Eternal Life from Talisman Painting

At the moment when the two screamed and died, Lin Chang’an also finished investigating the surroundings. When he found no hidden dangers, a low phoenix cry resounded through the forest.

"Haha, everyone enter my belly."

The Phoenix Cry Bird suddenly appeared above the forest, unfurling into a gigantic bird fifty zhang long, with terrifying flames boiling around it.

Then a huge mouth opened, and a terrifying golden net covered the sky and earth, followed immediately by a terrifying suction as the gold net enveloped the countless poisonous insects below, drawing them into its mouth.

Seeing this scene, Lin Chang’an was speechless.

The Phoenix Cry Bird was truly greedy, using a magical treasure just to catch every single one without letting any escape.

This golden net was a magical treasure he had crafted for the Phoenix Cry Bird, usually used to build a bird’s nest, and it was extremely strong in its restraining function.

"Where do you think you’re going!"

After swallowing the dense mass of poisonous insects in one gulp, the Phoenix Cry Bird burped out of satisfaction but still not content, it turned into a gold light and charged toward the distance.

It was aiming at two Tier Three Late Stage poisonous insects that, alongside some remaining insects, were terrified and trying to flee as if they had encountered a natural enemy.

Meanwhile, Lin Chang’an stood at the original spot, looking at the two pitted and uneven corpses.

"This Five Elements Forbidden Land has some method for nurturing poisonous insects whose toxicity seems even more ferocious, easily corroding even the Tier Three Dharma Robe of a cultivator, creating pits."

With the Exorcism Technique, he organized the two bodies, and also took out the items from the Storage Bags.

"Consider this my fee for collecting your bodies, fellow Daoists."

Even the magical treasures eroded on their bodies were collected without disdain.

Then, with a wave of his hand, the earth surged, the bodies slowly sinking about three zhang deep into the ground, allowing them to rest in peace as he saw fit.

"Another profit made. As expected of Core Formation cultivators, the materials in their storage bags are quite valuable. No wonder so many people choose to walk the path of tribulation cultivating."

After a careful assessment, Lin Chang’an showed a satisfied expression.

The two weren’t weak, but unfortunately, they came to this poisonous land, and it happened to restrain them. Combined with their internal conflicts,

otherwise, they might still have had a chance to escape.

In the distance, the Phoenix Cry Bird went on a rampage, the suppression from its natural counter triumphantly causing the two Tier Three poisonous insects to die tragically.

Lin Chang’an, with Escape Light, soon reached the front of the two Tier Three poisonous insect corpses, and upon inspection with his palm, indeed sensed some anomalies.

"It is rumored that this Secret Realm seals a Demonic Abyss. Every time the Secret Realm is opened, the leakage of demonic qi would cause some demon beast cultivators to demonize.

However, the demon beasts within the Secret Realm haven’t been demonized, it seems the issue lies with the prohibition within this Five Elements Forbidden Land."

The condition within the bodies of the two Tier Three poisonous insects gave him a familiar feeling, he sensed similar changes within the Cyan-Horned Bull.

"It might be the unique array prohibitions within the Secret Realm and the permeation of this Five Elements Forbidden Land, it could also be a purification method of some sort, causing that every time the Secret Realm opens,

the purified demonic qi promotes the evolution of various demon beasts and poisonous insects here."

Over so many years, Lin Chang’an got very familiar with the Body Refining through demonic qi.

"Master, here are two Tier Three Demon Cores."

The Phoenix Cry Bird eagerly presented the demon cores, while Lin Chang’an was not idle, dismantling the bodies of the two poisonous insects and keeping the valuable materials. Naturally, the useless parts were handed over to the Phoenix Cry Bird to enjoy.

Finally, Lin Chang’an further explored the nest of these poisonous insects, cleaning it up, of course, storing some larvae; bringing those out could fetch a good price.

"The commotion here is too big, let’s hurry up and leave."

After cleaning up the battlefield, Lin Chang’an quickly left the place with the Phoenix Cry Bird.

He hadn’t forgotten what the purpose of this journey was.

...

A few days later, they finally traversed beyond the Wood Forbidden Land’s poisonous miasma mountain ranges, only to be replaced by a scorching land.

The glaring red light, the surrounding high temperature coupled with occasional gusts of hot wind.

Even someone like Lin Chang’an with his Core Formation Late Stage cultivation could feel the heat.

"With my Tier Three Middle Stage body refining physique, I can still feel this heat. I suppose even cultivators of the same tier might fare worse."

The crimson land, the undulating mountains, it was as though being in a scorching world.

"What a comfortable feeling."

The Phoenix Cry Bird, having shrunk its size, plunged into the ground, letting the burning earth wash over its feathers, revealing a relaxed expression.

Yet, a series of fine sizzling sounds echoed, Lin Chang’an looked down and grabbed a handful of red sand.

"This is Red Flame Sand!"

The tiny, sharply-defined red sand particles didn’t leave a single mark on the Phoenix Cry Bird’s feathers, yet Lin Chang’an’s boots, which are made of Tier Three material,

already bore deep scratches after only walking briefly.

Every particle of fine sand was like a sharp blade.

"No wonder it’s called the Five Elements Forbidden Land, this Secret Realm is truly perilous. Without preparations, one can barely imagine the trials the first group of cultivators faced here."

Lin Chang’an had a solemn face, slowly opening the Secret Realm map he acquired from the Yin Soul Sect.

Though it primarily described the underground palace map, it also had routes for the Five Elements Forbidden Land.

"It seems the directions of Sword Servant, Yun Yao, and Mr. Ni Chang have some deviation. Hopefully, they can meet along the road soon."

Before coming here, they secretly collaborated on planning the route; if the random teleportation points were close enough, the chances of meeting would naturally increase as they went deeper.

Sadly, they didn’t encounter each other on the outskirts of the wood’s forbidden land.

"No need to mention Yun Yao’s means, having a Nascent Soul cultivator like the Old Dark Fiend prepare things, undoubtedly extraordinary, and Mr. Ni Chang has also prepared for many years."

Lastly, Lin Chang’an thought of the Sword Servant, feeling fortunate in secret, luckily before entering the Secret Realm, he had transferred a lot of Profound Celestial Mana to the Sword Servant.

In addition to the Sword Servant’s Demon Race bloodline, inherently having poison resistance far surpassing other cultivators of the same tier, plus the Three-headed Yin Sha Corpse Puppet and the Yin Spirit Twin Fury Tiger.

It wouldn’t be too hard there in the Wood Forbidden Land, rather this second Flame Forbidden Land, most Spirit Pets and Corpse Puppets were near useless.

"With such ample preparations, and without Nascent Soul cultivators around, even if encountering troublesome opponents, fleeing is certainly no problem."

Thinking to this point, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but put away the map, raising his hand to cast a water light shield over himself. Although he wasn’t afraid of this heat,

but in this place, it’s better to stay hidden.

Then he proceeded further inward with the Phoenix Cry Bird.

Under the restriction, not only is flying banned, even the Sound Transmission Talisman has no effects.

To meet here, one must be familiar with the Secret Realm, relying on the route, hoping for a chance encounter along the way.