"What an overwhelming pressure!" Xing Lie exclaimed, "What kind of power is this?"

"If my guess is correct, this should be the protective force of the Ancient Forbidden Land," Gu Sheng said solemnly, "Everyone, be careful!"

Upon hearing this, everyone nodded in agreement and began channeling their cultivation techniques to resist the immense pressure as they slowly advanced...

They passed through a long corridor and arrived in a stone chamber. This stone chamber was clearly the core area of the great hall, as they felt an even stronger pressure and a mysterious aura here.

"Looks like we've found the right place!" Wu Dewang said excitedly, "This must be where the treasure of the Ancient Forbidden Land is hidden!"

At that moment, an even more overwhelming pressure descended from above, as if it was going to crush the entire stone chamber. Everyone's hearts tightened, and they quickly activated their cultivation techniques to withstand the terrifying force.

Simultaneously, the light in the stone chamber suddenly became bright, illuminating the entire space. Everyone was astonished to see a massive stone tablet in the center of the chamber, carved with ancient text and patterns.

"This is... the Ancient Stone Tablet?" Gu Sheng said in shock, "It records the cultivation techniques and martial skills of the ancient era!"

Hearing this, everyone gathered around and examined the text and patterns on the tablet closely. They discovered that the cultivation techniques and martial skills were profoundly intricate and powerful, clearly representing the pinnacle of ancient methods.

As they immersed themselves in the profound mysteries of these techniques and skills, an even more terrifying force suddenly erupted from the stone tablet, threatening to destroy the entire stone chamber.

"Not good! Retreat quickly!" Gu Sheng shouted, his voice resonating through the chamber like thunder, jolting everyone awake. He pulled the group back swiftly, disappearing in a flash.

The next moment, they reappeared in a completely different location.

"Is this... the Red Cloud Forbidden Land?" Gu Sheng furrowed his brows and scanned the surroundings. He saw nine towering Holy Mountains encircling a massive Eight Diagram Array at the center. This resembled the place he had once explored in the Red Cloud Continent, but there were some differences. Back then, there were only seven dragon heads, but now there were nine—majestic and mysterious.

Xing Lie, Wu Tianxiong, Ying Tianxing, and Kou Hai also sensed the extraordinary nature of this place. They greedily inhaled the dense spiritual energy in the air, their eyes gleaming with excitement and anticipation.

"Woof, woof, woof!" Black Emperor barked excitedly; it seemed to have an innate sensitivity to this enigmatic land.

Gu Sheng stepped toward the nearest Holy Mountain. At the foot of the mountain was a paradise-like scene—clear streams, verdant grass, birdsong, and flowers in full bloom—filling the air with tranquility. But the higher he climbed, the scenery grew increasingly terrifying.

The mountain path was littered with the remains of various creatures and humans, emanating a nauseating stench. These bones seemed to narrate tales of fierce battles and the tragic fates of countless adventurers.

"The aura here is so horrifying..." Xing Lie swallowed nervously, his face pale.

"Yes, I feel my life force rapidly draining," Wu Tianxiong remarked, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Everyone activated their cultivation techniques, trying to fend off the terrifying death aura. However, apart from Gu Sheng and Black Emperor, the others' life force was visibly diminishing at an alarming rate.

Xing Lie and the others' skin began to sag, wrinkles crawled across their faces, and they suddenly looked decades older, resembling elders in their eighties. Wu Dewang was in even worse condition, appearing over a century old, with folds of skin clinging together, making him look exceedingly frail and decrepit.

"What's happening? Why are we aging so rapidly?" Ying Tianxing asked in horror.

"The death aura here is too heavy; it's affecting our life force," Kou Hai explained with a frown. "We must leave this place immediately."

Gu Sheng, however, remained motionless. He seemed to be contemplating something, determination flickering in his eyes.

"No," he said slowly. "This place may be filled with deathly energy, but it also contains immense vitality. Feel the spiritual energy density here—it's far richer than the outside world. This is an excellent place for cultivation; we just haven't discovered the proper method to harness it yet."

Upon hearing this, everyone calmed down and focused on sensing the fluctuations of spiritual energy around them. Sure enough, as Gu Sheng had said, the spiritual energy here was incredibly dense, merely masked by the death aura.

"What should we do then?" Wu Tianxiong asked, "We can't just stay here and wait to die, can we?"

"Of course not," Gu Sheng smiled faintly. "Follow me. I know of a place where we can temporarily avoid the invasion of the death aura."

With that, he led the group toward the mountain peak. Though hesitant, the others had no choice but to follow closely behind. Black Emperor wagged its tail as it followed, seeming to trust Gu Sheng completely.

Under Gu Sheng's guidance, they reached the entrance of a cave surrounded by mysterious runes. "This is a place I explored once before," Gu Sheng explained. "These runes can block the external death aura, allowing us to cultivate here for a while."

Hearing this, the group sighed with relief and entered the cave. As expected, the air inside was much fresher, devoid of the suffocating death aura. They sat cross-legged and started their cultivation.

Days went by as they cultivated in this mysterious cave, their strength slowly but noticeably increasing...

One day, Gu Sheng suddenly opened his eyes, filled with excitement and hope. "The time has come. We can leave now."

At his words, everyone stopped cultivating and stood up. They felt their bodies brimming with energy, as if they had been reborn.

As they stepped out of the cave, they were shocked to find that their previously aged faces had returned to their youthful appearance!

"What... What just happened?" Xing Lie asked in amazement, touching his face as if he were dreaming.

"The spiritual energy here healed our bodies," Gu Sheng explained. "This energy is not just extraordinarily dense; it also contains powerful life force that can heal old wounds and reverse aging."

"So, can we stay here and cultivate indefinitely?" Wu Tianxiong asked excitedly, already envisioning the day he would become a peak-level powerhouse.

Gu Sheng shook his head. "The spiritual energy here is rich, but it has its limits. We cannot rely on it indefinitely to improve our strength; otherwise, it will hinder our cultivation path. Besides, there are hidden dangers here; we cannot linger for too long."

The group reluctantly left the cave. The mountain path ahead grew increasingly steep, seemingly reaching into the sky. They exchanged determined looks, each seeing resolve in the others' eyes. As they continued climbing, the gravity intensified, making every step agonizingly difficult.

"Crack—" Xing Lie's bones gave under the strain. He let out a pained scream and collapsed to the ground.

"I... I can't go on..." Xing Lie gasped, his face ashen.

Kou Hai, Wu Tianxiong, and Ying Tianxing also stopped climbing, their bodies pushed to the brink. Only Gu Sheng, Wu Dewang, and Black Emperor persisted in moving forward.

Gu Sheng turned back to glance at his struggling teammates, inhaled deeply, and said, "You guys should return to the cave to rest. Black Emperor and I will keep going."

"But..." Wu Dewang looked at Gu Sheng with concern. "Can you manage on your own?"

"I'll be fine," Gu Sheng reassured him with a smile. "I sense the aura of a Divine Spring ahead. If we can locate it, it will enhance both our cultivation and lifespan."

Hearing the term "Divine Spring," Xing Lie and the others' eyes lit up. However, they knew their current physical condition wouldn't allow them to advance further.

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