C298 I Want the Real Thing!!

Yu Yuan wore a wry smile.

The medicinal herbs he had labored over were about to become common knowledge due to the legend of the Mysterious Realm.

"How can I assist you?"

With a soft sigh, Yu Yuan steeled himself and inquired.

Su Yan needed his help to eliminate Wang Jinlin. Considering Jinlin's mastery of Subtlety, Yu Yuan devised a strategy that involved enlisting the aid of Yu Zhu or Qin Yun, which held a possibility of success.

Zhou Cangmin, a Spirit Walk cultivator and a renowned figure in Aetherius, surely had no need for his assistance. Yu Yuan was baffled.

"Find the Mystic Gate for me," Zhou Cangmin requested.

Yu Yuan was taken aback. "What?"

"If the Mystic Gate is revealed prematurely, she will be out of harm's way," Zhou Cangmin explained, helping Yu Yuan piece things together. "Whether it's the Thunder Sect, Winter's Bite, or even the emperor of the Sunblessed Empire, their true desire lies in the secret realm hidden within the Forgotten Ruins. The seventh-level Silverfrost Dragon in Dragon Lake seeks Wei Feng's demise, not hers."

"Once the location of the Mystic Gate is pinpointed and the news spreads, those who are besieging her, intent on inflicting severe damage or exhausting her to death, will cease their aggression."

"My interest in the Mysterious Realm is minimal, but I wish for her to live a good life."

"Her fixation is too deep; she would never voluntarily disclose the Mystic Gate's whereabouts. That's why I aim to eradicate her troubles at their root."

The state preceptor of the Crimson Sun Empire spoke earnestly.

"What qualifications do I have to aid you in locating the Mystic Gate?" Yu Yuan questioned, perplexed.

"The young girl who emerged from Gloomhollow with you hasn't been in the Forgotten Ruins long, but her unique qualities have made her the undisputed authority of this land," Zhou Cangmin said with a slight smile. "I trust her understanding of this region and its environs exceeds that of anyone else."

A glimmer of realization shone in Yu Yuan's eyes.

Yu Zhu was inherently attuned to this land, and indeed, as Zhou Cangmin suggested, her knowledge of the area likely surpassed all others.

"Do you also believe the rumors of an undiscovered Mysterious Realm within the Forgotten Ruins?" Yu Yuan inquired.

Zhou Cangmin nodded. "That seems likely. I've scoured various ancient texts, and early records suggest that the spiritual energy in this vast region wasn't always as scarce as it is today."

Yu Yuan's interest was piqued. "You mean because of the Mysterious Realm?"

"Exactly," Zhou Cangmin affirmed with confidence. "My theory is that the unknown Mysterious Realm has been siphoning the spiritual energy from the Forgotten Ruins for ages. Over countless years, this absorption has led to the current state of the Ruins, where the spiritual energy is now sparse."

Yu Yuan fell silent.

Three hundred years prior, while preparing for his reincarnation and the creation of Yu Zhu, he had also explored this area.

Even then, he had detected that something was amiss.

Back in those days, the Forgotten Ruins were a gathering place for cultivators from the Sunblessed Empire and the Silvermoon Empire, with many perilous and secluded spots where the spiritual energy was surprisingly rich.

Yet, that rich spiritual energy wasn't stable; it fluctuated constantly.

An area might be rich in spiritual energy, but within days or a fortnight, it could dissipate spontaneously.

After some time, the energy would gradually replenish.

And there was spiritual energy that seemed to flow stealthily, its destination unknown.

In his previous life, knowing his cultivation journey had ended and eager to prepare for rebirth, he hadn't delved deeper.

Little did he know that in the years that followed, a military chief's master from the Forgeroses would meticulously investigate and, by tracking the peculiar shifts in spiritual energy, would uncover the cause.

The presence of the Mysterious Realm, covertly draining the spiritual energy, left the area barren.

"If that's the case, the yet-to-be-revealed Mysterious Realm must be brimming with abundant spiritual energy!" Yu Yuan exclaimed after a moment, taking a deep breath. "Perhaps within the Mysterious Realm, the spiritual energy is vast like the sea, giving rise to numerous spiritual mines and resulting in the formation of highly pure Soul Crystals and Psicrystals."

Zhou Cangmin's smile was knowing. "A psicrystal vein is just the beginning. The Mysterious Realm undoubtedly conceals other wonders."

Yu Yuan looked at him, a slight smile playing on his lips. "Lord State Preceptor, are you truly disinterested in the Mysterious Realm? You're asking for my assistance to find it—is it because you wish to rescue that commander?"

Zhou Cangmin's ties with the Ruby Hand were well-established. Even before his return from the Moonfall Sanctuary, he had made their relationship clear.

It was fair to say that Zhou Cangmin could speak for the Ruby Hand.

His presence here raised the question: was he acting on behalf of the Ruby Hand?

The Ruby Hand, like the Colddeath sect from the Land of Quiescence, would naturally be drawn to the allure of an uncharted Mysterious Realm.

Knowing this, and having come here, could he truly be without any desires?

The current state preceptor of the Crimson Sun Empire, this senior, was the most cunning individual Yu Yuan had encountered in his lifetime. Every move he made was laden with profound significance.

The upheaval in the Serpent Spine Mountains and Gloomhollow was later confirmed to be a masterstroke orchestrated by the state preceptor himself.

With Mei Qiurong of the Ebon Star Sect dead and a Mark of the Celestials lost, the outcome was clear: Zhou Cangmin had emerged victorious.

Now, he had surfaced once again in the Forgotten Ruins, asking for help. It was probably not as straightforward as he claimed.

"Lord State Preceptor, if you need my assistance, I..."

Yu Yuan cleared his throat, not beating around the bush, "What's in it for me if I give it my all? Please don't tell me it's just your friendship."

Zhou Cangmin's smile widened, "Isn't my friendship valuable enough?"

Yu Yuan chuckled and shook his head, "I'm after something tangible!"

"You rascal," Zhou Cangmin chided, pointing at him. "Do you realize how many people in both our nations, not to mention the Sunblessed Empire, yearn for my friendship?"

"I believe that by allowing me to return safely from the Moonfall Sanctuary, I've already earned your trust and friendship," Yu Yuan stated earnestly.

Zhou Cangmin paused, then nodded slightly, conceding, "You're quite astute."

"And?" Yu Yuan pressed, unabashed.

Suddenly, Zhou Cangmin called out, "Zixi!"

A dignified lady, adorned in a silver cape with seven pythons entwined, appeared quietly. She greeted him with a smile, "Mr. Yu, we meet again."

It was none other than Xu Zixi, the most formidable presence aboard the Golden Ship.

Wei Wujiang's confidence was rooted in her formidable reputation. Lee Yuangui and his peers recognized her and were well aware of her capabilities, which kept them from making any rash moves.

Yu Yuan could never have guessed that this stunning noblewoman, with her deep ties to the Sunblessed Empire's royal Wei family, was acquainted with Zhou Cangmin. And not just acquainted—they seemed to be on very familiar terms.

"You two know each other?" Yu Yuan asked, surprised.

"I've heard about you," Xu Zixi said with a radiant smile, her teeth gleaming white. "Cangmin and I go way back. He's the one who filled me in on your story."

As she spoke with Yu Yuan, her captivating eyes occasionally drifted towards Zhou Cangmin. It was clear to anyone that she held the elegantly poised High Oracle in high regard, and she made no effort to conceal her admiration in Yu Yuan's presence. It was as if she wanted Yu Yuan to be aware of her fondness for Zhou Cangmin and to acknowledge the ambiguous nature of their relationship.

Zhou Cangmin, on the other hand, chuckled awkwardly, his expression one of mild embarrassment.

"I see," Yu Yuan said, nodding lightly after his initial surprise.

"You don't understand a thing!" Zhou Cangmin exclaimed, half laughing, half exasperated. He pointed at Yu Yuan and addressed Xu Zixi, "This young man is after tangible benefits. I've come as a Lunar Spirit; my true form isn't here, so I didn't bring many possessions."

"What are you looking for?" Xu Zixi inquired.

"A pill that can quickly elevate my cultivation level, one that can propel me forward into the Golden Sanctum, or some kind of extraordinary item," Yu Yuan replied with frank directness. "Additionally, if we do find the Mystic Gate, I want the right to choose from the treasures within."

"You certainly don't lack ambition," Xu Zixi remarked, her expression a mix of amusement and curiosity, as she turned to Zhou Cangmin. "Is he really capable of helping us?"

"Absolutely," Zhou Cangmin assured her with a smile. "He's even capable of concealing the Fallen Star Eyes of the girl from the Starmoon Sect, though he's unaware of it himself."

"The Fallen Star Eyes are indeed a nuisance," Xu Zixi said, frowning slightly. "Having that hanging over my head always leaves me feeling uneasy."

"How could I possibly conceal them?" Yu Yuan asked, genuinely perplexed.

"You really can," Zhou Cangmin affirmed again. "Zixi, give that to him so he can make a breakthrough in his realm."

Xu Zixi took out a shimmering diamond-shaped stone, looking somewhat pained as he passed it over, "Here, take it."

...