From the fake emperor to the concubine

Zheng Yi neither denied nor admitted it, but simply said, "Miss Ruyan, some things don't need to be said outright."

Liu Ruyan smiled: "That's true. Everyone has their own secrets. But thank you for helping me get revenge today. That Zhao Lingyun has been bothering me for years, it's so annoying. After you taught him a lesson this time, he should behave himself for a while."

"It was nothing," Zheng Yi said. "Besides, that Zhao Lingyun really went too far."

Liu Ruyan nodded and then asked, "Are you going to the ancient ruins?"

"good."

“That’s perfect, I’m going too,” Liu Ruyan said. “Why don’t we go together?”

Zheng Yi thought for a moment, then nodded and said, "Okay."

Having a local like Liu Ruyan to guide us would definitely make things much easier. Moreover, she is the daughter of the Liu family, with a high status and position, so following her would help us avoid some trouble.

“Let’s go then,” Liu Ruyan said. “The ruins are still two hundred li away. If we speed up, we should arrive before noon.”

So, Zheng Yi and his three companions, along with Liu Ruyan and her two maids, a group of seven, flew towards the ruins.

Along the way, Zheng Bowen whispered to Zheng Yi, "Patriarch, did the spacetime confinement you just used reveal your strength?"

Zheng Yi shook his head: "No. I only used ten percent of my power, and I didn't reveal my Nascent Soul Realm aura. In their eyes, I'm at most at the peak of the late-stage Nascent Soul Realm, possessing a special divine ability."

"That's good." Zheng Bowen breathed a sigh of relief.

Xiao Tianxing exclaimed with admiration, "The patriarch is brilliant! He both intimidated Zhao Lingyun and didn't fully reveal his strength—a double victory!"

Zheng Yi smiled faintly and didn't say anything more.

He was actually somewhat wary. Although he had the upper hand in the battle just now, it had made him realize that the geniuses of the Xuan Tian Domain were indeed extraordinary. That Zhao Lingyun, ranked only ninth on the genius list, already possessed such strength. Those ranked higher were likely even stronger.

Especially the top three on the Prodigy Ranking, who are said to have already reached the threshold of the Integration Realm, possess unfathomable strength.

"It seems this trip to the ancient ruins won't be peaceful," Zheng Yi thought to himself.

But he wasn't afraid. On the contrary, he was somewhat looking forward to it. Being able to fight against these geniuses from the Xuan Tian Domain would be a good opportunity to test his own strength and see where he stood in the entire cultivation world.

After flying for about two hours, the destination finally appeared ahead.

It was a vast plain, and in the center of the plain stood a colossal stone gate. The gate was a thousand feet tall, forged entirely from an unknown material, exuding an ancient and mysterious aura. The gate was tightly shut, its surface covered with intricate runes, faintly radiating powerful energy fluctuations.

Hundreds of cultivators had gathered around the stone gate. Some were in small groups, while others were alone, all waiting for the ruins to open.

"We've arrived," Liu Ruyan said. "This is the entrance to the ancient ruins. It's said that when all the runes on the stone gate light up, the ruins will open."

Zheng Yi carefully examined the stone gate, a thoughtful look in his eyes.

He sensed a familiar aura emanating from the stone gate. Was it... the fluctuation of spacetime power?
Could it be that the owner of this ruin was also a powerful being who was proficient in the laws of time and space?
If that's the case, then he might have unexpected gains.

“Interesting,” Zheng Yi murmured, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

More and more cultivators gathered on the plain in front of the stone gate.

Zheng Yi roughly counted at least three or four hundred people. These people came from various forces, including disciples of major sects, scions of families, and many independent cultivators. Each of them had a greedy and expectant glint in their eyes, clearly all drawn by the treasures within the ruins.

"There are so many people," Zheng Bowen exclaimed. "And quite a few experts, including dozens of Nascent Soul stage cultivators alone."

Liu Ruyan said from the side, "This is only the first batch. Once the news of the ruins opening spreads, even more people will come. The cave dwelling of a Mahayana stage senior is an irresistible temptation for any cultivator."

Zheng Yi nodded, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding cultivators. He could sense the undercurrents among them; many factions already had grudges against each other, and now they were gathered together for the treasure, creating a tense atmosphere.

Sure enough, his premonition soon came true.

A furious shout suddenly rang out from nearby: "You dare steal my spot? You're asking for death!"

Everyone looked in the direction of the sound and saw two groups of cultivators facing off. On one side were five men dressed in black, led by a bald, burly man with the cultivation level of the early Nascent Soul stage. On the other side were three cultivators dressed in blue Daoist robes, led by a middle-aged Daoist, also at the early Nascent Soul stage.

"What do you mean, 'your spot'?" the Taoist sneered. "There are no markers here; first come, first served. We arrived before you, so this spot is naturally ours!"

"Bullshit!" the bald, burly man roared. "Our Green Wolf Gang has been waiting here for three days! This land is ours! You Cangyun Sect people, get out of my way!"

"The Green Wolf Gang?" the Taoist scoffed. "A third-rate gang dares to act so arrogantly in front of our Cangyun Sect? They'd better get out of our way, or don't blame us for being impolite!"

The two sides became increasingly agitated as they talked, and it looked like they were about to come to blows.

Liu Ruyan frowned and said, "The Green Wolf Gang and the Azure Cloud Sect are both minor forces in the Xuan Tian Domain, and they often have some friction. I didn't expect to run into them here again."

"Will they fight?" Zheng Hongzhi asked.

“Very likely,” Liu Ruyan said. “Anything can happen in the struggle for a favorable position to enter the ruins.”

As soon as she finished speaking, they took action.

The bald, burly man unleashed a punch, the force of which hurtled towards the Taoist priest like a cannonball. The Taoist priest, not to be outdone, summoned a flying sword, its blade flashing, and slashed at the bald, burly man.

Both sides' subordinates also joined the fray, and the eight of them instantly clashed in a chaotic battle. Various spells and supernatural abilities intertwined, and spiritual energy fluctuations swept in all directions.

"Back off!" Zheng Yi immediately led the three of them back to avoid the aftershocks of the battle.

The other cultivators also dispersed, making way for a clearing. However, none of them intended to intervene; instead, they watched with great interest. In the cultivation world, the strong prey on the weak, and the life and death of others are none of their concern.

The battle quickly escalated to a fever pitch. The bald, burly man, though not highly skilled, possessed immense strength; each punch carried the force of a thousand pounds. The Taoist, on the other hand, was agile, his flying sword swift and deadly, each strike aimed at vital points.

The two sides fought fiercely, evenly matched.

"Stop!" a member of the Green Wolf Gang suddenly roared, taking a black bead from his storage bag. "If you don't stop, I'll detonate this Thunderfire Bead! We'll all die together!"

Thunderfire Pearl? Everyone's expression changed. It was an extremely dangerous magical artifact; once detonated, everything within a hundred feet would be blasted to the ground. Even Nascent Soul stage cultivators would be severely injured.

"You dare?" The Taoist's face turned ashen, but his movements slowed down.

"What's there to be afraid of?" the man sneered. "We're all going to die anyway, so I'll drag you all down to hell with me!" The atmosphere instantly became tense.

The onlookers quickly retreated, fearing they would be caught in the crossfire. Zheng Yi also frowned. If the Thunderfire Pearl were to explode, although it wouldn't harm him, it would cause numerous casualties and might even affect the opening of the ruins.

Just then, a gentle voice rang out: "Gentlemen, why ruin our harmony? We've all come for the ruins; we should get along peacefully."

Everyone turned to look and saw a group of people approaching from not far away. Leading them was a refined-looking man of about thirty years old, dressed in a white robe, holding a folding fan, and wearing a smile. His cultivation was at the late stage of the Nascent Soul realm; his aura was gentle, giving people a feeling of warmth and comfort.

Behind him followed a dozen or so cultivators, each with a cultivation level above the Nascent Soul stage, clearly indicating a powerful force.

"It's someone from the Ning family!" someone whispered.

"The Ning family? The Ning family, one of the four great families of the Xuan Tian Domain?"

"That's right, that's Ning Zhiyuan, the young master of the Ning family. It's said he's the fifth-ranked expert on the Prodigy Ranking, and his strength is unfathomable."

Hearing these comments, the bald, burly man and the Taoist priest stopped what they were doing. The Ning family's reputation was too great; their small forces simply couldn't afford to offend them.

Ning Zhiyuan stepped between the two groups and said with a smile, "Gentlemen, calm down. It's not worth risking your lives for a single position. How about this, you two share this space?"

The bald, burly man hesitated for a moment, glanced at the experts behind Ning Zhiyuan, and finally gritted his teeth and said, "Since Young Master Ning has spoken, our Green Wolf Gang will give him face."

The Taoist priest nodded and said, "The Cangyun Sect is also willing to give Young Master Ning some face."

"That's good," Ning Zhiyuan smiled. "We're all here for the treasure, so we should stick together. Once we're inside the ruins, it'll be fraught with danger, and we might even need to help each other."

His words sounded grand and dignified, and the surrounding cultivators nodded in agreement.

"Young Master Ning is right."

"As expected of the young master of the Ning family, he has a broad mind."

"With Young Master Ning here, we can rest assured."

Ning Zhiyuan nodded in satisfaction, then his gaze swept across the crowd, as if searching for something. When his eyes fell on Liu Ruyan, his eyes lit up, and he immediately walked over.

"Miss Ruyan, you've come too?" Ning Zhiyuan's smile became even brighter.

Liu Ruyan frowned slightly and said calmly, "Young Master Ning, it's been a long time."

Ning Zhiyuan seemed oblivious to the coldness in her tone and continued, "Yes, it's been two years since we parted ways at the Cloud Soaring Gathering. Miss Ruyan is still as radiant as ever."

He then looked at Zheng Yi and the others, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes: "Who are these people?"

Liu Ruyan introduced him briefly: "This is my friend, Fellow Daoist Zheng."

"Oh?" Ning Zhiyuan sized Zheng Yi up, a fleeting, almost imperceptible coldness flashing in his eyes, but quickly replaced by a gentle smile. "So it's Fellow Daoist Zheng. To be a friend of Miss Ruyan, you must be an exceptional person. I am Ning Zhiyuan, the young master of the Ning family in the Xuantian Domain."

"Zheng Yi greets Young Master Ning," Zheng Yi said, clasping his hands in greeting.

Although Ning Zhiyuan was polite on the surface, Zheng Yi could sense a hint of hostility from him. This hostility was subtle, but it was definitely there.

Moreover, Zheng Yi noticed a possessive glint in Ning Zhiyuan's eyes when he looked at Liu Ruyan. Clearly, this was yet another suitor of Liu Ruyan's.

"Fellow Daoist Zheng, you're from another realm, aren't you?" Ning Zhiyuan asked with a smile. "To be able to come to the Xuan Tian Domain shows you have extraordinary courage. However, the ruins are fraught with danger; Fellow Daoist Zheng, please proceed with caution."

These words sound like concern, but they actually carry a hint of warning.

Zheng Yi smiled faintly: "Thank you for the reminder, Young Master Ning. I will be careful."

Ning Zhiyuan nodded, then turned to Liu Ruyan: "Miss Ruyan, how about we join forces? The ruins are fraught with danger; more people means more protection."

“No need,” Liu Ruyan refused decisively. “I have friends traveling with me; there’s no need for Young Master Ning to trouble himself.”

Ning Zhiyuan's smile froze for a moment, but quickly returned: "Alright then. But if you encounter any danger, feel free to come to me. Although the Ning family is not very powerful, we still have some influence in the Xuan Tian Domain."

After saying that, he turned and left, returning to his own group.

After he had walked a distance, Liu Ruyan whispered to Zheng Yi, "Be careful of this Ning Zhiyuan. He seems gentle and refined on the surface, but he's actually ruthless. He's been pursuing me for years, but I've never agreed to be with him."

Zheng Yi nodded: "I can sense that he's hostile towards me."

“It’s more than just hostility,” Liu Ruyan said. “He’s extremely possessive; whatever he sets his sights on, he’ll get it by any means necessary. Since you’re close to me, he’ll definitely find a chance to get rid of you.”

Xiao Tianxing also said in a low voice, "Patriarch, the Ning family wields considerable power in the Xuan Tian Domain, second only to a few top families like the Liu and Zhao families. Ning Zhiyuan is the most outstanding genius of this generation in the Ning family; he is not only strong but also resourceful. We must be careful."

“I understand,” Zheng Yi said, glancing thoughtfully in the direction of Ning Zhiyuan.

Over there, Ning Zhiyuan was also talking to his subordinates. He still had a gentle smile on his face, but his eyes were icy cold.

"Young Master, who is this Zheng Yi?" one of his subordinates asked.

"He's just a country bumpkin from another region," Ning Zhiyuan said calmly. "But since he's getting so close to Liu Ruyan, we can't let him stay."

"What does the young master mean?"

"Once we're inside the ruins, find an opportunity to eliminate him," Ning Zhiyuan said coldly. "Remember, be discreet and don't let anyone discover that we were the ones who did it. The ruins are fraught with danger; a few deaths are to be expected."

"Yes, young master."

Ning Zhiyuan closed his folding fan, a sinister glint in his eyes. "Liu Ruyan, I've pursued you for so many years, and you've always refused. But you can't escape my grasp. This trip to the ruins is the perfect opportunity. Once I get rid of those troublesome people around you, you'll have no choice but to rely on me."

Thinking of this, a gentle smile appeared on his face again.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the crowd, Zheng Yi was also deep in thought.

"Patriarch, what do you think of Ning Zhiyuan?" Zheng Bowen asked.

"He appears gentle on the surface, but is actually insidious," Zheng Yi said. "Just now, he mediated the conflict between the two sides, seemingly to maintain order, but in reality, he was establishing his own authority. Moreover, his words were impeccable, yet every word exuded a condescending sense of superiority." (End of Chapter)