The path to immortality through martial arts begins with being forced into marriage!

Cui Yi's eyelids twitched. He had a feeling that Zhou Wenyuan was now acting like a pimp...

However, this was exactly what he wanted.

Lifespan and silver offered to us so readily—why not take them if they're free?

"When I was in the county government, I said that it was our duty to slay demons and monsters!"

"Furthermore, since the other party is a good friend of Lord Zhou, I, Cui, will naturally do my best to help!"

"Good! Good! Good!"

Zhou Wenyuan said "good" three times with a smile that made his eyes crinkle: "I knew that Brother Cui would not stand by and watch the people of Qingya County be in danger. I thank you on their behalf."

"Without further ado, Brother Cui, let's set off now!"

"???"

......

......

Qingya County, Luohunjian.

This place is a huge, precipitous rift valley, stretching for dozens of miles, with exceptionally steep cliffs on both sides.

Due to the climate, a thick, grayish-white fog rises from the bottom of the ravine year-round, reducing visibility to less than ten meters. Many people who stray into this place will fall into the ravine if they are not careful.

At this moment, a huge phantom resembling a dragon or a python appeared and disappeared in the thick fog at the bottom of the ravine, breathing in and out the essence of heaven and earth, causing the surrounding true energy to tremble slightly, and the birds and beasts lurking on the mountain to flee in fright.

Even though it was midday, the sky within a hundred miles was filled with an unusual glow.

"Such intense fluctuations of true energy! Is a rare treasure being born? Or... a great demon transforming?!"

"Such a display of force is no ordinary matter! Investigate immediately!"

"The sky is ablaze with rosy light, and dragons and pythons are swallowing... Such extraordinary celestial phenomena are unheard of! Quickly report this to the elders!"

The extraordinary celestial phenomenon instantly attracted the attention of all parties, from cultivation sects and independent cultivators to even the Demon Suppression Bureau.

Strengths of divine consciousness, some strong and some weak, pierced the sky and headed towards the vicinity of Qingya County.

Unfortunately, all the investigation methods seemed to hit an invisible wall and came to an abrupt end in the air above the Fallen Soul Gorge, which only further confirmed the fact that this place was extraordinary!

In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, more than a dozen figures rushed towards the location of Fallen Soul Ravine from different directions!

Lin Songshan, who was searching for information around Qinglin County, was so shocked when he saw the strange phenomenon in the sky in the direction of Qingya County that his mouth dropped open!

It turns out he'd been investigating in the wrong direction!

The information provided by the Chamber of Commerce is incorrect; the treasure is not in Qinglin County, but in Qingya County!

"Wei'er, send a message to the Chamber of Commerce: a strange celestial phenomenon has appeared in the direction of Qingya County!"

......

......

Cui Yi arrived in Qingya County in the late afternoon.

Since advancing to the peak of the Qi Refining Realm, Cui Yi's speed has increased by more than one level. When he was in the mid-stage of the Qi Refining Realm, he would have had to arrive at least at night.

Considering that ordinary people wouldn't be of much use, Cui Yi simply found an experienced yamen runner to take him to the vicinity of Luohun Gorge.

"Immortal Master, this is the place."

"Further ahead, the fog is too thick, and it's very easy to lose your way."

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the old yamen runner pointed to the thick, impenetrable fog less than ten feet ahead and said with lingering fear.

Cui Yi nodded: "Thank you. It's dangerous here at night, you should go back first."

"Yes, this place is haunted; the Immortal Master must be extremely careful!"

After giving a few words of advice, the old constable ran back without looking back, as if there were wolves or tigers behind him.

Cui Yi slowly circulated his internal energy, and only after confirming that there was nothing unusual did he step inside.

The closer he got to the wall of fog, the more he could feel a faint repulsive force. It wasn't until he touched an invisible wall that Cui Yi frowned and stopped.

"A barrier?"

Although he had never been in contact with a barrier, he had at least seen it before. If he couldn't even recognize a barrier, wouldn't all those novels he stayed up all night reading in his previous life have been for nothing?

With layers of accumulated hidden force, it slammed fiercely into the barrier.

"Bang!"

With a muffled thud, a solid shockwave came from his palm, making Cui Yi's hand go numb!

But it only caused ripples like waves on the surface of the barrier!

The ripples spread for a moment and then quickly subsided. The entire barrier remained almost completely still, and even the surging mist was not dispersed much by the palm wind!

Cui Yi's eyes narrowed!

Although he didn't use his full strength in that palm strike, the power of the surging waves was enough to split rocks and shatter monuments.

And now, it can't even make this barrier shake?

Unwilling to believe in evil, Cui Yi took a deep breath, and his true energy accelerated through his meridians, pushing the surging waves of energy to the limit he could currently achieve!

Another solid palm strike was delivered, and wave after wave of true energy surged forth like an endless tide, crashing against the same point on the barrier!

There were seven or eight people who came, dressed in different clothes and with varying degrees of strength, but most of them had sharp eyes and were surrounded by true energy. They were obviously cultivators who had noticed the abnormality!

Cui Yi couldn't help but become serious. Normally, there wasn't a second cultivator besides him in Qinglin County and Qingya County combined. Why were they all rushing to him like it was free?

Moreover, this aura is extraordinary!

The weakest one was at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, while the strongest one even reached the peak of Foundation Establishment!

What on earth is inside this Soul-Falling Abyss?!

One group of three people in particular attracted attention.

They were dressed in matching moon-white brocade robes, with exquisite silver cloud patterns embroidered on the sleeves and lapels, subtly shimmering with spiritual light.

The leader was a young man who looked to be in his early twenties, but his brows carried an obvious air of arrogance.

"Hmph, as expected, there's a barrier."

The young man snorted coldly: "It seems there really is something in this Fallen Soul Ravine. This trip wasn't in vain."

The middle-aged rogue cultivator beside him seemed to recognize the attire and exclaimed in a low voice, "They're from the Dragon Phoenix Sect!"

The name of the Dragon Phoenix Sect clearly carried considerable weight. Upon hearing this, the expressions of the other independent cultivators, some alone and some in small groups, changed several times. They subconsciously took a few steps back, distancing themselves from the three.

From another direction, another beam of red light descended, revealing the figure of a burly, bearded man.

He glanced at the three from the Dragon Phoenix Sect and sneered, "I wondered who was making such a grand entrance, it turns out to be you, you scruffy phoenix."

"Xiong Lie, isn't your Lie Dao Sect only interested in body tempering and sword practice?"

"What, you want a piece of the pie too?"

Xiong Lie snorted coldly but did not reply.

At this moment, several more figures arrived one after another.

A dozen or so cultivators quickly gathered on the small open space in Jiankou.

All eyes were focused on the pale gray barrier, each trying to probe it with their divine sense or other means. For a moment, their true energy flickered but they were helpless.

"Fellow Daoists, such reckless action is probably not a good strategy."

An older rogue cultivator spoke up, "This barrier is a single, incredibly strong structure; it cannot be broken by one person alone. Why don't we join forces?"

"Join forces?"

The female disciple from the Dragon Phoenix Sect standing next to Zhong Han scoffed, "If we join forces with a rabble like you to break the barrier, how are we going to divide up the contents inside?"

"You think you're worthy to share the opportunities with my Dragon Phoenix Sect?"

Zhong Han's arrogance remained undiminished: "Opportunities and treasures belong to the capable, as for this barrier..."

"If anyone feels they have no other options, they should leave as soon as possible to avoid losing their life in vain."