C649 Enter the Core

This is a fragmented world, where the earth shatters and time intertwines. A whirlwind shaped like a phoenix howls past, while a mist resembling a golden dragon swirls in the air. Occasionally, black sand and stones rise from the ground, forming human-like figures wielding weapons. Massive skeletons often stir, letting out a skyward roar that shakes the earth and mountains.

This place is known by many names: the Ancestral Land of Humans, the Burial Ground of Gods and Demons, the Land of Death. Here lie the souls of ancient ancestors, the spirits of gods and demons, and the essence of sacred beasts. There's also a voice, echoing through countless ages, still as stirring and powerful as ever:

"Enemies surround us on all sides,

Draw your sword, let the battle song rise;

Battle spirit soars, the storm ignites,

Blood stains the sky, yet it shines bright!"

In this desolate land, a solitary peak rises, its height immeasurable. This peak lacks grandeur and authority, possessing only an endless sense of tragic heroism. Innumerable human-like skeletons cling to its cliffs, and sometimes, crystalline bones ignite with soul fire, merging into the peak. Whenever this happens, a white glow emanates from a nearby altar at the base of the peak.

Woo Zhengyang and his group stood dumbfounded on a small mound, listening to the battle song echoing in their ears, their faces full of disbelief.

"Is this... really the heart of the ancestral land?"

"If your teleportation array didn't malfunction and what we're seeing isn't an illusion, then it should be..." The voice from the figure in the black robe trembled slightly.

Whether it was the phoenix-shaped whirlwind in the sky or the swirling blood rain forming a golden dragon, these were sights rarely seen in a lifetime.

On the ground, there were countless bones of varying sizes. Every so often, a skeletal warrior would rise, driven by an unyielding spirit that refused to fade, even after countless years. Yet, death is final, and no matter how strong the will, it's just a lingering obsession.

What surprised and delighted Woo Zhengyang and his companions the most was... where were the divine and devil pets? Despite the chaotic surroundings, everything was within reach, including the unique Profound Mountain not far away.

The Red-clothed Demon King had spoken of numerous divine and devil pets, some even of Emperor Rank, yet not a single one was in sight.

If there was any danger, it came from the occasional black stones that would erupt from the ground, attacking wildly in all directions. These stones, too, were driven by a persistent obsession and lacked significant power. When the group first arrived, they encountered one, which the prepared women easily shattered.

“What’s going on? Did that demon king deceive us?” Bing'er asked, puzzled.

“I don’t think so. Her explanation makes sense, and there’s no benefit in tricking us,” the figure in the black robe replied.

“That’s simple enough to find out. Let’s just bring her out and ask!” Woo Zhengyang said, signaling to Yun'er, who then brought Yun'er into the Star World.

A few moments later, Yun'er returned with the Red-clothed Demon King.

“This... the Profound Mountain... you actually made it in here,” the Red-clothed Demon King exclaimed, recognizing the place as she saw the golden dragon flying through the sky.

Quickly, she noticed something was off. Looking around, she asked again, “What happened to the divine and devil pets here? Don’t tell me you’ve already dealt with them! That’s impossible... absolutely impossible...”

The Red-clothed Demon King was clearly shaken, her understanding of the situation shattered.

Further questioning seemed unnecessary; her shock appeared genuine, and at this point, there was no need for pretense.

Sure enough, the Red-clothed Demon King was convinced that Woo Zhengyang and his group had indeed dealt with the divine and devil pets inside. She even asked Woo Zhengyang what extraordinary means they used.

Woo Zhengyang wasn’t interested in wasting words with her and sent her back in.

But after the Red-clothed Demon King was sent back, another figure appeared before them.

"Darn it... Who's messing with me? Don't they know I'm busy fixing the Invincible Cannon Car?" Lee Yuanye's voice echoed before he even appeared, grating on everyone's ears.

As he materialized outside, Lee Yuanye continued to grumble, "Boss, did you break through that barrier? Or is there something important? If not, just send me back. I'll have the Invincible Cannon Car fixed in no time."

"Idiot, take a look and see if you still need to fix your Invincible Cannon Car," Huo'er snapped.

Hearing Huo'er's words, Lee Yuanye suddenly turned around and realized the barrier that had tormented him so many times was gone.

"Oh my gosh... Boss, you guys are already in... What on earth is that in the sky? A dragon and a phoenix? Is that Profound Mountain over there? We're so close..."

Lee Yuanye, known for his exaggerations, was even more animated in his excitement, almost prompting Woo Zhengyang to send him back to the Star World.

Once Lee Yuanye calmed down, Woo Zhengyang explained the situation, but no one could figure out why there were no divine or devil pets here.

"I knew it! My predictions are never wrong. Boss is the key to leaving this world. As long as we stick with him, we'll overcome any obstacle. If we can't beat them, they'll just mysteriously disappear," Lee Yuanye boasted again.

"Come on... Since you're so good at figuring things out, why don't you tell us why those divine and devil pets disappeared and where they went?" Huo'er habitually teased Lee Yuanye whenever he started showing off.

"Well... maybe after the Red-clothed Demon King and his crew left, this barrier appeared. Even if divine or devil pets entered the Holy City, they couldn't get in here... Yeah, that must be it. When the Holy City wasn't open, there was no barrier. Once it opened, the barrier appeared to protect our sacred ground."

Lee Yuanye started off with some nonsense, but as he continued, his tone grew more serious, as if he had convinced himself.

"Come on, how could it be that convenient? If that were true, the Red-clothed Demon King and his gang should have been blocked by the barrier when they left."

"Not necessarily. Maybe there's a delay?"

"What delay? Stop making things up. The master already said the barrier was set up by someone, and it wasn't long ago. Besides, the Red-clothed Demon King mentioned that over the years, hundreds of beings comparable to Emperor Rank, divine pets, and devil pets have entered here. We've only encountered a few on our way, and seen just a handful. Where did the rest go?"

"Maybe they all happened to be in a fragmented world, and we just didn't run into them..."

"Isn't it convenient? Why don't you say they just happened to fall into the void and died?"

"You know, that might actually be possible..."