28: Chapter 28 The Allure of Relics

Outside Zhou Datong's small courtyard, circles upon circles of Cultivators had already gathered.

Most of these people were Loose Cultivators with varying levels of cultivation; there were those at the Qi Refining Early Stage and Middle Stage, as well as several old timers who had been stuck at the Qi Refining Peak for years, unable to achieve a Breakthrough.

They craned their necks one by one, their eyes filled with greed and anticipation, staring fixedly at that inconspicuous courtyard gate, just waiting for the people inside to make the first move.

Just as everyone was becoming restless and whispering amongst themselves, there was suddenly movement inside the small courtyard.

One after another, Magical Artifacts for flight flew out from within the courtyard walls in unison, as if they had agreed upon it beforehand.

Their direction was surprisingly consistent; they all sped away towards the Yunling Mountain Range outside the Xiuchun Market.

This scene happened too suddenly; the Cultivators outside the courtyard were stunned for a moment, and then the crowd instantly erupted.

"Look! They're moving!"

"All the flying Magical Artifacts are heading in the same direction. There's no mistake, they must have discovered the exact location of the ruins!"

"It's the ruins of a Foundation Establishment Master! If we're a step late, there won't even be scraps left!"

The crowd instantly boiled over.

The Cultivators who had originally been watching from the sidelines could no longer hold back.

Those who were quick-witted and possessed flying Magical Artifacts summoned them on the spot and chased after them without a second thought.

There were also some Loose Cultivators who lacked flying Magical Artifacts and had low cultivation; they simply started running wildly, cursing their own poverty as they ran, wishing they could grow an extra pair of legs.

For a time, dust flew outside the Xiuchun Market, spiritual light darted everywhere, and the dense crowd of Cultivators rushed in the same direction like madmen.

Some were excited, while others remained clear-headed.

An old Loose Cultivator in the crowd, his face weathered and his cultivation only at the Qi Refining Middle Stage, sighed helplessly as he watched these Cultivators, all so incredibly excited.

"Sigh, why join in the commotion... That is a ruin of a Foundation Establishment Master; how could we possibly touch the Opportunity inside?"

"With so many experts at Qi Refining Perfection and the people from the Houtu Sect watching from the sidelines, we bottom-tier Loose Cultivators will just be cannon fodder if we go up there."

Someone heard this and protested indignantly: "What if? What if we get lucky and pick up a windfall? A single foundation establishment pill could let us ascend to the heavens in one step!"

The old Loose Cultivator shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Pick up a windfall? You're thinking too simply. If it were really a ruin that was easy to handle, would it have waited until now? Besides, look at this formation; there are at least a dozen people at Qi Refining Perfection alone. As time goes on, other old monsters at Qi Refining Perfection might appear."

"The most critical point is that the Houtu Sect hasn't truly made a move yet."

"Once the Houtu Sect declares its stance, for us Loose Cultivators, forget about drinking the soup; even getting within three miles of the ruins will be difficult."

Once these words were spoken, the faces of several low-cultivation Loose Cultivators nearby instantly turned pale, and their footsteps faltered.

They all knew in their hearts that the Houtu Sect was the true overlord of this region. Now, to go and seize the Foundation Establishment ruins, to snatch food from the Houtu Sect—how was that any different from seeking death?

Yet, even though they understood this, the temptation of the ruins was simply too great.

A Foundation Establishment Master was a big figure they might not even see in their entire lifetime.

Inside the ruins, there might be complete Cultivation Techniques, there might be high-grade Magical Artifacts, there might be piles of Spirit Stones, and most tempting of all, there was the foundation establishment pill.

With just one foundation establishment pill, a Cultivator at Qi Refining Perfection would have the chance to attempt a Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm, ascend to the heavens in one step, escape the miserable fate of a Loose Cultivator, and perhaps even be recruited by a major Sect to live a glorious life.

This kind of temptation was enough to make the vast majority of Cultivators take the risk.

Therefore, even knowing the danger, and knowing that they were highly likely just there to make up the numbers, most people still rushed forward with bloodshot eyes.

"Old man, we who Cultivate the Dao fight against the heavens, the earth, and other people. If a mere ruin makes you flinch, what kind of immortality are you even Cultivating?"

Someone protested indignantly.

The old Loose Cultivator took a closer look; good heavens, Qi Refining Stage 3.

A naive, rebellious youth who hadn't yet been beaten down by the world of Cultivation.

The old Loose Cultivator shook his head, sighed, and left the area.

It is hard to persuade someone who is determined to throw their life away; remember not to Cultivate in your next life!

Xiuchun Market, Houtu Hall, inside a quiet room on the top floor.

An old man with graying hair but an upright spine stood by the window, quietly watching the direction where the sky full of flying Magical Artifacts had disappeared into the distance.

This person was Deacon Han Pei, an Outer Sect Disciple of the Houtu Sect, whose cultivation had been firmly stuck at Qi Refining Perfection for many years. He was responsible for overseeing the Xiuchun Market, maintaining order in the area, and deterring those blind Loose Cultivators and Yao Beasts.

The Houtu Sect had strict rules; every market it controlled would have an Outer Sect Disciple at Qi Refining Perfection stationed there to prevent troublemakers from causing chaos. Deacon Han Pei was one of them.

Watching those Cultivators scrambling to be first, a complex light flashed in Deacon Han Pei's turbid eyes—there was longing, unwillingness, and a trace of excitement, as if he refused to accept his fate.

He muttered to himself, his voice so soft that only he could hear: "Foundation Establishment ruins... Is this Heaven giving me one last chance?"

In this lifetime, Deacon Han Pei had been stuck at Qi Refining Perfection for over twenty years.

Back in the day, he had also been an Outer Sect Disciple of the Houtu Sect; his talent was not top-tier, but he was diligent.

He focused entirely on Cultivating, hoping only to achieve a Breakthrough to Qi Refining Perfection before the age of fifty, receive the foundation establishment pill issued by the Sect, and attempt a Breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm.

Achieving Qi Refining Perfection before the age of fifty to receive one foundation establishment pill was a clear, written rule of the Houtu Sect.

Yet, he fell short by just one step.

On his fiftieth birthday, he was still at the Qi Refining Peak.

By the time he finally managed to achieve a Breakthrough to Qi Refining Perfection, he was already over sixty, missing the Sect's age limit for receiving the foundation establishment pill.

That most secure and reliable path to Foundation Establishment had completely closed its doors to him.

For Disciples like him who only achieved Qi Refining Perfection after the age of fifty, if they wanted a foundation establishment pill, there was only one path—enter the Sect's Secret Realm.

It was a life-and-death struggle in the Secret Realm, searching for rare Spirit Medicines and collecting specific Spiritual Plants; only after gathering them all and handing them over to the Sect could one exchange them for a single foundation establishment pill.

He had fought for it once back in the day.

He plunged headfirst into the perilous Secret Realm of the Sect, where Yao Beasts ran rampant and other Sect Disciples vied for resources.

He risked half his life, nearly dying in the Secret Realm, but in the end, he failed to gather all the Spirit Medicines and was rescued in a wretched state.

From then on, his heart had largely died.

As he grew older, his Qi and blood waned, and his cultivation could no longer advance an inch. He no longer had the courage or strength to venture into the Secret Realm again.

In desperation, he could only apply to become an Outer Sect Disciple Deacon and was sent to a remote place like the Xiuchun Market, guarding a small market, waiting to die, never even touching the edge of Foundation Establishment for the rest of his life.

He thought that in this life, he would just grow old and die at Qi Refining Perfection, and until his soul returned to the earth, he would never be able to step into the Foundation Establishment realm.

But now, the Foundation Establishment ruins had appeared.

The Immortal Cave left behind by a Foundation Establishment Master—it was highly likely to contain ready-made foundation establishment pills!

No need to look at the Sect's face, no need to venture into a life-and-death Secret Realm; as long as he could seize it, it would be his!

Deacon Han Pei clenched his fists tightly until his knuckles turned white, his aged heart pounding frantically in his chest.

He knew very well that he was old, his energy was not as good as the young Disciples, and this time was likely his last chance in this life.

If he missed these ruins, he would have no possibility of Foundation Establishment for the rest of his life.

"Enough..."

Deacon Han Pei let out a long, turbid breath, his eyes becoming incredibly resolute.

"I'm already at this age, what is there to fear? Even if I die in the ruins, it's better than growing old and dying in the Xiuchun Market."

He hesitated no longer, turned around, and picked up an inconspicuous flying boat from the corner of the wall.

This was a flying Magical Artifact he had used for decades; although its grade was not high, it excelled in stability and speed.

With a slight urge of his Qi, the flying boat instantly flashed with spiritual light, hovering in front of him.

Deacon Han Pei leaped up and sat steadily on the flying boat. With a bound, he flew directly out of the top-floor window of Houtu Hall, chasing in the direction where the Cultivators had left.

The cold wind brushed against his graying hair. Deacon Han Pei looked at the dense crowd of figures in front and sighed softly in his heart.

"Going there, I might even encounter quite a few old acquaintances from back in the day..."

Those old Disciples and old Loose Cultivators, just like him, stuck at Qi Refining Perfection for many years and advanced in age—I'm afraid not a single one will be left behind.

Everyone is in the same predicament, the same despair, all of them grabbing onto this last straw.