22: Conflict at the entrance to the ancient ruins

The morning bell awakened D-7 Courtyard from its cultivation.

After three days of intensive preparation and the nourishment of the Foundation Supplementing Pills, The core five people had reached their Peak condition. Zhao Iron Pillar felt his strength surge once more, while Wang Wu and the others' breaths had become much steadier, their gazes sharper.

Although Wen Youyi looked somewhat fatigued, his spirit was exceptionally high. That book, Crude Talk on Spirit Thread Traction, was even more complex and obscure than he had imagined, but relying on his powerful logical deduction and the exquisite control of spiritual power from the Breathing Cache Method, he had managed to touch upon the threshold. He had even conceptualized an extremely crude, and perhaps even dangerous, idea for Spiritual Power Linkage.

“Brothers, let's go!” Wen Youyi took a deep breath, suppressing the excitement and apprehension in his heart, and led everyone to the Sect square to assemble.

On the square, the other four qualified teams had also arrived.

The Five Elements Courtyard's five members remained calm and composed, as if they were going on an outing rather than an exploration. The lone wanderer Lin Feng held his sword, eyes closed to rest his mind, his entire body radiating an aura that warned others to stay away. Chen Jian led his three teammates, his eyes scanning Wen Youyi and the others with a dark, undisguised hostility. The late-comer Qi Refining Fourth Layer Peak Disciple, Sun Hao, stood alone, appearing somewhat isolated, yet his gaze was firm.

An Inner Sect Deacon responsible for leading the group counted the members. Without saying much, he flicked his sleeve and sacrificed a palm-sized jade boat. The jade boat grew upon meeting the wind, transforming into a ten-zhang long vessel, shimmering with radiant light as it hovered in the air.

“Board the boat.”

Everyone leaped onto the jade boat in turn. The interior of the jade boat was spacious, equipped with meditation mats. The Inner Sect Deacon activated a hand seal, and the jade boat vibrated slightly, turning into a streak of light that soared into the sky, quickly leaving the mountains of the Qingxuan Sect behind.

After flying for about half a day, the scenery below gradually changed from lush mountains and forests to desolation, and the air became permeated with an ancient and silent aura.

Finally, the jade boat slowly descended at the edge of a massive crater that looked as if it had been formed by a meteorite impact.

Inside the crater, mist swirled, obscuring the view within. One could only feel the chaotic and powerful energy fluctuations radiating from it. This was the entrance to the Meteor Ancient Ruins.

At this time, many people had already gathered at the entrance. Besides the Qingxuan Sect, there were Disciples from several other nearby Sects and cultivation families, standing in distinct circles, their eyes meeting with caution and a sense of competition.

The arrival of Wen Youyi's jade boat attracted many gazes. When they saw those disembarking—aside from the renowned Five Elements Courtyard, Lin Feng, Chen Jian, and the others—there were Wen Youyi and his four companions, dressed poorly and with clearly lower cultivation levels, the people from other factions all showed surprised and playful expressions.

“Is the Qingxuan Sect out of people? How could they even send those at the first or second layer of Qi Refining?” a Blazing Sun Sect Disciple dressed in crimson robes sneered. His voice wasn't loud, but everyone present was a Cultivator and heard him clearly.

A person beside him chimed in: “They're probably just here to make up the numbers, perfect to be used as cannon fodder to scout the way.”

Several Blazing Sun Sect Disciples burst into laughter.

On the Qingxuan Sect's side, the Five Elements Courtyard and Lin Feng remained expressionless, as if they hadn't heard a thing. A cold smile curled at the corner of Chen Jian's mouth, happy to see Wen Youyi make a fool of himself. Sun Hao frowned but said nothing.

Zhao Iron Pillar's face turned red with anger, his fists clenching until they cracked, about to shout back. Wang Wu and the others also showed looks of fury.

Wen Youyi, however, reached out to press down on Zhao Iron Pillar's hand, gently shaking his head. His gaze calmly swept over the Blazing Sun Sect Disciples, noting the flame emblems on their robes in his mind, and then he ignored them, turning instead to carefully observe the churning mist at the entrance of the Ancient Ruins.

His disregard actually made the Blazing Sun Sect Disciples feel slighted, and they felt they were losing face. The leader, a Qi Refining Fifth Layer Disciple named Blazing Edge, let out a cold snort and strode over, intentionally blocking Wen Youyi and the others. He said arrogantly, “Hey, you trash from the Qingxuan Sect, I'm talking to you! With this level of cultivation, you dare to come to the Ancient Ruins? Aren't you afraid of dying inside?”

This time, the provocation was aimed directly at their faces.

Everyone's gaze gathered, filled with the interest of watching a scene unfold.

Chen Jian even crossed his arms, looking like he was enjoying the show.

Wen Youyi finally moved his gaze from the mist to Blazing Edge's face, his tone flat and emotionless: “Senior Brother, the opportunities in the Ancient Ruins depend on one's own ability. What necessary connection is there with cultivation level? Does the Blazing Sun Sect select Disciples based only on cultivation and not on their brains?”

“You!” Blazing Edge didn't expect the other party to dare talk back, let alone mock him for having no brains. He was instantly enraged. “Sharp-tongued brat! I think you're looking for death!”

Fire spiritual power surged around him, and his palms glowed red, about to strike.

“Enough!”

A cold shout rang out, coming from the Qingxuan Sect's Inner Sect Deacon. His gaze swept over Blazing Edge, carrying the pressure of the Foundation Establishment Stage, causing Blazing Edge's movements to freeze.

“The entrance is about to open. Private grudges can be settled after you go in,” the Inner Sect Deacon said coldly, clearly not wanting a conflict to occur at the entrance.

Blazing Edge sullenly withdrew his hand and glared fiercely at Wen Youyi: “Kid, I'll remember you! You'd better hope I don't run into you once we're inside!”

Wen Youyi remained as calm as ever, even cupping his hands toward Blazing Edge: “Then I wish Senior Brother... all the best in the Ancient Ruins.”

His reaction gave Blazing Edge a frustrating feeling of punching cotton, making his face look even uglier.

The people from other factions looked at Wen Youyi, their eyes holding less contempt and more scrutiny. This kid's composure in the face of an opponent several layers higher than him didn't seem faked.

Just then, the mist in the center of the crater suddenly churned violently, forming a slowly rotating vortex that emitted a faint, eerie light.

“The entrance is open! Those holding qualification tokens, enter quickly! One month from now, the exit will appear on its own. Latecomers will not be waited for!” An ancient voice rang out from nowhere, echoing in everyone's ears.

“Let's go!” The people from the Five Elements Courtyard were the first to turn into streaks of light and plunge into the vortex.

Lin Feng, Chen Jian, Sun Hao, and the others followed closely behind.

“Brothers, stay close to me!” Wen Youyi shouted low, no longer caring about the gazes of others, and led Zhao Iron Pillar and the other four, resolutely charging toward the glowing vortex.

At the moment of entering the vortex, Wen Youyi could feel the cloud-patterned keepsake Yun Zhi had given him in his robe seem to heat up slightly.

The next moment, the world spun, and a powerful tearing force came upon them.

Wen Youyi only had time to shout one last instruction: “Remember 'that method' I taught you! If you encounter danger, try it immediately!”

The figures of the five were instantly swallowed by the entrance of the Ancient Ruins.

(End of Chapter 22)