530: Chapter 530 The Bronze Cube

Jiang Ning did not decline Elixir Patrol's kindness.

He indeed needed powerful helpers.

Returning to the courtyard, Jiang Ning infused his Divine Soul power into the compass.

The verdigris-colored compass showed no reaction.

"It's true, this compass will only respond when used within the Former Dynasty Ruins."

Shen Jinhuan walked over, looked at the item in Jiang Ning's hand, and asked, "What is this?"

Jiang Ning explained about the compass and what Elixir Patrol had told him.

Shen Jinhuan nodded.

"When do we depart?"

"In the next few days; I need to prepare some supplies."

Elixir Patrol reminded him that before entering the Former Dynasty Ruins, he must prepare a sufficient quantity of "sha-breaking pills."

Within the Former Dynasty Ruins, nourished by round after round of Evil Qi, every ten years countless Cultivators die there with resentment, adding to the Evil Qi. Inside, Cultivators must face the encroachment of Evil Qi at all times.

Once their Divine Sense is overtaken by Evil Qi, they become monsters that only know how to kill, eventually becoming a part of the Former Dynasty Ruins.

In the Former Dynasty Ruins, Da Qian only requires participants to be below the Dao Integration Realm without other restrictions, also to ensure a continuous supply of new Evil Qi within the ruins.

Otherwise, even after ten years of nourishment, the Evil Qi inside would have been exhausted long ago.

Cultivators seek Opportunities and die inside, becoming resources for the Evil Qi—resources that others will seek in the future.

With an sha-breaking pill, taking one can help a Cultivator protect their mind for a day from being eroded by Evil Qi, provided they don't go to places where the Evil Qi is particularly dense.

Jiang Ning felt that this place was quite similar to the Spirit Ruins of the Lingxu Domain.

Shen Jinhuan looked at Xiao Bai, who was sleeping soundly in the courtyard, and asked, "Revered Master, are you taking Xiao Bai with you this time?"

Jiang Ning shook his head. "This journey is dangerous; taking you along is already the limit. Xiao Bai absorbs the essence of heaven and earth, so going to the Former Dynasty Ruins would be useless for her. It's better for her to cultivate well here."

Shen Jinhuan nodded.

She understood everything Jiang Ning said.

The Former Dynasty Ruins were already dangerous, and there was a high probability that the Third Prince, who was specifically hunting her Revered Master, would be there.

Elixir Patrol had given Jiang Ning a Pill Formula for the sha-breaking pill. Combined with the academy's internal discounts on medicinal ingredients, Jiang Ning spent these days refining the sha-breaking pills.

He continued refining like this.

The time for departure arrived.

Upon parting, Xiao Bai clung reluctantly to Jiang Ning's shoulder.

Xiao Bai said in a dejected tone, "Come back quickly. I'll definitely be bored alone in this courtyard, even though I have Xiao Hui to keep me company..."

"I will miss you very much."

Xiao Bai's expression of emotion was as direct as ever.

Jiang Ning stroked her head and said warmly, "Don't worry, just look after the house. When I return, I'll bring you something good."

"It's a promise then..."

Xiao Bai's eyes sparkled with light.

She watched as Jiang Ning and Shen Jinhuan left with the expert escorting them.

Xiao Bai's excited expression dimmed again, and she murmured to herself, "You must come back, you must definitely come back safely."

She was no longer a Spirit Beast that knew nothing.

Her Revered Master usually took her and Huanhuan along for everything. Leaving her at home now proved that this trip was truly dangerous.

...

The Former Dynasty Ruins were located in the north of the Imperial City.

It took a week by space spirit boat.

When Jiang Ning followed the escorting expert out of the space tunnel, he looked at the bustling city and sighed with emotion.

"There are so many people."

Shen Jinhuan took Jiang Ning's hand.

The expert escorting them was named Qin Kuo, a Revered Master at the Early Stage of the Mahayana Realm. In the Lower Realm, he was someone capable of founding a sect and living freely without hindrance.

Qin Kuo was not from Kunyu Academy; he had come to escort Jiang Ning through his connection with Elixir Patrol.

Qin Kuo and Elixir Patrol were close friends.

Qin Kuo said, "Because of the Former Dynasty Ruins, an Evil City has appeared nearby. There are very few original residents here; it only becomes lively every ten years."

The original residents here usually make a living by providing supplies to the Da Qian Army stationed here.

On the eve of the Former Dynasty Ruins' opening, the people here prepare sha-breaking pills, ruins maps, and other items to make a fortune."

He glanced at the swarms of Cultivators in the city.

"Of the Cultivators who come to this city, it's considered good if even thirty percent return alive."

Jiang Ning was surprised. "The casualties are that high?"

Qin Kuo nodded. "You should have noticed that Evil City has no laws like flight bans. Aside from not allowing fighting or killing in the streets, everything else is ignored."

And after entering the ruins, there are no legal constraints at all.

Evil Qi is a resource, and the other Cultivators who enter are also resources.

Furthermore, because their Divine Souls are infected by Evil Qi, their inner greed and irritability are magnified. Murder, arson, rape, and robbery are all very common occurrences.

It is precisely because of this that the Evil Qi here can be harvested every ten years to increase the overall strength of Da Qian."

"Raising Gu..."

Jiang Ning was startled.

This Former Dynasty Ruins was a giant Gu-raising field; one either became the Gu King or became nourishment.

The Emperor of Da Qian really does like raising Gu.

But then again, without competition, how could there be the contention of ten thousand Daos?

"Enough said, let's find a place to stay in the city and rest for a while."

Qin Kuo directly used his Spiritual Qi to support Jiang Ning and Shen Jinhuan.

At his Realm, a spirit boat was not as fast as his flight.

Seeing the terrifying Spiritual Qi Qin Kuo displayed, the Cultivators in the city lowered their heads and remained silent. This was a ruthless person, best not to be provoked.

After securing guest rooms, Qin Kuo took Jiang Ning and Shen Jinhuan to the center of the city.

A beam of light in the central plaza enveloped an object resembling a Bronze Magic Cube.

The founding Old Ancestor of Da Qian possessed great ability, compressing the Former Dynasty Ruins into a space and sealing it with this bronze Spiritual Artifact.

The bronze artifact opens every ten years, remaining open for one month, or thirty days.

When the time comes, the beam of light will connect with the plaza's Grand Array, and those who step into the array will be transported into the Former Dynasty Ruins."

Jiang Ning looked at the bronze artifact, thought for a moment, and asked, "Senior, if a Cultivator is at the Half-step Dao Integration Realm and rapidly breaks through to the Dao Integration Realm after entering the ruins, wouldn't they be invincible inside?"

"It's not that easy." Qin Kuo chuckled. "This bronze artifact is a high-grade Spiritual Artifact that can automatically block any Realm above the Deity Transformation Realm. If someone breaks through to the Dao Integration Realm inside the ruins..."

...the ruins will suppress their Realm to the scope of the Deity Transformation Realm."

Jiang Ning nodded, feeling much more at ease.

He was afraid the Third Prince would send several Half-step Dao Integration Realm experts who would immediately break through upon entry.

If that happened, how could he possibly stop them?

Fortunately, no matter how strong they are, they cannot exceed Soul Transformation, so he still had confidence.

After seeing the location of the ruins, Qin Kuo took Jiang Ning and Shen Jinhuan for a stroll through the market.

He naturally didn't need sha-breaking pills, but the original residents sold items brought out from the Former Dynasty Ruins, which were quite novel.

If he could find some good items, he would have more protection after entering.