27 Cursed Realm. (1/2)
”So this is the entrance to the Cursed Realm? Looks rather normal to me.”
A few days after leaving Mourners Refuge, Li Yang stood outside the entrance to the Cursed Realm. The entrance to the Cursed Realm was in the form of a small and cozy log hut. It even had a small chimney that continues released small amounts of fragrant smoke, almost like incense.
There used to be a large forest around the log hut, but it had apparently been chopped down after people discovered that there was a hidden realm located inside the log hut.
”What do you say, Jinwu?”
Li Yang glanced at Jinwu, who was resting on his left shoulder. Since he found out that the Four Monarchs were indeed his old friend, he knew that he had to investigate anything that might be connected to them.
But no one that had ever entered the Cursed Realm had ever managed to leave. Li Yang was confident that he would be able to survive thanks to his experience, but he could not decide everything on his own, he had a companion that he brought along after all.
Jinwu barely even glanced at the log hut, disdain apparent in his eyes, before he answered with a few affirmative caws. What divine beast would be scared of a measly Cursed Realm.
”If that is what you think, then let's go.”
Li Yang's lips curled into a grin as he stepped forward and put his hand on the door. With only a slight push, the door of the log hut opened. The moment the door opened, black smoke unfurled from within the hut, turning into tendrils that pulled Li Yang into a completely black world.
Li Yang did not panic when the black tendrils coiled around him and pulled him into a world of darkness. This was just the way to enter the hidden realm, it was also one of the reasons it got its name, as the black smoke looked ominous.
When vision returned to Li Yang's eyes, he and Jinwu were surrounded by lush trees. Black mist crawled along the ground, while deep black smoke covered the sky above them. Yet despite black smoke covering the sky, light pierced through the smoke, shone down and lit up the world.
”So this is the inside of the Cursed Realm?”
Li Yang glanced at his surroundings as he spoke, slowly walking forward. The trees around him were lush and in full bloom. Despite the black mist crawling along the ground, flowers and grass still bloomed in vibrant colors.
Of course, that did not mean that Li Yang lowered his guard. He had a tight grip on his sword and constantly surveyed his surroundings, Jinwu keeping an eye on the area behind him, both ready to act at a moments notice.
After only walking for a few short minutes, Li Yang found out why no one had ever returned from the Cursed Realm. He came upon a large clearing in the forest, filled with a large variety of flowers and other plants.
With the rays of light from above shining down on it, it would make for a rather peaceful sight and beautiful sight. But the clearing only filled Li Yang with a cold feeling in his chest.
Bleached bones were sticking out from the ground all around the clearing, rotting corpses riddled with holes that had flowers growing out of them, rusted weapons and armors were strewn around. The clearing looked like a massive graveyard that had been hastily thrown together.
As Li Yang got close to the clearing, the black mist that crawled along the ground suddenly rose up, turning into sharp tendrils that shot towards Li Yang. Looking at the sharp tendrils, it became obvious how the rotting corpses had become riddled with holes.
Li Yang jumped up and grabbed onto a branch, drawing on the power of his fire rune as he did so. Arrows of fire bloomed into existence around him, shooting at the black mist. Jinwu also contributed, golden flames gushing forth from his beak and falling down upon the black mist.
The black mist that was hit by their flames scattered, but then quickly gathered together into sharp tendrils again, it even seemed to have multiplied after reforming. Li Yang exerted strength in his arms and pulled himself up onto the branch, but the black mist continued to chase him.