Chapter 95: Chapter 91: Zhongshan Secret Ruins, Cloud Mist Secret Realm

"Unexpectedly, the top spot was snatched by an unknown young man!"

"Who exactly is this person? Senior Brother Zhang has cultivated for thirty years, diligently without interruption, even the elders of Cyan Peak Daoist School want to take him as a disciple, yet he couldn’t prevail against this person?"

"What do you mean by unknown? A sharp tool hidden in a bag must be revealed; this Profound Grass Banquet might just be the beginning of his fame in the school!"

"Our Daoist School truly has talent in abundance; even a person emerging from any corner can have such strength."

"Stop talking, quickly verify, who exactly is this person? Whose Golden Talisman did he use to enter Yunxuan Island?"

"...Seems like it’s Junior Martial Uncle Xiang Ronghua?"

"Junior Martial Uncle Xiang? Although Junior Martial Uncle Xiang loves wealth and sells Golden Talismans every time, he is not a rash person. He wouldn’t likely recommend someone with no roots, whose name is unknown."

"...Found it, I flipped through the records, Gu Yuan, this person’s name is Gu Yuan!"

Inside the Jade Hall, amidst the lively discussions, a disciple from the Affairs Hall suddenly shouted.

"Gu Yuan... This name sounds so familiar, as if I’ve heard it somewhere before?"

"Could it be... the one who earned the reward from Sword Fox Immortal and was admitted as a disciple?"

"This, this, this... It’s only been a few years? He already qualifies to vie for the top spot at the Profound Grass Banquet?"

"My father’s eyes are blind and superficial, my sister should have married him long ago!"

"Immortal’s recommendation, I see..."

In the Jade Hall, amidst the chaotic chatter, Gu Yuan’s origin was clarified, and upon hearing the words ’Sword Fox Immortal,’ all suddenly understood.

Those initially unwilling to accept the outcome also reconciled.

At this moment, Gu Yuan on the silver stage was teleported away by the Grand Array and had vanished.

The entire Jade Hall had lost its array power and returned to its normal size.

Meanwhile, Bian Chuyao, at some point, had also disappeared.

Only a series of delicate Shell Maidens filed in, placing spiritual fruits and fine delicacies on the Jade Altar.

The people knew this was the final compensation.

After eating, they could return to their respective homes.

The matter of the Profound Grass no longer concerns them.

Mountain Cloud Dragon glared hatefully at the Golden Hall’s exit, drinking heavily.

...

...

In the inner hall of the Golden Cauldron Hall, Gu Yuan sat by a Jade Table, while Bian Chuyao sat across from him with a smile.

Upon getting closer, Gu Yuan realized that not only was Bian Chuyao extremely beautiful, but her skin also glowed white, resembling a Jade Beauty.

"Senior Brother Gu truly has extraordinary skills and temperament. Chuyao admires you; as per our previous agreement, the Gold-Slaying Mysterious Grass is yours!"

Bian Chuyao didn’t bother with pleasantries, directly taking out a small jade box and pushing it towards Gu Yuan.

Inside the small box lay a golden spiritual grass, emitting a faint golden light, resembling a sharp sword, quietly resting.

This grass possesses an extraordinary spiritual nature; even though it’s stored in a jade box, it still gently trembles, seemingly absorbing spiritual qi.

"Many thanks, Junior Sister Bian!"

Gu Yuan activated the Heaven-Revealing Spirit Eye, examining the Gold-Slaying Mysterious Grass closely. Then, with a wave of his sleeve, he put it into his Storage Bag.

After that, he stood up, ready to take his leave.

"Senior Brother Gu, please wait!"

Seeing this, Bian Chuyao hurriedly stood up to stop Gu Yuan.

"Senior Brother Gu, as previously mentioned, whoever breaks the array, Chuyao will give a generous gift. Now that your strength is exceptional, you broke my Star Array, how can Chuyao go back on her word? There’s another generous gift for you."

But Gu Yuan simply turned back indifferently, looking at Bian Chuyao.

Bian Chuyao sighed inwardly, knowing that the person in front of her has suspicions about this magical combat. She also didn’t conceal it and directly took out a cyan green token.

"This Cyan Jade Order is the generous gift Chuyao offers to Senior Brother Gu!"

"Do you know the origin of this token, Senior Brother?"

Gu Yuan shook his head.

"Several hundred years ago, the Sovereign of Zhongshan Country, bewitched by the Demon Race, disregarded the Celestial Palace’s laws, and recklessly initiated a wide-scale sect-ending war."

"Ultimately, our Daoist School received a decree from the Celestial Palace, killed the Sovereign of Zhongshan Country, and pushed the entirety of its territory into the Land of Annihilation, ending this farce."

"Do you know what the Land of Annihilation is, Senior Brother?"

Bian Chuyao softly asked.

Gu Yuan naturally knew about this.

In Yun Hanyou’s Storage Bag, records about the Three Dharma Seals mentioned this matter. He had researched multiple times in the Scripture Pavilion to finally understand the story.

The so-called Land of Annihilation is a peculiar space constructed by the Celestial Palace with Great Magical Power.

Within this space, the spiritual qi is locked, and all living beings cannot surpass the Qi Refining Stage, nor live beyond one hundred and fifty years.

Over time, the spiritual qi within the space will become less and ultimately annihilate completely, returning everything to silence.

This is the Celestial Palace’s punishment for rebels, making them gradually disappear in regret from the world.

At the same time, the Land of Annihilation became a ’treasure land’ for many cultivators.

Although before being pushed into the Land of Annihilation, the entire area was thoroughly plundered, there’s bound to be something missed. Moreover, for several hundred years, the concentration of spiritual qi can support the growth of spirit grass and various strange organisms.

Living creatures in the Land of Annihilation cannot leave, but various spirit grasses and exotic treasures can be taken out; external cultivators are not limited by the Land of Annihilation.

Therefore, the Land of Annihilation also has another name, called Secret Ruins, an ideal exploration place for Qi Refining cultivators.

Some external Qi Refining cultivators even fell in love with the women within and stayed in the Secret Ruins, never leaving.

Some established countries there, proclaimed themselves kings and patriarchs, indulging in their joys.

When Zhongshan Country was pushed into the Land of Annihilation, it naturally became one of the Secret Ruins.

Before the True Dragon fell and the Daoist School went on expeditions to the outside world, the Zhongshan Secret Ruins were the most frequented secret realm for the Daoist School disciples.

However, entering the Secret Ruins is not easy; one must have a token associated with it to enter freely.

Though tokens are not rare, as the Daoist School created multiple when pushing it into the Land of Annihilation.

However, each token is associated with different places, meaning holding different tokens allows entry to various areas.

Some fortunate individuals can be directly teleported to the Spirit Mountain Treasure Land, unfortunate ones find themselves amidst a Demon Beast Tide upon entry.

"This Cyan Jade Order can directly teleport to Cloud Mist Mountain in Zhongshan Country!"

Bian Chuyao explained briefly, then seductively, in a soft tone, enticed Gu Yuan.

Cloud Mist Mountain holds a status in Zhongshan Country equivalent to Cyan Peak Mountain’s in Cyan Peak Daoist School.

It is genuinely the core hidden treasure land, a mountain of treasure!

Before Zhongshan Country was annihilated, this place was known as Cloud Mist Secret Realm.

"Senior Brother Gu, don’t you think this is a generous gift?"

Bian Chuyao smiled sweetly, softly asking.

"Junior Sister Bian speaks of hidden treasures but not of risks, that’s not very forthright..."

Gu Yuan merely shook his head.

Over the years, he collected abundant information and understood the risks of Cloud Mist Mountain.

Although this place was looted by Cyan Peak Daoist School, with powerful cultivators wiped out, it also led to the birth of numerous peculiar evils and demon beasts. They consume many cultivators’ corpses to grow, almost turning Cloud Mist Mountain into a Demon Cave and Evil Mountain.

Several Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivators once, without token, traveled ten thousand miles, battling across Zhongshan Country to reach Cloud Mist Mountain, but ended up defeated and buried.

This place is quite dangerous; unsure, Gu Yuan postponed the Three Heart Seal exploration plan, intending to first break through the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

"Senior Brother, didn’t you just exhibit great prowess... didn’t you already slay many demon evils?"