237: Chapter 237 The Mysterious Realm Matters Resolved, Searching for Ruins

The violent power of the thunder finally dissipated completely.

A deathly silence returned to the world.

That insufferably arrogant Immortal King-level remnant Soul, Black Vine, had been reduced to ashes under the judgment of the Nine Tribulations Immortal Light.

Not even a sliver of a True Spirit remained.

Su Xuanchen stood with his hands behind his back within the Void Realm.

His white robes were as pure as snow, without even a corner stained by dust.

The devastated land below bore witness to the earth-shattering battle of destruction that had just occurred.

Ji Luanxi and Chang Xiyue turned into two streaks of light, flying swiftly to Su Xuanchen's side.

The great enemy had been executed.

However, there wasn't the slightest hint of joy from a great victory on the three's faces.

On the contrary, all three of them appeared exceptionally solemn.

Su Xuanchen's gaze was fixed intently on a corner of the void ahead.

There, a mass of mist that was bizarre to the extreme hovered.

The mist presented a deathly gray color, interspersed with wisps of crimson blood-light.

This was the residue of dark matter stripped from the depths of Black Vine's Divine Soul after his complete fall.

This mass of mist slowly rolled in mid-air.

As soon as the surrounding void came into contact with this mist, it immediately emitted a "chi-chi" corroding sound.

Even the invisible Laws of the Dao were forcibly distorted and polluted by this power.

Ji Luanxi only took one look before her scalp felt numb.

"This thing is too sinister."

Ji Luanxi leaned closer to Su Xuanchen, her voice carrying some lingering fear.

"I only sensed it slightly with my Divine Sense, and I felt a chill in my heart, as if even my Soul was going to be swallowed up."

Su Xuanchen nodded slightly.

"This is pure depravity and destruction."

His tone was calm, yet it betrayed extreme vigilance.

"This dark matter does not belong to this world; it is extremely gloomy and bizarre."

"Even a powerhouse of the Immortal King Realm, once tainted by this thing, would likely have their mind instantly eroded and fall completely into darkness."

Hearing Su Xuanchen's evaluation,

Chang Xiyue, standing to the side, felt her delicate body tremble violently.

All color instantly drained from her cold and beautiful face.

Chang Xiyue stared intently at that mist of intertwined gray and crimson.

Her jade-like hands were tightly clenched into fists, her nails sinking deep into her palms.

Su Xuanchen noticed Chang Xiyue's abnormality.

He turned his head, looking at the pale-faced beauty.

"Xiyue, what's wrong?"

Su Xuanchen reached out and held Chang Xiyue's cold, jade-like hand.

Chang Xiyue took a deep breath, her voice trembling due to extreme worry.

"Husband, seeing the terror of this dark matter makes me even more afraid."

Her eyes were red, her heart full of concern.

"The Empress... Yun Lingxiao was deeply infected by this very dark matter."

"If just a small mass of residue is this terrifying,"

"how much pain and torture did the Empress endure back then?"

Hearing this, Ji Luanxi couldn't help but sigh as well.

She stepped forward and gently took Chang Xiyue's arm.

"The Ancient Empress was exceptionally talented and stood alone throughout the ages; what a magnificent figure she was."

Ji Luanxi's tone was full of regret and lamentation.

"To protect this world, she held up the situation all by herself, only to end up like this. It truly makes one's heart ache."

Chang Xiyue gripped Ji Luanxi's hand back, the anxiety in her heart growing more intense.

Her brow was furrowed as she constantly replayed the words Black Vine had spoken earlier in her mind.

"But there's one thing I just can't figure out."

Chang Xiyue looked at Su Xuanchen and voiced the doubt in her heart.

"Black Vine said that the Boundary Sea is the source of dark matter and a graveyard for Immortal Kings."

"But as far as I know, before she was infected, the Empress had never even been to the Boundary Sea!"

Hearing this, Su Xuanchen's gaze narrowed slightly.

Chang Xiyue continued her analysis.

"The Empress always presided over the Ancient Heavenly Court, ruling the All Heavens and Myriad Realms."

"Since she never went to the Boundary Sea, where exactly did the dark matter inside her come from?"

The more Chang Xiyue thought about it, the more alarmed she became.

A terrifying thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

"Husband, do you think..."

Chang Xiyue looked up, staring directly into Su Xuanchen's eyes.

"Could the Empress's infection by darkness be related to the war of destruction that ended the Ancient Heavenly Court?"

Su Xuanchen nodded slightly at this speculation.

"It's very likely."

He followed Chang Xiyue's line of thought.

"The Ancient Heavenly Court was at its peak, yet it fell apart and was completely destroyed in a single night."

"That great war definitely hides a shocking secret."

"Perhaps among the enemies who attacked the Ancient Heavenly Court back then, there were terrifying existences tainted by dark matter."

Hearing this, Chang Xiyue was anxious.

"Then what should we do?"

She grabbed Su Xuanchen's sleeve, her tone urgent.

"The Empress has now fled to the Boundary Sea alone, her life or death unknown."

"We don't even know how she was infected, so how can we go and rescue her?"

Su Xuanchen pulled Chang Xiyue into his arms.

His broad hand gently patted Chang Xiyue's back.

"Don't worry, things haven't reached a point of despair yet."

Su Xuanchen's voice was steady and powerful, carrying a calming strength.

"To unravel the mystery of the Empress's infection, we only have two paths we can take."

Chang Xiyue looked up.

"Which two paths?"

Su Xuanchen held up one finger.

"First, find a witness who personally experienced the destruction of the Ancient Heavenly Court."

"As long as we find someone who participated in that great war, we can naturally ask for the truth of what happened."

After hearing this, Chang Xiyue's eyes dimmed a bit.

"That's too difficult."

She shook her head, her tone helpless.

"The Ancient era is too far from the present."

"The powerhouses who participated in the war either fell on the spot long ago or completely disappeared over the long years."

"The only surviving witness is the Ancient Empress Yun Lingxiao herself."

"But she is now far away in the Boundary Sea; the Boundary Sea is vast and filled with forbidden zones, we have no way to search for her."

Su Xuanchen had already expected this.

He held up a second finger.

"Then only the second path remains."

Su Xuanchen's gaze was deep as he looked at the distant sky.

"Find the ruins of the Ancient Heavenly Court."

Chang Xiyue was stunned for a moment.

"The Ancient Heavenly Court ruins?"

Su Xuanchen nodded in confirmation.

"Exactly."

"As the center of the heavens back then, even if the Ancient Heavenly Court was destroyed, it would definitely have left behind countless traces."

"As long as we can find the location of the ruins and delve deep into them to explore,"

"we will surely find clues about the great war from those broken walls and ancient remains."

"It's even possible to find a way to neutralize the dark matter."

As soon as these words were spoken,

a bright light instantly erupted in Chang Xiyue's originally dim eyes.

She was like a drowning person grabbing onto the last life-saving straw.

"Yes! The Ancient Heavenly Court ruins!"

Chang Xiyue clenched her fists excitedly.

"There must be clues hidden there!"

The fire of hope in her heart burned once again.

"Husband, we must find those ruins!"

Chang Xiyue's tone was determined; she had made up her mind.

Seeing her cheer up again, Su Xuanchen's lips curved into a gentle smile.

"Alright, I'll accompany you to find them."

He turned his head, his gaze sweeping across the surrounding True Dragon Forbidden Land.

After the great battle, this forbidden land had completely turned into ruins.

The True Dragon's residual prestige that originally filled the area had also mostly dissipated after Black Vine's fall.

Su Xuanchen released his Divine Sense, spreading it toward the deeper parts of the Primeval Secret Realm.

A moment later, he withdrew his Divine Sense.

"This Primeval Secret Realm indeed hides quite a few good things."

Su Xuanchen spoke indifferently.

"Unfortunately, now is not the time."

Ji Luanxi was somewhat puzzled.

"Husband, why do you say that?"

Su Xuanchen pointed toward the depths of the Secret Realm.

"The time for this Secret Realm to truly open has not yet arrived."

"Those truly world-shaking opportunities in the depths are currently obscured by extremely powerful Laws of the world."

"Forcing open the Restrictions to take them would not only be time-consuming and laborious but also easily invite unpredictable dangers."

He turned to look at Ji Luanxi and Chang Xiyue.

"Besides, looking at you two now, you don't have the interest to continue exploring anyway."

Ji Luanxi glanced at Chang Xiyue, whose heart was full of concern for the Empress, and nodded very understandingly.

"Husband is right."

Ji Luanxi echoed.

"Sister Xiyue is anxious right now; even if we encounter an Opportunity, we won't have the heart to take it."

Su Xuanchen made a decision.

"Then let's leave here first."

He spoke with finality.

"This Secret Realm is right here and won't run away."

"When the time is ripe in the future, the Secret Realm truly opens, and many opportunities appear, it won't be too late for us to return and explore."

"The priority right now is to accompany Xiyue to find the ruins of the Ancient Heavenly Court."

Hearing Su Xuanchen put her matters first, a warm current surged in Chang Xiyue's heart.

"Thank you, husband,"

Chang Xiyue said softly, her eyes full of affection.

Neither of the two women had any objection to Su Xuanchen's decision.

"Let's go."

Su Xuanchen gave a wave of his sleeve.

A brilliant golden light enveloped the three of them.

"Swish!"

The golden light soared into the sky, directly tearing through the spatial barriers of the True Dragon Forbidden Land.

The three turned into a streak of light, speeding toward the exit of the Primeval Secret Realm.

On the way out,

Su Xuanchen deliberately chose a completely new route they hadn't taken before.

Along the way, the three explored some of the outer areas as they passed.

Although they didn't encounter any Heaven-Defying opportunities like the True Dragon Forbidden Land,

they also casually picked many ten-thousand-year Spirit Medicines and rare Ores seldom seen in the outside world.

It was considered a pastime along the way.

Time flew by.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Outside the Primeval Secret Realm,

within a deathly silent void space.

"Crack!"

The originally calm void suddenly emitted a crisp cracking sound.

Immediately after, a huge spatial rift was forcibly torn open.

Brilliant immortal light gushed out from the rift.

The figures of Su Xuanchen, Ji Luanxi, and Chang Xiyue stepped out from the shattered void.

They landed steadily in the starry sky outside.

As soon as she appeared,

Ji Luanxi couldn't wait to let out a long breath.

"Phew—Finally out!"

She patted her high chest, her beautiful face full of ease and comfort.

"The suppression of Laws in that Primeval Secret Realm was too severe."

"There were gloomy ancient lands and Vicious Beasts everywhere; it was so oppressive I could hardly breathe."

Ji Luanxi complained while stretching her body.

She extended her two snow-white, jade-like arms and gave a long, vigorous stretch.

This inadvertent movement

instantly showcased her proud, explosive figure to the fullest.

Her fiery-red rainbow dress clung tightly to her body.

Her proud twin peaks stood high, tracing a breathtakingly perfect arc.

Her slender waist, which could be encircled by one's hands, appeared even more supple during the stretch.

The hem of her skirt lifted slightly, revealing a section of straight, slender, and dazzlingly white legs.

This scene, with its intense visual impact, could practically make any man's blood boil.

Su Xuanchen stood to the side, his gaze naturally falling on Ji Luanxi's body.

He looked her up and down, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

"Lianxi."

Su Xuanchen spoke slowly, his tone carrying a bit of playful teasing.

"If you keep stretching like that, these clothes of yours are going to be burst open by you."

He deliberately emphasized the words "burst open."

Ji Luanxi's movements suddenly stiffened.

She followed Su Xuanchen's gaze and looked down, immediately realizing how provocative her current posture was.

"Ah!"

Ji Luanxi let out a soft cry.

She retracted her arms as if she'd been electrocuted, her pretty face instantly turning bright red all the way to her ears.

"Husband! What are you looking at!"

Ji Luanxi stomped her foot in shame and anger.

She gave Su Xuanchen a coquettish glare, her beautiful eyes rippling with emotion.

"You are the dignified Su Family Ancestor, yet you have no sense of propriety!"

Su Xuanchen laughed heartily.

"I'm looking at my own wife; it's perfectly natural. How is that having no propriety?"

He took a step forward, making a move to catch Ji Luanxi.

"Come, let your husband have a good check and see if the clothes are actually broken."

"I don't want to!"

Ji Luanxi turned and ran away in fright.

The two of them began to play and frolic in this boundless starry sky like two Mortal children.

Su Xuanchen deliberately slowed down, chasing unhurriedly behind.

Ji Luanxi ran until she was out of breath in front, her silver-bell-like laughter echoing in the starry sky.

After running for a while,

Ji Luanxi really couldn't run anymore.

She scurried to hide behind Chang Xiyue.

"Sister Xiyue, quickly, you take care of him!"

Ji Luanxi grabbed Chang Xiyue's shoulders with both hands, peeking out half of her small head from behind.

Blushing, she acted spoiled toward Chang Xiyue, seeking help.

"Husband is bullying me again!"

Chang Xiyue stood where she was, watching the two of them run in circles around her.

A helpless smile appeared on her cold and beautiful face.

Her heavy mood, which had been weighed down by worry for the Empress, was lightened quite a bit by their antics.

"Alright, alright."

Chang Xiyue laughed helplessly.

She reached out and stopped Su Xuanchen, who was about to continue teasing Ji Luanxi.

"Husband, you two should stop messing around."

Chang Xiyue softly persuaded the two to stop.

Her expression returned to being serious.

"We've stayed in the Secret Realm for so long; it's also time for us to head back."

Chang Xiyue looked at Su Xuanchen and offered her suggestion.

"I propose that we first return to the Su Family Ancestral Land."

"Go back and rest for a while, and at the same time, look through some ancient records and materials."

"Then we can discuss the matter of searching for the Ancient Heavenly Court ruins in detail."

Su Xuanchen stopped in his tracks.

He put away the playful look on his face and nodded in full agreement.

"Xiyue is right."

Su Xuanchen consented.

"Searching for the ruins is no small matter; we can't just rush in like headless flies. We must first make sufficient preparations."

Ji Luanxi also stepped out from behind Chang Xiyue and nodded obediently.

The few of them temporarily put aside their playfulness.

Their hearts were on the serious business at hand.

They prepared to return to the Ancestral Land to rest first, then set about exploring the ruins, unraveling the mysteries in their hearts, and finding a way to rescue Yun Lingxiao.