393: Ancestral City

"The ancestral tree is at this location!"

Jiang Ning pointed to the very center of the map.

According to relevant records, the Yousen Domain exists and prospers because of the "ancestral tree".

The ancestral tree stands a hundred meters tall; while not particularly high in the Cultivation World, its roots firmly grasp the Yousen Domain.

Every blade of grass and every tree in this Yousen Domain is a "child" of the ancestral tree.

Every insect and beast in this Yousen Domain has received grace from the ancestral tree.

The Spiritual Qi of the ancestral tree makes the forests here lush and rich in Spiritual Qi, creating an endless cycle.

This ancestral tree is similar to the Tianshan Cold Pool in the Xuanhuang Domain... both are the Foundation of a domain.

Therefore, the ancestral tree fruit is all the more rare and precious.

"Although the effect of the ancestral tree is better than the Tianshan Cold Pool, the Tianshan Cold Pool opens every three years, while the ancestral tree only bears fruit once every fifty years, and there are only ninety-nine fruits.

Ordinary people cannot get their hands on even one.

Countless aging Cultivators have died in the year before the ancestral tree blossoms and bears fruit."

Jiang Ning put away the map.

No matter what the information, it all points to the preciousness of the ancestral tree.

Shen Jinhuan asked, "Are we going directly to the ancestral tree?"

"Yes," Jiang Ning explained, "There are still three days before the ancestral tree fruit matures. If we travel at full speed, we should be able to make it."

The city where the ancestral tree is located is called "Ancestral City".

Like the Tianshan Cold Pool, it is a lawless zone.

It's not that it isn't governed; it's that no one dares to govern it.

Under the premise of balanced strength, it is impossible for anyone to monopolize the "Foundation" of a domain.

Even if they could, they wouldn't do so.

The Foundation affects the Luck of a domain; a single force cannot suppress it.

Moreover, if one force monopolizes it, they will sooner or later produce numerous "spendthrifts".

These "spendthrifts" will cause trouble everywhere and invite "catastrophic disaster".

It is better to have competition instead.

In the Cultivation World, an individual can pursue comfort, but if a force becomes comfortable, it is destined to perish.

...

Three days later.

Ancestral City.

Jiang Ning looked up at this "dilapidated" city.

The missing corners of the stones bear witness to the history of this city.

The moss on the walls records the endless vitality of this city.

Jiang Ning held the young girl's hand and headed toward the gate of Ancestral City.

Two guards wearing wooden armor blocked Jiang Ning and the girl.

"During the maturation period of the ancestral tree fruit, only exit is allowed, no entry!"

Shen Jinhuan smiled.

From the myriad beast atlas in her mind, a butterfly flew out.

The guards' eyes immediately became unfocused.

Shen Jinhuan said, "Let's go."

"No entry allowed!"

The guards instantly sobered up and shouted, "Enemy attack!"

The gate of Ancestral City became lively.

People inside the city looked out, and those outside the city who were waiting for an opportunity to enter gripped their weapons.

Ancestral City is a lawless zone, and the guards are provided by various major forces.

The Yousen Domain is not like the Xuanhuang Domain; the forces here control the ancestral tree, but to ensure endless vitality, they also give these Loose Cultivators a chance.

No matter what method you use, as long as you can enter Ancestral City, they will not drive you away.

Once you obtain the ancestral tree fruit, this rule becomes invalid.

You must have the ability to take the ancestral tree fruit and get back out.

Only then can it be considered that you have obtained a fruit.

In the past, it was almost always the major forces that obtained the fruits; small forces or Loose Cultivators had no hope at all.

Yet, there are still people flocking to it.

The ancestral tree fruit, which matures every fifty years—if eaten, one might just become the founder of the next major force!

But this qualification alone is enough to filter out 99% of people.

Now that someone is taking the lead, it is the perfect time to break into Ancestral City.

Everyone prepared themselves.

The people guarding the city gate could call for reinforcements.

But those at the Nascent Soul level could not take action.

The Nascent Soul Cultivators of the Yousen Domain have their own track.

The guards' shouts attracted quite a few young Cultivators.

These people were all juniors from the major forces in the city, and the task of guarding the door was handed to them.

For them, this was a form of tempering.

A Golden Core Stage Male Cultivator with deep-set eye sockets narrowed his eyes; he held a black jar in his hand.

Looking at Jiang Ning, he said with a grin, "Someone else has come to throw their life away."

Another female Cultivator had a slender figure but had green hair, resembling an elf.

She sneered, "Don't get so close to me, it's disgusting, you parasite!"

The Cultivators at the city gate preparing to take the opportunity to rush in suddenly lost their spirit.

"Damn it, it's Saintess Qing Ling and the Heavenly Poison Holy Son. Both of them are at the Mid Golden Core Stage. Saintess Qing Ling is fine, at least she is pretty.

That jar in the Heavenly Poison Holy Son's hand is full of poisonous insects!

A Mid Golden Core Stage Cultivator once died at his hands; just hearing about it makes one's skin crawl."

"It's over; with them guarding the gate, what are we still fighting for?"

"Is there no one among us at the Late Stage Golden Core?"

"What's the use? Even if you are at the Late Stage Golden Core or Golden Core Perfection, their Elders will come too."

"What is the background of these two at the gate? They look unfamiliar..."

Jiang Ning heard the discussion behind him and smiled.

Shen Jinhuan looked up at the people on the city wall.

Expressionless.

The Heavenly Poison Holy Son's eyes lit up, "This white hair is so beautiful, and she is so pretty. If I kill her and peel off her face to put on my ghost-face insect, how beautiful would that be!"

Jiang Ning stared at the Heavenly Poison Holy Son.

Killing intent arose.

He formed a sword shape with his fingers and pointed at the Heavenly Poison Holy Son.

The Heavenly Poison Holy Son laughed, "Look, the ant still..."

Before he finished speaking, he saw a beam of Spiritual Qi burst from that person's fingertip and shoot straight at him.

Like thorns on his back!

The Heavenly Poison Holy Son did not doubt that if this Spiritual Qi hit him, it would take his life in an instant!

He couldn't even produce a single thought of resistance.

But when the beam of light reached right in front of him, it veered, piercing a hole directly into the black jar in his hand.

The whole scene went quiet!

One by one, insects crawled out of the black jar that had been pierced with a hole.

The insects crawled along the Heavenly Poison Holy Son's fingers, up his arm, and toward his face.

The Heavenly Poison Holy Son was shocked.

He hurriedly used Spiritual Qi to control the poisonous insects.

"How dare you destroy my Spiritual Artifact! I will have you killed!"

Jiang Ning smiled.

He took a step forward.

When he reappeared, he was already inside Ancestral City.

If he weren't afraid that killing the Heavenly Poison Holy Son would attract too much attention, he would have beheaded him just now.

Forget it, let him keep his life for now; after picking the ancestral tree fruit, he would take his dog life!

The Heavenly Poison Holy Son did not expect the other party to enter the city in a moment of distraction.

He was stunned.

"Small Teleportation Divine Ability? To use a life-saving Divine Ability for an ancestral tree fruit—do you really think you can obtain the ancestral tree fruit?"

The Small Teleportation Divine Ability is naturally not as precious as the ancestral tree fruit.

But for a Loose Cultivator, the probability of obtaining the ancestral tree fruit is too low.

This is all part of the cost.

The Heavenly Poison Holy Son wanted to use the poisonous insects to launch a sneak attack, but Saintess Qing Ling beside him stopped him.

"You cannot fight after entering Ancestral City. Do you want to break the rules?"

She looked at the two figures moving further and further away into the city.

She thought to herself, these two have high strength; if there is a chance, she must recruit them for the Sect!