17: Chapter 17 No one else can be called a pillar of the nation.

Listening to the System prompt echoing in his mind, Jiang Changge learned the name of this ancient ruin—the Cave of Years.

However, this seemed to be only one-quarter of it. Did this mean that if he could find the rest, he would be able to continue Signing In?

"System, Sign In!"

Jiang Changge did not overthink it; for now, he would see what exactly this hundredfold Sign-In reward entailed.

[Ding, congratulations to the Host for successfully Signing In at the Cave of Years, activating a hundredfold critical hit.]

[Obtained three summoning cards, one pool of Immortal Spring, and one thousand Immortal Stones!]

[Immortal Spring: Can nourish Spiritual Veins, promoting their gradual transformation into Immortal Veins (requires a certain amount of time).]

[Immortal Stone: Contains pure Immortal Qi; its effect when used for Cultivating is ten thousand times that of a Top-Grade Spirit Stone.]

"Hiss—!"

Seeing that there were two items with the word 'Immortal' in the rewards, Jiang Changge couldn't help but take a deep breath.

He had not expected that a hundredfold critical hit could actually reward items of the Immortal Dao!

"With this Immortal Spring, Kunlun might be able to transform into an Immortal realm."

"It seems that compared to searching for fated people, exploring ruins and Secret Realms is actually easier to gain from."

Jiang Changge muttered to himself.

Adding the summoning card he obtained from accepting Lin Yanzhou earlier, he now possessed six cards.

With his own 'lucky' Physique, summoning six Undergoing Tribulation powerhouses shouldn't be considered excessive, right?

However, Jiang Changge was not in a hurry to summon them here; instead, he planned to deal with these rewards after returning to Kunlun.

At this moment, his gaze carefully swept across the interior of the Cave of Years.

Since he had come, he naturally had to explore it.

Perhaps it still hid Opportunities and treasures within.

Jiang Changge released his Divine Sense and headed toward the depths of the cave.

Although this Cave of Years was only one-quarter of the complete ruin.

Its internal space was extremely vast, even wider than some regions in the Southern Wilderness.

There were several treasure lands in the Cave of Years, with Wanxin Lake being the greatest among them.

Several stone monuments stood on the lakeshore, their surfaces engraved with profound runes.

Legend had it that as long as one could comprehend the mysteries within, one could Undergo Tribulation and achieve Ascension.

At this moment, the people of the Zhouwu Dynasty were almost all gathered here.

In the central position closest to the heart of the lake, surrounded by several stone monuments, sat a thin-faced old man.

He was none other than the Undergoing Tribulation Peak Old Ancestor of the Zhouwu Dynasty—Ancestor Zhou Huaixu.

He had been in seclusion in the Cave of Years for many years, single-mindedly comprehending those golden runes on the stone monuments.

Yet he had always been trapped before the threshold of Ascension, unable to make a Breakthrough.

The reason the people of the Zhouwu Dynasty were all gathered here.

Was precisely because Ancestor Zhou Huaixu had gained some insight a few months ago and summoned them to listen to his lecture on the Dao.

As an existence at the Peak of Undergoing Tribulation, a half-step to Ascension.

Every bit of his insight contained the Laws of Heaven and Earth, naturally making it extremely precious.

The lecture had originally ended two months ago.

However, just as everyone was preparing to disperse, a sudden change occurred in the center of Wanxin Lake.

From the depths of the originally mirror-calm lake surface, extremely dense Spiritual Qi gushed out continuously.

Its purity far exceeded the outside world by more than ten times.

The entire lake center area had almost transformed into a sea of tangible Spiritual mist.

Ancestor Zhou Huaixu made a prompt decision, ordering everyone to stay and Cultivate.

He himself also utilized this sudden tide of Spiritual Qi to enter seclusion once more, attempting to break through that barrier of Undergoing Tribulation that had trapped him for many years.

And the source of the disturbance that Jiang Changge had perceived was precisely this Wanxin Lake.

Beneath the heart of the lake, it seemed as if some ancient Seal was loosening.

A larger, purer stream of Spiritual Qi was faintly about to gush out.

——

The Southern Wilderness Great Family Ranking Battle was nearing its end.

On the giant jade wall hanging high in the center of the square, golden light flowed, displaying the points and rankings of each clan in real-time.

The top spot was held by the Ye Family, the number one clan of the Zhouwu Dynasty; their points were far ahead, demonstrating their powerful Foundation.

Following closely behind were the Ouyang Family of the Nanli Dynasty and the Huang Family of the Xuanyuan Dynasty, occupying second and third place respectively.

Their scores were biting tightly against each other, neither willing to yield.

As for the Qin Family and the Su Family, under the desperate fighting of Lu Jinghan, Qin Muchuan, Su Fuguang, and others.

They had also charged into the top ten, temporarily ranking seventh and ninth respectively.

The Gu Family was sandwiched between them, ranking eighth.

At this moment, the atmosphere of the entire jade square was as heavy as iron.

The air was filled with the lingering scent of blood and boiling Battle Intent.

In the spectator stands, hundreds of thousands of gazes were focused on the last and largest arena, low discussions surging like the tide.

"Only the final battle remains: Qin Family versus Gu Family, Lu Jinghan versus Gu Song!"

"The outcome of this battle not only determines the final ranking of the two clans but also concerns the face-saving dispute that has accumulated over thousands of years!"

"That Lu Jinghan is truly ruthless. It would be one thing to win consecutive battles, but he actually crippled the Dantian and severed the Meridians of the Core Disciples of the Gu, Zhu, and Jin families, showing no mercy at all!"

"Isn't that the truth? Look at the faces of the Old Ancestors of those three families; they are almost as black as the bottom of a pot. If not for the rules of the Great Family Ranking Battle and the presence of powerhouses from the three great Imperial Dynasties, I fear they would have flipped the tables and started killing on the spot!"

"Hmph, on the arena, life and death are determined by fate; who can you blame if your skills are inferior?"

"However, it is said that Gu Song has already obtained the true teachings of the Gu Family Old Ancestor, has been in seclusion for three years, has also reached the Perfection of the Golden Core, and possesses secret treasures. This battle, I fear..."

"Shh! Look, the two of them are on the stage!"

Amidst the discussions, two figures swept onto the arena almost simultaneously, standing ten zhang apart, confronting each other sternly.

The person on the left was none other than Lu Jinghan.

He wore a dark-colored martial outfit, his posture as straight as a pine, and the Jinghan Sword pointed diagonally at the ground.

The sword blade did not move, yet a biting chill naturally diffused from it.

His expression was calm, only in his deep eyes.

It seemed as if ten thousand years of ice were floating, stirring no waves, yet chilling to the heart.

The person on the right was the true leader of the current generation of the Gu Family—Gu Song.

He had a delicate, feminine appearance, his skin slightly pale, and his pair of narrow eyes slightly squinted.

Like a venomous snake locking onto its prey, he stared fixedly at Lu Jinghan.

He did not hold any obvious weapon in his hands, but at the tips of his ten fingers.

A faint, dark green light flickered, emitting a heart-palpitating chill and stench.

On the high platform, the gazes of Zhao Zhenyue, Grand General Yang Zhirong, and National Preceptor Xu Daozi also fell here.

Below the arena, in the seating areas of the Qin Family and the Gu Family, the atmosphere was even more tense.

Qin Muchuan clenched his fists tightly, and Su Fuguang's expression was also heavy.

They could feel that Gu Song's aura was strange and powerful, by no means comparable to an ordinary Golden Core Perfection.

And in the direction of the Gu Family, the faces of the Gu Family members were very ugly.

The surviving Disciples of the Zhu Family and Jin Family, as well as the elders of each family.

All nailed their resentful gazes tightly onto Lu Jinghan's back.

"Song'er, there is no need to hold back."

An old man with a withered face from the Gu Family spoke in a hoarse voice, piercing through the noise and clearly reaching Gu Song's ears.

"This child has severed the Foundation of our Gu Family; today, make him pay for his blood debts and let his Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering!"

"Yes, Third Grandfather."

Gu Song's mouth curled into a cruel arc; his voice was not loud, but it carried a bone-piercing chill.

"Lu Jinghan, is it? When you crippled our Gu Family Disciples, did you ever think of this moment?"

Lu Jinghan raised his eyes, his gaze sweeping calmly over Gu Song, and then over the resentful faces below the stage.

He spoke slowly, his voice not loud, yet it clearly echoed inside and outside the arena.

"I have."

"Oh?" Gu Song raised an eyebrow.

"I have thought about it." Lu Jinghan's tone remained calm, yet it carried a decisive indifference.

"After today, there will be no one left in the younger generation of your Gu Family who can be called a pillar."

...