handle the corrosion," Ao Xi said anxiously.

"There's no need. Croak and Warble will protect you. You're coming with us," Xiao Nanfeng said.

Croak and Warble flanked Ao Xi, leaving him no chance to escape.

"I swear, there aren't any treasures here!" Ao Xi grumbled.

Xiao Nanfeng led the group deeper inside, and everyone else followed him. Ao Xi had no choice but to follow along.

The deeper they went, the stronger the cursed spiritual power and miasma grew. While Croak and Warble could handle it, Ao Zhou began to struggle.

"Xiao Nanfeng, I can't take it anymore! I think I'm being poisoned!" Ao Zhou exclaimed.

"I'll help you," Croak offered.

Croak placed a hand on Ao Zhou. With a rumbling sound, Croak absorbed all the poisonous miasma from Ao Zhou's body, leaving him feeling much better. Warble did the same for Ao Xi.

"Wow, I feel great! Croak, you toxic freak, you're actually useful!" Ao Zhou murmured in wonder.

Croak rolled its eyes. "Of course I am!"

The group followed Xiao Nanfeng to the heart of the mountains. A valley lay within. The cultivators searched the valley for some time, but there was nothing to be found.

"There's nothing in this valley. Xiao Nanfeng, were you mistaken?"

Through his golden sapling, Xiao Nanfeng sensed that the heart force was connected to a special space. He tried to probe with his spiritual power and qi, but couldn't seem to sense the space otherwise.

After a moment's thought, he enveloped the group in the sapling's golden light and moved toward the source of the heart force. With a rumble, they left the valley and entered a dark, secluded space.

"What? Where are we?" Ao Xi exclaimed.

"There really is treasure!" Ao Zhou shouted.

Floating in the air, they looked down to see a black swamp filled with the faintly glowing white bones of massive beasts.

"The bones are moving!" Ao Zhou exclaimed.

One of the skeletons, a hundred-foot-tall tiger, slowly emerged from the swamp. Its bones emitted a faint white light, and its eyes glowed red with violent energy.

"What's going on? Is this tiger skeleton still alive?" Ao Zhou asked in shock.

With a roar, the skeletal tiger charged at them.

"What a powerful aura!" Ao Zhou cried out, throwing a punch. "Shatter!"

With a deafening crash, the skeletal tiger deflected Ao Zhou's punch and sent him flying.

"It's just a skeleton! How can it be so strong?" Ao Zhou exclaimed, transforming into a hundred-foot-long black dragon and charging forward again.

With a deafening roar, the dragon and tiger collided, sending fiery shockwaves through the air. Despite his power, Ao Zhou was once again sent flying.

"It's too strong! Croak, help me!" Ao Zhou shouted.

"On my way!" Gu Gu transformed into a massive golden toad and joined the fight.

Together, they managed to force the skeletal tiger back.

Roaring in rage, the skeletal tiger attacked again.

"Die!" Croak and Ao Zhou roared, unleashing a fiery battle against the tiger with their combined might.

Even with Ao Zhou's draconic heritage and Gu Gu's formidable power, they barely managed to hold their own.

"How can this skeletal tiger be so strong?" Warble exclaimed.

"Immortal Emperor Xiao, we should retreat. It's too dangerous!" Ao Xi urged.

Xiao Nanfeng ignored Ao Xi. "Warble, you go too!"

Warble nodded, transforming into a massive golden toad and leaping into the fray.

With their combined strength, the trio finally gained the upper hand.

As the fight raged on, the three cultivators seized an opportunity to attack the skeletal tiger simultaneously.

Their combined blows shattered the skeletal tiger's bones.

"We did it! Just what treasure is located here if even the guards are this strong?" Ao Zhou murmured.

"Wait, something's wrong!" Croak suddenly shouted.

The skeletal tiger was just the beginning. The other skeletons in the swamp began to stir. Countless beasts rose up—giant birds, elephants, whales, and lions—all glowing faintly and radiating the same terrifying aura as the skeletal tiger.

The skeletal beasts roared and charged toward the cultivators.

"Each one is as strong as that skeletal tiger from before!" Croak shouted.

"It took all three of us to take down a single skeletal tiger. There must be a hundred more here—what are we going to do?!" Ao Zhou shrieked.

"Immortal Emperor Xiao, we need to leave now!" Ao Xi urged again.

Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward, drawing the divine undying blade. "Ao Zhou, Croak, Warble, protect Ao Xi. I'll handle this."

"Got it!" Croak and Warble replied immediately.

"Are you sure you can handle them?" Ao Zhou asked doubtfully. Even so, he nodded.

Xiao Nanfeng stepped forward, his blade flashing as he sliced through a giant skeletal leopard. The beast retaliated with a golden bolt of lightning.

"Careful! That's a divine thunderbolt!" Ao Zhou warned.

With a deafening crack, Xiao Nanfeng cut through the lightning and the leopard in one swing.

Ao Zhou: ...

One after another, the skeletal beasts charged at Xiao Nanfeng, but he fought them off with ease. Streaks of green light sliced through the air and dismantled the beasts.

Xiao Nanfeng focused entirely on offense. Though the skeletal beasts struck him multiple times, knocking him backwards, his body was so overwhelmingly strong that their attacks caused him no significant wounds. He massacred the beasts. Shattered bone rained down across the battlefield like a storm.

Ao Zhou's eyes widened in disbelief. "Xiao Nanfeng, that freak—just how did he cultivate? How can he be so powerful?!"

Ao Xi was equally stunned. "Didn't Xiao Nanfeng just become a Boundless Immortal? He's already as strong as I was at my peak! What incredible power!"

Xiao Nanfeng, alone against the tide of skeletal beasts, dominated the battlefield.