Within My Sect, All Realms Unite-Chapter 56: Forest of Death

The journey did not take as long as expected and remained relatively smooth, the ship gliding steadily through the air as the endless forest stretched beneath them. For a time, the calm persisted, almost deceptively peaceful, as if nothing within that vast expanse hinted at danger.

Just then, a small problem surfaced as their reserves of spirit stones had nearly run dry, leaving only a limited supply remaining for the journey ahead. This meant that very soon, the full burden of sustaining the ship’s formation would fall entirely upon Han Leu alone.

As they approached the marked location, a strange and uneasy feeling began to settle within everyone present, growing heavier with every passing moment. The forest below appeared far too calm, lacking even the most natural signs of movement or life.

There was no rustling of leaves, no distant calls of beasts, and not even the faint presence of birds crossing the sky above. The entire region was silent in a way that felt unnatural, as if something had forcibly erased all life.

Then, far in the distance, something came into view that immediately drew their attention toward it. At the edges of the visible forest, a spreading darkness had begun to take shape, like ink bleeding into a once-living landscape.

The ship moved closer, and with every passing moment, the true state of that region became clearer to their eyes. The trees within that area had completely withered, their trunks darkened and twisted into unnatural shapes.

Their branches stretched outward like lifeless claws, stripped of vitality, while the few remaining leaves clung weakly before crumbling away into dust. There was no trace of green left, only dull shades of grey and black.

The ground beneath them had also changed drastically, appearing cracked, ashen, and devoid of any natural vitality that a forest should possess. It looked poisoned, as if something had seeped deep into the earth and corrupted it entirely.

There was no life anywhere within that region, not even the smallest signs of insects or hidden creatures that would normally exist within such terrain. It was as though the concept of life itself had been erased from that place.

What made it even more unsettling was the aura that filled the entire area, spreading outward like an invisible pressure that pressed down upon everything beneath it. It was not merely demonic qi, but something deeper that distorted the natural flow of energy.

The air itself felt heavy and resistant, making even breathing slightly uncomfortable, as if the surroundings rejected anything that still carried life. The atmosphere was suffocating in a way that could not be easily described. 𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

Everyone fell silent as they took in the scene below, their expressions filled with shock and disbelief at what they were witnessing. Even those accustomed to danger could not remain unaffected by such a sight.

Before anyone else could speak, Han Leu’s voice broke the silence, carrying a rare seriousness that immediately drew attention toward him. "Sect Master, this is either going to be a very big problem, or this is already a very big problem."

Lin Xiaotian turned toward him at once, his expression sharpening as he sensed the weight behind those words. "What do you mean by that?" he asked without hesitation.

Han Leu’s gaze remained fixed on the corrupted forest below, his tone steady yet heavy as he chose his words carefully. "Sect Master, this level of demonic corruption, something capable of altering the terrain itself to such an extent..."

He paused briefly, then spoke the conclusion that carried the true weight of the situation before them. "...is only possible if there is a Divine Transformation realm demonic cultivator present here, or something of that level or above had been sealed beneath this land."

Hearing this, everyone’s expression became serious and grave, as the weight of Han Leu’s words settled heavily within their minds. They all understood clearly that what lay ahead was no ordinary danger, but something far beyond their expectations.

Lin Xiaotian looked toward Han Leu, his gaze steady despite the tension forming around them, his thoughts already moving ahead of the situation. "Continue forward, if we do not reach it first, it might reach us instead," he said calmly, his tone carrying quiet urgency.

As he spoke, his eyes shifted briefly toward the system interface that had appeared within his mind, drawing his full attention. A timer had begun counting down near the map, alongside a newly appeared mission.

Confine the Source of Corruption

Reward: ???

A faint smile flickered across his lips for a moment, though his eyes remained sharp and focused on the situation ahead. The presence of the mission only confirmed that what they were heading toward was far more dangerous than it appeared, but it also meant it wasn’t impossible at least not till the End of timer-10 days.

Han Leu nodded without hesitation, his expression tightening slightly as he pushed more of his divine sense into the ship’s formation. The vessel moved forward, entering deeper into the corrupted region as the air around them grew heavier.

Not long after entering, the calm broke suddenly.

A large flock of birds burst into view from nowhere, their movements chaotic yet coordinated, each one emitting the aura of Foundation Establishment cultivators. There were hundreds of them, their numbers overwhelming at a glance.

They moved with terrifying speed.

Like a storm, they rushed toward the ship, their sharp cries cutting through the air as they slammed directly into the formation barrier. The impact echoed repeatedly as their bodies collided against the shield.

The ship trembled as the defensive formation lit up brightly, absorbing the attacks as the disciples inside reacted quickly, releasing strikes outward to clear the swarm. Feathers and blood scattered as the birds were destroyed one after another.

For a brief moment, it seemed under control as the flock thinned rapidly, their bodies falling lifelessly toward the corrupted ground below as the immediate pressure eased. A short window of stillness followed.

Then something changed.

From below, a massive hand suddenly burst upward from the ground, its form condensed from dark, corrupted energy, stretching toward the ship with overwhelming force. It was enormous, easily large enough to grasp the entire vessel.

The attack came too fast.

Lin Xiaotian’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he remained calm, expecting the ship’s defensive formation to absorb the blow without issue. However, the moment the hand struck the ship lurched violently.

The entire vessel tilted to the side as the shield dimmed sharply, the impact far stronger than anticipated, sending a shock through the formation itself. The hand dissipated shortly after, vanishing into scattered demonic qi.

Silence followed for a brief moment as everyone’s attention shifted downward. There, standing upon the corrupted ground, was a figure.

His clothes billowed in the heavy air, untouched by the oppressive aura around him, while his pale skin reflected a faint, unnatural light. His presence felt wrong, as if he did not belong to the same world as everything else around him.

As they looked down at him, he slowly raised his head and looked back at them and an eerie unnatural smile spread on his face

Without breaking eye contact, he began forming hand seals, his movements slow and deliberate, as the demonic qi around him started to gather once more.

Then, another massive hand began to form.