121: Stone tablet remains

A few days later, the Green Snake sent to scout the southwest returned with preliminary information regarding the "Broken Stone Tablet" area.

It was an ancient ruin located at the junction of the marsh and the mountain forest. It seemed to have once been a sacrificial site, but now only broken walls and debris remained; many fractured stone tablets could indeed be seen scattered throughout the area.

Currently, no signs of long-term occupation by Rank Three or higher Yao Beasts had been found. However, an unsettling silence permeated the depths of the ruins, and they had not dared to venture deep inside.

Gao De decided that after making sufficient preparations, he would personally head to those ruins to investigate.

After receiving the preliminary scouting report on the "Broken Stone Tablet" ruins to the southwest, Gao De did not set out immediately.

He was well aware of the risks of rashly entering unknown ruins, especially in a place like Yunmeng Marsh. He chose to continue accumulating strength while managing his existing territory more deeply... As the sun rose and the moon set, time in Yunmeng Marsh flowed in an alternation of silence and clamor.

Since discovering that ancient sleeping Flower Spirit beneath the plains, Gao De had regarded it as a dangerous but fertile ground that required careful study.

He did not retreat due to that obscure and difficult-to-understand pressure. Instead, he found a secluded spot high up in the beehive to perceive it with his Divine Thought day and night. Like the most patient scholar, he recorded every subtle breath of the colossal entity beneath the ground and the tide-like ebb and flow of the colorful miasma on the plains.

After several months of observation, a pattern gradually emerged.

On the night of a full moon, the underground fluctuations were most active. The magnificent yet deadly miasma became as thick as a physical substance, even spontaneously evolving into bizarre, short-lived illusions that could lead one to ruin.

When the new moon arrived, everything returned to silence. The miasma became thin, and the danger was greatly reduced.

Gao De also discovered that this miasma resonated faintly with the vitality of the myriad flowers on the plain. It wasn't pure poison; it was more like a mixture of life essence and some ancient Law of Dreams unconsciously emitted by the Flower Spirit in its slumber—dangerous, yet containing a peculiar power.

Having figured out the patterns, Gao De began making cautious attempts.

He chose the new moon period to set up a small guiding Formation at the edge of the plains.

Using his own Dragon Qi as a guide, like a traveler wading into dangerous shallows, he extremely cautiously channeled a sliver of thin miasma filtered by the Formation into his body.

The sensation was by no means pleasant.

As the miasma entered his body, dizziness hit him immediately. Colorful bubbles burst before his eyes, and whispers echoed in his ears.

Gao De kept his mind clear. The Purple Heaven Dragon Transformation Art circulated like thunder, and his dragon pearl steadied his Divine Soul, forcibly refining this foreign, alien energy.

At first, every step was difficult, but with persistent effort and gritted teeth, he gradually adapted.

After successful refinement, not only did his Demonic Power increase slightly, but his Divine Thought became even more resilient and transparent, as if it had been tempered. His resistance to illusions also quietly improved.

Even more mysterious was that he occasionally captured extremely fragmented images from the refined energy—perhaps a corner of the Flower Spirit's eternal dream: boundless seas of flowers, ancient sacrifices, the birth and death of stars... Though these fragments were indecipherable, they gave him a vague perception of the power of 'Illusions' and 'Dreams'.

He did not keep this to himself.

After confirming the method was feasible, he had his confidants, such as Green Edge and Iron Pincer, attempt to absorb minute amounts of mild miasma for tempering under his protection. The effects were equally significant, especially in honing their will, which was of great benefit.

As time passed, changes occurred quietly.

As the accumulated miasma grew—though still a mere drop in the ocean compared to the Flower Spirit itself—strange phenomena began to manifest on Gao De.

In the Dragon Might he radiated, in addition to the original overbearing thunder, there was now a hint of elusive unreality.

When standing still, his figure would occasionally ripple slightly like water. His exhaled breath would even show faint rainbows under specific lighting.

What was particularly obvious was that when he cultivated deeply and triggered his Bloodline Power, a very thin, mirage-like distorted scene would briefly appear in the Void Realm behind him—perhaps the shadow of a forest that did not exist in this world, or a corner of an unfamiliar palace. Though fleeting, it was clearly visible.

Gao De keenly captured his own changes, and a thought gradually became clear in his mind.

"Illusions," "Dreams," "Mirages"... These characteristics were so similar to the most mysterious and unpredictable branch of the Dragon Clan he knew, the "Mirage Dragon," which governed illusions and dreams!

"Long-term absorption of this miasma containing the power of dreams... could it be guiding my Bloodline to mutate or undergo an Awakening toward the Mirage Dragon?"

This speculation caused an ardent hope to well up in his heart.

As one of the special branches of the Dragon Clan, the Mirage Dragon's Divine Abilities were incredibly diverse, possessing the ability to create illusions, deceive all living beings, and even peer into dreams. It was one of the strongest and most peculiar abilities.

Meanwhile, he did not forget to integrate his original base at the Water Mansion.

He regularly contacted Turtle Three Thousand through the heavenly secret mirror to understand the situation in the Dongting Lake waters and Qianjiao Cliff. He also allocated some of Yunmeng Marsh's specialty blood honey and high-quality Ore for Iron Pincer to send back, strengthening the Water Mansion's foundation.

Turtle Three Thousand also summarized and transmitted scattered information collected from the Heavenly Secret Realm regarding the Cultivation World of the Three Kingdoms, the subsequent movements of the Nine Dragons Chamber of Commerce, and the Qianjiang Dragon King. This allowed Gao De to maintain a clear thread of intelligence despite being in the great marsh.

He also did one more important thing—opening a safe passage between the Two Demons' marsh lair and the Giant Demon Beehive.

He ordered Green Edge and Iron Pincer to lead their subordinates to clear and mark a relatively hidden path that bypassed known dangerous areas, setting up simple warning Formations and patrols at key nodes.

This made the connection between the two strongholds much tighter, and resource allocation and troop support became much more convenient.

A few months later, the Green Snake squad monitoring the "Broken Stone Tablet" ruins brought back new news.

They discovered that deep within the ruins, among those shattered stone tablets, faint runic light would occasionally flash by at specific times!

Furthermore, they confirmed that there were indeed no large Yao Beast groups occupying the ruins, only some low-level insects and small marsh creatures.

This news finally made Gao De reach a decision.

"Runic light... it means those stone tablets are no ordinary objects; they might contain remnants of ancient Restrictions or information."

Gao De mused, "Since no powerful Yao Beasts are occupying it, the risk is within a controllable range. It's time to go and investigate."

He summoned Green Edge and Iron Pincer and ordered, "Assemble a team of elites to accompany this King to those stone tablet ruins. Green Edge, you are responsible for scouting and alertness ahead; Iron Pincer, you will lead the men to cover the rear and provide support. Bee Queen, stay and guard the hive to maintain order on the plains."

"Yes! My Lord!" The Two Demons took their orders and immediately went to prepare.

Gao De finally checked his own status, preparing his Medicinal Pills, Talismans, and Magical Artifacts one by one.

He looked toward the southwest, his eyes filled with the desire to explore.

What secrets were hidden in these ruins marked on the ancient map? Were they related to the 'Dragon Palace Ruins' and the 'Hundred Beasts Sect', or were they an independent Opportunity?

With anticipation and caution, Gao De led his Demon Soldiers, left the Giant Demon Beehive he had managed for a long time, and once again set out on a journey of exploration in Yunmeng Marsh.

The target—the Broken Stone Tablet ruins to the southwest. His footsteps were covering the areas depicted on this thousand-year-old map one by one, gradually linking legend and reality together.