Li Xi followed Xu Shanzhang and headed southwest.
The scenery along the way gradually transitions from bustling towns to desolate mountains and fields, and then to the misty, remote mountains.
The area is overgrown with weeds and sparsely wooded, with a few dilapidated thatched huts occasionally visible.
Looking around, all I could see was a withered, yellowish color, as if life had lost its vitality here.
As you continue forward, the mountains become increasingly steep and precipitous, and clouds and mist begin to permeate the mountains, enveloping the entire world in a dreamlike atmosphere.
At this moment, Li Xi couldn't help but feel a little suspicious and asked, "We've been on our way for several days now, why are we going in and out of towns and deep mountains? Are you leading me in circles?"
Upon hearing this, Headmaster Xu smiled slightly. He stopped and slowly stroked his gray beard before raising his head and gazing intently into the distance.
After a long while, he slowly said, "Everything in the world has its reason for existence, and spiritual veins are no exception. According to ancient records, there is a mountain called Cuiyun Mountain. This mountain soars into the clouds, and the key to finding spiritual veins is hidden at its summit."
After saying this, Headmaster Xu strode forward again, leaving Li Xi standing there lost in thought.
"Let's go, Lingxi. We're from the same school, how could I possibly harm you?"
He turned to Li Xi and said.
After listening, Li Xi pondered for a moment, then quickly followed Xu Shanzhang.
The two continued their journey through the mountains and forests, heading towards Cuiyun Mountain.
The closer you get to Cuiyun Mountain, the more mysterious and eerie the atmosphere becomes.
A faint miasma permeated the air, prompting the two to circulate their internal energy to resist its invasion.
Li Xi was secretly on guard, not expecting such a powerful miasma to appear before even reaching the foot of the mountain.
No wonder when asked, the villagers nearby all avoided Cuiyun Peak and advised against entering it.
As they ventured deeper into the mountains, the once clear and melodious birdsong gradually diminished until it disappeared completely.
Immediately afterwards, a deep, indescribable humming sound entered my ears, a sound that seemed to come from the distant depths of the earth.
It seemed to linger right beside you, carrying an inexplicable pressure and shock that reached deep into your soul, making you feel a sense of unease.
The surrounding trees grew taller and taller, their branches intertwining to form a dense green canopy that completely blocked out the sky.
The lush foliage, layer upon layer, resembles giant parasols, making it difficult for sunlight to shine directly in.
Only a few rays of light occasionally manage to penetrate the gaps in the leaves, casting their strained shadows on the ground, creating patches of light and shadow of various shapes and colors, like a series of mysterious and beautiful paintings.
The two groped their way through the quiet and deep mountain forest, and it took them a great deal of effort to finally reach the top of the mountain.
When they stood on the mountaintop and looked out, the view before them was completely different from that at the foot of the mountain.
The mountaintop was shrouded in a thick layer of clouds and mist, but these clouds and mist were not the kind that obstruct vision. Instead, they resembled wisps of light and ethereal mist, flowing gently in the breeze, creating a dreamlike and breathtakingly beautiful scene.
In the center of this misty landscape, a colossal blue stone stands tall.
This bluestone has endured the wind and rain, as well as erosion and wear over many years. Its surface is covered with lines and pits of varying depths, giving it a very weathered and ancient appearance.
Before we knew it, it was noon.
At that moment, sunlight pierced through layers of clouds and mist, shining perfectly onto the blue stone.
About fifteen minutes later...
At this moment, the sunlight that had been shining directly on the bluestone underwent a subtle change, and the light and shadow gradually shifted. A shadow was cast onto a patch of grass.
Just then, Xu Shanzhang, who had been silently observing everything, finally made a move.
He lifted his foot and began to measure carefully and attentively, step by step, using each step as a ruler.
He stopped after taking exactly thirty-two steps.
He then drew a clearly visible mark on the ground.
After finishing, he turned to look at Li Xi, who was not far behind him, and said, "This is it! Come on, let's dig it open together!"
Gradually, a rusty bronze sword came into view.
"What is this?" Li Xi asked, examining the bronze sword in front of her.
Master Xu: "This sword is called 'Dragon Abyss'. According to ancient records, after the great war between humans and demons, cultivators in the mortal realm used this sword to seal the spiritual veins of the mortal realm before ascending to immortality, severing the passage between the human and demon realms."
The demon realm of today is not comparable to that of a thousand years ago, when it was a world teeming with powerful beings and enjoyed its greatest prosperity.
However, as time passed and things changed, the demon realm gradually declined.
In contrast, in the mortal realm, over the course of thousands of years, people have lived in peace and prosperity, multiplying and thriving, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth has become increasingly abundant, making it undoubtedly an excellent place for cultivation.
If a passage between the human and demon realms could be opened, allowing demons to venture into the mortal world and cultivate diligently, their power would surely advance by leaps and bounds.
In this way, he—Chiyan, as a member of the dragon clan, will surely be able to rely on his own talent and hard work to restore the former glory of the demon race, ascend to the supreme position of the demon realm, lead thousands of demons, and make the demon realm's fame spread throughout the nine heavens and ten earths once again.
Thinking of this, a sinister glint flashed in Xu Shanzhang's eyes.
Before long, the two set off again without stopping.
They traveled swiftly, always heading southwest.
Even after crossing the border of Jingyuan Kingdom, they still showed no sign of stopping.
They passed through the Xuan Yue Kingdom and then arrived in Xi Yue.
Looking at the familiar route before her, Li Xi knew exactly what it was all about. However, she remained silent, following Headmaster Xu forward until they reached the ruins of the ancient clan.
Li Xi couldn't help but feel a sense of doubt: "Is this the territory of the ancient tribe? Could it be...?"
Before she could finish speaking, she turned to look at Headmaster Xu beside her, her eyes full of questions.
Xu Shanzhang nodded slightly and slowly said, "That's right, the spiritual vein is in the ancient clan. But finding it will not be easy; we will need to search carefully."
After saying that, he took the lead and walked into the depths of the ruins. Seeing this, Li Xi quickly followed behind.
Within the ruins, ancient trees reach for the sky, and vines entwine, as if time has stood still here.
The two arrived in front of a huge stone tablet.
Headmaster Xu examined the inscription before him and then burst into laughter: "Just as I thought, this is the place!"
His father's concubine, Qingluan, brought them here years ago.
For her father's sake, she passed on the secrets of the ancient clan and their martial arts techniques to them.
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