Chapter 67: Chapter 67: Breaking Free
"Crack!"
"Crack!"
"Crack!"
Above the sky, fissures spread, seemingly covering the entire pale world.
Watching the scene unfold before them, the faces of Ji Chen and the other two were filled with excitement.
Because this meant that they could soon leave this place.
"After so many years, I never thought I would really see this day..."
The old man was so excited that even his body couldn’t help but tremble.
"Boom!"
Finally, a loud bang erupted, as if the entire world was being destroyed.
Ji Chen only felt his sight replaced by whiteness, and a feeling of weightlessness flooded his body.
But this sensation didn’t last long.
When his vision was restored, he looked around and was astounded to find that he was back in that barren forest.
"We...really made it out?"
Qu Luoning was somewhat incredulous, her face uncontrollably showing happiness, expressing the joy in her heart.
Fifteen years!
She and Ji Chen had been trapped within the Saint’s Dojo for a full fifteen years.
For those outside, perhaps these fifteen years passed in merely a quarter of an hour or so.
But for them, they truly lived through those long fifteen years.
"What are your plans next, senior?"
After calming their excitement, Ji Chen and the other two finally settled down.
Ji Chen looked at the old man.
The old man sighed and said, "Has so much time passed in the outside world... Most of my friends and acquaintances are probably no longer alive..."
Thousands of years are enough to change many things.
Even a Sacred Land might have already been destroyed.
The old man’s name was Nangong Ao, once a renowned loose cultivator, with a cultivation reaching the Void Realm!
Such a realm was something few could achieve even in the ancient Profound Domain.
The path of cultivation starts from Qi Refining, followed by Vein Condensation, Spirit Transformation, Returning Ruins, Celestial Essence, and Void...
In today’s Profound Domain, even Returning Ruins could be called Venerable, let alone those in the Celestial Essence Realm or even Void Realm.
Such individuals, it’s no exaggeration to say, would be nearly unrivaled not just in the Profound Domain, but also throughout Beiyou.
But Nangong Ao was somewhat exceptional.
It was said that before he entered Emperor Ye’s Ancient Ruins, he had a life-and-death battle with a great enemy, leaving him seriously injured with his Spiritual Sea damaged, causing his cultivation to recede.
He entered Emperor Ye’s Ancient Ruins to find a way to repair his Spiritual Sea but ended up trapped in the Saint’s Dojo.
"If senior hasn’t decided yet, after this Ancient Ruin closes, you can stay at my Lingyun Sect for a while." Ji Chen offered.
For such a powerful figure from the Ancient Era, he naturally didn’t want to miss the chance to win him over.
If the Lingyun Sect had such a person, there would surely be no worries for handling future challenges.
"Very well."
The old man didn’t refuse and finally nodded.
He was grateful to Ji Chen.
Because it was Ji Chen who comprehended the Cenling Formation Manual that allowed them to escape from the Saint’s Dojo.
Moreover, in his view, Ji Chen was likely a descendant of Emperor Ye, arousing much of his curiosity.
Soon, the three found a place to stop and didn’t continue to explore Emperor Ye’s Ancient Ruins.
After fifteen years, finally out of confinement, both Ji Chen and Qu Luoning felt somewhat weary.
But it’s worth mentioning that after cultivating for so many years in the Saint’s Dojo, the improvements in their cultivation were their greatest reward.
By now, Qu Luoning had progressed from the First Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm to the Sixth Realm.
As for Ji Chen, it was even more astonishing; he advanced from the Eighth Layer of the Vein Condensation Realm to the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm, just one step away from the Returning Ruins Realm!
In the remaining days before the Ancient Ruin closes, the three didn’t venture anywhere.
Nangong Ao inquired them about many events over the years.
After understanding, he was quite moved; today’s Profound Domain had changed greatly, with many powerful Sects no longer existing.
"Buzz..."
That day, the entire Ancient Ruins space began to tremble.
This was a sign of its upcoming closure.
Ji Chen and Qu Luoning exchanged a glance and then, including Nangong Ao, their bodies turned into light, silently disappearing from where they stood.
When Ji Chen regained his senses, he found himself back in the Valley outside of Li Yuan’s Tomb!
Looking at the familiar sky above, Ji Chen felt relieved, like seeing clear skies after the clouds parted!
"We’re out!"
"It took ten days, and Emperor Ye’s Ancient Ruins have finally closed; who knows what fortunes these young people have found?"
Outside the Valley, gathered were many, all elder strongmen from various forces in the Profound Domain.
They all had expressions of anticipation or anxiety, scanning the crowd for their young disciples.
Some were happy, some in sorrow; many young talents lost their lives inside, unable to make it out alive.
But many also found opportunities, yielding bountiful rewards.
"Sister Luoning."
From behind Ji Chen and the others came a voice; it was Liu Qingcheng.
Seeing Qu Luoning, she seemed relieved and couldn’t help but say, "I didn’t see you in the ruins and was worried something happened to you. Glad you’re safe."
Qu Luoning smiled, "Sorry to worry you, Qingcheng. How was your harvest this time?"
"Quite well."
Liu Qingcheng replied, and then her gaze suddenly shifted towards Ji Chen, her tone becoming colder, she sneered, "I didn’t expect your luck to be so good, to really make it out of Emperor Ye’s Ancient Ruins alive."
Ji Chen met her gaze without speaking.
Now, his cultivation reached the Ninth Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm. It was no exaggeration to say that Liu Qingcheng, as long as Ji Chen desired, could be eliminated with a mere gesture.
"Ji Chen!"
Just then, a cold shout was heard.
Looking around, they saw several black-robed elders striding towards them.
All their eyes fell on Ji Chen.
When they got closer, the leading black-robed elder said in a deep voice, "Was my Sword King Sect disciple Xia Hui and others killed by you?"
At these words, everyone around was startled.
Including Liu Qingcheng; she evidently knew the name Xia Hui, an elite disciple from the Sword King Sect, reportedly reaching the Second Layer of the Spirit Transformation Realm.
With Xia Hui’s skills, how could Ji Chen kill her?
She didn’t understand, thinking it must have been some misunderstanding.
But just as Liu Qingcheng was thinking this, Ji Chen stood there, nodding calmly, "Yes."