111: Chapter 111 Ruins of a Mahayana Powerhouse

"It's not that I look down on it." Xiao Ye put down his teacup and slowly pulled out a round, lustrous Medicinal Pill with flowing spiritual light from his robe, waving it in front of his son. "It's mainly because your father has this—the spirit ascension pill. Taking one can also improve your Spiritual Root Aptitude."

Xiao Yan stared at the Medicinal Pill, his eyes nearly popping out. "What? You have such a good thing? Then why didn't you bring it out earlier! You made your son fight for his life in the ruins, almost losing his life!"

"You didn't ask." Xiao Ye spread his hands, looking innocent.

Xiao Yan opened his mouth, wanting to curse, but held back, his face turning red from the effort. Finally, he took a deep breath and slapped the brocade box onto the table. "Fine, you win. Then I'll eat this peach myself; I'm not giving it to you!"

Xiao Ye stuffed the spirit ascension pill into his son's hand with a smile. "Take this; the effect is the same. Keep the peach to give away, like to your Senior Sisters or Junior Sisters... Anyway, you won't need it."

Xiao Yan froze, his face flushing instantly. "Dad, what nonsense are you talking about!"

"Your father has been through it; I understand you." Xiao Ye patted his son's shoulder and said earnestly, "Chasing girls is all about catering to their interests. Isn't an immortal peach that can improve a Spiritual Root better than some flowers or grass?"

Xiao Yan stamped his feet in anger. "I don't have any! Don't talk nonsense!"

"Fine, fine, you don't." Xiao Ye stood up and stretched. "Alright, go back and Cultivate once your injuries are healed. I have things to do, so I'm leaving first."

After saying that, he turned and left with a brisk pace.

Xiao Yan shouted from behind, "Dad, don't go! We haven't finished talking about the ruins!"

Xiao Ye paused his steps and glanced back at him. "Say everything at once. Your father is very busy; there are dozens of Beloved Concubines in the harem waiting for my favor."

Xiao Yan's lips twitched. He really wanted to cut ties with this shameless father of his, but he ultimately endured it. "I found a treasure in the ruins, but it's blocked by an Advanced Formation. Dad, do you know any Formation Great Masters?"

"Formation Great Master?" Xiao Ye turned around, hands behind his back and chin raised. "Isn't that a coincidence? One is right before your eyes! Your father is one!"

Xiao Yan: "..."

"Dad, that joke isn't funny at all."

"Hey—" Xiao Ye narrowed his eyes. "You actually dare to doubt your father's strength? If I don't show some skills, you won't believe me." He waved his hand. "Where are the ruins? Lead the way!"

Under Xiao Yan's skeptical gaze, the two of them mounted A-Diao and flew south.

A-Diao spread its wings and soared into the sky, its clear Phoenix cry echoing through the clouds.

With A-Diao flying at full speed, the father and son arrived at a gourd-shaped valley in less than two days.

This place was already far from the Great Qian Empire's territory. Xiao Ye couldn't help but want to complain—Son! Isn't it just that you don't want to be the Crown Prince and don't want to manage state affairs?

There's no need to run this far, is there? What, are you worried I'll catch you and take you back to work like an ox or a horse?

"Dad, the ruins are inside the valley." Xiao Yan pointed ahead.

"Oh, a gourd-shaped valley?" Xiao Ye narrowed his eyes and scanned the area.

As far as he knew, this type of terrain was called the "Golden Thread Hanging Gourd Layout" in Feng Shui. It was a top-tier auspicious site for gathering wind and Qi, often used for burying nobles or great clans.

Thoughtfully, he began to talk serious-sounding nonsense: "It seems this ruin should be a graveyard. Judging by the fact that you could find a divine item like the creation immortal peach inside, the person buried here is definitely no ordinary person—at least a Mahayana Realm powerhouse."

"Hiss—Mahayana Realm!" Xiao Yan gasped, his eyes nearly popping out.

A ruin he discovered randomly was actually the tomb of a Mahayana powerhouse?

Seeing his son being fooled by him, Xiao Ye was secretly proud.

A father should establish an omniscient and omnipotent image in front of his son.

"Son, besides you, how many people have entered?" Xiao Ye asked.

"I was the first to discover it. At that time, dozens of people followed me in. Now that ten days have passed, I don't know how many there are."

Xiao Yan paused, touched the wound on his shoulder, his face looking a bit indignant. "There are many Golden Core Realm powerhouses inside. I was injured by a young man in the Golden Core Realm."

Hearing this, Xiao Ye raised an eyebrow and patted his son's shoulder, his tone carrying a bit of heartache and a bit of ruthlessness: "Don't worry, son. Since your father is here, I will definitely avenge you. That kid who hit you, I'll make him kowtow and apologize to you on his knees."

As he spoke, he strode toward the valley, his robes fluttering and his pace swift.

Xiao Yan followed behind, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly—although this old man was usually improper, he was actually reliable at critical moments.

After entering the entrance of the ruins, Xiao Ye only felt his vision go dark, and then he felt his body being pulled frantically by an invisible force, like riding a roller coaster, making him feel dizzy and disoriented.

Before he could react, his vision brightened—he was already standing in a strange space.

A drizzle fell from the sky, and the earth was covered by grassland. Looking as far as the eye could see, it was a lush green, like a thick green carpet.

There were also many small mushrooms just popping out of the ground, colorful and varied.

"Son, lead the way!" Xiao Ye looked around and decisively passed the buck.

"Fly east!" Xiao Yan pointed to the east.

"Skree—" A-Diao spread its wings and soared into the sky, pointing straight toward the east.

"A-Diao, fly a bit lower." Xiao Ye patted A-Diao's head. "There are Creation Immortal Peaches here; maybe there are other good treasures. We can see more clearly if we fly lower."

Just as he finished speaking, a series of "boom boom boom" fighting sounds came from ahead. Spiritual power exploded, and the grass was trembling.

Xiao Ye hurriedly had A-Diao increase its altitude so they wouldn't be discovered.

He happily calculated in his heart: Fighting in the ruins definitely means they're fighting over treasures.

Hide first, wait for them to both be injured, and then play the oriole behind the mantis, reaping the benefits. How wonderful!

However, when A-Diao rose to a safe altitude, Xiao Ye peeked out—

On the grass ahead, four Cultivators were desperately attacking the empty ground. They were punching, kicking, and using Sword Qi, blasting the turf within a hundred meters into a mess. Grass clippings flew everywhere, looking like a threshing floor.

"..."

The father and son looked at each other, both filled with question marks.

"Dad, what are they doing?" Xiao Yan was bewildered.

Xiao Ye's lips twitched, and after a long time, he squeezed out a sentence: "Maybe... they're playing whack-a-mole?"

Xiao Yan: "Are there moles underground?"

Xiao Ye: "It's also possible they accidentally ate poisonous mushrooms!"

"Huh? What kind of poisonous mushroom is so powerful?"

A-Diao hovered in mid-air, tilted its head, let out a "ji" sound, and spat out a string of sparks, indicating it didn't understand but was greatly shocked.