Upon a closer look, she found that the exposed skin on her thighs, neck, shoulders, and even parts of her arms bore tattoos in overlapping shades of black, blue, and red!

The tattoo colors were bizarre, twisting with a life of their own in sync with her breathing, their fine scales raising the hair on one's head. In the mere moments it took for Qingluan to stretch lazily, the tattoos on her body started to move rapidly, climbing up her neck under the horrified gaze of onlookers.

It turned out to be a giant colorful python with a flickering tongue!

Yet Qingluan remained unaffected, seemingly accustomed to the abnormality of her body. To her and her fellow members of the East Sea Clan, this was everyday life. If memory serves, even Uncle De, the steward, had similar tattoos.

Indeed, this was the Cultivation Technique of the East Sea Clan, or perhaps it was their true nature—their appearance after transforming, reflecting the true manifestation of their bloodline.

In contrast, the maid responsible for Qingluan's attire appeared much cleaner, devoid of any tattoos. Her body swayed, the short skirt she wore evoking imaginations. In this era, such a skirt that barely covered the buttocks was quite scandalous, awaiting comments from anyone who saw it.

However.

Xiao Yu had no buttocks or long legs. Beneath her skirt was a colorful snake tail, representing the identities of the master and servant.

The East Sea Clan, a branch of the old Royal Family, now belonged to the 'Snake' family within the Upper Three Sects of Dragon, Jiao, and Snake, named She Qingluan.

Morning mist like gauze.

A jade-green creek cascaded down the blue cliff, crashing into the deep pool like shattered jade flying snow, startling a few white egrets, whose wings skimmed the water's surface to create ripples of sparkling radiance. Deep within the green mountain, falling petals scattered like rain, with a floating fragrance.

A man and a woman sped through the air on flying swords, the scenery prompting him to praise aloud.

"The landscape is as picturesque as a painting, truly the mortal paradise found within Dongyue."

"Indeed, surrounded by beautiful mountains and waters, my mother said that for thousands of years, despite wars and regime upheavals within the Cultivation World, only the Dongyue regime has persisted to this day, remaining untouched by war as a haven."

"Yes, though regrettably..."

The two raised their heads to look at the horizon, for beyond the green mountain ahead lay another realm entirely.

The setting sun was as blood.

The sky was dyed a forlorn, vivid red. On the cracked scorched earth lay rusted blades and spears, jagged and uneven, like gaping wounds torn into the world.

Twisted branches of ancient locust trees clawed at the sky, where even from miles away, one could see the black ravens perched, their raspy cries shattering the silence. Once over thirty meters deep, the dried moat was lined with decayed bones and remnants of armor. Occasionally, spiritual beasts could be seen scavenging, drooling foul saliva from sharp fangs, a disturbing sight.

Armageddon and paradise, merely separated by a mountain, Hell and the Immortal Realm stood side by side; this was once Dongyue City, now the old capital. Though the elders spoke of the blood-like sunset, witnessing it firsthand was a staggering experience.

One thought mankind, the next Hell, a perfect embodiment provided by the seven hundred miles of Dongyue's old capital, divided by the mountain ridge. One side of the mountain was verdant, while the other was a mortal purgatory; even the clouds in the sky marked this boundary, red clouds suspended ominously.

The two people's flying swords did not proceed but instead slowly descended, as the woman dutifully followed behind.

"Land here."

"We must walk the rest of the way. Though the old capital was poisoned, Elder Ge said the surrounding area spans several hundred miles, still within the influence of the old capital."

"Any ridge, any valley, any terrain might be home to a clan or a Spiritual Beast, scattered with hundreds of Grotto Heaven secret realms, where many families built their bases."

"If we can successfully find a family entrance or a Cave Heaven Secret Realm, there might be numerous treasures awaiting us. Just look over there at that scattered mess."

He pointed to the post-apocalyptic scene on the other side.

Spiritual beasts of various sizes ran rampant, their numbers covering the sky, engaged in vicious fights for food.

Most of these spiritual beasts were mindless, fierce, and violent, seemingly engaged in intense battles over meat, and with Cen Yueyue's eyes seeing two canine spiritual beasts fighting over prey.

It turned out to be a human limb, and looking up, she saw that the ravens in the sky were carrying intestines in their beaks.

Chilling.

Even someone like Cen Yueyue, the 'venomous Southern Border woman,' felt discomfort at the current scene, furrowing her brows as a large hand gently patted her back.

A peculiar power surged through her body, the Heavenly Clarity and Serenity True Technique playing its role, alleviating her unease quickly. Despite furrowing her brows, she could tell this wasn't an aversion to blood. When capturing Hou Zhongxiao, she had no such reactions.

"Could it be the poison's influence?"

This thought flashed through her mind.

Even though the blood-red apocalypse was still distant, its looming presence stirred hearts with anxiety and made the Spiritual Energy restless, affecting her even at her realm, hinting at the condition of others who arrive unprepared.

And Jiang Feng cautiously approached, cheekily placing a hand on Cen Yueyue's flat stomach, looking confused.

"That's strange, pregnant after just one month of dual cultivation..."

Bang!

A slap followed.

Yet Mr. Jiang merely laughed roguishly despite the hit; after getting familiar, the young couple was always lively, with no reservations, and enjoyed joking around constantly. Cen Yueyue herself often indulged in teasing, too.

She glared at the man with annoyance; before arriving, the couple assured they'd be unaffected by the poisoning, yet she felt uneasy even before stepping into the area, feeling slightly embarrassed.

The key seemed to be his taunting.

Under the Heavenly Clarity and Serenity True Technique's influence, her mindset gradually calmed, and Jiang Feng's playful tone equally stabilized.

"It seems quite a few cultivators have already fallen outside; the torn clothing over there appears to be Dongyue's native brocade, with traces of battle but no signs of cultivators using Magic Treasures."

"Likely, this group attempted poaching by entering Dongyue's old capital seeking opportunities, though the environment and spiritual beast attacks led to their downfall."

"A cultivator's flesh is a treasure for Spiritual Beasts, granting great benefits even to ordinary beasts who consume it. Dongyue's old capital has been embroiled in bloodshed for a century, with countless cultivators perishing here."

"Bones decaying to fodder for wild animals, coupled with a century's sealing by experts; even a cow munching on cultivator flesh here would become a Bull Demon King."

"Also, there's this unique scene."

The two descended along the mountain ridge, formally entering the hundred-year-sealed territory. Underfoot, the soil was loose, the air thick with a repulsive stench, causing Cen Yueyue's nose to twitch as she detected nerve-numbing toxins.

And upon entering the old capital grounds, it became evident.

The entire air...

The Hell Immortal Realm but a thin line where...

The ground could anytime...

The couple jumped down from their flying swords together.

The two descended along the mountain ridge, formally entering the hundred-year-sealed territory. Underfoot, the soil was loose, the air thick with a repulsive stench, causing Cen Yueyue's nose to twitch as she detected nerve-numbing toxins.

And upon entering the old capital grounds, it became evident.

The entire air...

The Hell Immortal Realm but a thin line where...

The ground could anytime...

The couple jumped down from their flying swords together.

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