Chapter 161: The Forbidden Zone Deep in the Mountains

As a creeping sense of panic chilled Gao Yun to the bone, it finally dawned on him just how deathly quiet his surroundings had become.

It was only then that he noticed the Tri-Hall members who had been standing right beside him were now all sprawled unconscious on the ground.

Gao Yun drew another sharp intake of breath. This cloaked figure had somehow laid out everyone around him without making a single sound, entirely beneath his notice.

Such terrifying skill... In an instant, Zhang Pu sprang to Gao Yun's mind!

Yet, though he could not see the stranger's face, the build of the figure bore no resemblance to Zhang Pu whatsoever. Besides, Gao Yun reasoned, Zhang Pu had no reason to resort to such elaborate disguises merely to play a prank.

Then who on earth was this person? Having operated in these mountains in secret for so long, Gao Yun had never once seen or even heard of him.

Just as a flurry of thoughts raced through Gao Yun's mind, he suddenly noticed one of the cloaked figure's hands twitching as if about to move.

"Wait, who are you? What do you want?" Gao Yun blurted out in desperation.

The cloaked figure let out a cold laugh. "You are not even qualified to ask who I am. As for what I want—you are going to lead the way."

A deep sense of dread gripped Gao Yun. "To... where?"

"The forbidden ground of this place," the cloaked figure replied.

It was true that the Tri-Hall's deep-mountain branch had a forbidden ground, but it was a place so remote that even Gao Yun himself had not visited it in ages.

Gao Yun felt as though he had almost forgotten the existence of that forbidden area, never expecting an outsider to keep it fresh in mind for him.

Who on earth was this terrifying, mysterious person?

A storm of intense suspicion raged within Gao Yun, yet he dared not ask any further.

For now, he had no other choice but to obey obediently.

In truth, Gao Yun had no idea what secrets might be hidden within the Tri-Hall's forbidden ground.

He had ventured inside twice before, both times accompanying Duan Jinhuan, but he had never discovered anything that warranted digging deeper.

Still, Gao Yun was not entirely a fool. Just because he had found nothing did not mean others would fail where he had. Perhaps someone had heard wind of something they desperately needed hidden away within the Tri-Hall's sacred precinct!

Most likely, this mysterious intruder fell into that latter category.

Furthermore, this forbidden ground had been left behind by previous generations of Tri-Hall leaders. It was entirely possible that by Duan Jinhuan's generation, any knowledge of the true secrets within had been entirely lost.

While Gao Yun was leading the cloaked figure toward the Tri-Hall's forbidden precinct deep in the mountains, Ye Hui hurried over to find Zhang Pu at the leased woodland.

Ye Hui brought urgent news: something had gone terribly wrong at the Tri-Hall's deep-mountain branch.

Although Ye Hui was currently stationed at the leased woodland, the cloaked figure had not managed to knock out absolutely everyone at the branch. A couple of stragglers had escaped detection and immediately sent word to Ye Hui.

After all, they knew Ye Hui was staying with Zhang Pu at the woodland, and they had begun to view Zhang Pu as their ultimate backer.

Ye Hui told Zhang Pu that the situation was deeply bizarre. Nearly everyone at the branch had been struck down, and Gao Yun had been forcibly dragged off to the forbidden ground by a mysterious intruder.

"The forbidden ground?" Hearing those words, Zhang Pu felt a jolt of surprise. This was the first time he had ever heard of a forbidden area belonging to the Tri-Hall in these mountains. Could the very purpose of establishing this branch deep in the mountains have been to guard that mysterious forbidden ground?

Sensing the need for honesty, Ye Hui confessed to Zhang Pu that the true purpose of their branch's presence here was indeed to guard the Tri-Hall's hidden sanctuary.

Ye Hui implored Zhang Pu to return with him to investigate, trusting that Zhang Pu's formidable abilities could resolve the crisis facing the Tri-Hall branch.

Ye Hui knew Gao Yun's strength—it surpassed his own. Since even Gao Yun had been defeated, returning alone would be tantamount to offering himself as a snack for the mysterious intruder.

In truth, even without Ye Hui's plea, Zhang Pu's curiosity was intensely piqued. He wanted to see the truth with his own eyes, not just because of the mysterious figure, but because of the forbidden ground itself!

Who could say what precious treasures might be hidden within the Tri-Hall's mountain sanctuary? Ordinary people might not recognize true value, but Zhang Pu, endowed with the piercing vision of an immortal cultivator, would be able to see right through everything with a single glance!

After a hasty lunch prepared by Uncle Fu, Zhang Pu, Ye Hui, and two of Ye Hui's subordinates set off into the deep mountains.

It did not take them long to arrive at the secluded Tri-Hall branch hidden deep within the mountain wilderness.