Chapter 1202: Crisis

Wang Tianwen hadn't expected the imperial family to send people, which suggested the situation was more serious than he had imagined. What Wang Tianwen didn't know was that Zhou Yujiao and her companion were merely passing through Yunlan State on official business, not having rushed there specifically for this matter.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, Immortal Zhou, it's wonderful that you've arrived," said the young woman in white, her face lighting up with joy upon seeing Zhou Guangyang and his companion.

Zhou Guangyang nodded and said, "We just heard about this ourselves and don't know much. Fellow Daoist Liu, please tell us the full story."

The young woman in white briefly recounted the events. As the Myriad Immortal Division worked for the imperial family, she naturally had nothing to conceal.

Zhou Guangyang and Zhou Yujiao exchanged glances, both wearing exceptionally solemn expressions. While others were unaware of the true circumstances, they knew a little. The forbidden area contained a sealed imperial family member who had succumbed to evil. Due to his unique status and immense supernatural powers, ancient cultivators were unable to slay him and instead sealed him away.

An imperial cultivator succumbing to evil was a disgrace to the Great Yan imperial family. To keep it secret, the imperial family sealed off the information, classifying it as a hidden secret accessible only to high-ranking members. As a result, outsiders were completely unaware.

Initially, the imperial family sent people to check the seal every few decades. However, after more than four thousand years, they had relaxed their vigilance. Furthermore, with the Miao family and a cultivation sect guarding it, the imperial family stopped sending further checks, as very few individuals were privy to the information.

"We absolutely cannot allow the demonic creature to reopen the seal. Slaying demons and defending the righteous path is our responsibility and duty as cultivators. Fellow Daoist Miao, you must guard this place with your people and send word for more fellow daoists to come; under no circumstances must the demonic creature be allowed to escape. Furthermore, cultivators entering the forbidden area must be thoroughly vetted; they cannot be allowed to leave without strict inspection, lest the demonic creature be disguised among them."

Zhou Guangyang's tone was grave. In his view, the demonic creature should have died long ago; over four thousand years had passed, and even the grass on a Soul Transformation cultivator's grave would be tall by now, let alone a demonic creature sealed in this place. If the demonic creature was still alive, the seal would naturally need to be strengthened. If it was dead, then the treasures inside would all belong to the imperial family.

"Very well, Fellow Daoist Zhou, I will give the orders immediately," Miao Yulang agreed repeatedly, as long as he wasn't required to enter the forbidden area himself. His burden was too heavy; the future of tens of thousands of his clan members rested on his shoulders, so he dared not take risks lightly.

"Fellow Daoist Liu, you and your people will enter with us. We must prevent the demonic cultivators from opening the seal."

Zhou Guangyang flipped his hand, producing a resplendent golden flying sword. With a slash towards the void, countless golden lights shot out, transforming into a magnificent golden sky-reaching greatsword that cleaved towards a certain area. A loud whooshing sound echoed as the void twisted and tore open like thin paper, revealing a rift over ten zhang long from which a surge of pure spiritual energy gushed forth. Zhou Yujiao's jade-like hand trembled, and a golden jade bracelet on her wrist instantly flew out. After a blur, it appeared within the rift. With a flash of golden light, the golden jade bracelet rapidly expanded, creating an opening several zhang wide.

Zhou Guangyang first sent two Core Formation cultivators inside. Only after confirming there were no anomalies did he follow them in.

Wang Tianwen followed into the forbidden area. He experienced a blur before his eyes and suddenly found himself in an endless grassland. He extended his divine sense wide, but found no other cultivators within a hundred-mile radius. He took out a palm-sized white magic compass. After casting a spell into it, the compass immediately glowed brightly, and countless white runes surged out. After a rapid spin, they transformed into a white arrow about a foot long, which spun quickly before finally pointing towards the northwest.

Wang Tianwen released a green-scaled horse and began moving towards the northwest. Forbidden areas typically had restrictions, and flying with instruments could easily trigger them. Not long after, Wang Tianwen transformed into a black shadow and vanished into the horizon.

In a certain endless red forest, everywhere one looked, there were ancient red trees several tens of zhang tall, with lush branches and leaves. A several-zhang-long azure rainbow swiftly swept over the dense forest, with a red light closely following behind. After the red light brightened considerably, it suddenly vanished. The next moment, the red light reappeared in front of the azure rainbow, blocking its path.

The red light was, in fact, a completely scarlet crow. Its claws resembled furry monkey paws, its head was remarkably small, and its tail was thick and stubby.

"Caw! Caw!" The scarlet crow let out two strange cries and furiously flapped its wings, sending hundreds of fist-sized scarlet fireballs hurtling towards the azure rainbow.

The azure rainbow glowed brightly and abruptly changed direction. Still, dozens of scarlet fireballs struck it, and rolling flames engulfed it. Azure light flared, and the flames rapidly flickered out. The azure rainbow then fled towards the northwest, its speed more than twice as fast as before. The scarlet crow spread its wings and pursued.

Half a quarter of an hour later, the azure rainbow appeared above an endless grassland, with the scarlet crow still in close pursuit.

"Caw! Caw!" The scarlet fiery crow suddenly accelerated, darting erratically in the high sky and stirring up waves of scarlet fire. The sky suddenly darkened as a massive scarlet fire cloud abruptly appeared high above, obscuring the sun.

"Boom!" After a dull rumble, the scarlet fire cloud violently churned, and giant fireballs the size of water vats tumbled down like dense raindrops, pelting the azure rainbow below. After the azure rainbow shattered a dozen giant fireballs, it was struck by several more and engulfed by a sea of scarlet flames.

A sharp sword cry rang out from within the scarlet sea of flames. The flames violently churned and suddenly split in two, as a faintly glowing azure rainbow burst through the air, covering a hundred zhang in an instant. What's more, streaks of azure light appeared around the azure rainbow, transforming into illusory azure flying swords. These illusions rapidly solidified, and thousands of azure flying swords then emerged, swiftly sweeping across the high sky with astonishing momentum.

A "whoosh" sound echoed as thousands of azure flying swords formed an azure torrent several tens of zhang long, heading directly for the scarlet fiery crow. Wherever the azure torrent passed, a harsh whooshing sound reverberated through the void.

"Boom!" The scarlet fire cloud churned, and giant fireballs flew out, smashing towards the azure torrent. After a series of roars, the azure torrent shattered all the giant fireballs. The scarlet fiery crow opened its mouth and spewed rolling flames, which finally broke through the azure torrent. By then, the azure rainbow was already several thousand zhang away.

A short while later, the azure rainbow flared with azure light, revealing Wang Qingshan. He held the Azure Glazed Sword in his hand, his face pale. He hadn't expected the forbidden area to contain Fourth-Tier demonic beasts, and more than one at that. This Fourth-Tier fiery crow had been pursuing him for some time; if he hadn't used the secret art of Divine Sword Fusion, he wouldn't have been able to escape.

Using the secret art of Divine Sword Fusion consumed a vast amount of spiritual power, and Wang Qingshan couldn't sustain it for too long. Behind him, another series of strange "caw" sounds rang out, and a flicker of fear appeared in Wang Qingshan's eyes. The escape light around his body flared, and he transformed into a streak of azure light, breaking through the air. He hadn't flown far when he suddenly stopped, a look of surprise appearing in his eyes.