Chapter 63

After entering the ancient land, Song Ce closed his eyes to sense the surroundings and murmured, “The suppression on me is indeed minor.”

Immediately, Song Ce gazed into the distance but found no bubble barriers—of course not! With the sheer number of barbarians and demons, it would be strange if there were still bubble barriers at the entrance.

To avoid encountering elite barbarians or demons while suppressed,

Song Ce chose to take a wide detour, planning to sneak into the region of ancient human traces; whenever he sensed any disturbance, he instantly concealed his form.

Though this slowed his progress, it was relatively safe.

“Barbarians!”

Song Ce’s swift movement halted abruptly. On a peak ahead stood numerous barbarians, their leader a four-armed barbarian—Chi Jue, the thirty-sixth prince of the Barbarian Court.

What sent chills down Song Ce’s spine was that all the barbarians were staring directly at him.

Have I been discovered?

Song Ce stepped backward and decisively summoned a small boat of righteous qi, leaping onto it and sprinting full speed in the opposite direction.

What damn ancient divine art!

Let whoever wants it take it.

Right now, Song Ce only wanted to leave this hellhole as fast as possible.

“Demons!”

Song Ce’s eyes nearly popped out—before him, several demons hovered in midair, as if waiting for him.

How could this happen?

I’ve been so careful—why did the demons and barbarians spot me?

Song Ce’s face twisted in despair. Just as he forced himself to flee eastward, a tiger’s roar exploded beside him. Before he could even comprehend what was happening, a claw of demonic energy materialized and smashed him off his boat.

“Weak human!”

A towering middle-aged man with white pupils looked down at the battered Song Ce, sneering. On his body, demonic energy coalesced into a white-eyed tiger, roaring to the heavens!

Song Ce struggled to his feet, gazing up at the menacing demonic horde and the approaching barbarians, his expression as grim as if he’d lost his entire family.

“Do you want to die? Or do you want to live?” Chi Jue said coldly.

Song Ce forced a smile, pleading, “Live! I want to live! If you spare me, I’ll do anything—I can be your barbarian spy, steal intelligence for you from the Northern Garrison!”

Chi Jue threw back his head and laughed loudly: “Hahahaha… This is what humans are like!”

A Wengqi sneered, “Looks just like a dog!”

“You three-eyed bastard, what did you say?” A hyena spirit glared furiously.

A Wengqi didn’t back down, snapping, “I’m the prince’s man. What are you, to dare—”

Slap!

A sharp crack echoed.

A Wengqi clutched his swollen face, staring at Chi Jue in fear, eyes filled with confusion.

Chi Jue’s rugged face was icy. “Why waste so many words? Get to the point. If this fails, I’ll peel your skin off!”

A Wengqi burned with shame and rage inside, but dared not show it on his face.

Since none of his premonitions had come true, Chi Jue’s attitude toward him had changed drastically—from treating him as a trusted right-hand man to constantly mocking him, even slapping him in public.

A Wengqi forced down his fury and glared at Song Ce. “Why did you come in?”

Song Ce dared not lie. “I heard from a friend that the ancient human masters’ traces had turned into countless bubble barriers, filled with heavenly treasures—and possibly even ancient divine arts. So I came. I never expected you to foresee this…”

Foresee this!

A Wengqi loved that phrase. If he hadn’t predicted someone would sneak in and stationed demons at the entrance, how could they have caught Song Ce?

“So you’re in contact with someone inside the region of the ancient human masters’ traces,” A Wengqi chuckled. “You just said you want to live? Then send a message to your friend—tell him you’ve entered.”

“Just say ‘I’ve entered’?”

Song Ce grinned sycophantically. “Should I lure him here…?”

“Shut up!” A Wengqi snapped coldly.

“Do you think everyone’s a fool? What reason would they have to abandon the heavenly treasures inside the bubble barriers and come here just because of you?”

Song Ce nodded frantically. “You’re right, my lord. I didn’t think it through.”

A Wengqi tilted his chin slightly, squinting. “The timing isn’t right yet. First, confuse your friend. When the moment comes, claim you’ve discovered a Xuan Light bubble barrier at the northernmost edge of the ancient human traces—and lure everyone there.”

“My lord is brilliant!”

Song Ce flattered him, eager to prove himself. He pulled out a message talisman and, under A Wengqi’s direction, sent a message in his usual tone:

“Brother Wei, I’ve entered. There are bubble barriers everywhere—thanks to your tip. When I get back, I’ll treat you to wine at Wanhedou.”

“Last time I didn’t get you drunk—this time I will. By the way, what kinds of bubble barriers are there? Are they dangerous? What should I watch out for?”

Soon, the talisman flickered with spiritual light.

Wei Chaochun laughed. “Good you made it. There are too many bubble barriers here—transparent, semi-transparent, white, and five-colored. Be careful. White and five-colored ones usually harbor strange beasts—very dangerous.”

Done!

A Wengqi snatched the talisman, bowed to Chi Jue, and said, “Your Highness, we only need to wait for the Golden-Haired Demon Monkey to emerge from the Xuan Light bubble barrier. Then we can launch our hunt.”

“Hmph!” Chi Jue’s stomach churned at the thought of the Xuan Light bubble barrier.

He’d found it first—but couldn’t enter. Neither could any other demons or barbarians. Only the Golden-Haired Demon Monkey could enter.

Especially since the moment the monkey entered, strange phenomena erupted within the barrier—clear signs of great fortune.

He might even have obtained an ancient divine art. How could this not enrage him?

“I wonder how Brother Monkey is doing. Let’s go see.”

The white-eyed tiger flew eastward first.

Under the watchful eyes of the demons and barbarians, Song Ce was forced to follow them eastward. After about half an hour, he was astonished to find most of the demons and barbarians gathered here.

A massive Xuan Light bubble barrier floated before them, its surface swirling with ten thousand rays of Xuan light, occasionally thundering with deafening booms.

“All of you are here? None of you can enter the bubble barrier?”

Chi Jue asked at the barbarian gathering.

The lead barbarian sighed. “Your Highness, our people have few remaining clan-kun qi left, and even less divine fortune. Some only managed to enter two or three transparent bubble barriers before being blocked.”

Entering a bubble barrier consumed the divine fortune granted by the clan-kun—a conclusion drawn after Chi Jue himself failed to enter the Xuan Light bubble barrier.

Now it was clear this was true.

As a result, many bubble barriers remained inaccessible to demons and barbarians, their heavenly treasures untouched.

Chi Jue growled, “Staying here won’t solve anything. Let’s start hunting the humans now!”

A Wengqi whispered gently, “Your Highness, don’t rush. Launching the hunt now is too soon. These humans have gained vast amounts of clan-kun qi. Let them collect abundant heavenly treasures first—then we can net them all at once. Wouldn’t that be perfect?”