“Senior, what is this?”
Chu Feng could not help but ask Master Tang Chen.
He had already discerned that this artificially crafted behemoth was shielded by a boundary.
Yet that boundary art was exceedingly profound, far surpassing Chu Feng’s own mastery.
With Chu Feng’s strength, he could not pierce it at all.
Moreover, the boundary art was profoundly concealed. Without close scrutiny, it would go entirely unnoticed.
Upon careful observation, Chu Feng was astonished to discover that it even harboured an ancient aura.
This suggested that even if its master was a martial cultivator of the present era, the construct itself was most likely an artefact from ancient times.
This thing was a treasure in its own right.
Merely, Chu Feng had never seen a treasure quite so immense.
Coupled with its unique structure, it stirred endless imaginings about its origins.
Thus, compared to its master, Chu Feng was more intrigued by the construct’s provenance.
“That is the Ruyi Ancient Fortress, the travelling palace of the Ruyi Elder.”
“And the Ruyi Elder is not only a Martial Venerable realm expert, his boundary spirit arts mastered the fourth layer of Dragon Transformation many years ago.”
At this point, Master Tang Chen’s voice lowered somewhat:
“Even by this old man’s reckoning, that fellow has likely comprehended the fifth layer of Dragon Transformation in his boundary spirit arts by now.”
“Does that not mean he is an existence on the same level as you, Senior?”
Chu Feng said.
“You rascal, spare your flattery.”
“How could I compare to him? The Ruyi Elder is a true recluse of the Holy Light Heavenly River.”
“He takes no part in the enmities or affairs of the Holy Light Heavenly River, nor does he venture into any ruins or treasure lands, and he appears and vanishes like a ghost.”
Hearing Master Tang Chen’s words, Chu Feng grew all the more curious.
It turned out that not only was this mobile palace enigmatic, its master was a figure shrouded in mystery as well.
“Senior, why are so many people crowding around that Ruyi Ancient Fortress?”
“It is as if the Ruyi Ancient Fortress will grant them some benefit.”
Chu Feng asked once more.
The appearance of the Ruyi Ancient Fortress had immediately stirred a tremendous uproar.
At present, it was thronged by numerous boundary spirit masters.
Those people encircled the Ruyi Ancient Fortress while maintaining a distance.
It was as though they awaited something.
And judging by their excited expressions, what they awaited was likely some boon.
“The Ruyi Ancient Fortress is so named, and the Ruyi Elder so called, chiefly on account of those two characters: Ruyi.”
Master Tang Chen stroked his beard with feigned mystery.
“Ruyi?”
Chu Feng’s appetite had been thoroughly whetted; he stared unblinkingly at Master Tang Chen, awaiting his explanation.
“The Ruyi Elder’s given name is Feng Mo Ran.”
“In his youth, by a stroke of fortune, he came upon this mobile ancient fortress.”
“Within the fortress lies a power most difficult to fathom.”
“Worth noting is that inside the fortress there is a mirror. So long as one stands before it, the mirror will reflect the treasure most suited to one’s needs.”
“Of course, that treasure must exist within the fortress’s stores.”
“Yet the treasures within the fortress are exceedingly plentiful. How many there truly are, even the Ruyi Elder likely knows not.”
“However, the fortress bore no name, only a plaque inscribed with the four characters: Ruyi Heavenly Deity.”
“The Ruyi Elder reckoned the Ruyi Heavenly Deity to be the fortress’s original master, and with the mirror’s peculiar power besides.”
“Thus did he name the fortress the Ruyi Ancient Fortress, and from that day forth styled himself the Ruyi Elder.”
“Worth noting too is that he was quite young at the time.”
Master Tang Chen said with a faint smile.
“Does that not mean this Ruyi Ancient Fortress harbours a multitude of treasures and is itself a veritable trove?” Chu Feng asked.
“Indeed so. Some have even sought to seize the Ruyi Ancient Fortress outright.”
“You ought to know that the world of martial cultivation never lacks the greedy. How much less so for a treasure trove from ancient times?”
“Yet without exception, all who dared assail the Ruyi Ancient Fortress forcibly ended in defeat, either slain or gravely wounded.”
“The Ruyi Ancient Fortress harbours immense power. One might even say its perils rival those of this ancient spirit domain.”
“Three Martial Venerables have perished before the Ruyi Ancient Fortress.”
“More than the number of Martial Venerables who died within the ancient spirit domain.”
Master Tang Chen said.
“So formidable?”
Chu Feng had already been quite intrigued by the Ruyi Ancient Fortress, and with Master Tang Chen’s detailed account, his curiosity deepened further.
“And it is precisely owing to the Ruyi Mirror that these folk so desperately wish to enter the Ruyi Ancient Fortress.”
“For so long as one gains entry, one may stand before the Ruyi Mirror.”
“The Ruyi Mirror will match one to the treasure most fitting for one’s present needs.”
“Naturally, claiming it still demands one’s own prowess.”
“Yet there is one condition: only those under six hundred years of age may tread within.”
Master Tang Chen said.
“Why precisely six hundred years?”
Chu Feng asked.
“That remains unknown, though rumour holds that the Ruyi Elder was just six hundred years old when he first obtained the Ruyi Ancient Fortress’s inheritance.”
“As for the precise reason, no one knows.”
“Not even the Ruyi Elder himself.”
Master Tang Chen said.
“Truly fascinating.”
Chu Feng’s gaze continued to roam over the Ruyi Ancient Fortress.
By now, the Ruyi Ancient Fortress had drawn very near.
Though he had long noted its majestic presence,
As it approached, the sense of oppression differed starkly from afar.
The ancient spirit domain’s form remained unseen.
Yet this Ruyi Ancient Fortress allowed Chu Feng to feel once more the allure of the martial cultivation world.
Another treasure from ancient times.
Another enigma that contemporary martial cultivators could not unravel.
This made Chu Feng feel his own weakness, while filling him with resolve.
Ding ling ling ling—
Suddenly, the bells atop the Ruyi Ancient Fortress altered their rhythm.
Thereupon, three banners rose from the Ruyi Ancient Fortress.
The three banners all stood upon the back of the Ruyi Ancient Fortress’s colossal beast form.
Each spanned over a thousand metres, billowing in the wind, most imposing.
But upon sighting those three banners, Chu Feng’s eyes sharpened.
He discerned that one banner bore two characters.
Lu Jie!!!
“Lu Jie?”
Chu Feng knew of Lu Jie: one of Wu Dao Saint Venerable’s disciples.
He was acclaimed as the most proficient boundary spirit master among the present younger generation.
Even from these days’ conversations, Chu Feng had learned that for Yuan Shu, this Lu Jie held special significance.
In their youth, both Lu Jie and Yuan Shu had been hailed as the most gifted novices in boundary spirit arts.
It was merely that Lu Jie’s talent had ever shone dazzlingly, while Yuan Shu gradually struggled.
Now, Lu Jie and Yuan Shu, these two geniuses of similar age, had forged a vast gulf between them.
Though whenever Lu Jie was mentioned, Yuan Shu smiled and appeared at ease,
Chu Feng could glimpse the pressure in his eyes.
Lu Jie was like a towering mountain, weighing upon Yuan Shu.
Thus, were those two characters Lu Jie upon the Ruyi Ancient Fortress’s banner
In any way connected to Wu Dao Saint Venerable’s disciple?
Did this Lu Jie refer precisely to the famed genius boundary spirit master who resounded through the Holy Light Heavenly River,
Or did it hold some other meaning?
