Chapter 1497: Sealing Power
Xiang Shaoyun's divine dao eyes could discover all illusions and see through anything. However, when he looked at the central zone, he only saw a vast blanket of haze. He was unable to see the actual condition within the central zone.
"The forbidden zone that not even Gods can enter is truly not to be underestimated," lamented Xiang Shaoyun.
He did not try to force his eyes to see through the zone. Instead, he took out a jade slip. It was the same jade slip his father had given Pang Tongyuan, the one containing his father's blood essence. Upon his father's death, the jade slip would turn dim. Since the jade slip was still shining, it proved that his father was still alive.
The moment Xiang Shaoyun took out the jade slip, he sensed the jade slip's aura spread out. If his father was nearby, the jade slip would react, and he would be able to determine his father's location with it.
Unfortunately, there was no reaction from the jade slip. Thus, he was somewhat disappointed. He became certain that his father had entered the central zone, the only place that could block the jade slip's detection.
"Overlord, is my father-in-law really in the Wumo Pass? You're not mistaken, right?" asked Devil Concubine.
Xiang Shaoyun nodded and said, "Yes. This is definitely the place they had selected as their battleground. The day before my father left, he told me himself and promised that he would return quickly. Unfortunately, he has been missing ever since."
Xiang Shaoyun looked distressed. He did not want anything bad to happen to his father.
Before long, the others returned. None of them had managed to find anything.
"I'm entering the forbidden zone. Do you dare to come with me?" asked Xiang Shaoyun.
"Of course!" they replied at the same time.
Xiang Shaoyun nodded and said, "Very well. Inside, don't go too far from me. Act according to my commands."
Next, the group headed toward the central zone. On their way, they encountered many fiendish beings. However, none of them needed to do anything. These fiendish beings were perfect for Money's target practice. After a while, they arrived before a huge boulder. On the boulder, several words were carved: One will lose control over one's life upon entering the Wumo Pass.
The words were written in red font, emanating a bloody aura that seemed to last for an eternity. When they looked at the words, they could sense some sort of indescribable power that caused even them to feel shocked.
Devouring Ghost exclaimed, "Only the blood of a God can remain so long after being branded on this ancient boulder.."
"I thought Gods couldn't enter the Wumo Pass?" asked Despair doubtfully.
"Perhaps that wasn't the case in the past?" suggested Bing Buyi.
"It doesn't matter. These words are proof that a great terror lies ahead. Everyone, be sure to watch your backs," said Xiang Shaoyun solemnly.
At this point, their surroundings were already filled with death energy. An ordinary cultivator would have already died before reaching this far. The group continued ahead. Before long, they sensed the Wumo Pass's seal latch onto their bodies. Their Saint Realm energy started waning, causing them to panic.
Without their Saint Realm energy, it was the same as losing half their combat strength because then they would only be able to use their physical strength. If they encountered any danger in their current condition, things would be troublesome.
"Our energy went missing before we even entered the actual forbidden zone!" exclaimed Devil Concubine in alarm.
"What an eerie place," said Devouring Ghost.
Xiang Shaoyun asked, "None of you can circulate your astral energy?"
Everyone nodded, including Money.
Xiang Shaoyun asked himself inwardly, Why am I not affected?
He did not tell them anything. He wanted to see if his energy would remain after advancing farther ahead. Soon, they reached the actual forbidden zone. A thick sealing power caused everyone except Xiang Shaoyun to lose full control over their astral energy.
"You guys should withdraw," said Xiang Shaoyun.
The place was filled with death energy. Without the protection from their astral energy, they would lose a lot of their lifespan.
"Overlord, I'm going with you!" said Devil Concubine resolutely.
"We're all willing to go with you, overlord!" said the others.
A layer of astral energy hovered around Xiang Shaoyun as he said, "I still have my energy. This place is probably ineffective against me. It's pointless for you guys to come with me without your astral energy. It's better for you to wait outside."
Everyone was dumbstruck. Their astral energy had all been sealed. Why was Xiang Shaoyun unaffected? Despair and Bing Busi revered Xiang Shaoyun even more after this episode.
"You must be careful, overlord," said Devil Concubine anxiously. She was very worried, but she was also sure that nobody could change Xiang Shaoyun's mind.
"Don't worry. I'll be fine," said Xiang Shaoyun. He then entered the forbidden zone.
The moment he entered, everyone lost sight of him. The layer of hazy power in the forbidden zone had blocked all their senses.
"Go. Wait for the overlord's return," said Devouring Ghost.
They then withdrew. If they stayed any longer, the death energy would probably start taking their lives. The Wumo Pass was akin to an independent space. The death energy within it was also more than ten times thicker than the death energy in its surrounding area. Such dense death energy was extremely dangerous for Saints who had lost their astral energy. If a Saint entered, they probably wouldn't survive for long.
Even Xiang Shaoyun's Saint Realm energy was being corroded by the death energy. Like a vengeful spirit, the death energy constantly tried to break through his layer of protection to no avail.
Of course, Xiang Shaoyun wouldn't think that he would be completely safe. He could see numerous rotting corpses on the ground; their bones were preserved in prime condition. From the quality of the bones, they were definitely the corpses of Saints. There were so many saint-grade bones around him that he could forge a saint-grade weapon out of them.
Apart from that, Xiang Shaoyun could also see numerous zombies roaming randomly around the area. The zombies appeared dazed and unintelligent, but a small number of them could absorb the death energy in the air. Only zombies at the Emperor Realm or above could do so.
The moment the zombies detected life entering the area, they all looked over in Xiang Shaoyun's direction.