A Blood Profound Turtle’s Profound Pearl appeared in Wen Qingye’s hand, its Primordial Qi Essence continuously surging into his body.

Sword Aura flashed as he weaved between the Black Profound Snakes.

BANG!

A massive python tail whipped toward Wen Qingye. Unable to dodge in time, he threw a punch to meet it. The violent impact shook the leaves from the surrounding trees.

A tremor ran through Wen Qingye’s body. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and stumbled back a few steps.

The Black Profound Snake’s body crashed heavily onto the ground, sweeping dead leaves and broken branches dozens of feet away.

HISS!

Suddenly, just as the downed Black Profound Snake was about to coil up, an enormous serpentine head lunged forward and swallowed it whole.

It was the Black Profound Female Snake!

The Black Profound Female Snake then moved toward the other dead or grievously wounded Black Profound Snakes, mercilessly swallowing them one by one.

Seeing the Black Profound Female Snake, Wen Qingye’s heart leaped in alarm. He immediately turned and fled, abandoning any thought of fighting.

HISSS!

The remaining seven or eight Black Profound Male Snakes saw Wen Qingye trying to flee and charged after him at once.

Seeing Wen Qingye escape, the Black Profound Female Snake opened its gaping maw. A swirling vortex of energy gathered in its throat.

A stream of putrid, crimson energy shot out. The red light pulsed, radiating an eerie, intense killing intent as it streaked toward the fleeing Wen Qingye.

Wen Qingye felt a chill race down his spine and instinctively sidestepped to the left, but he hadn’t anticipated the sheer speed and viciousness of the Black Profound Female Snake’s attack.

BANG!

Though Wen Qingye dodged the fatal blow, the crimson energy still struck him squarely on the back of his left shoulder.

His clothes disintegrated instantly. The flesh on his back became a mangled mess, the bone clearly visible beneath. Wen Qingye let out a muffled grunt, faltered for a beat, and then continued to sprint away.

Naturally, the Black Profound Snakes weren’t about to let Wen Qingye go so easily. They twisted their massive bodies and gave chase.

The trees and scenery on either side blurred as they rushed past.

’This Black Profound Female Snake is too powerful. With my current cultivation, I’m no match for it at all.’

Wen Qingye darted through the forest, the Profound Pearl’s Primordial Qi Essence continuously flowing into his body to mend the wound on his shoulder.

The Black Profound Female Snake’s cold eyes watched Wen Qingye dash through the trees like a bolt of lightning. It flicked its long, forked tongue and came to a halt.

It still had the bodies of several Black Profound Male Snakes to digest in its belly, so it couldn’t be bothered with Wen Qingye.

Seeing the female stop, the surrounding Black Profound Male Snakes also ceased their pursuit of Wen Qingye.

Wen Qingye gradually realized the Black Profound Snakes were no longer giving chase. Sensing something peculiar about his surroundings, he finally stopped and sat down by a tree.

HSS!

The moment he sat down, a throbbing pain from the wound on his shoulder shot through his entire body.

He had been too focused to notice it before, but now that he had stopped, the pain became acutely sensitive.

Wen Qingye’s brows furrowed. ’This wound... if I hadn’t practiced the Five Elements Body Refining Technique, my shoulder would have been pierced clean through.’

Even though Wen Qingye had only reached the First Layer of the Five Elements Body Refining Technique, it had still greatly enhanced his physical resilience.

After slowly calming his mind, Wen Qingye began to frantically absorb the Primordial Qi from the Profound Pearl in his hand.

Only then did Wen Qingye take a slow look at his surroundings.

’I never expected these Black Profound Snakes to be gathered together, with such a powerful female among them. On my own, killing her would be nearly impossible right now,’ Wen Qingye thought, his brow furrowed.

If Zhou Yue were here, they might have stood a chance together.

Wen Qingye scanned his surroundings. He was on an ancient path, deep within Xiebei Mountain. The path was extremely well-hidden, as if tucked away in the very depths of the forest.

Ahead, the path was dark and gloomy. Wen Qingye couldn’t help but look up.

’This path is so well-hidden... What lies at the end of it?’ he wondered.

How could he not be surprised to find such a path in this exceedingly dangerous mountain range?

He followed the path forward. The area ahead was tranquil, and surprisingly, flowers were planted along both sides of the road, emitting a faint fragrance.

After walking for some time, he came across something unusual. A stone stele stood before him.

The character on the stele seemed to possess a magical quality that tugged at one’s Heart Spirit.

Prisoner.

Wen Qingye stared at the word on the stele, pondering its meaning.

Sword in hand, Wen Qingye cautiously walked past the stele.

The area ahead suddenly opened up. The sky, though now clearly visible, was a dark, oppressive expanse. Directly ahead, in the center, was a wide platform. Four stone pillars stood upon it, each covered in Primordial Stones and dense iron chains.

The sight was magnificent and soul-stirring.

In the center, there appeared to be a person standing.

CLANK! CLANK!

A fierce wind stirred, making the iron chains jangle.

Countless iron chains were intertwined, firmly binding the person in the middle.

"Kid, how did you get into Prisoner Peak?"

Suddenly, a weak, breathless voice reached Wen Qingye’s ears.

Wen Qingye stood against the wind, looking at the figure ahead. He frowned and asked, "Who are you? Why are you trapped here? And who imprisoned you?"

HAHAHAHA!

The man, his hair disheveled and his clothes in tatters, threw his head back and roared with laughter at Wen Qingye’s questions.

"My name is Guo Gao. Have you heard of me?"

Wen Qingye shook his head. Seeing the man bound by chains, he walked toward the platform.

Up close, he saw that the man was an elder. His eyes were unfocused and dim, holding little sign of life. Most of his vitality was being supplied by the Primordial Qi from the stone pillars.

Without raising his head, Guo Gao asked in a flat tone, "How did you get in?"

"By chance," Wen Qingye replied.

Guo Gao nodded. "That would explain it. There’s a Death Array out front. With your level of strength, you shouldn’t have been able to enter."

Before Wen Qingye could speak, Guo Gao asked, "Is the current Peak Master of Absolute Peak still Hua Lie?"

"Yes," Wen Qingye nodded.

Absolute Peak was one of the Seven Main Peaks of the Celestial Profound Sect, so of course Wen Qingye knew who its Peak Master was.

Hearing this, Guo Gao gave a bitter smile and sighed. "Judging by your cultivation, you must be a new disciple of the Celestial Profound Sect. Do you care to know who I am?"

Wen Qingye smiled faintly. "If you are willing to tell, I am willing to listen."

Hearing this, Guo Gao couldn’t help but laugh uproariously. "HAHAHAHA! It’s been many years since I’ve spoken with another person. You’re an interesting one, boy."

As Guo Gao spoke, he tugged at the surrounding chains, causing them to rattle and CLANK.

"I am Hua Lie’s master. He betrayed me and imprisoned me here. The world outside probably believes I died from cultivation deviation long ago," Guo Gao said, his face pale as he looked up. "That Hua Lie is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. To think I was so blind when I took him as my disciple. How pitiful, how pathetic."

’He’s actually the Peak Master of one of the Seven Peaks, one of the Celestial Profound Sect’s top experts.’

Wen Qingye asked, his expression uncomprehending, "Why would he imprison you?"