Rebuilding the Immortal Cultivator Clan

Chapter 76: The Ruins (Please follow and read!)

The border of Yunping State and Green Mountain State was marked by a grand river, where a group of Loose Cultivators had gathered.

”Brother Zhao, did you really see a treasure light underwater?” As the moment of truth approached, a cultivator couldnʼt help but voice his doubts.

Zhao Hu, a man of tall stature and rugged appearance, replied in a muffled voice, ”Why donʼt you believe me, Zhou? Donʼt you all know what kind of person I am?”

”Wasnʼt it just a month ago when the Earth Dragon Turned Over? Seeing so many Spirit Veins appear within the territory of Yunping State and with the Yuanming Sect issuing rewards, I thought Iʼd try my luck in the great river. Maybe fortune would favor me and Iʼd find something?”

”Who knows, maybe the Heavenly Dao took pity on me. Although I didnʼt find a Spirit Vein, I discovered something else, something good!”

Only now did Zhao Hu reveal the part of the story he had kept hidden, ”I found some ruins at the bottom of the river!”

”Ruins?!”

The breaths of all the Loose Cultivators present quickened. Though they were cultivators without lineage, the term ʼruinsʼ was still well-known to them.

If Secret Realms are originally places like Cave Heaven Blessed Lands, spiritual domains opened up by ancient cultivators, then ruins are what resulted from the sect gateways of some powers sinking deep into the earth due to extremely violent earth movements.

Some unfortunate powers had vanished into the long river of history because of this very reason.

Unlike Secret Realms, once ruins make their appearance, they rarely disappear again unless swallowed by the earth once more, a scenario with extremely low probability, almost unheard of in ten thousand years.

And the biggest difference of all is that ruins have no restriction on a cultivatorʼs cultivation level, whether you are a Qi Cultivation cultivator, a Nascent Soul, or even a Divine Transformation elder, you can enter the ruins to explore.

However, precisely because of this, ruins are much more dangerous than Secret Realms since one must face not only the perils within the ruins but also high-level cultivators from the outside world.

”Brother Zhao, are you telling the truth? Have you really discovered some ruins?”

At first, everyone was indeed excited, but after calming down and thinking it over, they felt something was amiss.

If Zhao Hu had truly found some ruins, why would he tell them and share with them? Wouldnʼt it be better if he kept it all to himself?

Zhao Hu could tell what they were thinking just by looking at their expressions and could not help but smile wryly, ”I know you donʼt believe me, but itʼs the truth. As for why Iʼm seeking you out, itʼs because alone, I simply canʼt open the ruins!”

Most ruins, before sinking into the earth, were the sect gates of some power, and were more than likely fortified with Formations.

These Formations might have been damaged or eroded by time, losing their effectiveness, but others could connect with nearby Spirit Veins and earth veins to form an even more powerful Formation.

The ruins Zhao Hu had discovered were of the latter kind! He alone didnʼt possess the power to break the Formation of the ruins.

Of course, if he could resolve this issue, he wouldnʼt be sharing this Secret Realm with them.

After listening to Zhao Huʼs explanation, the crowdʼs doubts were somewhat alleviated, and one of them said, ”Please, Brother Zhao, lead us to see the ruins.”

”Fellow Daoists, follow me.” With that, Zhao Hu dove headfirst into the water.

As the river had only recently formed and was very deep but had no Devil Beasts, the group smoothly made their way to the front of the ruins.

”Isnʼt this ruin a bit too large?” one of the Loose Cultivators couldnʼt help but remark.

Standing in front of the ruins, they couldnʼt see its boundaries at all, and from above, they could only see a massive dark shadow.

”The Formation of this ruin is probably not something we can break,” said one of the more level-headed Loose Cultivators.

He continued, ”Brother Zhao, I fear we wonʼt be able to take down these ruins. No use calling more Loose Cultivators either.”

Zhao Huʼs eyes showed a hint of disappointment, as he knew relying on just the dozen or so Qi Cultivating Loose Cultivators, they simply couldnʼt break the Formation.

He had tried when he discovered the relic and had even spent all his savings to buy several immensely powerful Kui Water Thunder Pills, but when the Thunder Pills struck, they didnʼt even create the slightest ripple.

But he couldnʼt resign himself to tell the Yuanming Sect about the opportunity, still, he couldnʼt help but want to try again.

”How do we know if we donʼt try?” It wasnʼt just Zhao Hu who was reluctant; several Loose Cultivators were urging everyone to join forces to see if they could break the Formation.

”Letʼs give it a try,” Zhao Hu still harbored the last thread of hope.

Everyone launched their most powerful attacks, then looked at the Formation expectantly, but unfortunately, the impact of these attacks on the Formation was even less noticeable than a drop of water entering a lake.

”Letʼs inform the Yuanming Sect about this message, that way we can still get some benefits, and maybe even have a chance to enter the relic,” the calm Cultivator suggested again.

Zhao Hu and others were desperate, knowing this was the best way, he let out a long sigh, and said, ”Letʼs go.”

Half a day later, a group of more than a dozen Loose Cultivators headed towards the Yuanming Sectʼs quarters in the Marketplace.

Other Loose Cultivators watching the scene couldnʼt help but say enviously, ”Are those another few lucky ones whoʼve found a Spirit Vein?”

Since the Yuanming Sect announced the reward, a great many Loose Cultivators had been searching all around Yunping State for Spirit Veins, and indeed, a few had found them, and in turn, received generous rewards, which made other Loose Cultivators immensely envious.

However, they had no idea that Zhao Hu and his group had not just found a Spirit Vein, but a relic not yet known to the world!

”Is what youʼre saying true? Thereʼs a relic in the great river?” The stationed Cultivator of the Yuanming Sect, exuding his imposing aura, asked solemnly.

”Itʼs true, weʼve just come back from the river,” Zhao Hu said, his voice trembling: ”Iʼve also recorded the relic with a Memory Stone.”

To gain the trust of the Yuanming Sect and obtain the reward quickly, Zhao Hu had made sure to use the Memory Stone before leaving.

The stationed Cultivator withdrew his imposing aura, activated the Memory Stone in Zhao Huʼs hand, and indeed, there was a Formation at the dark riverbed, emitting a pale yellow Spirit Light.

Below the Formation, one could clearly see various buildings, and a little further away, there were Spiritual Medicines that had propagated for who knows how many generations.

”Very good, very good! Youʼve done a great service!” At that moment, a murderous intent suddenly arose in his heart, wanting to forever silence them to ensure the secret would not leak.

But, thinking of the many people who saw them walking in from the Marketplaceʼs gate, if he were to deal with them now, it could bring trouble instead.

”This matter is of utmost importance, so after you leave here, youʼd better stay inside the Marketplace, and you must keep the secret, otherwise...”

Zhao Hu and the others felt the hair on their bodies stand on end, terrified that the Foundation Establishment Cultivator might kill them to silence them the next second.

Fortunately, he was considerate of Yuanming Sectʼs reputation and didnʼt act, instead, he instructed them to go ahead and receive a reward many times greater than what they would have gotten for finding a Spirit Vein.

”Two junior brothers, stay here and guard the Marketplace, I will immediately return to the Sect to report this matter!”

The Cultivator with the highest cultivation among them spoke, ”And keep an eye on those Loose Cultivators, donʼt let them spread the news, we will still need them to lead the way later.”

”Senior brother, go ahead, the two of us will guard the Marketplace,” the two responded; they were not the petty kind, and reporting the news to the Sect wouldnʼt necessarily affect their own rewards by much.

As for the matter that followed, it was even easier to handle; simply arrange for disciples to watch over them, preventing them from leaving the Marketplace was enough.

”Good.” As soon as these words were spoken, the person stepped onto his flying sword and transformed into a rainbow light leaving the Marketplace.