What do you mean by my awakened profession being Monster Hunter?

This is a tattered map, made of some kind of ancient animal hide, full of traces of time and erosion. It has existed for so long that it is now broken and tattered, and it seems as if a breeze would shatter it.

Tuogu Yulong carefully unfolded it and placed it on the table: "Gentlemen, this map is related to a great secret outside the Imperial Pass, and it holds immense potential!"

Everyone knows that the area outside the Imperial Pass is boundless, containing the Heavenly Beast Forest, the Divine Medicine Mountain Range, the Lost Sea, the Ancient Land of Immortals, and even the Ancient Burial Area!

These places hold many great treasures, and legends about them have been passed down through generations.

The ancient map that Tuogu Yulong has taken out is related to the borderlands. According to him, it was retrieved on the battlefield, and people from other lands used this map to search for something.

"It was precisely because of this map that I sent someone to deliver an invitation to the ancient forbidden zone in the heavens, and fortunately, I received a reply." Tuogu Yulong's words were astonishing.

This time, everyone's faces were filled with shock, followed by an uproar.

It should be known that the mysterious forbidden zone in the heavens has always been silent, and no matter how many generations have passed, it has never paid attention to the mortal world and has no contact with the outside world.

They lived in seclusion, never venturing out, letting time pass and years go by, burying one era after another, remaining perpetually desolate.

Today, hearing Tuogu Yulong's introduction, how could one not be shocked? He actually invited a creature from the forbidden zone to be born! This is a major event!

"Is there really a creature emerging from the forbidden zone, heading towards the Imperial Pass?" a young cultivator asked. His voice was low, but it drew everyone's attention, as this was what everyone wanted to know most.

"Let's wait and see. At least they're quite interested in this map," Tuogu Yulong sighed.

Under normal circumstances, any creature that ventures deep into the restricted area will be killed without mercy.

This time, however, the messenger not only entered safely but also received a response, which was quite remarkable and demonstrated the attitude of the creatures in the forbidden zone.

When the animal hide was spread out, everyone gathered around to look closely at the details. Although the ancient map was badly damaged, the contours of the mountains and rivers on it were still clearly discernible.

Qi Shi'an stared at the ancient map and discovered that a crucial part was missing, with only half a black skull visible.

This is likely the place where the second-best in the world exists. He is a master who could rival a true dragon in the Immortal Ancient Era and only lost by a move or two. He would be a disaster for people from other realms.

Immortals cannot cross the abyss, and those lowly soldiers and generals are even less capable of resisting them. Even if the second-best in the world is reduced to a mere shell, they are still no match for these insignificant ants.

At the same time, Qi Shi'an quickly scanned the ancient map. Near the upper left corner, there was a very small purple symbol, only a corner of which was visible. The symbol resembled a corner of a cloud or a sword tip about an inch long, and was very abstract.

Clearly, there's also something missing in the upper left corner. Although it's not much, it's missing a crucial element.

He felt that it was likely an important place, so he carefully studied every part of the ancient map and noted down the key records on it.

"The people above have studied it for a long time and even sent out powerful experts to search for it, but they all never returned," Tuogu Yulong sighed.

Everyone gasped. The high-ranking figures had meticulously studied the place and must have sent out top experts, but they all disappeared without a trace. It made people feel that the place was like a cannibalistic place, and once you went there, you could never come out.

"Don't you even know what the destination is?" the Ten-Crown King asked.

“I don’t know. This animal hide map is too incomplete. Many key parts are missing, and there are no records or explanations.” Tuogu Yulong said.

People don't need to think too much to know that this map is very important, especially the parts that are highlighted on it. Otherwise, why would the foreign land attach so much importance to it and send a group of mysterious people to search for it?

If they hadn't been unexpectedly spotted and captured by experts from the Imperial Pass, they would still be completely unaware of the situation.

"Huh? What happened outside?"

Suddenly, people heard a commotion coming from afar; someone was approaching Biluo Lake.

"It's...it's the creatures from the forbidden zone!" someone shouted, rushing into the main hall to report the news, causing a great commotion as all the young talents stood up.

Is there only one person?

"Yes!"

Even so, it was still awe-inspiring. Many people came out of the main hall and looked into the distance, partly to welcome them and partly because they were eager to see what the visitors from the restricted area looked like.

Qi Shi'an followed behind at a leisurely pace and saw an old rooster scurrying towards them.

"Why is it a chicken?" Shi Hao was confused. Is this the creature in the forbidden zone?

This is truly revolutionary! The restricted area sent an old rooster to the appointment; can it really intimidate the heavens and the earth?!

"I am deeply sorry for not being able to greet you properly, senior." Tuogu Yulong clasped his hands in greeting. He had sent the invitation by himself, so he was very polite.

However, the old rooster didn't react at all; it remained slow and deliberate, looking quite imposing.

Qi Shi'an couldn't help but laugh. This old rooster was really old; it couldn't hear anything anymore.

"Senior!" Tuogu Yulong and Qi Hong said in unison.

Just then, an old man emerged from the sparse feathers on the rooster's back, his eyes still sleepy. "Hmm, we've arrived? We've finally arrived."

He used the ancient language of immortals, the language of the previous era, which was completely different from this one.

However, he quickly changed language and spoke in the language of the day. He looked at the group of young people and smiled kindly, "Young brothers, please don't be offended. My mount was injured in the battle back then and lost all five senses. It didn't hear your greetings because it was arrogant."

Everyone was speechless. It was an old man who was less than three feet tall, very thin and old, with his hair all yellow and withered like straw.

His face was covered in wrinkles, indicating his advanced age. Only his eyes were remarkable; they were golden, with no whites and no pupils, like two golden lamps.

What kind of creature is this? It's less than three feet tall, with yellowish hair and golden eyes, making it impossible to see through.

With a whoosh, the old man jumped off the rooster's back and landed lightly on the ground.

At this moment, everyone noticed that the old man's left trouser leg was empty, obviously missing his left calf. This was even more surprising. At this level, wouldn't it be simple to reconstruct a broken body? How could he have lost a leg?

The old man seemed to understand what everyone was thinking and said with a faint smile, "This was killed by the enemy in the battle back then, 1.5 million years ago."

As he spoke, he rolled up his trouser leg, revealing that his left leg had been severed below the knee, and was stained with blue blood that seemed ready to drip at any moment, emitting a bewitching glow.

The wound was very smooth, as if it had been cut off instantly by a sharp instrument. You could see broken bones, flesh, blood vessels, etc., forming a smooth surface from which the blood was seeping out.

Everyone was shocked. This old man looked to be less than three feet tall, but he was definitely a super terrifying figure. He had been injured for so many years and had not yet healed. A strong person who could do this must have extremely high cultivation and unparalleled magical power.

"Back in the day, that man just casually waved his hand amidst the chaos of battle, and I lost my leg. Even my master was terrified of that creature." The old man was slightly lost in thought, somewhat dazed, before finally shaking his head.

Qi Shi'an's eyes gleamed. He knew which forbidden zone this old man came from. The old man's master was a Celestial King. To be a servant of such a person, one's strength must be unfathomable.

Especially that old rooster, it was a phoenix that had failed its rebirth, it was extraordinary!

Even a master of this caliber lost a leg forever after being struck by a single blow.

I can't even imagine how strong that person really is!

Chapter 352 The Heavenly River Divine Treasury Comes to Perfection

The group of geniuses invited the old man riding the rooster into the main hall. During the visit, they took out the immortal source they had just obtained and repeated Qi Shi'an's words, wanting to verify them.

They believed Qi Shi'an's words, which were said to have come from the lineage of the Martial Immortal, but the secrets within might not have been fully revealed, so they wanted to verify them again with another person.

"I didn't expect young people these days to be so knowledgeable, actually knowing the origins of the Immortal Source. Not bad, not bad." The old man riding the rooster nodded.

He continued, "This thing is more precious than the life stones in the Primordial Ancient Mine, but it cannot compare to the rarest life stones, which have long been depleted."

"Senior, what's in the Primordial Ancient Mine?" Shi Hao asked.

He was once exiled to work in an ancient mine, where he even obtained a fragment of the Six Paths Reincarnation Heavenly Technique, but he always felt that something was there.

"That place is not to be spoken of; it's not good to talk about it recklessly," the old man riding the rooster said solemnly.

Everyone was startled. Could there be living beings in the Primordial Ancient Mine?

The Ten-Crown King smiled slightly: "Senior, please enlighten us."

"Well, regarding the Primordial Ancient Mine, I can only say that you'd better not go there. There was once a forbidden zone where all living beings were buried. In addition, many of the so-called guardians also died there," said the old man riding a rooster.

When they heard these words, everyone felt a headache coming on. So, all the powerful people were buried in the Primordial Ancient Mine. What secrets were hidden inside?

Dugu Yun also arrived. His face was expressionless, but his pupils were contracting. He stood there blankly, motionless.

"People from the restricted area can die too?"

Many people couldn't believe it—an entire forbidden zone of creatures had perished in the Primordial Ancient Mine? It was simply too horrifying.

"Who in this world can escape death? They provoked something they shouldn't have, so they had to die, and no one can save them. This should serve as a warning to you young people: seek good fortune and avoid misfortune, and don't be reckless," the old man riding the rooster sighed.

"Senior, could you please elaborate?" Wei Yingying asked.

The old man riding the rooster thought for a moment and then revealed some information: "Well, in the previous era, many extraordinary figures died there, and even immortals perished there. There are also rumors that there are some mysterious ancient burial areas there."

“Besides, it might connect to somewhere else, like a passageway.” He shook his head, sighed, and said no more.

Qi Shi'an remained calm. He knew that there was a gate to the Immortal Realm there, but it was sealed.

In addition, the Primordial Ancient Mine is indirectly connected to the Boundary Sea, serving as a landmark specifically for guiding a supreme and forbidden figure in the Boundary Sea. It is extremely ancient and mysterious.

"Putting all that aside for now, senior, do you know where this is?" Qi Shi'an pointed to a corner of clouds in the upper left of the ancient map and asked the question he wanted to know.

The old man riding the rooster looked at the spot the man pointed to, pondered for a moment, and said, "This ancient map is too incomplete, but in this corner of the clouds, there seems to be a trace of... lightning, though it's not very clear."

"lightning?"

Qi Shi'an stared intently at the cloud symbol in that corner, and suddenly thought of the Immortal Tribulation Sword Stele he had obtained in the Donghua Secret Realm, which seemed to have some similarities.

With this thought in mind, he looked again at the symbol in that corner that resembled both a cloud and a sword tip. It was no longer blurry, but became clearer. Could it be that... there was something there that was connected to the Immortal Tribulation Sword Technique?

"Next time I go to the border region, I must find out for myself!" Qi Shi'an thought to himself, his gaze resolute.

"Alright, you've seen it all, and you know what you should and shouldn't have said. I should go back and report," said the old man riding the rooster. He had already deeply imprinted the map in his mind and memorized it all.

This thing is very unusual; it's highly likely something that even the forbidden zones are searching for. After he takes it back, whether anyone from the forbidden zones will come to the Imperial Pass is beyond his control.

He stood on one foot, a white light appearing beneath his feet, and headed outwards, where the plucked rooster was waiting outside the palace.

"You're leaving already? Senior, we haven't had a proper chance to entertain you yet!" Qi Hong said, and the others stepped forward to try and persuade him to stay, as they wanted to ask him more questions.

Meanwhile, someone had already sent a message, hoping that a high-ranking official in the capital would intervene and allow the old man to stay for a few more days.

"Fellow Daoists, you don't need to come over. You may have the chance to meet again in the future!" The old man riding the rooster said this decisively and resolutely, sensing that there were important figures nearby.

He leaped onto the rooster's back, treading on the waters of Biluo Lake, and disappeared into the distance, unhindered.

They came and went in a hurry!

Qi Shi'an gave a wicked smile and shouted, "Old man, next time we meet, stew that plucked phoenix of yours that failed rebirth and eat it. I haven't had any yet!"

The old man riding the rooster stumbled and almost fell off its back. He was somewhat surprised that someone could see through the true identity of his mount; it was no simple matter.

He hadn't gone far when he turned his head and opened his Heavenly Eye, only to find that the black-robed youth who had spoken possessed a mysterious aura, exuding an aura that was in harmony with the Great Dao, yet also different from it, which puzzled him greatly.

However, given his current level of cultivation and the experience he has accumulated over so many years, he was still unable to see through a young man, which shows how extraordinary this boy is.

"Young friend, even a phoenix that has lost its feathers is still a phoenix. You can't eat it. Let's not see each other again!" The old man riding a rooster's voice came from the horizon. He wasn't angry; instead, he gave off a kind feeling.

Everyone who heard this was stunned. The little devil's actions were somewhat disrespectful to the people from the forbidden zone, but the other party did not seem to mind, which was surprising.

Moreover, that plucked rooster was actually a phoenix?!

That's impossible. That rooster looks like an ordinary rooster. How could it be related to the legendary phoenix?

The witch twirled a strand of hair with her fingers and said leisurely, "Little devil, you've mistaken it for something else. It looks exactly like a chicken."

"I have already approached the Dao in my cultivation of the True Phoenix Technique. How could that Nirvana aura be wrong?" Qi Shi'an smiled faintly. "Everyone, I still need to go into seclusion, so I will take my leave first."

After saying that, he turned and left, returning to the Xuanyuan clan tribe, where he began to enter a state of seclusion.

He was calm and focused on perfecting the Heavenly River Divine Treasury as soon as possible, allowing the Heavenly River to connect every part of the inner universe, and then using the Heavenly River to find the positions of the Four Extreme Heavens and open up the next divine treasury.

A few days later, the Dragon Girl sent someone with a precious technique related to the Xuanwu Clan, and the Witch also sent a precious technique from the Intercepting Heaven Path concerning a ferocious beast with Xuanwu bloodline.

With these insights, Qi Shi'an's understanding of the Four Extreme Heavens became even clearer.

Inside the cave, Qi Shi'an sat cross-legged on the ground, his eyes closed, breathing in spiritual energy. Daoist charm flowed around him, and his mind sank into the vast universe within his body.

The spirit embryo sat upright on the spiritual platform, with the myriad trees above its head supporting the heavens and earth, surrounded by a sky full of stars and a dazzling galaxy, evolving into the scene of Xuandu.

A magnificent celestial river originates from the high sky above the stars, forming a suspended river in the heavens. This is the upper section, where starwater converges and receives the power of countless stars!

Qi Shi'an activated the Great Unification Technique, his hands constantly forming hand seals, while hundreds and thousands of arms appeared behind him, also forming hand seals in sync.

At this moment, Qi Shi'an's brow, chest, and abdomen were all glowing, forming a line that drew out the Heavenly River within his body, flowing from top to bottom like a cascading Milky Way, stretching across the inner universe.

Above the spiritual platform, the spiritual embryo chanted the true scriptures, clasped its hands together, and the Myriad Dao Tree suddenly trembled. Strands of Dao principles transformed into raindrops, sprinkling into the Milky Way, and then merging with the starlight into the celestial river.

In an instant, countless stars shone, bursting forth beams of light that converged from all directions into the upper reaches of the Milky Way, like hundreds of rivers flowing into the sea.

The Milky Way, powered by the stars, suddenly surged, and the river channel gradually widened under the powerful scouring of the water.

Qi Shi'an felt waves of throbbing pain coming from his body; it was the impact of the Heavenly River connecting every meridian in the inner universe.

He gritted his teeth, and the spirit rose up, spreading his arms as if embracing heaven and earth.

boom!

The Myriad Paths Tree trembled violently once more, and countless branches drooped down, probing into the waters of the Milky Way, like roots extending deep into the riverbed, guiding the Milky Way to flow along its course.

The waters of the Milky Way descend from the high heavens, passing through countless stars and the dazzling Milky Way, flowing through the Spirit Embryo and the Spirit Platform, and then traversing the middle reaches, branching into tributaries that encircle the four directions.

The waters of the Milky Way did not stop flowing; they continued to sink, reaching downstream and seeping into the deeper parts of the inner universe, completely traversing the path of the subsequent divine treasures.