262: Chapter 262: An Arrow Piercing the Clouds

The entrance to the Ancient Ruins.

City Lord Li Qingge and Clan Leader Shi Tianba transformed into two streaks of light, one green and one gold, vanishing into the light curtain at the entrance of the ruins.

One was for the Opportunity of the Mahayana Stage, the other was for avenging his son while seizing the Opportunity along the way.

The two had their own hidden motives, but their goal was the same.

The golden light shooting into the sky from the depths of the ruins.

On the wasteland, the remaining dozens of people looked at each other in dismay.

Xiao Ran and Li Changsheng exchanged a glance and sighed simultaneously through the Soul Link.

The big shots had all entered; it wouldn't be easy for small fry like them to follow behind and scavenge for scraps.

A single palm strike from someone at the Body Integration Stage could leave a hundred-zhang radius barren. If they, at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage, got too close, the mere aftershocks of a casual attack could leave them heavily injured.

"We're going in too."

Xiao Ran made up his mind.

"Let's go," Li Changsheng nodded.

The two transformed into light and charged into the light curtain.

The other Human Race Cultivators and Yao Race Prodigies also followed suit.

However, their speed was far inferior to the Body Integration Stage big shots. By the time they entered, City Lord Li Qingge and Clan Leader Shi Tianba were long gone.

The interior of the ruins was already unrecognizable.

The sky was dark red, and a crimson sun hung at the edge of the horizon like a giant eye, coldly watching everything below.

The ground was split by countless fissures, from which grayish-black mist surged, emitting a decaying aura.

Several distant mountain Peaks had completely collapsed, with rubble piled up like small hills.

The air was filled with an ancient and desolate aura, as if ten thousand years of time had surged out all at once.

"Which way?"

Li Changsheng asked.

Xiao Ran looked around, sensing the distribution of spiritual energy within the ruins.

The densest area was definitely the core of the ruins, in the direction of that golden light.

But that was also the battlefield for the big shots; going there would be like delivering themselves on a silver platter.

The spiritual energy fluctuations on the periphery weren't weak either and were very scattered, indicating there were many ruins and treasures.

The big shots looked down on things at the periphery, but for them, they were all treasures.

"We won't head deep for now. We'll scavenge for scraps on the edges."

"The big shots eat the meat, and we'll drink the soup."

Xiao Ran pointed toward the southeast: "The spiritual energy fluctuations are densest over there. Let's go."

The two flew toward the southeast.

The other Human Race Cultivators and Yao Race Prodigies who entered the ruins also scattered. Some followed the big shots into the depths, while others, like Xiao Ran, tried their luck on the periphery.

The era of the Great Scramble had officially begun.

...

Meanwhile.

A single cloud-piercing arrow brings a thousand troops to meet.

The City Lord's Manor of the Sword Qi Great Wall.

City Lord Li Qingge's message was sent using a great Divine Ability. A cyan-gold sword light flew from the direction of the ruins.

It then exploded above the Sword Qi Great Wall, turning into countless spots of light that bloomed like fireworks.

The light spots contained a Divine Sense brand from City Lord Li Qingge.

"The ruins' Restriction has vanished. Those at the Body Integration Stage may enter. There is an Opportunity to break through to the Mahayana Stage inside. Come quickly."

The news was like a bomb, causing an uproar at the Sword Qi Great Wall.

The Zhao Family residence, the council hall.

Family Head Zhao Tiangang was drinking tea.

His teacup was made of fine white jade porcelain, and the tea was Snow Bud, a specialty of the Far North Land.

The annual production was less than a jin. It had a delicate fragrance and a sweet aftertaste.

He held the teacup, slowly savoring it, enjoying this rare moment of leisure.

Ever since the ruins opened, he had been waiting for news.

Zhao Wudi was his most prized son, having inherited the Zhao family's Golden Bloodline. He was at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage, only one step away from the Void Refinement Stage.

If he could obtain an Opportunity in the ruins and break through to Void Refining,

The Zhao family's position at the Sword Qi Great Wall would become even more secure.

"Family Head! Family Head!"

At that moment, a steward rushed in, scrambling on all fours. His face was filled with both excitement and shock, and he didn't even have time to wipe the sweat from his forehead.

Family Head Zhao Tiangang set down his teacup and frowned.

"What is it? Why are you in such a panic? Where are your manners?"

"A message from the City Lord! The ruins' Restriction has vanished! Those at the Body Integration Stage can enter! There's an Opportunity to break through to the Mahayana Stage inside!"

The steward blurted it out in one breath.

The teacup in Family Head Zhao Tiangang's hand fell to the ground with a crash, the white jade porcelain shattering into pieces.

The tea splashed onto his robes, but he didn't even notice.

The Mahayana Stage?

That was a Realm that didn't exist in the entire Northern Region.

If the Zhao family could obtain that Opportunity, forget the Sword Qi Great Wall—the entire Northern Region would have to defer to the Zhao family.

"Has the news been confirmed?"

Family Head Zhao Tiangang's voice trembled slightly.

The steward nodded vigorously.

"Confirmed! The City Lord sent the message personally. Many people have received it! It's absolutely true!"

Family Head Zhao Tiangang stood up abruptly.

Those at the Body Integration Stage could enter, but if he wanted to go in and seize things, relying on himself alone wouldn't be enough.

The Zhao family had three Body Integration Stage Old Ancestors who had been in secluded Cultivation, not showing their faces for hundreds of years.

"Go to the ancestral land and invite the Old Ancestors to emerge."

Family Head Zhao Tiangang's voice steadied.

"Also, go and summon all clansmen at the Peak Soul Transformation Stage and above. We set out in fifteen minutes."

"Yes!"

The steward turned and ran.

Family Head Zhao Tiangang then vanished, heading toward the Zhao family's ancestral land.

The Mahayana resources—the Zhao family was determined to have them.

The Zhao family ancestral land was in the deepest part of the residence, a stone hall surrounded by layers of Restrictions.

The stone hall was entirely pitch-black with no decorations, having only a heavy stone door.

Standing before the door were two stone-carved guards, motionless, yet they emitted a heart-palpitating aura.

Those were Puppets—Puppets at the Void Refinement Stage.

Family Head Zhao Tiangang walked to the stone door, took a jade talisman from his robe, and pressed it against the door.

The jade talisman lit up, and the stone door slowly opened.

A decaying aura surged from behind the door, as if it hadn't been ventilated for hundreds of years.

Family Head Zhao Tiangang stepped inside.

The interior of the stone hall was empty, except for three stone platforms.

Sitting cross-legged on the platforms were three white-haired Elders. Their hair and beards were entirely white, their faces withered, and their robes had faded so much that their original colors were indiscernible.

Their eyes were closed, and their breathing was so faint it seemed they might stop at any moment.

But from their bodies radiated a terrifying aura as vast as the mountains and seas.

The Body Integration Stage.

And they were at the Late Stage of Body Integration, more than a level stronger than Family Head Zhao Tiangang.

Family Head Zhao Tiangang knelt in greeting.

"Your unworthy descendant, Zhao Tiangang, respectfully invites the three Old Ancestors to emerge from seclusion."

Silence.

The three Elders did not react, looking like three stone statues.

Family Head Zhao Tiangang knelt on the ground, motionless.

He knew the Old Ancestors were in secluded Cultivation and would not be easily disturbed.

But today's matter was ten thousand times more important than seclusion.

After a long time, the Elder on the far left opened his eyes.

His eyes were gray, without pupils, like two cloudy glass beads.

But when those eyes looked at Family Head Zhao Tiangang, Zhao Tiangang felt his very Soul trembling.

"What is it?"

The Elder's voice was hoarse, like the wind blowing through dry branches, or like two pieces of rusted metal rubbing together.

Family Head Zhao Tiangang hurriedly said,

"The Ancient Ruins' Restriction has vanished. Those at the Body Integration Stage may enter. There is an Opportunity to break through to the Mahayana Stage inside. I have come to request the Old Ancestors' intervention."

Upon hearing this, a sharp light flashed in the Elder's eyes.

The Mahayana Stage—that was the Realm they had dreamed of reaching.

They had been stuck at the Late Stage of Body Integration for over a thousand years, and their Lifespan was nearing its end.

If they didn't break through, they would pass away in another century or two.

Now, the chance had come.

"Good."

The Elder said a single word and then stood up.

His movements were very slow, as if he were adapting to a body that hadn't moved in hundreds of years.

His bones made a clicking sound, like a rusted machine being restarted.

The other two Elders also opened their eyes and stood up.

Three pairs of gray eyes flickered with a faint light in the darkness.

"Zhao family Disciples, assemble."

The Elder on the far left said indifferently.

"Leave some people to guard the home; the rest will follow this old man to the ruins."

Family Head Zhao Tiangang hurriedly nodded: "They are already assembling."

...

Sword Qi Great Wall, Sword Sect.

Sect Leader Jian Wuxin was practicing his sword.

His movements were very slow, as if he were practicing Tai Chi.

But every strike contained a terrifying Sword Intent. Wherever the sword's edge passed, space was sliced into tiny fissures.

This was his self-created Heartless Sword Technique, where no-form overcomes form, and no-law overcomes law.

Suddenly, a sword light flew from afar and sank into the space between his brows.

That was City Lord Li Qingge's message, transmitted via Sword Intent, which only a Sword Cultivator could receive.

Sect Leader Jian Wuxin stopped his movements, his brow furrowing slightly.

The ruins' Restriction has vanished? An Opportunity to break through to the Mahayana Stage? A flash of Battle Intent crossed his eyes.

A Sword Cultivator's life-long pursuit was the ultimate path of the sword.

The Mahayana Stage was another Realm of the sword.

If he could obtain that Opportunity, his sword could reach the next level.

"Someone, come."

Sect Leader Jian Wuxin sheathed his sword.

A Disciple quickly ran over: "Sect Master?"

"Message all Elders to gather at the main hall. Also, go to the back mountain and invite the Grand Elder to emerge from seclusion."

"The Grand Elder?"

The Disciple was stunned.

"The Grand Elder has been in seclusion for three hundred years and has never come out..."

Sect Leader Jian Wuxin glanced at him: "Now, he can come out."

The Disciple hurriedly ran to deliver the message.

In the back mountain of the Sword Sect, there was a Peak shrouded in Sword Qi.

Not a single blade of grass grew on the Peak; only countless longswords were thrust into the ground.

Some of those swords were rusted, some were as bright as new, and some were already broken.

They were the life-bound swords left behind by previous generations of Sword Sect Seniors, each sword containing its master's Sword Intent.

At the very top of the Peak, a white-haired Elder sat cross-legged on a giant rock.

He wore a faded gray long robe, and an ancient, simple longsword lay across his knees.

His face was lean and refined, his eyebrows and beard were white, hanging down to his chest.

His eyes were closed, as if he were in a deep sleep, but the Sword Intent on him was like an unsheathed sharp sword, making one's skin sting.

Peak Body Integration Stage.

The Grand Elder of the Sword Sect, Jian Cangqiong.