Chapter 337

Chapter 337: Ancient Taichu Kingdom

“It’s finally starting!” Li Hui looked up at the lush green mountains and thought, “I can’t rely on external forces; only a bit of true spirit can be sent down. I can’t use spirit talismans, much less activate my Personal Artifact. How can I enjoy this?”

After the bell rang, in a hidden spot of the Haotu Sect surrounded by heavy restrictions, someone said, “It’s been half a year, and those old monsters are gradually retracting their attention. Two Ghost Foxes couldn’t even capture a personal disciple who hasn’t fully matured, forcing me to endure until today.”

A shadow swirled at a higher vantage point, its raspy voice coldly stating, “Hmph! If we hadn’t detected he had the Morning Rooster Dao Soldiers, would we have waited until today? As long as he sends a bit of true spirit into the Ancient City of Yin Ruins, this little life will be in our Ghost Fox Sect’s hands.”

“The Mirror Lake faction has deep roots, and Li Maocai has only one disciple; he wouldn’t be without life-saving treasures.” The figure coughed, trembling as it spoke, “Cough, cough, my injuries are worsening. Before I turn to the path of ghosts, I must not only bury Li Maocai but also his disciple.”

“Ke ke ke, just in case we encounter any surprises in the Ancient City of Yin Ruins, you need to send disciples to ambush outside the Ancient Tomb of the Divine Sparrow…”

“Ha ha ha, the Mirror Lake faction will be entirely wiped out!”

Within the sect, things were swirling and mysterious, but Li Hui remained unaware. He steadily cultivated for three days without moving from his spot. When the time came, he stretched with a yawn and got up.

“I can’t use spirit talismans or artifacts, but it’s good to see for myself. Just observing and remaining quietly as a handsome man!”

As the mountain wind blew, his figure vanished. Compared to six months ago, Li Hui’s progress was astonishing; at his current level, he had reached an unfathomable degree, as if he had opened the door to marvelous insights—his physical aspects, will, and heart all became profound.

As the door to the Ancient Tomb of the Divine Sparrow opened, a surge of people rushed in. Some disciples felt a breeze above their heads when, in reality, those at the very top of the Haotu Sect had already gone ahead.

Li Hui spotted Wen Shaolun, Li Changtian, Huang Shiqin, and the Huang Tongliang siblings, along with the particularly tall Xia Tianguan and Prince Cheng Hong, and the son of a monk and nun, Yan Jinglun.

Yuan Xiao Zhuo suddenly looked behind her, sensing someone had just looked at her, but she found nothing.

“No wonder you’re an innate constitution; your perception is quite acute.” Li Hui had already seen the ritual altar. It looked like cramped examination rooms separated by barriers, and to compete for this space was quite uncomfortable.

He enjoyed comfort; if he could sit, he definitely wouldn’t stand, and if he could lie down, he wouldn’t sit.

His eyes suddenly turned golden, his eyebrows thickened and shimmered with layers of gold, and his field of vision instantly expanded.

Li Hui found a prime spot right ahead, far superior to the narrow individual rooms, akin to a luxurious guest room.

“Hey hey, this is it! No one can take it!” His figure darted over, and he plopped down into a broad chair, realizing that compared to those cramped examination rooms below, the ritual altar beneath him felt like the examiner’s seat.

At that moment, the ancient dynasty’s seal bracelet emitted a flicker of green light.

“Hmm?”

The green light suddenly expanded, and Li Hui flicked his hand, sending out hundreds of Spirit Concealment talismans and Tracking talismans that arranged themselves in a talisman formation, completely hiding the phenomenon.

“What’s going on? Is it another examination from the ancient dynasty?”

With a soft rustle, ancient script rose from an old stone table. When Li Hui had chosen his cultivation method, he had specifically learned various ancient scripts in the scripture hall, so reading the text was not difficult.

“Anyone who has achieved success in the outside world can go to the ancient Taichu Kingdom as a servant. You need to send a bit of true spirit to descend your avatar for verification purposes. Low-level servants receive the beast bone seal, intermediate servants get the beast taming seal, high-level servants are granted the prisoner dragon seal, and those of utmost excellence become citizens, receiving the Tomb Seal.”

Li Hui muttered, “The Taichu Kingdom? So it isn’t like the ancient examinations from Wan Nest Island but a selection of servants instead. Referring to the Wutu Continent as the land of transformation indicates the ancient dynasty’s location was in another continent. The Wutu Continent must have been similar to the wilderness back then; the Great Xia Dynasty hadn’t emerged yet, or they wouldn’t allow such actions from other powers.”

Suddenly, the seal bracelet swelled, transforming into a blue official seal the size of a baby fist that fell onto the table.

Light and shadow swirled, and a half-foot-tall figure appeared on the table, clothed in blue with a blue hat, its features indistinct. It politely clasped its fists and said, “Deputy Inspector General, what business do you have? I am the spirit Que San from the Que San Palace.”

Li Hui observed with interest, his expression calm as he asked, “I’m here to inquire, with the passage of time, how many times the ancient tomb has been opened? Does the Que San Palace have any connections with my kingdom?”

“Honorable Sir, I cannot claim to know everything, but our kingdom collapsed many years ago; there’s no way to establish any connections now. Strangely, even if someone possesses an official seal and forces the matter, there’s no way they could have such advantageous circumstances as you do, like… being like a successful candidate entering the court!”

“Your feeling is correct; I have encountered the ruins of the ancient dynasty.” Li Hui took out the bamboo tablet and waved it towards the little figure, saying, “Here, for the altar’s offering, I grant you the title of a nine-rank official.”

“My heavens!” The blue-clad figure knelt, trembling as it bowed to the upper direction, “I did not know Your Excellency had arrived, and I apologize for my negligence.”

“Since you understand how time has changed and things are not as they once were, tell me about the ancient tomb, the Ancient City of Yin Ruins, and anything else you know.” Li Hui’s curiosity was piqued; he was running low on funds! From frugality to luxury is easy; transitioning from luxury to frugality is difficult. As the resources of the Mirror Lake faction gradually dwindled and there were no more secret realms to mine, he needed to find new sources of revenue to maintain high-speed cultivation and continue nurturing the Mirror Sky.

The blue-clad figure spoke dutifully, “The Wutu Continent originally had six hundred and twenty-eight ancient tombs, but over the years, more than half have been destroyed, leaving only a hundred. Seventy-eight of these are controlled by major sects, and every thirty-six years, they organize disciples to go for trials. It’s not that we intend to open them; long ago, possessors of great power found our official seals and forced them. You hold an enforcement function, recognized as a formal official of our dynasty; you can speak for the virtual spirits in the ancient tombs.”

The blue-clad figure knelt before Li Hui, lamenting, “If it weren’t for us virtual spirits supporting each other over the years, we would have long since collapsed! Even after resting for thirty-six years following each trial, it’s still hard to recuperate.”

“Tell me what I should do to help you.”

“Easy! All it requires is for you to send a bit of true spirit to the ancient city, find the Copper Sparrow Terrace to issue a decree, and summon us virtual spirits to come. We would then integrate and accompany you as guards. After repeated explorations, there are few places in the ancient city that can assist you, but there are three mandatory locations to visit.”

“The beast bone seals, beast taming seals, prisoner dragon seals granted to the servants, and the Tomb Seal given to citizens are all stored in the Seal Tower. During each trial, disciples from various sects take too much, leaving little to produce; through our concealment, we’ve preserved some.”

“In addition, on the edge of the ancient city, there is a forest of steles with records of many ancient methods. Other methods might be common, but the Divine Bird Technique is a spirit-refining technique. Since you haven’t yet nurtured your spirit, it will be very suitable for you!”

Li Hui’s expression changed drastically; the spirit-refining technique was too rare! The Haotu Sect only had three volumes, two of which were only suitable for women to practice. The third volume could be practiced, but its function overlapped with that of the heavenly marrow worm. If the Divine Bird Technique truly refined the spirit, it would be worth a fortune equivalent to ten thousand high-grade Miao Jade.

The blue-clad figure continued, “The last crucial location for you is…”