A dark mountain range.
"We’ve arrived at the Black Dragon Mountain Range; this is the edge of the Federation’s map..."
Deep in the Spirit Realm.
Zhong Shenxiu rode the Three-eyed Feathered Serpent, arriving outside the Black Dragon Mountain Range.
He had been mingling in the depths of the Spirit Realm for some time, occasionally returning to the Hall of True Knowledge for rest and had also met some Federation Members as companions.
Through exchanges, as well as his own searching, he had obtained most of the materials required to compound the longevity blood.
Now, he was only one ingredient short— the Stone Dragon Heart.
The birth of this material was extremely stringent and was also related to a kind of giant dragon from the Spirit Realm. It was often only discovered on the fossilized remains of these creatures.
"This Black Dragon Mountain Range is said to be the petrified body of a black dragon..."
Zhong Shenxiu looked out over the mountain range that seemed to have no end, "Could this black dragon be of the ’longevity’ level? Of course, it’s just a legend... but Stone Dragon Hearts have indeed been produced here."
He took a step forward, entering the territory of the Black Dragon Mountain Range.
The huge Three-eyed Feathered Serpent suddenly transformed into a bracelet, quietly coiling around his arm.
The world around him changed abruptly.
Zhong Shenxiu stepped onto a dusty stone slab.
He lifted his head and saw dim corridors and a series of silver sconces fixed to the wall.
The flames flickered. The base of the sconce was actually an arm stretched out from the wall, radiating a certain vivid hue.
It gave the feeling that the arms here were alive.
"Indeed... the Black Dragon Mountain Range is not a mountain range, but a living... maze?"
Anyone who entered the range of the mountains would automatically find themselves inside this maze.
"After all, it’s the remains of a Spirit Realm Creature. In such a bizarre environment, anything could happen..."
Feeling the tense atmosphere in the air, Zhong Shenxiu’s palm was covered with a layer of ethereal scales as he stepped forward and grasped one of the silver candlesticks.
On the candlestick, half a candle was slowly burning, emitting a ring of dim orange light.
"According to the records... in the initial dark corridor of the Black Dragon Maze, one cannot endure too much darkness for too long."
He gripped the candlestick slightly harder, feeling the arm holding the other side of the candlestick seemed to be increasing its strength too.
Just then, the Three-eyed Feathered Serpent coiled around Zhong Shenxiu’s arm suddenly raised its head, hissing, and stared at the arms protruding from the wall with its slit pupil.
A grating sound came, and the arm abruptly released its grip, retracting back into the wall.
Zhong Shenxiu fell silent for a moment, then uttered two words and took another step forward.
Elsewhere in the maze.
Two mysterious individuals entered the maze from different directions.
"Eugene, are you sure there’s treasure here?"
A well-dressed lady looked towards another person, a man who was clad in a thick fur coat, looking as if he had come from the northern icy highlands.
This man was in his forties, with a resolute face. In the mystical circles of the Federation, he had a nickname— Ice Carver!
Ice Carver Eugene— he was not just a ’Perfectionist’ but also a renowned explorer, who had discovered the ruins of an icefield deep in the Spirit Realm and gained a great deal of benefit from it.
"Of course, Joanna, you should trust my judgment..."
Eugene smiled and said, "How could I deceive an old friend like you? Deep within the Black Dragon Maze, there indeed lies a clue left by that great Sage Isreal... I have just learned of this news."
"If that’s true, then..."
Joanna’s eyes began to light up.
She didn’t even ask Eugene why he hadn’t reported the discovery to the council.
Even as Federation Members, there are factions, and newly discovered regions of the Spirit Realm beyond the public maps are similarly monopolized by members of different factions.
Even she would surely think of exploring it on her own upon receiving the clue.
Only when the danger was truly overwhelming would she consider turning it over to the council to have the Federation intervene.
"A legacy of a ’longevity,’ might guide us to the trial of the azure sky... That’s a millennium of prolonged life."
Longing filled Joanna’s voice.
"Yes, all the members originally thought that this was nothing more than a prank-like maze, with nothing more than the production of Stone Dragon Hearts. If not for my discovery..."
A hint of pride appeared on Eugene’s face, "Let’s go... After passing through the passage, we’ll reach the secret garden, and then crossing the silver bridge will bring us to the place where the clue was discovered. If that place wasn’t so hard to get through, why would I have sought you out as my partner?"
Hearing him say this, although Joanna was somewhat uncomfortable, she felt even more reassured.
The two of them, carrying candelabras, passed through the long passage and saw a garden.
Countless dandelion-like fluffy white balls were floating in mid-air.
"Let me handle this..."
Known as the ’Wind Catcher’ among the mysterious ones, Joanna chanted a spell, casting an unnamed technique, and a whirlwind suddenly emerged.
The gale swept through, dispersing the dandelions, and after ten minutes, there were no more furry white balls hanging in the air.
"The Seeds of Greed are a hassle for us to deal with; indeed, Joanna, your unnamed technique is the most effective at restraining them..."
A small smile appeared on Eugene’s face.
Then, they crossed a long silver bridge and came to a small hut.
"The Riddle Hut, one must solve the riddle of the dolls inside or defeat it to pass through..."
Eugene gave a slight smile.
"Where is the clue left by Isreal?"
Despite being tired from the walk, excitement filled Joanna’s face.
"Right here... But, this Riddle Hut has a peculiar trait, an annoying trait..."
Eugene’s expression turned dark, "Once you enter this place, you can’t leave the Spirit Realm..."
"Hmm? You didn’t mention that, and I didn’t notice it either. This property seems somewhat similar to the six major Dao Marks." Joanna was very surprised.
"Moreover, this place has a strong resistance against prophecies and divinations!"
Eugene said, "Do you know why I understand it so clearly? Because I have explored here before... In fact, on a Stone Dragon Heart, I even found Isreal’s last words..."
Joanna’s intuition went berserk, alerting her without a moment’s thought as she shook her robe.
A golden whirlwind suddenly wrapped around her entire being.
Eugene turned around, revealing a sinister smile.
All over his face and body, legume-sized larvae were burrowing through his skin, seemingly about to hatch at any moment!
"Eugene... You’ve been completely and utterly corrupted by madness."
Upon seeing this, Joanna’s pupils shrank slightly, "Was it the Spirit Realm Icefield? You monopolized it, chose to exploit it, but ended up being possessed by these disgusting creatures?"