138: Return to Cloud River

Passing through the familiar yet desolate river valley, stepping over the ruins completely conquered by vines and moss, Gao De once again arrived at the Yunhe Sect ruins.

Not a short time had passed since his last exploration, yet this place remained dead silent, integrated with the mountains and forests, as if the migration and destruction from a thousand years ago had never occurred.

The secret chamber passage discovered last time had completely collapsed, severing the direct clue to the whereabouts of the Yunhe Sect's remnants.

But the obsession in Gao De's heart to uncover the truth had not extinguished.

He always felt that a once glorious Sect, even if it had hastily withdrawn and cut off its retreat, might not have erased all traces completely.

Perhaps, there were still some subtle, unnoticed clues hidden in some corner of these ruins.

This time, he did not rush to have Green Edge and Iron Pincer follow him for a large-scale, carpet-style search.

Instead, he came alone to the mural depicting a simplified water systemNetwork Diagram and marked with the character “Eye”, as well as the main hall ruins where he had previously discovered the meditating skeleton and the blue Jade Slip.

He closed his eyes, not manifesting his Jiaoren body, but maintaining the improved, more human-like Half-Jiaoren state. With a slight thought, the few rudimentary composite energy Meridians within his body were slowly activated.

These Meridians simulated some characteristics of Human Race Meridians. Although far from perfect, they now acted like a set of extremely sensitive sensing antennae.

At the same time, following the basic operation method of the Yunhe Water Control True Art obtained from the Yunhe Sect Jade Slip, he cautiously guided a trace of pure water-elemental Demonic Power to slowly circulate along these simulated Meridians.

He was not Cultivating this Cultivation Technique, but rather attempting to use its unique frequency to resonate with and perceive the remaining aura and energy imprints of Yunhe Sect Cultivators that might still exist on this land.

Divine Sense swept across every inch of land, every brick and stone, like mercury spilling across the ground.

Meanwhile, the Spiritual Qi circulating within his body according to the Yunhe Water Control True Art method was like a special key, attempting to pry open the seal of time.

Initially, the surroundings remained silent, with only the mournful whisper of the wind through the ruins and the faint roars of distant water beasts.

But Gao De was extremely patient; he was like a seasoned hunter, quietly waiting for a possible “response”.

Time passed little by little.

Just as he was about to abandon this method and prepare to try other avenues, an extremely faint, almost imperceptible “ripple” was captured by his perception in that special state!

That fluctuation did not come from the mural, nor from the center of the main hall, but rather originated from... beneath the skeleton that had long since sat in meditation, leaving only bleached bones!

The fluctuation was extremely subtle, carrying a sense of being of the same origin as water-elemental Spiritual Qi, yet more ancient and weathered, and it produced a barely noticeable resonance with the Spiritual Qi circulating within his body according to the Yunhe Water Control True Art method!

Gao De suddenly opened his eyes, a sharp glint bursting forth from his Purple Lightning vertical pupils!

All his attention instantly focused on the skeleton that he had previously not moved out of respect.

He stepped forward and slightly cupped his hands towards the skeleton: “Senior, I apologize for the intrusion.”

Immediately, he carefully used Demonic Power to lift the complete skeleton, slowly moving it aside to reveal the seemingly ordinary, dust-covered stone slab floor beneath it.

To the naked eye, this place was no different from anywhere else.

But in Gao De's special perception, the “Water Charm” of this area was abnormally condensed, as if a tiny water vein node or an extremely clever concealment Formation was hidden beneath the stone slab.

He squatted down, extending a finger covered in fine scales, and gently touched the center of the anomalous area.

The Demonic Power at his fingertip was restrained, and instead, that wisp of water-elemental Demonic Power, circulating according to the Yunhe Water Control True Art method, was slowly injected into the stone slab like a trickling stream.

Initially, the stone slab showed no reaction, and the Demonic Power was like a mud ox entering the sea.

Gao De was neither anxious nor impatient, continuously maintaining the output of Demonic Power and subtly adjusting its frequency, striving to achieve consistency with that faint ancient resonance.

Gradually, a change occurred!

The area of the stone slab touched by his finger began to display extremely faint, almost transparent blue light patterns.

These light patterns were complex and profound, spreading outwards from his touch point like ripples on water into which a stone had been thrown, instantly covering an area of several feet and forming a temporary small Formation pattern!

At the same time, an extremely faint “clack” sound, as if from a mechanism deep within the Void Realm, echoed.

Immediately after, about three steps away from the original position of the skeleton, another seemingly tightly sealed large stone slab suddenly silently caved inwards, then slowly slid to one side, revealing a dark, downward-extending opening just wide enough for one person to pass through!

A richer, purer Water Spiritual Qi, carrying the scent of sealed time, emanated from within.

“There's actually a hidden Grotto-Heaven!” Gao De's heart settled, and a look of joy flashed in his eyes.

This hidden secret chamber required a specific water-elemental Cultivation Technique to activate, and its entrance was not directly beneath the skeleton but utilized a clever offset design. Had it not been for his sudden inspiration to improve his perception method and his fortuitous possession of the Yunhe Water Control True Art's cultivation method, perhaps no one would have discovered this place even after another thousand years.

He did not enter immediately, but first extended his Divine Sense into the opening to carefully sense.

After confirming that there were no living creatures below and no obvious killing Formations, the Purple Lightning Thunder Aura around his body glowed faintly, protecting his entire being, and he stepped into this newly discovered secret place.

Following a short flight of stone steps downwards, there was a cramped stone chamber, barely aten feet (zhang) square.

The room was empty, with nothing else inside, save for an ancient stone coffin quietly placed in the center.

The surface of the stone coffin was covered with thick dust, but its extraordinary material was still discernible, subtly blending with the surrounding rocks and emitting a faint Spiritual Qi.

Gao De's Divine Sense meticulously swept over the stone coffin and its surroundings, and only after confirming that there were no hidden Restrictions or traps did he approach the stone coffin.

He took a deep breath, circulated Demonic Power, covering his hands, and slowly pressed them against the edge of the heavy coffin lid.

“Buzz...”

A low grinding sound echoed in the silent stone chamber.

The coffin lid was slowly pushed open, revealing the scene inside.

There were no ordinary burial items inside the coffin, only a complete human skeleton.

This skeleton was distinctly different from the withered corpse outside; its entire body exhibited a peculiar texture, warm and jade-like, faintly shimmering with a golden luster, as if it were not bone but some precious spiritual jade carved into shape, enduring tens of thousands of years without decay, still exuding an indescribable majesty and Spiritual Pressure. The skeleton lay quietly there, hands clasped over its chest.

And in those jade-like hands, a deep-colored, ancient Jade Slip with natural water ripple patterns on its surface was held!

“Golden Muscle and Jade Bones... This is a symbol of the Physical Body undergoing a fundamental transformation after reaching an extremely profound Realm in Cultivation!” Gao De's heart was solemn, gaining a more intuitive understanding of the ancient Cultivator whose skeleton lay in the coffin.

His cultivation during his lifetime was probably far beyond Gao De's imagination.

He once again bowed respectfully to the skeleton in the coffin, then carefully used Demonic Power to lift the Jade Slip.

As the Jade Slip came into his hand, a desolate and ancient aura washed over him.

He no longer hesitated, separating a wisp of Divine Thought and immersing it into the Jade Slip.