“You don’t know?” Ge Ying looked up at Li Feng in surprise, puzzled. “You’re not here for the trial. So why come to the Hundred Thousand Mountains?”
“I’m looking for something,” Li Feng said lightly.
“Looking for something? Are you also after the Earth Martial Realm ruins?” Ge Ying blurted out.
“What Earth Martial Realm ruins?” Li Feng was taken aback. He knew of the Earth Martial Realm, a stage above the Innate Realm for martial artists, but what were these ruins?
“You don’t know?” Ge Ying’s expression shifted, realizing she’d said something she shouldn’t have. She glanced sheepishly at Ge Feng.
Ge Feng glared at her, but since she’d already spoken, he didn’t hide it. He said to Li Feng, “The Earth Martial Realm ruins are an ancient martial artist’s cave mansion found in the Hundred Thousand Mountains. Since it’s been there for countless years and isn’t intact, we call it the Earth Martial Realm ruins.”
So that’s it!
Li Feng nodded in realization. An ancient cave mansion of an Earth Martial Realm martial artist was no small matter. Anything left behind by such a figure would be a rare treasure for any martial artist.
No wonder Ge Feng reacted so strongly. The news of these ruins was too significant. Even the eight top families would covet it. After all, their strongest were only at the Innate Realm, and the Earth Martial Realm held immense allure.
Li Feng felt a bit grateful to Ge Ying. If not for her loose tongue, he wouldn’t have learned of this.
“So, your trial is related to these Earth Martial Realm ruins?” Li Feng asked.
“The trial is separate. We discovered the ruins after coming to the Hundred Thousand Mountains. Others know about it too,” Ge Feng replied. This was why he chose to tell Li Feng; otherwise, he’d never admit the ruins’ existence, as even the Ge family would highly value them.
“Others know?” Li Feng was surprised.
“Yeah, those murderous bastards,” Ge Ying cursed bitterly.
Li Feng glanced at her in surprise. Realizing a girl shouldn’t curse, Ge Ying quickly lowered her head.
“What’s in the ruins?” Li Feng asked curiously. He had no intention of killing for treasure. Setting aside the Ge siblings’ strength, he didn’t want to provoke the mysterious Ge family and make enemies for no reason.
“We haven’t entered the ruins,” Ge Feng answered.
“Why? Did the other group seize control of it?” Li Feng asked, intrigued. If he had the strength, he’d want to claim the ruins too. In the martial world, where strength ruled, this wasn’t uncommon.
“No, because the ruins haven’t been opened,” Ge Feng shook his head.
“Not opened? You mean the ruins can’t be entered?” Li Feng asked, confused.
“Exactly. There’s a formation protecting the entrance,” Ge Feng nodded. “Not just us, the other group can’t get in either, unless the formation is broken.”
A formation!
Li Feng was stunned. Formations weren’t unfamiliar to martial artists and were often their biggest headache. From ancient times to now, formation masters held status equal to alchemists. In Li Feng’s previous life, alchemists had vanished, and formation masters were exceedingly rare.
In this era, Li Feng wasn’t sure if alchemists still existed, but formation masters did, though finding one was likely harder than finding an Innate Realm martial artist.
Ge Feng said they hadn’t entered the ruins yet, clearly because they hadn’t found a formation master to break the array.
Li Feng felt both surprised and excited. If they had already entered, the ruins’ contents would have nothing to do with him. But since the outer formation remained unbroken, there might be a chance for him to join in when the ruins were accessed.
“The formation is likely from the ancient era. Breaking it is no easy task,” Ge Ying said.
Martial artists divided history into the Far Ancient Era, Ancient Era, Middle Ancient Era, and Near Ancient Era.
The Near Ancient Era spanned from the unification under Emperor Qin to the fall of the Qing Dynasty, over two thousand years.
The Middle Ancient Era covered the period from the Xia Dynasty’s founding to Emperor Qin’s unification, several thousand years.
The Ancient Era stretched from the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors to the Xia Dynasty, also called the Mythical Era.
The Far Ancient Era was before the Three Sovereigns and Five Emperors.
For martial artists, their origins traced to the Far Ancient Era, flourishing in the Ancient Era. But the War of Deification in the Ancient Era caused a break in martial artist traditions, and the spiritual energy in the air was lost due to the great war. After the Near Ancient Era, the world entered the Dharma-Ending Era.
If the formation outside the Earth Martial Realm ruins was from the Ancient Era, it meant the ruins dated back to that time, making their contents even more precious.
But in that prosperous era of martial arts, formations also reached their peak. Breaking an Ancient Era formation was no small feat, as formation traditions were even harder to preserve than martial ones.
“Maybe there’ll be a way in the future,” Li Feng said with a faint smile. He had planned to visit the ruins after Black Wind Forest if time allowed, as he couldn’t ignore an Earth Martial Realm ruin. But learning it was likely protected by an Ancient Era formation, he gave up the idea. How could he, not even at the Innate Realm and untrained in formations, break such an array?
Suddenly, he thought of something and asked, “How do you know it’s an Earth Martial Realm ruin?”
If they couldn’t enter, how were Ge Feng and the others certain it was an Earth Martial Realm ruin and not a Heavenly Martial Realm one?
“Because the cave mansion isn’t intact. We learned from scrolls that flowed out of the ruins that it belonged to an Earth Martial Realm expert, so we call it the Earth Martial Realm ruins,” Ge Feng explained.
That makes sense!
Li Feng nodded. Ge Feng had mentioned the mansion wasn’t intact. Wait…
“You said scrolls flowed out. How did that happen?” Li Feng asked.
“They flowed out through a hidden river in the ruins. A few scrolls came out, which is how we confirmed it’s an Earth Martial Realm expert’s ruins,” Ge Feng said. “But we couldn’t enter through the river. It’s also covered by a formation. The other group didn’t believe it and sent two people in, only for them to be killed by the formation.”
Li Feng nodded, not asking what came out of the river. Anything from such ruins would be extraordinary.
“Li Feng, what are you looking for in the Hundred Thousand Mountains?” Ge Ying asked.
“I heard there are many natural treasures here, so I came to try my luck. My target is Black Wind Forest,” Li Feng said, mentioning only the forest, not the Golden Cicada Fruit, as a return for their information about the ruins.
“Black Wind Forest? You’re going there too?” Ge Ying looked at Li Feng in surprise. “You don’t also know about the Golden Cicada Fruit, do you?” Realizing what she’d said, she quickly covered her mouth, looking adorably embarrassed.
Ge Feng was utterly speechless. How did he end up with such a talkative sister?
“Exactly, the Golden Cicada Fruit. You’re not after the same thing, are you?” Li Feng smiled. He hadn’t expected Ge Ying to be so unguarded, but natural treasures went to the fated. With Black Wind Forest’s dangers, teaming up was ideal.
Plus, Ge Ying was guileless, reducing the risk of betrayal. And he wasn’t sure the Ge siblings could defeat him.
“Yep, yep, we’re heading to Black Wind Forest next,” Ge Ying said, unable to hold back. Having been in the Hundred Thousand Mountains with Ge Feng for so long without meeting others, she chattered nonstop with Li Feng.
Li Feng smiled and said to Ge Feng, “How about we team up for Black Wind Forest? There’s likely more than one Golden Cicada Fruit. With the dangers here, an extra person means extra safety.”
Ge Feng replied, “Young Master Li is right. Let’s team up.”
He had no choice. With the conversation at this point, could he refuse? Even if he did, his sister would likely agree. Besides, he sensed Li Feng was different from the other group they’d met. A lone traveler in the Hundred Thousand Mountains likely had strength, and an extra ally wasn’t bad.
“Good, it’s settled,” Li Feng smiled. If it were just Ge Feng, he wouldn’t have invited him so readily, but Ge Ying changed things. He didn’t rule out her playing innocent, but with his powerful divine sense, he’d know if she was pretending.
With the decision made, their relationship warmed, and with the lively Ge Ying, laughter filled the air.
The night passed quietly. As the sun rose, its light dispelled the darkness.
Li Feng stood and said to the Ge siblings, “It’s time to head out.”
