Three months of relentless travel.
Thanks to Don Freecss's guidance, the group was able to avoid various creatures and calamities along the way, allowing them to move at the fastest possible speed.
The Ancient Pipeline leading to the Swamplands was located in a vast, seemingly endless forest. Its carrier was a moss-covered stone tablet embedded in the trunk of a tree.
Without Don Freecss's guidance, finding the carrier of the Ancient Pipeline in such a vast forest would have been like searching for a needle in a haystack.
The tree that housed the stone tablet had a trunk diameter exceeding a hundred meters, and its height stood out even in the forest, making it a true giant among trees.
In comparison, the stone tablet, which was only the size of a normal door, seemed as insignificant as an ant on the hundred-meter-wide tree trunk. In addition, it is covered and entangled with moss and vines, making it nearly impossible to spot.
However-
When Don Freecss brought Moses to this colossal tree, even without Don Freecss's guidance, Moses could locate the Ancient Pipeline based on the presence of Post-Mortem Nen.
The Ancient Pipelines scattered across the Dark Continent were almost all remnants of ancient humans, left behind as Post-Mortem Nen, which is why they have been able to survive for such a long time without dispersing.
This meant that Moses, with his unique abilities, could lock onto the Ancient Pipelines hidden within the environment within a specific range.
Of course, nothing is absolute.
Not everything that emitted a Post-Mortem Nen's presence was an Ancient Pipeline, as it could also be various unknown Post-Mortem Nen with potentially high threat levels.
Therefore, when it came to locating the Ancient Pipelines, caution was always necessary.
The area around the giant tree was a barren clearing, and further away was a golden lake so calm that not a single ripple could be seen.
The liquid in the lake does not look like lake water, but more like liquid gold, with a visible thickness and softness.
Moses's focus was entirely on the Ancient Pipeline leading to the Swamplands, so he didn't inquire about the unusual golden lake.
As they prepared to depart, Don Freecss patiently reminded them once again:
"Remember, the Hellbell's ability is to spread killing intent. Those infected will slaughter any nearby life forms in a frenzy. What makes it so dangerous is that even Nen Clones can't resist the infection of its killing intent."
Even life forms controlled by Manipulation-type abilities will have their control overridden by Hellbell's killing intent."
"In terms of 'control priority,' Hellbell's killing intent is extremely high."
"Since you don't have the protection of lichens, if you want to get Nitro Rice in that Swamplands, you will always have to bear the corresponding risks."
"But your mental resilience might make you immune to Hellbell's killing intent."
"One last piece of advice..."
"If you encounter the Gatekeeper on your way back, it's best to follow the Gatekeeper's arrangements."
As Don Freecss's seemingly endless instructions continued, the ancient stone tablet embedded in the tree trunk began to emit a white light, enveloping Moses and his group.
"Good luck."
Before the light of the Ancient Pipeline fully enveloped them, Moses faintly heard Don Freecss's final words.
In the next instant.
Moyou once again found himself in the gray, static space.
There are countless streams of light rushed toward him, passing by like a meteor shower.
At the same time, his sense of time and space became blurred once more.
It was impossible to tell how much time had passed before his vision suddenly trembled and blurred, then plunged into complete darkness.
When light returned to his eyes, he found himself standing on a ground covered in bones.
"Hmm?"
Moses opened his eyes and quickly scanned his surroundings.
What greeted him was an overwhelming number of bones of various shapes and sizes, scattered across every visible corner.
Some bones were scattered, others piled up. In some places, they formed hills, while in others, they were stacked into small mountains. It was a true burial ground.
If he looked further into the distance, he could vaguely see the reeds of the swamp...
"Activate Gyo!"
Seeing that the surroundings matched Don Freecss's description of the [Bone Burial Ground], Moses immediately focused his Aura into his eyes and spoke out to remind his teammates who had been teleported together.
Just as Moses spoke, Biscuit and the others had already gathered their Aura in their eyes.
With the enhancement of their Aura, faint blue phosphorus flames suddenly appeared in the previously empty air, floating aimlessly like countless balloons.
Moses glanced at the many strange phosphorescent lights floating in the air.
According to the information provided by Don Freecss, aside from bones, anything could serve as fuel for these strange phosphorus flames.
And the Aura that symbolizes life force is like methane in front of these invisible phosphorus flames.
Thus, when ordinary people touched these phosphorus flames, the natural leakage of Aura from their bodies would cause them to instantly burst into flames, turning them into clean skeletons within seconds.
If this scene were to play out in front of ordinary people, they would only see a perfectly fine person suddenly combust, which is a sight that was both bizarre and terrifying to imagine.
"There are so many of them…"
Kanzai looked solemnly at the countless faint blue phosphorus flames floating in the air. They could also be seen everywhere on the ground, spreading around like a spider web.
Given the explosive nature of these phosphorus flames when exposed to Aura, safely crossing the Bone Burial Ground would be no easy task.
Even entering Zetsu state would be meaningless.
Because hair, muscles, and clothing could also serve as fuel for the phosphorus flames.
"Shizuku, let's have Blinky try to clear a path first."
Moses shifted his gaze away from the phosphorus flames and turned to Shizuku beside him.
"Okay."
Shizuku nodded when she heard that, and immediately mobilized her Aura to conjure Blinky.
"Chirp-"
Blinky took shape and let out its usual cry.
Moses glanced at Blinky in Shizuku's hands and reminded her in a serious tone: "Shizuku, if you feel anything wrong, let go immediately."
"Understood."
Shizuku's expression remained calm as she stepped forward. Then, she raised the suction nozzle of Blinky and aimed it at the numerous phosphorus flames ahead.
"Blinky, suck up these flames."
At her command, Blinky immediately began to inhale.
Whoosh-
Visible currents of air swept up the faint blue phosphorus flames, pulling them toward Blinky's suction nozzle.
When everyone saw this scene, their eyes narrowed slightly, mentally preparing for any potential mishaps it.
But the expected accident didn't occur.
All the obstructing phosphorus flames were swallowed by Blinky in one gulp, without so much as a ripple.
'This makes things much easier.'
Moses thought to himself.
Meanwhile…
Deep in the forest, in front of the giant tree with the stone tablet.
Don Freecss stared at the tablet for a long time before slowly turning and walking away.
He still had a lot of things to do, so it was naturally impossible for him to go to the Swamplands with Moses and his group.
Sending Moses and the others here is already an act of great kindness.
The main reason is that the Ancient Pipeline required a cooldown period after each use.
If he accompanied Moses and the others to the Swamplands, it would mean wasting even more time on this matter.
"Until we meet again..."