The air was thick with the stench of decay and the sound of the monster's roars echoed through the air. It was a terrifying sight to behold.

The multiple eyes that dotted the monster's body glowed with an ominous red light, each one fixated on Meng Lin as it sensed her presence.

The mouths, lined with rows of razor-sharp teeth, opened and closed in a grotesque symphony, emitting guttural growls and hisses that sent chills down her spine.

As the monster let out its deafening roar, the ground beneath Meng Lin trembled, cracks forming in the earth as if it couldn't bear the weight of the creature's presence.

The air became heavy with an oppressive aura, making it difficult for Meng Lin to even breath.

The monster's aura was overwhelming, radiating an intense malevolence that seemed to seep into every pore of the surrounding environment.

The once tranquil atmosphere now felt suffocating and tainted, the very essence of darkness and despair.

Meng Lin while watching this ran as fast as she could, her heart racing with fear. She could feel the aura of monster and she was sure that it was way above the Gold Core Realm, it made her skin crawl.

The ground beneath her shook as the monster tried to move, but it was stuck in place. Its massive figure shook, shaking the hundred meter radius.

The silver white formations that had once been the walls of the building now coiled and constricted around the monster's body, holding it in a vice-like grip.

The formations, pulsating with a majestic energy, seemed to possess a will of their own as they tightened their hold, they twisted and writhed, constricting the monster's movements, preventing it from escaping its prison.

The monster's eyes, once filled with malicious intent, now glimmered with a mixture of rage and frustration. It let out another furious roar, its voice echoing through the air.

Out of the monster’s sight, Meng Lin moved through the dark shaded landscape while releasing spiritual consciousness.

A few minutes in her sprint she saw a clearing that seemed to be free of any dangers before finally stopping.

She sat down to catch her breath, her heart still pounding with fear. She had never experienced anything like what had just happened.

“System”

[Meng Lin]

[special physique: Brute Qi physique]

[Foundation Establishment Stage(Late)]

[Experience points: 87%]

System coin: 570

Taoist Gacha wheel: unavailable

Spiritual Roots: [Water>Fire>Gold>Wood>Earth]

Variant Elemental Qi : [Mud] [ Erosion]

Main Cultivation Method: [Black Tortoise Essence Art, 2nd Layer]

Techniques: [Focused Qi control] [Waterfall slash] [Refine Yin Qi] [Surge] [Thunderbolt Flash] [Celestial Moonlit Blade]

Side Cultivation Methods: : [Basic Qi Gathering] [Formless Cultivation method]

[Market] [Blacksmith] [Alchemy]

Meng Lin took a breather as she realized that there was no weird affects on her system panel.

She had been worried that the monster might have done something to her but with the system she was sure that she was alright.

As Meng Lin sat in the clearing, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief wash over her.

The monster, although terrifying and powerful, seemed to be immobilized and unable to pursue her.

The silver white formations that had entrapped it seemed to be some kind of mystical force, she remembered them on the ancient building as well.

Although Meng Lin didn’t know what was at play, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of urgency, she had to leave this Dead Zone as soon as she can.

As she was running low on her qi she decided to put up her soul confusing array before circulating her cultivation method.

Although the air within this dead zone was filled with impurities, it didn’t interfere with the normal qi that flowed within the dimension.

And so after cultivating for an hour and a half Meng Lin was able to open her eyes, her strength mostly returned.

She thought for a moment before calling out a name.

“Purple”

From out of nowhere emerged a slim, gray snake with a sleek, shimmering body.

It was over 20 meters tall with it’s eyes, large and piercing, it had reached the peak of its power and its bloodline.

Purple, as Meng Lin affectionately named her spirit beast companion, slithered gracefully towards her, its movements fluid and silent.

Meng Lin reached out her hand, and Purple gently nudged her palm, its scales cool against her skin.

With Purple by her side, Meng Lin felt a lot less pressure around her. She knew that they couldn't stay in the Dead Zone for much longer. The monster, though temporarily trapped, could break free at any moment.

“Let’s go” Meng Lin said as she began to walk towards the opposite direction of where she first appeared.

Although she doesn’t know where she appeared on the map, she knew that she just had to move from the opposite direction from where she appeared to reach the end of the Dead Zone.

She relied on her spiritual consciousness to detect any potential threats, while Purple's acute senses and agility provided an added layer of protection.

As they traveled further outward, Meng Lin couldn't help but notice the signs of destruction and decay surrounding them.

The whole environment had been reduced to a desolate wasteland and she couldn’t help but wonder if it had something to do with that monster.

But amidst the devastation, Meng Lin also noticed small pockets of life, resilient spiritual plants that had managed to survive in this harsh environment.

She recognize a few ancient spiritual plants like the Tundra Grass, Volcanic Lichen and Barren Willow, their vibrant colors standing out amongst the desolation.

They could only grow in such environments and that’s what lead to their disappearance in the cultivation world.

Meng Lin carefully gathered the few of these plants, knowing that they are great potential resources.

As she continued to navigate through the Dead Zone, Meng Lin's heart skipped a beat as she suddenly saw an individual within her spiritual consciousness.

To her surprise, there was someone similarly walking alive and well inside this dead zone.

As she noticed them, the other party also noticed her and Purple.

A tall and imposing man stared at Meng Lin and Purple with a sinister gleam in his eyes. His face twisted into a cruel smile as he took a step closer, his intentions clear.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" he sneered, his voice dripping with malice. "A little lost lamb and her pet snake. How delightful.”

Meng Lin's eyebrows raised as she sensed a dark aura from the man, just from the fact that he was still alive meant that he has some level of strength.

“You’re not at Taiya Ancient City so that means you’re a newcomer” the man said as he took another step closer.

"What do you want?" she asked, her voice steady with no ripple in her eyes, she didn’t fail to notice the words of the man.

The man chuckled, his laughter echoing through the desolate wasteland. "What do I want? Oh, my dear, I want it all. Your life, your body, your possessions, everything."

Meng Lin's eyes narrowed, a hue of purple flickering to light.

"You think you’re capable” she said calmly, her voice tinged with a hint of coldness.

The man's smile widened, revealing a row of white teeth. "Oh, I'm more than capable," he sneered. "I've survived in this Dead Zone for 10 whole years, and I've taken down countless fools who thought they could challenge me."

Meng Lin's eyes fluctuated at the words of the man, countless thoughts emerged in her mind as she continued on to say.

"You may have survived, but it seems you’re not cautious, you can’t judge someone stronger than you," she retorted.

The man's eyes narrowed, his expression turning venomous. "You think you’re strong, you’ll regret those words," he spat, releasing a monstrous force in the surroundings, his realm revealing itself to be the peak of the Foundation Establishment Realm.