"Yara, be honest. Is your true form a crow?"

"I know what you’re getting at, but that joke is old and not very funny."

After hanging up his call with the Artifice Sage, Su Zhou set down his official-issue phone. It could force a connection even without a signal, making it feel less like a product of science and more like some kind of magical creation. He couldn’t help but scratch his head. ’Immortal God Ruins, just like that? The Kunlun Ruins? I know that a Spiritual Qi outburst would cause Immortal God Ruins all over the world to open up further, so it’s not surprising that we can explore them now—but why me?’

’In my mind, exploring ruins is basically like archaeology—at its core, it’s a job for specialists. It doesn’t have much to do with a simple, young high school graduate like me.’

’Of course, Immortal God Ruins might be a little special, but there shouldn’t be a bunch of random traps. After all, they’re called ruins, left behind for a reason. Zhengguo has plenty of inheritances left by the Immortal Gods themselves. Opening them probably isn’t dangerous, so there’s no need to call on an ordinary student like me who hasn’t even attended an Academy.’

Although he was full of questions, Su Zhou was too lazy to dwell on them.

’In any case, I can just ask the special official from the Celestial Capital for the whole story.’

Around eight o’clock that evening, after telling his parents where he was going, Su Zhou headed to a private room in a hotel, where a rather handsome young man was waiting for him.

The young man had sharp, sword-like brows and bright, star-like eyes. His long hair was tied into a braid down his back. His movements were fluid, every step flawless. When he saw Su Zhou enter and rose with a smile to greet him, he gave off the feeling of a tiger about to pounce, his presence intensely intimidating.

"Hello, hello."

Of course, Su Zhou wasn’t impressed by this kind of display. He was remarkably insensitive to auras, probably because no one else’s was as strong as his. One could see the handsome young man’s face contort as they shook hands, his body going limp as if he were about to buckle at the knees. "A pleasure, Professor Su—argh! Please, rein in your aura! I’m only at the High-level Awakening stage; I can’t withstand your Suppression, Professor..."

"Ah, well, you released yours, so I thought I should release mine too. Mutual respect is a traditional virtue in Zhengguo, you know."

After giving the man’s hand a firm shake—hard enough to make his arm feel a bit loose in its socket—Su Zhou decided to let go of the fact that the man had tried to test his strength. "The Artifice Sage said you would fill me in on the details," he said. "So, what exactly are these Kunlun Ruins? And why insist on bringing me along?"

"Huh?"

Hearing this, the young man was quite surprised. He straightened his posture, then scratched his head. "Professor Su, you don’t know? We thought you had requested to join on your own initiative."

After the young man, who introduced himself as Bai Canglang, finished his explanation, Su Zhou finally understood the whole situation.

Bai Canglang hailed from the Northwest Bai Family, an ancient Extraordinary Clan. In this day and age, any Extraordinary Influence that still relied on its own lineage for its inheritance—rather than being integrated into the Academies—was one of two things: either too insignificant to mention, or it was a ’Demon Transformation and Dao Simulation’ inheritance, which required a bloodline to be passed down. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

The Bai Family was the clan that possessed the inheritance of the Western White Tiger. For generations, they had practiced the White Tiger Martial Arts to ensure the White Tiger Blood within them remained perpetually active. This was how they had avoided losing their inheritance over the years. The intimidating presence Su Zhou had just witnessed was the White Tiger’s Suppression—partly a test, and partly instinct.

As for his long hair, it could be instantly reinforced with Gold Element Spiritual Energy and used as a weapon. If needed, he could pluck a single strand and wield it like a sword, capable of cutting steel and piercing armor. It was said that because of this very technique, ancient Bai Family Martial Artists were usually bald by the time they reached old age. Fortunately, Spiritual Qi had vanished for the past millennium, and the world had become more peaceful with fewer battles. This was what had spared the modern members of the Bai Family from the fate of universal late-life baldness.

"Kunlun Jade Mountain is the site of an Immortal God Inheritance that is deeply connected to the Demon Transformation and Dao Simulation."

Bai Canglang and Su Zhou sat at opposite ends of the dinner table. Neither of them was one for ceremony, as they had already started eating and, in true Zhengguo tradition, began to discuss business. "One of the most powerful Immortal Gods of antiquity," Bai Canglang began, "the West Mother Great Venerable, master of Kunlun Jade Mountain and the Jade Pool, was one of the earliest Dao Mimic Cultivators. And her residence, Kunlun Jade Mountain, the location of the Jade Pool, is the core ruin for those of us with the Demon Transformation and Dao Simulation inheritance."

"Mhm, I know about that."

Su Zhou nodded. In the earliest legends, the West Mother Great Venerable was indeed described as an Immortal God with a leopard’s tail and tiger’s teeth—half-beast, half-human. She was also one of the earliest female Deities in the history of the Zhengguo Divine Continent. Later, presumably as her inheritance advanced, the West Mother Great Venerable took on a purely divine, human form. But her fundamental origins were undoubtedly tied to the Demon Transformation and Dao Simulation.

’To be honest, many similar legends about the Immortal Gods are like this. It’s also indirect proof that, in ancient times, the Dao of Demon Transformation was indeed one of the Righteous Daos.’

’After all, back in the early days of Cultivation, there was nothing shameful about simulating the power of Extraordinary beasts. It was all for the sake of protecting the Human Race’s heritage, so was altering one’s body really that unacceptable? The ancients weren’t like people today. Their precarious lives and dangerous surroundings left them with little choice.’

"Kunlun Mountain is the Hundred Gods’ Residence, and it served as the headquarters for many Immortal Gods who practiced the Demon Transformation and Dao Simulation. A year ago, at the start of the Spiritual Energy Revival, Kunlun Jade Mountain manifested in our world. However, it is essentially a Subspace, semi-isolated from our reality. In other words, Kunlun Jade Mountain is actually the entrance to a Secret Realm Cave Heaven. The true Kunlun Ruins lie beyond it."