Chapter 956

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Protagonist:

Xu Changqing

Three days later, dawn had just broken.

The woman appeared in the Qingmu Sect's main hall: "My Lord, we can now go to the Xunlong Secret Realm."

"Let's go."

Xu Changqing nodded slightly: "I also want to see for myself what the gathering place of the Tianyuan Realm's most elite Array Masters is truly like."

The woman said no more, raised her hand to form an ancient seal, her fingertips glowing with yellow spiritual light, and an array gate hidden in the void manifested.

That array gate was not formed from an ordinary magic tool, but was pieced together from hundreds of millions of tiny earth vein crystals, its surface engraved with dense array patterns, each pattern flowing with the heavy aura of the great earth, faintly allowing one to hear the sound of underground spiritual veins pulsating.

Atop the array gate, the two characters "Xunlong" appeared.

They were not written with brush and ink, but condensed from earth qi.

The woman explained softly: "This is the Xunlong Lineage's 'Earth Vein Array Gate,' connecting to the core area of the Xunlong Secret Realm; only members of the Xunlong Lineage and invited guests may pass through."

Having spoken, she stepped into the array gate first, and Xu Changqing, seeing this, followed closely behind,

and the moment he stepped in, he felt a wave of pure earth qi rush toward him.

Warm and heavy, it seeped into his body through his pores, making his whole being feel comfortable.

Passing through the array gate, the scene before him made Xu Changqing's heart tremble.

This Xunlong Secret Realm was actually an Earth Vein Valley hidden deep within the Tianyuan Realm.

Deeply rooted in the earth's core, tightly connected to the Tianyuan Realm's main vein.

Beneath his feet was not ordinary soil, but vast expanses of fine, warm five-colored earth.

Warm to the touch, containing extremely rich earth vein spiritual energy.

Beneath the soil layer, one could clearly see the crisscrossing spiritual vein patterns.

Within the secret realm, there were no towering ancient trees, but countless stone pillars condensed from earth vein crystal stones.

The stone pillars were engraved with array dao runes, their tops supporting a small sand table; within the sand table, miniature mountains, rivers, and spiritual vein trajectories were clearly visible — it was actually mapping the earth vein dynamics across the Tianyuan Realm in real time.

In the distance, an ancient pavilion stood in the center of the secret realm.

The pavilion was built entirely of Xuan Iron and earth vein crystal stones, and atop the pavilion sat a bronze compass.

The compass needle pointed toward the depths of the secret realm — that was the Xunlong Lineage's core area, the Kun Yu Pavilion.

Around the pavilion, dozens of stone gazebos were scattered.

In each gazebo, a stone table was placed.

Simple array diagrams were engraved on the stone tables, and quite a few cultivators dressed in gray-brown hemp robes were already waiting here; some conversed in low voices, others sat with eyes closed regulating their breath.

The woman introduced as she walked: "The Xunlong Secret Realm is an Earth Vein Holy Land that has existed since the Remote Ancient Period, deeply rooted in the earth's core.

The number of earth veins inside is more than ten times that of the known outside world.

This gathering will be held in the square before the Kun Yu Pavilion.

The attendees, aside from the Xunlong Lineage's core and principal members, are the top figures from the Tianyuan Realm's various great domains."

Xu Changqing's gaze swept across the surroundings, and he quickly sensed several formidable auras.

These auras were either steady as mountains, or cold as ice, or warm as jade — obviously all were individuals of profound cultivation.

Just then, a cold aura entered his perception.

That aura was bone-chillingly cold, yet carried a hint of familiarity.

Xu Changqing turned his head to look, and saw in a stone pavilion not far away, a figure dressed in black robes sitting.

That person was wrapped entirely in black robes, wearing a black bamboo hat, beneath which a layer of black gauze obscured the face, black mist swirling around the body, concealing themselves completely.

Xu Changqing raised an eyebrow: "Luocha?"

Luocha also sensed Xu Changqing, tilted his head slightly, a trace of playfulness in his gaze; he did not rise, merely gave a slight nod of the head, counting as a greeting.

Xu Changqing also nodded slightly, returning the response.

Along the way, Xu Changqing saw many familiar figures.

Most were sect masters of the Dongyu's various sects, family heads of clans, all with cultivation at Nascent Soul or above.

Besides them, there were also many unfamiliar faces.

All were experts from the Southern, Northern, Western, and Central Four Great Domains.

There was the Valley Master of Wandu Valley, the Palace Master of Ice-Cold Palace... and others.

Every honored guest possessed noble status and profound cultivation; being able to gather these people in one place was sufficient to demonstrate the Xunlong Lineage's foundation and influence.

Before long, the two arrived at the square.

In the center of the square, a massive stone table was placed.

Atop the stone table, a complete map of the Tianyuan Realm's earth vein distribution was engraved.

The trajectory and strength of every spiritual vein on the map were marked clearly.

Even the Yin River's general orientation and entrance were actually faintly depicted.

Around the stone table, dozens of stone chairs were placed; the Xunlong Lineage's core members were already seated upon the stone chairs, gazing calmly at the arriving guests.

The woman led Xu Changqing to an empty seat at the side of the stone table to sit down, then softly introduced the Xunlong Lineage core members beside him: "My Lord, that one is the Xunlong Grandmaster, Lu Chen Yuan."

Xu Changqing looked in the indicated direction, and saw at the main seat, a withered old man sitting.

The old man wore a set of gray-brown hemp robes, the fabric rough, covered in tiny traces of wear.

Because he walked barefoot year-round, the soles of his feet were the same color as the earth; his whole person seemed to have fused into one with the great earth.

His frame was gaunt, his back slightly hunched.

His face was covered in wrinkles, like old tree bark.

His eyes were turbid as dust-covered beads, half-closed, as if he might fall into slumber at any moment.

Yet even so, Xu Zhangqing could sense the terrifying power contained within the old man's body—a heavy aura that coexisted with the earth, steady and vast, far surpassing ordinary Spirit Transformation cultivators.

Not surprisingly, this person had already reached the peak of Spirit Transformation, only one step away from Void Refinement.

The woman's tone carried a trace of respect: "Master Lu's research into the earth veins is the finest in the Tianyuan Realm; most of the Xunlong Lineage's Array Path inheritance comes from his hand."

Even I benefited greatly after joining the Xunlong Lineage.

He is usually taciturn, spending most of his time surveying earth veins; only when it comes to earth veins and the Array Path will he actively speak."

Hearing this, Xu Zhangqing felt a measure of admiration for Lu Chen Yuan in his heart.

To cultivate at the peak of Spirit Transformation while devoting himself to studying earth vein array paths for over a thousand years—this state of mind and perseverance was far beyond what ordinary cultivators could possess.

Afterward, the woman introduced several other core members to Xu Zhangqing:

"That one with a cold countenance and a head full of gray-white hair is Zhong Wen."

A Spirit Transformation cultivator, Master Lu's only disciple.

His Vein Guiding Technique is consummate; his personality is cold on the outside but warm within."

Xu Zhangqing looked over and saw Zhong Wen seated upright on a stone chair.

This person had a cold countenance and sharp eyebrows and eyes.

A head of gray-white hair was casually tied up; on his left wrist were wrapped layer upon layer of yellow hemp rope, around which thick earth qi coiled.

She lowered her gaze slightly, her eyes falling on the earth vein distribution map on the stone table, her expression focused, her whole body emanating an aura that kept strangers at bay.

"That burly one carrying a stone tablet on his back is Wei Shanyue."

A Nascent Soul cultivator, a representative figure of the Guardian Vein Faction.

His personality is generous and forthright, with an extremely loud voice.

His magic treasure is Suppressing Mountains and Rivers, said to weigh ten thousand jin; it can serve as an array base or as a weapon."

Xu Zhangqing shifted his gaze and looked at Wei Shanyue.

This person was burly, with a face like iron and stone, thick brows and large eyes, and a bristling beard.

On his back he carried a huge stone tablet, engraved with the three large characters "Suppressing Mountains and Rivers."

Thick earth qi coiled around his whole body; his sitting posture was straight and upright, like a mountain, inspiring awe.

"That one dressed in a blue-green robe with a refined scholarly air is Shen Tinglan."

A Nascent Soul cultivator, a backbone figure of the Altered Vein Faction.

His personality is gentle, and he has good relations with various sects; he excels at mediating spirit vein disputes."

Xu Zhangqing cast a curious glance toward Shen Tinglan.

This person was gentle as jade, dressed in a blue-green robe, with long slender fingers.

His bearing was like that of a schoolteacher, always wearing a gentle smile on his face.

Besides these, the woman also introduced Shi Bu Yu, Ye Gui Chen, Tie Hanjiang, Liu Yan, and others.

Shi Bu Yu was short and thin, with dark skin, like an old farmer.

He carried a tattered cloth bag on his back, filled with all sorts of strange stones.

At this moment his eyes were tightly closed, as if communicating with the stones beside him.

Ye Gui Chen had a delicate countenance and looked younger than his actual age.

On his left wrist was wrapped yellow hemp rope like Zhong Wen's, and he was organizing the array path drawings on the table.

Tie Hanjiang was stern and taciturn, with a head of silver hair and eyes and brows like knives.

He wore black clothes and carried a stone sword on his back, seeming not to like others approaching.

Liu Yan was gentle as water, her eyebrows and eyes smiling, dressed in a light blue long skirt, which stood out from the earth pulse robes of the other Xunlong Lineage members.

After all the distinguished guests had arrived, Lu Chen Yuan slowly opened his eyes.

His pupils, originally turbid as dust-covered beads, brightened in an instant—but not with the spiritual light or sharp gleam common to cultivators; rather, it was the faint glow of earth vein spirit qi reflected in his pupils.

As if the earth was using his eye sockets to gaze upon everyone present.

That gaze was exceptionally profound, as if it could see through people's hearts; the cultivators present could not help but set aside distracting thoughts, their expressions becoming respectful!