Prehistoric: The female saint Shiji, brilliant and talented

One day, Qingyunzi suddenly suggested, "Why don't we take this opportunity to practice together and test the results of our training these past few days?"

Zhou Yuan and the woman in white readily agreed. The three of them then got up and went to an open space in the valley to begin their drill.

Qingyunzi made the first move, his figure elusive, like a ghost, shuttling back and forth between Zhou Yuan and the woman in white. His palms flew, sometimes forming sword fingers, sometimes turning into palm prints, each move concealing profound and unfathomable immortal principles.

Zhou Yuan followed closely behind, his movements agile and his punches and kicks as swift as the wind. Every move he made exuded a fierce and powerful aura, as if he wanted to concentrate all the power in the world into his fists and feet and unleash it all.

The woman in white was light and graceful, like a celestial being descending to earth. Her slender fingers, with a gentle dance, could draw upon the spiritual energy of all directions, condensing it into incomparably sharp attacks.

The three fought fiercely in the valley, their figures casting long shadows in the setting sun, as if dancing with the vast power of heaven and earth.

After a long and fierce battle, the three finally stopped. Qingyunzi stroked his beard and nodded with satisfaction: "Not bad, the progress of the two of you is quite remarkable. It seems that our hard work these past few days has not been in vain."

Zhou Yuan wiped the sweat from his forehead and asked excitedly, "Senior, in your opinion, what level have we reached in our cultivation?"

Qingyunzi smiled slightly: "You have already grasped the essence of the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden Technique, and your cultivation has improved significantly. However, the path of cultivation is endless, and you must continue to practice diligently."

The woman in white also sighed, "Yes, the path of cultivation is full of hardships, but with each step forward, one can truly feel the changes within oneself. This feeling is truly indescribable."

Just as the three were immersed in the joy brought by their cultivation, a high-pitched dragon roar suddenly came from the horizon. Immediately afterwards, a giant dragon swooped down from the clouds and landed steadily in the valley where they were.

The three were immediately startled and quickly focused their attention, watching the giant dragon warily. The dragon's eyes were piercing, and its scales shimmered, clearly indicating that it was no ordinary creature.

Qingyunzi frowned slightly, cupped his hands, and asked, "May I ask what brings you here so suddenly?"

The dragon transformed into a handsome young man, who smiled and returned the greeting to the three: "I am Ao Bing, the third prince of the East Sea Dragon Palace. I have come here on my father's orders to find a destined person. It seems that you three are the people I am looking for."

Zhou Yuan asked curiously, "A person with whom we have a predestined connection? What kind of connection do we have?"

Ao Bing explained, "When my father learned that the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's Manual had reappeared in the world, he determined that there must be a destined person who would obtain this immortal technique. He specially sent me to find three destined people and invite you to the Dragon Palace of the East Sea for a chat."

The woman in white asked with a puzzled look, "The Dragon Palace of the East Sea? We have never had any dealings with the Dragon Palace of the East Sea. What connection do we have?"

Ao Bing smiled mysteriously: "You'll find out when you get there. My father has important matters to discuss with the three of you in person."

Qingyunzi pondered for a moment, then said, "Since the Dragon King of the East Sea has extended such a generous invitation, we will certainly accept. However, the three of us are still of shallow cultivation and may not be able to shoulder such a great responsibility. May I ask what the Dragon King has entrusted to us?"

Ao Bing waved his hand: "Senior, there's no need to be so modest. The fact that you can cultivate the 'Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden Technique' is enough to prove that you are destined by Heaven. Please follow me!" With that, he transformed into a golden light and led the three of them swiftly towards the East Sea.

On their way to the East Sea, Ao Bing explained the general situation of the East Sea Dragon Palace and the purpose of their trip to the three of them. It turned out that an ancient ruin had recently been discovered in the East Sea Dragon Palace, containing countless treasures and opportunities. However, the ruin was fraught with unknown dangers and challenges, and only with the help of a destined person could it be explored in depth.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan's eyes lit up with excitement: "Ruins? There must be many treasures hidden inside, right?"

Ao Bing nodded with a smile: "That's true. However, the dangers inside the ruins should not be underestimated. You must be careful at all times to have any chance of returning safely."

Qingyunzi solemnly warned, "Our purpose in going there is not only to search for treasures, but more importantly, to use this opportunity to hone ourselves. Remember not to be greedy or reckless, lest we fall into a deadly situation."

The woman in white echoed, "What you say makes sense, senior. We should always be vigilant, look after each other, and not let our guard down in the slightest."

Before long, the golden light enveloped the four of them, swiftly passing through layers of seawater and arriving at the gates of the East Sea Dragon Palace. The palace gates slowly opened, revealing a magnificent and jewel-studded inner palace. The East Sea Dragon King personally came out to greet them, smiling and bowing, saying, "It is truly an honor for the East Sea to have such distinguished guests."

After the four returned the greetings, they were respectfully invited into the palace. Inside, the palace was magnificent and resplendent, adorned with corals and pearls of various colors, shimmering with light and color, like a fairyland on earth.

The Dragon King of the East Sea hosted a grand banquet, with all sorts of delicacies and exquisite wines. After several rounds of drinks, the Dragon King put down his cup, his expression turning serious, and said, "The reason I invited you three here is that I have a request."

Zhou Yuan asked curiously, "Dragon King, please speak freely. We will certainly not refuse to do anything we can to help."

The Dragon King sighed softly and said, "Beneath the East Sea lies an ancient relic, said to be the place where ancient immortals cultivated. It contains countless treasures and opportunities, but the relic is sealed by numerous restrictions, and only those with the right destiny can enter. I see that the three of you all cultivate the 'Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden Technique,' so you must be chosen by Heaven. Therefore, I earnestly request your assistance in exploring the relic together."

Qingyunzi stroked his beard, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Since it is an ancient relic, it must contain great opportunities, but at the same time, the dangers are unpredictable. We must plan carefully and not act hastily."

The woman in white nodded in agreement: "Senior is absolutely right. We should proceed cautiously, step by step, and not act rashly." Zhou Yuan, however, felt his blood boil, slammed his hand on the table, and stood up: "Danger and opportunity always go hand in hand! I am willing to go and explore, and I will not let this trip down!"

The Dragon King was deeply moved upon hearing this, and raised his wine cup, saying, "The three of you are so righteous and generous, and my East Sea Dragon Palace will never forget you. If we successfully explore the ruins this time, you may choose the treasures you find first."

Qingyunzi and the woman in white exchanged a glance, both reading a firm resolve in each other's eyes. Qingyunzi said, "In that case, let's give it our all."

Upon hearing this, the Dragon King of the East Sea's eyes flashed with satisfaction. He knew the strength and potential of these three men well; with their assistance, the chances of exploring the ruins would undoubtedly be greatly increased. He raised his wine cup again, expressing his sincere gratitude to the three: "With your invaluable help, my East Sea Dragon Palace will surely unveil the mysteries of those ruins. Come, let us drink this cup again, wishing you a smooth journey!"

The four raised their cups and drank together. As the celestial wine entered their throats, a warm and comforting sensation flowed through their limbs and bones, as if even their cultivation levels had subtly improved. After several rounds of drinks, the Dragon King of the East Sea waved his hand, signaling all the attendants to withdraw, leaving only the four of them in the hall.

The Dragon King's expression grew even more solemn. He lowered his voice and slowly said, "To be honest, besides treasures and opportunities, that ruin also contains an ancient artifact—the 'Eastern Emperor Bell.' This bell possesses immeasurable power, enough to suppress the four seas and stabilize the world. However, it is also a double-edged sword. If it falls into the hands of evil forces, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuan's eyes flashed with intense light. He clenched his fists and said excitedly, "An ancient artifact? This is a treasure we've always dreamed of! We must find it and never let it fall into the hands of evil people!"

Qingyunzi, however, remained solemn, slowly stroking his beard as he pondered, "The Eastern Emperor Bell... this is no ordinary object; we must proceed with extreme caution. Dragon King, do you know what kind of restrictions are placed within those ruins? And how should we break them?"

The Dragon King shook his head and sighed helplessly, "The restrictions within the ruins are extremely complex. My East Sea Dragon Palace has sent people to try to explore them many times, but all of them have returned empty-handed. All I know is that the ruins contain a Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams formation, which cannot be broken by anyone who is not proficient in the art of Qimen Dunjia."

Upon hearing this, the woman in white frowned slightly and said in a low voice, "The Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams Formation? This formation is ever-changing and indeed extremely difficult to break. However, I studied some methods of Qimen Dunjia in my early years, which may come in handy."

Upon hearing this, Ao Bing's eyes flashed with admiration. He cupped his hands and said, "Excellent! With the help of the White-Clad Fairy, our hope of breaking the restrictions on the ruins has undoubtedly increased greatly."

Qingyunzi nodded, then looked at Zhou Yuan and the woman in white, and said in a deep voice, "In that case, let's set off immediately for the location of the ruins. Along the way, we must be cautious in everything we do and must not underestimate the enemy or act rashly."

The three responded in unison, then stood up, ready to set off for the ruins. The Dragon King of the East Sea also stood up, and with a wave of his hand, he unleashed a golden light. The four of them vanished from their spot in an instant, and when they reappeared, they were on a vast sea.

The sea was turbulent, and the wind howled, but the four of them stood steadily amidst the waves as if walking on flat ground. Ao Bing waved his hand and scattered a dragon scale, which transformed into a dragon boat. The four of them rode the boat, cutting through the waves, and sped towards the ruins.

Before long, the dragon boat anchored on a desolate and bleak sea. Mist shrouded the surface, and an ancient altar could be vaguely seen standing in the mist. The altar's surface was covered with dense ancient runes and patterns, as if it contained boundless power.

The four disembarked from the dragon boat and stepped onto the altar. The moment they regained their footing, Zhou Yuan felt an immense pressure pouring down on him, as if to crush his body. He gritted his teeth and exerted all his strength to circulate the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden Technique, barely managing to withstand the pressure.

Qingyunzi and the woman in white also felt the heavy pressure. They each activated their immortal techniques, struggling to resist the onslaught of that power. Ao Bing transformed into a giant dragon, circling above the altar. His roar shook the heavens and the earth, relieving much of the pressure on the three of them.

After a difficult trek, the four finally arrived at the core of the altar. In the center of the altar was an ancient array pattern, upon which flowed the brilliant light of the Nine Palaces and Eight Trigrams.

The woman in white stepped forward and bent down to carefully examine the array pattern. Her fingers flew across the paper, constantly calculating the various changes of Qimen Dunjia, trying to find a way to break the formation. After some meticulous calculations, she finally found a way to break the formation.

She turned to look at the three of them and said in a calm tone, "This formation is a variant of the Nine Palaces Eight Trigrams Formation, and I have found a way to break it. However, it requires the four of us to work together to unravel it."

Upon hearing this, the three nodded in understanding. Following the white-clad woman's instructions, they each took their place in one of the four positions within the formation. The white-clad woman stood at the center of the formation, directing the four to simultaneously channel their inner energy.

As the four of them simultaneously channeled their magical power, the light above the formation began to flicker intensely. After a concerted effort, they finally succeeded in breaking the great formation, and a dazzling beam of light shot into the sky from within the formation, piercing straight into the heavens.

Amidst the light, an ancient and melodious bell tolled, seemingly piercing through the barriers of time and space, echoing between heaven and earth. The bell tolled with an indescribable, vast power, causing the heartstrings of the four to tremble involuntarily.

"The Eastern Emperor Bell..." Qingyunzi murmured to himself, "Is this the power of the Eastern Emperor Bell? It is indeed extraordinary."

Zhou Yuan's eyes gleamed with barely suppressed excitement. He clenched his fists and exclaimed excitedly, "We've found the Eastern Emperor Bell! Now, how do we retrieve it?"

The woman in white frowned slightly and said softly, "The Eastern Emperor Bell is an ancient divine artifact, no small matter. We must not act rashly. In my opinion, there must be a way to retrieve this bell hidden in those ruins."

Ao Bing nodded, then transformed back into human form and walked to the woman in white. He said in a deep voice, "The fairy in white is right. We must proceed cautiously, step by step, and not be greedy for quick success. Next, we will continue to delve deeper into the ruins to find a way to retrieve the Eastern Emperor Bell."

The four exchanged a resolute glance, then strode deeper into the ruins. The interior of the ruins was dark and profound, with ancient stone walls covered in intricate runes, each mark seemingly bearing the immense power of ancient times.

“These runes… seem to be a kind of guidance.” Qingyunzi stopped and leaned closer to examine the patterns on the stone wall. “If we can decipher them, we might be able to find more clues about the Eastern Emperor Bell.”

“I’ll help you.” The woman in white stepped forward, her fingertips gently tracing the runes, her eyes gleaming with wisdom. “These runes record an ancient incantation, seemingly the key to activating some mechanism.” (End of Chapter)