Chapter 608: Chapter 571: The Will of All Living Beings (2)

"Three days..." Qin An thought for a moment, then said, "Do you have a map showing where the Celestial Cloud Pool is?"

It didn’t sound long when put that way, but it actually wasn’t short either. If he went straight for the main objective, three days would be more than enough no matter what.

Chen Liuyun shook his head again and said, "We do have a map, but it doesn’t show the location of the Celestial Cloud Pool. That’s all because of the pool’s special nature. The Celestial Cloud Pool appears at random, and finding it requires luck."

Qin An took the map Chen Liuyun handed over and began reading it on horseback.

However, by the time he had memorized the entire map, his brows only furrowed deeper and deeper.

"So in other words, this time we’re completely relying on luck?"

"Exactly." Chen Liuyun said bluntly, "You only have three days. If you still can’t find the Celestial Cloud Pool within three days, then you can only come out."

Qin An was very capable, able to reach his current level with a supreme foundation.

But Chen Liuyun knew that what blocked the supreme foundation of the Tripod Aspiration Realm was not danger, but the elusive Celestial Cloud Pool.

So even if Qin An entered the Celestial Cloud Forbidden Land, it would still be very difficult to find the whereabouts of the Celestial Cloud Pool within that vast Forbidden Area.

"That is indeed a sticking point." Qin An raised his head to look toward the end of the official road and said, "Let’s go first. We’ll see how things are once we enter the Celestial Cloud Forbidden Land."

Seeing Qin An so resolute, Chen Liuyun said nothing more.

After all, he had said everything that needed to be said.

After that, he and Qin An continued on together toward the location of the Celestial Cloud Forbidden Land.

...

The Celestial Cloud Forbidden Land was situated atop a high mountain.

On the surface it seemed to occupy a very small area, but within it was a world of its own.

Deep within the Celestial Cloud Forbidden Land, a Snake Demon with scales was sitting coiled upon a throne.

Below it was a large number of Demon Pseudo-Gods.

This was the leader of the demons entrenched in the Celestial Cloud Forbidden Land, the Snake Demon Clan Leader.

The Demon Pseudo-Gods around it possessed formidable strength.

But at this moment, the Snake Demon Clan Leader’s gaze swept past that group of prostrating Demon Pseudo-Gods, and fell upon the faces of Yu Caiyi and Feng Jiutian, a faint cold smile appearing there.

"Intruders from the Starlight Forbidden Land—how dare you run into the Celestial Cloud Forbidden Land? Aren’t you afraid that the beings in the Celestial Cloud Forbidden Land will simply strike and erase you both on the spot?"

Yu Caiyi and Feng Jiutian exchanged a glance, then shook their heads and said, "Clan Leader Snake Demon, there is no need to waste words with us. Whether you agree or not comes down to a single word from you. If you refuse, we’ll leave at once, so as not to cause you trouble."

A trace of coldness flashed in the Snake Demon Clan Leader’s eyes. "I know what you’re after. You simply want to drag us into the water."

"If I really help you, then I become your people, and I will have completely joined the camp of the traitors."

"Yet in this Forbidden Area where I reside, the strongest existence is a Defender. Are you trying to get me killed?"

Feng Jiutian said slowly, "Of course not. This matter will never expose you. At most it’s only about dealing with a small character who’s entering the Celestial Cloud Forbidden Land. It won’t be connected to the Starlight Forbidden Land at all."

The two of them had already been transmitted into the Celestial Cloud Forbidden Land by Starlight using a special method, without arousing any attention.

After entering, they had carefully discussed things.

To ensure the mission ended perfectly, they had thought of a way to locate the Demon Pseudo-God Power here.

Within the Forbidden Area, whether human or Demon Pseudo-God, all were twisted into a single rope.

After they found this place, they laid out their idea.

If they had this group of Demon Pseudo-Gods as helpers, killing Qin An would become much easier. 𝒻𝘳𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝘯𝘰𝑣ℯ𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝘮

After hearing this, the Snake Demon Clan Leader fell into contemplation, rhythmically tapping the tabletop.

Yu Caiyi shot Feng Jiutian a look, meaning that he should not continue speaking for now and instead see how the Snake Demon Clan Leader would respond.

Feng Jiutian was a smart man and did not say more. He merely stood beside Yu Caiyi, waiting patiently.

After about the time it takes for half a stick of incense, the Snake Demon Clan Leader raised his cold eyes.

"If I help you, what do I get out of it?"

Yu Caiyi showed a faint smile.

As the leader of a high-tier Demon Pseudo-God power, he understood human relationships and worldly matters very well.

The fact that he hadn’t refused outright clearly meant the matter was negotiable; he simply wanted to see how many benefits he could wring out of them.

Thinking of this, Yu Caiyi’s expression gradually grew solemn.

"Given the state of the world now, Defenders and traitors are as irreconcilable as fire and water."

"Clan Leader Snake Demon, for you to have operated here for so long, you must be well aware that in truth, the traitors’ strength far surpasses that of the Defenders."

"The reason the traitors lost back then actually involves indescribable causes, but in terms of pure strength, the Defenders were not qualified at all."

"Therefore, if the traitors break through the Defenders’ blockade and fully descend upon this world, Clan Leader Snake Demon, you need to think about your way out."

"If you help us today, then you’re secretly standing in the camp of the traitor lords, and your position won’t be exposed."

"You can continue to remain here like a nail driven in. Once the traitor lords win, you’ll be counted as one of the contributors. That’s much better than giving you any one thing, isn’t it?"

Having finished, Yu Caiyi said no more.

She had already said all that needed saying. What came next depended on what the Snake Demon Clan Leader was thinking.

The Snake Demon Clan Leader fell into a long silence, and the scene became deathly still.

The Demon Pseudo-Gods prostrating on the ground maintained their previous postures, but each face showed a different expression.

Some were delighted, some were stirred, and some harbored a trace of fear.

After about the time it takes to burn a stick of incense—

The Snake Demon Clan Leader took a deep breath. "The Celestial Cloud Forbidden Land is so vast. How do you plan to locate Qin An’s position?"

When he said this, the Snake Demon Clan Leader had in fact already agreed.

Yu Caiyi shook her head. "Lord Starlight spent great effort to send us in and conceal the aura on our bodies."

"The Defenders and natives here have not discovered us, but we no longer have the means to search for Qin An’s whereabouts."

"Precisely because of this, we’ve come to seek an audience with Clan Leader Snake Demon. If even Clan Leader Snake Demon cannot find him, then this mission will be very difficult to complete."

Hearing this, the Snake Demon Clan Leader nodded and said, "Very well, leave the search for Qin An to me. But remember, if I really help you kill Qin An, you must put in a few good words for me before Lord Starlight."

"Naturally." Feng Jiutian responded from the side.

The few of them spoke no further.

After discussing once more how to deal with Qin An, Yu Caiyi and Feng Jiutian, led by a demon, temporarily rested in a room.

...

In the blink of an eye, time flowed by.

At this moment, on the outskirts of the Celestial Cloud Forbidden Land, Qin An and Chen Liuyun had already arrived.

Chen Liuyun cupped his fists to Qin An and said, "The road ahead is fraught with peril. I won’t be going in. Besides, Lord Bai only managed to win you this one chance. I’m not qualified to enter."

"Let us part ways here then. I wish Mr. Qin a safe journey and success in forging the supreme foundation of the Tripod Aspiration Realm."

Qin An came back to his senses and nodded. "Many thanks to Mr. Chen for guiding the way. If there’s a chance in the future, I’ll be sure to invite Mr. Chen to the best tavern on the Celestial Cloud Path for a proper drink."

Chen Liuyun laughed heartily and said nothing more.

Then, under Qin An’s gaze, he turned his horse and rode away from the Celestial Cloud Forbidden Land.

After Chen Liuyun left, Qin An raised his head and swept his gaze around.

On the seemingly ordinary mountain, strands of a special power were seeping out from ahead.

Even at such a distance, Qin An could still feel it.

He did not hesitate.

Since he had come here, he had to try to search for the whereabouts of the Celestial Cloud Pool.

Qin An patted the horse’s rump, and the animal trotted off along the road they had come by.

Without hesitating, Qin An lifted his foot and stepped inside.

As he stepped in, the scenery around him rapidly blurred, as though a layer of oil paint had been splashed across it.

As the view turned blurry, Qin An noticed that everything around him was changing.

When everything shifted from blurry back to clear, Qin An’s eyes suddenly sharpened.

"What a formidable collective will of all beings."