Chapter 217: Force! Into the Bone Forest!

"Then… we have no choice but to force our way in!"

Bao Xian'er said with a solemn expression.

Su Yu slightly raised an eyebrow; he didn't mind this suggestion.

In any case, Su Yu's ultimate goal is to rely on Bao Xian'er's methods to locate the Star Ore Vein, and until he finds it, he cannot turn against this woman.

Then, guided by the map, the two rushed toward the Bone Forest.

Both are strong cultivators of the Golden Body Realm, so this distance is merely a matter of a few tens of minutes for them.

Soon, Su Yu could see a spread of white bones ahead, covering the entire valley.

The forest‑white bones came in all varieties; some resembled branches, rooted deep underground and protruding to the surface.

Others were scattered haphazardly on the ground.

A chilling aura continuously permeated the whole area.

The smell was like hospital disinfectant—somewhat pungent but not unbearable.

Su Yu's brow twitched slightly.

"So this is the Bone Forest? It doesn't look as terrifying as the legends say!"

Apart from the bone‑strewn, slightly eerie ground, there seemed to be nothing else to worry about.

Bao Xian'er's expression remained grave as she stared at the Bone Forest and said in a low voice.

"Don't be fooled by the Bone Forest's surface. According to what my father told me, it looks unremarkable from outside, but once you step inside…"

"The living's aura can stir the dead Qi within the Bone Forest, and when that dead Qi becomes dense, it can resurrect the deceased leopard‑clan strongmen, with the strength of their revival determined by the intruder's own power."

"Generally, the weaker the person, the higher the chance they survive after entering the Bone Forest."

Bao Xian'er glanced at Su Yu, then said.

"I just don't know what kind of monsters Brother Bao Chong will unleash after he goes in."

A hint of cunning flickered in Bao Xian'er's eyes.

To be honest, she didn't know Su Yu's background well; she thought perhaps this Bone Forest was a test of his strength.

If Su Yu's strength proved insufficient, she would immediately change course, try to bypass the Bone Forest, abandon him here, and claim the Star Essence for herself.

If Su Yu were strong, she could rely on him to pass through the Bone Forest and reach the Star Ore Vein more quickly.

But if Su Yu turned out far stronger than she expected…

She would turn around and leave immediately.

Bao Xian'er looked at Su Yu and gave a coquettish smile.

"Brother Bao Chong, I'm a girl—why don't you go in first? I want to hide behind you!"

Saying that, she grabbed Su Yu's arm, putting on a pitiful demeanor.

Su Yu gave Bao Xian'er a faint glance and said.

"Stop pulling your tricks in front of me; haven't I already figured out your strength?"

"Being able to survive attacks from underground creatures means your methods must surpass Leopard Flame; with such combat power, you're still scared? Even my own pigs wouldn't believe it!"

A flash of murderous intent crossed Bao Xian'er's face, and her expression instantly turned cold.

She sneered at Su Yu and said.

"Since we've come this far, we're only cooperating. I already showed my sincerity before entering, but you, on the other hand, don't seem to have shown yours!"

Bao Xian'er toyed with the round map in her hand and said lightly.

"Now only I have the map to the Star Ore Vein; if I don't want anyone to find it, no one can."

"Cooperation is a two‑way street; I've done my part. On the contrary… Bao Chong, you haven't done anything yet!"

As she spoke, Bao Xian'er's gaze grew unusually sharp.

"Now… shouldn't you show your sincerity!"

Su Yu calmly looked at Bao Xian'er and said lightly.

"Are you done speaking?"

"Hm?"

Bao Xian'er was startled; she hadn't expected Su Yu to say that.

In an instant, Su Yu's palm shot out with lightning speed, seizing Bao Xian'er's throat and applying gentle pressure.

Bao Xian'er instantly felt her breathing become extremely difficult, as if a force were binding it.

She stared at Su Yu in disbelief.

Su Yu's speed was so fast she couldn't even react.

She could even see a profoundly dense murderous intent hidden in Su Yu's eyes.

That murderous intent wasn't something that could be forged by killing one or two people.

It belonged only to those who had truly faced life and death and fought in wars.

"Cough… cough… Brother Bao Chong, what are you trying to do? Let me tell you, the map works only in my hands; if I die, the map becomes useless!"jj. br>

Bao Xian'er struggled continuously, but under Su Yu's strong force, her arms felt as if drenched in water, and no matter how she fought, she couldn't break free.

Su Yu said lightly.

"Don't think I don't know—Marquis Lei Bao can only break through the King Seal with this one chance. If he misses it, once my father emerges from seclusion, it won't be easy for Marquis Lei Bao to obtain the Star Essence again."

Su Yu slowly pulled Bao Xian'er closer, looked into her eyes, and said coldly.

"Bao Xian'er, now you are the one pleading to me, not the other way around!"

"Yes, I want to gulp the Star Essence alone, but don't forget—if you fail to get the Star Essence this time, how will you answer Marquis Lei Bao?"

"It doesn't matter if I can't get it; I just need to wait for my father to emerge, then tell him about the Star Essence…"

"Guess… how Marquis Lei Bao will treat you?"

"As far as I know, that Marquis Lei Bao, when he gets cruel, is the kind of fellow who can devour his own flesh and blood!"

One after another, voices, like knives, pierced Bao Xian'er's heart.

Bao Xian'er's pupils kept expanding and contracting.

She stared blankly at Su Yu; she hadn't expected that the man before her could see the situation so clearly.

And her own little actions, in his eyes, were nothing but jokes.

Plop!

Su Yu released his grip; Bao Xian'er's legs went limp and she slumped on the ground, her eyes vacant.

"Now is not the time for you to give me conditions."

"Either you go in first, or I will kill you here!"

Su Yu said lightly.

A faint bitter smile flickered across Bao Xian'er's face.

"So you are still the Marquis's offspring; it turns out everything you displayed outside was a lie."

"Bao Chong… you are hiding far too deeply!"

Speaking, Bao Xian'er stood up, swaying as she walked toward the Bone Forest.

Su Yu stood behind Bao Xian'er, observing quietly.

Although Bao Chong's memories already knew the secret of this Bone Forest, some things still had to be seen with one's own eyes to be certain.

The moment Bao Xian'er stepped into the Bone Forest, a sudden cold, gloomy aura instantly spread out.

Even Su Yu, standing outside the Bone Forest, felt goosebumps rise on his skin.

It seemed as if an invisible wave was unfolding there.

Bao Xian'er's body trembled slightly, a cautious expression on her face as she carefully surveyed her surroundings.

Suddenly, the bones beside Bao Xian'er began to tremble wildly.

Then countless bones converged, forming a massive skeletal creature.

In an instant, a powerful wave radiated from within the skeletal creature.

Boom—boom—boom!!!

The ground began to tremble slightly; the skeletal creature let out a series of roars, raised its massive fist, and charged at Bao Xian'er.

Bao Xian'er's complexion hardened, and arcs of thunder leapt continuously around her.

Then a set of black armor appeared on Bao Xian'er.

The armor fit Bao Xian'er's form perfectly, as if custom-made, and the leaping thunder arcs clearly emanated from the armor.

Sizzle—sizzle—sizzle!!!

The thunder arcs jumped, distorting the surrounding space.

In the next moment, a Sword wholly composed of thunder coalesced in Bao Xian'er's hand.

It was wrapped with raging power.

"Thunderstorm Sword Technique!"

Bao Xian'er let out a delicate cry.

The long Sword in her hand transformed into streaks of thunder, wildly slashing at the skeletal creature before her.

The skeletal creature radiated terrifying power, comparable to the cultivation of a Nine-turn Pure Golden Body.

Outside, Su Yu's eyes narrowed slightly.

"Nine-turn Pure Golden Body—so this woman truly has something hidden; if she were merely a Nine-turn Premium Golden Body, she couldn't have summoned such a terrifying creature."

"Ha, what a pity. Even a Nine-turn Pure Golden Body is no more than this!"

Su Yu gave a faint smile.

He let Bao Xian'er go in first, mainly for two objectives.

One was to test Bao Xian'er's true cultivation, for even a mere Nine-turn Premium Golden Body is considered a top prodigy of the Leopard Clan.

But Bao Xian'er is, after all, the offspring of Marquis Lei Bao; how could she possess only that level of cultivation?

Moreover, she was entrusted by Marquis Lei Bao with great expectations, to enter the secret realm and steal the star essence for him.

Sure enough, at this moment Bao Xian'er's cultivation was laid bare.

It was never a Nine-turn Premium Golden Body, but a Nine-turn Pure Golden Body!

Such talent, even among the Human Race, would be considered a top demonic prodigy.

Only, in age, Bao Xian'er is still somewhat older.

Compared with Zhang Xiaobai and the others, she falls short a bit.

Su Yu smiled faintly; since everything was clear, he stepped directly into the realm of the Bone Forest.

And the instant Su Yu's foot entered the Bone Forest's domain, the entire Bone Forest began to quake violently.

Boom—boom—boom!!!

In an instant, heaven shattered and earth cracked!