Chapter 466: The Forbidden Lands of Practitioners

Three days later, the Cultivation Science Headquarters convened an emergency meeting of the global cultivation community's high-level members. Lin Xuan stood in the center of the conference hall, detailing to the attendees his discoveries in the secret realm, as well as Yage's warning regarding the nature of the Void and the Void Sovereign.

"Void Power is not inherently evil, but rather another fundamental force in the universe that exists in opposition to Nature energy; the two should have existed in a state of balanced coexistence," Lin Xuan said calmly. "Yage's actions did indeed bring disaster to humanity, but its original intention was to restore cosmic balance; it simply used the wrong method. Now, the true threat is the 'Void Sovereign' that is about to awaken."

The conference hall erupted in an instant, with various arguments rising one after another. As the discussion deepened, the cultivation community gradually split into two factions: one believed in the theory of balance between the Void and reality, arguing that they should seek a way for the two energies to coexist harmoniously; the other insisted that Void Power was inherently evil and must be completely eradicated.

"Absurd!" A high-level mage from the Western Magic Council stood up, waving their arms excitedly. "Void Power has brought disaster to humanity many times; we have witnessed its destructiveness with our own eyes. This is clearly Yage's final conspiracy, an attempt to shake our resolve!"

"But if what Lin Xuan says is true, blind resistance will only accelerate the arrival of the Void Sovereign," Zhang Qingsong responded calmly. "We should face this possibility with an open attitude; after all, the universe is vast, and our understanding is still very limited."

The argument grew increasingly intense, and the meeting reached a stalemate. Just then, Xiao Yuan suddenly stood up, her eyes glowing with golden light as she entered a state of precognition. Everyone immediately fell silent, their gazes fixed upon her.

"Seeking the Heaven and Earth Origin is the only hope," Xiao Yuan's voice carried a peculiar resonance. "The source of power left behind at the beginning of creation is neither Void nor reality, but the origin that birthed them both. Only by mastering it can we resist the Void Sovereign and achieve true balance between the Void and reality."

After saying this, the golden light in Xiao Yuan's eyes faded, and she slumped weakly into her chair. Lin Xuan immediately stepped forward to support her, checking on her condition with concern.

"I'm fine," Xiao Yuan said softly, "but I saw some images... three places, three types of extreme environments, containing fragments of the Heaven and Earth Origin."

The meeting was suspended, and the ancient text research team quickly gathered all available data on the "Heaven and Earth Origin." Two days later, Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan were summoned to a special conference room.

"According to ancient records, the Heaven and Earth Origin does indeed exist," Professor Wang Xuan, an expert in ancient cultivation texts, said while pointing to an image in a holographic projection. "At the beginning of the universe's formation, the two forces of Void and reality separated from Hun Dun, but a small amount of mixed-state energy remained; this is the so-called 'Heaven and Earth Origin.' As the universe evolved, this energy dispersed to all corners of the cosmos, and three of the largest fragments fell onto Diqiu, forming three extreme forbidden zones for Practitioners."

The holographic projection switched to a map of Diqiu, with three red dots marked respectively in the Beiji Circle, Central Africa, and an uninhabited area in the western Pacific Ocean.

"Beiming Hanyuan, a land of extreme cold, with temperatures as low as -150°C. Ordinary life cannot survive there, and even Nascent Soul experts find it difficult to resist the erosion of its cold air," Professor Wang said, pointing to the red dot in the Beiji.

"Wu Xiang Yan Gu, a land of extreme heat, with temperatures reaching as high as 3000°C. The magma is like water, the air is like fire, and it is rumored that the bottom of the valley leads directly to the Earth's core," she said, pointing to the red dot in Africa.

"The Space-Time Turbulence Zone, a special area above the Pacific Ocean where space and time are twisted and chaotic. Those who enter may age to death in an instant or be transported to an unknown space-time," she said, pointing to the final red dot.

"These three forbidden zones are all forbidden lands for Practitioners; in ten thousand years, few have ever survived them," Professor Wang concluded, her expression grave.

The conference room fell into a dead silence. Even for experts at the Nascent Soul Stage, these three forbidden zones meant a near-certain death trap.

"I must go," Lin Xuan broke the silence. "If the Heaven and Earth Origin is truly as the ancient texts describe, it may be our only hope for resisting the Void Sovereign."

"It's too dangerous!" Xu Feng immediately objected. "At least wait until your cultivation reaches a higher level before considering it."

Lin Xuan shook his head: "According to Yage's warning, the awakening of the Void Sovereign has already begun; we do not have much time left."

After intense discussion, a compromise was finally reached: Lin Xuan would go into seclusion for one month to practice Void techniques using the "Void Seed" left behind by Yage, in order to improve his own cultivation; at the same time, the Cultivation Science Headquarters would spare no effort in gathering detailed data on the three forbidden zones to formulate the safest exploration plan.

During his seclusion, Lin Xuan devoted himself entirely to his training. The techniques within the Void Seed were completely different from the Nature energy cultivation system he was familiar with, but thanks to his unique perception of both energies, he progressed rapidly. In just one month, he not only raised his cultivation to the Nascent Soul Mid-stage but also created the "Yin and Yang Void-Reality Art," which allowed him to deploy both energies with greater flexibility.

On the day his seclusion ended, Xiao Yuan came to wait outside Lin Xuan's training room. When the door opened and Lin Xuan walked out, she was surprised to find that his aura had undergone a subtle change—it was both as steady as a mountain and as ethereal as a cloud, with the auras of reality and the Void perfectly fused to form an unprecedented state of balance.

"I want to go with you," Xiao Yuan said firmly.

Lin Xuan wanted to refuse, but seeing the determination in Xiao Yuan's eyes, he finally nodded in agreement: "The three forbidden zones are too dangerous; we need to formulate a meticulous plan."

Over the following week, the two of them worked with the expert team from the Cultivation Science Headquarters to plan their exploration route in detail. Considering various factors, they decided to head to Beiming Hanyuan first, then to Wu Xiang Yan Gu, and finally explore the Space-Time Turbulence Zone.

Xu Feng specially crafted a Golden Treasure for Xiao Yuan called the "Fate Compass," which could enhance her precognition and allow her to sense danger in advance. Lin Xuan received a set of custom-made equipment that combined the latest technology with ancient Runes, which could both withstand extreme environments and not interfere with the circulation of his cultivation energy.

On the evening before their departure, a simple yet solemn send-off ceremony was held in the plaza of the Cultivation Science Headquarters. Representatives from the "Lin Xuan Xiao Yuan Watchers" organizations from all over the world came, and countless people sent their blessings and strength through the "Collective Dream Network."

"All of us are with you," the leader of the Watchers delegation, an elderly woman, said as she held Lin Xuan and Xiao Yuan's hands. "No matter where you go, our faith will follow."

After the ceremony ended, Lin Xuan stood alone on the top of the headquarters' high tower, gazing at the star-filled sky. He could feel that deep within that seemingly calm starry sky, some indescribable, massive existence was gradually awakening; time was running out.

At dawn the next day, Lin Xuan, Xiao Yuan, and an elite team assembled in front of the headquarters. This team, composed of five Nascent Soul Stage experts, would escort the two of them to the entrance of Beiming Hanyuan.