Chapter 247: Super Spiritual Veins and Monsters Everywhere

The two walked and talked. As they emerged from underground, the outside world came into view. Takiyami pointed at the dark clouds in the sky, a hint of excitement in her voice, and asked, “Do you see it?”

Wang Yu’s expression was one of bewilderment.

Takiyami regained her composure. “To master Feng Shui and mystical arts,” she explained, “you need excellent imagination. Look at those dark clouds; don’t they resemble the horizontal stroke of the inverted mountain character?”

Wang Yu exclaimed in surprise, “This is—”

If Ghost Mountain and the dark clouds were viewed as a single entity, the highest peak would be right in the middle, flanked by two shorter peaks.

When pieced together, it truly resembled an inverted ‘mountain’ character.

The only issue was that the dark clouds and the mountain peaks weren’t connected; there was a gap in between.

When Wang Yu pointed out this discrepancy, Takiyami explained.

“So many years have passed,” she said, “and the power of the Underworld Tiger Prison Array must be weakening. The visual discrepancy is a result of the power loss, which has also made the array here more obscure.”

She had activated the array’s power, so her words were beyond question.

Wang Yu then understood the true essence of Feng Shui: one must possess a highly abstract imagination, or it would be nearly impossible to connect the terrain with the characteristics of an array.

“So, how do we enter? Do we just fly directly into the dark clouds?”

“We must use the designated entrance,” she replied. “The Heavenly Soul Sect is a proper sect, so there must be a path planned for its disciples. We just need to follow that ancient path. Please wait a moment, Brother Wang.”

Takiyami regained her confidence, pulled out a small array disc, and began to scan for the correct direction. In no time, she had led him around to what she identified as the “main entrance.”

“Let’s go,” she said.

This time was less complicated than the Snake Mansion. After entering Ghost Mountain from a path on the east side, Wang Yu was surprised to discover that he could no longer feel the Soul-Waving Yin Wind.

More accurately, it was no longer affecting them. The inheritance of an Earth Array Master was indeed profound.

After following the path into the mountain, Takiyami began to navigate a winding route, as if treading an invisible path. Finally, she plunged into thin air and vanished.

Wang Yu followed closely, and with a single step, he felt the world around him transform. The spatial fluctuations were far more pronounced than those caused by a minor teleportation array!

“A Secret Realm!

“The ancient Heavenly Soul Sect ruins are actually located within a Secret Realm. How can this be?”

Given the nature of a sect, it couldn’t possibly be established within a Secret Realm. The daily influx of disciples would be too high, and it would be difficult to connect the Secret Realm with external ley lines.

Even if spiritual veins were forcibly brought in, it would be challenging to transfer them inside.

This would hinder future development. Furthermore, a Secret Realm has limited space; if too many people inhabit it, its inherent advantages would be difficult to realize.

These advantages include denser spiritual energy, environments better suited for cultivating rare spiritual plants with long growth cycles, and so on.

Yet, what lay before them was undeniably a Secret Realm.

Looking around, they stood before a sprawling ruin. A faint red mist permeated the air, a blood mist formed from the evaporation of vast quantities of blood.

Looking up,

they saw a massive jade archway overhead, inscribed with the three ancient characters for “Heavenly Soul Sect,” confirming they had found the right place.

Takiyami activated her Qi-Gazing Golden Eyes to observe the flow of Qi, her voice turning solemn.

“Brother Wang,” she said, “I suspect that when the Heavenly Soul Sect endured the ancient Blood Demon calamity, this entire space collapsed. To prevent everything from being swept away by spatial turbulence,

the Heavenly Soul Sect’s master array mages transferred the power of the Underworld Tiger Prison Array to seal off this space.

That’s why the evil spirits, originally captured as consumables, broke free and formed today’s Ghost Mountain. This also severely damaged the power of this local array.

Otherwise, even I wouldn’t be able to activate the Underworld Tiger’s power.”

Wang Yu looked around. Occasionally, a fissure would appear in the blood mist. The mist attempted to permeate it, but was repelled by black currents of energy.

It did indeed resemble a sealing method.

“The Heavenly Soul Sect was annihilated by the Blood Demon; legend has it that everyone was drained of their blood and died tragically within the sect. There might still be residual Blood Demon power here. Let’s go find the scripture pavilion first.”

“Agreed,” Wang Yu replied.

After they agreed, Wang Yu became extremely wary of the blood mist and summoned his Glazed Soul Lamp. This artifact, a complementary magical tool for the Ancient Soul Art, also represented the authentic legacy of the Heavenly Soul Sect.

He possessed no disciple tokens or similar items, only this lamp, which brought him a sense of security. The soul flame’s temperature was even lower than that of an ordinary fire.

However, under its protection, it could scorch the encroaching blood mist. Takiyami also employed a protective measure: a waist guard intricately carved with dense array patterns.

A radiating white glow enveloped and protected her.

Beyond the main gate lay a expanse of architectural ruins. Based on the surviving artifacts, it appeared to have been an ancient complex of buildings primarily used for receiving guests.

The location of the scripture pavilion was a mystery. They surveyed their surroundings.

Wang Yu stroked his chin and commented, “Array Master Takiyami, I believe a building like the scripture pavilion shouldn’t be too hidden, nor too conspicuous. It should be located…”

“I found something!” Takiyami exclaimed.

Her excited voice made Wang Yu hesitate to continue his thought, so he leaned closer to see.

The golden rings in Takiyami’s eyes were incredibly radiant, making him quite envious. He had only obtained the Earth Mother Sutra a few months ago and had merely mastered a handful of Feng Shui secret arts.

He was still a long way from developing Qi-Gazing Golden Eyes himself, so he could only wait eagerly for her to speak.

“This is a super spiritual vein!”

“What?” Wang Yu asked.

Spiritual vein grades correspond to cultivator realms. Only Fifth-tier spiritual veins qualify as ‘super spiritual veins,’ capable of supporting several Soul Transformation Venerables in their cultivation—a truly rare sight.

As far as he knew, even at the Reverse Spirit Blood Sect’s main gate,

they possessed only a few Fourth-tier supreme spiritual veins, which would require at least several millennia to potentially evolve into Fifth-tier ones, and advancement was not guaranteed.

The Reverse Spirit Blood Sect was established ten thousand years ago on the ruins left after the ancient era’s downfall; its foundation was not to be underestimated.

And the Heavenly Soul Sect’s reputation as an ancient overlord was truly well-deserved.

“With such abundant spiritual energy, even Core Formation cultivators would progress significantly faster here than they would outside.

Unfortunately… I’ve already reached the peak of Foundation Establishment, and my cultivation can advance no further.”

After her initial excitement, Takiyami’s mood turned somewhat dejected.

Then, she became excited again, like a master of changing expressions. She instinctively grabbed Wang Yu’s hand, but quickly withdrew it just as he was about to react.

She continued,

“Wang Yu, super spiritual veins are only known to exist in three places: the Heavenly Void Sword Sect, the Heaven-Refining Demonic Sect, and the Sea Dragon Abyss. Do you know what these three places have in common?!” Wang Yu already knew the answer: they all had Soul Transformation Venerables.

However, it clearly wasn’t such a simple answer. Before he could even ponder, she eagerly blurted it out.

“Dragon Veins!

All three of these locations possess Dragon Veins. After their inheritors receive the Dragon Vein’s blessing, their potential is greatly enhanced, their foundation surpasses their peers by tenfold or more, and their chances of breaking through to Nascent Soul exceed eighty percent!”

He took a deep breath, calming his rapidly beating heart. He truly hadn’t expected to encounter the very Dragon Veins and Heavenly Scourge they had just been discussing, and so soon.

“Are you saying there’s a Dragon Vein here?”

“There’s a strong possibility, yes. Most likely a nascent type, not exceeding Fifth-tier.”

Dragon Vein blessings, Dragon Vein treasures.

These were extremely rare opportunities, but not the only spiritual resources available. He didn’t believe that merely receiving a blessing could so easily lead to a breakthrough to Nascent Soul.

He didn’t believe it; rather, success was determined by one’s background, resources, effort, talent, and other factors.

Dragon Veins were merely one form of assistance.

However, with such an opportunity presenting itself, he couldn’t refuse it. The matter of completing his inheritance could wait until after the Dragon Vein. Wang Yu’s voice was low as he asked, “How do we find it?”

Takiyami paused, then spoke with hesitation.

“Using the Dragon-Seizing Vein-Locating Art is the fastest way; we could pinpoint it within days, but the consequences are unknown.

Alternatively, we can use the Qi-Gazing Golden Eyes, though their range is limited, requiring us to search inch by inch, which will consume a lot of time.”

“No need to rush,” Wang Yu said. “This place is secluded enough; we have plenty of time.”

Takiyami breathed a sigh of relief, patting her chest reassuringly.

“Leave it to me!” she declared.

Subsequently, Wang Yu took charge of keeping watch while Takiyami focused on searching. Working together, it wasn’t overly strenuous.

After half a month, they had circled the periphery of the Heavenly Soul Sect’s Secret Realm, finding nothing. They then decided to move deeper inside.

Throughout the search, Wang Yu also committed the terrain to memory.

The entire area was a vast plain with minimal elevation changes. Due to the blood mist, visibility was low, and their divine sense was hampered.

Their divine sense could only function at one or two tenths of its normal capacity, making it less effective than Wang Yu’s vision, which was enhanced by his Yin-Moon Ghost Eyes. Searching for the Dragon Vein was also part of the process of searching for the scripture pavilion.

They would pause every half day to recover their energy.

Once fully recuperated, they would resume their search.

As time passed,

thirty-eight days later, an unusual phenomenon quietly occurred.

“Wait,” Wang Yu said suddenly.

“What is it?” Takiyami asked.

On the broken street, Wang Yu stopped Takiyami, his expression serious. “There’s a corpse ahead,” he stated.

“A corpse?” Takiyami questioned. “How is that possible? Even with such dense spiritual energy and a sealed environment, it shouldn’t have been preserved for so long.”

“Let’s go take a look,” Wang Yu decided.

After advancing a hundred meters, they found a mummified corpse pinned beneath a collapsed pillar. Its skin was dry and blackened, and its mouth was filled with fangs.

Its hands were melted beyond recognition, resembling skeletal spikes. It looked less like a human corpse and more like the body of some monster.

“What is this?” Takiyami whispered.

“I don’t know,” Wang Yu replied.

This was something outside Wang Yu’s knowledge. He had never seen it before, nor had he read about it in the Sutra Hall’s ancient texts. It was likely a remnant from the Blood Demon calamity.

Wang Yu activated the Moon-Gazing perspective of his Yin-Moon Ghost Eyes.

He was suddenly startled.

“Quick, step back!” he urged. “It’s still alive!”

The next moment, a wisp of red mist seeped into its large mouth, and the grotesque corpse abruptly sat up, its scarlet eyes fixed intently on them both.

It let out a piercing shriek that echoed to the heavens!

This act was like triggering an avalanche; identical shrieks erupted from every corner of the Heavenly Soul Sect ruins.

Both of them immediately felt a chill run down their spines.

Wang Yu joined his fingers and unleashed an icy sword aura, slicing the grotesque corpse in half. The creature was unexpectedly frail. However, after the corpse fell again, a drop of fresh blood materialized in the middle.

The drop of blood then surged into the mist and disappeared.

“This is troublesome,” Wang Yu muttered.

“It appears to be residual Blood Demon power. That blood has preserved these corpses until now, and also mutated them into monsters.

Array Master Takiyami, do you have a way to evade detection by these blood corpses?”

Takiyami pondered for a moment, then replied,

“This is the Heavenly Soul Sect’s ruins; there should be surviving array formations. If we find one with suitable effects and then restore it, that should solve the problem.”

Wang Yu, however, frowned.

“Don’t you have anything ready-made?” he asked.

“Ah… I do have some… but I’m a rogue cultivator, and my resources have always been tight, so the effect might not be as good as you’d hope,” she admitted.

Takiyami looked somewhat embarrassed.

However, this was indeed a practical concern.

“I understand,” Wang Yu said. “Let’s assess the situation first.”

“Okay,” she replied.