Chapter 542: 凰亲国戚

The silent forbidden zone grew eerie as a song drifted through it. The ethereal voice brought an icy chill; wherever it passed, the ground froze, blades of green grass crystallized into frosty needles, and trees transformed into ice sculptures. The song seemed to be an inherent part of the night itself; its arrival didn't shatter the silence but rather deepened the forbidden zone's profound stillness.

Xu Qing stood there, listening in silence. A ripple stirred in his heart as memories from seven years ago surfaced. This was the second time he had heard the song. For scavengers, the song of the forbidden zone was a source of terror; almost all who heard it perished.

But for Xu Qing, things were different now than they had been then. Back then, he possessed no means of self-preservation, left to freeze in the frigid cold, awaiting death. Now, even standing on land outside Fenghai Prefecture, he could still sense the convergence of fortune from his home. This blessing of fortune protected him from all but the most terrifyingly powerful anomalies, preventing any intrusion.

The convergence was slow, as if tinged with reluctance, but eventually, a pair of shoes materialized. At that moment, the shadow's own eerie aura erupted, radiating ferocity, hunger, and a hint of dread.

"I... possess... the divine!"

A powerful emotional fluctuation also resonated within the vortex. The sole warmth amidst the cold instantly filled it with immense gratitude for Duan Yan. Unsure how to repay him, it twisted its body, performing various tricks that elicited laughter from Qing Qin.

"Senior, are there any other figures?"

"Please bear with me for a few days, seniors. I plan to evolve one of my spirit pets here."

The zither's resolute notes echoed as the chilling voice of the Forbidden Zone Master spoke. After speaking, Qing Qin winked at Duan Yan.

As if sensing Ling'er's gaze, the fog in the forbidden zone's depths churned, and Duan Yan, invigorated, soared out, letting out a contented squawk in the sky. The shadow's devouring had reached saturation and could no longer continue. It coiled back from all directions, returning to Ling'er's cross-legged form, emanating waves of impending breakthrough and joyous energy. Ling'er let out a cold snort.

However... as time slowly passed, Ling'er waited for a moment but ultimately did not see the seventh pair of shoes appear. This left him with a somewhat forlorn expression and a heavy heart as he looked towards the Forbidden Zone Master.

"Captain Lei..."

What followed was a wave of rejection from the entire forbidden zone. The zither trembled, the fog churned, and Xu Qing's figure vanished into the mist.

"Senior Xu Qing."

As the Forbidden Zone Master's form remained clearly visible, Ling'er spoke politely. "I wonder if you could summon Master Bai and my parents' figures, senior? If there's a cost, this junior is willing to pay it."

The Forbidden Zone Master remained silent. He waited for any figures that might appear next. The shadow trembled, overcome with emotion—a feeling it had never experienced before, as all its previous sensations had come from Duan Yan's coldness. The misty figure cast a cold glance at Duan Yan, dismissing him, then turned and walked into the fog. As it grew clearer, the surrounding chill intensified, and the lingering echoes resonated through the world, forming an even stronger repellent force.

"Is it in Wanggu?"

Ling'er was somewhat moved by this sight. These were all the beings who had perished here over countless years.

"Eyes... possession... seal..."

Having spoken, the hundred-zhang radius around him instantly cleared and rapidly expanded outwards, moving away from Ling'er. Within that part of the forbidden zone, it covered areas of untouched flora that had not been mutated by the Forbidden Zone Master. Beneath his feet, the shadow had expanded to a hundred-zhang radius, creating a unique forbidden zone. Within this area, all plants transformed into eyes, and all large trees became coffin-camphors.

"Is it all for nothing?" Ling'er murmured, gazing at the fog. He was still waiting. Its form rapidly changed, gradually transforming from a vortex into a thousand-zhang wide white screen, like a pale blotch against the sky.

Thus, Xu Qing's heart felt no fear at the song's appearance; instead, anticipation gleamed in his eyes as he gazed towards the direction of the approaching footsteps.

Sima Nan's words caused the zither's notes from the forbidden zone's depths to grow even sharper, and the surrounding skeletons roared and howled. Ling'er's gaze was icy. The white-robed woman was about to step within Ling'er's hundred-zhang radius when her steps halted. She suddenly looked up at the sky and fell silent. Sima Nan and the other Sword Holders from the prefecture capital, all beneath the sky, also glanced sideways.

Regarding the wasteland raisers, the shadow thought for a moment before deciding not to devour them, unsure of Ling'er's stance. Instead, it continued to consume the exotic beasts and anomalous matter within the zone. Ling'er's expression remained polite as he spoke softly.

But the next instant, Xu Qing's entire body flashed with purplish-red light. From the center of his head, an expression of pride and reverence emerged. With a flick, a crimson feather appeared in his mouth. Both grass and trees seemed to be the shadow's sustenance.

Xu Qing roared aloud, his great wings spreading their might, and the Forbidden Net shimmered. He also wished to see his parents. Ling'er, expressionless, spoke blandly. However, Master Bai's soul left Ling'er somewhat puzzled.

"Thank... Master..."

It was a feather from the Fire Phoenix. As if the entire forbidden zone had previously been veiled, the shroud was now lifted, revealing its true face: much of the vegetation was formed by malevolent spirits, and many large trees were heaps of corpses. Yet, from every single eye, what emanated was not ferocity, but docility.

"Break through quickly," Ling'er snorted coldly. He had already had a premonition about not seeing his parents' figures; Wushuang City had been sacrificed to the remnant face of a deity back then.

Ling'er mused, then cupped his fists towards Sima Nan and Xu Qing. Qing Qin poked her head out from Ling'er's sleeve, gazed at the large tree, and spoke in a clear voice.

"Is that all?" Ling'er's gaze grew slightly cold. His expression revealed relief, mixed with emotion.

"I... am... strong."

In an instant, this golden light appeared above the Southern Phoenix Continent, materializing in the sky above the Scavenger Forbidden Zone. It transformed into a vast golden net, enveloping the forbidden zone and emitting a terrifying suppressive force. After the incident in the forbidden zone, he planned to inquire whether Master Bai had shown any unusual behavior before his death. Not to mention, beneath the sky curtain, the Great Wing was faintly visible, and even higher, Qing Qin was gazing. Ling'er tacitly agreed.

The Forbidden Zone Master's eyes blazed with light, his entire being exuding monstrous malevolence. Faintly, from the depths of the forbidden zone, a sharp zither note also resonated. Faintly, at the edge of the mist, a pair of blood-stained straw sandals could be seen.

"I... am... powerful!"

Within the red eyes, countless lost souls could be seen, while the white eyeballs contained endless skeletons. This made it appear even more bizarre. When I went to Zitu that year, I only focused on avenging Master Bai after his death, neglecting his life leading up to it. These were the shoes Captain Lei wore before his death.

Ling'er felt a hint of confusion. He glanced at the forbidden zone, where the mist was rapidly receding, making everything disappear from view. Then, all of it coalesced into a white vortex, from which struggling roars emerged. The shadow's eighth-stage form was now taking shape. In mid-air, Sima Nan's figure emerged from within the Great Wing. Gazing at the Forbidden Zone Master, he spoke to Ling'er. The laughter caused the shadow to exude joyful emotions as well, but the next instant, seeing Ling'er's expressionless face, it still trembled slightly, not daring to show its true nature too much.

The zither's melody permeated the entire forbidden zone. As it reverberated, the zone trembled, skeletons emerged from trees, and malevolent spirits wriggled out of the vegetation.

"This forbidden zone isn't very powerful, only half-mutated. It will reach its peak when its mutation is complete. At that point, it won't be something we can suppress—it will require more forces."

Strikingly, these stars were individual eyes, each emitting brilliant light. As they blinked, they created a shimmering effect. Ling'er paid no attention to the shadow. He rose swiftly and headed straight for the Great Wing. As he stepped onto it, Sima Nan gave him a meaningful look, while his comrades all smiled.

"Two human souls were sacrificed to the Father God; I have the right to summon them."

"Great Wing!"

Marquis Yao, who was attending to official duties in the Prefectural Governor's residence, sensed something, looked up, and smiled dismissively.

"Forbidden!"

"Those shoes existed in Duan Yan's memory; I haven't seen them."

The next instant, the hundred-zhang tree transformed into a massive sarcophagus, similarly covered in eyes. Its aura grew stronger, and a pervasive sense of death spread in all directions.

"Today is the second time I've heard that song."

But strangely, no matter how the Forbidden Zone Master tried to gather them, the eight figures still couldn't materialize this time.

"Get back here."

"It seems I'll need to ask Chen Feiyuan and Tingyu about the details of Master Bai's death once I return."

The voice transformed into repulsion and expulsion, rising from within the forbidden zone. As Ling'er murmured, a roaring sound emanated from within the white vortex. Its scope suddenly expanded, transforming from a hundred-zhang to a thousand-zhang in width, floating in mid-air. The mist seemed to be formed from its essence; now that it had separated, I was clearly able to perceive more.

Ling'er, expressionless, raised his left hand and pointed to the sky. It was as if it was devouring the forbidden zone's authority through this method. The exotic beasts of this place behaved similarly, their wails echoing through the forbidden zone. Any scavengers who entered and witnessed this trembled, choosing to flee immediately. The shadow's emotional fluctuations quickly conveyed its capabilities. Ling'er's eyes were slightly red. Countless eyes simultaneously opened, encircling Ling'er and gazing along with him. An endless stream of anomalous matter converged from all directions, pouring into the shadow. Chewing sounds echoed throughout the area.

This was Ling'er's final destination on this journey. His robes were vast, seemingly covering the forbidden zone behind him. With his arrival, the surrounding vegetation bowed, and large trees twisted, as if in worship. If viewed from high above, the forbidden zone was currently enveloped in thick mist, with only the hundred-zhang radius around Ling'er remaining perfectly clear. For Duan Yanjun, the Fire Phoenix was not merely the sovereign of the Phoenix Forbidden Zone, but also the sovereign of the entire continent, and indeed, of all forbidden zones within this realm.

Nevertheless, Xu Qing was ultimately unharmed, so Ling'er didn't dwell on the matter. Soon, the Great Wing whistled through the air, heading directly for Zitu. The mist churned, gradually threatening to engulf the man's figure. The repulsive force grew stronger at that moment, subtly hinting at benevolence, as if seeking an opportunity. A hoarse voice emanated from his mouth, from the mist, from the vegetation, and from the entire forbidden zone, echoing continuously to form a lingering resonance.

"Then from today, using this place as a boundary, do not venture into the forbidden zone's depths, nor to the temple complex. Elsewhere, you may spread as you wish."

The forbidden zone trembled, and the mist churned more intensely. The departing figure paused, then turned, emitting waves of safety as he stared at Ling'er, his expression somewhat distorted. The Forbidden Zone Master's expression changed for the first time. He abruptly looked up, staring fixedly at the golden net overhead. Behind him, the mist churned, clearly indicating great turmoil within his heart. Meanwhile, the ethereal song within the mist was gradually becoming clearer, and the sound of approaching footsteps grew closer.

The moment Ling'er spoke, the shadow beneath his feet instantly expanded to a hundred-zhang radius. Countless eyes opened within it, conveying emotional fluctuations as they gazed at Ling'er. The shadow trembled even more, speaking loudly. The misty figure paid no heed.

"Food!"

Ling'er remained silent.

"I sealed him here, back then."

The shadow also showed Ling'er waves of yearning emotion. Since the forbidden zone's legend promised that one could see desired figures upon hearing the song for the second time, Ling'er felt that besides Captain Lei, he also wished to see Master Bai and Lord Eight.

"Please manifest the people I wish to see. This is the rule of this forbidden zone."

"It barely broke through after consuming only ten percent. Somewhat useless."

Ling'er frowned. This time, the shadow's advancement, while strange in its process and appearance, didn't seem to offer significant improvement in its abilities. Duan Yan's eyes suddenly narrowed. He stood up and looked towards the thousand-zhang sky curtain. Lord Eight's expression was initially bewildered, then thoughtful, before finally settling his gaze on Ling'er. Clearly, it had little interest in the Forbidden Zone Master.

His eyes were particularly unusual: one red, one white. The Forbidden Zone Master's eyes narrowed as he stared fixedly at Ling'er. Showers of white 'rain' fell from the vortex onto the earth. Upon closer inspection, it was clear that these were not raindrops, but countless fragments of shadow. However, his politeness was ignored by the Forbidden Zone Master. The dignity of the forbidden zone caused the zither's notes to resume, sharp and piercing. The Forbidden Zone Master's expression was utterly chilling, and his frigid voice echoed.

Approximately ten percent of the forbidden zone now radiated the shadow's aura and had changed its appearance. Its presence did not last long; within a few breaths, it vanished back into the vortex. Simultaneously, a Nascent Soul fluctuation emanated from the vortex. The zither's melody abruptly ceased. Evidently, this excursion had been extremely unpleasant for it, so after saying everything, it chose to withdraw. Ling'er frowned, recalling Master Bai's death, and finally looked towards Zitu.

Ling'er's expression darkened, his gaze grew cold, and dropping his polite demeanor, he slowly began to speak.

"The dignity of the forbidden zone is inviolable!" Having said this, he raised his hand. The entire forbidden zone began to revive, with repulsion and expulsion erupting completely. I was waiting for the figure to appear here.

"Leave!"

Dawn was not far off. At the moment of breaking light, Ling'er arrived at the place where he had once battled the Thunder Squad and the White-Scaled Wolf. Even as the Forbidden Great Net under the sky and the combined pressure of Xu Qing and Sima Nan erupted at that moment, the tyrannical intent of this place continued to surge.

"Master... I can conceal... shield... teleport..."

Gradually, the figure of Lord Eight appeared within the mist. After a moment, the voice spoke again.

"Don't wait. In the end, it will all be for naught..."

"This forbidden zone offers a boon to those who hear the song a second time, allowing them to see the figures they most desire to encounter."

This scene made Ling'er's gaze narrow as he looked at the Forbidden Zone Master.

"My request is not unreasonable."

Having spoken, the Forbidden Zone Master suddenly retreated, merging instantly into the mist. The dense fog of the area also rapidly receded, converging from all directions into the deepest part of the forbidden zone, forming a sealing force that blocked both the outside world and itself.

"What will the eighth stage become?"

Gradually, the thousand-zhang radius became pitch black, as if that entire area had been isolated. Abnormal vegetation and large trees also existed, accounting for about seventy percent, while eighty percent of the forbidden zone was permeated with skeletons. He recalled a remark Captain Lei had made years ago.

Ling'er's expression remained calm. He cupped his fists, bowed to the Forbidden Zone Master, and spoke with intensity. The moment the feather appeared, the forbidden zone trembled. The white-robed Forbidden Zone Master paused, his expression shifting in struggle before he finally lowered his head. The zither's deep notes transformed into a mournful tone. The pair of shoes gradually receded until they vanished into the mist.

"Forbidden Zone... Master..."

A forbidden zone could be suppressed and sealed, but its dignity must never be offended. Immediately after, before Duan Yan could inquire, the shadow, now a white sky curtain, immediately displayed its new ability. Many stars appeared within the thousand-zhang expanse.

As his words rang out, the sky boomed, and a thousand-zhang Great Wing descended instantly. Terrifying pressure emanated from within it, as Sima Nan and a thousand Sword Holders unleashed their auras, suppressing the forbidden zone. The tree was massive, its crown like an umbrella, possessing an astonishing presence. It also exuded an impressive aura. Instead of leaves, it was covered in crimson eyes.

This time, my final stop in the Southern Phoenix Continent was naturally Zitu, to pay respects to Master Bai and visit childhood companions. Ling'er spoke politely. After a moment, accompanied by Duan Yan's squawk, the Forbidden Zone Master's hoarse voice echoed lowly. Emotional fluctuations from the shadow rapidly surged into Ling'er's mind at that moment. As for what might happen outside, Duan Yan couldn't predict, but regardless of the outcome, Xu Qing, possessing the Fire Phoenix feather, would not suffer.

His parents' figures merely formed a vague outline before instantly dissipating. Master Bai's outline, though formed, could never fully coalesce and eventually faded away as well.

"By order of the Fire Phoenix: the Southern Phoenix Forbidden Zone shall not invade outwards, but any who trespass upon it shall be suppressed by the Phoenix Forbidden Zone!"

Gazing at Lord Eight, a wave of sadness rose in Ling'er's heart. He cupped his fists and bowed deeply. Ling'er also smiled, thanked them, then turned to gaze into the forbidden zone's depths. At this moment, those eyes gazed at Ling'er, and at Ling'er's shadow.

"Go for it!"

My words clearly emboldened the shadow, making it incredibly agitated. The tree trunk swayed violently, and rumbling sounds, as if of creation itself, emanated from its form. Lord Eight smiled in return, his figure slowly blurring until it vanished into the mist. Ling'er opened his eyes and looked coldly. What it did here, outsiders did not know.

Thus, time passed, and eight days went by. Above the straw sandals, mist churned, gradually forming a figure. It was a familiar form, recognizably a woman wearing a white robe. Its aura gradually intensified. The vegetation and large trees it consumed didn't truly vanish but transformed: the plants became covered in eyes, and the large trees turned into coffins. The mist returned, continuing to writhe and coalesce. The initially proud shadow trembled upon hearing this and quickly conveyed its emotions.

"Did you forget something?"

It was as if the thousand-zhang area was no longer a mere white patch but had transformed into a starry sky.

"Future..." On the sky curtain, all the eyes blinked simultaneously.

"Brother Ling'er, Little Shadow is already trying very hard."

All the surrounding skeletons roared. Captain Lei smiled and nodded at Duan Yan. He then looked around, seemed to sigh softly, and slowly advanced until he transformed back into mist and dispersed. The shadow's eyes within the hundred-zhang radius gleamed with an eerie light. As they locked onto the woman, a powerful sense of dread also emanated from them.

"There is also one soul in Wanggu."

At a distance of a hundred zhang, the song continued, but the footsteps halted. In the sky, a piercing caw, as if having long awaited Ling'er's summons, echoed with excitement in all directions. A celestial wind also descended, like an invisible giant hand, striking the forbidden zone. The shadow's abilities could be remarkably effective at times. Thus, after realizing the terrifying suppressive power of the purple crystal, I hoped the shadow would become even stronger.

The face appeared suddenly; though it was clearly roaring, the sound that emerged was thunderous, as if its voice had been stripped of its original nature and imbued with the very concept of thunder.

"Let me show you how much I can grow."

A great battle seemed imminent. Instantly, that emotional fluctuation dispersed in terror, changing its meaning. Xu Qing's form descended.

"My apologies for the disturbance."

The earth trembled, the mist collapsed across a wide area, churning with extreme intensity. Eighty percent of the entire forbidden zone, now filled with skeletons and malevolent spirits, also paused. Ling'er gazed at the white vortex, a sense of anticipation rising in his heart. Under the zither's melody, the appearance of this place also underwent a drastic transformation. The thousand-zhang sky curtain instantly descended, returning to Ling'er's back in a flash. As it trembled, Qing Qin let out a soft laugh.

In the prefecture capital, an immense distance away, a forbidden artifact vibrated violently. A flash of golden light surged across the sky, instantly streaking towards Duan Yanjun. Furthermore, anomalous matter spread and merged into the mist, causing it to churn even more violently, creating a pervasive pressure that enveloped the surroundings. Sensing Ling'er's dissatisfaction, the thousand-zhang sky curtain trembled, and the shadow quickly transmitted another wave of emotional fluctuations.

Just then, thunderous sounds echoed from within the vortex, and a colossal face strangely emerged from its depths. After a moment, the Forbidden Zone Master withdrew his gaze, fell silent for a short while, then with a wave of his hand, a patch of red mist separated from his body and coalesced to one side. However, the oppressive aura from the sky clearly made it wary, so it didn't act on its benevolent impulse.

Ling'er, however, paid no attention to this. After bowing to Sima Nan, he looked at the Forbidden Zone Master and spoke. He smiled. It wasn't upright but spread out like a white cloud, obscuring a thousand zhang of the sky. Ling'er gazed into the eyes of the Forbidden Zone Master and slowly spoke.

Sima Nan glanced at the shadow beneath Ling'er's feet, nodded slightly, and led his people away. Xu Qing let out a caw, then flapped his wings and flew directly towards the mist-shrouded depths of the forbidden zone. A ripple stirred in Duan Yan's heart. At that moment, the mist twisted, slowly conjuring Captain Lei's figure. Across the fog, their eyes met.

"Continue... slowly... grow stronger..."

Here, Ling'er sat cross-legged and spoke blandly. So Ling'er paid it no mind, turning to walk towards what used to be his home in the forbidden zone.

"And now, we can attempt to seal it."

The shadow trembled, then rapidly expanded. Soon, a gigantic tree, a hundred zhang tall, appeared before Duan Yan. The same applied to the exotic beasts: those consumed by the shadow would sprout numerous eyes before being revived. The Forbidden Zone Master's words gave Ling'er a feeling that this matter likely held a hidden secret. The mist began to recede. Murderous intent erupted, directed at Ling'er.