"What secrets might be hidden on the second level? Who will be the next lucky one?"

Zhou Qing felt a trace of anticipation rising in his heart.

If all nine tokens are gathered, the third level of the Divine Ruins Celestial Palace can be unlocked.

And the real opportunity lies hidden in the third level.

"But that might have to wait until the end of time!" He shook his head in self-mockery, looking around the empty space of the Divine Ruins.

Well, since no one is online, it's not like his visit will be in vain.

"As long as I'm here." Zhou Qing chuckled and his figure transformed into a streak of red light, diving into the image of the forbidden zone.

In an instant, a terrifying gravitational force descended with a roar, causing the ground to crack open. The dried corpse of the founding Sect Leader, Guo Guiqi, surfaced from the earth, letting out a piercing scream.

"Junior Zhou Qing, apologies!" Zhou Qing clasped his hands in salute, his figure already shooting forward like an arrow released from a bow...

Half an incense stick later, the battle was over.

Since breaking through to Divinity Transformation Realm Perfection, the Sect Leader puppet, who once defended the sect's last line, could no longer withstand even a few rounds against him.

Had it not been for the terrifying gravity here suppressing his strength, the battle would have ended even faster.

"This time, let's take a look at the third coffin. The first belongs to the previous Sect Leader, Canglong Taoist, who now manages it. The third was thoroughly ransacked by my second uncle, leaving only a Flame Fire Crocodile King inside..."

Zhou Qing muttered to himself. Just as he reached the entrance of a passageway, his steps suddenly halted.

The black heart on the withered tree still throbbed intensely, but the six coffins originally surrounding it were tightly entangled by countless coiled tree roots.

Wisps of gray air flowed slowly along the roots, consumed by the withered tree like a living thing, filling the entire space with an eerie, ominous aura.

"What's going on?" Zhou Qing frowned. "These six coffins... have they become its nourishment?"

How could things have changed like this after not coming in here for a few years?

Just as Zhou Qing stretched out his head to take a closer look, he inadvertently caught sight of the Blood River, once again opening his mouth wide in shock.

Above the Blood River, countless Dead Crows hovered like mist.

And amid the scarlet river water, a fat old hen leisurely paddled around, occasionally spouting a jet of ghostly blue flame, engulfing a Dead Crow and crunching it delightfully.

"No way, why is it here?!" Zhou Qing was almost speechless with shock.

He was aware that the Supreme Elder and the Peak Masters had joined forces to seal off the Grotto Heaven Forbidden Area, mainly to prevent the Lu Family sisters.

After all, this was the heritage treasure trove exclusively belonging to the Taiqing Sect.

But—

Zhou Qing felt a bit confused. Although he knew the old hen was undergoing its third mutation, it shouldn't be this outrageous.

Even more bizarre was that the three giant Corpse Wax Crows on the opposite side of the river were unresponsive, quietly lurking in the darkness, seemingly oblivious to the intruder.

"Is it because... of that layer of flame?" Zhou Qing fixed his gaze on the ghostly blue fire surrounding the old hen, his mind gradually coming to an understanding.

In the Taichu Dojo, it had absorbed the blue flames from the earth's vein crack for a full half-year.

Now it seemed that this flame not only accelerated its transformation but also served as its amulet, allowing it to roam the forbidden zone unrestrained!

Watching the old hen feast away, Zhou Qing felt both amused and worried.

He wanted to call out, but they were in different dimensions, and his voice couldn't reach.

At this moment, the old hen, having had its fill, shook its wet feathers and proudly swam deeper along the Blood River.

Its plump behind wiggled with every stroke, occasionally dipping to peck at a floating Dead Crow on the river surface as if choosing its meal.

Zhou Qing furrowed his brow.

Where exactly the Blood River flowed, even he had no clue.

Previously, the Supreme Elder and they didn't know how to cross to the river's other side because facing the Blood River, both spiritual power and spiritual energy became ineffective.

If halfway across, the three Corpse Wax Crows emerged, he would be nothing but a live target.

Only thanks to the second uncle's research, placing three Dead Crows of the Blood River on one's shoulders and head could delay them for a short time.

But if they couldn't enter the coffin in time after landing ashore, the Corpse Wax Crows would charge out, inevitably leading to a deadly battle.

So, the only thing they could do was search for opportunities along the riverbank.

Later, after he told the Supreme Elders about seeing his second uncle with the Dead Crows on his shoulders, they never set foot across again.

After all, each of the six coffins sealed a presence of Spirit Severing Realm, and barging in recklessly was tantamount to courting death.

At this moment, the old hen's figure gradually disappeared into the mist at the end of the Blood River.

Zhou Qing gritted his teeth and immediately rushed out, intending to follow.

…

On both banks of the Blood River, rugged rocks intertwined, while the air was filled with the scent of decay and blood.

Zhou Qing held his breath, focusing intently on the faintly discernible plump figure ahead.

The old hen swam leisurely, occasionally flapping its wings, splashing a curtain of scarlet water.

But in just a few breaths, he suddenly felt a chill run down his spine as two terrifying auras crept up from behind.

Zhou Qing turned his head, seeing two enormous Corpse Wax Crows emerging slowly from the darkness.

Their wings were glazed with dark yellow corpse wax, each feather sewn together with dead skin.

In their eye sockets, two ghostly green flames flickered.

"Two of them?" Zhou Qing's expression changed slightly.

This was his first time facing two Corpse Wax Crows simultaneously.

This time, unlike before in the Blood River, where he could hide behind the Dead Crows, they discovered his presence much sooner than usual.

Zhou Qing dared not be careless, knowing that these creatures once dared to battle for the Old Peng King's body with Xuanyuan Shuo, the Peng Emperor, Shen Hanyi, and three other Spirit Severing Realm powerhouses in the abyss of Canglan Mountain.