42: The bloody forbidden land is about to open!

In his previous life, Lin Feng was just a university graduate two years out of college. His hobbies, besides reading novels, were watching anime. For him, staying at home was a common occurrence.

Therefore, he never felt the tedium of Cultivating Immortals. Most of the time, he stayed in his Immortal Cave, taking Medicinal Pills and silently Cultivating.

Occasionally, he would split off a wisp of his Divine Sense and watch with great interest Han Li's live-action 'Dao Ancestor Descends to the Mortal Realm' next door. Watching Han Li rush around for a few Spirit Stones and cautiously try to sell a ripened Spiritual Plant always gave Lin Feng a strange sense of pleasure.

"Ding! Detected that Han Li intends to go to the market to purchase the Magical Artifacts [Golden Cicada Mother-Child Blades] and the [Mystic Iron Flying Shield]. The host can choose to intercept, rewarding 100 points, with a chance to obtain additional rewards."

The System's notification sound would occasionally ring in his mind, and Lin Feng would simply smile faintly. He didn't always make a move; only when he felt a mischievous urge would he intercept. After all, Han Li called him Big Brother, and as a Big Brother, he couldn't let Old Devil Han not even have two self-defense Magical Artifacts.

Of course, besides his two-person world with Han Li, Lin Feng also didn't forget his Dao Companion.

With the token given by Nangong Wan, he would go to Yanyue Sect's Yueyao Peak every so often to visit Mo Fengwu.

"Husband!"

Every time Lin Feng's figure appeared outside Mo Fengwu's residence on Yueyao Peak, he would see her graceful figure joyfully rushing towards him.

Under Nangong Wan's careful guidance and the Sect's allocation of resources, Mo Fengwu's Cultivation progressed rapidly. In just a few months, she had already advanced to the Late Stage Qi Refining.

Nangong Wan originally wanted to pass on her Su Nv Reincarnation Skill to Mo Fengwu, but she found that Mo Fengwu's Cultivation Technique was not inferior to her own.

Furthermore, her Aptitude with a top-grade Ice Spiritual Root allowed her to Cultivate the 'Ice Soul True Scripture' like a fish in water.

Nangong Wan had no choice but to give up the idea of imparting her Cultivation Technique, but she was quite satisfied with this Disciple.

"Master Nangong treats me extremely well, but there are some areas in Cultivation where Phoenix Dance is dull and always feels it's hard to comprehend," Mo Fengwu leaned into Lin Feng's embrace, softly recounting her Cultivation confusions.

Lin Feng smiled and playfully flicked her delicate nose: "Tell me, husband will help you analyze it."

Although he had not Cultivated the 'Ice Soul True Scripture,' with the System's Cultivation Technique improvement and analysis function, he could offer some unique insights that made Mo Fengwu suddenly feel enlightened.

Of course, besides discussing the Dao and dispelling doubts, more of their time was spent on the long-awaited intimacy between husband and wife.

A few days after their passionate encounter, the naked Mo Fengwu lay lazily on Lin Feng's chest, her hair disheveled, her pretty face still flushed.

"Husband, when will you come to see me again?" Her voice carried a strong sense of reluctance.

"Soon, after I finish one matter, I can stay with you longer," Lin Feng gently stroked her smooth back.

He would only leave contentedly when Mo Fengwu's body was on the verge of collapsing and she was rolling her eyes, begging for mercy.

As for Nangong Wan, it was unclear if she condoned Lin Feng's behavior. He never saw her figure during these times.

Only when Lin Feng was leaving would he occasionally see this solitary centenarian.

Nangong Wan would just give him a faint glance, without saying much.

Lin Feng would always bow respectfully, but secretly wondered if this old woman, who had been single for so many years, was secretly watching!

Time flew by, and a year passed in the blink of an eye.

One day, Lin Feng was consolidating his Cultivation, which had just Broken through to the Late Stage Foundation Establishment, when his heart suddenly stirred, and his Divine Sense swept towards next door.

From Han Li's Immortal Cave, a spiritual energy fluctuation, not particularly strong but quite solid, emanated and then stabilized.

"Finally, Qi Refining Twelfth Layer?" Lin Feng's lips curved into an arc.

Old Devil Han's progress, even with his occasional interference, was quite similar to the original novel. It seemed the Protagonist Halo indeed existed.

Next, Han Li would probably start rushing around for the Foundation Establishment Pill's Pill Formula and Materials.

As expected, in the following days, Lin Feng "observed" that Han Li's visits to the Sect's market significantly increased, and his expression showed more gravity and contemplation.

At the same time, a piece of news that garnered the attention of countless Qi Refining Disciples began to spread within Huangfeng Valley.

The Blood Forbidden Ground was about to open!

Lin Feng had naturally anticipated this.

The Blood Forbidden Ground was both a dangerous place fraught with crises and a treasure trove full of Opportunities. It was also a critical juncture in his plan to develop that kind of relationship with Nangong Wan.

However, he also had a slight concern.

"In the original novel, not all Cultivators who entered the Blood Forbidden Ground were in the Qi Refining Stage," Lin Feng stroked his chin, his eyes slightly narrowed, "Xiang Zhili will also go in. Although Soul Transformation Stage Cultivators in the Human Realm won't easily make a move, this isn't the original novel after all. What if something unexpected happens..."

He didn't think his current strength could fare well against a Soul Transformation Cultivator who had truly become enraged.

"Although the possibility of him attacking me is small, it's always good to be cautious of others."

Lin Feng's cautious nature began to make final preparations for the upcoming trip to the Blood Forbidden Ground.

He counted the countless Talismans, Medicinal Pills, and Magical Artifacts exchanged in the System backpack, selecting the useful ones.

Meanwhile, Han Li was also not idle.

Both protagonists were silently working towards their respective goals.

Another few months passed.

In the central plaza of Huangfeng Valley, people were bustling.

Hundreds of Huangfeng Valley Disciples gathered here, most with complex expressions, a mix of yearning for Opportunity and apprehension about the unknown.

These were all Disciples who had signed up for this Blood Forbidden Ground trial. Their Cultivation was all above Qi Refining Ninth Layer, mostly old Disciples who had been in the Sect for many years but had yet to Foundation Establishment.

For them, the Blood Forbidden Ground might be their only chance in this life to obtain the main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill, thereby achieving a Heaven-Defying change in their destiny.

On the high platform, the Sect Head of Huangfeng Valley and several Core Formation Elders stood solemnly.

The Sect Head cleared his throat, his voice echoing across the plaza: "Fellow Disciples, the Blood Forbidden Ground opens every four years. The dangers within, I presume you all already know."

"But great wealth is found in danger! Within the Forbidden Ground, there are not only several main ingredients for refining the Foundation Establishment Pill but also many rare Spiritual Plants and exotic treasures unseen in the outside world."

"If you can bring out the main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill and hand them over to the Sect, the Sect will surely reward you heavily! Not only will you be granted resources sufficient for you to Cultivate peacefully to Foundation Establishment, but you will also have the chance to be accepted as a Named Disciple by a Core Formation Elder, with unlimited prospects!"

The Sect Head's words were highly inflammatory, causing many Disciples below to breathe heavily, their eyes gleaming with the light called "ambition."

This speech, heard by Lin Feng, felt very much like the motivational speeches given by generals to suicide squads before battle in his previous life's TV dramas.

Lin Feng mingled in the crowd, his expression calm, unaffected by the Sect Head's impassioned words.

His gaze swept through the crowd, quickly locking onto a familiar figure.

Han Li, hiding behind everyone, still looked unremarkable, standing in a corner of the crowd, head down, trying to minimize his presence.

Just then, Han Li seemed to sense Lin Feng's gaze and also looked up, seeing Lin Feng's figure.

When he sensed the Cultivation aura emanating from Lin Feng, which was still Qi Refining Great Perfection, similar to his own, a subtle, complex emotion flashed in Han Li's eyes—surprise, and a hint of inexplicable melancholy.

He thought that Lin Feng, who had been so eye-catching at the Ascension Gathering and even attracted a Core Formation Senior to personally appear, had a Cultivation level not much different from his own after more than a year.

The path of Cultivating Immortals was indeed difficult.

Han Li hesitated slightly, then took a few steps towards Lin Feng, forcing a somewhat stiff smile onto his face.

"Brother Lin... long time no see." Han Li cupped his hands, "You also came to participate in this Blood Trial?"

Lin Feng smiled slightly upon seeing Han Li initiate conversation: "Old Brother Han, you've been well. I naturally wouldn't want to miss such an Opportunity."

Han Li nodded upon hearing this, then said: "Fellow Daoist Lin, your Cultivation must have advanced greatly this past year."

His words carried both a hint of probing and curiosity.

Lin Feng always gave him a somewhat mysterious and unfathomable feeling.

"Just a small accumulation, nothing worth mentioning compared to Fellow Daoist Han's Cultivation speed," Lin Feng's tone was humble, yet it was impossible to discern its sincerity.

Han Li chuckled dryly and didn't press further.

He wasn't a talkative person to begin with; initiating a greeting was already his limit.

"The Blood Forbidden Ground is full of dangers, Fellow Daoist Lin, you must be extra careful," Han Li kindly reminded him.

"Thank you for the reminder, Old Brother Han. Let us both take care," Lin Feng replied.

The two exchanged a few simple pleasantries and then said no more.

On the high platform, the Sect Head's routine encouragement was nearing its end, and he began to announce the specific details and precautions for entering the Forbidden Ground.