Chapter 361: Alien Ruins, Planet Explorer, and the Ancestral Land of the Ancient Race

Chapter 361: Alien Ruins, the Star Explorer, and the Ancient Clan’s Ancestral Land of the Same Origin?

Qi Yuan’s exchange with the plump cultivator was but a minor episode, drawing no small amount of attention.

Yet no one took it seriously.

They merely felt the two were spouting nonsense.

Wang Zhiqi stood not far from Qi Yuan, curiosity gleaming in her eyes as she whispered, “Senior, what did you comprehend? Your Purple Mansion… what form will it take?”

“A secret.” Before it was complete, Qi Yuan had no intention of telling anyone what kind of Purple Mansion he planned to forge.

Wang Zhiqi said no more, though Xie Tang shot her a glare.

By now, the gathering had begun to settle into its rhythm.

These Divine Infant cultivators each shared their insights on the Purple Mansion.

Without Qi Yuan, the discourse resumed its proper course.

Finding it dull, Qi Yuan pulled out his phone, ready to post a query on how to perfect the Underworld.

Pooling wisdom was better than thinking alone.

Just then, the old man in the pure red mask turned to Qi Yuan and warned, “No photos or recordings.”

Qi Yuan chuckled at this. “I get it—play’s play, fun’s fun, but no snapping pictures at a discourse.”

The old man in the pure red mask said nothing more to him.

The Divine Infant cultivators continued their discussion of the Purple Mansion path.

Qi Yuan, meanwhile, posted a thread.

“Seeking advice from you 20-centimeter and 36D folks—how does one build an Underworld?”

After posting, Qi Yuan closed his eyes to rest, though in truth he was pondering how to forge his own Purple Mansion.

The Purple Qi and the Underworld… hmm, both were difficult.

The Purple Qi went without saying—it mostly appeared at the dawn of heaven and earth.

As for the Underworld, that needed no elaboration.

“Could it be that I must threaten this world’s Heavenly Dao?

But… why is there no Heavenly Dao in this world?”

Upon reaching the Great Venerable realm, one could sense the Heavenly Dao.

Indeed, some powerful Great Venerables could even capture the Heavenly Dao of minor worlds and devour it.

Yet in this world, Qi Yuan had found no Heavenly Dao.

With the Heavenly Dao absent, how could he threaten it?

Time ticked by, second after second.

The Divine Infant cultivators present all wore expressions of delight.

Clearly, this discourse had brought them great gains.

Many Divine Infant True Lords flattered one another, some even exchanging contact information.

“Everyone, this discourse concludes here,” the old man in the pure red mask announced, declaring the end of the gathering.

The Divine Infant cultivators on the scene still seemed reluctant to leave.

Evidently, they wished to hear more teachings from that Purple Mansion grand cultivator.

But then, the Divine Infant cultivator in the pure red mask shifted his tone: “In truth, I invited you all to this discourse for two reasons. The first was the discourse itself; the second is to invite you to join me in a great endeavor.”

The old man in the pure red mask spoke, his gaze sweeping over everyone present.

Those who had been about to leave returned to their seats, eager to learn what the second reason was.

“As for what that second reason is, I cannot yet say, but… it is like exploring a secret realm—fraught with danger and uncertainty, yet rich in rewards.

If you are willing to go, stay, and I will explain clearly what it entails.

If not, please take your leave at once.”

Hearing this, those present were all astonished.

“It’s like exploring a secret realm? This realm… seems to have no such places.”

“I’ve just gained insights from the discourse, so I’ll pass on this matter.”

“I’m not going!”

“Heh, it’s been years since I’ve stirred—this old man is quite interested.”

Among the nearly twenty Divine Infant cultivators, discussions were swift, and about five or so immediately withdrew.

After all, none of them knew each other, making such an endeavor highly dangerous.

Soon, a few more Divine Infant cultivators stepped back.

Only twelve Divine Infant cultivators remained.

Ning Tao drew close to Qi Yuan and asked softly, “Husband, shall we go?”

“Let me take a look.” Qi Yuan activated his ability.

At that moment, his left eyebrow twitched oddly.

Delight lit up his eyes. “Let’s go!”

Left eye twitches for wealth, right eye for disaster.

This time, his left eyebrow’s twitch was quite pronounced, suggesting a fair bit of fortune.

Beside him, Xie Tang was caught in hesitation.

To be honest, if she were younger and faced such an unexplored secret realm with no details given, she would not go.

The cultivation world was cruel—how many prodigies had perished in secret realms?

But now, her senior sister Xie Xinsu had vanished, the Xuantian Sect was in dire straits, and resources were scarce.

So, gritting her teeth, she decided to take the risk and earn resources.

“I’ll go too!”

As for Wang Zhiqi, she naturally returned to her sect.

The plump cultivator pondered for a moment, then finally said, “I’ll go!”

The remaining Divine Infant cultivators turned their gazes to the purple-robed Purple Mansion cultivator, awaiting his decision.

“This old man is also quite interested. I’ll go.”

Hearing that the Purple Mansion grand cultivator was joining, some of the other Divine Infant cultivators breathed sighs of relief, while others grew secretly anxious.

The relief came because this Purple Mansion cultivator was immensely powerful; with him present, exploring the secret realm would be safer.

More importantly, during the discourse, this Purple Mansion grand cultivator had shown a gentle nature, and his teachings had been mild.

The anxiety stemmed from the adage “know a person’s face but not their heart”—if this Purple Mansion cultivator turned hostile, everyone present might well be doomed.

Those who remained were bold and skilled.

"Since all of you are going, let the irrelevant ones leave first," said the old man in the pure red mask.

Wang Zhiqi and the other disciples, along with the Divine Infant juniors, departed one after another.

The cruise ship became empty. The old man in the pure red mask cleared his throat: "The secret realm we are about to explore this time is not a cultivation secret realm, but... an alien relic."

"What? An alien relic?"

At these words, everyone present was shocked.

Decades ago, an alien relic appeared, sparking a great war on the Archstar.

The Qin Yuan Kingdom went to war with the Ancient Wu Kingdom, and the tendrils of Can Star reached in to aid Ancient Wu.

In the end, three years later, the war ended with Qin Yuan's narrow victory. The Qin Yuan Kingdom and the Ancient Wu Kingdom signed a treaty to jointly explore the alien relic.

However, that exploration ended in failure.

Because the alien relic was completely empty—nothing at all.

It was as if it had been cleared out.

This greatly disappointed both Qin Yuan and the Ancient Wu Kingdom.

But experts from both countries judged: "The alien relic seems to have been taken and moved by someone else first."

Some experts also said it was an abandoned alien relic, and the real one was still on the Archstar.

The abandoned alien relic was still garrisoned by troops from various nations, along with many experts.

They were all investigating where the relic had gone.

But now, the man in the pure red mask claimed to know news of the relic—how could those present not be shocked?

After all, the Sky Eye, capable of killing a Violet Mansion cultivator, had been obtained from an alien relic.

If they could acquire a Sky Eye, wouldn't that mean... their sect would gain the combat power and foundation of the Violet Mansion level?

The Divine Infant cultivators present began to breathe heavily, their eyes blazing with excitement.

"This old man was fortunate enough to discover this relic and once explored it alone, hoping to claim it for himself.

But my strength was too weak—I couldn't even enter the gate.

I occupied the relic for over a decade without any success.

Thus, I have joined forces with you fellow Daoists to explore it together."

Hearing this, the Divine Infant cultivators present felt it was only natural.

With such great benefits, anyone would want to monopolize it.

Only when one cannot enter alone does one choose to announce it and explore together.

Such matters were common in the cultivation world.

"However, before exploring the relic, we must agree on three rules.

Inside the relic, no fighting, no killing each other.

After leaving the relic, after a quarter of an hour... we each rely on our own abilities. How about that?" the old man in the pure red mask continued.

"No problem," said a burly man, his body exuding the strength of a late-stage Divine Infant.

"Let's all make a Heart Demon Oath, swearing to our respective Heavenly Dao. How about that?" proposed a Divine Infant cultivator.

"Good, I have no objections."

None of these Divine Infant cultivators objected, clearly not their first time exploring a relic.

Qi Yuan also nodded: "Good."

Swearing to the Heavenly Dao could not bind him.

After all, when he first established his foundation with the Heavenly Dao, he might have feared that chubby child of the Canglan Realm's Heavenly Dao.

But now... to put it bluntly, he could directly crush it.

The twelve people present each made their Heart Demon Oaths.

Yet even so, they remained wary of each other.

The plump cultivator looked at Qi Yuan and said softly, "Daoist, you and I seem fated. Inside the relic, why not look out for each other?"

"Fine," Qi Yuan did not refuse.

This plump cultivator was truly a wild dragon in the mountains, with a very sharp mind.

Xie Tang beside him gritted her teeth and said softly, "I wonder if this little woman might have the chance to join the three of you?"

Inside the relic, fighting alone would certainly not be wise.

She chose to trust Qi Yuan, this somewhat peculiar cultivator.

"No problem!" For the sake of Yang Shan, Qi Yuan did not refuse Xie Tang.

...

Half an hour later.

Twelve cultivators descended into a deep mountain.

The mountain was lush with dense forests, small insects flying everywhere, venomous snakes appearing from time to time, and other poisonous creatures lurking around.

Such a deep mountain would be hard for ordinary people to survive in, but for the Divine Infant cultivators present, it was nothing.

"After this old man discovered the entrance to the relic, fearing others might find it, I built a maze here. Now I will open it."

The old man in the pure red mask spoke, waving his hand, and a hidden maze appeared.

As the old man in the pure red mask performed his Dao technique, the maze gradually vanished.

Seeing this, many Divine Infant cultivators secretly speculated about the identity of the old man in the pure red mask.

This maze was extremely intricate—few in the Three Realms could set up such an array.

As the maze dissipated, a sinkhole came into view.

Straight bamboo grew along the edge of the sinkhole, which was bottomless and pitch black. Standing at the edge, one could faintly feel air currents rising, indicating oxygen below.

Seeing the sinkhole, the people present did not hesitate and flew straight down.

The sinkhole was five hundred meters deep, but for Divine Infant cultivators, it was merely a single breath's time.

Soon, everyone reached the bottom of the sinkhole.

The old man in the pure red mask led the way.

Ahead, walking through the sinkhole, they discovered many caves.

The old man in the pure red mask shrank his body and entered a small hole only the size of a fist.

The other cultivators followed suit, shrinking their bodies and entering the hole.

The cave was somewhat cold, with temperatures below freezing. After about a quarter of an hour, the old man in the pure red mask stopped.

Before them, the view suddenly opened up.

"To find such a hard-to-reach place—Daoist, your luck is truly remarkable," sighed a Divine Infant cultivator.

"Just luck," said the old man in the pure red mask. "This is the entrance to the ruins. Unfortunately, I cannot enter. It will require all of you to join forces to break down the door."

With a wave of the old man's hand, the illusion array on the door vanished.

What came into view was a strangely shaped door, its material resembling glass.

Pure and transparent, exquisitely beautiful, with a sci-fi flair.

On the glass door were some peculiar symbols, looking odd and likely a form of writing.

[Probe Star Gate, produced by the Divine Han Clan. Requires a special key to enter.]

Qi Yuan looked over, and some information fell into his eyes.

This was the hidden information he perceived.

Seeing this, he was slightly stunned.

Because it bore a resemblance to the architectural style of the ancient clan's ancestral land in the Mortal Heart Realm.

Could it be...

Qi Yuan showed a curious expression.

He had a premonition that he was about to uncover the deepest secret of this game.

"Come, let us all join forces and open the door!" the old man in the pure red mask said, a smile on his face.

He had not been able to open it himself, indicating insufficient strength.

Now, with so many people present, perhaps they could succeed.

Without any hesitation, the others quickly united, preparing to unleash their divine abilities to break the door.

At that moment, a voice transmission reached the old man in the pure red mask: "Fifth Brother, is the artifact left by the patriarch ready? Make sure there are no mistakes!"

"Rest assured, everything is in preparation."

The transmissions kept crossing. Among the twelve Divine Infants present, six showed a peculiar glint in their eyes.

These six Divine Infants were all participants in the Overturn Heaven Plan.

The Overturn Heaven Plan was to use the secret artifact left by the patriarch to take away all the spiritual energy of the Three Realms and the Orbital Star, relocating the sect into a large secret realm.

Earlier, they had discovered this ruin and were overjoyed.

But even when thirty Divine Infant cultivators struck together, they could not open this door.

Later, the old man in the pure red mask brought out the secret treasure left by the patriarch.

This treasure was said to be able to break any defense in the world.

But activating it required the fresh blood of at least four Divine Infant cultivators, and they had to be just killed.

Thus, they devised this plan.

Of the twelve Divine Infants present, half were their people, and half were the unlucky ones they had selected.

As for that Purple Mansion cultivator, they were not afraid either.

After all, the patriarch was a cultivator who had ascended, and the artifact he left behind was enough to deal with a Purple Mansion.

The other Divine Infant cultivators would never have thought that someone would bring the sect's ultimate treasure away from the sect and to the Orbital Star—this was very rare.

Now, having them break the door was just a smokescreen.

After all, twenty of them, Divine Infants, could not break it; adding one Purple Mansion... still could not.

"I never thought I'd have the chance to hunt a Purple Mansion," one Divine Infant cultivator said, somewhat excited.

He too carried a sect's ultimate treasure, and his target was that Purple Mansion.

But for now, he pretended to exert force, as if joining everyone to open the door.

They would wait until everyone's power was at its peak, defenses weak, and vigilance lowered, then strike.

"Come, strike together!"

At the old man in the pure red mask's command, everyone present attacked.

Instantly, surging spiritual energy slammed against the door, and several divine abilities landed on it.

But the door did not budge.

"Everyone, hold nothing back! Strike together!" the old man in the pure red mask urged.

Seeing this, the remaining Divine Infants knew they could no longer hide too much.

So, they all struck together.

A strange glint also flashed in Qi Yuan's eyes: "If Divine Infant power cannot break it, what about Yang Spirit?"

In that instant, the power of Yang Spirit burst forth in Qi Yuan's palm.

But his control over the Dao was so exquisite, even as he acted, no one present could detect his true strength.

Boom!

In an instant, the seemingly indestructible door shattered.

"The door is open! Excellent!" the fat cultivator rejoiced, his heart filled with joy.

The old man in the pure red mask felt a jolt, utterly bewildered.

Back then, when over twenty of them, Divine Infants, struck together, the door remained unscathed, not even the tiniest crack.

And now... it was directly smashed?

Too fast, wasn't it?

Should the plan still be carried out?

He hesitated.

He looked at that Purple Mansion cultivator, a hint of wariness in his eyes.

Was this the power of a Purple Mansion cultivator?

"What do we do, Fifth Brother?"

"How did the door open? Wasn't it supposed to be unopenable?"

"It must have been that Purple Mansion who opened it."

"Cancel the plan for now. This Purple Mansion is too strong. Quickly send a secret message to summon the other comrades and have them ambush the exit of the ruins." The old man in the pure red mask made a swift decision.

Everyone stood before the door, none daring to enter first.

"This door is indeed sturdy. I used only thirty percent of my strength to open it. It seems there really is something good inside," Qi Yuan said, curiosity in his eyes.

Hearing this, the old man in the pure red mask was speechless and couldn't help retorting: "Without this great Purple Mansion cultivator, we might never have entered."

Twenty of them, Divine Infants, could not open it.

This cultivator really liked to pat himself on the back.

Thirty percent strength to open it?

The other cultivators looked at Qi Yuan, sharing similar thoughts.

However, they did not directly expose Qi Yuan's background like the old man in the pure red mask had done.

The Zifu Grand Cultivator smiled and said, "Everyone has contributed. This merit belongs to all of us; there is no need to contend for it."

At that moment, Ning Tao, holding Qi Yuan, transmitted a voice: "Husband, should we kill them all?"

As a Great Venerable, the killing intent of the Divine Infant could not be concealed from her.

"No need. It won't be too late to kill them when their people arrive together," Qi Yuan replied.

He was at the Yang God realm.

To him, these people's voice transmissions were no different from speaking aloud.

Even with their disguises, Qi Yuan could still see their faces at a glance.

For instance, among the six cultivators wielding secret artifacts, one female cultivator had a face that was truly white—well, whiter than Naizi's.

(The chapter ends)