Over the next two days, Wen Buhuo moved cautiously through the Purple Miasma Forest, following the map’s guidance. He avoided three obvious battle sites, bypassed two groups of cultivators in a standoff, and successfully harvested seven spirit herbs over a century old. During this time, he encountered only one beast attack—a swarm of "Blood Mosquitoes," which he easily dispatched with a "Fire Wall" talisman.

At dusk on the third day, Wen Buhuo sat in a hidden rocky crevice to regulate his breathing. He opened the map, his gaze landing on the central region: the Ring Mountains.

All records of the Bloodline Forbidden Zone explicitly stated that the three primary ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill—Jade Marrow Grass, Purple Monkey Flower, and Heavenly Spirit Fruit—only grew in the unique environments near the Ring Mountains. The zone would only remain open for ten days; three had already passed.

"It's time to head toward the center," Wen Buhuo stowed the map, his eyes resolute.

Just as he prepared to move, a violent surge of spiritual energy erupted in the distance, followed by the clashing of dharma tools and the roars of cultivators:

"You Spirit Beast Mountain scum! How dare you ambush us!"

"Heh, we’ve taken a fancy to this 'Earth-Heart Lotus.' If you know what's good for you, get lost!"

Wen Buhuo immediately suppressed his aura and silently climbed a tall tree. Through the gaps in the foliage, he saw five cultivators engaged in a chaotic battle in the valley below.

One side consisted of three disciples in Giant Sword Sect attire, each burly and wielding massive, board-like greatswords that whistled through the air. The opposing side had only two disciples from Spirit Beast Mountain, each aided by a spirit beast—a Flame Wolf wreathed in fire and a Great Azure Eagle capable of spitting wind blades.

In the center of the battlefield, a lotus—translucent with an earthy yellow glow at its core—was slowly blooming. Wen Buhuo recognized it as the Earth-Heart Lotus, a rare herb that could strengthen earth-attribute techniques and assist in breaking through bottlenecks. It was at least five hundred years old.

The two sides were evenly matched, fighting fiercely. The Giant Sword Sect disciples relied on brute strength for frontal assaults, while the Spirit Beast Mountain disciples were agile, using their beasts to harass and execute hit-and-run attacks.

Wen Buhuo had no intention of intervening. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind—he could sense at least two other groups watching from the shadows.

Sure enough, just as a Giant Sword disciple repelled the Flame Wolf and was caught in the brief lapse between strikes, another change occurred!

Three streaks of dark light shot from the dense woods to the side, aiming straight for the back of the Giant Sword disciple’s heart! Simultaneously, a large net fell from the sky, snaring the Great Azure Eagle!

"Moon Mask Sect! You are despicable!" The lead Giant Sword disciple's eyes nearly split with rage.

Four Moon Mask Sect disciples stepped out from hiding—three women and one man. The leader was a woman with a charming face but eyes as cold as frost. She smiled faintly, "Inside the Forbidden Zone, everyone uses their own means. What is this talk of 'despicable'?"

The scene instantly turned into a three-way brawl. Despite their fury, the Giant Sword and Spirit Beast disciples were forced to temporarily team up against the Moon Mask Sect. The four Moon Mask disciples not only had higher cultivation but also displayed flawless coordination. The charming woman, in particular, wielded a Moon-Chakram dharma tool that appeared and vanished unpredictably, already wounding one man and one beast.

From the tree, Wen Buhuo saw clearly: this woman was at least at the Great Perfection of the thirteenth layer of Qi Condensation, and her spiritual power was far purer than her peers. While she seemed to be attacking at full strength, she was actually holding back, remaining vigilant of her surroundings.

"She’s fishing," Wen Buhuo felt a chill.

As expected, just as the three parties were exhausted and wounded, the final force struck—two men from the Saber-Transforming Dock! They charged from the other side of the woods, their target being the Earth-Heart Lotus!

"I was waiting for you!" The charming woman sneered. Her Moon-Chakram suddenly pivoted, abandoning the others to transform into three afterimages that slashed toward the newcomers.

Simultaneously, a silver talisman flew from her sleeve, exploding in mid-air into countless silver threads. Instantly, it formed a massive web that blanketed the Earth-Heart Lotus and the area within ten feet of it!

"A Talisman Treasure?!" someone cried out in shock.

A Talisman Treasure is a one-time-use item created by a Core Formation cultivator, sealing a portion of their natal treasure’s power within a talisman. Its power far exceeds ordinary talismans, but it is exceptionally precious. That she was willing to use one to seize the lotus showed her absolute resolve.

The silver web not only protected the lotus but also repelled the two from the Saber-Transforming Dock. Seizing the moment, the woman moved like lightning toward the herb!

However, at the very moment her hand was about to touch the Earth-Heart Lotus—

Psh!

A faint sound of breaking air rang out.

The woman’s expression changed instantly. Her Moon-Chakram snapped back to defend, clanging against an almost transparent ice needle. But the moment the needle was parried, it shattered into a cloud of freezing mist. Though her protective aura blocked it, the frost slowed her movements by a fraction of a second.

In that split second, a dark shadow burst from the ground and snatched the Earth-Heart Lotus first!

It was a Ground Dragon Earthworm, barely the thickness of a finger and pitch black! This was an extremely rare earth-walking beast, skilled at burrowing and incredibly fast.

Having secured the prize, the worm immediately dove back into the earth!

"Don't you dare!" Enraged, the woman slashed down with her Moon-Chakram, carving a deep trench in the ground, but she only managed to sever a segment of the worm's tail. The main body had already escaped into the depths.

"Who is it?!" Her icy gaze swept across the battlefield.

No one answered. But Wen Buhuo noticed a clump of bushes in the northwest corner twitch slightly.

The woman noticed it too, and her Moon-Chakram shot toward it! The bushes were shredded, but no one was there—only a small scorch mark on the ground left by a Earth-Escape Talisman.

"Clear Void Sect..." the woman gritted out through clenched teeth. The Clear Void Sect specialized in talismans and escape arts; they were the most likely to have set such a trap.

A chaotic battle ended with three sides dead or wounded, only for the prize to be stolen by a fourth party’s scheme. This was the norm in the Bloodline Forbidden Zone.

Wen Buhuo quietly slid down the tree and left the area without looking back. This observation made him more alert than ever:

1. Never get involved in a brawl easily.

2. Always assume there is another "oriole" behind you.

3. Disciples of certain sects are far more dangerous than spirit beasts.

He adjusted his direction, choosing not to head directly for the Ring Mountains. Instead, he took a long detour. The map marked a relatively hidden route that would take an extra day but offered a much higher safety margin.