Someone was so scared that they almost jumped on the spot.

The simplest hunting method often requires only the simplest technique. With one foot forward, the worn-out spring mechanism made a harsh grinding noise and snapped shut from both sides. If it were an ordinary wild beast, its legs would certainly have been broken on the spot.

Unfortunately.

What was caught was no wild beast; it was Jiang Feng, whose body had been honed to the extreme.

A sharp pain shot up his ankle, making him grit his teeth. Even a cultivator would find it hard to endure such a sudden attack. Cultivators are human too, not impervious to blades and fires. Looking down, he discovered that a pile of traps had been hidden under the heap of dead leaves at the boundary.

"Hmph, how shameful, caught by the tricks of ordinary hunters. Why don't you continue your bragging?"

Gloating.

Miss Cen reacted quickly, and when someone stepped onto the trap and was almost incapacitated by the Beast Trap, she flicked her small hand, throwing the Longsword to the ground, opening it to the left and right to support it.

With a darkened face, he just removed the Beast Trap and gave it a kick, but that one kick triggered seven or eight clicking sounds in succession from distant piles of fallen leaves, making one's scalp tingle.

Moving slowly forward, they proceeded with caution, only daring to move boldly ahead once the dead leaves that covered the traps before them disappeared. This was once the boundary of the Sealed Land, where many ordinary hunters or cultivators found they could not proceed further.

But a century-long seal continuously drew numerous beasts here, as the allure of nature's spiritual energy was equally powerful to them. Consequently, hunters frequently set traps nearby, eventually giving him a surprise.

At this moment, both had thoroughly entered the seven-hundred-mile range of the ancient capital. From their vantage point, even the ruins of the distant city could be seen; although both areas were wrecked by warfare and the might of Primordial Ancient Beasts, at that time, the difference was not so pronounced.

But since the seal, the not yet ravaged area began to recover, and as nature's mighty force constantly swept over this land, it regained its lush verdancy. However, the ravaged area was completely devastated, which even a century of cleansing couldn't alter; this showed just how terrifying these Ancient Beasts were.

The young couple exchanged remarks, finding the place filled with a sense of novelty as they slowly explored forward. Soon rustling sounds came from afar, as if someone had fallen to the ground.

Their brows furrowed as they exchanged glances, both sensing surprise. With their eyesight, hearing, and Divine Sense, they could normally detect any fighting from miles away.

Yet this land was strangely eerie. Not only was it difficult to see clearly, but the hearing was also diminished. More distressingly, their Sea of Consciousness couldn't extend outward in such a state, as if a ruthless hand was restraining them, limiting their abilities.

One runaway, one pursuit.

A local Dongyue cultivator wielded his martial weapon, locked in a life-and-death struggle with a Spiritual Beast. However, his strength fell short at only the Foundation Establishment Realm, while the Spiritual Beast pursuing him was peculiarly abnormal.

With a decaying body, eroded flesh, its ribs even exposed white bones, and faintly visible organs pulsing beneath the ribs.

Its twisted face drooled red saliva, appearing terrifyingly hideous. This so-called wolf-shaped Spiritual Beast did not only rely on its fangs to harm but could also utilize tail strikes akin to a Daoist Skill to try to throw the cultivator off.

Forced against the wall, the cultivator steeled his nerves, flinging out his flying sword. His stumbling moves and expression looked as if he would cry, as he only recently heard that many ambitious people were venturing into the ancient capital for treasure.

Having been stuck at the Foundation Establishment Realm for years, unable to break through, he thought to try his luck nearby. Who could have guessed that he would be on the run, barely escaping death within half a day of entering the Sealed Land?

In his utmost urgency, upon seeing others nearby, he intended to call for help, but the Demon Beast had already attacked. He had no choice but to brace himself to fend it off. The iron whip-like tail forcefully struck him, sending him flying!

"Cough cough, cough cough cough… Fellow Daoist, help me, help me!"

He coughed up several mouthfuls of fresh blood.

His body slammed into and broke several branches, making those who witnessed it furrow their brows. It was clearly no act; he was genuinely being pursued. Yet from afar, Cen Yueyue and Jiang Feng did not act, merely standing their ground and observing the change.

Though at the age where one is often hot-blooded and impulsive, they understood the rules of the martial world; in such matters, it's best to remain silent and not intervene unnecessarily, lest it bring trouble. Cen Yueyue seemed somewhat hesitant.

After the plea for help, she visibly softened. It was clear she was not as cold-blooded as she appeared, whereas Jiang Feng was much more ruthless, showing none of the impulsive nature of youth, merely shaking his head.

"Step back, don't meddle, just observe the change."

"Better a fellow Daoist dies than this poor Daoist, don't forget someone is following us, including your family's enemies and our Purple Cloud Palace's foes."

"Moreover, this is near Dongyue's former capital. It's natural for the Dongyue people to train and seek fortune here, after all, it's their homeland. But for us, it's different; we are outsiders."

"All along, they've been cautious and probing towards us. If we saw someone exploring and treasure hunting in our ancestral hometown, we wouldn't show goodwill either. If we could kill them, we'd likely have long done so."

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