Chapter 552: with translation of chapter title

After receiving Shanbao Daoren's approval, several people became even more resolute.

This token was split into three parts, each kept by one of the three masters.

Moreover, each token is protected by a formation; such tight defensive measures show how important that altar is.

After infusing a strand of cultivation into the tokens, the three tokens rose on their own, flying above the hidden altar platform and then began to rotate counterclockwise.

Immediately, visible strands of formation power poured from them onto the altar.

In an instant, Gudu Bubai and the others heard a tremendous boom!

Boom! The altar platform ahead collapsed, forming a bottomless pit! A more intense, pungent smell of blood gushed out from the hole.

"It's open! The altar must be right below here."

Seeing this, Mo Feng's eyes lit up; he was about to step forward to inspect when Shanbao Daoren stopped him: "Elder Mo, don't rush—haste makes waste. First find two people to test it, wait a moment for me."

After saying that, Shanbao Daoren flew off backward, and shortly returned dragging two shifty-eyed cultivators.

This is just experience talking—treasures or anything important are always protected by layers of restrictions; don't ask how I know, it's just practice.

"You two dared to snatch this venerable one's immortal treasure that day—who gave you the guts?"

"Tell me, how do you want to die?"

Shanbao Daoren made a throat-slashing gesture and spoke coldly.

"My lord! No! Father! We were wrong!"

"Father, just spare us this once! Even if you later send us to reincarnate and descend into purgatory, we will not refuse!"

After being threatened, the two shifty-eyed cultivators were so scared they knelt on the ground and called him father.

"Who the hell is your father? This venerable one has no such trash sons as you two."

"This venerable one despises two kinds of people most: those who seize his immortal treasure, and those who prevent him from seizing it. You two are the first kind."

"Originally I was going to pull out your tendons and bones, but this venerable one is kind-hearted and reluctant to kill; now I give you a chance to live—go, lead the way ahead."

Shanbao Daoren pointed at the abyss ahead; the two cultivators immediately understood—this was to have them test whether there were any restrictions there, and a single misstep could cost their lives.

But sticking your head out or pulling it back is equally deadly; better to give it your all—if you don't go, you die; if you go, there's still a slim chance.

"Father, we'll go—we're going right now!"

After realizing this, the two scrambled toward the abyss ahead; upon reaching its entrance, they took a deep breath and flew down together.

As Shanbao Daoren had expected, the two had barely descended when they triggered a terrifying restriction!

With a loud "bang!" they were blown into a mist of blood before they could even utter a scream.

"A quasi-Immortal Emperor–level restriction! I'll go!"

"Impressive, Elder Shanbao—truly you!" Mo Feng exclaimed, giving a thumbs-up in admiration.

If it weren't for Elder Shanbao's intervention just now, it would have been me blown into blood mist.

This is absolutely insane! A restriction capable of killing a Ninefold Divine Lord is actually set up here!

"Elder Shanbao really thought this through," Chanmei nodded in agreement—truly a professional at handling such matters.

As Chanmei finished speaking, Mo Feng, impatient again, wanted to rush into the cave; she quickly called out: "Wait a moment, look, you're rushing again."

"What if there are still restrictions? Don't you care about your life?"

The leading Gudu Bubai probed with his divine sense, then sighed in relief and said: "It's fine now—their restrictions have been pierced by those two; this one‑time quasi-Immortal Emperor–level restriction becomes useless after being triggered once."

Immediately, the four of them jumped into the abyss together, which seemed like a bottomless black hole.

Its depth was tens of thousands of zhang; they fell for the time it takes to finish a cup of tea before finally landing steadily.

Upon landing, a foul stench surged like a raging flood, engulfing them! The smell was utterly vile, thick and almost viscous.

Fortunately, their cultivations were profound; otherwise they would have been killed by the stench.

The surroundings were even more gloomy and terrifying, as if they had come to the depths of hell, sending chills down one's spine.

"Look, that must be the altar the Soul‑plundering Divine Lord spoke of."

Hearing that, Gudu Bubai and the two others turned their gaze in the direction Mo Feng pointed.

Before them stood a tall, black altar, solitary amidst the endless darkness.

Upon the altar were carved countless obscure, mysterious glyphs flashing with blood‑red light, their brightness and dimming alternating regularly, as if breathing.

"Come, let's go take a look."

Gudu Bubai finished speaking, stepped forward first, and after confirming there was no danger, he climbed onto the tall altar; upon seeing what lay behind it, his pupils contracted: "This is……?"

"What's wrong, Elder Gudu? …Damn grass!"

Shanbao Daoren exclaimed in shock! What the hell is going on behind this altar???

What met their eyes were countless piles of minced flesh stacked into meat mountains—hard to bear looking at!

Moreover, behind the meat mountains lay a vast pool, not filled with water but holding countless cultivators' souls! Countless dazed, unconscious souls were packed together tightly.

A true mountain of flesh and pool of souls!

They remained silent for a long time; although they were mighty cultivators who had fought their way out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood, the scene before them was beyond words.

"Is this the great secret hidden in the Dark Domain Forbidden Zone? Those meat mountains and soul pools are likely the cultivators who have died in the forbidden zone since ancient times."

After a long while, Gudu Bubai withdrew his gaze and said, "I just don't know what lunatic force has gathered their flesh and souls here, intending to use the altar beneath their feet to sacrifice what?"

"Elder Gudu, do you still remember the Celestial Blood Pill? It was refined from the blood essence and internal energy of countless cultivators who fell at the Pill‑Refining Assembly; you say this place might be the same?"

"If blood essence and energy are refined into pills, what are flesh and souls refined into?"

Mo Feng's remark made everyone suddenly realize—upon further thought, this possibility really exists!

No, we must immediately report this to the Sect Master.

No, every detail of what has happened in the Dark Domain Forbidden Zone these past days must be reported exactly, lest we miss something.

Furthermore, dispatch a squad of Heaven‑rank Shadow Guards from the sect to seal this place; from now on, no one may enter without the Sect Master's order.

ps: There's still one more chapter—"All the mountains and rivers are just feelings"; please urge the update, big shots.