371: Chapter 365 Immortal Descendants

Deep within the volcano, there was silence.

Only the occasional sound of roiling magma broke this deathly silence.

Chen Zhiwen stood before the ice egg that was slowly piecing itself back together.

His palm rested gently upon the ice-blue eggshell.

A bone-chilling cold greeted his touch.

It was as if this egg was not a lifeless object, but a living entity with a faint breath.

"Immortal Descendant Race..."

Chen Zhiwen muttered to himself.

His brows were tightly locked together.

This term flashed through his mind.

Yet it exploded like a thunderclap.

He had once accidentally perused an extremely ancient classic in the Scripture Pavilion.

It contained some fragments of information regarding ancient races.

Among them, it mentioned the "Immortal Descendant Race."

It was said that this was a race favored by the Heavens.

They were born powerful and possessed extraordinary innate talents.

However, the classic was vague regarding their method of reproduction.

Was it viviparous or oviparous?

No one knew.

Even whether this race had truly existed was a huge mystery in the Cultivation world.

"If Li Shuang is truly of the Immortal Descendant Race..."

Chen Zhiwen looked at the gaps marked with tiny tooth marks.

An indescribable and complex emotion rose in his heart.

"Then why did she end up here?"

"And why did she lose her memory and become an orphan of the Human Race?"

The secrets within this likely involved some heaven-shocking schemes from the ancient era.

Chen Zhiwen shook his head.

He temporarily suppressed these chaotic thoughts.

It was too early to think about these things now.

The most urgent task was to figure out what other secrets were hidden inside this volcano.

He waved his hand.

A surge of gentle Spiritual Qi flowed out.

He swept all the eggshell fragments floating in the air, along with the nascent form of the ice egg, into his storage ring.

Although this thing was strange.

It was definitely a priceless treasure.

If it could be pieced together in the future, it might hold the key to solving the mystery of Li Shuang's background.

After doing all this.

Chen Zhiwen did not linger.

His figure flickered, turning into a streak of light, and he continued to speed towards the depths along the narrow passage.

This passage was much longer than he had imagined.

On the surrounding stone walls, more and more night-luminescent pearls were embedded.

The light gradually became brighter.

Chen Zhiwen maintained a high level of vigilance.

The Spiritual Qi within his body circulated constantly, ready at any moment to deal with potential dangers.

After traveling for about a few dozen breaths of time.

The path ahead suddenly opened up.

A soft, water-blue radiance shone over from the end.

It illuminated the originally pitch-black rock walls, making them look dreamlike and illusory.

"Arrived."

Chen Zhiwen's heart stirred.

He slowed down.

He saw a circular exit appear in front of him.

The exit was blocked by an invisible barrier of energy light.

Although the black magma outside was surging violently, it could not cross the barrier by even a single step.

It was all blocked outside by this seemingly weak light barrier.

Chen Zhiwen did not rashly break in.

Instead, he stopped in front of the light barrier.

He slowly closed his eyes.

His vast Divine Sense surged out like a tide.

It passed through the light barrier to probe the interior.

"Hiss—"

In just an instant.

Chen Zhiwen gasped.

Even with his experience, he could not help but be shocked by the scene before him.

Through the feedback from his Divine Sense.

He saw an incomparably huge space.

It was an extremely magnificent and ancient-looking great hall.

It was two or three hundred zhang in radius.

The dome was suspended high, as if the entire belly of the volcano had been hollowed out.

The floor of the hall was paved with an unknown type of cyan jade.

It emitted a faint chill.

And the most striking feature.

Was the nine huge golden jade pillars standing in the center of the hall.

Each jade pillar was as thick as one could wrap their arms around.

And stood dozens of zhang tall.

They were golden and crystal clear throughout.

They were carved with extremely intricate patterns.

Not only were there birds and beasts, but also cloud patterns and lightning.

And at the very top of each jade pillar.

A completely different constellation pattern was carved.

Some were arranged like the Big Dipper.

Some resembled the Milky Way hanging upside down.

Others looked like a lonely star, emitting dazzling light.

"Power of the stars..."

Chen Zhiwen's Divine Sense swept over those patterns.

His heart jumped violently.

An inexplicable sense of familiarity welled up.

He remembered.

This style of constellation pattern, this unique fluctuation of Spiritual Qi.

Where had he seen it before?

That's right!

It was on that mysterious Sea Race powerhouse!

When he killed that Sea Race powerhouse, he had seen similar six-star brands on the severed arm!

Although the number was different.

But that aura was exactly the same!

"Sea Race!"

Chen Zhiwen opened his eyes abruptly.

Sharp light shot from his eyes.

"This place is definitely related to a Sea Race expert!"

"It might even be a secret stronghold of the Sea Race!"

If this inference was correct.

Then Li Shuang's background was highly likely related to the Sea Race as well.

But...

The problem arose again.

People of the Sea Race, no matter how high their Cultivation was, would always have some obvious racial characteristics.

Such as scales, fins, or a special aura.

But Li Shuang was as clean as a blank sheet of paper.

She was completely a pure Human Race girl.

Why was this?

"Could it be a mixed-blood?"

"Or some kind of special mutation?"

Chen Zhiwen could not figure it out despite thinking about it a hundred times.

But he knew.

It was useless to stand here and guess blindly.

Only by going in and investigating could he find the answer.

"Break!"

Chen Zhiwen did not hesitate any longer.

He gave a low shout.

His hands formed seals.

The Ice Spirit Crystal Flame and the Qian Blue Purple Flame roared out again.

Turning into two ferocious fire dragons, they slammed fiercely into the energy light barrier blocking the magma.

"Boom!"

With a loud noise.

The light barrier trembled violently.

Although it could block the erosion of the magma, under the full-force attack of a Nascent Soul Stage expert like Chen Zhiwen, it was ultimately not enough.

It only lasted for a moment.

Then it shattered like broken glass, collapsing with a bang.

Revealing the huge entrance.

Chen Zhiwen flashed.

He rushed in instantly.

Then he turned around and waved his hand.

Several Formation Flags flew out.

Quickly setting up a simple defensive Formation at the cave entrance.

Sealing off the magma outside again.

After doing all this.

He turned around.

And truly stepped into this mysterious hall.

His feet stepped onto the cyan jade floor.

Making a crisp sound.

Echoing in this empty hall, appearing exceptionally clear.

Chen Zhiwen held his breath.

His Divine Sense was fully activated.

He cautiously sensed the surrounding aura.

After confirming that there were no living beings here.

He breathed a slight sigh of relief.

He slowly walked towards the nine jade pillars in the center of the hall.

Looking closer.

These jade pillars were even more shocking.

The sense of vicissitudes and pressure rushing towards him made one unable to help but want to bow down in worship.

Chen Zhiwen reached out.

And gently hugged one of the jade pillars.

It felt warm and smooth to the touch.

Not cold or hard as he had imagined.

Instead, it was like stroking a piece of high-quality mutton-fat white jade.

"Not a high-grade Ore."

Chen Zhiwen's Divine Sense penetrated into the interior of the jade pillar.

He carefully investigated it.

A trace of doubt appeared in his eyes.

"This material... although rare, does not seem to be a top-grade Material for refining Magic Treasure."

"At most, it is just a bit sturdier."

"Why go to such great lengths to set up these nine pillars here?"

Was it just for decoration?

Obviously not.

An expert in the Cultivation world would never do such meaningless things.

Chen Zhiwen walked around the jade pillar a few times.

His gaze was like a torch.

Suddenly.

His gaze was attracted by something in the center of the jade pillar.

It was an inconspicuous light cyan lotus pedestal.

Only the size of a palm.

It was quietly embedded in the base of the jade pillar.

If one did not look carefully, it would be easy to overlook it.

But on this lotus pedestal.

It emitted an extremely pure and soft wood-attribute Spiritual Qi.

That aura.

Just by taking a breath.

Chen Zhiwen felt all the pores on his body relax.

The speed of Spiritual Qi circulation within his body actually accelerated by a few points in an instant!

"This is..."

Chen Zhiwen's heartbeat suddenly accelerated.

He hurried forward.

Crouched down.

And observed the lotus pedestal at close range.

The lotus pedestal presented a semi-transparent cyan color throughout.

It had naturally formed wood grain on it.

Each line contained the ultimate truth of the Dao.

And in the center of the lotus pedestal.

There were faintly a few crystal-clear dewdrops.

Exuding a refreshing fragrance.

"bitter parasol heavenly lotus!"

Chen Zhiwen could not help but exclaim.

His voice was full of ecstasy and disbelief.

He recognized this thing!

This was the legendary fourth-tier top-grade Spirit Medicine—bitter parasol heavenly lotus!

And looking at this quality and spiritual rhyme.

It was at least a top-grade one that had grown for thousands of years!

This kind of Spirit Medicine was simply the treasure among treasures for Cultivators below the Nascent Soul Stage!

It could not only greatly increase the speed of Cultivate.

But also had the miraculous effect of cleansing marrow and cutting bones, and purifying Spiritual Root!

Especially for someone like Chen Zhiwen.

Although he had forcibly raised his cultivation level by relying on the System.

But was a Cultivator with mediocre Aptitude and mixed Spiritual Root.

This was simply help in a time of need!

It was a Heaven-Defying divine object!

"Searching high and low, only to find it without any effort!"

Chen Zhiwen was so excited that his hands were trembling.

He had been stuck in his current Realm for some time.

Although he had the help of the System.

He could clearly feel.

His physical Aptitude was gradually unable to keep up with the growth of his cultivation.

This was like a small bottle, insisting on being filled with the water of the ocean.

Sooner or later, it would burst.

This was the so-called "cultivation bottleneck."

And this bitter parasol heavenly lotus was the key to breaking this bottleneck!

"With it, my Aptitude can reach a higher level!"

"At that time, it is not impossible to impact the Soul Transformation!"

Chen Zhiwen took a deep breath.

Suppressing the excitement in his heart.

He cautiously reached out.

Circulated his Spiritual Qi.

And slowly pried the bitter parasol heavenly lotus from the base of the jade pillar.

His movements were as gentle as if he were treating a fragile and rare treasure.

"Hum—"

As the bitter parasol heavenly lotus left the body.

The entire hall seemed to tremble slightly.

But soon returned to calm.

Chen Zhiwen did not pay attention to these.

He quickly took out a jade box specifically for preserving Spirit Medicine from his storage ring.

And solemnly placed the bitter parasol heavenly lotus into it.

Then applied a few Spirit Sealing Talismans.

Only then did he safely put it into the safest position in his storage ring.

"Good stuff!"

"Really good stuff!"

Chen Zhiwen patted his storage ring.

A satisfied smile appeared on his face.

Just this one harvest.

Made this adventure worth the price of admission.

However.

Since he was here.

Naturally, he could not just take one thing and leave.

This hall was so magnificent.

It must still be hiding other treasures.

Chen Zhiwen stood up.

And began a carpet-like search in the hall.

His Divine Sense covered every inch of the floor, every piece of the wall.

Even not letting go of the gaps in the dome.

However.

To his disappointment.

Except for the nine jade pillars and the bitter parasol heavenly lotus.

This hall appeared empty.

He did not find any secret rooms, hidden compartments, or other places where treasures were hidden.

He did not even find a decent piece of furniture.

"Poor ghost!"

Chen Zhiwen cursed secretly.

Feeling a bit unwilling to give up.

He cast his gaze towards the east corner of the hall.

There.

There seemed to be a faint fluctuation of Spiritual Qi.

Unlike the deathly silence of other places.

Chen Zhiwen's heart stirred.

He walked over immediately.

He saw in that inconspicuous corner.

A black circular disc the size of a palm was lying quietly.

On the circular disc.

Dense Formation patterns were carved.

The complexity was simply dazzling.

And in the center of the circular disc.

Several small flags of different colors were inserted.

Emitting a faint fluorescence.

"Formation Plate?"

Chen Zhiwen's eyes lit up.

He crouched down.

And carefully examined this Formation Plate.

As his observation deepened.

His expression gradually became solemn.

Finally turning into a deep exclamation.

"Myriad Colored Garment Formation!"

He recognized this Formation!

This was an extremely unpopular, but famous third-tier top-grade grand Formation in the Formation world!

It could even be said.

It had touched the edge of a fourth-tier Formation!

The biggest feature of this Formation.

Was concealment and defense!

Once set up.

It could conjure up thousands of scenes, confusing the enemy's Divine Sense.

Even if a Late Nascent Soul Stage great Cultivator came in person.

If they were not proficient in the Dao of Formation.

It would be difficult to see through the reality.

And in terms of defense.

It was even known as "unbreakable below Soul Transformation"!

Even if facing the siege of several Cultivators of the same rank.

It could hold for several days without falling!

"So that's it..."

Chen Zhiwen realized suddenly.

No wonder when he was outside, he could not detect the situation inside this volcano no matter how hard he tried.

It turned out that this "Myriad Colored Garment Formation" was the cause!

This Formation Plate.

Was the core hub controlling the huge illusion Formation outside!

"Good treasure!"

Chen Zhiwen stroked the Formation Plate affectionately.

If this thing could be brought back.

And set up in the mountain gate Formation of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.

The defensive power of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect would instantly be upgraded by several levels!

At that time.

Even if a behemoth like the Tianyang Sect wanted to invade.

They would have to weigh whether they could bite this hard bone!

"Collect!"

Chen Zhiwen did not hesitate at all.

He immediately injected a stream of Spiritual Qi.

The small flags inserted on the Formation Plate instantly turned into streams of light and flew into his hands.

As the Formation Flag was taken back.

The light on the Formation Plate gradually dimmed.

But this did not mean it had failed.

It just temporarily entered a dormant state.

Chen Zhiwen could feel.

In the depths of this Formation Plate.

The Soul Transformation Qi that made him wary still remained.

Obviously.

The expert who set up the Formation had also left his own spiritual brand on this Formation Plate.

Wanting to fully control it.

Was not an easy thing.

It would require a lot of time and energy, using grinding work, to slowly dispel that residual aura bit by bit.