Chapter 362: Ancient City, Skeleton
Hundred Battles City, Beast King City, Giant City, and Asura City.
The four ancient city factions in the Death Realm that had been passed down for more than 20,000 years mobilized more than a thousand five-colored skeletons to seek the Well of Heaven Ascension hidden deep in the Death Realm together.
Such a huge force was almost as strong as the Seven Races of the Ancient Age, right?
Lin Jiufeng was quite astonished.
Not everyone could enter the Death Realm, yet so many five-colored skeletons were born.
The Five-Colored Skeleton Realm was equivalent to the Immortal King Realm.
It was quite amazing for there to be so many five-colored skeletons here.
‘If all of them enter the mortal realm, it will have another huge impact on the current stable situation.’ Lin Jiufeng sighed in his heart.
This world was filled with so many threats.
If the mortal realm wanted to maintain a stable and peaceful situation where the common people lived and worked in peace, a huge price was required.
Lin Jiufeng followed at the back. He hid his aura and held the Baleful Energy Treasure Box, frantically absorbing the baleful energy.
This baleful energy was very powerful. Once it invaded the soul of a five-colored skeleton, in three to five seconds, it could make the five-colored skeleton at the Immortal King Realm disintegrate on the spot.
It was extremely terrifying.
Hence, Lin Jiufeng wanted to gather enough of it to use it as a trump card.
Without the Light of the Homes, the General Appointing Platform, and the Sword of the Holy Church, the current Lin Jiufeng needed to prepare some backup plans for emergencies.
But when he was collecting the baleful energy, he accidentally discovered some sneaky five-colored skeletons that were rushing into the depths of the Death Realm.
“These are all rogue cultivators. They don’t join the cities and cultivate alone, but they also want to enter the mortal realm, so they also followed along this time,” the crystal skull explained.
These rogue cultivators weren’t weak. They followed cautiously behind the four top ancient cities.
They were even more careful than Lin Jiufeng. They didn’t dare to be careless at all. After all, they didn’t have the Primordial Concealment Technique. Once they were discovered, they would need to face the fury of the four ancient cities.
Hence, they were following from very, very far away, not daring to alert the four ancient cities.
Moreover, there weren’t just one or two rogue cultivators. There were at least 70 to 80 of them. Most of them had discovered each other, but none of them made a public announcement. Everyone knew their own limitations and knew that everyone was in the same situation, so why expose the other party?
Of course, it was even more impossible for them to discover Lin Jiufeng, even when he was collecting the baleful life energy.
Just like that, the main force of the four ancient cities advanced forward. After they passed, the road left behind them was absolutely a safe one.
Behind them was Lin Jiufeng. And behind Lin Jiufeng was a group of rogue cultivators.
When Black Skeleton, White Skeleton, and the crystal skull saw this scene, they couldn’t help but sigh.
“If it weren’t for Immortal King Lin, how would I become a part of this? I’m afraid that I don’t even dare to enter the depths of the Death Realm now, and I’m still staying at the periphery of the Death Realm.” Black Skeleton sighed.
“That’s right. If we didn’t encounter Immortal King Lin, we would be two salted fish with no dreams. But now, we also have ambitions,” White Skeleton said.
“Your situations are still considered okay even if you two didn’t follow Immortal King Lin. For me, I really have to thank Immortal King Lin. This time, I can see how the King of the Netherworld found the Well of Heaven Ascension back then,” the crystal skull said with anticipation.
Back then, it didn’t have a chance to see the process of the King of the Netherworld finding the Well of Heaven Ascension. It only saw the Well of Heaven Ascension once when the King of the Netherworld had already found it.
But it only saw the Well of Heaven Ascension that one time.
Now, it could personally see Lin Jiufeng walk the path that the King of the Netherworld had walked back then.
To the crystal skull, this was a surprise. Therefore, it also began to treat Lin Jiufeng with sincerity. It was no longer as fake and perfunctory as before.
As they continued to go deeper, there were no longer any traces of skeletons in the depths of the Death Realm.
There were many mysterious ruins here, and there were also many prehistoric ancient ruins that no one knew their origins of.
Danger and opportunity coexisted.
Of course, the danger was greater than the opportunity. It was normal for five-colored skeletons to die here.
Deep in the Death Realm was a vast resplendent wasteland.
In this vast wasteland, there were many ancient cities scattered. They weren’t connected, but they bloomed with the resplendent flames of civilization. They had been prosperous since ancient times.
But now, these ancient cities had already collapsed, leaving only broken walls and ruins that were still recounting their glory back then.
The five-colored skeletons from the four ancient cities were all observing seriously. This was really the first time they had walked so deep into the Death Realm.
They naturally had to observe carefully.
Their speed became slower and slower. They no longer traveled 1,000 miles a day like before.
Now, every time they walked a distance, they had to carefully check their surroundings to ensure that there was no danger.
In the depths of the Death Realm, so many five-colored skeletons died every year. They all knew how dangerous this place was.
Although there were more than a thousand five-colored skeletons now, they weren’t on good terms to begin with. They were on guard against each other, so how could they cooperate wholeheartedly?
When Lin Jiufeng saw the broken walls and ruins that existed deep in the Death Realm, he asked, “Someone once built an ancient city here. Although it’s dilapidated now, looking at the shape of the broken walls and walls, it was also a very huge faction back then. Why did it fall?”
“Moreover, even if that faction declined, why didn’t any five-colored skeletons establish another faction here? Instead, they distanced themselves from the core area and hid at the edge of the depths of the Death Realm?” Lin Jiufeng asked.
“This… I don’t know,” the crystal skull said.
“I’m just a skeleton that was born in the Death Realm 20,000 years ago. No one can clearly explain some of the original matters. Moreover, after I was born, there was the appearance of the King of the Netherworld. The Death Realm was overturned and started a huge reshuffle. The matters of the past became even more unclear.”
“But I seem to have remembered something. It’s related to the King of the Netherworld.” As the crystal skull spoke, it remembered something from back then.
“What is it?” Lin Jiufeng was very curious.
In fact, he was very curious about everything that happened to the King of the Netherworld in the Death Realm back then.
Black Skeleton and White Skeleton also listened seriously. Like good students, they listened seriously without commenting.
The crystal skull recalled and said, “Back then, the King of the Netherworld entered the depths of the Death Realm and defeated a group of five-colored skeletons. She destroyed a few ancient cities and confirmed her reputation of being invincible. Then, she disappeared for three months.”
“Disappeared for three months?” Lin Jiufeng asked.
“Yes, she disappeared for three months!”
“Moreover, during the time that she disappeared, someone heard the sound of killing coming from the depths of the Death Realm. Someone also sneaked into the depths of the Death Realm and obtained some firsthand information,” the crystal skull said.
“What information?” Lin Jiufeng asked curiously.
“They said that the King of the Netherworld killed a lot of skeletons in the depths of the Death Realm. She killed many five-colored skeletons and even destroyed several ancient cities deep in the Death Realm,” the crystal skull said.
“In the depths of the Death Realm, there’s a huge golden desert. According to the description of the skeletons that entered, the desert was dyed in a tragic blood-red color. The smell of blood was pungent, the rising blood mist, the shattered bones on the ground, the soul flames, and the endless blood mud formed a hellish Asura painting. It was very brutal. At least hundreds of five-colored skeletons died. Some skeletons even discovered that a crystal skeleton was killed in one strike and was nailed to the desert.”
“This is also the only time that the King of the Netherworld went on a killing spree in the depths of the Death Realm. She fought hundreds of enemies alone and displayed her terrifying strength. From then on, there was no more ancient city in the depths of the Death Realm. It was also difficult for the five-colored skeletons to enter as the danger factor increased.”
The crystal skull explained tirelessly.
“Doesn’t that mean that it was the King of the Netherworld who destroyed the last few ancient cities deep in the Death Realm? Didn’t she just come to the depths of the Death Realm at that time? Why is there such a huge hatred?” Lin Jiufeng asked, puzzled.
“I don’t know about this. This is an unsolved mystery. The King of the Netherworld didn’t say anything. After destroying those ancient cities, she began the process of searching for the Well of Heaven Ascension. Then, she left the Death Realm,” the crystal skull said.
“You personally witnessed the King of the Netherworld leave the depths of the Death Realm?” Lin Jiufeng asked.
“Yes, I saw it with my own eyes. She entered the Well of Heaven Ascension and never appeared again. At that time, I was too weak and didn’t dare to approach the Well of Heaven Ascension at all. I just watched from afar and waited for three years before leaving. From then on, I spent a thousand years cultivating to the Crystal Skeleton Realm with the huge resources that she left for me.”
“You guys know the rest of the story. I was chased by a few crystal skeletons that came out of nowhere. In the end, my head was separated and my body was taken away by them,” the crystal skull said through gritted teeth.
“Aren’t the crystal skeletons that are pursuing you from the ancient cities like the Giant City?” Lin Jiufeng asked in surprise.
He had always thought that the enemies of the crystal skull were from these ancient cities.
But from the looks of it, it wasn’t the case.
“Of course not. Although they also want to catch me and interrogate me about the location of the Well of Heaven Ascension and the news of the King of the Netherworld, these idiots don’t dare to enter the core of the depths of the Death Realm. I’ve been hiding there all this time, so they weren’t the ones chasing after me,” the crystal skull explained.
Lin Jiufeng thought about it and agreed that this was indeed the case.
If it were these ancient cities, then the crystal skull would definitely ask Lin Jiufeng to help it find its body in those cities.
Right now, the four ancient cities weren’t on guard at all. Everyone wanted to discover the Well of Heaven Ascension and then enter the mortal world through it. If Lin Jiufeng changed path and went to seek its body, they could obtain the skeleton body of the crystal skull without any effort.
“In other words, you also don’t know who took your body and where your body is now?” Black Skeleton asked curiously.
“You can say that.” The crystal skull nodded.
“That’s not right. Didn’t you previously say that a portion of your bones was hung in a city?” White Skeleton asked.
“Since you don’t know where it is now, how do you know that it’s in an ancient city?” Lin Jiufeng asked curiously.
“Although I don’t know where it is, I can sense it. My body and head are separated, but I’m still a crystal skeleton after all. I have a powerful sense of my body. Even if the connection is cut and the connection is blocked, there will still be a weak signal. Over the years, my sense of the signal has confirmed that my body is trapped in a large city,” the crystal skull said.
“Where’s that large city?” Lin Jiufeng asked.
Since the crystal skull could sense its body, then there wasn’t any problem.
“It’s in the depths of the Death Realm!” The crystal skull said solemnly.
“You’re saying that there’s a city deep in the Death Realm, and your body is inside?” Lin Jiufeng asked in surprise.
“Yes, there are really too many secrets in the depths of the Death Realm. We have to explore them properly this time,” the crystal skull admitted.
“In that case, we shall follow behind the five-colored skeletons of these four ancient cities and continue forward.” Lin Jiufeng looked at the abandoned ancient cities around him. He didn’t stay any longer and advanced with the main group.
Behind him, far away, a group of rogue cultivators was advancing cautiously.
As they walked, the sky darkened.
The five-colored skeleton of the four ancient cities arrived in front of a huge mountain range.
This was a place where few had stepped foot.
The true definition of a vast wasteland.
The vast wasteland was boundless for millions of miles.
In the vast wasteland, there was a mountain range that was majestic and had a lofty aura.
It was tens of thousands of feet tall. Looking from afar, it was a vast expanse of darkness with no end.
The five-colored skeletons of the four ancient cities were on guard for a while. After carefully observing, they divided into four directions and entered this mountain range.
Lin Jiufeng also followed in. He followed behind the five-colored skeletons from the Giant City.
He should stick to his target. Since he was following the Giant City from the beginning, he should continue to follow the Giant City now.
Moreover, the skeletons in the Giant City were really too big. The path they had walked should be much safer, Lin Jiufeng would be more at ease following them.
Warily entering this magnificent mountain range, Lin Jiufeng released his spiritual perception and paid attention to the commotion in all directions.
If there was any movement, he had to prepare to hide and let the five-colored skeletons of the Giant City take the lead in dealing with whatever trouble that might appear.
After Lin Jiufeng entered the mountain range, he looked up. Every mountain here was exceptionally huge, towering into the clouds.
The most strange thing was that some of the mountain peaks had been flattened, like huge platforms inserted into the clouds.
When the crystal skull saw this scene, it said in a low voice, “A faint sense tells me that this place is called the Heaven Broken Mountain Range. It’s a very terrifying place. It’s said that a portion of it was cut off by the heavens, that’s why it has this name.”
“Can you even sense such a thing?” Lin Jiufeng asked in surprise.
“I can sense it because after crossing the mountain range here, we will see the ancient city that imprisoned my body,” the crystal skull said solemnly.
“What? We are already so close to that city?” Lin Jiufeng was very surprised.
“Doesn’t that mean that there are several crystal skeletons in that city?” Black Skeleton asked worriedly.
“That’s right. How many crystal skeletons chased after you back then?” White Skeleton asked.
Lin Jiufeng also became serious. This wasn’t a joke.
If it was a five-colored skeleton, he could still give it a try. If he couldn’t defeat it, he could still escape.
But if the opponent was a crystal skeleton, then he wouldn’t be able to escape.
“There’s no need to worry. Back then, when they captured me, there were four crystal skeletons, but I killed one and injured three. This is also the reason why I’m in such a miserable state now. Do they really think that they won’t need to pay a price for capturing me?” The crystal skull sneered.
“Now that 20,000 years have passed, wouldn’t they have recovered?” Lin Jiufeng asked calmly.
“I don’t think so. Their source energies were injured. Recovering after just 20,000 years? Not possible.” The crystal skull shook its head.
“If they really recovered, they should have already found my head through my body. They haven’t found me after so many years, that means that they have been recuperating all this time,” the crystal skull said affirmatively.
“That’s better, but let the five-colored skeletons of the Giant City take the lead. We will follow behind,” Lin Jiufeng said.
He should let them fight first and then come out to reap the benefits.
“As long as you obtain my body and give me some time, I will definitely be able to recover to my peak, or even surpass it.”
“After all, I once stepped onto the mountain peak and also fell to the bottom of the valley. Both benefited me greatly.”
“Those sufferings that can’t kill me will definitely make me stronger,” the crystal skull said firmly.
Lin Jiufeng nodded. He also believed in this sentence, so he continued to follow the team from Giant City.
Right at this moment, a line of words appeared before his eyes.
[Do you want to Sign-In at the Heaven Broken Mountain Range?]
Lin Jiufeng didn’t stop. He continued forward, but he agreed without hesitation in his heart.
“Sign in!”
[Sign-In successful. Received the Heaven Broken Forbidden Technique!]
A new and extremely powerful forbidden technique appeared in Lin Jiufeng’s mind.
Energy surged in his body, and the Great Dao scattered. Countless Dao runes, incantations, and forbidden techniques burst out.
“Heaven Broken Forbidden Technique. What terrifying offensive technique is this?” Lin Jiufeng decisively checked the information.
[Heaven Broken Forbidden Technique. An ancient forbidden spell. It was passed down from the path of array formations. It’s an extremely terrifying spell from the previous eras.]
There was only so much information, but it was enough for Lin Jiufeng to figure it out.
“From the previous eras, in other words, before the Human Race, before the Myriad Races, and before the Immortal Court. Then, before the Immortal Court, there was also an era of spells?” Lin Jiufeng immediately guessed this from the revealed information.
‘Was the era of spells wiped out by the Seven Races of the Ancient Age just like those civilizations?’ Lin Jiufeng guessed in his heart.
‘No matter what, signing in for a powerful forbidden technique from an era that has already disappeared is also rare. Moreover, after I cultivate this forbidden technique, my own strength will also skyrocket.’ Lin Jiufeng felt the energy fluctuations in his body and was very happy.
The improvement brought by a forbidden technique couldn’t be underestimated.
Especially now. To Lin Jiufeng, he used the Heaven Broken Forbidden Technique to directly cross the first heaven of the Immortal King Realm and reached the second heaven.
For many Immortal Kings, this improvement was the result of the hard work of thousands of years.
The Great Dao was singing and energy was surging. The Nine Heavens of the Immortal King Realm had also opened its door for Lin Jiufeng.
“Now, I’m much more confident.” Lin Jiufeng’s gaze was firm as he looked into the depths of the Heaven Broken Mountain Range. The skeletons of the four major factions were still clearing the obstacles and advancing continuously.
‘This Heaven Broken Mountain Range has the same name as the forbidden technique. Does it mean that this mountain range is actually from the era of the spells?’ Lin Jiufeng was in a good mood and thought of this point.
‘Does that mean that we can still see people from the era of spells in the Heaven Broken Mountain Range?’ Lin Jiufeng was looking forward to this.
After learning the Heaven Broken Forbidden Technique, he was very interested in the era of spells.
“In the era of spells, this mountain range should have towered into the clouds. There should have been magnificent palaces on the mountains, and mortals don’t dare to step foot in them easily,” Lin Jiufeng said.
When the crystal skull heard Lin Jiufeng’s words, it said, “The Heaven Broken Mountain Range has been in the Death Realm for a very, very long time. It’s older than any skeleton or faction. What do you mean by the era of spells?”
Lin Jiufeng waved his hand and said, “Nothing much, just talking nonsense. Let’s continue forward and look for your body.”
Lin Jiufeng didn’t explain to them about the epochs, the Spell Realm, the Immortal Court, the God Race, and even the Seven Races of the Ancient Age.
It was meaningless.
Now that he couldn’t even leave the Death Realm, it was unrealistic for him to discuss those things here.
The most important thing now was to find the Well of Heaven Ascension and leave the Death Realm to enter the mortal realm.
Everything else was just empty talk.
Lin Jiufeng continued to follow behind the five-colored skeletons of the Giant City. Three days passed.
In three days, the five-colored skeletons of the Giant City overcame the obstacles and worked together to cross many dangerous areas and arrived at the center of the Heaven Broken Mountain Range.
Lin Jiufeng enjoyed the fruits of their labor and followed behind. He didn’t encounter much trouble.
Standing in the center of the Heaven Broken Mountain Range, he looked at the mountain range here. It was especially majestic and thick.
Some of the mountains were carved with various runes that ordinary people couldn’t understand. These runes were like they were carved by ancient people making sacrifices to gods. The five-colored skeletons of the Giant City didn’t care because they couldn’t understand it.
But Lin Jiufeng could understand these runes.
Because he had learned the Heaven Broken Forbidden Technique, he didn’t feel any pressure looking at these forbidden spells that looked like random drawings.
‘This used to be a place close to God, but it was destroyed in the Primordial Age. Moreover, this is the divine mountain of the Spell Realm, filled with all sorts of forbidden spells.’ Lin Jiufeng analyzed according to these forbidden spells and was shocked. This Heaven Broken Mountain Range was like the strongest weapon in the era of spells.
Once the mountain range that was filled with forbidden spells was activated, it would be easy to crush an Immortal King.
Such a terrifying treasure was now lying alone in the depths of the Death Realm, dim and lifeless.
“What exactly happened back then?”
“Or could it be that the Seven Races of the Ancient Age wiped out the era of spells too?”
“But why do I feel that the era of spells is far stronger than the Immortal Court and the God Race? Can they still be wiped out by the Seven Races of the Ancient Age with their strength?” Lin Jiufeng’s heart was very heavy.
History was a thick door. After pushing open this door, many buried truths would appear.
Strong winds blew. Lin Jiufeng saw the five-colored skeletons of the Giant City fly up a broken mountain that was like a rooftop and land above.
There were huge, turbulent, and endless Great Dao divine winds blowing in the surroundings. Cultivators who weren’t powerful enough would be turned to dust. Only Immortal Kings could reach the top.
But once they reached the top, they would be able to see how small the world was.
Moreover, when the five-colored skeletons of the Giant City ascended to this rooftop, they cried out in surprise one after another.
“What’s that?”
“There’s actually an ancient city in this dangerous Heaven Broken Mountain Range?”
“An ancient city filled with thorny vines?”
“That city is huge. There’s also a crystal skeleton in the city…”
“This crystal skeleton has no head!”
“Isn’t this the skeleton that followed beside the King of the Netherworld?”
The five-colored skeletons of the Giant City said in shock.
Each of them was shocked by the scene before their eyes.
Looking into the distance, there was an ancient city surrounded by mountains and filled with a baleful aura.
Moreover, one could clearly see a crystal skeleton floating inside the ancient city.
It had no head.
Besides this, nothing else was discovered.
“Let’s go and take a look.” The five-colored skeletons of the Giant City immediately flew over to investigate.
As for Lin Jiufeng who was following after them, his expression changed as he boarded the platform.
Then, he saw this ancient city.
He saw it, and so did the crystal skull and the two skeletons.
Among the mountains and ravines was an ancient city.
In this ancient city, there was a crystal skeleton.
“That’s my body!” The crystal skull said excitedly.
80 Years Of Signing-In At The Cold Palace, I Am Unrivalled