novelraw Chapter 56 – Mysterious middle-aged person
Chapter 56 – Mysterious middle-aged person
You dive into a dense rainforest.
An hour later.
You see smoke rising in the distance.
You leap onto an ancient tree and vaguely see a village.
You can't help but think of your past life.
Back then, you were killed by Song Fan around here. You were puzzled about how he found you in this vast mountain, but now you understand that it was likely the Mastermind who leaked the information...
However, you still have some doubts.
This village is certainly not within the Cursed Land, but it should be very close, like a border area. Who would settle in such a place without a good reason?
You find it a bit abnormal.
Following a frost-covered muddy path through the forest.
You enter the area.
You encounter a Middle-aged Man.
At first glance, he seems very familiar, yet you're sure you don't know him.
This feeling is quite strange...
You recall that in your previous life, not long after leaving the Spirit Clan Paradise, you met a similar Middle-aged Man at a theater on the border of You Prefecture. At the time, Li Wuyi told you he was just an ordinary person...
You feel something is off.
An ordinary person couldn't remain looking like a middle-aged man after sixty years unless he also took a Longevity Pill.
Or perhaps, you've mistaken him for someone else.
With doubts in mind.
You approach to converse.
The Middle-aged Man glances at you and asks with a smile, "Young man, are you also here in the Death Forest seeking fortune?"
You pause for a moment, then say hesitantly, "You look somewhat familiar, like a blood relative from my clan, but I can't recall who, so I came to inquire."
Hearing your words, the Middle-aged Man shows interest and asks about your background.
You state that you are a disciple of the Song family from Liangzhou.
The Middle-aged Man's expression becomes a bit dazed, and he chuckles lightly, saying he doesn't know you, but perhaps his appearance is quite similar to one of your elders, which is why you find him familiar.
After hearing this, you are certain that the person before you is the Middle-aged Man you met in your previous life.
You engage him in conversation.
You learn that the village is home to many martial artists from the lower five realms.
Due to the mysterious origins of the Cursed Land and the descent of the Immortal Palace fifty years ago, many martial artists with no hope of breakthroughs and poor innate talents have come to explore and seek fortune. Some come on their own, some are hired by noble families or sects, and there are also many ruthless individuals, as well as traveling merchants like the Middle-aged Man. It's a mixed bag, but over the years, some have indeed unearthed Profound Grade Spirit Artifacts and even Earth Grade Treasure Artifacts in the Cursed Land.
This caused a huge sensation at the time.
Countless people flocked to it.
Unfortunately, after decades, the outskirts of the Cursed Land, spanning nearly a hundred miles, have been dug up three feet deep. Not to mention Earth Grade Treasure Artifacts, even Profound Grade Spirit Artifacts haven't been found. Perhaps only by venturing deep into the uninhabited area beyond a hundred miles can one find something, but ordinary martial artists can't withstand the erosion of Death Qi. Only special longevity slaves cultivated by major forces can barely venture in to seek fortune...
Subsequently, the Middle-aged Man advises you to leave this place.
He says that as a member of the Song family from Liangzhou, you have unlimited potential and don't need to take risks here. Even if you find fortune, your body will be eroded by Death Qi, making it impossible to break through the Spirit River in your lifetime, which is not worth the loss.
You shake your head and say, "Thank you for your kind intentions, but I have reasons I cannot ignore."
The Middle-aged Man shows a surprised expression for the first time, "Oh? Can you share? I'm quite familiar with this area and might be able to offer some help."
You hesitate for a moment.
You reveal the special nature of the Five Gates of Heaven technique.
The Middle-aged Man looks at you deeply and says he is just an ordinary person and can't help with such matters. However, after thinking for a moment, he gives you a blank copper booklet, saying it's a protective charm he obtained from a temple, blessed by a master, and very effective. If the copper booklet turns black, it means you're in danger and should quickly leave the Cursed Land. Considering he resembles one of your elders, he only charges you five hundred silver taels, just to form a good bond.
You spend the money to buy the copper booklet.
Your intuition tells you that this mysterious Middle-aged Man might have some connection to the Song family and doesn't seem to intend harm.
Afterward, the Middle-aged Man chats with you for a bit more before bidding farewell.
You study the copper booklet for a while but find nothing unusual.
You don't think much of it.
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You pack up and enter the Cursed Land.
On February 28th, you step into the Cursed Land and use the Qi Absorption Method to take a breath. Almost instantly, dense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi rushes towards you, at least dozens of times stronger than outside. However, unlike outside, this Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi is not in colorful particle form but in a strange gray color. You suspect this might be the Death Qi that Song Fan mentioned, which even the Heaven-Human Ancestor would die from inhaling.
You attempt to break through the Death Gate...
After one cycle, you find the efficiency is twice as fast as when using Profound Grade spirit liquid outside.
This greatly surprises you.
This means you only need to spend forty-five years to completely open the fourth Death Gate and temper the legendary Supreme Golden Bones.
However, you don't choose to cultivate immediately but plan to venture deeper.
After all, the deeper you go, the higher the concentration of Death Qi.
You continue to venture deeper...
Twenty miles...
Thirty miles...
Fifty miles...
One hundred and twenty miles...
You traverse the hot and humid rainforest.
The morning sunlight pierces through the layers of leaves, casting spots of light. Due to the abundant rainfall here, the vegetation is extremely lush, with vines entwining and roots sprawling, forming numerous obstacles.
Under a large tree.
You discover a mushroom faintly emitting a gray-black aura.
You stop in your tracks.
After a moment of hesitation, you pick it and sniff it at your nose.
Rich spiritual energy floods into your nasal cavity, soaking into your throat, accompanied by a sense of oppression and heaviness...
You feel a deep-seated decay...
You attempt to sit and cultivate.
An hour later.
You slowly open your eyes, shocked to find that with the aid of the mushroom, the efficiency of breaking through the Death Gate is ten times faster...
At this moment, your chest feels a sudden heat.