256: Explore the ruins together

The two words "Old Acquaintance" acted like a calming pill, completely confirming Li Chen's suspicions.

He straightened up, looked at Yao Delong with a mix of admiration and gratitude in his eyes, and laughed heartily:

"Haha, Brother Yao is right! I was too obsessed! It's just... Brother Yao's current strength is truly astonishing! Although I was lucky enough to advance to the Nascent Soul stage, I still needed several strikes to break the scales of that Ironclad Earth Dragon. Brother Yao, you are only at the Golden Core Perfection stage, yet the power of a single sword strike can break its defenses and sever its bones. Such a gap is simply... inconceivable!"

His tone was sincere, carrying heartfelt shock.

At this moment, Xiao Huohuo also came over, curiously looking at the two of them: "Oh? Li Chen, do you know Senior Brother Yao?"

Li Chen nodded with a smile: "That's right! Previously in the Heavenly Demon Mountain Range, I was fortunate enough to fight side-by-side with Brother Yao against a powerful enemy! If not for Brother Yao's intervention, I'm afraid I wouldn't have been able to complete my mission!"

His admiration for Yao Delong was undisguised in his words.

Xiao Huohuo suddenly realized: "So that's it! I knew Senior Brother Yao must have had extraordinary experiences when he left the sect for training!"

He was long accustomed to his Senior Brother's strength, but hearing Li Chen personally confirm the events in the Heavenly Demon Mountain Range, his admiration for this Senior Brother deepened even further.

Li Chen quickly made introductions for both sides. He pulled over Li Linger, who was standing prettily to the side: "Brother Yao, Fellow Daoists, this is my younger sister, Li Linger. She accompanied me into the Secret Realm this time for training, but we didn't expect to encounter such danger."

Immediately after, he pointed to the elderly man with a calm aura and resolute face at the Nascent Soul Perfection stage: "This is Senior Shi Jian, a retainer of my Duke Rens Estate."

He then pointed to another elderly man, whose aura was slightly weaker but equally sharp, at the Late Nascent Soul Stage: "This is Senior Zhao Feng."

Finally, he pointed to the two Late Nascent Soul Stage experts who were fighting the Green Phosphorus Yao Python: "These two are Senior Brothers from the Moyang Sect, Senior Brother Sun Lie and Senior Brother Wang Yan. They were ordered by their sect to assist us in exploring the Secret Realm."

【Target: Li Linger】 【Age: 30】 【Cultivation: Late Golden Core Stage】 【Spiritual Power Affinity: 10 (One in a million)】 【Favorability: 50】 The System notification sounded at the right moment.

Yao Delong's gaze swept over Li Linger, and the young girl immediately lowered her head in a panic, her earlobes slightly red.

He understood in his heart, but his expression remained calm as he introduced his own group one by one: "This is my Senior Sister, Han Yun. This is Junior Sister Lin Qingxue. This is Yue Shan. This is Junior Sister Lin Shishi. And this," he pointed to Qiong Shuang, who had shrunk her size again, coiled back onto his shoulder, and was proudly holding her little head high, "is our companion, Qiong Shuang."

Upon hearing herself introduced, Qiong Shuang immediately puffed out her little chest, scanned everyone with her large ice-blue eyes, and tried hard to strike a majestic pose: "I am King Qiong Shuang! Please take care of me in the future!"

That childish voice, combined with her feigned mature tone, made everyone chuckle.

"So you are the esteemed Disciples of the Yin Yang Sect! We have long heard of your reputations!" Shi Jian, Zhao Feng, as well as Moyang Sect's Sun Lie and Wang Yan all solemnly cupped their hands in salute, their gazes towards Yao Delong and his group filled with deep wariness and gratitude.

The formidable strength and tacit cooperation of this team during the battle just now had left an extremely deep impression on them.

After the pleasantries, Yao Delong looked at Li Chen and asked: "Brother Li, why did you have such an intense conflict with this group of guardian beasts?"

Upon hearing this, a bitter smile appeared on Li Chen's face: "It is shameful to say. We also discovered this ancient ruin and, seeing what appeared to be precious treasures on the altar, we tried to find a way to lure away the group of guardian Yao Beasts to sneak in. However, that Earth-Shaking Demonic Ape has extremely high intelligence; despite several attempts, not only did we fail to lure it away, but we also exposed our hiding spot, which is why we were surrounded and attacked by them, falling into a bitter battle. If you, Brother Yao, hadn't arrived in time, the consequences would have been unimaginable!"

Yao Delong nodded slightly: "I see. We also came for this ruin; we heard the sounds of fighting just as we approached, so we came over to investigate."

"Oh? Brother Yao, you also came for this ruin?" Li Chen's eyes lit up.

"Indeed." Yao Delong cast his gaze toward the altar in the center of the square, which looked even more mysterious and ancient under the glow of the bonfire. "This place is dangerous. Although that demonic ape has retreated, it might return, and it is inconvenient to move at night. Why don't our two sides join forces and explore this ruin together tomorrow? We can split the gains equally. How about it?"

"Split equally?" Li Chen was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed!

His side's strength was damaged, and if not for Yao Delong and his group, let alone exploring the ruin, it would have been a question of whether they could even retreat unscathed. Now, the other party was not only powerful but also proactively offered to split the gains equally; this was truly like providing charcoal in snowy weather!

"Brother Yao is truly righteous! On behalf of the Duke Rens Estate and the Moyang Sect, I thank you, Brother Yao! We will follow all of Brother Yao's arrangements!" He agreed without hesitation, his gratitude and admiration for Yao Delong deepening even further.

Just as Yao Delong and Li Chen were discussing the details of tomorrow's exploration, Li Linger's gaze barely left Yao Delong's figure. That tall, straight posture, the calm demeanor, the heroic stance of saving her in the desperate situation like a descending Heavenly God, and that unfathomable strength... the young girl's heart was like a lake into which a stone had been thrown, rippling layer upon layer.

Lin Qingxue's cold gaze keenly captured Li Linger's undisguised look of admiration, and an imperceptible hint of sourness inexplicably welled up in her heart, as she secretly muttered to herself: 'Senior Brother's charm really attracts bees and butterflies wherever he goes...'

The night grew deeper, and everyone sat around the bonfire, each adjusting their breath to recover. Li Linger finally couldn't hold back, leaned over to her brother Li Chen, and lowered her voice, carrying undisguised excitement and curiosity: "Brother! That Yao... Senior Brother Yao, who exactly is he? So amazing! Is he really a Disciple of the Yin Yang Sect? He..."

Li Chen looked at his sister's sparkling eyes and understood her thoughts immediately. He smiled helplessly and whispered: "Brother Yao is indeed a Disciple of the Yin Yang Sect. His strength is unfathomable, and he is a man of unparalleled chivalry. However, Linger," his tone became a bit more serious, "don't forget, you have a marriage contract with Meng Bi, the heir of the Zhenyuan Marquiss Residence."

"Meng Bi?!" The excitement on Li Linger's face instantly faded, replaced by deep disgust and resistance. She said in a low, pouting voice: "Brother! It's not like you don't know what kind of person that Meng Bi is! Back in the Imperial Capital, relying on his family background, he bullied men and women, committed all sorts of crimes; he is a complete and utter playboy! I would rather die than marry him! When we go back this time, I will beg Grandfather to break off this engagement!"

Li Chen looked at his sister's stubborn little face, feeling helpless in his heart. How could he look favorably upon a person like Meng Bi? It was just that this marriage contract was a childhood engagement set by the two grandfathers when they were young, and it involved too much. However, thinking that his sister was now at the Late Golden Core Stage, had outstanding talent, and had even been accepted as a Personal Disciple by the Moyang Sect Sect Master, her status was no longer what it used to be. Perhaps... after returning, Grandfather might really reconsider this marriage contract.

"This matter... let's talk about it when we go back." Li Chen did not directly oppose it, just patted his sister's shoulder, "For now, focus on the Secret Realm; don't be distracted."