Chapter 526: Earth Vein is Quite Suitable for Me

"Our Meng family has always enjoyed helping those in need, so there's no need to thank me for such a minor matter."

One hundred thousand years ago, after the war concluded, the Money Landing Chamber of Commerce had vanished without a trace. The Meng family, one of the two prominent aristocratic houses competing for dominion over the realm, was the most formidable power of that era, challenged only by the imperial court. The imperial court did not seek to punish the Meng family, nor did it curtail their influence, which clearly demonstrated the court's deep trust in them.

"By the way, what exactly happened during the battle between your Meng family ancestor and the First Emperor Xia? How did your ancestor lose, and what were their cultivation realms at the time?" Li Haoran asked, and everyone present showed keen interest in this historical event.

Meng Jingzhou shook his head. "Don't look at me; I genuinely don't know. Not only do I lack the information, but even my father and grandfather are unclear about the details."

"Asking Senior Sister is far more reliable than asking me."

Everyone quickly waved their hands, claiming disinterest. It was a joke; who would dare to casually ask Senior Sister questions? Inquiries about cultivation might be acceptable, but asking merely out of curiosity would likely result in being thrown from the top of Tianmen Peak to the base of the mountain by her.

"I actually know a bit about this matter," Mang Gu said, hesitating slightly.

"You do?"

"Yes, one of our barbarian ancestors, who was at the Tribulation Transcending stage, accompanied the First Emperor Xia and witnessed the battle between the Meng family ancestor and the First Emperor Xia. Our ancestor documented this event, but it's classified information. I'm not privy to the full details of the record, only what the chieftain has shared."

While the Barbarian tribe's influence was not as great as the Meng family's, in terms of historical longevity, only a handful of major races in the demon realm could compare.

Mang Gu continued, "From the perspective of military strength at the time, the Meng family was more powerful. In terms of individual combat, the Meng family ancestor also had a higher probability of victory. I believe both sides ultimately decided against a full-scale military confrontation to minimize unnecessary casualties. However, what our chieftain found inexplicable was why the First Emperor Xia ultimately emerged victorious."

"In any case, the First Emperor Xia won. During their battle, both parties made a pact that the victor would not punish the vanquished. Based on Brother Meng's current standing, this agreement appears to have been upheld to this day."

Shortly after, Bai Ming led the five individuals to another location and jumped into a deep pit. "This is the Earth Vein," he announced.

Standing on the Earth Vein, they felt a dense, substantial sensation, as if their bodies were merging with the very ground. Clearly, the soil of the Earth Vein was extraordinary.

"The Earth Vein is renowned for its defensive capabilities. Once their cultivation technique reaches mastery, an endless stream of power will surge forth as long as they remain connected to the ground."

"So, would fighting in the air be sufficient to counter them?"

Bai Ming shook his head, a proud smile on his face. If finding a countermeasure were that simple, the Earth Vein branch would never have secured its place within the Five Elements Sect. He pointed to the ground two or three meters above their heads. "Do you know what this place is?"

"Isn't it just a pit?" Mang Gu asked, puzzled.

"You'll know once you jump out."

Upon hearing this, everyone easily leaped out of the pit. As they ascended into the air and looked down at the pit again, their pupils immediately constricted. This was no mere pit; it was clearly a gigantic footprint! Looking around, they realized the entire Earth Vein was covered in these massive "pits."

"Earth Vein cultivators never engage in aerial combat. They master techniques like 'Heaven and Earth Manifestation' and 'Size as Desired,' allowing them to enlarge their bodies. As long as they can reach their opponents, there's no need to fly."

Lu Yang felt that the Earth Vein's cultivation method resonated strongly with him.

"Excuse me, please move away from the footprint!" a voice called from a distance.

Hearing this, Bai Ming quickly leaped out of the pit. Just as he leaped out, the ground began to swell, the compacted earth becoming "soft," and the "pit" was instantly filled by a spell.

"Senior Brother Kong, you almost buried me!" Bai Ming complained to the voice's owner.

"But I didn't bury you, did I?" The voice's owner, a two-meter-tall, burly man built like an iron tower, approached.

"Who are these five people?" Senior Brother Kong asked, noticing Lu Yang and his companions.

"They are guests from the Dao Inquiry Sect."

"This is Senior Brother Kong Ling, the head disciple of the Earth Vein. He is currently contemplating the boundary between the Void Refinement and Integration stages, attempting to achieve a breakthrough. All the footprints you saw earlier were made by him."

"Greetings, Senior Brother Kong Ling."

"All good, all good. How's Old Dai doing? Is he still at the Mission Hall?"

"The Grand Elder is often away, so Senior Brother Dai has taken charge of all affairs at the Mission Hall."

"Old Dai's talent is truly superior; he's already reached the Integration stage, and I'm still a little short," Senior Brother Kong Ling said with a hint of envy.

As he spoke, Kong Ling's cultivation realm fluctuated: it dropped from an unobservable state to the discernible Foundation Establishment stage, then ascended again to a realm beyond Lu Yang and the others' ability to judge.

"This young man is on the verge of breaking through to the Integration stage," the Immortal Fairy concluded.

After bidding farewell to Senior Brother Kong Ling, the six arrived at the Wood Vein. Similar to the Dao Inquiry Sect's medicinal garden, the Wood Vein was a place for cultivating spiritual herbs. It was lush and vibrant, exuding an inexplicable aura that made one feel light and ethereal just by standing there. Forests thrived, radiating vitality as if it were perpetual spring. Furthermore, ancient, towering trees enveloped the sky, their colossal heights disappearing from view, their canopies concealed by dense foliage, as if guarding profound secrets.

"The Wood Vein's defining characteristic is its vitality and strong regenerative power, which bears some resemblance to the Nirvana True Flame that Fellow Daoist Meng commands."

"Are the young ones from the Dao Inquiry Sect here?" a cheerful girlish voice echoed from the ancient, towering tree.

The girl performed a somersault from a tree branch, landing gracefully on the ground with a twig still in her mouth. It was none other than Shangguan Yu, the very person Grandfather Ba had come to the Five Elements Sect to see.

"You're quite good, kid; your cultivation is solid," Shangguan Yu said, patting Lu Yang's shoulder. During her last visit to the Dao Inquiry Sect, she had taken particular notice of this young man who could become the acting Sect Master. More than a year had passed since their last meeting, and Lu Yang's rate of progress had far exceeded her expectations.

"Greetings, Ancestor Shangguan," Lu Yang and the others chorused, not daring to be impolite to Shangguan Yu, who was, after all, Sect Master Qiu's elder.

Hearing herself addressed as "Ancestor," Shangguan Yu frowned, looking slightly displeased. "Why 'Ancestor'? Am I that old? Call me elder sister."

Lu Yang and the others wouldn't dare to call her that. Even if they somehow managed to pass Shangguan Yu's scrutiny, they would certainly fail Qiu Jin'an's.

"Call me elder sister, and I'll give you something good."

Shangguan Yu produced a small wooden plaque radiating vibrant life force. The Immortal Fairy's eyes lit up at the sight, and she promptly urged them on.

"Lu Yang, hurry and call her that; this is a valuable item."

Caught between Shangguan Yu in front and the Immortal Fairy behind, Lu Yang had no choice but to yield. Risking life and limb, he obediently called out:

"Elder Sister Shangguan."

Shangguan Yu's face lit up with a smile. She stood on her tiptoes and patted Lu Yang's head. "Good child, this protective talisman is yours."

Lu Yang successfully received the wooden plaque.

"Fairy, what exactly is this wooden plaque?" Lu Yang could only sense a vibrant life force from it but couldn't determine its origin or what tree it came from.

"It's a Jianmu."