265 Deep Mountain_1
Mo Hua felt a chill in his heart and silently memorized these sixteen characters.
It seemed that this map was no trivial matter—if not understood clearly, it would certainly be a significant hidden danger.
Cultivators live off the land, making the best use of their local conditions.
Near Tongxian City, there were neither fertile Spirit Fields, surging rivers and seas, nor Spirit Beasts suitable for nurturing.
Nearby Loose Cultivators all had to make a living in Big Black Mountain.
And to the south of the city, the Refinery Shops, Alchemist’s Businesses, and even the Fulu Building all depended on Monster Hunters to hunt Monster Beasts, strip their flesh and bones for materials, supplying the needs of Artifact Refining, Alchemy, and cooking.
Studying Formations, Mo Hua also needed to gather a great quantity of Monster Blood to mix the Spiritual Ink.
All the Cultivators of Tongxian City, whether it was for the sake of Tao Cultivation, production, or daily life, were closely connected to Big Black Mountain.
If Big Black Mountain harbored deep-seated dangers, that would be a serious problem.
Afterward, while Mo Hua studied the Reversed Spirit Formation, whenever he had free time, he ventured into Big Black Mountain. Whenever he came across a secluded or unfamiliar place, he would open the Sin Cultivator’s map to compare the locations, to see if he could find the places marked on the map.
However, after searching for several days, he still found nothing.
Feeling dejected, Mo Hua lifted his head to see a thick fog enshrouding the distant area, concealing the layered ridges of the mountains, blocking out the sunlight, creating a hazy, indistinct world where it was unclear where the mountain ended and the cliff began.
That was the deep forest of Big Black Mountain, also the most dangerous part of Big Black Mountain.
It was said the forest was unpredictable and perilous, and Cultivators who went there never returned.
As Mo Hua watched, he suddenly startled and gasped in cold air:
“The fog of Black Mountain can hide deep dens…”
Could the location marked on this map be the deep forest of Big Black Mountain?
Mo Hua’s eyelids twitched as he thought it more and more likely.
He was thoroughly familiar with the Outer Mountain, and although he wouldn’t say he knew the Inner Mountain like the back of his hand, he was still very familiar with it.
If the location recorded on the map was truly within the Inner or Outer Mountain, then he would definitely have some recollection.
If not the Outer Mountain, not the Inner Mountain, then it must be the deep forest.
The Sin Cultivator who vanished without a trace, the deep forest from which none returned.
With a guess forming in his heart, a chill swept over Mo Hua.
He hastily used his movement technique and ran back to Tongxian City, arriving breathlessly to find Elder Yu and urgently asked:
“Elder Yu, has anyone ever been to the deep forest?”
Frightened by the question, Elder Yu exclaimed, “Why are you asking about that? The deep forest is dangerous; you can’t go there.”
He thought Mo Hua was curious and wanted to play in the deep forest.
“I’m not going, I’m just asking.” Mo Hua caught his breath, “Is it true that once Monster Hunters enter the deep forest, they never come back?”
Seeing Mo Hua’s grave expression and serious tone, Elder Yu knew this was likely no trivial matter and nodded:
“Indeed, that’s the case.”
“Since when did it start?”
Elder Yu furrowed his brows and pondered for a moment before saying, “It was probably about two hundred, maybe over three hundred years ago…”
“You’re not sure?”
“I’ve only lived for a little over two hundred years, so how could I be clear about events before that? I can only go by hearsay.”
Elder Yu stroked his beard, recalling the past, and then continued:
“It seems that over three hundred years ago, although the deep forest was dangerous, it was still accessible.”
“Accessible?” Mo Hua was somewhat surprised.
Elder Yu nodded, “Yes, accessible, but with heavy fog, poisonous miasma, and stronger Monster Beasts, there were more Second Grade beasts.”
Thinking further, Elder Yu added, “Although it was called the deep forest back then, it was actually just part of the Inner Mountain, except it was the most dangerous part of the Inner Mountain. But later on, too many Monster Hunters entered and never returned, and gradually, no one dared to go. The deep forest of Big Black Mountain thus became a taboo.”
“Even Cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Stage don’t dare to enter?”
Elder Yu’s eyelid twitched, “Even those in the Foundation Establishment don’t dare, because Cultivators at that stage have died there.”
Mo Hua’s eyes widened. “Even Foundation Building Cultivators can die inside?”
Elder Yu nodded.
“It’s not that they went missing? They died inside?” Mo Hua expressed doubtfully.
Logically speaking, missing didn’t necessarily mean dead. How could it be certain they died in the depths of the mountains?
“Because their bodies were found on the outer edge of the deep mountains.”
The more Mo Hua listened, the more he found it strange. “Who died?”
Elder Yu’s expression turned complex, “The former Chief Elder of the Qian Family.”
“The Qian Family?” Mo Hua found it hard to believe.