Chapter 90: The Crimson Forbidden Land

In days filled with purpose, time seems to pass swiftly.

At this moment, a child was playing idly with mud on the ground. The imagination of children is boundless—what began as a lump of clay transformed into all sorts of strange shapes in his hands. Suddenly, the boy looked up and spotted a tiny speck high in the sky. He squinted, then shouted loudly.

“Father, there’s a ship in the sky!”

He ran toward his father, who was working in the fields.

“What nonsense are you spouting? Get out of the way and don’t distract me from my work.”

The man, busy hoeing the ground, saw his son’s muddy hands smearing his trousers and quickly shook them off.

“Father, there really is a ship in the sky, look!”

The boy insisted, pointing upward.

“Where?” The man glanced skyward, seeing only a distant black dot. The distance was so great he couldn’t make out what it was, so he assumed it was a bird.

“You rascal, are you asking for a beating? It’s just a bird. Stop yelling and move along, I need to work.”

“It really is a ship!” The boy tried to convince his father, but his persistence irritated the man, who gave him a couple of smacks on the backside. The child burst into tears, running back to his muddy pit where he fashioned a flying ship from clay, replicating what he had seen.

Far above, several dozen disciples at the peak of Qi Refining were gathered on a flying vessel, engaged in tense discussions or forming small groups. The ship was over thirty yards long and ten yards wide, streaking swiftly through the sky toward the Scarlet Forbidden Zone, carrying its passengers to the trial within.

Some were eager, while others were uneasy—the notorious reputation of the Scarlet Forbidden Zone loomed large, with only a thirty to forty percent chance of survival. If not for the relentless nature of cultivation, where stagnation meant decline, few would willingly come.

Most of the disciples were older, some even approaching the end of their lifespan. If they failed to obtain a few Foundation Building Pills here, their lives might soon conclude. Aside from checking their equipment, some were busy forging alliances; those who came rarely had close friends, and even the closest of friends could not be relied upon in the face of great profit. Human nature is unpredictable.

Each was desperate to display their strengths, knowing that gaining an ally could increase their chance of survival. Here, the full spectrum of humanity was on display—the strong looked on with contempt, while the weaker or older banded together for support.

Lin Yang stood atop the flying ship, gazing down at Lin Hu below, feeling somewhat speechless. Lin Hu, meanwhile, was busily courting Lin Shiyu’s favor, hardly showing any nerves.

Now in the eleventh stage of Qi Refining, Lin Hu had grown robust and dark-skinned. Over the past half-year, Lin Yang had tempered him repeatedly, preparing him with methods used for newcomers, so Lin Hu experienced firsthand the feeling of being beset by a crowd. He learned to maneuver through attacks and escape.

Indeed, Lin Hu’s best-learned skill over these months was the art of fleeing. With a single push of his feet, he could leap far away, his escape technique so refined that even Lin Yang, in his own Qi Refining days, would have felt outdone—he was a true little master of running.

To increase Lin Hu’s chances of survival, Lin Yang had crafted a talisman for him, but it was strictly defensive, not to be used for harming others.

Soon, they reached the skies above the Scarlet Secret Realm. The area earned its name because it opens once every five years, admitting only disciples in the Qi Refining stage. The time inside is limited to three or four days, during which constant threats abound.

Most dangerous of all are betrayal from companions and ambush by enemies. Inside, brotherhood means nothing; only pure profit matters. Thus, the mortality rate among disciples of every sect remains high, with only thirty to forty percent surviving.

The time to harvest spirit herbs is only three or four days; those who exceed it are consumed by a blood-colored mist. Some linger inside until the next opening five years later, vanishing without a trace.

The ship landed in an open clearing, and Lin Yang disembarked, followed by dozens of disciples.

“Well, if it isn’t Fellow Daoist Lin,” called a voice.

“Who would have thought you’d come this time? Perhaps the Scarlet Forbidden Zone will be different now.”

It was Hu Yongqiang, a Golden Core master from the Great Sword Sect, who had previously obtained something from Lin Yang. Lin Yang now knew Hu Yongqiang as a pure sword cultivator with a fierce temperament—righteous, ruthless to evil, and famed for slaying many demon sect disciples. Rumor had it several of his own disciples had died at the hands of the demon sect, fueling his relentless pursuit of demonic cultivators.

“Fellow Daoist Hu, you jest. We’re all here to do the legwork.”

“Do you know how much longer until the secret realm opens?”

“At the moment, the secret realm is unstable. Once the other sects arrive, we can work together to open it.”

“I see. How long have we been waiting here, and when will the others arrive?”

Lin Yang realized he had come early, which he disliked; next time, he’d try to arrive later.

“Not much longer now. Look, another one’s arrived.”

Another sect’s ship approached—it was the Moon Concealment Sect’s vessel. Down stepped a scruffy old man.

“Well, it’s Senior Qiong this time. Fancy seeing you here.”

“That’s enough, Hu boy. I can’t be bothered to chat; didn’t expect to be early myself.”

This was the Qiong Master who had bet with Li Yuanhua. He did not appear aged, though his cultivation was still stuck at late Golden Core. With nearly a hundred years left before his end, he wasn’t anxious. At four hundred years old, he was already a Golden Core relic, and his eccentric nature had earned him the nickname “Old Ghost Qiong” among the wider world.

Hu Yongqiang knew the nickname but wouldn’t dare use it to his face, referring to him as “senior” instead.

“Hmm, this kid looks awfully young.”

Senior Qiong turned and saw Lin Yang, studying his youthful face.

“Senior Qiong, I am Lin Yang from Yellow Maple Valley,” Lin Yang greeted him.

The old man considered him thoughtfully. “So you’re the master alchemist. Since it’s the Scarlet Forbidden Zone, how about a wager?”

“What shall we wager?” Lin Yang, seeing Qiong’s playful mood, knew he was keen on a bet.

“Let’s bet on whose disciple gathers more spirit herbs. Dare to take the challenge?” Lin Yang had no fear, with Lin Hu and Lin Shiyu under his command and both equipped with top-tier magical tools. His odds were good. If he lost, the stakes couldn’t be too high; for him, it was no more than a trifle.

“Very well. What does Senior wish to wager?”

Qiong thought for a moment, retrieving a yellowed book from his bag, its cover bearing the words “Limitless Sword Manual.”

“This is the Limitless Sect’s signature technique, capable of reaching Nascent Soul. Interested?”

“Would taking it cause trouble?”

“What trouble? I don’t believe the Limitless Sect would dare hassle me. This will be my stake.”

“What will you wager?” Qiong played the rogue, casually offering anything to Lin Yang.

“I’ll wager this bottle of pills,” Lin Yang said, producing a small jade bottle containing medicine to boost Golden Core cultivation.

“Let me see,” Qiong grabbed the bottle, his greasy hands smearing Lin Yang’s. He opened it, sniffed, and understood its effects, then tossed it back.

“Alright, your sincerity’s good enough. Let’s bet.”

The wager was set. By now, the other sects had arrived.

“All right, time’s almost up. Let’s begin,” said Old Ghost Qiong, the most senior of the Golden Core masters.

“Very well, Senior Qiong.”

The Golden Core masters formed a circle above the secret realm, each launching a beam of energy into the barrier. A gap opened, glowing with mysterious blue light.

“Alright, all disciples participating in the trial, go in!” Old Ghost Qiong barked. The disciples stepped into the blue light, and as they entered, they were transported into the secret realm, destination unknown.

Lin Hu had already been sent inside. Lin Yang felt a twinge of worry but could only wait outside, hoping for the best.