At that moment, a sudden change occurred! Purple lightning once again descended from the sky, but this time the target was not Wu Dewang—it struck the wooden box in Gu Sheng's hands!

"What's happening?!" Gu Sheng exclaimed in shock. He tried to evade the lightning's attack, but it was already too late! The purple lightning struck the wooden box with ferocity, instantly shattering it to pieces. The immense force sent Gu Sheng flying backward, crashing heavily to the ground.

"No!!! My treasure!!!" Gu Sheng struggled to get up from the ground, his eyes locked onto the pile of ashes. The wooden box that once contained his precious artifact was now nothing more than ruin. His heart ached as waves of anger and despair surged within him.

Meanwhile, Wu Dewang was in a different state altogether. He was desperately searching around for the fragments of the Big Broken Bowl, his expression filled with urgency and focus.

Suddenly, a chilling sensation swept over him. When he looked up, he was met with Gu Sheng's fiery, piercing gaze, as though flames were about to burst forth from his eyes.

"Ah! My friend, let me explain!" Wu Dewang's heart jumped in alarm as he instinctively took a few steps back.

But Gu Sheng didn't intend to let him escape easily. With a wave of his hand, the Grass Vine Demon Soul shot out from the ground, tightly binding Wu Dewang in place.

"Spare me, my friend! I keep trying to avoid you, but we always run into each other—it must be fate!" Wu Dewang pleaded, his face full of distress.

Gu Sheng didn't respond, only staring coldly at him with a mysterious glint in his eyes. This was his Great Moon Pupil Skill, capable of probing thoughts and reading memories.

Under Gu Sheng's Pupil Skill, Wu Dewang felt as though his mind had been completely laid bare to the other party, waves of panic surging through him.

"My friend, please spare me! I know of an even greater treasure, one that can make up for your loss!" Wu Dewang hurriedly offered his bait in a desperate bid for survival.

Gu Sheng's eyes flickered slightly upon hearing this. He retracted the Grass Vine Demon Soul and said coldly, "Speak!"

Wu Dewang let out a sigh of relief and quickly explained, "Do you know about the seven lifebound zones in Central Province?"

"The Taichu Ancient Mine, the Forbidden Desolate Land, the Undying Mountain…" Gu Sheng listed them calmly; these were common knowledge in the cultivation world.

"Exactly! Those places!" Wu Dewang's eyes lit up. "Aside from the Taichu Ancient Mine, I know the exact location of the Forbidden Desolate Land. The treasures there are of immortal grade—they are absolutely worth exploring!"

Gu Sheng's heart stirred upon hearing this. He had already planned to venture into these lifebound zones to seek greater treasures and opportunities. With Wu Dewang as a guide, it seemed like a promising opportunity.

"Alright, I'll trust you this once." Gu Sheng deliberated for a moment before replying, "Lead the way. We're going to the Forbidden Desolate Land."

As soon as these words were said, Xing Lie, Wu Tianxiong, and the others observing the conversation jumped in, expressing their desire to join. They were also interested in the Forbidden Desolate Land but had lacked any concrete leads until now.

"My friend, this man is cunning and should not be trusted!" Xing Lie warned with a frown.

"It's fine." Gu Sheng waved his hand dismissively. "With my Great Moon Pupil Skill, if he tries to deceive me, I'll make him wish for death."

The others, seeing his confidence, chose not to argue further. They began gathering their gear, ready to follow Gu Sheng and Wu Dewang on their expedition to the Forbidden Desolate Land.

Along the journey, Wu Dewang proved true to his word. Using the routes stored in his memory, he led the group through layers of dense fog and treacherous terrain, finally reaching the edge of the Forbidden Desolate Land.

Before them lay a barren desert of shifting sands, where fierce winds whipped grains of sand into violent whirlwinds resembling giant sand dragons. At the very center of the desert stood an ancient and enigmatic stone gate, its surface covered in elaborate runes and carvings.

"This is the entrance to the Forbidden Desolate Land," Wu Dewang said, pointing at the gate. "But be cautious! The dangers within are not to be trifled with."

"Hmph! Danger comes hand in hand with opportunity!" Gu Sheng snorted coldly. "If you're scared, you're free to turn back now."

"Hehe~ You jest, my friend." Wu Dewang laughed awkwardly. "Since I've brought you all the way here, how could I quit so easily?"

Sharing knowing smiles, the group proceeded cautiously toward the stone gate…

The moment they stepped through the gate, a surge of ancient, mysterious energy enveloped them, as though attempting to swallow them whole.

"Everyone, stay alert!" Gu Sheng warned, simultaneously releasing his Divine Sense to probe the surroundings. "It feels like there's some ancient force guarding this land."

The group nodded in agreement, each deploying their own Divine Sense to keep a vigilant watch over their surroundings.

As they followed an ancient stone staircase deeper into the site, they soon emerged into a sprawling expanse of ruins. The remains indicated that this had once been an imposing complex of palaces—but now, only decay and destruction remained.

"It seems a great battle took place here long ago!" Xing Lie marveled. "Judging by the architectural style, these ruins must date back to the Ancient times."

"Indeed!" Gu Sheng nodded. "And judging by the scars left here, the battle must have been unimaginably fierce."

Pressing onward, the group eventually arrived before a grand hall. Though the structure was in shambles, traces of its former glory and magnificence were still discernible.

"This should be the central area of the Forbidden Desolate Land," Wu Dewang pointed out. "The treasures we're looking for should be inside."

Gu Sheng frowned slightly. He couldn't shake the feeling that the place was both eerie and dangerous, but his curiosity drove him forward nonetheless.

Without further hesitation, the group stepped into the hall.

Upon entering, an overwhelming pressure engulfed them—a sensation akin to having a massive, invisible mountain weighing down on their hearts, making even breathing arduous.

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