Chapter 445: Golden Sun Sect Ruins

The golden palace had a lacquered gold plaque, on which were written several mysterious characters that Wang Qingshan could not recognize. He looked closely and felt the characters on the plaque resembled birds and beasts. He blinked and looked again carefully; they then appeared to be actual characters, which was very strange.

"Is this an ancient cultivator's meditation cave?" Wang Qingshan's expression became serious, and he spoke with some uncertainty. He had consulted many ancient texts, but since he had never actually seen one, he couldn't be sure.

"Uncle Seven," Wang Qinghua said excitedly, "if this is an ancient cultivator's cave, we're rich! Our opportunity has arrived."

Wang Qingshan pondered for a moment and said, "Wait for me here; I'll go check the situation." He summoned a leaf-shaped magical artifact and flew high into the sky.

Not long after, Wang Qingshan stopped, several hundred zhang away from the vortex. Several streaks of light flew from the distant ground, stopping in mid-air. All were Foundation Establishment cultivators; the middle-aged man and the young woman in the yellow dress were also among them. Several more streaks of light flew from afar, their target clearly also the golden palace.

The middle-aged man's gaze swept over the characters on the plaque, and an expression of recollection appeared on his face. A moment later, his eyes lit up, his lips moved slightly, and he flew back the way he came with the young woman in the yellow dress.

They hadn't flown far before Wang Qingshan stopped them.

"What is the meaning of this, fellow Daoist?" The middle-aged man frowned, his expression somewhat displeased.

"You're in such a hurry to leave; you must have recognized the origin of this palace!" Wang Qingshan transmitted. "Honestly tell me, what is its origin?"

"Fellow Daoist, you misunderstand," he transmitted. "I don't recognize it; I merely wanted to go back and inform my clan."

"Is that so? I'll give you one more chance," Wang Qingshan said, his face cold and eyes full of chill. "If you don't speak, don't blame me for being impolite." If he could know the origin of this palace, he could prepare countermeasures in advance.

The middle-aged man hesitated for a moment, then transmitted, "If I'm not mistaken, this is the relic site of the Golden Sun Sect. The Golden Sun Sect was a major sect, rumored to have been destroyed by the demon race. Had it not been destroyed, it would have been the Eighth Immortal Sect of the Eastern Barren."

"The Eighth Immortal Sect? The Golden Sun Sect relic site!" Wang Qingshan's eyes lit up. He had read records about the Golden Sun Sect. Legend has it that after the Eastern Barren Demon Emperor fell, the human race dispatched forces to develop the Eastern Barren. Human cultivators engaged in fierce battles with the demon race of the Eastern Barren, and both sides suffered countless casualties. The human race seized a small portion of territory. The demon race, unwilling to retreat, counterattacked many times. The most impactful counterattack occurred when the demon race led a hundred thousand demonic beasts to attack the Golden Sun Sect's mountain gate. Before the Golden Sun Sect's high-ranking members fell in battle, they activated a formation, sealing the sect and allowing it to drift in the void. However, as time passed, the seal gradually loosened. Every few hundred years, the Golden Sun Sect's relic site would appear in the world, allowing cultivators to enter and seek treasures.

The Golden Sun Sect's relic site moved, and its appearance location was not fixed. However, one thing was certain: after the Golden Sun Sect's relic site officially appeared, it would only be open for a limited time. After a certain period, the site would close, and everyone inside would be teleported out. Strictly speaking, the Golden Sun Sect's relic site was a Profound-grade mystic realm. Only Foundation Establishment cultivators could enter; those above the Foundation Establishment stage could not.

"Since this is the Golden Sun Sect's relic site, why are you leaving? Wouldn't it be better to stay and search for treasures?"

The middle-aged man showed hesitation. A crisp sword hum rang out, and Wang Qingshan summoned his flying sword, adopting a posture ready for battle. The other Foundation Establishment cultivators ignored them, their gazes fixed on the golden palace.

The middle-aged man gave a wry smile and transmitted, "Although the seal has loosened, it requires high-level cultivators to use magical treasures to bombard the seal to open a gap and allow people in."

Wang Qingshan heard this, half-believing, half-doubting. Just then, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, unable to restrain himself, summoned a golden flying knife and sent it flying towards the golden palace. As soon as the golden flying knife approached the blue vortex, it lost control and surged towards it. A loud rumbling sound echoed. The golden flying knife turned into a piece of scrap metal and fell to the ground.

Seeing this, Wang Qingshan no longer doubted. He cupped his hands to the middle-aged man, then flew back the way he came. Soon, he returned to Wang Qingjun and the others, and instructed, "Return to the clan immediately and report to Ninth Uncle. Qingjun, you go to the Hundred Spirits Sect and report to Senior Guang. Tell them the Golden Sun Sect relic site has appeared."

They released their Azure-Scaled Horses, mounted them, and galloped back the way they came.

In a secret room at Azure Lotus Villa, Wang Ruyan sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, with numerous mysterious musical notes floating around her. These musical notes vaguely seemed to form a melody, but a few notes were still missing. A moment later, Wang Ruyan opened her eyes, and the musical notes around her dispersed and vanished.

After seven years of secluded cultivation, she was still at the sixth layer of Foundation Establishment. "Indeed," Wang Ruyan sighed to herself, "to break through a bottleneck, mere arduous cultivation isn't enough." Generally, when cultivators encounter a bottleneck, they usually hunt demonic beasts, seeking breakthroughs amidst life and death, or they go on adventurous quests for treasures. Both methods allow them to acquire cultivation resources without delaying their cultivation.

"After seven years, Qiu Hong should be a father by now!" she mused. "I should be a great-grandmother." Wang Ruyan stood up and started walking out.

Wang Qiuhong managed the business of the Four Seas Wine House, while Wang Qingzhi and Qi Shanshan took care of Lin Yuanfang. Arriving at Wang Qingzhi's residence, Wang Ruyan saw Qi Shanshan and Lin Yuanfang chatting in a stone pavilion. Qi Shanshan was holding an infant in her arms, and Lin Yuanfang was holding a five- or six-year-old boy.

"Mother, you've emerged from seclusion!"

"Your granddaughter-in-law congratulates Grandmother on emerging from seclusion."

Wang Ruyan waved her hand and said with a smile, "Who are these two?"

Qi Shanshan smiled slightly and introduced them, "Mother, these are your great-grandsons, Wang Tiansheng and Wang Tianchen. Tiansheng has a Three-Spirit Root."

"Your grandson greets great-grandmother," the boy said.

"Good child, come here and let great-grandmother give you a hug," Wang Ruyan said. Wang Ruyan picked up Wang Tiansheng, kissed him, her face full of loving affection.

"Tell great-grandmother, how old are you this year?"

"Great-grandmother," the boy replied, "in three more months, your grandson will be six years old."

Wang Ruyan nodded, took out a red command flag from her bosom, handed it to Wang Tiansheng, and said with a smile, "This mid-grade magical artifact, the Fiery Sun Flag, is a gift from your great-grandmother. You must cultivate diligently and strictly abide by the clan rules. When your great-grandfather emerges from seclusion, he will certainly give you a grand gift."

"Yes," Wang Tiansheng responded, "your grandson will respectfully heed great-grandmother's teachings." Wang Tiansheng agreed repeatedly.

"By the way, Shanshan," Wang Ruyan asked, "how is Qingzhi? Has he emerged from seclusion?"

Qi Shanshan nodded and said, "Mother, Fourth Brother has emerged from seclusion. He took the Foundation Establishment Pill but failed to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage; he's still at the Qi Refining stage." Wang Qingyang was Wang Changsheng's fourth son. Both Wang Qingjing and Wang Qingzhi called Wang Qingyang "Fourth Brother." Third Brother was Wang Ping'an; although Wang Ping'an could not live by Wang Changsheng's side, his status remained.

A look of disappointment appeared on Wang Ruyan's face, and she sighed softly. Wang Qingyang had a Four-Spirit Root aptitude. To reach Foundation Establishment, one Foundation Establishment Pill was indeed insufficient. Wang Ruyan couldn't help him much either, as she now had not only sons but also great-grandsons.