Chapter 881: Conspiracy

The Barbarian Ridge, at the northernmost frontier of the Eastern Domain.

A slender, solitary figure, clad in a pitch-black long robe, walked through the dense depths of the endless Barbarian Ridge.

He held an ancient book glowing with black light. This person had been traveling in the Barbarian Ridge area for over ten days, with a singular goal: to find the Five Ancestral Witches of the Forbidden Zones, rumored to be sleeping in the Eastern Domain, and use their power to achieve his aim – revenge against Xu Yang.

Undoubtedly, this was the Soul Chanter, who had narrowly escaped death in the Western Emperor's Tomb.

Now, he wished he could tear Xu Yang to shreds! Unfortunately, he lacked the power. To achieve his objective, he had to take a great risk, venturing into the Barbarian Ridge, a true forbidden zone of the Eastern Domain.

When people spoke of the Eastern Domain of Yingzhou Continent, they knew the notorious Three Horse Bandits. They also understood the strength of the warriors from the dozens of allied factions in the Eastern Domain. However, few knew that at the far reaches of the Eastern Domain's territory, a group of truly terrifying demons lay hidden!

These beings, revered as Ancestral Witches, had witnessed the entire history of the Eastern Domain, from its very beginning.

They dwelled year-round in the remote depths of the mountains, renowned for developing ancient and mysterious powerful curses.

They had a unique characteristic: they appeared only once every thousand years!

During normal times, they never appeared in any other corner of the Eastern Domain, nor did they interact with its inhabitants.

They were the most mysterious and terrifying hidden force in the Eastern Domain, a power even the Three Horse Bandits dared not provoke lightly.

For a long time, the Ancestral Witches had an unwritten rule with almost every top faction in the Central Domain: they would not interfere with each other's affairs.

Over time, in the mainstream cultivation world of the Eastern Domain, few dared to mention the Ancestral Witches by name.

Many powerful families even listed the term 'Ancestral Witches' as taboo; anyone who mentioned them without permission would be branded a criminal.

This time, the Soul Chanter, defying all convention, entered the Barbarian Ridge area specifically to stir up chaos in the Eastern Domain. He had no regard for the immense trouble his rash provocation of these forbidden Ancestral Witches might bring to the entire region…

Regardless, the Soul Chanter was determined to take the risk. He didn't want to miss the opportunity presented by Xu Yang's sudden appearance. To gain sufficient leverage, the Soul Chanter knew he needed the support of the Ancestral Witches from the forbidden zones.

There seemed to be no end to this path. The Soul Chanter crossed stream after stream, climbed over mountain after mountain, until he finally reached a wide, open valley.

However, the air within this area was filled with an irresistible corrosive aura. Few primate creatures could be found here; it was as if it were a desolate, uninhabited death zone.

Yet, for the Soul Chanter, his very life form and the cultivation techniques he practiced seemed perfectly attuned to such a region. He savored all existence born of decay and corruption, considering these powers, unrecognized by the mainstream continent, to be the most cherished beauty in the world.

Standing at the top of this vast, decaying plain, the Soul Chanter deeply inhaled the air, a relieved smile gracing his face.

In a sudden moment, at the edge of his vision, an intensely cold, deep green sword light shot forth.

It locked onto the Soul Chanter's body. Even as a protective energy sphere suddenly condensed around him, it ultimately failed to block the powerful arrow.

The arrow pierced the Soul Chanter's shoulder without deviation, causing him immense pain!

Immediately afterward, his entire body began to be swiftly enveloped by a powerful aura of decay.

The Soul Chanter even found his breathing becoming much more difficult and involuntarily knelt on the ground. However, he showed no sign of anger. Instead, with incredibly devout eyes and a prostrate posture, he paid homage to the entire decaying plain.

“Great Ancestral Witches, your most devoted follower, Karl, has arrived on this continent, seeking your grand guidance! The restless Eastern Domain needs the power of your salvation!”

The Soul Chanter's voice carried clearly, and soon it echoed through every corner of the surrounding decaying plain.

Before long, hundreds of decaying specters materialized from deep underground, swiftly approaching the spot where Karl knelt.

Each of these specters emanated a faint purple aura, but it was the deep green color in their eyes that exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure. Even Karl, a practitioner of necromantic arts, felt a chilling dread when facing these decaying spirits.

Remarkably, the one who commanded these hundreds of decaying specters was a half-grown child, carrying a rattle drum and with two patches of blush on their cheeks, bouncing and hopping towards Karl's position.

“You're quite daring, aren't you? To venture into the Barbarian Ridge forbidden zone all alone! No matter how many lives you had, it wouldn't be enough to squander them all!”

The little child continuously rattled the drum in their hand, looking quite adorable with their cheerful expression.

However, Karl clearly understood that the child's power was far beyond that of the surrounding decaying specters.

Upon meeting the child's brilliant gaze, the Soul Chanter, Karl, became even more agitated, repeatedly prostrating himself before the child.

“Your follower, Karl, bows to the Holy Child!”

The little child cheerfully approached, patting Karl's head with their warm hand, signaling him to stand up.

However, Karl, seemingly to show his reverence, did not actually stand up, remaining in his kneeling posture, gazing at the Holy Child with a subservient, fawning expression.

“You just said the Eastern Domain is in turmoil and needs guidance from the Ancestral Witches. What do you mean by that?

I want to know your true purpose for being here!

As you know, the five forbidden zones of the Eastern Domain haven't engaged with the outside world for millennia, and they still repel outsiders like you. If you can't give me a convincing reason, then I'm afraid I wouldn't mind letting you sleep forever in this beautiful land.”

The little child spoke the harshest words with the most innocent and charming expression, causing the trembling Karl before them to shiver.

Nevertheless, he mustered his courage and revealed his true purpose.

“Reporting to Your Holiness, the Holy Child, the Necromancer's Scripture I study contains a very special ancient forbidden curse that, when combined with the power of the forbidden Ancestral Witches, can create a supreme formation capable of sweeping across the entire continent!

I require the Ancestral Witches' power as auxiliary support. If this formation can be successfully deployed, the entire Eastern Domain, and even a vaster region of Yingzhou Continent, will fall under the Ancestral Witches' feet!”