Ning Beichen, who was traversing through the sea of mist, suddenly waved his hand to stop.
Seeing him draw his bronze ancient sword and slash towards a certain spot in the mist, a rain of swords shot into it.
Soon, a scream-like sound could be heard from within the sea of mist.
The Zhou family ancestor and Yang Qianrou could see nothing, which made them extremely nervous and unsure of what was happening.
"It's fine now."
Ning Beichen did not explain anything to them. He continued to lead them forward.
Before long, they arrived at a place resembling a canyon. The ground of this canyon was covered entirely with human bones, which greatly shocked the Zhou family ancestor and Yang Qianrou.
The human bones on the ground must have been left by those who had trespassed into the sea of mist over the years, the Zhou family ancestor said, carefully examining the bones on the ground.
Ning Beichen nodded. He could naturally guess as much, but he didn't know if these people had died here, or if their bones had been moved here and laid out to form such a chilling bone road.
Was this a warning?
A warning to outsiders not to pass through here?
Ning Beichen mused as he looked at the bone road.
But no matter what this bone road meant, it wouldn't scare Ning Beichen, nor would it make him give up.
"Let's keep going."
Ning Beichen's steps did not falter as he walked forward on the bone road. The sound of his feet stepping on bones along the way was unsettling, as if something terrifying awaited them ahead.
After walking for a short while, they saw some intact skeletons ahead. These skeletons were not laid on the ground but stood on both sides of the canyon, facing inward, their heads bowed as if in supplication.
However, in Ning Beichen's eyes, they looked more like they were begging for mercy or atoning for their sins.
As they passed one of the many skeletons, the Zhou family ancestor suddenly knelt down in front of a particular skeleton, explaining to Ning Beichen.
"This is the Mortal Life Ancestor of our Zhou family from three hundred years ago. His record is in the Ancestral Hall. He entered the Ancestral Court's sea of mist three hundred years ago and disappeared. I didn't expect him to die here..."
Ning Beichen and Yang Qianrou looked at this skeleton with curiosity, wondering how the Zhou family ancestor recognized it.
"This is Mortal Life Ancestor's weapon, look."
The Zhou family ancestor took the weapon from the skeleton's hand. He turned it over, wiped away the dust, and saw the words "Mortal Life" etched into the blade.
However, Ning Beichen was more concerned not with the identity of the skeleton, but with the tiny cracks on the bones.
Based on Ning Beichen's experience, there was only one way to cause such cracks in the bones: they had been shattered by vibrations.
Ning Beichen observed several other skeletons and found they were all in the same condition.
Thus, Ning Beichen boldly inferred that these people had likely come to this place just like him, but something had happened that caused them to meet an unexpected end.
"Be careful, something's not right."
Ning Beichen suddenly appeared beside Yang Qianrou. Just as Ning Beichen finished speaking, a heaven-shattering roar echoed from the depths of the canyon.
The sound itself was not particularly powerful, but amplified by the canyon, it grew stronger and stronger, like a sonic boom. Wherever the sound waves passed, all life was annihilated.
Yang Qianrou was the first to buckle. Blood gushed from her body, and cracks appeared on her skin. But this was not the most critical issue; her soul could not withstand it and felt as if it were being torn apart, causing her to cry out in agony.
The Zhou family ancestor fared slightly better, but not much. If even the ancestor from three hundred years ago couldn't withstand it, why should he?
Ning Beichen also felt the impact of the sound waves. His soul experienced a pain as if it were about to shatter, and the entire world seemed to spin. Just as Ning Beichen was about to be overwhelmed, a warm spring-like power surged from his dantian, instantly soothing the pain in his soul.
"It's the power of Crossing the Sea of Suffering to the Other Shore."
Ning Beichen reacted immediately, his face lighting up with joy. He immediately circulated the power of Crossing the Sea of Suffering to the Other Shore, and indeed, the sound waves no longer affected him in the slightest.
Coupled with his Prajna Golden Body protecting him, the sound waves could not cause any harm to his body. Therefore, aside from the initial impact, Ning Beichen was unharmed thereafter.
However, Liu Yilin and the Zhou family ancestor were in a terrible state. They had become bloodied figures, especially by the soul attack, which they were utterly unable to resist.
Seeing them on the verge of death, Ning Beichen grabbed Yang Qianrou and channeled the power of Crossing the Sea of Suffering to the Other Shore into her. With his other hand, he grabbed the Zhou family ancestor and did the same for him.
As Ning Beichen's power of Crossing the Sea of Suffering to the Other Shore entered Yang Qianrou and the Zhou family ancestor's bodies, it immediately alleviated their soul-tearing pain and also protected their bodies, forming a protective barrier around them and saving them.
The sonic wave lasted for about ten minutes before it disappeared. Seeing that Yang Qianrou and the Zhou family ancestor on the sides were still alive, Ning Beichen finally released his grip, letting out a sigh of relief.
He had not brought Yang Qianrou and the Zhou family ancestor here for them to die.
However, without Ning Beichen, they would indeed have perished, becoming two more skeletons in the canyon years later.
"Thank you, young friend, for saving me."
The Zhou family ancestor, covered in blood and looking terrified, thanked Ning Beichen.
"You're welcome. Being here, we are as one. I did not wish to see you perish here."
Ning Beichen said to him.
"Regardless, without you, I would have perished here long ago. I will repay this kindness in the future."
The Zhou family ancestor sincerely bowed to Ning Beichen.
Ning Beichen had no choice but to accept the bow.
"The journey ahead will be very dangerous, and you might even lose your lives. What do you two think? Will you continue to advance with me, or shall I escort you out first?"
Ning Beichen asked them.
The Zhou family ancestor and Yang Qianrou both pondered. Ning Beichen was right; they might not survive if they continued.
If they pressed on, they would lack the ability to protect themselves and would only become a burden to Ning Beichen.
Just like before, without Ning Beichen, they would have died.
"I have decided to withdraw. However, I will not leave. I will wait for you outside, young friend, for your safe return. But I wish to make one request: if you return safely from the Ancestral Court, would you be willing to tell me of your experiences inside?"
The Zhou family ancestor said sincerely to Ning Beichen.
"Alright, I promise you. If I return safely, I will tell you of my experiences inside."