268: Chapter 268 Invitation! Ancient Ruins!

Lu Qiu didn't delay at all. In the deepest part of the Liulian Hall's headquarters, within a Gu refining secret chamber constructed of "Spirit-Restricting Stone" and protected by forty-nine layers of isolation, purification, and defense Formations, he took out a "Myriad Poisons Gu Cauldron." It was pitch-black, made of neither metal nor wood, carved with eerie insect runes, and emitted a chilling, sinister, and ancient aura.

The light in the secret chamber was dim, with only the "Soul-Suppressing Jade" embedded in the four corners emitting a pale green glow.

The air was cold, permeated by the smell of aged medicinal herbs mixed with a faint fishy scent.

Lu Qiu's expression was solemn as he sat cross-legged in front of the cauldron.

He first used three drops of his own heart's Essence Blood, which contained pure Dharmic power, mixed with the juices of "Bone-Corroding Flower," "Soul-Severing Grass," and several other highly toxic substances to draw a complex, evil Formation beneath the cauldron as a base for the fire. Immediately after, he threw the "Yin Soul Wood," specially used for refining sinister Gu insects, into the Formation. With a flick of his finger, a wisp of scarlet gold true fire with a hint of blue-black landed on the wood.

"Ssss—"

Ghostly green flames rose up, burning silently and emitting a cold rather than hot aura, making the green light in the secret chamber look even more eerie.

The flames licked the bottom of the Gu cauldron, and the insect runes on the cauldron's body seemed to come alive, wriggling slightly and emitting a sense of greedy longing.

Lu Qiu's mind was as calm as still water. Following the extremely harsh steps and heat requirements recorded in the Myriad Poisons Gu Scripture, he began to throw in the Materials one by one. First was the Soul-Devouring Demon Insect, sealed in a special jade box, still wriggling slightly, shaped like a miniature centipede but completely transparent, with only a dark red dot on its head!

As soon as this insect appeared, the temperature in the secret chamber seemed to drop a few more degrees, and a cold resentment that pierced straight into the Divine Soul spread out.

Lu Qiu's hands were steady. He wrapped three Soul-Devouring Demon Insects in Dharmic power and threw them into the cauldron.

Upon encountering the fire, the demon insects let out sharp and shrill screeches, struggling frantically in the ghostly green flames. Their bodies quickly melted, turning into a mass of thick, constantly twisting and changing dark red soul liquid.

Next came "Century-Old Corpse Moss," "Resentful Infant Fruit," "Soul-Refining Sand," "Soul-Snatching Crystal"...

One by one, various Materials—either sinister, containing strong resentment, or specifically targeting the Divine Soul—were thrown into the cauldron by Lu Qiu at precise moments and in exact quantities to be mixed, reacted, and refined with that mass of dark red soul liquid.

The scene inside the cauldron was no longer visible to outsiders. Various negative energies, strange poisons, and resentments clashed and merged violently within, sometimes exploding into a cloud of black gas, sometimes emitting a tooth-aching corrosive sound, and sometimes making eerie noises like the whispers of ten thousand voices.

The entire process was incredibly dangerous. It not only required the refiner to have ultimate control over the heat, timing, and material characteristics but also required their Divine Sense to be strong and resilient enough to resist the erosion of the evil aura and resentment within the cauldron and to accurately guide the direction of the refinement.

Even a slight error would, at best, result in a failed refinement and the destruction of all Materials, and at worst, cause the evil aura to backlash, polluting the Divine Soul or even allowing the evil entity being nurtured in the cauldron to take control.

Lu Qiu's face was calm and his eyes were slightly closed. His entire mind was linked with the eerie existence taking shape inside the cauldron.

His powerful Divine Sense was like the sturdiest dam, firmly resisting the impact of various negative emotions; it was also like the most skillful craftsman, guiding the Fusion and transformation of various Materials.

His fingers danced, forming complex and profound Gu-controlling hand Seals that carried an ancient, primitive, and sinister aura, which he struck into the cauldron.

Time passed slowly in the silent and dangerous refinement.

One day, two days... ten days, twenty days... In the secret chamber, there was only the faint sound of the ghostly fire burning, the increasingly heart-palpitating eerie fluctuations in the cauldron, and Lu Qiu's steady and long breathing, which seemed out of place in the surrounding sinister environment.

A full eighty-one days passed.

When the last moment of the eighty-first day passed, the ghostly green "Yin Soul Wood" fire beneath the cauldron seemed to have exhausted its last bit of energy. It suddenly shrank inward and then completely went out.

At the same time, the various strange noises, screeches, and whispers that had continued for eighty-one days inside the cauldron also suddenly fell into a dead silence!

An extreme silence was actually more heart-palpitating than the previous clamor.

Lu Qiu's face was slightly paler than it had been eighty-one days ago, and there was even a layer of fine sweat on his forehead. Clearly, this nearly three-month-long Gu refinement had taken a great toll on his mind.

But his deep eyes were incredibly bright at this moment, staring intently at the now-silent pitch-black Gu cauldron.

He slowly stood up, took a few steps forward, and with gentle and cautious movements, lifted the heavy and cold lid of the Gu cauldron.

Inside the cauldron was a deep abyss, as if it were connected to the Nine Netherworld.

However, within the perception of Lu Qiu's Divine Sense, three strange Gu insects were quietly lying at the bottom of the cauldron. They were only the size of a grain of rice, their bodies were an eerie semi-transparent color with countless dark red blood lines thinner than hair slowly flowing inside. Their appearance was hideous and terrifying, like a combination of a miniature ghost-faced skull and a poisonous insect.

They were motionless, as if they had fallen into the deepest sleep, or like newly born, ignorant, and dangerous evil spirits.

But Lu Qiu could clearly perceive that between himself and these three "little things," there existed a strange bond that was closer than a soul connection, more fundamental, and carried a sense of absolute control.

He could feel the cold, obscure, but incomparably powerful force contained within them. It was an evil Origin power specifically born for eroding, parasitizing, and controlling the Divine Souls of living beings.

With just a single thought, he could awaken them and plant them deep into the target's Divine Soul, where they would take root, sprout, bloom, and bear fruit, eventually bringing the target's consciousness, memory, and even life and death completely under his control.

god-controlling gu, refinement successful!

And he had refined three of them at once!

Not too many, not too few, exactly matching those three Vice Island Masters of Dengxing Island.

Lu Qiu let out a long, silent sigh of relief, his long-tensed heartstrings relaxing slightly.

He carefully took out three tiny jade boxes he had prepared long ago from his Storage Ring, made of "Soul-Suppressing Jade" and "Spirit-Sealing Wood." Using a wisp of pure Dharmic power and Divine Thought, he gently pulled the three sleeping god-controlling gu into the jade boxes, then quickly closed the lids and pasted several "Spirit Sealing Talismans" and "Spirit-Restricting Talismans" shimmering with golden runes on them.

Only after doing all this did he truly relax and solemnly put away these key items that would determine the success or failure of his subsequent plans.

With these, the plan was more than half successful. Next would be setting the net and waiting for the fish to enter the trap.

...

A few days later, on the top floor of the Liulian Hall headquarters, in the Quiet Room overlooking a small part of Dengxing City.

Lu Qiu held a Jade Slip that Nangong Hai had just presented. It contained the latest and most detailed information about the three powerful Vice Island Masters of Dengxing Island, collected with considerable effort.

Long Yunzi, False Nascent Soul Realm, one of the Vice Island Masters of Dengxing Island, and the actual highest person in charge during the Island Master's seclusion.

His talent in the Dao of Formations was extraordinary. Having immersed himself in Formations for hundreds of years, his attainment was profound, and he was especially skilled at cracking ancient Formations and setting up defensive Formations.

He had a steady character, was thoughtful and meticulous, and handled matters fairly. He held high prestige among the island's Cultivators and various forces.

He lived year-round in his Immortal Cave at the peak of Longyun Peak, spending most of his time in quiet cultivation, studying the Dao of Formations, or handling urgent matters on the island.

Hobby: Collecting and researching ancient Formation diagrams and fragments.

Master Chihuo: Late Core Formation Stage peak, in charge of defense, patrolling, bandit suppression, and all other military affairs of Dengxing Island and the surrounding ten thousand miles of sea.

His temperament was as explosive as fire, straightforward and aggressive. The "Red Yang True Fire Art" he cultivated was powerful and fierce, and his combat strength was recognized as the first among the three Vice Island Masters.

Due to his personality and Cultivation Technique, he had an average relationship with the civil-type Cultivators on the island and some merchant associations.

Hobby: Searching for treasures or Cultivation Techniques that could enhance the power of true fire or strengthen the Physical Body, and he enjoyed sparring with Cultivators of the same rank. Weakness: Hot-tempered, easily provoked, and lacks resistance to things that can enhance his own combat strength.

Fairy Bibo: Late Core Formation Stage, in charge of all commercial trade, tax auditing, and market management on Dengxing Island, as well as liaison with major forces, merchant associations, and Loose Cultivator experts in the Inner Star Sea.

She was smooth and sophisticated, socially adept, meticulous, and extremely well-informed, with deep connections among various forces.

Although her own cultivation was not top-tier, her influence on the island could not be underestimated due to her position and tactics.

Island Master "Master Xuanyuan," a Nascent Soul Early Stage Cultivator, began seclusion several decades ago to break through the Middle Stage Bottleneck and has not emerged since.

The daily affairs of the island were basically negotiated and decided by these three Vice Island Masters. Major matters required the unanimous agreement of all three or would disturb the Island Master in seclusion.

Lu Qiu's knuckles lightly tapped the smooth surface of the jade table, making a clear "thump, thump" sound in the silent room.

His gaze swept over the detailed descriptions of the three in the Jade Slip, and his mind rapidly deduced various possibilities.

Wanting to plant the god-controlling gu into the Divine Souls of these three while on Dengxing Island was nothing more than an idiot's daydream.

The island was heavily restricted, and the island-protecting Formation was the work of the Star Palace, with extraordinary power. There were also countless Star Palace Cultivators and informants from various sides.

Once he took action, any slight disturbance would alert the enemy, and the consequences would be unimaginable.

He had to find a way to lure them out of Dengxing Island, away from their long-established nest, to a place he could completely control and that could isolate all prying and calls for help.

And it would be best if all three left at the same time, accomplishing the goal in one stroke to avoid alerting the enemy.

"Ancient Cultivator ruins..." A sharp, blade-like light flashed in Lu Qiu's eyes. A complete and meticulous plan quickly took shape and was perfected under the deduction of his powerful Divine Sense, which was comparable to the Late Nascent Soul Stage.

"For a Formation fanatic like Long Yunzi, a ruin that might contain an ancient Formation Legacy is attractive enough to make him temporarily set aside his caution. As for Master Chihuo and Fairy Bibo, different baits are needed, but ultimately, they must all point to the same 'safe' and 'profit-sharing' reason to make them leave together willingly."

"Nangong Hai."

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

Lu Qiu looked up at Nangong Hai, who was standing respectfully to the side. His voice was calm and waveless, yet carried an unquestionable decisiveness: "In the name of the Liulian Hall Master, personally draft three invitations and send them to the three Vice Island Masters: Long Yunzi, Chihuo Shangren, and Fairy Bibo. Remember, the three letters must be written separately; the phrasing and focus must be tailored to each individual."

"In the letter to Long Yunzi, state directly that you 'accidentally' obtained a mysterious, ancient sea chart that seemingly points to an Immortal Cave or Secret Realm left behind by an ancient Cultivator.

You must describe in detail the various strange characteristics of the protective Formation guarding that ruin as indicated on the chart.

Use the most professional terminology you have gleaned from ancient fragments to describe it, ensuring you pique his interest.

Emphasize your inability to break such a profound ancient Formation, and specifically invite him—the number one Formation expert on Dengxing Island—to break the Formation and explore the ruins together. Hint that the ruins likely contain lost ancient Formation Legacies or related treasures. The tone must be extremely earnest and respectful, elevating him to an indispensable position."

"For the letter to Chihuo Shangren, you may skip the Formation details. Focus instead on the 'anomalies' or 'risks' possibly present in that sea area related to the ruins, such as 'unstable earth fire,' 'suspected presence of powerful fire-attribute Yao Beasts or Essence Spirits,' or 'remnants of ancient Body Refining or fire-type Divine Abilities within the ruins.'

Emphasize that while this trip may be dangerous, it is also a great Opportunity. Specifically invite him—the guardian deity with the highest combat power on Dengxing Island—to join, as he can ensure everyone's safety and share in any treasures that might be of great benefit to his cultivation. The tone should be forthright and contain a hint of provocation, fitting his personality."

"The letter to Fairy Bibo should focus on 'benefits' and 'safety.'

You may mention that the ruins might contain rare Spirit Materials from the ancient era, Spirit Medicine seeds, or even some lost Pill Formulas and artifacts, which would be of great benefit to the chamber of commerce's operations.

At the same time, emphasize that with Senior Long Yunzi breaking the Formation and Senior Chihuo Shangren providing protection, safety is assured. Also, highlight that this is a rare Opportunity to deepen private friendships and expand connections with the two other Vice Island Masters.

The tone should be tactful and thorough, highlighting her importance as a 'helmsman' and 'liaison'."

"In all three letters, finally point out that the sea area where the ruins are located is quite remote, requiring travel far from Dengxing Island, and that the exploration will take time. Therefore, you are inviting the three of them to go together to look out for each other, share the risks, and share the harvest.

After sending the letters, you must closely monitor their reactions, especially Long Yunzi's. If he is interested, he will surely seek you out privately for details. When that happens, you must answer fluently and present the details we have prepared in advance regarding the location of the 'ruins,' the route, and the so-called 'ancient Formation' to him perfectly."

Nangong Hai listened carefully, the light in his eyes growing brighter and brighter.

The Master's plan was truly insightful into human nature, grasping the personality weaknesses and needs of the three Vice Island Masters with absolute precision!

Using ancient ruins as bait, and safety and benefits as the thread—it was reasonable, logical, and flawless!

He could already see those three lofty Vice Island Masters walking step by step into the net carefully woven by the Master.

"Master, this plan is unfathomable! This subordinate will surely do his utmost to complete this matter perfectly and lure those three into the trap!" Nangong Hai said, full of confidence, bowing to accept the order.

"Go. Remember, details determine success or failure. I will personally arrange the location of that 'ruin.' You only need to be responsible for making them believe and willing to leave Dengxing Island," Lu Qiu instructed finally.

Nangong Hai nodded heavily, turned around, and walked away quickly to begin drafting those three crucial letters.

He knew that the pen in his hand was currently writing what might be a key page that would determine the future landscape of Dengxing Island and even affect the Master's subsequent grand plan.

...

At the core of Dengxing Island lies Longyun Peak, where the Spiritual Qi is most dense and abundant.

The peak is ten thousand fathoms high, piercing straight into the clouds. Above the mountainside, it is shrouded year-round in white clouds and biting gale winds; only those with profound cultivation can ascend it.

Through the management of successive Island Masters, the summit has been renovated into a complex of buildings resembling an immortal's residence, with pavilions, terraces, flying springs, and cascading waterfalls, dotted with rare flowers and strange grasses. Furthermore, countless hidden Formation runes protect this place, making it as secure as a fortress and gathering the purest Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi on Dengxing Island.

At this moment, next to the main hall at the summit, inside the "Guanyun Pavilion," a room specifically used for receiving guests and discussing matters, three powerful Cultivators were sitting around a tea table made of thousand-year-old "Calming Wood."

The aroma of spiritual tea curled from the table, but the three of them seemed to have no intention of tasting it.

In the central seat sat an old man wearing a gossip Yin and Yang Daoist robe, with a gaunt face, three strands of long beard hanging down his chest, and deep, wise eyes—this was Long Yunzi.

He was holding a pale green Jade Slip in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed, seemingly lost in thought.

To his left was an old man with hair as red as fire, a red beard standing out like halberds, a burly and sturdy figure, and a face as red as a jujube—Chihuo Shangren.

There was also a Jade Slip in front of him, but he clearly didn't have much patience to read it carefully. His thick fingers tapped impatiently on the chair armrest, making muffled "thud-thud" sounds, and his copper-bell-like eyes flashed with sharp light from time to time, occasionally revealing suspicion.

On the right side was a middle-aged beautiful woman wearing a water-green long dress embroidered with lotus flowers, her hair piled high in a bun with a jade hairpin inserted diagonally, possessing a pretty face and a temperament that was gentle yet capable—Fairy Bibo.

She was also holding a Jade Slip between her jade fingers, her expression calm, but her beautiful eyes occasionally swept across the faces of Long Yunzi and Chihuo Shangren, as if observing their reactions.

The atmosphere in the pavilion was somewhat subtle. The content of the Jade Slips in front of the three was mostly the same; the core was the invitation from the new Liulian Hall Master, Nangong Hai, to "explore ancient Cultivator ruins," but the focus of each was different, clearly having been carefully deliberated.

After a long while, Chihuo Shangren broke the silence first, saying in a muffled voice: "Ancient Cultivator ruins? Hmph, what kind of dog-shit luck did that kid Nangong Hai have for such a good thing to fall to him? Could it be he dug a pit and is waiting for us to jump in?"

He was straightforward and suspicious, especially towards people like Nangong Hai who rose to power through "not-so-glamorous" means; he instinctively distrusted him.

Fairy Bibo gently put down the Jade Slip, her jade fingers brushing past her temples, and said softly: "Senior Brother Chihuo's words are not without reason. I have had contact with Nangong Hai a few times; he is shrewd enough but lacks substance. Why would he not enjoy such an Opportunity alone, or invite only Senior Brother Long Yunzi, but instead make a big fuss to invite the three of us together? It is indeed a bit suspicious."

She paused, then changed the subject: "However, the description of that sea area in the letter, and the various characteristics of the Formation guarding the ruins—although I am not proficient in the Dao of Formations, I feel it does not seem fabricated out of thin air.

Moreover, his words in the letter are earnest, putting himself in a very low position, stating he is unable to break the ancient Formation and must rely on Senior Brother Long Yunzi, and fearing the dangers of the ruins, specifically inviting Senior Brother Chihuo Shangren to provide protection, and even mentioning the business Opportunity of potential ancient Spirit Materials, inviting me to go along... This reason is barely plausible.

Most importantly, he should know the consequences of deceiving the three of us. Although the Liulian Hall has some power, in front of the Star Palace, it is nothing but an ant. Nangong Hai could not have reached where he is today if he were the type to seek his own death."

Her analysis was reasonable and logical, pointing out the suspicious points while also giving reasons why Nangong Hai would not dare to act recklessly.

Long Yunzi spoke slowly at this time, his voice calm, carrying the composure of one who has long held a high position and wielded power: "Junior Sister Bibo is right. Nangong Hai does not have the guts, nor is there any need to set a trap to harm the three of us."

He picked up the Jade Slip, his gaze sweeping over the description of the Formation again, and a flash of irrepressible eagerness flickered in his eyes: "As for whether this ruin is true or false... I have studied the Dao of Formations for hundreds of years. The several Formation characteristics and Spiritual Qi execution methods described in the letter are indeed seven or eight parts similar to the records in several fragments of the 'Compilation of Ancient Strange Formations'! Especially this line of thought for setting up the 'Nine-Winding Loop, Spirit Sealing and Yuan Suppressing' Formation—it could only be done by an ancient Great Grandmaster! If I could really see its full picture, or even gain something from it, it would be of infinite benefit to my cultivation of the Dao of Formations!"

Seeing that Long Yunzi seemed to have been persuaded, especially since he valued the description of the Formation so highly, Chihuo Shangren could not help but hesitate. He had great faith in his Senior Brother's eye for the Dao of Formations.

"Since Senior Brother feels the description of the Formation doesn't seem fake, then perhaps... it is true?" He scratched his fiery red hair. "If there really are ruins, there might really be Body Refining treasures suitable for me, or fragments of ancient fire-type Divine Abilities inside. It's better than patrolling those broken ships and rotten shrimps on the island every day!"

Seeing that both of them were moved, Fairy Bibo basically made up her mind.

She smiled lightly: "Since that is the case, let us take a trip and see what medicine Nangong Hai is selling. However, just in case, we still need to make some preparations. This trip must be kept absolutely secret. The reason for leaving the island can be uniformly stated to the outside world as being invited by old friends overseas to discuss the Dao and visit friends together, with no determined return date. We need to carry effective Magic Treasures and Talismans, and agree on a secret code. If no message is sent back within a month, or if a specific secret code is sent back, the trusted aides left behind must immediately initiate emergency contact, report to the Island Master's Mansion, and raise the alert level of Dengxing Island."

"Junior Sister's considerations are thorough, and this is exactly what should be done." Long Yunzi nodded in agreement: "Then reply to Nangong Hai, agreeing to meet at Black Reef Island, three thousand miles outside the island, in one month. At that time, we will act according to the situation."

The three discussed some more details and finally reached a consensus.

Although there was still a trace of doubt in their hearts, the temptation of the ancient ruins and their confidence in their own strength made them ultimately decide to head to the ancient ruins mentioned by Nangong Hai.