318: Arrival at the Ruins

"Hehe, they are esteemed guests who paid Spirit Stones to enter the Ancient Pill Sect Ruins. This Guild Master is taking them to enter the ruins." Seeing the Saint King elder step forward to inquire, the Woman in Black Dress didn't put on airs. Instead, she replied with a smile.

Then, she led Night Owl and the others, looking somewhat hesitant, out of the Yaoguang City branch of the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild.

Although she and the Yaoguang City branch of the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild were both from the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild, different branches had a competitive relationship.

For instance, the Yaoguang City branch always surpassed her Feiying City branch in performance reports to the headquarters each year, so the Yaoguang City branch master always boasted to her, both overtly and covertly.

Now that she had eight guests who paid Spirit Stones to go to the Ancient Pill Sect Ruins, a business worth a total of thirty-nine billion Top-Grade Spirit Stones, she absolutely had to show off in front of the Yaoguang City branch.

"Hiss, there are actually eight customers who paid Spirit Stones to go to the Ancient Pill Sect. This time, the Feiying City branch will definitely surpass my Yaoguang City branch this year." Hearing the Woman in Black Dress's words, the Saint King elder murmured in shock as he watched them leave.

Although he had previously guessed that Night Owl and the others were customers going to the Ancient Pill Sect Ruins, he hadn't expected them to have paid Spirit Stones to go.

One must know that given the danger of the Ancient Pill Ruins, those generally willing to go were Cultivators who sought to gamble a small stake for a large return.

Very few of them were willing to pay the fee of an ordinary Emperor Pill upfront to enter the Ancient Pill Sect Ruins for treasure hunting. Most chose the second option: entering to try their luck, hoping to bring out some Medicinal Pills and gain some for free.

Cultivators who could afford to pay Spirit Stones were those confident in their own strength, with great assurance of bringing out items worth more than the registration fee.

Such customers were hard to find. Their Yaoguang City branch hadn't found a single one to date, only reckless individuals hoping to pick up scraps.

Now, the Feiying City branch had found eight at once, so their Yaoguang City branch's performance this year would surely be crushed by Feiying City.

Exiting the Yaoguang City branch of the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild.

The Woman in Black Dress took out a luxurious Spirit Boat and tossed it into the air, carrying Night Owl and the others towards a boundless mountain range.

After half an hour of travel, the group descended into a huge deep pit within the mountain range.

Around the deep pit, a large number of Saint Realm Cultivators and Quasi-Emperor Realm Cultivators had already gathered, at least tens of thousands.

Moreover, Saint Realm and Quasi-Emperor Cultivators were constantly descending from the sky, making the number of people here grow even larger.

"Hoo, we're finally here. Is this the Ancient Pill Sect Ruins?"

"It should be, otherwise why would so many people be gathered here?"

As soon as the Spirit Boat landed.

Gu Chen and Mu Xueqing were the first to fly down from the Spirit Boat, scanning their surroundings and asking curiously.

Seeing that Gu Chen and the other had already disembarked, Night Owl and the others didn't hesitate either, all flying down from the Spirit Boat and curiously surveying their surroundings.

Seeing Night Owl and the others scanning the crowd, the Woman in Black Dress smiled and spoke.

"Esteemed guests, please follow me. The ruins have not yet opened. I will first take you to meet the Great Emperor of my Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild so he can confirm your identities, lest he exclude you when entering the Secret Realm."

As the Woman in Black Dress spoke, she walked towards a large tree at the edge of the deep pit.

Seeing this, Night Owl and the others also retracted their gazes and followed closely behind the Woman in Black Dress, arriving at the base of the large tree, next to an elder who was meditating.

As soon as the Woman in Black Dress saw the elder, she immediately bowed respectfully and said, "Reporting to Old Ancestor, these are eight customers who have paid Spirit Stones to go to the Ancient Pill Sect Ruins. Please confirm their identities, Old Ancestor."

As the Woman in Black Dress's words fell, the elder meditating under the tree slowly opened his eyes, examining Night Owl and the others with a hint of curiosity.

After all, Cultivators bold enough to pay Spirit Stones to participate in the Ancient Pill Sect Ruins were not one in a million, but at least one in five thousand. So, he was somewhat curious about what confidence Night Owl and the others possessed to dare pay Spirit Stones to enter the Ancient Pill Sect Ruins.

Facing the scrutiny of this Great Emperor of the Ten Thousand Treasures Merchant Guild, Night Owl and the others showed no fear, also staring back at the elder with wide eyes.

They had seen more than a dozen Great Emperors fall before them, so they wouldn't fear this elder, a Great Emperor.

Seeing that Night Owl and the others, under his gaze, not only showed no fear but even stared back at him, the curiosity in the elder's eyes grew even stronger.

This was the first time he had encountered Saint and Quasi-Emperor Cultivators who dared to meet his gaze. Even the successors of the other two Emperor-level powers on the Seven Star Continent would tremble under his gaze.

Night Owl and the others' calm demeanor wasn't something that could be faked; it required extraordinary insight to be so composed.

"Hehe, interesting. As expected of people who dare to pay Spirit Stones to enter the Ancient Pill Sect."

The elder smiled, withdrew his gaze, muttered to himself, and then said to the Woman in Black Dress, "This Old Ancestor has noted it. Take the guests to rest and await the opening of the ruins."

With that, the elder closed his eyes directly and continued to meditate under the large tree.

Although Night Owl and the others behaved very specially, entering the Ancient Pill Sect Ruins did not guarantee survival just by being special. Therefore, only when they emerged alive from the Ancient Pill Sect Ruins would it truly be interesting.

"Yes, Old Ancestor!"

The Woman in Black Dress replied, then beckoned Night Owl and the others to a corner of the deep pit.

Then she took out several tokens, representing payment, and handed them to the group, saying, "Esteemed guests, these are the credentials for paid entry into the ruins. Please keep them safe."

"Now my task is complete. You can rest here for the night, and when the ruins open tomorrow, you can enter on your own."

"I won't disturb your private time, esteemed guests."

After the Woman in Black Dress finished speaking, she smiled and stood still, seeing if Night Owl and the others had anything else to say. If not, she would go to the side to meditate, so as not to disturb them.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for accompanying us all this way. We will rest on our own."

"Mm-hmm, Fellow Daoist, if you have something to do, you can leave now."

Gu Chen and Mu Xueqing replied politely to the Woman in Black Dress.

"Alright, then I won't disturb you." Seeing that Night Owl and the others had nothing else, the Woman in Black Dress said no more, cupped her fists, and then went to a corner of the deep pit to meditate.

Since Night Owl and the others were brought by her, she had to wait until their Ancient Pill Sect Ruins journey was over before she could leave.

Because the eight of them had paid for exclusive entry to the ruins, she had to wait for them to emerge to see if she could acquire any Medicinal Pills or Pill Formulas from the Ancient Pill Sect from them.

One must know that the Ancient Pill Sect, as an Emperor-level power from ancient times, produced Medicinal Pills whose quality and efficacy were far superior to current Medicinal Pills, making them highly sought-after items.

And the Pill Formulas of the Ancient Pill Sect were even more impossible to acquire.

Due to the invasion of foreign races in ancient times, many miraculous Pill Formulas were not passed down to the present day.

If an Emperor Formula from ancient times could be found, it would definitely cause a frenzy among their Three Great Emperor-level Factions.

Therefore, her staying here was more beneficial than detrimental. Waiting for a period of time might change her destiny, making it absolutely worthwhile.