42: Chapter 42 Ancient Relics
The autumn air was crisp and clear.
Bai Cang flew out from a private courtyard in the Lingyuan Peak medicine garden, riding the wind as he left the Mountain and River Sect.
The ruins that had appeared seemed to belong to a sect from a long-lost era. The array restrictions were at least of the third rank, leaving the group of Foundation Establishment cultivators outside with no way to enter.
From this, he surmised that this sect must have once possessed at least a Golden Core cultivator...
He flew for two days.
A vast blue sea appeared in the distance.
This region lay beyond the northern border of the Ming Kingdom. Because it contained eighteen spiritual islands, it was known as the Beize Eighteen Islands.
The ancient sect ruins that had appeared were within the Beize Eighteen Islands region, on a large island that had suddenly risen from the seabed.
Bai Cang intentionally hid his presence, performing the Size Manipulation Technique to hide within the clouds and mist, gazing at the magnificent ancient sect ruins on the island.
Hundreds of halls and palaces stretched out, gradually rising in elevation from south to north.
Pavilions, terraces, bamboo groves, and corridors were interspersed throughout. Many areas were obscured by array restrictions, making it impossible to see clearly.
A Golden Hall, hundreds of miles wide and high, stood at the very top, with three majestic mountains towering behind it!
Judging the scale of the architecture from the outside, it was many times larger than the Mingxuan Sect! Such a grand atmosphere was likely something only a Nascent Soul sect would possess!!
On the waves outside the island, countless large ships stood tall, and small boats were densely packed. Many people had also landed on the island, quickly establishing camps near the shore.
Not only were there people from several major sects of the Ming Kingdom, but many rogue cultivators had also rushed over upon hearing the news, hoping to encounter some opportunities.
Additionally, there were local cultivators from the Beize Eighteen Islands...
Three of these eighteen islands had the best spiritual veins, reaching the level of second-rank spiritual veins, and were occupied by three Foundation Establishment families.
Bai Cang didn't know the specifics of whether they were low or middle grade, but they certainly wouldn't exceed high-grade.
After observing carefully for a long time, Bai Cang flew toward a forest on the island's shore, found a clean cave, and landed for the time being.
Currently, only the disciple Fei Youqing from the Mountain and River Sect was present.
The elite disciple training team subsequently organized by Yue Shanhe was estimated to arrive only tomorrow morning.
After the ancient sect ruins appeared, the first layer of array restrictions had only just dissipated yesterday.
The outer area was vast, and restrictions in many places had not yet been lifted. It might take half a month for low-level Qi Refinement cultivators to search it all.
There was no need to worry about not making it in time.
...
On the sea outside the island.
Several thousand-meter-long dragon-shaped ships sat together. The one in the middle was brightly lit, with a constant stream of people on the deck.
It seemed a grand banquet was being held.
"Brother Fei, please!"
A young cultivator wearing a white Daoist robe sat in his seat, picking up a wine cup and speaking to the wicked-looking, black-haired young man beside him.
Fei Youqing smiled, also picked up a wine cup, and said, "Brother Feng!" Then he drank it down in one gulp, looking elegant and unrestrained.
The person before him was Feng Yixiu, a disciple of the Kunyu Sect, one of the Five Great Foundation Establishment Sects. They had met by chance while he was traveling through the Beize Eighteen Islands.
It was thanks to Feng Yixiu's introduction that he was able to quickly gather information on various forces and send it back to the sect.
The two talked and laughed, eating and drinking heartily. Before long, a hint of tipsiness appeared on their faces.
At this moment.
Three figures approached from not far away, one man and two women.
The leading man was tall and strode confidently toward them.
His head was held high as he arrogantly scanned Feng Yixiu and Fei Youqing, a flash of contempt in his eyes.
He snorted coldly, "Feng Yixiu, you're regressing as you age. You dare to bring just anyone onto our Kunyu Sect's ship!"
The two women following the man scanned Feng Yixiu before turning their gaze to Fei Youqing. Realizing he wasn't from their Kunyu Sect, looks of disgust and disdain flashed across their faces.
"Wang Tian, who I bring is none of your business. Just mind yourself!"
Feng Yixiu's eyes were cold as he gently set down the wine cup he had raised.
This person often opposed him in the Kunyu Sect.
He naturally knew this person was targeting him and intentionally humiliating Fei Youqing to make him lose face.
Fei Youqing just smiled and said nothing, continuing to eat and drink as he should, not taking Wang Tian's mockery to heart at all.
Seeing this, Wang Tian felt a surge of anger at being ignored and said coldly:
"I just want you to understand that the sect is leading the team this time. It's not for some country rogue cultivator who thinks they can tag along to gain a few small advantages!"
"You!"
Feng Yixiu was also enraged by these words.
This was already an insult directed straight at Fei Youqing's face. He and the other had felt like old friends from their first meeting, regardless of background; how could it be as Wang Tian said?
Fei Youqing spoke up at this point, "Brother Feng and I share a friendship between gentlemen. We will part ways tomorrow and return to our respective sects.
This fellow brother need not be so worried."
The calmer Fei Youqing appeared, the angrier Wang Tian became, feeling slighted by an obscure minor cultivator. He snorted coldly and turned to leave.
The two female cultivators frowned and glared at Fei Youqing, muttering, "Who knows which tiny sect he's from..." before following Wang Tian away.
Fei Youqing remained unmoved, chuckled twice, downed his cup of wine, and said, "Brother Feng, let's continue!"
Seeing him like this, Feng Yixiu couldn't help but feel admiration, and much of the anger in his heart dissipated. He said:
"That man was targeting me. Brother Fei, please don't take it to heart."
Fei Youqing nodded, but in his heart, he didn't care.
Although that person was targeting Feng Yixiu, it was also true that he looked down on him.
Early the next morning.
Fei Youqing bid farewell to Feng Yixiu and waited alone on a shore.
Over two hours later, a hundred-meter-long ship crossed the sea.
At the front was a dignified middle-aged man wearing a shanhai jinxiu robe, with several young disciples standing behind him. It was indeed Yue Shanhe leading the team.
"Sect Master!"
Fei Youqing bowed in greeting, his eyes scanning the ship as if looking for a certain figure.
Yue Shanhe nodded, signaling Fei Youqing to rise, and said:
"Ancestor Bai has already granted permission for this trip; his senior self arrived yesterday.
Youqing, you must be careful when leading them into the ruins. But if anyone tries to pressure you using their sect's status, do not fear them!"
A total of five Foundation Establishment sects had come to the ruins.
Each sect had two or three Foundation Establishment elders leading them, all full of confidence, incomparable to ordinary small sects and rogue cultivators.
However, he had not returned to the sect for over a year.
He hadn't been present when Bai Cang returned, so he wasn't quite sure of the weight behind Yue Shanhe's words.
"Not fearing the five sects..."
Fei Youqing was momentarily stunned, but thinking of that towering figure, he responded solemnly, "This disciple understands!"
Yue Shanhe took out several sets of talismans and distributed them to everyone, saying:
"You all have your own judgment. I will wait for your return on the ship. Go now!"
Fei Youqing and the other disciples bowed as they received them, taking a brief glance.
They found that they were all first-rank high-grade talismans of every variety.
There were specialized Lightning Talismans and Fire Talismans, Swiftness Talismans for flight, Golden Shield Talismans for defense, and Rejuvenation Talismans for healing...
They couldn't help but be shocked. Had the Mountain and River Sect's foundation already developed to such an extent?
How could they know that these were all obtained by Bai Cang outside and casually tossed to Yue Shanhe...
The group turned and headed toward the ruins on the island.
After they left, Yue Shanhe took out a Sound Transmission Talisman and sent it toward a forest on the island.
The Sound Transmission Talisman flew into a cave dwelling. Bai Cang, who was contemplating the White Tiger Ancestral Sacred Art, opened his eyes and said softly, "Have they arrived?"