Chapter 224: Encountering the Forbidden Zone

The sky was inky black, stars and moon vanished as if swallowed by eternal darkness, and desolation reigned around the Primordial Ancient Mine. An unspeakable dread, an endless fear, and a terrifying sense of suffocation descended, as if numerous black mountains were pressing down, crushing their hearts. "What's going on?" the four exclaimed, their hearts heavy. They had no idea what was happening. "What's wrong with the Primordial Ancient Mine? We're not going to die, are we?!" Chen Huaiyuan asked, his voice trembling.

Li Desheng was also trembling, his left eye emitting a faint glow as his Hades Eye opened wide, gazing towards the Primordial Ancient Mine. "What do you see?" Ye Fan pressed. "What's happening at the mine?" Old Dao Bazi asked urgently. "I can't see anything. It's so black it's shriveled, swallowing everything. My eyes...!" Li Desheng suddenly shrieked, falling backward to the ground with a trickle of blood oozing from the corner of his eye.

This sudden turn of events sent a chill through the other three. They quickly helped him up. "What's wrong with you?" Ye Fan asked. The corner of Li Desheng's left eye had split, a trickle of blood flowing from it. His Hades Eye was hollow and extremely swollen, though thankfully the pupil was unharmed, only the white of his eye was damaged. "It hurts so much!" he wailed, tears streaming down his face as he continuously poured spiritual energy into his Hades Eye. It took him a long time to recover. "What happened?" Old Dao Bazi pressed. "A black hole! A massive black hole! It looked like it could swallow people..." Li Desheng said, still terrified, his Hades Eye having almost ruptured.

A moment later, the starlight and moonlight reappeared in the sky, just as abruptly. The soft glow, like smoke and mist, was exceptionally sacred, imparting a sense of light and warmth that swept away the previous desolation. The blood-red earth transformed, appearing serene and pale, with gravel, boulders, and small hills draped in a thin veil, like a delicate landscape painting. "You scared me to death! What was that?" Chen Huaiyuan patted his chest. With the return of light, everything that had just happened seemed like it had never occurred. The starlight in the sky converged like water, flowing towards the Primordial Ancient Mine.

The massive, all-consuming black hole had vanished, and the mine looked no different from before. "It truly feels like an illusion..." Ye Fan sighed. However, not long after, with a muffled hum, all the sacred light was absorbed once more.

The surroundings were shrouded in vast, pitch-black darkness; no figures could be seen opposite. The Primordial Ancient Mine, in particular, seemed to have become a bottomless abyss, darker than anywhere else. "Why is it dark again?" "Let's go! It's almost midnight. The legends say this is how it is: the Primordial Ancient Mine swallows the essence of heaven and earth, absorbing everything!" Old Dao Bazi exclaimed, alarmed. "We must leave quickly, or we might get trapped!"

"Go!" Ye Fan commanded in a low voice. He had already roughly figured out the situation in the area and began to lead the three of them away. This "retreat," however, involved constant left and right turns, changing direction frequently, rather than moving in a straight line. Ye Fan continuously calculated, following the instructions in the *Source Heaven Book*, even paying attention to where each footstep landed. The three behind him carefully followed in his footprints.

It was a winding, circuitous journey, almost like taking three steps forward and two steps back, constantly shifting left and right, extremely erratic. Occasionally, Ye Fan would stop to calculate on the ground, carefully estimating and comparing the surrounding terrain before choosing their next direction. "I say, Grandfather Digger, you absolutely have to get us out of here!" Chen Huaiyuan grumbled as he walked. "I've always admired extraordinary people like you, and I've always wanted to get into this line of work, but I've only learned a little..." "Go stand aside, don't cause trouble..." Old Dao Bazi pulled him away, afraid he would disturb Ye Fan.

Half an hour later, Ye Fan led them back to their starting point, ten li from the Primordial Ancient Mine. During this process, muffled thuds occasionally emanated from behind them; the colossal black hole, like a whale or an ox drinking, devoured the essence of heaven and earth, as if an ancient beast had opened its world-swallowing maw. Ye Fan was affected several times; whenever the world lost its light and plunged into complete darkness, he had to stop and calmly deduce their path. This constant stopping and starting made it feel as though they were just circling.

After what felt like a thousand li journey, they finally escaped this strange region, emerging a hundred and fifty li away. "We're finally out!" the four sighed with relief, especially Ye Fan, who looked utterly exhausted. He slumped to the ground, the continuous calculations having drained him. He pulled out his Jade Purification Bottle and poured the nearly dried-up divine spring water into his mouth, quickly regaining his strength. Ye Fan felt that if he hadn't comprehended the *Source Heaven Book*, he would surely have been sealed within, with almost no hope of escape. "Grandfather Digger, when we get back, I'll build you an eternal memorial archway, I promise!" Chen Huaiyuan declared, looking utterly grateful.

"Don't get ahead of yourself," Old Dao Bazi interjected, splashing cold water on Chen Huaiyuan's enthusiasm. "We've only moved a little further from the divine mine; we're still in the Primordial Restricted Zone. There are terrains like 'True Dragon's Coughing Blood' here; we could die at any moment." Ye Fan also sighed. The Primordial Restricted Zone was extremely dangerous. There were certainly more than just one instance of perilous terrains like the 'Fire Dragon Pattern' and 'Dragon's Bleeding.' One wrong step could lead them into an inescapable death trap.

The moonlight was serene, and the group walked slowly, proceeding with caution, terrified of accidentally falling into a death trap. "What did the corpses you saw in the Primordial Ancient Mine look like?" Ye Fan asked Li Desheng. "Were they human?" Old Dao Bazi pressed. "They were all human-shaped," Li Desheng replied, still shaken, "but it's hard to say if they were human corpses; it was too far away. My Hades Eye could only make out their outlines. There were men and women, and their clothes looked very ancient."

"Perhaps... there are corpses of ancient Holy Lords and Emperors," Old Dao Bazi mumbled to himself, "or maybe they were beings that always existed within the Primordial Ancient Mine..." "Thankfully, we didn't see any living beings," Ye Fan said, relieved. There were too many terrifying legends about the Primordial Ancient Mine, each more frightening than the last. "Living beings... how many have truly seen them since ancient times?" Old Dao Bazi murmured again.

"I wonder if those three god-like beings from earlier are still nearby..." Li Desheng whispered. Strictly speaking, it was the appearance of those three halo-shrouded beings that had forced them to flee so desperately, almost trapping them near the Primordial Ancient Mine. "Let's hope we don't run into them again," Chen Huaiyuan muttered. "I swear, can you two crow-mouths please shut up?!" Old Dao Bazi glared, highly superstitious about such talk. "Damn it!" Ye Fan's heart sank as he looked towards the distant horizon. Those two jinxes had actually spoken it into existence!

Although it was midnight, it wasn't dark; the bright moon hung high, casting a hazy glow over the boundless blood-red earth. There, on the horizon, three figures appeared, looking their way, enveloped in halos, standing like three deities. The one in the center was ethereal and indistinct, giving an unreal impression. The one on the left was covered in divine light, blazing and dazzling like a scorching sun, as if the Sun God had descended. The one on the right, with white robes and dark hair dancing together, was like a celestial maiden from the Moon Palace, shimmering with crystal brilliance. "Three forbidden beings... they really want to force us back into the Primordial Ancient Mine!"

Chen Huaiyuan and Li Desheng, who had only just calmed down, began trembling again. They desperately wanted to run, but their legs were utterly uncooperative, shaking uncontrollably, leaving them rooted to the spot. Ye Fan and Old Dao Bazi also wanted to flee, but with the Primordial Ancient Mine directly behind them, turning back was simply not an option.

However, something astonishing and baffling happened: the three god-like figures on the horizon suddenly turned and sprinted away. They fled with incredible speed, as if recoiling from venomous snakes or terrifying ghosts, vanishing in an instant. Old Dao Bazi was dumbfounded, utterly bewildered. Li Desheng and Chen Huaiyuan were also wide-eyed and speechless, stammering attempts to speak.

"Forbidden beings... afraid of *us*? What... what's happening?" "Gods... fleeing? I... I didn't see that wrong, did I?!" Though the distance was great and they could only see blurry outlines, Ye Fan found them somewhat familiar. In a flash, a light dawned in his mind. "You bastards!" he cursed. He then took off like a shot, sprinting after them. "He dares to curse a living being from the Primordial Restricted Zone?!" Chen Huaiyuan exclaimed in shock.

"He's crazy, truly crazy! Grandfather Digger's possessed! He's actually chasing three gods!" Li Desheng shrieked. Old Dao Bazi was momentarily stunned, then suddenly leaped up. "Run! Chase them! Those aren't gods from the Primordial Ancient Mine; they're people just like us!" "What?! They're human?" Chen Huaiyuan's courage instantly surged, and he began to curse loudly: "Damn it! Those three bastards made us run around like headless chickens and almost died in the Primordial Ancient Mine, and they're human too!"

Li Desheng also cursed: "Those motherf*ckers! They're human, yet they almost got us killed!" They quickly realized that during their first encounter, the four of them had been standing on high ground. They only started fleeing after retreating to a lower spot where they could no longer see the three figures. In retrospect, it was highly likely that the other party had also chosen to flee at that time, but the higher ground had simply obscured their view.

Ye Fan was in the lead, Old Dao Bazi second, with Chen Huaiyuan and Li Desheng bringing up the rear, all in hot pursuit. The four of them were remarkably composed; not a single person shouted, they simply chased in silence.

Although the three ahead were incredibly fast and elusive, they couldn't fully unleash their speed, fearing they might accidentally stumble into a death trap. Thus, they weren't able to shake off the four pursuing them. Despite only seeing blurry outlines, Ye Fan was almost certain it was the Saintess of the Jade Lake, Yao Xi, and the Holy Son of Shaking Light. He had known that these three successors from the Holy Lands had come to the edge of the Primordial Ancient Mine to transport stone materials, but he never imagined they would also become lost in this place.

"These three almost got us killed in the Primordial Ancient Mine; if we don't scare them half to death, it would be a disservice to ourselves!" Li Desheng and Chen Huaiyuan gnashed their teeth. Ye Fan, meanwhile, demonstrated his resolve through action, chasing the three Holy Land successors who fled without daring to stop for a moment. These venerable Holy Son and Saintesses, who were always composed, now looked utterly disheveled, having mistaken their pursuers for forbidden beings from the ancient mine.

"Why do I feel like they're human, not some unknown creatures?" "Indeed, their sleeves are fluttering, and the one in front looks like a Daoist, and a bit familiar..." "They're most likely human. If they were terrifying creatures, they would have caught us by now." The Saintess of the Jade Lake, Yao Xi, and the Holy Son of Shaking Light were, after all, extraordinary individuals; even though they were trapped in the Primordial Restricted Zone, they didn't panic excessively. They quickly made a judgment, then all halted their steps. "Infinite Heavenly Venerable, are those old acquaintances ahead?" Seeing them stop, Ye Fan quickly rushed forward, making a sound, then stopped, possibly realizing something.

It wasn't long before the two groups converged. The silver moon hung high, its light clear and gentle, allowing them to see each other distinctly now. The Holy Son of Shaking Light, whose hair glimmered with golden light and whose entire body was radiant, showed no anger, but his usual peaceful smile was gone, his brows slightly furrowed. Yao Xi, dressed in white like snow, looked like a celestial maiden untouched by mortal dust. Her delicate brows lightly furrowed, she said, "Daoist, I never expected to meet you here. You truly live up to being Daoist Duan's martial uncle." (Duan De was known as the 'Unscrupulous Daoist' or 'Amoral Daoist,' and Yao Xi's words were subtly pointed.) Being chased like that in the Primordial Restricted Zone, no one could be pleased, but her composure was excellent, and she didn't flare up. "Infinite Heavenly Venerable," Ye Fan chanted, explaining, "This was all a misunderstanding..." The Saintess of the Jade Lake remained silent for a moment before finally saying, "Daoist, how did you come to be here...?" "It's a long story..."

Just then, Chen Huaiyuan and Li Desheng caught up. "Who are you people? You almost got us killed in the Primordial Ancient Mine!" Without caring about formalities, the two launched into a barrage of complaints, immediately silencing the Holy Son of Shaking Light, Yao Xi, and the Saintess of the Jade Lake. After listening to them, the three realized that both sides had indeed frightened each other significantly, confirming it was truly a "misunderstanding."

With the misunderstanding cleared, Yao Xi complained, "Daoist, you're truly comparable to that unscrupulous Daoist. You clearly recognized us, yet you chased us without saying a word..." The Holy Son of Shaking Light also said, "Daoist brother, that joke was a bit much." The Saintess of the Jade Lake, her voice like celestial music, added, "Daoist, we were almost chased into a death trap by you." "It was all a misunderstanding," Ye Fan quickly changed the subject, asking, "How did you all end up lost in the Primordial Restricted Zone?" "We were originally at the very edge of the Primordial Restricted Zone..."

According to the three, their experience was almost identical to Ye Fan's group. A strange black wind had swept outside the Restricted Zone, causing many casualties, and the three of them had been drawn into the Primordial Restricted Zone. Upon learning that the three were Holy Land successors, Li Desheng and Chen Huaiyuan dared not bluster anymore, though Old Dao Bazi remained calm throughout. After understanding how each group had arrived, all seven sighed, realizing they had all been caught by that same strange black wind. "Daoist, you truly are... to come all the way here just to observe the Primordial Ancient Mine," the Holy Son of Shaking Light said, shaking his head.

With the two groups now united, the Saintess of the Jade Lake and her companions were quite surprised to hear of Ye Fan's experiences in the Restricted Zone, not having expected him to be so capable as to break through such a perilous, seemingly inescapable situation. "I think if we just cross that blood-red plain ahead, we'll be able to leave the Restricted Zone," Old Dao Bazi remarked. Ye Fan and the three Holy Land successors all nodded, sharing the same feeling.

After traveling over sixty li, the seven of them unexpectedly came upon a pine forest stretching before them. The bright moon shone through the pines, and clear springs flowed over rocks—a perfect depiction of the scene. The pine forest swayed gently, the clear springs gurgled, and the moonlight reflected in the stream, creating a serene and pure ambiance. The Primordial Ancient Mine was a Restricted Zone where not a single blade of grass grew, so how could such a place exist here? Everyone was puzzled, deeply surprised and astonished. "Something is glowing..." the Holy Son of Shaking Light murmured, his eyes deep as if he could see through the entire pine forest.

The stream water gurgled, flowing over the bluestones, as pure and white as silk. The seven entered the forest and indeed saw a shimmering light; something was glowing. "This is... a skeleton!" They were all startled. Beneath an ancient pine tree lay a pristine white skeleton, its entire form sparkling, emitting a faint glow under the moonlight. "This person must have possessed world-shaking cultivation in life; it's unimaginable that their bones are still so smooth and jade-like years after death!" "There's a jade pendant here," Yao Xi said, having found a warm jade piece in the stream, carved into the shape of a dragon and shimmering with precious light.

"This is an Emperor of Great Xia!" the Saintess of the Jade Lake exclaimed in surprise. This type of jade pendant could only be carried by a Great Xia Emperor, serving as a symbol of their status. Everyone was astonished. An Emperor with world-shaking cultivation, from an immortal dynasty that had endured for over a hundred thousand years, had actually perished here. "Indeed, the Primordial Ancient Mine is where Holy Lords and Emperors are buried," the Holy Son of Shaking Light sighed, wondering if he, too, would one day meet his end here. "He died without even entering the Primordial Ancient Mine. There must be some unfathomable danger here; we must leave quickly!" Yao Xi's peerless face rippled with alarm, and her beautiful eyes swept towards the depths of the pine forest.

A shiver ran through everyone. An Emperor of an immortal dynasty, whose power defied creation itself, had perished here. This place was not as peaceful as it seemed. "Quick, leave!" Ye Fan, recalling something, was the first to retreat. Now, seeing him, whom they regarded as 'Grandfather Digger,' acting so uneasy, the others became even more alarmed. They all moved backward swiftly. "Daoist, is there something wrong with this place? Did you notice anything?" the Saintess of the Jade Lake asked softly, a delicate fragrance wafting from her body.

"This place shouldn't have a pine forest and clear springs; it ought to be a desolate wasteland. When extremes meet..." Ye Fan's heart was filled with unease. The *Source Heaven Book* contained a warning: "When extremes meet, flee quickly." This wasn't a warning for ordinary people, but a grave alert for Source Heaven Masters! The latter half of the *Source Heaven Book* had specifically mentioned such mountain and river formations: terrains that defied logic and shouldn't exist, indicating that something incredible lay beneath. Even Source Heaven Masters were advised to retreat from such places!

Ye Fan's heart pounded wildly. This was a land vein capable of killing a Source Heaven Master, a demonic land that absolutely had to be avoided. With his current abilities, it was impossible for him to deduce what lay beneath. "I've actually encountered the 'extremes meet' terrain... this is a phenomenon recorded quite late in the *Source Heaven Book*," he murmured to himself. He absolutely could not break through this now! Even the Zhang family's first ancestor, that legendary Source Heaven Master, if reborn, might not be able to overcome it!

Cold sweat streamed down Ye Fan's back as he retreated step by step, his clothes clinging to him. Feeling his tension, everyone held their breath and followed him backward. Even after they had left the pine forest, nothing untoward happened. The clear spring tinkled pleasantly as it flowed through the trees, creating a very peaceful atmosphere. Yet, a world-shaking Emperor had died here; how could there be no danger? This was undoubtedly a blood-stained demonic land! But even after retreating hundreds of *zhang*, they still saw nothing.

Ye Fan unleashed his top speed, leaving an afterimage as he dashed away in the blink of an eye. Slowly retreating was not an option. "Everyone, let's rely on our own luck! If we survive, we'll meet fifty li from here!" That 'Grandfather Digger,' who had managed to escape the Primordial Ancient Mine, was now acting with such extreme urgency, terrifying the remaining six. Sounds of them breaking through the air filled the night as they each employed their best methods, fleeing with all their might. Ye Fan fled for his life, chills running down his spine. The Primordial Restricted Zone was too terrifying; with death traps everywhere, he felt this place was no less dangerous than the ancient mine itself!