Perfection: The Eastern Emperor Bell manifests, I am the Golden Crow Heavenly Emperor

Chapter 73 Lord of the Forbidden Zone
At Lu Xuan's level, the so-called "path ahead" almost points directly to the distant realm of the Emperor!

This matter is of paramount importance!

The two celestial kings exchanged a glance, both seeing the determination in each other's eyes.

Lu Xuan has a close alliance with the Ancient Realm and helped the Thunder Emperor comprehend the Dao; such karma must be repaid.

Moreover, if he could truly find the Emperor's Path, it would be a tremendous opportunity for the Ancient Realm.

"In that case, we will lead the way for you, fellow Daoist."

"The Immortal King Wuzhong said solemnly."

"That forbidden zone is located on the edge of the ancient realm, in a chaotic area bordering the boundary sea. The journey is long and fraught with danger. As for whether you will be able to meet the master of the forbidden zone, that depends on your fate."

"Thank you for your trouble." Lu Xuan nodded.

Led by the Immortal King Wuzhong and the Immortal King Liudao Lunhui, three rainbow bridges piercing the starry sky rose from the central heavenly palace, pointing directly to the most desolate and chaotic borderland of the ancient realm.

Along the way, one can see stars dying and continents crumbling. Spacetime is distorted here, and occasionally terrifying void rifts devour everything.

Even more ancient, extinct beasts lurk amidst the shattered remains of the star, emanating a chilling aura. This is a forbidden zone for civilization, a ruin where laws have been broken.

After traversing countless desolate starfields, a region that defies description finally appeared ahead.

There was no starlight, no matter, and not even a complete concept of space.

There was only an eternal, absolute darkness that seemed capable of swallowing up all light and hope.

At the edge of darkness are fragments of spacetime that are constantly being created and destroyed, like a mirror, with glimpses of scenes from unknown eras occasionally flashing by.

A powerful, isolating force that even made the Celestial King tremble spread out, as if the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth had been severed there, and all things had returned to eternal silence.

This is—the forbidden zone!
“Fellow Daoist Donghuang, this is just ahead. We will escort you here. If we go any further, we may trigger an unforeseen reaction in that region.”

The Immortal King Wuzhong stopped and reminded him in a solemn tone.

The Six Paths Reincarnation Immortal King also said, "Fellow Daoist, please be careful. This place is strange, spacetime is disordered, and there are many indescribable dangers."

Lu Xuan stared into the absolute darkness. He could feel the bronze fragment in his arms emitting a faint warmth, and the aura of the same origin seemed to have become slightly more active.

"Thank you both."

Lu Xuan nodded to Wu Zhong and Liu Dao, then without further hesitation, took a step forward, and his figure disappeared into the absolute darkness that seemed to devour everything.

The moment he entered, the shattered fragments of spacetime surged violently, as if some mechanism that had been dormant for millennia had been triggered.

Wu Zhong and Liu Dao stood at the edge, only able to see Lu Xuan's figure being rapidly swallowed by darkness and disappear. Only a wisp of chaotic energy lingered for a moment at the edge of darkness before finally dissipating.

"I hope that Fellow Daoist Donghuang will have his wish fulfilled..."

The Immortal King Wuzhong sighed softly, silently guarding the area outside with the Immortal King Liudao Lunhui, their minds already tense, watching for any changes in that desolate land.

After crossing that all-consuming boundary, the anticipated chaos and deathly silence did not last.

Just one step away, it felt like stepping into another world.

My eyes suddenly opened up.

It is no longer the desolate desolation of the ancient borderlands.

This is a pristine land of utmost tranquility.

The sky was a clear, deep blue, with wisps of white clouds drifting by. Soft sunlight streamed down, not scorching, but warm. Beneath my feet stretched a vast, verdant meadow, dotted with unnamed wildflowers that exuded a delicate fragrance.

In the distance, low hills rise and fall, their lines gentle, covered in lush trees, bathed in a soft glow of sunset.

What's even more striking is that in the center of this pristine land lies a crystal-clear lake, its waters as clear as glass, reflecting the sky and clouds. In the heart of the lake is a small island, with only a single ancient tree and a simple thatched hut.

This place is filled with spiritual energy and natural Taoist charm, forming an extremely strong contrast with the outside world. It is like a forgotten paradise, independent of the laws of the heavens, and unchanging for eternity.

Lu Xuan stood by the lake, his gaze sweeping over this pristine land, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He could sense that the tranquility and peace here were not a pretense, but a natural manifestation of a very high level of Dao, which perfectly transformed the chaos and isolation of the outside world into internal balance and protection.

His gaze finally settled on the thatched cottage on the small island in the middle of the lake.

Unbeknownst to them, a figure had quietly appeared there.

He was a man dressed in snow-white robes, tall and slender with a handsome face. He looked to be no more than twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old, with jet-black hair that was casually draped over his shoulders. His temperament was otherworldly, like a celestial being who had stepped out of a painting.

He stood there quietly, as if he were one with the world around him. There were no powerful energy fluctuations around him, but he gave people a sense of vicissitudes as if he had existed for thousands of years.

His condition was particularly noteworthy.

His figure carried a faint, almost imperceptible ethereal quality; it was not a physical entity, but rather a wisp of unyielding obsession.

It exists because of this special pure land.

However, even this lingering obsession, with its profound essence, made Lu Xuan feel a sense of gravity.

This is by no means the lingering resentment of an ordinary immortal king after his fall; in his previous life, he must have been a giant standing at an even higher level!

"Distinguished guests have come from afar; I have failed to properly welcome them."

The man in white spoke, his voice gentle and calm, like a spring breeze caressing a lake, carrying a strange power to soothe the soul.

His eyes were clear as he looked at Lu Xuan without any surprise, as if he had already anticipated his arrival.

Lu Xuan cupped his hands in greeting, his tone calm.

"I apologize for disturbing your peace. My name is Lu Xuan. I have come here to seek answers on the path ahead and wish to borrow your help to witness the fall of the Emperor."

He got straight to the point, stating his purpose clearly; there was no need to beat around the bush when dealing with someone like him.

The man in white—the master of the forbidden zone—smiled slightly upon hearing this, a smile that seemed to brighten the surrounding scenery.

He did not answer directly, but pointed to the stone bench beside him: "His Majesty the Eastern Emperor's name has recently shaken the Boundary Sea, and even in this uncivilized land of mine, it has been heard of. Please sit down."

Lu Xuan did as instructed, took a step, and appeared on the island in the middle of the lake, sitting on a stone bench.

On the stone table, a pot of clear tea and two jade cups had been placed there at some point. The aroma of the tea was fragrant and refreshing, brewed with nectar condensed from supreme Dao principles.

"The Era of Imperial Decline..."

The Lord of the Forbidden Zone poured tea for himself and Lu Xuan, his gaze distant, as if piercing through time and space, seeing the glory and sorrow buried deep in the river of time.

"That was a severed piece of ancient history, an era that was glorious to the extreme but collapsed suddenly."

It involves the fall of the 'Emperor,' a cause and effect far too great for even me to comprehend, and much of what I know is limited and incomplete.

He looked at Lu Xuan with deep eyes.

(End of this chapter)