"Roar—"
In an instant, a giant beast emerged from the dark abyss, its claws reaching out, blocking out the sun and moon, and striking down with immense force, seemingly capable of tearing the void apart.
With a sweep of its claw, the earth shook and the mountains swayed, dust flew, and rocks shattered. The surrounding vegetation was crushed, leaves and branches scattered, creating a terrifying scene.
"Damn it, a demon attack."
Zhou Yan's face changed drastically. His sword was drawn, and he unleashed a surge of sword energy into the air, slicing through the void.
The sword energy was sharp, but when it struck the giant beast's claw, it was repelled, almost shattering his weapon.
"What a sturdy shell…" Zhou Yan's pupils contracted, filled with apprehension.
This giant beast was colossal, hundreds of meters tall, like a towering mountain.
However, what drew the most attention was its body, covered in dense, blood-red scales that gleamed with a metallic luster, as hard as steel and impervious to blades and spears.
The beast roared, its voice shaking heaven and earth. With a sweep of its claw, a fierce wind howled, kicking up layers of dust and smoke.
"Damn it…"
Caught off guard, Zhou Yan dodged in a frenzy. His chest was torn, blood streaming down.
The next second, a sharp whistling sound pierced the air, and a sword shadow cut through the dust and sand, carrying destructive power, directly piercing the giant beast's body.
Instantly, the giant beast froze. Its massive body stopped moving, its expression fixed. It lost all signs of life and was completely dead.
Zhou Yan stood up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and looked at the corpse at his feet, sighing, "I never thought I would personally slay a giant beast!"
This beast, with its formidable strength, was comparable to a cultivator in the Body Forging realm. As a result, Zhou Yan's surprise attack had felled it directly.
Zhou Yan felt a bit dejected. His strength was still too weak; he couldn't unleash the full power of the talismans.
"So be it. When life gives you lemons, make lemonade."
With a bitter smile, Zhou Yan walked to a corner of the cave, picked up a stone brick, and forcefully hammered the ground.
Thud, thud, thud…
The stone brick was as hard as iron, producing a solid, muffled impact that echoed through the cave like thunder.
"Hmm?"
Hearing the sound, Zhou Yan frowned, a look of confusion appearing on his face. He muttered to himself, "This is the core of the talisman formation, containing a strong magnetic field. It cannot be easily disturbed."
"But the texture of this stone slab is exactly the same as ordinary rock. How can it resist the erosion of the magnetic field?"
In ancient times, many mines and tombs had special magnetic fields.
Under the interference of these magnetic fields, ordinary mines and tombs could not be used. Only special treasures that could counteract magnetic fields, such as jade disks and spirit seals, could resist them.
"This stone brick looks unremarkable. It shouldn't be anything special," Zhou Yan thought to himself.
"Forget it. I'll keep it for now. It might be useful later."
Casually discarding the stone brick, Zhou Yan turned to survey his surroundings. His gaze fell upon a talisman, and with a slight movement of his mind, he reached out to grab it.
"Swish, swish, swish…"
In an instant, countless runes flickered, erupting with fiery intensity.
"Not good."
Zhou Yan's expression changed slightly. He quickly let go and retreated.
A moment later, the runes dimmed, returning to their ordinary, unadorned appearance.
"What is going on…"
Staring at the talisman, Zhou Yan was bewildered. He vaguely suspected that this talisman possessed some kind of restriction.
"Never mind, I'll study it slowly later."
Shaking his head, Zhou Yan looked around, confirmed there was no danger, and slowly lay down on the ground, falling into a deep sleep.
He slept soundly, without dreams, until the peaceful morning.
"Hmm?"
Muzzy-headed, Zhou Yan woke up, feeling a pang of hunger.
"I'm so hungry…"
Grumble, grumble…
The rumbling of his stomach was like thunder, causing Zhou Yan's cheeks to twitch. He felt deeply ashamed.
As a seven-foot-tall man, he had slept until he woke up naturally and was now hungry?
If this got out, he would surely become a laughingstock!
"No, I have to keep moving."
Zhou Yan gritted his teeth, struggled to get up, and dragged his tired body forward.
He traveled through mountains and waded through streams, the journey becoming increasingly arduous.
In Zhou Yan's eyes, the mountains were dense, the trees reached the sky, vines entwined, and weeds grew wild, filled with a strange and inexplicable aura.
"Squeak, squeak…"
Suddenly, the treetops swayed, and a few rays of sunlight filtered through the gaps, casting light on the ground.
"Eh, what is this?"
Zhou Yan was astonished to find a withered old tree ahead.
Beneath the old tree lay a pile of dry, decaying leaves.
"These leaves seem to contain medicinal properties, capable of healing people."
This thought flashed through Zhou Yan's mind, and he immediately became excited.
Coincidentally, Zhou Yan was seriously injured and needed to find restorative supplements.
"This old tree has been growing for decades. There must be plenty of medicinal materials. I can't let it go."
After a slight hesitation, Zhou Yan cautiously approached the old tree.
As soon as he took a step, he heard the sound of footsteps in the distance.
"Who's there!?" Zhou Yan became alert and looked towards the sound, only to be stunned.
In the distance, a dozen figures in black robes and masks were riding swift horses and rushing over.
"You guys…"
Zhou Yan hesitated, his heart filled with surprise. He didn't know why this group was pursuing him.
Logically, this area was on the border of the barbarian king city, isolated from the world. Where did this group of masked figures come from?
"Eh, someone's here?"
The group in black robes reined in their horses and stopped. One of them looked up and, upon seeing Zhou Yan, showed a surprised expression.
"Who are you?"
Among the black-robed figures, a young man in brocade clothes walked forward. He was handsome and possessed the bearing of a noble young master.
"I am…"
Zhou Yan subconsciously replied, then shook his head and said, "I am a lost young man who has encountered strange things. I hope you can help me find my way."
"Heh heh, we brothers are from the Imperial Advisor's Mansion of Southern Chu. We are escorting the young lady out of the king city and back to Southern Chu City, as ordered by the family head."
The young man in brocade clothes smiled gently and said, "Friend, let's travel together."
"So, you're from the Imperial Advisor's Mansion of Southern Chu." Zhou Yan suddenly understood and showed respect.
The young man in brocade clothes nodded in acknowledgment and instructed, "Rest here for a while. I will report to the young lady before coming to fetch you."
With that, the young man in brocade clothes called out and rode away.
Seeing this, Zhou Yan breathed a sigh of relief, sat down on the ground, and circulated his energy to heal his injuries.
Time passed. Before long, Zhou Yan's spirit had fully recovered. He walked into the depths of the cave.
"Rumble…"
Inside the cave, it was quiet and dim. Oil lamps hung on the walls, their orange flames burning.
The cave was sparsely furnished, with only two items: a table and chair, and a bed carved with dragon and phoenix patterns.
On the bed lay an ice coffin, emitting a chilling aura that sent shivers down one's spine.
Beside the ice coffin were three round pearls, each about the size of a fist. They were crystal clear, emitting strange fluctuations, and wisps of mist emanated from them, causing a sense of unease.
Upon closer inspection, Zhou Yan's heart pounded, his eyes trembled uncontrollably, and he could not suppress his excitement.
Because these were spirit pearls, rare and precious natural treasures, of immeasurable value.
"These spirit pearls were likely extracted from the bodies of spirit beasts…"