373: Chapter 373 First Entry into the Ancient Dragon Vein Continent

The teleportation was smooth.

When Su Changge opened his eyes, he was standing on a patch of yellowish-brown hard ground. The sky was a dull grayish-yellow, with thick, low-hanging clouds.

There was no wind, but the air was in motion, carrying a scent he could not quite name. It was not quite Spiritual Qi, nor was it entirely Evil Qi; it felt more like a complex mixture produced by the two swirling together. As it circulated through his lungs, it left behind a faint, lingering discomfort.

Su Changge stood still and took a deep breath.

"Not right."

"The Spiritual Qi in this place is certainly dense, but it is chaotic, much like adding a large amount of ice to a pot of boiling water. Both sides are extreme enough, but once mixed together, it leaves one with no way to proceed."

Zhao Tian landed beside him. His first reaction was to look around, his second was to frown, and his third was to rub his chest.

"This place… is a bit off."

Ye Qingyao landed. Her expression was calm, but her brow furrowed slightly before quickly relaxing.

"The Spiritual Qi of the Dragon Vein Ancient Continent is inherently unstable. The dragon veins run underground, and the Spiritual Qi seeps out from the ground, far denser than in other Dao Domains. However, it is simultaneously mixed with the Earth Evil Qi rising from the depths. For Cultivators with insufficient cultivation, it is indeed difficult to adapt."

Zhao Tian rubbed his chest.

"Then what will happen if I stay here for a long time?"

"At best, your Spiritual Qi will become disordered; at worst, your Meridians will be damaged."

Zhao Tian's face went pale.

Ye Qingyao took a jade bottle from her sleeve, poured out a Medicinal Pill, and handed it to him.

"A Meridian-Protecting Pill. After taking it, you can stay in the Dragon Vein Ancient Continent for seven days. One pill every seven days."

Zhao Tian took it, examined it, then looked up at Ye Qingyao, his expression complex.

"Sect Master Ye, you prepared this early on?"

Ye Qingyao nodded.

"It was prepared in advance."

Zhao Tian swallowed the Medicinal Pill and smacked his lips. Feeling the discomfort in his chest ease significantly, he finally relaxed and began to survey the surrounding terrain.

The Teleportation Array had landed on a wasteland. In the distance were large, undulating yellowish-brown hills, and further away, the outline of a continuous mountain range was faintly visible. Between the peaks, faint golden light flowed within the clouds—that was the sign of the dragon vein's Spiritual Qi seeping out from inside the mountains.

Zhao Tian pointed at that mountain range.

"Is that the Dragon Spine Mountain Range?"

"Yes."

"It looks quite close."

Ye Qingyao shook her head.

"By visual estimation, it is over five hundred miles away."

Zhao Tian swallowed the words that were already on his lips and changed direction.

"Are there any people here?"

Ye Qingyao's Divine Sense spread out slightly, scanning the area.

"Within a twenty-mile radius of the Teleportation Array landing point, there are three settlements. The nearest one is about ten miles to the northeast; it should be a small market town spontaneously formed by local Cultivators."

Su Changge stood where he was, not speaking.

He was feeling the ground beneath his feet.

Stepping on it, there was a solid texture. Occasionally, a slight vibration came from the ground—that was the tremor produced when the dragon vein ran underground, seeping up from the surface and landing on the soles of his feet, steady and rhythmic, like the heartbeat of the earth.

"Ancient Dragon Vein…"

"This thing is not an ordinary earth vein; it is the meridian of the earth that has existed since the ancient era. What flows inside is not just Spiritual Qi, but also the Origin energy accumulated by this land over billions of years."

"No wonder the forces from all sides are eyeing this place."

"No wonder that ancient Seal was placed underneath here."

Su Changge raised his head and looked at the distant Dragon Spine Mountain Range.

The golden light flowed slowly in the clouds, looking truly magnificent.

"But I do not have time to enjoy the scenery now."

"Every inch of air here reminds me that this is a dangerous place."

"Go to that market town."

He spoke and turned to walk towards the northeast.

Ye Qingyao followed.

Zhao Tian followed at the end. After walking two steps, he looked back at the location of the Teleportation Array just now. The blue-white light had already extinguished, and the teleportation platform stood quietly on the wasteland.

He turned his head back and quickened his pace to catch up with Su Changge.

After walking for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, signs of human habitation appeared ahead. Scattered buildings grew out of the yellowish-brown soil—gray-brown walls, low roofs. The streets were naturally formed and not uniform, but there was a lot of coming and going, and the bustle was unexpected.

Su Changge walked into the market town without speaking immediately, scanning the area first.

The Cultivators here were somewhat different from those he had seen in other Dao Domains. Their clothes were simple, their aura tended to be solid, and they generally carried a heavy, grounded undertone from being long-term exposed to Earth Evil Qi. Their eyes were direct, and there was not much beating around the bush in their conversation.

There were also some Cultivators who were obviously outsiders. Their temperament and attire were clearly different from the locals. Most were in groups of two or three, speaking in hushed voices, with more vigilance than relaxation in their eyes.

Ye Qingyao walked to his side, her voice lowered by a notch.

"Revered Master, the local Cultivators of the Dragon Vein Ancient Continent have a strong sense of identity. Outsiders need to be careful in their actions."

Su Changge did not speak.

"Keep a low profile. Being flamboyant? That is what I am least good at. I wish I could hide myself."

"There is a tea stall ahead."

Zhao Tian's voice came from behind, with real anticipation.

"After walking for so long, it is a good time to rest and listen to some local news."

Su Changge looked in that direction and walked over.