NOVEL NEXT Chapter 55: Knocked on the Wrong One
Qi Yuan looked towards the source of the voice and felt a sharp sensation.
When he looked closely, he saw an amiable old man.
However, this old man gave Qi Yuan a strange feeling.
It seemed as if... he wasn't a living person.
Suddenly, a trace of vigilance flashed in his eyes. He protected Xiao Jia behind him and held his long sword towards the old man.
He spoke, "You are a demonic entity!"
Qi Yuan saw that the inside of the old man's body was empty. The entire person was just a human skin.
The old man still maintained a kindly smile: "You could say I am a demonic entity, but also not."
Qi Yuan carefully examined the old man again.
He sensed a strong metallic aura from the old man.
A guess formed in his mind.
The old man said, "The name I had in life has long been forgotten.
After being devoured by extraterritorial demons, I died, leaving only this human skin behind.
Upon entering the Five Elements Forbidden Land, I gained a new lease on life.
Now, I am called Jin Zu. I am neither human nor non-human, neither alive nor dead."
Qi Yuan looked at Jin Zu and understood.
Jin Zu was now just a vessel for metal attributes.
He didn't even have a soul.
Only a persistent will remained.
Thus, he was as good as dead.
"What do you want from me?" Qi Yuan asked, his vigilance unrelenting.
"Lord Tong of the Yin-Yang Forbidden Land must have invited the Master of the Clothing Department to the demon-extermination assembly three hundred years later.
Since we all are beings of the Moonwatch Continent, we should unite against the extraterritorial demons. Otherwise, we might end up like my former self—dead, leaving only a human skin." Jin Zu sighed.
Qi Yuan looked at Jin Zu. Despite being just a human skin, he felt more comfortable with him than with the elders and disciples of the Black Mountain Sect.
"I must exterminate the extraterritorial demons!" Qi Yuan's attitude was firm.
The big boss must be dealt with.
His heavenly foundation was tied to the big boss.
Upon hearing this, Jin Zu's amiable expression deepened: "Now that the Master of the Clothing Department has come to the Five Elements Forbidden Land, we are willing to open the Five Elements Training Grounds.
In the Five Elements Training Grounds, there are energies of the five elements that can strengthen oneself and enhance cultivation.
In our Five Elements Forbidden Land, many young prodigies are cultivating.
Over thousands of years, new powerful beings have emerged, some even reaching the divine realm.
With three hundred years until the demon-extermination assembly, the Master of the Clothing Department could train in the Five Elements Training Grounds for a hundred years and possibly make significant progress."
"Are there monsters inside?" Qi Yuan asked.
Jin Zu was momentarily stunned but replied, "Yes."
"No problem." If there were monsters, he could level up.
Jin Zu's face maintained a constant smile: "Master of the Clothing Department, please follow me."
Qi Yuan did not move and instead looked at Jin Zu: "I have another purpose for coming to the Five Elements Forbidden Land."
The Five Elements Forbidden Land was different from the Clothing Department Forbidden Area and the Xuanyuan Forbidden Area.
In other forbidden areas, he could gain control by defeating monsters.
Of course, the Clothing Department Forbidden Area was an exception as it required marrying Xiao Jia.
The Five Elements Forbidden Land seemed to have many dormant powerful beings, unlike the clothing monsters. He couldn't just kill them all, and it seemed killing them wouldn't yield experience points.
How to gain control?
"Master of the Clothing Department, please speak." Jin Zu's attitude was amiable.
"I want to fully control the Five Elements Forbidden Land. Is there a way?" Qi Yuan asked Jin Zu.
Hearing this, Jin Zu was taken aback.
Obviously, this purpose was unexpected.
He hadn't responded yet.
A displeased voice came from behind. It was a green-clad woman, looking cute and short but fierce like a girl who aced her exams.
She looked angry: "How dare you, Master of the Clothing Department, try to take control of our Five Elements Forbidden Land!
Do you know what that means?
I suspect you're a spy sent by the extraterritorial demons, otherwise why would you suddenly appear!"
If it weren't for Jin Zu being there, this green-clad woman would have probably jumped up and slapped Qi Yuan's head.
Jin Zu looked at the girl, smiling indulgently: "Xiao Lu, don't be rude to our guest."
Then he turned to Qi Yuan: "Master of the Clothing Department, gaining control of the Five Elements Forbidden Land is indeed difficult.
It depends on your talent.
If you, Master of the Clothing Department, exhibit unparalleled talent in the Five Elements Training Grounds, what harm is there in you controlling the Five Elements Forbidden Land?"
Qi Yuan looked past Jin Zu, seemingly seeing through the Five Elements Forbidden Land. He saw many coffins and sensed many dormant auras.
Each one was above level ninety.
Among them, some surpassed the Ugly Clothing Emperor, likely above level ninety-five.
"In the Five Elements Forbidden Land, you don't seem to be the strongest. Can you decide to give me control?"
"Of course I can decide!" Jin Zu said confidently.
"Good, it's a deal." Qi Yuan responded, "It seems it won't be long before I clear the Five Elements Forbidden Land."
The green-clad woman looked at Qi Yuan with dissatisfaction and turned to Jin Zu, communicating telepathically: "Grandpa Jin Zu, how can you make such a promise with him!"
Jin Zu smiled without speaking.
Led by Jin Zu, the group walked deeper into the forbidden land.
Along the way, Qi Yuan kept surveying his surroundings.
The Five Elements Forbidden Land indeed had no other monsters, but there were many natural and geographical disasters, extremely dangerous.
Creatures around level fifty or sixty entering rashly would likely die.
After about a quarter of an hour, Jin Zu led the group to a valley.
In the valley, there were over seventy coffins.
Qi Yuan knew that many powerful beings were dormant in these coffins.
Jin Zu said, "Most of the powerful beings of the Moonwatch Continent are gathered in the Five Elements Forbidden Land and the Yin-Yang Forbidden Land.
They are in these coffins, both to rest and to cultivate.
When the demon-extermination assembly begins, they will emerge from the coffins.
By then, Master of the Clothing Department, you will join them in exterminating the extraterritorial demons."
Upon hearing this, Qi Yuan remained silent.
Three hundred years, he couldn't wait that long.
How old was he now?
In three hundred years, even a dynasty could be wiped out.
Jin Zu continued talking to himself, then he walked to a coffin and knocked on it lightly.
There was no response from the coffin.
Seeing this, he knocked harder a few more times.
Still, there was no response.
Jin Zu looked puzzled: "Hmm?"
At this moment, the adjacent coffin lid suddenly lifted, and a rough-looking man with a wild demeanor sat up: "Jin Zu, has your memory gone with your former self? You even knocked on the wrong coffin!"
Seeing the rough man, Jin Zu's face showed a trace of embarrassment: "Ahem, an accident."
The rough man then looked at Qi Yuan, his eyes seemingly scrutinizing: "Not bad, even with the help of the wedding dress empress, you're a good seedling.
It was worth using my essence to open the Five Elements Training Grounds for you.
I hope in three hundred years, you can become a major power!"