Chapter 351

Chapter 351: The Ruins

One month ago, an incident occurred in the Longfeng Mountain range.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator accidentally triggered a mechanism while entering the Hehuan Sect ruins and suffered various attacks.

After barely fending off those assaults,

accompanied by a thunderous rumble, a ruin long buried by time slowly emerged.

This instantly caused a sensation among nearby cultivators, attracting countless eyes.

However, the ruin was enveloped by a Second Level top-grade formation; even after so many years with diminished power, it remained impossible to enter directly.

This led to the news spreading gradually, eventually reaching the ears of the Qinyuan Sect.

For the Qinyuan Sect, this ruin would serve as an excellent training ground for its disciples.

Thus, elders of the sect promptly declared that three months later, they would assist everyone in dismantling the formation. At that time, all could explore the ruins, while the Qinyuan Sect would not intervene—only dispatch disciples to participate.

This announcement immediately caused an uproar.

Bandits and evil cultivators dwelling in the Longfeng Mountain range were all stirred; everyone wanted to examine the ruins.

Even if they couldn’t obtain the best treasures, getting some benefits should be manageable.

By then, likely not just Qi Refinement cultivators would appear—even Foundation Establishment cultivators would head there, alongside sect disciples. It would surely be incredibly lively.

Now, with less than two months remaining until the ruin’s opening, cultivators in Immortal City naturally sharpened their swords, preparing to see if they could gain something.

Consequently, shops selling potions and spiritual symbols had booming business during this period.

Especially Yao Yuan Pavilion, renowned for potion quality, naturally drew large crowds.

After listening to Wang Lang’s introduction, Zhou Luo’s heart stirred.

The Longfeng Mountain range housed ruins of the Hehuan Sect. He had obtained the dual cultivation technique "The Fusion of Dragon and Phoenix Technique" from its Illusionary Forest.

This newly revealed ruin lay even deeper inside.

Back then, after leaving the Illusionary Forest, he’d intended to explore those depths but abandoned the plan due to insufficient strength.

Now, having advanced to mid-level Foundation Establishment, he ranked among the elite within the Foundation Establishment realm. Even if he went, none would dare provoke him.

Perhaps it really was worth a visit.

After all, the ancient Hehuan path regarded dual cultivation as righteous. Its sect possessed three core techniques—"The Fusion of Dragon and Phoenix Technique" was just one.

If he could acquire the remaining two there, he could cultivate with three women simultaneously in the future. His training speed would surely accelerate further.

Yet this venture carried risks. With so many cultivators drawn to it, the situation inside remained unclear. Charging in recklessly still felt unwise.

He pondered silently. Though intensely curious about the ruin, he ultimately couldn’t resolve to go.

After a brief exchange, Zhou Luo took out a jade slip.

"See if you can find these materials listed here."

It documented ingredients needed to refine the Heartfelt Gu. As for primal Gu insects—they certainly wouldn’t be available commercially. He had to purchase and breed poisonous insects himself.

"Right away! I’ll send someone immediately." Wang Lang took the jade slip and hurried off to arrange things.

Tian Xia Pavilion currently stood as Immortal City’s largest "shopping center." If these materials weren’t available here, they wouldn’t be found anywhere else.

That was why Zhou Luo had come directly here, also to take a look at this area’s situation.

From what he saw now, this commercial district was doing fairly well, the business quite thriving; no wonder the annual dividends were so substantial.

Only, it was unknown what the Qinyuan Sect thought of this.

After all, this Immortal City was the Qinyuan Sect’s property. For them to take so much business away, claiming the sect had no objections was impossible.

But when he thought of Long Yunshuang’s background, perhaps the sect held some reservations after all.

Half an hour later, Wang Lang delivered the prepared materials.

“Master Manager, everything is done,” Wang Lang declared with full confidence.

“Mm.”

Carrying those materials, Zhou Luo left Tian Xia Pavilion and returned to Zhou Fu.

As soon as he arrived, he took out a portion of the materials, preparing to begin cultivating the primal Gu insects needed to refine the Heartfelt Gu.

“Husband, what Gu insects are you preparing to refine?”

Seeing Zhou Luo busy at work, Yao Wu inquired curiously.

“Nothing much, I’m just experimenting,” Zhou Luo chose to withhold the truth.

Yao Wu sensibly didn’t press further.

Five days later, Zhou Luo successfully cultivated two primal Gu insects.

He immediately sealed the room and devoted himself entirely to the refinement process.

Refining the Heartfelt Gu wasn’t particularly difficult for Zhou Luo, but as it required numerous techniques, the process was somewhat intricate.

Zhou Luo wasn’t an impatient man. He stood before the alchemical furnace, placing the two Gu insects beside him.

The Heartfelt Gu consisted of two insects, mother and child, each requiring individual body modification.

Zhou Luo divided his focus and began grinding the materials.

Meanwhile, on the top floor of Tian Xia Pavilion.

Long Yunshuang sat reading an ancient text on a large white jade chair. Beside her was a slip of paper.

The note recorded the materials Wang Lang had just purchased from Tian Xia Pavilion.

Looking over the listed items, a flicker passed through Long Yunshuang’s beautiful eyes.

“Zhou Luo certainly has diverse interests; he’s delving into Gu insects now.”

Though not a Gu Master herself, she had heard of Gu techniques.

Her slender white hand gently turned a page. The ancient book revealed information about the Ancient Hehuan Sect.

These details were remarkably thorough; she had specifically dispatched agents to acquire them from elsewhere.

Now, perusing the information, a spark of genuine interest flowed into Long Yunshuang’s beautiful eyes.

Especially upon seeing the record stating that the Hehuan Sect had left a spiritual artifact behind at the ruins, her interest grew immensely.

Artifacts like spiritual artifacts could only be engaged with at the level of a Golden Core master.

For Foundation Establishment cultivators like themselves, they held immense allure.

However, venturing alone into the ruins still carried significant risk.

Long Yunshuang became pensive.

The Longfeng Mountain range wasn’t like other places. Here, your supposed background and identity might not shield you.

Even disciples of the Qinyuan Sect within its boundaries weren’t immune to the Fate of being ambushed and slain.

Although she was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, who could guarantee other Foundation Establishment cultivators wouldn’t target her?

Especially since rumors said the deeper parts of the mountains concealed many evil cultivators, among whom were some Foundation Establishment strong person.

Going alone, without support, was a sure way to invite disaster.

As this thought struck her, her peripheral vision suddenly caught the information on the slip of paper beside her.

“He might be a good choice,” Long Yunshuang murmured to herself.

She already knew Zhou Luo’s affairs in great detail.

She held a measure of respect for a man who had climbed from being a live-in son-in-law to his current position.

While chance and immortal fortune had played some role, his formidable ability was undeniable.

His single flaw was perhaps his fondness for taking wives and siring children.

But in Long Yunshuang’s eyes, that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.

A man attracted to women was inherently easier to handle.