Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

In the days following the grand competition atop Mount Tai, Lin Yan's name spread like wildfire across the land of Qilu. In streets, markets, teahouses, and taverns, everyone talked about his swordsmanship; even country children imitated his sword-wielding postures, chanting the moves of "Canglan Sword Technique, Seventh Form: Canglan Returns to Truth" in jest.

Within sects such as Laoshan, Qingyun Sect, and Shuiyue Pavilion, it is known to everyone.

This wave of fame that swept across the entire Shandong province only gradually subsided on the day of the solar eclipse.

A once-in-sixty-years solar eclipse suddenly appeared, instantly darkening the clear daylight as a dark shadow slowly swallowed the blazing sun—a celestial phenomenon rarely seen throughout history. The golden energy of heaven and earth converged wildly above Haodu, causing golden winds to surge and spiritual energy to soar across the entire land of Qilu. Deep within the heavens, the distant cries of phoenixes echoed layer upon layer, lingering eternally around the ancient tomb of Shaohao.

The ancestral land of the Hao clan shone with spiritual light, and the phantom image of a phoenix flowed and swayed among the layers of clouds, causing the mountains and earth's veins to tremble.

Heaven and earth suddenly fell silent, the wind ceased, and all sounds held their breath. All the fame, discussions, victories, and triumphs of the human world paled in comparison to this ancient celestial phenomenon. People looked up at the sky in awe, and the city's clamor quietly subsided.

The entire land of Qilu clearly sensed that the ancient Shaohao Emperor Ruins, which had been sleeping for countless ages, was about to awaken.

The world's gaze, finally freed from worldly fame and fortune, returned to the ancient altar of Shouqiu in Qufu.

Before the tomb of Shaohao in Shouqiu, the altar paved with bluestone slabs was spotless. The sacrificial animals, black jade, and bronze ritual vessels were neatly arranged according to the regulations of ancient sacrificial rites. The elders of the Dongyi Mountain and Sea Alliance, dressed in black sacrificial robes and holding jade tablets, stood solemnly on both sides of the altar. The sixty cultivators who had advanced to the Grand Competition, along with the top three additional cultivators, stood according to their clan affiliations: Laoshan was on the east side, the Wang clan on the south side, the Hao clan on the west side, and the other sects and independent cultivators stood at will.

The two Mo siblings stood at opposite corners of Shao Hao's mausoleum, their fingertips lightly tapping the mechanism boxes at their waists, silently sensing the array patterns hidden deep beneath the altar. The four Hao siblings stood at the very front of the altar. As the legitimate descendants of Shao Hao, they presided over the entire ceremony, their expressions more solemn than anyone else present.

The elder of the Hao clan recited the sacrificial text aloud. The sky grew darker, and the blazing sun high in the sky was slowly swallowed by the mysterious shadow. The final eclipse of the Golden Crow solar eclipse had completely arrived.

As the sunlight faded, a twilight descended upon the world. On the altar, ancient bronze ritual vessels trembled in unison, emitting a deep and resonant hum. The patterns on the black jade on the altar glowed with tiny golden light, resonating with the jade scepters in the palms of the attendees.

"The time has come, begin!"

As soon as Elder Hao gave the order, the Mo siblings stepped forward, their fingertips gathering spiritual energy to precisely unlock the hidden mechanism on the edge of the altar.

The underground array patterns suddenly lit up, and a misty barrier rose from the center of the altar, intertwining and merging with the golden light of the solar eclipse in the sky, opening up a secret rift that spans eternity.

"The terrain is favorable, and the people resonate with each other!"

In the dim light, more than sixty cultivators raised their hands in unison, and jade runes lit up one after another in their palms. Thousands of golden lights connected to form a rainbow bridge, which went straight into the depths of the rift.

The alliance representative solemnly announced the Heavenly Rules: "The Imperial Ruins have opened, and the Heavenly Rules are set! The secret realm is limited to three months; private duels are prohibited, but tokens may be seized!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a gentle yet irresistible force of heaven and earth enveloped the entire area. Lin Yan's figure floated slightly, and he, along with the disciples of Laoshan, Qingyun Sect, and Shuiyue Pavilion, were all swept into the rift.

All worldly sounds were shut out, leaving only the rustling of the long wind and the distant cry of the golden crow in the sky.

The space twisted and trembled for only a moment before everyone landed steadily on a vast and ancient wasteland.

The group of more than twenty people from Laoshan were not scattered by the spatial turbulence of the secret realm. Most of them stayed close together, with only a few scattered within a hundred feet. After a few low calls and responses, they all reunited in a short while and gathered together neatly.

This place is the outer layer of the Shaohao Emperor Ruins—the Qingwu Ancient Plain.

The sky, devoid of sun, moon, day, or night, is perpetually shrouded in a layer of golden, fading light, a light solidified from a solar eclipse, unchanging through the ages. As far as the eye can see, broken ancient totem pillars and crumbling stone foundations lie scattered everywhere, ancient vines and creepers entwining the ruins, and inscriptions of ancient phoenix patterns carved into the stone tablets. The wind sweeps through the ruins, carrying with it the desolate, ancient charm accumulated over time.

The spiritual energy in the secret realm is several times richer than that in the outside world, carrying with it the phoenix charm left by Shao Hao, which nourishes the meridians and soul as soon as it enters the nose.

The entire Imperial Ruins is governed by strict heavenly rules, with ironclad laws: unwarranted life-or-death battles are forbidden, but the struggle for opportunities, the acquisition of tokens, the use of array techniques for balance, and the clash of auras are not prohibited. Within these rules, everyone relies on their own abilities.

With the competition concluded, and after several days of quiet recuperation, Shen Yue's old injuries had completely healed, and his cultivation was stable at the peak of the ninth level of Qi Refining. He was full of energy and spirit, and steadily guarded the central position of the army.

Yunxi stood on the left flank, her Water Cloud Sword's aura restrained, calm as still water; Chen Dagang, wielding a giant axe, his imposing figure guarded the rear, his aura as heavy as a mountain. The remaining disciples from Laoshan, Qingyun Sect, and Shuiyue Pavilion were arranged in a staggered pattern, their auras connected, their formation solid yet not yet unleashed.

The group paused briefly to stabilize their spiritual energy, which had been disrupted by the spatial rift, and assessed the surrounding terrain. Their attention was quickly drawn to a spot not far away.

In the heart of the wilderness, spiritual veins ripple gently, and a clear, warm ancient spiritual spring rests quietly between the stone platforms, its spiritual energy swirling. It is a rare treasure trove for gathering spiritual energy at the start of a secret realm, suitable for meditation, regulating one's breath, stabilizing one's cultivation, and comprehending the Dao of Heaven and Earth.

The main road leading to the Spirit Spring has already been seized by the Wang family disciples.

The Wang clan already had a numerical advantage, and their arrogance only grew after entering the secret realm. Remembering the old grudge of Lin Yan having previously overpowered the Wang clan's prodigy, they decided to contact some of the Hao clan's peripheral disciples and jointly block the entrance, hoping to monopolize the spiritual spring opportunity by virtue of their superior numbers.

The leading Foundation Establishment disciple of the Wang clan swept his cold gaze across the group from Laoshan, his tone carrying a hint of condescension:

"You've made a name for yourself at the Mount Tai Grand Competition, but now that you're in the Imperial Ruins Secret Realm, you should know your place. This spiritual spring now belongs to the Wang family, so you gentlemen from Laoshan, please find another place to go."

Neither the scattered cultivators nor the small sect cultivators dared to provoke either side; they stood at a distance and watched, none daring to step forward and get involved.

At the edge, the two Mo siblings stood silently, their fingertips lightly pinching and deducing, silently sensing the underground array patterns and the secret realm's barrier, remaining neutral observers throughout.

The four siblings of the Hao clan remained hidden in the distant mist, their figures hazy, coldly observing the movements of all sides, adhering to the ancestral rules of Shao Hao and not interfering in any sect disputes.

On the desolate plain, the atmosphere instantly froze and became tense.

The more than twenty disciples from Laoshan all composed themselves, their spiritual energy subtly surging, and their sword formations secretly gathering their sharpness.

Shen Yue took half a step forward, his aura steady and sharp, his voice clear and powerful: "The secret spring has no owner; anyone with the right fate can seek it. The Wang family's act of blocking the path out of personal greed is far too domineering."

Chen Dagang tightened his grip, causing the giant axe to tremble slightly, and the ground beneath his feet to sink slightly, his fierce aura pressing directly towards the opponent.

Lin Yan slowly stepped out of the formation and stood in front of the people. His expression was calm and composed, without any hostility, but he had a steadfast and unwavering strength.

Lin Yan quietly activated his sword intent, and the Daoist charm of Canglan silently spread out, merging with the phoenix pattern spiritual energy in the secret realm. A vast and steady pressure slowly spread out, enveloping the entire intersection.

We must abide by the rules and refrain from indiscriminate killing, but we must never allow ourselves to be bullied or relinquish opportunities.

The Wang family members' expressions changed slightly. They felt an invisible sword aura pressing down heavily, and their hearts trembled inexplicably. Their originally arrogant arrogance diminished by half, and their formation began to sway slightly.

Lin Yan's voice was clear and cool, echoing throughout the desolate wilderness: "With the Heavenly Rules of the Imperial Ruins as our guide, Laoshan will not violate the rules, nor will it intentionally harm anyone. The Spirit Spring is born of Heaven and Earth, not the private property of the Wang family. To block the way and seize opportunities is unreasonable and unacceptable according to the rules."

As soon as he finished speaking, the sword's momentum solidified even further.

The Wang family members looked at each other hesitantly, knowing they were in the wrong and unable to withstand the overwhelming pressure of Lin Yan's sword intent. After a moment of stalemate, they finally dared not block him and reluctantly retreated to both sides.

The group from Laoshan moved forward steadily, forming a line and taking their positions at the best spots around the Lingquan Spring.

Immediately afterwards, Hao Jingchuan and Hao Lie led a group of Hao family disciples to follow.

While the outer disciples of the Hao clan had followed the Wang clan in blocking the road, the core members remained unmoved. They were unwilling to be controlled by the Wang clan and even less willing to miss the opportunity at the start of the game. Seeing the Wang clan showing weakness and retreating, and Laoshan firmly establishing itself, they took advantage of the situation and calmly landed on the other side of the spiritual spring, steadily guarding the area belonging to the Hao clan.

The ancient and silent ruins of Shaohao Emperor have quietly begun to unfold a chapter of conflict and opportunity as various forces gradually delve deeper into the area.