Chapter 64: Meteorite Ruins, the First Sound of the Secluded Pavilion
The exploration of the Binglan Realm ultimately concluded in a subtle manner. The blue ice crystal, the core of the formation, shattered due to exhaustion, but the emanating cold energy was absorbed by Ye Li and Qin Yixuan, greatly benefiting their cultivation. After a brief standoff, the three Mysterious Ice Jade Lotuses were remotely determined by the elders of the two sects via a communication talisman. Xuanyun Sect received two, and Bishui Pavilion received one, effectively recognizing the leading role played by Ye Li and the others in breaking the formation. While neither side was entirely satisfied with the outcome, it was acceptable. After this battle, the complex relationship between Ye Li and Qin Yixuan, characterized by both friend and foe, mutual fear and forced recognition of each other's strength, became even stronger.
After returning to the sect, Ye Li surrendered one of the Mysterious Ice Jade Lotuses in exchange for a large sum of Contribution Points, and kept the other for her own use. Using this Jade Lotus and the cold energy she absorbed from the Binglan Realm, she finally broke through her bottleneck and successfully advanced to the middle stage of the Condensed Veins Realm, taking her strength to the next level.
Not long after she stabilized her realm, an even more sensational news spread throughout Xuanyun Sect: deep in the "Meteor Mountain Range" located on the edge of the sect's influence, due to recent changes in the earth veins, an ancient relic that had been sealed for a long time - the "Meteor Ruins" - had revealed its entrance!
According to scattered records in ancient texts, the Meteorite Ruins were formed in ancient times when a meteorite crashed into the area. Its fragments merged with the local spiritual veins to form a special area. Within this area, there may be not only rare metals and star stones, but also precious artifacts such as refining treasures. It may also preserve unknown heritage or secret techniques brought by the meteorite. Every time it is opened, it attracts countless cultivators to explore.
The opening of the ruins caused quite a stir, attracting not only the Xuanyun Sect but also several nearby sects and a large number of independent cultivators. After deliberation, the sect's leadership decided to use this as a significant training opportunity for their disciples. Inner disciples and above were allowed to voluntarily form teams to participate, but were strictly prohibited from killing each other, and all gains were personal.
As soon as the news broke, the entire Xuanyun Sect was in an uproar. Countless disciples eagerly prepared to take on the challenge, forming teams and heading to the Mission Hall to register. True disciples, unwilling to miss such an opportunity, set out one after another.
Ye Li would naturally not be absent. The star stones or extraterrestrial metals that might be found in the meteorite ruins would be crucial for her future refinement of her natal magic weapon. Moreover, this large-scale, high-risk exploration of the ruins was the perfect opportunity to hone the members of the Youge and test their quality.
She immediately issued an order from Youge to summon Lin Feng, Xia Zhihe, Sun Xiaohou and Zhao Xiaoyi.
"You all know about the meteorite ruins." Ye Li glanced at the four people, "This exploration carries both risks and opportunities. I intend to lead the team there. This is also the first collective action since the establishment of Youge."
The four of them were all perked up upon hearing this. Lin Feng remained calm, Xia Zhihe's eyes were bright, Sun Xiaohou was eager to fight, and Zhao Xiaoyi was a bit nervous and excited.
"Master, what should we do?" Lin Feng asked.
Ye Li had already made up her mind. "We'll form a team of five, focusing on training and gathering specific resources, while trying to avoid conflict with larger sects. Lin Feng, you'll be responsible for overall coordination and intelligence analysis. Zhi He, you're proficient in alchemy and spiritual plants, so you'll be responsible for identifying spiritual herbs and providing elixir support. Xiao Hou, you're well-informed and will be responsible for scouting and maintaining vigilance, especially keeping an eye on the movements of other forces. Xiao Yi, you'll be responsible for logistics and liaison. I'll be the main force, responding to major dangers."
She paused, her tone serious. "Remember, safety is paramount in this operation! With Youge newly established, every member is crucial. When faced with irresistible danger, your first priority is to protect yourself. The rewards will be distributed according to your contribution."
"Yes! Pavilion Master!" The four of them responded in unison. Feeling Ye Li's attention, a warm current surged in their hearts, and their sense of belonging became stronger.
Ye Li had made thorough preparations for this operation. Using her recent alchemy and talisman-making gains, she equipped each person with ample amounts of healing and energy-restoring elixirs, as well as several improved versions of the divine movement and defense talismans. She also crafted two new Ice Soul Sealing Talismans and re-tempered the Mysterious Ice Sword.
Three days later, Ye Li led the four members of Youge, along with numerous other sect teams, on a large flying boat, bound for the Meteorite Mountains. Aboard the boat, the atmosphere was heated and tense. Ye Li spotted Gao Sheng's elite team from War Crazy Peak, along with familiar faces like Leng Ning and Huo Rong, and even a few reclusive True Disciples. Naturally, Qin Yixuan's team from Bishuige was also among them.
When Gao Sheng saw Ye Li and the four people around her who obviously had different strengths (Lin Feng was in the middle stage of Condensation Meridians, Xia Zhihe was in the middle stage of Condensation Meridians, Sun Xiaohou and Zhao Xiaoyi were both only in the late stage of Spirit Enlightenment), he showed a sneer of disdain on his face, obviously thinking that this team was not a strong enough team.
Ye Li ignored his gaze and closed her eyes calmly.
A few days later, the flying boat arrived at the outskirts of the Meteorite Mountains. In the distance, where heaven and earth met, the outline of a vast ruin, shrouded in a distorted halo, loomed. The air was filled with the chaotic power of the stars and the aura of the vicissitudes of time. Already, numerous groups of other sects and independent cultivators had gathered near the entrance.
The sect's flying boat landed, and each team, according to the pre-arrangement, entered the entrance of the ruins, which was constantly rotating and composed of starlight and space cracks.
The moment they entered the ruins, a chaotic space-tearing force came, and everyone was randomly teleported to different areas of the ruins.
Ye Li's vision blurred, and when she regained her perspective, she found herself standing amidst the ruins of a dilapidated palace, surrounded by broken stone pillars and crumbling walls. The sky was a strange, dark red, and the air was filled with a rich, stellar energy and an unsettling aura of decay. Fortunately, the four members of Youge were nearby and hadn't been separated.
"Is everything okay?" Ye Li asked.
"fine!"
"Fortunately, the transmission is close."
Seeing that everyone was safe, Ye Li breathed a sigh of relief. "According to the plan, Xiao Hou will go ahead and explore the way, keeping hidden. Lin Feng will coordinate in the middle, and Zhi He and Xiao Yi will follow and stay alert."
"yes!"
Sun Xiaohou's figure flashed, scaling the broken wall like a nimble ape. After a few leaps and bounds, he disappeared into the depths of the ruins. Lin Feng released several small robotic bees to survey the surroundings from the air. Xia Zhihe vigilantly observed plant traces on the ground, while Zhao Xiaoyi, clutching a newly purchased magical long sword, followed behind Ye Li.
The first collective action of Youge officially began.
The interior of the ruins was far more dangerous than imagined. Besides the ubiquitous spatial fissures and unstable remnant formations, there were also various demonic beasts mutated by the erosion of the stars, such as poisonous scorpions covered in star patterns and strange birds that could spew starfire. Most of them were at the Condensed Veins Realm.
As the main force, Ye Li shouldered the bulk of the fighting. After reaching the middle stage of Condensing Veins, her strength increased significantly, her "Universe Traceless Step" became more elusive, and her "Ice Soul Sealing Heaven Finger" became even more powerful, often resolving battles in a fraction of the time. Lin Feng's calm command, Xia Zhihe's timely medicinal support, Sun Xiaohou's precise warnings, and Zhao Xiaoyi's logistical support also kept the team running smoothly.
They explored carefully and harvested some scattered star iron and a few mutant spiritual herbs, but did not find any treasures of particular value.
A day later, Sun Xiaohou reported back that a massive ancient puppet had been discovered in the relatively intact ruins of the square ahead. Next to it appeared to be an intact control core, potentially containing the inheritance of high-level puppetry! Meanwhile, two other teams had discovered the area and were engaged in a standoff: a team from the Xuanyun Sect's Artifact Hall and a group of casual cultivators in mixed attire.
"Puppetry inheritance?" Ye Li's mind stirred. High-level puppetry was invaluable, and whether used in combat or as an aid, it was extremely useful. "Go over and take a look, and see what happens."
When Ye Li arrived with his team, the confrontation in the square had already escalated. The Weapon Hall team consisted of five disciples, led by a sturdy man in the late Condensation Vein stage, skilled in weapon refining and determined to obtain the puppet core. The independent cultivators, on the other hand, numbered seven or eight. While their individual strength was slightly weaker, they outnumbered them, and their fierce gazes clearly showed they were desperate.
"We in the Weapon Hall were the first to discover this puppet core! Get out of here if you know what's good for you!" roared the burly man from the Weapon Hall.
"Bullshit! This ruin has no owner, whoever gets it will own it!" The leader of the wandering cultivators had a scar on his face and responded with a grin.
The two sides were on the verge of a fight.
The arrival of Ye Li and the others upset the situation. The disciples of the Weapon Hall relaxed slightly upon seeing their fellow disciples, but then became somewhat disappointed upon seeing the strength of Ye Li's team (only one cultivator was at the middle stage of Condensation Veins). The independent cultivators became even more vigilant.
Ye Li's gaze swept across the scene, finally landing on the dusty puppet core, which still emanated a faint aura. She didn't immediately express her opinion, but instead calmly observed the situation.
Just as the two sides were deadlocked, something unexpected happened! From behind a broken wall at the edge of the square, several poisoned crossbow arrows suddenly shot out, striking directly at the vital points of the disciples of the Weapon Hall and the leader of the wandering cultivators!
"Beware of ambush!"
Amid the exclamations, a third force - a group of monks dressed in black with hidden faces emerged from the darkness, obviously wanting to take advantage of the situation!
The scene instantly erupted in chaos! The disciples of the Weapon Hall and the independent cultivators hastily responded to the attack, engaging in a melee with the men in black.
Ye Li's eyes turned cold: "Form a defensive formation!"
Lin Feng immediately ordered everyone to form a simple defensive formation, with their backs against a massive stone pillar. Xia Zhihe sprinkled medicinal powder to dispel the approaching venomous insects, while Zhao Xiaoyi nervously gripped his knife. Ye Li stood at the front, Xuanbing Sword in hand, coldly observing the chaotic battlefield.
She didn't intervene immediately, but waited for an opportunity. When the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits, but it also depends on whether the fisherman has sufficient strength.
The melee was incredibly brutal. Although the disciples of the Weapon Hall and the independent cultivators outnumbered them, they had been ambushed first and distrusted each other, so they quickly fell into a disadvantageous position, suffering numerous casualties. The men in black were ruthless and coordinated, clearly well prepared.
Seeing that the Weapon Palace and the independent cultivators were about to be defeated, the puppet core was about to fall into the hands of the man in black.
At this moment, Ye Li moved!
"Universe Traceless Step"—Star Flash! Her figure cut into the battlefield like a ghost, aiming directly at the black-clad leader who was collecting the puppet core!
"Looking for death!" The leader of the men in black sensed the danger and slashed with a knife. His cultivation level was surprisingly in the late stage of Condensation Veins!
Ye Li did not dodge or evade, and the Xuanbing Sword came forward with a biting chill!
clang!
As the swords clashed, the leader of the men in black felt a surge of force. The blades were instantly covered in a layer of frost, sending a chill through his veins. He was horrified. How could this woman's power be so terrifying?
Before he could change his moves, Ye Li's left hand pointed like a sword, and the "Ice Soul Sealing Heaven Finger" - Ice Mark! It hit his wrist directly!
Puff! The wind from his finger pierced through the protective aura, and the leader of the men in black screamed, his long sword falling out of his hand!
Ye Li took advantage of the situation and showed no mercy. With a flash of his sword, he was ready to take his life!
"Retreat!" The leader of the men in black was so frightened that he didn't care about the puppet core. He crushed a talisman and turned into black smoke and disappeared. Seeing the leader flee, the other men in black also scattered.
In a flash, the situation reversed!
Ye Li didn't pursue. Instead, she stretched out her hand and took the intact puppet core into her hand. Then, her cold gaze swept over the surviving, stunned disciples and wandering cultivators of the Weapon Hall.
"This thing belongs to me. Do you have any objections?"
Her voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable majesty. Combined with the powerful strength that had just instantly repelled the leader of the late Condensation Vein stage, no one present dared to speak out in opposition.
The burly man from the Weapon Hall opened his mouth, but finally lowered his head dejectedly: "Thank you, Senior Sister Ye, for your help." If it weren't for Ye Li, they would probably have been wiped out.
Those wandering cultivators were even more silent, and hurriedly collected the bodies of their companions and retreated in embarrassment.
Ye Li put away the puppet core and quickly left this dangerous place with everyone from Youge.
After this battle, the members of Youge gained a deeper understanding of Ye Li's strength and decisiveness, and their team chemistry was strengthened. The news that "Ye Li easily defeated a late-stage Condensed Vein cultivator in the Meteorite Ruins to seize the treasure" also began to spread among the survivors.
The Youge's first collective appearance, though low-key, has already shown its prowess. The exploration of the meteorite ruins has just begun, and greater opportunities and challenges await them ahead.
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