In the Inner World.

Song Shuhang opened his eyes and saw that his body shook slightly. At this time, his body was giving off an elusive aura, which somewhat resembled the aura one would feel whenever a natural treasure was born.

Song Shuhang had successfully opened the fourth meridian of the Third Stage, the Immaterial King Meridian.

Song Shuhang’s fourth meridian had basically opened on its own since he had the help of Ye Si’s spiritual energy of the Fifth Stage, the moistening of the living spring, the mysterious ❮Thirty-Three Divine Beasts’ Technique❯, and also the empowerment of the ❮Scholarly Indestructible Body of the Buddha❯.

Once the Immaterial King Meridian was open, the next step was to link the four meridians and form the perfect Body of the Battle King. When that happened, the heavenly tribulation would rain down, and if the cultivator managed to transcend the tribulation, they would reach the Fourth Stage Realm, becoming capable of riding a flying sword. But, if they failed, there was an 80% probability that both their soul and body would get annihilated.

“How do you feel?” Ye Si asked with a smile.

“Great. I feel that if I completely release the strength of the Dazzling Star, Overcast Moon, Blazing Sun, and Immaterial King Meridians, I might be able to fight head on even a cultivator of the Fourth Stage for a while!” Song Shuhang said.

Now, he had taken another step toward his dream of riding a flying sword.

Only after advancing to the Fourth Stage Realm would he have the strength to go around on his own in the world of cultivators.

Everything felt like a dream to him. Originally, he believed that he would reach this realm in a hundred or so years due to his ordinary talent and the fact that he had missed the best age to practice.

“Now, it’s time to return to the forbidden area.” Song Shuhang issued an order, preparing to get out of his Inner World.

But right at this time, a voice suddenly echoed in his ears.

“Hello, Shuhang? Can you hear me?” It was Senior White’s voice.

Song Shuhang replied, “Senior White, I can hear you.”

Had Senior White used a ‘thousand mile sound transmitting’ magical technique? However, could such a magical technique really pass through space and reach his Inner World?

“Was your breakthrough successful?” Senior White replied.

“Yes, I just finished,” Song Shuhang said.

“Very well. In that case, I’ll directly pull you to my current position. The first layer of the forbidden area is probably too dangerous for you, and you might be unable to block the biting cold there. As such, I’ll directly pull you to the second layer. In addition, tell Little Cai to stay in your Inner World for now. We still don’t know what dangers might be hiding in the second layer, so it’s better if she doesn’t come over to take risks,” Senior White said.

Song Shuhang gazed at Little Cai, who was reciting from memory ❮Ksitigarbha’s Soul Ferrying Scripture❯, and nodded his head. “Alright. Senior White, what do I have to do?”

“You just have to stand there without moving. Don’t resist, either,” Senior White said.

In the next moment…

“Whizz~” Song Shuhang’s body appeared next to Venerable White.

Song Shuhang looked all around.

He found himself in what seemed to be a small world. The nearby vegetation was luxuriant, and the whole place was filled with life. It gave off a spring-like vibe.

Song Shuhang said, “Are we inside that forbidden area?”

“Yes. To be more precise, this is the second layer of the forbidden area. However, you’d better not underestimate this place. Everything around us is filled with danger,” Senior White reminded. Of course, this ‘danger’ posed a threat only for Song Shuhang.

Song Shuhang nodded his head. This was the place that claimed Daoist Priest Li Tiansu’s life. He obviously wasn’t going to underestimate it.

“Right… Senior White, what about that purple-robed cultivator?” Song Shuhang asked.

Senior White had followed that purple-robed cultivator and entered the forbidden area alongside him. How come he didn’t see him around?

“Ahahaha.” Senior White burst out laughing.

“?” Song Shuhang was confused.

“Disassembled,” Senior White replied.

“Ah? Disassembled?” Song Shuhang was dumbfounded.

Senior White explained, “Yes. I was first planning to let him wander off in the forbidden area and see what he was planning to do. But soon after entering the forbidden area, he suddenly lost the ability to move, and simply lay on the ground without moving. I waited for a while, and after seeing that he wasn’t showing any signs of getting up, I couldn’t bear it anymore and stepped forward, starting to disassemble him. That pile of components over there is what’s left of him.”

Senior White pointed toward a nearby pile of components.

“…” Song Shuhang.

From what he remembered, that purple-robed cultivator was a human made of flesh and blood. How did he exactly turn into a pile of components?

What kind of twists and turns had the plot undergone while he was away?

Ye Si stretched out her head, and asked curiously, “Senior White, is it possible to reassemble that guy?”

“It should be possible. After I bring him back, and research him for good, I will surely be able to reassemble him,” Senior White said in all seriousness. After saying this much, he stored that pile of puppet components in his spatial magical treasure.

In other words, he was unable to reassemble him for the time being.

“Anyway, let’s put this matter aside for now. Since that purple-robed cultivator can no longer show us the way, it will be my duty to lead you to conquer this forbidden area,” Senior White said as he patted his chest.

He could guarantee that they would sweep clean the forbidden area without suffering a single injury.

“Speaking of which… Shuhang, you seemed very impatient to explore this forbidden area. What are you looking for in this place?” Senior White asked.

Song Shuhang replied, “I hope to find a method to treat Li Yinzhu’s cold disease in this forbidden area.”

“Cold disease? Can you tell me about it in detail?” Senior White asked.

Song Shuhang smiled.

If it were Venerable White, there was no way he would forget about it! There was some karma between Li Tiansu and Venerable White, and Venerable White had promised the ancestor of the Chu Family that he would look for a way to cure Li Yinzhu’s cold disease.

However, Shuhang still explained, “Li Yinzhu got affected by this cold disease when she was still in her mother’s womb. Whenever the disease flares up, her body releases a large amount of cold qi. In the past, her father used all sorts of natural treasures to suppress her disease, but her disease worsened several months ago, and the cold qi got so strong that it created a coffin around her body, sealing her within.”

“I see,” Senior White said.

If those were the symptoms of the disease, this forbidden area was indeed the most suitable place to look for a cure.

After all, the person that had created this forbidden area was someone that had reached the pinnacle of the ice element, and was accomplished in it to the point that they could transform extreme negativity into positiveness and extreme cold into warmth.

Actually, Daoist Priest Li Tiansu had also been aware of this point, and it was the reason he’d thought this place might have the cure to his daughter’s disease.

Venerable White said, “One of the methods to cure this cold disease is to find the right medicinal pill, which can directly eradicate the cold from within the bones. However, it’s very difficult to refine such a medicinal pill. The second method is to practice a special cultivation technique in order to remove the cold poison in one’s body or absorb it, transforming it into part of one’s body. The former will show good results rather quickly, but the latter will have even better effects. In short, if we want to find a way to cure the cold disease, we have to look for either a room with medicinal pills or some inheritance consisting in a cultivation technique.”

“Hmm, let me see… ah, there! There is a palace in the middle of the forest. Perhaps we’ll find medicinal pills or something similar in there. Hopefully, the medicinal pills haven’t expired yet. Come with me!” Senior White said.

Song Shuhang said, “Medicinal pills can expire?”

“Of course. If not properly preserved, medicinal pills will slowly lose their effectiveness. Some might even deteriorate to the point of transforming into poisonous pills,” Senior White said.

Senior White led the way, and Song Shuhang closely followed behind him.

The duo had walked for around a hundred meters when the lifelike face of a beautiful woman suddenly appeared on a big tree ahead. This tree was very pretty; each of its leaves had seven colors, and its branches were like multicolored glass. It was pleasing to both the eye and the mind.

“Hehehe, how many years has it been since the last time someone recklessly barged into this place? You are simply bringing about your own destruction!” The big tree laughed charmingly. Then, countless vines extended from its branches, heading toward Senior White.

At the same time, thorns drilled out of the ground. There were tens of thousands of thorns, almost as dense as a forest.

Song Shuhang subconsciously jumped upward, stepping on black lotus flowers and climbing higher and higher to avoid the thorns that had drilled out of the ground.

“Shuhang, you are too anxious,” Senior White said calmly.

Then, he stretched out his hand and waved it. A ring of sword qi exploded from his body. All the sharp thorns in the way of the sword qi were obliterated.

And this wasn’t all… after the sword qi swept over, all the branches of that big tree were cut off, and only the bare trunk was left.

That face of that beautiful woman on the tree was dumbfounded.

Then, Senior White stepped forward and stretched out his hand, grabbing the trunk of the tree.

“Y-you, what are you trying to do?!” the beautiful face on the tree said, alarmed.

“From today onwards, you are my fourth pet. Your pet name will be ‘ Shushu 1‘!” Senior White said.

“Ah?” The face of the beautiful woman on the tree was dumbstruck.

In the next moment, Senior White put strength into his arm, and that pretty seven-colored tree was uprooted!

“Aaaaaah! Noooooo! This place is my home, and I don’t want to leave! Senior, I’ve made a mistake and failed to recognize your strength, please forgive me!” The beautiful face on the seven-colored big tree begged for mercy.

She seemed very skilled at begging for mercy. She had definitely done it quite a lot in the past.

“Shushu,” Senior White said.

“?” The seven-colored big tree was confused.

“Your name is Shushu,” Senior White repeated.

The seven-colored tree was first at a loss, but then, she quickly understood what Senior White meant. “Yes, yes! Senior, Shushu has made a mistake. Please forgive Shushu this time!”

Senior White revealed a radiant smile, and said, “Very well.”

When he smiled, the whole world lost its colors, and the charm he had been suppressing exploded.

That beautiful womanly face on the seven-colored big tree was unable to take her eyes off him. It couldn’t help but blush.

“Since you recognized this pet name, I’ll accept you. My new home happens to be very big. Head there and look after the place for me,” Senior White said.

After saying this much, Senior White stretched out his hand and patted her. In the next moment, the seven-colored tree ‘Shushu’ in front of him disappeared without a trace. It seemed Senior White had directly teleported her to his ‘new home’.

“Done.” Senior White looked at Song Shuhang, who was stepping on lotus flowers in the air, and waved at him. “Come down and follow me. Let’s advance.”

After they had traveled some distance, something unexpected happened once again.

The ground beneath Senior White and Song Shuhang suddenly turned into a swamp.

Afterward, an ugly crocodile crawled out of the swamp. “Kekekeke, some intruders unexpectedly managed to reach this place. However, you’ll stop here and become my meal.”

While speaking, the big crocodile hit the swamp with its claws.

The swamp rolled up just as though it was alive, and headed toward Senior White and Song Shuhang in order to crush them.

Senior White had a pensive look on his face.

“As expected, too ugly. It’s hurting my eyes,” Senior White said.

Then, he stretched out his hand and waved it, and a thick cannon barrel appeared on his shoulder.

“Boom~”