CHAPTER 55: KNOCKED ON THE WRONG COFFIN

Turning to the voice, Qi Yuan immediately felt a sharp, piercing aura. On closer inspection, he saw a kind-looking old man. Still, something about him felt wrong, almost as if he wasn’t alive.

Vigilance flickered in Qi Yuan’s gaze. He pulled Little Bride behind him and drew his sword.

"You're a demon!" Qi Yuan declared.

What he saw said it all. The old man was hollow, as if he had nothing inside at all. He was basically human skin.

The old man gave a benevolent smile. "I guess you could call me a demon, but not entirely..."

Qi Yuan studied him more carefully. When he felt the dense metallic aura radiating from the old man, a conjecture formed in his mind.

The old man said, "I've long forgotten my own name. When the creatures beyond the zone devoured my flesh and blood, I died, leaving behind only this skin. Only after entering the Five Elements Forbidden Zone did I catch hold of a sliver of life again. Now, I am called the Metal Ancestor. Neither a man, nor a ghost. As for whether or not I’m alive, you can consider me dead."

Qi Yuan understood. The so-called Metal Ancestor was just a fragment of the Metal Law given form. Not even a soul remained, just an obsession. In essence, he was no different from the dead.

Without lowering his guard, Qi Yuan asked, "Why are you waiting for me?"

The Metal Ancestor sighed. "Lord Pupil of the Yinyang Forbidden Zone should’ve invited you, the Garment Division Master, to the Demon-Slaying Assembly in three hundred years' time. As the creatures of Moonwatch Continent, we must stand together and slay the alien demons. Otherwise, you may end up as I did—flesh devoured, soul destroyed, with nothing but a husk remaining."

Qi Yuan stared at him. Though the man was just human skin, he didn’t feel unsettling at all. He was certainly more pleasant than the elders and disciples of the Black Mountain Sect.

Qi Yuan said firmly, "I’ll kill all of the alien demons!"

After all, big bosses existed to be farmed. His Heavenly Dao’s foundation was built precisely on slaying them.

Metal Ancestor’s benevolent expression deepened. "Since you’ve come to the Five Elements Forbidden Zone, we’ll open the Five Elements Trial Grounds. The Five Elements’ qi lies there; absorbing it strengthens body and cultivation alike. For countless years, many young geniuses have trained there. Some even broke through to the Heaven and Divine realms. Since the Demon-Slaying Assembly lies far ahead, why don’t you train for a hundred years? Your strength can improve greatly."

Qi Yuan asked, "Are there monsters inside?"

Metal Ancestor blinked, then nodded. "Yes."

"No problem then."

Monsters meant XP to farm.

Metal Ancestor smiled as always. "Then, please come with me."

However, Qi Yuan didn't move. "I actually came to the Five Elements Forbidden Zone for another purpose."

In Xuanyuan Forbidden Zone, clearing monsters meant taking control. The Garment Tomb Forbidden Zone had a twist, in which he had to marry Little Bride. The Five Elements Forbidden Zone stood apart from the rest.

Here, strong cultivators slumbered instead of monsters. He couldn’t just kill them, and even if he did, there’d be no XP. Then, how was he supposed to take control?

Metal Ancestor said gently, "Please speak."

"I want full control over the Five Elements Forbidden Zone. Is there a way for me to do so?"

The old man froze, clearly surprised. Before he could answer, a displeased voice rang out behind them. A young girl in green appeared. Short and petite, yet fiery, like a feisty little fighter.

She glowered at Qi Yuan. "Well, aren't you bold! You’re the Garment Division Master, yet you set your sights on our Five Elements Forbidden Zone? Full control?What a joke! Do you even know what that means? You must be a spy sent by the alien demons! Why else would you suddenly show up?"

If Metal Ancestor wasn’t here, she’d have pounced and smacked his head.

Metal Ancestor only chuckled, looking fondly at her. "Little Green, don't be rude to our guest."

Then, he turned back to Qi Yuan. "Taking control of the Five Elements Forbidden Zone is no easy task. It depends on your talent. If you display unparalleled talent in the Five Element Trial Grounds, this forbidden zone will be yours to command."

Qi Yuan's gaze swept past the Metal Ancestor, as if piercing deep into the forbidden zone. He saw countless coffins, each containing a dormant aura. All of them were at least level 90. Some even surpassed the Tattered-Cloth Emperor, perhaps over level 95.

"You aren’t the strongest here. Is it really up to you to bestow me the Five Elements Forbidden Zone?"

Metal Ancestor replied with confidence, "Of course!"

"Good. Then it's a deal. Looks like it won't be long before I clear this place."

Little Green scowled, glaring at Qi Yuan. She sent Metal Ancestor a voice transmission. "Grandpa Metal, how can you agree to such a thing?!"

Metal Ancestor chuckled and gave no reply. Under his lead, they delved deeper into the forbidden zone. Along the way, Qi Yuan observed his surroundings closely. Despite the absence of monsters, natural disasters abounded. They were deadly enough to kill even level 50-60 cultivators who rushed in blindly.

After about a quarter of an hour, they arrived at a valley, where over seventy coffins lay.

Qi Yuan knew that many powerful beings slumbered within them.

Metal Ancestor explained, "These days, most of Moonwatch Continent’s top powerhouses are gathered in the Five Elements and Yinyang Forbidden Zones. They hibernate and cultivate in the coffins. When the Demon-Slaying Assembly begins, they’ll join the battle. You’ll fight alongside them against the alien demons, Garment Division Master."

Qi Yuan said nothing. Three hundred years was far too long. How old was he now? During that span, the entire dynasties could rise and fall.

Metal Ancestor went on, stepping up to a coffin and gently knocking on its lid. No response. He frowned, knocked again, harder this time. Still nothing.

"Huh?" the old man muttered in puzzlement.

Just then, the neighboring coffin creaked open. Out sat a burly, wild-looking man with a carefree grin. "Metal Ancestor, did they suck out your memory too? You knocked on the wrong coffin, idiot!"

Metal Ancestor gave a sheepish cough. "Ahem... My mistake."

The burly man turned his gaze to Qi Yuan, eyes full of appraisal. "Not bad. Though the Wedding Garment Empress is helping you, I can see that you’re a fine seedling. It seems my essence wasn’t wasted opening the Five Elements Trial Grounds. Hope you can grow into a true powerhouse in three hundred years!"