Absolute Destiny Game
Chapter 304 - 104: Immortal’s Prohibition - Pine Forest Maze

Chapter 304: Chapter 104: Immortal’s Prohibition - Pine Forest Maze

The old man’s eyes seemed to reveal a reminiscent expression as he began to narrate in a low voice.

"Do you think I’m a local from this village? Heh, I ended up staying here out of necessity."

That was thirty years ago. Back then, I was still quite young and had some reputation in the worldly society. With my own abilities, I roamed the world and achieved many great things.

Later, I accidentally heard that Konglao Mountain was an ancient site for Immortals’ cultivation and that it hid the Immortal’s Treasure. So I gathered a group of brothers, determined to make a big score.

My brothers and I crossed mountains and rivers. We built roads when encountering mountains and bridges when facing rivers. We subdued demons and slayed monsters. It took us more than half a month to find the legendary Konglao Mountain. We thought we were about to strike it rich, only to get trapped in a small forest at the foot of the mountain, unable to find our way out."

Xiao Jie thought to himself, a small forest? The pine forest seemed endless like ocean waves. How could this old man speak so lightly about it?

However, he didn’t voice his thoughts, just quietly noted the doubt in his mind.

The old man continued with his story.

"Our rations were depleted, and our supplies were exhausted, yet we still couldn’t leave the forest. With no other choice, we started chopping wood to build shelters and harvested pine nuts and mushrooms for food. We collected dew in the mornings. We’ve been trapped here for over thirty years, spending every day and night thinking of ways to escape.

Not once did we succeed. Over these thirty years, my old brothers gradually died of age and illness, leaving me alone, stuck here, waiting for the day I depart."

Xiao Jie listened with inexplicable emotions. Wow, how miserable.

"So you were quite renowned before? May I ask how you used to be addressed?"

The old man sighed, "It’s been over thirty years. I’ve long forgotten."

Although the old man refused to say, Xiao Jie believed much of it. A level 28 Mysterious Elder must have been quite a martial arts expert in his youth.

But when he arrived, he faced no obstacles; it was very easy to get here. The pine forest didn’t look too complicated or dangerous. It seemed easy to traverse. Was it really as perilous as the old man described?

"Old man, it’s not that I don’t believe you, but such a bizarre story really baffles me. Even if the pine forest is as strange as you say, thirty years is long enough, bluntly speaking, to crawl out.

At the very worst, chopping down a tree each day, the entire forest would’ve been cleared in thirty years."

"Heh." The old man heard but wasn’t angered; instead, he chuckled as if watching a joke.

"It’s rare to see such hope-filled thoughts like yours. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen such a reaction. My old brothers got despondent after a few years and were always sighing and complaining, which was annoying to watch. After they died, I missed them somewhat, and now, at last, I have someone to talk to.

Alas, it’s only for a few days. You won’t be laughing in a few days."

Xiao Jie didn’t quite believe it, thinking it all sounded too mystical.

He guessed that the forest must have some tricks due to Immortal restrictions left behind. But, as a top virtual game expert experienced in high-end gameplays, nothing he hadn’t tackled or decrypted before, and with Immortal Fate guiding him, he believed he wouldn’t easily be trapped.

With that in mind, Xiao Jie directly went out the door.

At this time, the sun had already set, leaving only the last bit of twilight that gradually faded into the forest, making the endless pine forest dark and ominously threatening.

Looking at the dark forest, Xiao Jie eventually dared not to enter recklessly. It was already dark, and it was better not to risk it. When tomorrow came, he wanted to see just how powerful the Immortal’s restrictions were.

He turned back to the house, "Old man, don’t worry. Let’s see how I break through the Pine Forest Maze tomorrow. I’ve had a long day, I’m going to sleep now. See you tomorrow."

Having said that, he lay down on a simple wooden bed and logged off.

The very next day, Xiao Jie logged on early, only to find the old man was up even earlier, already enjoying his breakfast, eating steamed buns and roasted chicken, drinking old wine with a content expression on his face.

"Oh my, it’s been thirty years since I’ve tasted such fine wine. I’ve almost forgotten the taste of it. Young man, for this pot of good wine, I’ll definitely take good care of you later. I’ll teach you all the survival skills I know here, how to pick mushrooms, how to find pinecones, how to collect dew. This pine forest is very strange, with no living creatures around, but as long as you work hard, you won’t starve or go thirsty.

Your own food supplies will run out sooner or later. Once you’ve learned these skills, you’ll be able to survive a few more years after I’m gone."

The old man spoke with a mix of fatalism and calmness, but Xiao Jie laughed, "Heh, no thanks. It’s just a forest, and I can get us out of here in minutes, you believe it or not?"

The old man laughed as if hearing the funniest joke, "Ha, kid, if you can get out, I’d take your surname from now on, how’s that?"

"There’s no need to take my surname. Do you have any Supreme Martial Arts or family legacies? Teach me a skill or two, that’s enough," Xiao Jie replied.

"Not just one, I can teach you ten if you like. If you can really get this old man out of this cursed place, you can pick any skill you want from me."

"Haha, it’s a deal then," Xiao Jie thought to himself that this old fellow was also a martial arts expert and definitely had some skills. Taking on a legacy mission and picking up a martial arts technique wouldn’t be bad at all.