Chapter 339. Qi Kingdom (Location) Chen Clan

"I have come today..."

Yu Qingyan hesitated for a moment, casting a tentative glance at Lyra (Person Name), before speaking, "I've come to you today to invite you to explore the ruins together."

"My sworn sister, Fairy Qingyan, and her Dao Companion sent word that a hidden realm has emerged deep within the Flaming Abyss of the Infernal Prison."

She recounted in detail, informing Eldrin of the purpose of this journey.

Not long ago, Elder Qingci had discovered an ancient ruin within the Flaming Sea of the Infernal Prison, believed to contain treasures left behind by a Nascent Soul-level faction.

The Elderly Couple of Clear Verse ventured inside once to explore, but unfortunately, their strength proved insufficient. In the end, they could only flee in utter disarray.

Since he couldn't secure the secret realm alone, Clear Verse Elder had no choice but to invite close friends—thus Eldrin became their primary target.

After all, they had collaborated just a few days prior, and judging from the previous allocation of resources and shared experiences, Eldrin's character had proven to be trustworthy.

Eldrin exchanged a glance with Lyra upon hearing this, then said with a light laugh, “Brother Qingci, you truly have encountered a rare stroke of fortune.”

The Sea of Flaming Prison has existed for over 6,000 years. The hidden realms deep within it are likely remnants of ancient sects. Any ruins that have endured such vast stretches of time may very well still conceal precious treasures.

At this thought, both of them felt somewhat tempted.

Lyra nodded, yet measured her words carefully. "Exploring a secret realm shouldn't take more than a dozen or so days."

"I'm just concerned there might be some danger. Let's scout ahead first. If the risks prove too great, I'm afraid we'll have to devise an alternative strategy."

Seeing Lyra agree, a flicker of joy surfaced on Yu Qingyan's face. She could no longer afford a Golden Core Formation Pill. If this opportunity truly involved a Nascent Soul-level power, then even if only scraps remained now, securing a share would likely be enough for her to break through to the Golden Core stage.

At this thought, Yu Qingyan said excitedly, "I wonder when we’ll set out."

Eldrin asked, "When will the ruins open next?"

Yun Qingyan replied, “That ancient ruins only opens once every 30 years. The last time the Qingci couple entered was nearly 20 years ago. We’ll have to wait just over another decade now.”

"In that case, there's no rush. With our cultivation level, reaching the Heavenly Abode Continent (Location) would only take a 100 days. Even with delays along the way, we'd arrive within half a year at most."

Eldrin declared calmly, "We shall depart 1 year in advance to ensure we do not miss the appointed time."

The few of them agreed to join forces again in 10 years, after which Yu Qingyan returned from Spirit Isle Lake (Location) to Qingyan Mountain in Tianxu Province.

After her departure, Eldrin and Lyra continued their immortal-like life together at Spirit Isle Lake.

1 day, Eldrin flew out from Spirit Isle Lake and journeyed all the way to Verdant Chariot Mountain. Deep within the mountain’s secluded rear peaks, he met with the old clan leader.

The old clan leader stood before the Spirit Apricot Tree, his face lighting up with joy as Eldrin approached. "After being cultivated for over 2 100 years," he said warmly, "this Spirit Apricot Tree has finally ripened."

Looking at the Spirit Apricot tree before him, Eldrin also revealed a look of delight.

The fourth-order Apricot of Spirit tree could now be considered a mature Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root (Spiritual Root). After its advancement, it required 30 years to blossom, another 30 years to bear fruit, and yet another 30 years for the fruits to fully ripen.

In the end, it took a full century to yield only 3 Spirit Apricots. Only upon advancing to the upper fourth rank would it be capable of producing 9.

A spirit apricot of this grade possessed astonishing pure yang vitality. Consuming it could extend 1's lifespan by 2 jiazi cycles.

Such a supreme treasure, with a price 20 times that of a third-order spirit apricot, holds a value as high as 2,000,000 spirit stones. Yet, being a life-extending treasure, virtually every Golden Core cultivator with insufficient longevity would purchase 1, ensuring it never lacks buyers.

With this treasure, the Chen family had gained a solid foundation—whether they reserved it for their clan's cultivators in the future or used it to exchange for rare artifacts with a Golden Core cultivator.

Eldrin stored away the 3 spirit apricots, then shook his head and remarked, "It's a pity that spirit apricot trees mature so slowly. Unlike spirit peach trees that bear fruit every 30 years, we'll have to wait a full century for the next harvest of spirit apricots."

"Life-extending treasures grow somewhat slower, naturally they can't compare to the spirit peach trees and the Enlightenment Tea Trees."

The old clan leader also smiled faintly, gazing at the priceless spirit apricot as he spoke.

In recent years, the Enlightenment Tea Tree had advanced to the fourth rank, which not only elevated Pingyang City to a fourth-grade spiritual vein but also significantly aided Eldrin (Person Name) in comprehending his cultivation techniques.

At this thought, Chen Changxuan added, "Since the spiritual vein has advanced, let us set up the formation array."

As soon as the 2 finished speaking, they began to move.

With the 2 of them working together, setting up a fourth-rank mountain protection array was as easy as lifting a hand.

The 2 spent a mere 2 days laying down the Golden Sun Mountain-Suppressing Formation, using the Mountain-Suppressing Stone Stele and the Golden Sun Divine Flame Lamp—both fourth-order magical treasures—as the formation's anchors.

After dealing with the Mountain Protection Array, Eldrin did not leave immediately. As both of them had been undergoing increasingly longer periods of secluded cultivation, they had not seen each other for quite some time. Thus, he decided to accompany the old clan leader in a game of Go at Qingyuan.

This match of wits lasted 6 or 7 days in the blink of an eye.

Hundreds of miles beyond the foot of Mount Qingyang, 2 figures gazed with tense expressions at the majestic spiritual mountain before them.

The 2 individuals, 1 male and 1 female, appeared rather young, their cultivation merely at Foundation Establishment, Mid Stage (Cultivation Realm).

At that moment, the young girl tightened her sleeves, her face etched with tension as beads of sweat trickled down her forehead. "Is this the Chen Clan of the Chu Kingdom?"

"Sixth Brother, this is the number 1 immortal clan in the Chu Kingdom. Are the Chen Family truly connected to us?"

Chu Kingdom (Location), Cangyuan Mountain Range, Chen Clan.

The man addressed as Sixth Brother gazed at the majestic spiritual mountain ahead, faintly sensing an overwhelmingly powerful aura emanating from within its depths.

In the past, there were no fewer than several dozen esteemed Foundation Establishment cultivators upon this spiritual mountain. He could even sense the auras of multiple Ancestral Elders from the Purple Mansion.

Recalling the information he had gathered upon arrival, the man’s face turned pale. Wiping sweat from his brow and swallowing hard, he murmured, "It must be them."

It is said that over 4 100 years ago, the Second Patriarch of our Chen Family was forced to depart from the Qi Kingdom and eventually settled in the Chu Kingdom, where he established an immortal clan. Their spiritual mountain came to be known as Verdant Chariot Mountain within the Cangyuan Mountain Range.

The man spoke, yet a flicker of uncertainty stirred within him.

At this thought, he bolstered his own spirits and said, "They say that 3 100 years ago, when the clan leader of the Dao generation from Verdant Chariot Mountain (Location) was still alive, he once visited our ancestor in Qi Kingdom (Location)."

"Yet no 1 knows what unforeseen event occurred later, for that Elder of the Dao generation never visited again."

3 100 years.

The young woman’s face turned pale as she shook her head in haste. “3 100 years have passed. By now, even Foundation Establishment cultivators would have passed through 1 or 2 generations. Would they still remember us?”

Hearing her words, the man’s confidence wavered. Gritting his teeth, he said, “The clan leader is nearing the end of his lifespan. Now, the He Family is eyeing the 8-100-year-cultivated Returning Sun Fruit our Chen Family has nurtured.”

"The clan cannot hold out for much longer. If we fail to secure reinforcements this time, I fear our Chen Clan faces the threat of annihilation. Thus, we must succeed—failure is not an option."