Chapter 148 Isn't that a forbidden zone?

Meanwhile, after emerging from the gloomy forest, Golden Eye’s squad began cutting a swath through the competition.

Whenever they crossed paths with the Kyoto Lingwu squad, they would attack without a single word of nonsense. Only after eliminating everyone would they demand, "Where is Xiang Nan’s squad?"

"What the hell, how am I supposed to know where he is? You've already eliminated me!" the eliminated student retorted, his face twisted with anger and resentment.

Paying no attention to reason, Golden Eye subjected him to another thorough beating until he squeezed out the information about Xiang Nan.

Learning that Xiang Nan’s squad was camped by the lake, Golden Eye and his men tracked them all the way there.

After Xiang Nan’s departure, Li Xiang knew he carried a heavy responsibility and chose to keep a low profile. For the entire day, his group only hunted in the surrounding area and avoided provoking other squads.

Should anyone harbor malicious intentions toward them, however, they were not afraid—after all, there were many of them, and both Zhang Xing and Du Ning were experts.

At that moment, as they were resting in their camp, they saw Golden Eye and a large group approaching aggressively.

"Where is Xiang Nan? Call him out. Our Captain Golden Eye wants a word with him," Ma Dalong said, lifting his chin in a provocative manner.

"Brother Nan isn't here, and there's nothing to discuss with you anyway," Li Xiang said vigilantly.

"Not here? Who do you think you're fooling?" Ma Dalong laughed immediately, glancing at Golden Eye. "It looks like this kid knows how formidable our captain is and is hiding out of fear!"

"If he doesn't come out, we'll beat him out!" Golden Eye swept his fierce gaze across the camp and immediately made his move.

Even without transforming, his movement speed was breathtakingly fast. Catching them completely off guard, he suddenly materialized right behind Li Xiang.

The dagger in his hand was already pressed against Li Xiang’s throat as his cold, grim face closed in. "With reflexes like yours, you'd be considered trash in my squad!"

"You!" Li Xiang was flooded with panic and rage, his face turning beet red. He truly had been too careless just a moment ago and had failed to maintain his guard in time.

Seeing that the situation was taking a turn for the worse not far away, Meng Qingwan unleashed her Demon-Shattering Arrow, which shot through the air and hovered rigidly, pointing menacingly at Golden Eye.

"Let him go! Or I won't be polite!" Meng Qingwan said, gritting her teeth.

"Feel free to try. Will that little toy of yours injure me first, or will I bleed him dry first? This is the Spirit Void realm, after all—losing a life or two is nothing out of the ordinary." Completely unfazed by threats, Golden Eye wore a look of dark, arrogant ruthlessness.

Suddenly, the Bald Crocodile standing nearby waved a hand, sending a dart shaped like crocodile scales directly hurtling toward Meng Qingwan’s Demon-Shattering Arrow.

Following a sharp, metallic clash, the Demon-Shattering Arrow was forced to deflect backward.

Meng Qingwan’s face turned pale as her eyes stared fiercely at the Bald Crocodile before her.

This man’s cultivation level was exceptionally high! Judging by appearances, it was considerably superior even to Golden Eye's.

Hearing the commotion, Xu Jiya hurried out from the tent and stepped forward quickly. "We aren't lying to you. Xiang Nan really isn't on Central Island; he went to Spirit-Binding Island."

"Spirit-Binding Island? Isn't that a forbidden zone?"

"And you still say you're not lying. Who goes to Spirit-Binding Island? Xiang Nan is obviously terrified of Golden Eye and went into hiding."

"A coward like that actually wants to win the championship? It's simply laughable!"

"Boss Golden Eye, don't believe him. Xiang Nan went to Spirit-Binding Island? How is that any different from suicide?"

The students from Supreme Lingwu Academy accompanying Golden Eye began to jeer and mock.

"It's true; he really did go to Spirit-Binding Island." Out of nowhere, a figure draped in black robes—the High Mage—suddenly appeared. "He set out early this morning to search for the Spirit-Suppressing Stone."

An expert of the High Mage's caliber naturally projected an intimidating aura just by showing up. Even the Bald Crocodile, who usually treated everything with indifference, couldn't help but freeze for a moment.

"The Spirit-Suppressing Stone is on Spirit-Binding Island? How is that possible?" Golden Eye relaxed his grip on the dagger slightly, looking skeptical.

At this, Xu Jiya stepped forward once more. "Possible or not, you'll find out as soon as Xiang Nan returns. But I suspect you knew perfectly well that Brother Xiang Nan isn't in our squad right now, so you deliberately came to take advantage of our vulnerability!"

"Hmph! Smelly bitch, don't try to provoke me! Whether he's here or not, I'll deal with you lot sooner or later! The champion of the Spirit Void must be me, Golden Eye!" Golden Eye glared at Xu Jiya with eyes as wide as bronze bells.

Though her cultivation level was not high, Xu Jiya possessed a formidable presence. "If you want to win the championship, you'll have to find the Spirit-Suppressing Stone first. Besides, what does it matter if the rest of us are eliminated? The number of spirit pearls we've acquired these past few days is beyond anything you could ever hope to catch up to. But all of them are stored in Xiang Nan’s spatial ring. Do you dare claim you have the ability to take them?"

Golden Eye had long since heard rumors that Xiang Nan had been trading War Camel beast meat for spirit pearls during this period, and he knew they must have collected a massive stash. Cursing inwardly, there was nothing he could do about it outwardly.

Gradually, he loosened the hand holding Li Xiang hostage.

"It's just a spatial storage space, look at how pleased with yourselves you are. I'll go seize the Spirit-Suppressing Stone first. As for the spirit pearls—whatever I, Golden Eye, want, nobody can stop me from taking!"

Ma Dalong’s expression shifted abruptly beside him. "Boss Golden Eye, you aren't planning to go to Spirit-Binding Island as well, are you? That place is a forbidden zone, teeming with transcendent-tier fierce beasts..."

Before he could finish his sentence, Golden Eye raised a hand to silence him, preventing him from saying another word. "If Xiang Nan can go, what is there for me, Golden Eye, to fear!"

As he spoke, he glanced at the Bald Crocodile standing nearby. The Bald Crocodile still maintained a blank expression, but Golden Eye knew he would definitely go.

On the other side, the High Mage curved the corners of his mouth in a smile, as if he had anticipated this all along. "The restrictions on Spirit-Binding Island are not simple. I'll go with you."

Golden Eye shot the High Mage a look laden with arrogance. "You? You must want to find the Spirit-Suppressing Stone yourself, right?"

The High Mage gave a noncommittal response. "Naturally!"

Hearing the answer, Golden Eye gave a cold laugh, preparing to reject him, when he was reined in by the Bald Crocodile beside him. "Having the High Mage of the Southern Frontier join forces with us may not be a bad thing. More people mean more strength."

Golden Eye had always looked down on everyone, but he acknowledged the Bald Crocodile's strength. Since the Bald Crocodile had spoken thus, and knowing the High Mage of the Southern Frontier was a renowned expert as well, he kept his silence, taking it as tacit consent.

There were no alternative routes to Spirit-Binding Island; one either had to fly through the air or cross the lake.

Golden Eye possessed snake-type abilities, making him quite adept at swimming, but the distance was vast, and maintaining a transformation consumed spiritual energy.

The Bald Crocodile and the High Mage also possessed various mystical methods, but to conserve spiritual energy, the trio ultimately decided to build a raft and paddle across.

On the opposite side of the lake, Yoshino, Shadow, Alice, and the others had similarly chopped down temporary trees to construct a few rafts, preparing to head toward Spirit-Binding Island.

As luck would have it, the two groups collided halfway across.

"Damn it! Didn't they say Spirit-Binding Island was a forbidden zone? Why are so many people rushing over there!" Golden Eye muttered, feeling extremely annoyed.

He had originally assumed his primary rival would be Xiang Nan, but looking at it now, so many experts acting as external reinforcements for different squads made dealing with them truly troublesome!

"Bald Crocodile, when we break through the restrictions later, it would be best to take the opportunity to wipe out a few of them!" While ruthless and vicious, Golden Eye was still an impetuous young man who struggled to keep his cool.

The High Mage nearby heard this and wore an expression of utter disdain. "Every single one of these people is an expert, and they have already formed an alliance. Based on just the two of you, I advise you not to invite trouble and court your own deaths. If you have any sense, you should work with them to break the restrictions first. Once we're on the island, everyone can rely on their own abilities."

Unconvinced, Golden Eye sneered, "I reckon the restrictions on Spirit-Binding Island are nothing special. Even Xiang Nan managed to get through them, which shows they aren't as formidable as the rumors claim."

The High Mage let out a silent scoff. If you are determined to court death, just make sure you don't drag me down with you later.