Immortality Starts From Making Money.

Western Region.

A group of young adventurers cautiously moved through the terrifying forest.

The Never-Ending Forest was infamous as the home of countless horrifying beasts.

Legends spoke of Grade 4 and even Grade 5 beasts inhabiting the depths of the forest, and for generations no one had dared to venture too far inside.

The recent emergence of Vengeful Spirits made the place even more dreadful.

However, everything changed with the rise of the Dust Valley Sect.

Their rapid expansion and dominance over every major force in the region gave people newfound courage.

Most importantly, it was because of their young master.

Through his innovations and wealth, countless impossibilities were now possible, one of which was the large-scale exploration of the Never-Ending Forest.

It had been more than a month since the Xu clan and other smaller clans had begun organized expeditions.

Under the combined promotion of the Thousand Wealth Chamber and those clans, the Adventurer Occupation became one of the most desirable careers in the region.

A single completed run inside the Never-Ending Forest could turn a pauper into a wealthy man overnight.

It was dangerous, yes—but it was also a luxurious occupation.

The clans were willing to pay adventurers huge amounts of money.

Like wildflowers blooming in spring, countless adventuring parties appeared throughout the Western Region.

Some were humble groups of five, while others were large squads of twenty.

The forest was now bustling with human activity.

Yet, though lucrative, likewise its dangerous.

Every day, people die.

Entire parties vanished without a trace.

Some were later discovered, their mutilated corpses scattered grotesquely across the forest floor.

Still…

This did not deter others from venturing deeper.

Their mission was not to kill beasts or find herbs but to reach farther than anyone before.

Every day, parties pushed themselves to the very limits, carefully recording terrain and mapping uncharted areas.

With every sacrifice, the map of the Never-Ending Forest grew larger and more detailed.

One by one, its secrets were unveiled:

A Grade 4 beast's lair discovered and marked.

A terrifying corrosive river found flowing endlessly.

The eerie Ghost Valley revealed.

The adventurers had already gone beyond where any human foot had stepped before.

They had pushed past the 100,000-mile mark, yet still they pressed onward.

However….

Beyond that milestone lay true uncharted territory.

The trees there were ancient giants, many towering over a hundred meters tall.

Their canopies were so thick and their leaves so broad that sunlight could not pierce through, plunging the land into perpetual darkness.

Grade 3 beasts roamed as freely as common animals, while the occasional Low Grade 4 beast prowled the shadows.

Hundreds of adventurers died each day in the zone.

And now, within that oppressive environment, a small party of five young adventurers moved forward, gripping their weapons tightly.

"W-Why do I feel as though we've stepped into another realm?" a girl whispered, her voice trembling.

"Shhh!" The captain, a tall burly man, pressed a finger to his lips and glared at her.

Under his fierce gaze, she shuddered and lowered her head in shame.

One of the strictest rules of the forest was silence.

Words drew death.

Most adventurers used hand signals to communicate, a practice that had saved countless lives.

And now, in this place where every breath carried weight, she had broken the taboo.

The other members wore grim expressions, but no one dared to speak.

Instead, all eyes turned to the captain, awaiting his judgment.

He merely shook his head and motioned for them to continue.

Holding their breath, they pressed forward, their armor shirts fully activated.

The runes etched upon the fabric pulsed faintly with light, concealing their presence.

Their mission was clear– record one kilometer beyond the most recently explored boundary.

To cultivators, one kilometer was insignificant.

But here, beyond the hundred-thousand-mile zone, it was akin to ascending into heaven.

Every step required unimaginable courage.

Unbeknownst to them, they had already achieved a feat—crossing the five-hundred-meter mark without encountering a single beast.

It was as though the forest's creatures had vanished.

Encouraged, they pushed deeper.

With careful, measured steps, they descended toward the entrance of a narrow valley.

Inside, rare herbs sprouted from the ground, their leaves glowing faintly.

Towering trees stretched nearly two hundred meters high, their bark ancient and scarred with age.

The shocking thing was the spiritual energy. It was thicker and purer than anything they had ever experienced.

A paradise for cultivation.

The five were merely Foundation Realm cultivators, with only their captain having reached the Early Core Refining Stage.

If they could cultivate here, their progress would be ten times faster than the outside.

But they knew better.

Suppressing their longing, they pressed onward.

Yet, as they stepped into the valley, their bodies froze.

Before them lay a scene so terrifying that their very souls trembled.

At the center of the valley, tens of thousands of snakes writhed together.

Each was enormous, their scales glistening with cold menace, their combined aura suffocating.

But worse still was the colossal snake at their forefront.

Its body alone stood over a hundred meters tall, and its length stretched so far into the distance they could not see its end.

By a rough glance, it was easily more than a thousand meters long.

Its enormous, orb-like eyes glowed with intelligence surpassing that of ordinary humans.

And every lesser snake in the valley was prostrating before it, worshiping it as though it were a deity.

Suddenly…

The colossal snake turned.

Its eyes locked onto the five intruders.

Hisssss!

Tens of thousands of serpents turned in unison, their gazes piercing like daggers.

The adventurers' bodies refused to move. Terror gripped them, freezing every muscle.

Their hearts pounded violently, yet their limbs remained bound by fear.

The sea of snakes began slithering toward them.

Death stared at them straight in the eyes.

The captain's hands trembled as he pulled out his Noble Grade Spirit Link.

With quick motions, he captured an image of the horror before him and left his last message.

With the message sent, he turned to his companions, meeting their eyes.

They exchanged a silent understanding.

None spoke. None wept.

They merely nodded.

The snakes surged closer.

And just as they were about to devour the five—

A deafening sound tore through the valley, echoing far beyond its borders.

BOOOOM!