Several hundred miles outside Danxia Valley, aboard a flying ship hovering in mid-air, Yun Zhong gestured toward a tract of vacant land by the river. “That there is the land previously earmarked by Danxia Valley for the construction of a city. However, due to a shortage of manpower in the Valley and various other reasons, it was shelved.”
He looked at Wen Qixue. “Take a look. Can it accommodate the ruins hidden within your divine sense?”
Yun Zhong possessed little knowledge of the ruins inside Wen Qixue’s divine sense, having only caught a glimpse when he assisted in the body-reshaping process. It was indeed a ruin, but from the outside, it appeared as nothing more than a field of debris, with a single, barely discernible door. He had no idea how much ground the ruins actually covered. However, since Wen Qixue had specifically chosen to house it within his divine sense, it was surely more than just a pile of rubble; there was likely another world hidden within.
Wen Qixue looked in the direction Yun Zhong pointed and saw a vast expanse of empty land. Perhaps because the goal had been to build a city, no protective measures had been taken for the site, and a few itinerant cultivators were currently meditating and resting within the open space.
As the master of the ruins, Wen Qixue knew their scale. He estimated the size of the vacant lot: “It is quite good. This plot is about two and a half times the size of the ruins; it will suffice to place the Compass Hall.”
Yun Zhong found this hard to believe, pointing at the ground beneath the ship: “Are you saying that this massive space can only hold two and a half of those ruins?”
Wen Qixue nodded. “Roughly.”
Yun Zhong: “…”
If a single ruin occupied nearly half of this area, would they still be able to build a city? But upon reflection, it didn’t seem to matter. Danxia Valley merely needed a location for transactions; whether or not that site was technically a city was irrelevant. With this realization, Yun Zhong cast aside any concerns regarding the city’s subsequent development. He maneuvered the flying ship: “In that case, we shall descend.”
The passengers prepared for landing. Though this city would not technically belong to Danxia Valley, it was inextricably linked to it, and thus, a large delegation had arrived. In addition to Yun Zhong, Jiang Che and the legendary Valley Master had appeared. The Valley Master, however, had remained unseen until they reached their destination, at which point she appeared before them, holding a formation disk.
She moved to the very center of the vacant lot and buried the disk deep into the earth. She then activated it. Instantly, a golden light shield enveloped the entire area, lingering for a long moment before slowly dissipating. She looked at Wen Qixue, her tone detached: “It is done. The formation is set. I have taken the liberty of expelling any bystanders. You may find a suitable spot and bring out your future City Lord’s mansion.”
Wen Qixue: “…”
Yun Zhong chuckled. “If that ruin of his is to serve as a City Lord’s mansion, I fear that might be a bit difficult.” He patted Wen Qixue on the shoulder. “But do not worry, Little Wen. I have prepared your future City Lord’s mansion. I urgently forged a replica of the Tianhuan Sect’s grand hall. While it surely lacks the defensive capabilities of the original, with the Valley Master’s formation disk, it will suffice.”
“The formation disk the Valley Master has provided is no less formidable than the one guarding the Tianhuan Sect.”
The Valley Master spoke in a flat, indifferent tone, as if describing a matter of no consequence: “The formation disk is actually somewhat superior.”
“The new array used by the Tianhuan Sect was one I provided them a few years ago; however, this disk is a sub-disk of Danxia Valley’s own, so it is somewhat more powerful than theirs.”
Jiang Che noted: “The transmission channel between the parent and sub-disks is far more stable than a standard array, so it is indeed more appropriate.”
After all, the relationship between Danxia Valley and this future city was more than just that of a protector and a dependent.
Wen Qixue pondered for a moment before suggesting to Yun Zhong: “In that case, Elder Yun, why not place the City Lord’s mansion here? Placing it in the center of the city is standard practice. As for the Compass Hall, I shall find another location for it.”
Yun Zhong: “That works.”
He set the City Lord’s mansion down.
Wen Qixue praised: “As expected of Elder Yun—the craftsmanship is truly superb.”
Yun Zhong laughed heartily and clapped Wen Qixue on the back a few more times: “Come, let us find a place for your ruins; I, too, wish to see what kind of marvelous treasure those ruins truly are.”
Wen Qixue pulled a wry face and muttered: “I should not have praised him.”
A burst of quiet laughter drifted to his ears. Yun Luo stood beside Rong Mingmo, smiling at Wen Qixue: “I shall have a word with Father later.”
Though Wen Qixue had heard tales of Yun Luo, they had never met. Despite having suffered for a long time due to the alien fire, her appearance showed no signs of it. In fact, she looked healthier than most. She was a woman of lean, powerful physique.
Wen Qixue asked politely: “Is Senior Sister Yun well?”
Perhaps because she had recovered, Yun Luo seemed quite joyful: “Thanks to you, Fellow Daoist Wen, I am much better. I need only rest my meridians for a few more days to fully recover. Furthermore, since the lotus seed stores the alien fire, and I have been acclimating to it for a long time, I need only reach the Nascent Soul stage to tame it completely.”
She lowered her voice to tell Wen Qixue: “I heard the Third Elder came today to scheme for your lotus seeds. If you are unwilling to give them to him, tell me, and I shall have Father chase him out.”
“The Third Elder is no match for Father.”
Jiang Che, standing not far away: “…”
“If you wish to whisper, could you please use divine sense transmission? I am not deaf.”
Wen Qixue said innocently: “Elder Jiang, my current cultivation does not allow me to use divine sense transmission.”
Jiang Che sneered: “Who are you trying to fool? Your Golden Core divine sense cannot transmit? You could at least manage a short transmission!”
Despite his grumbling, Jiang Che still coveted the seeds. He asked tentatively: “Little Wen, do you have any more lotus seeds?”
Wen Qixue: “About a dozen or so. After all, it has only matured once since I tamed the Mystic Water Pure Lotus.”
Jiang Che asked again: “Could you sell me a few? I have some ideas and wish to conduct a few experiments.”
Wen Qixue nodded, retrieved five from his storage ring, and handed them to Jiang Che: “Very well.”
Jiang Che received them joyfully, took one out, and examined it: “Excellent, the quality is superb!”
“Tell me what you need, Little Wen, and I shall fetch it for you.”
Wen Qixue did not stand on ceremony and replied directly: “I will provide a list later.”
At the mention of a list, Jiang Che remembered the gentle tempering formula Rong Mingmo had passed on: “Is it for body tempering?”
Wen Qixue offered a meaningful smile: “It is not quite so simple; it is a list for the revival of the ruins.”
Jiang Che: “…That sounds like a rare treasure.”
Wen Qixue walked to the western edge of the vacant lot and released the ruins from his divine sense. The others finally beheld the ruins in their true form. Wen Qixue’s estimation had been accurate: they occupied slightly less than half of the space, sitting almost flush against the City Lord’s mansion Yun Zhong had placed.
Rong Mingmo couldn’t help but exclaim: “So big, and so dilapidated.”
It was indeed in ruins; a single glance revealed only wreckage and debris. But the Valley Master, Yun Zhong, and Jiang Che all straightened their postures instantly.
The Valley Master narrowed her eyes slightly: “I can sense the aura of formation laws lingering within.”
Jiang Che nodded: “There is an aura of alchemical rules, though it is quite faint.”
Yun Zhong added: “And metalwork as well.”
They turned to Wen Qixue: “What place is this exactly?”
Wen Qixue replied: “This is the ruin of an ancient sect.”
He extended an invitation: “Shall we go inside and take a look?”