Fallen Phoenix Abyss

Lin Ming followed the three giants, Xuan Kongzi, into the depths of the Pill Tower, where they naturally had a detailed discussion.

Faced with the probing questions from three of the continent's top Alchemy Grandmaster, Lin Ming had already prepared a set of explanations. He did not mention the <Chaos Spirit Five Elements Art> or the fundamental secrets of his Inner World, but instead focused on the perilous process of refining the Three Thousand Burning Flame, and how, at the last moment, he relied on his Soul Power and the miraculous effect of the Dragon Seal to guide the Heavenly Flame Origin with great difficulty, and used the residual energy of the Star Domain to break through the bottleneck of the Dou Venerate.

As for that Heaven and Earth Phenomenon, he was within the Star Domain and hadn't seen it, so how would he know? Although Xuan Kongzi later described it to Lin Ming, upon hearing Xuan Kongzi's description, Lin Ming's mouth gaped open as if he could fit an egg in it to express his shock. He even asked the others if they knew which senior had created such Cultivation Methods and Combat Skills. If they knew, they should definitely tell him, as he also wanted to pay them a visit.

Although Xuan Kongzi and the other two still felt there were many doubts about this explanation, they did not pursue the matter further. After encouraging Lin Ming, they let the matter drop.

When Lin Ming emerged from the core area of Pill Tower, it was already dusk.

The afterglow of the setting sun shone on the still bustling streets of Sacred Pill City, as if draping them in a layer of golden light.

Wherever he went, whether they were disciples of the Pill Tower or residents of the city, they all cast awe, worship, and even fanaticism in his eyes. Refining the Three Thousand Burning Flame and advancing to the Dou Venerate were either enough to make him the most dazzling legend in this region.

Without lingering at the Pill Tower, Lin Ming moved and merged into the void, appearing in front of the familiar Ye Courtyard gate in the next moment.

Before you even step inside, an incredibly warm and welcoming atmosphere greets you!

Inside Ye Courtyard, lanterns and decorations were everywhere, and the place was bustling with activity, several times more lively than usual.

Not only were familiar faces like Xiao Yi Xian, Zi Yan, Elder Yao, Senior Brother Xu Shilin, Xin Lan, Ye Zhong, and Xiong Zhan present, but there were also many unfamiliar figures that Lin Ming had never seen before in the courtyard.

These people varied in strength, but their eyes were sharp and their movements were quite methodical, clearly indicating that they were not ordinary individuals. They were scattered throughout the Courtyard, some helping with the setup, others conversing in hushed tones, their gazes occasionally sweeping towards the entrance with curiosity and a hint of anticipation.

"Big Brother Lin is back!" Xin Lan, with her sharp eyes, was the first to spot him and exclaimed with delight.

This sound, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly ignited the enthusiasm of the entire Ye Courtyard!

"Haha, kid, you've finally come out! I've been waiting for you!" Elder Yao's booming voice rang out, filled with undisguised satisfaction and joy.

"Lin Ming!"

Xiao Yi Xian quickly stepped forward, her beautiful eyes sparkling. Her previous worries had long been replaced by intense joy. She carefully examined Lin Ming, confirming that he was unharmed and that his aura was unfathomable, before she was completely relieved.

"Lin Ming, Lin Ming! You're finally back! Was it fun inside?" Zi Yan flew over like a happy butterfly, tugging at Lin Ming's sleeve, her little face full of excitement.

Xu Shilin smiled gently and cupped his hands, saying, "Congratulations, Junior Brother! This encounter is truly a leap over the dragon gate; from now on, the sky's the limit!"

Ye Zhong and Xiong Zhan also surrounded them with smiles on their faces, offering their congratulations.

The strangers also stopped what they were doing and focused their attention on Lin Ming, their eyes filled with scrutiny, curiosity, and a hint of undisguised awe.

Lin Ming was touched by the enthusiastic atmosphere, a warm feeling welling up inside him. He knew these were people who truly cared about him. He smiled and responded to everyone, especially ruffling Zi Yan's hair, saying with a laugh, "It's all fire inside, there's nothing fun about it."

Only then did he notice the strangers in the courtyard and the extraordinary scale of the celebration, and he looked at Xiao Yi Xian and Elder Yao with some confusion.

Xiao Yi Xian and Yao Tianhuo exchanged a glance, a subtle, profound meaning flashing in their eyes, but this was clearly not the time for a detailed discussion.

Elder Yao laughed heartily and waved his hand, "Today we're only celebrating; other trivial matters can be discussed later! Men, bring out the wine and dishes! We won't leave until we're drunk!"

Instantly, the entire Ye Courtyard was plunged into a sea of celebration.

Fine wine flowed like a spring, delicacies piled up like a mountain, and laughter and cheers soared to the heavens. As the absolute protagonist, Lin Ming was naturally toasted by everyone in turn. Even with his current cultivation level, he was flushed slightly by the enthusiasm and his heart was filled with joy.

The celebration lasted for three full days before gradually coming to an end.

As the guests gradually dispersed, Ye Courtyard returned to its usual tranquility, but a festive atmosphere still seemed to linger in the air.

Inside the study, Lin Ming dismissed everyone around him, leaving only Xiao Yi Xian, Elder Yao, Zi Yan, and his senior brother Xu Shilin, among the most core members.

After the noise subsides, it's time to think about the path forward.

Lin Ming gently stroked his Storage Ring with his fingertips, where Bodhi Primordial Beginning Pill, which had triggered Eight-Colored Pill Lightning, lay quietly.

This pill was enough to transform Ya Fei was far away in the Jia Ma Empire, and elevate her cultivation aptitude to the top tier. Thinking of that charming and beautiful figure, who was struggling on the path of cultivation, Lin Ming felt a pang of longing and guilt.

"If I were to set off now to return to the Jia Ma Empire and deliver this elixir to Ya Fei..." Lin Ming pondered to himself.

But then he shook his head. The Middle Continent and the Northwest Continent are separated by more than ten thousand miles, and there are many dangers in between. Even with his current strength as Two-Star Dou Venerate, if he travels at full speed, it would probably take at least a year to make a round trip.

According to his memories, the Ancient Ruins containing the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, which is crucial to Zi Yan, will open in a little over a year!

The Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit is Heaven and Earth Divine Object, born from the intertwined Bloodline Power of the Ancient Void Dragon and the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix. For Zi Yan, its importance is irreplaceable!

Once Zi Yan takes it, it will not only greatly stimulate her bloodline potential, but also allow her to condense and integrate the advantages of the Ancient Void Dragon and the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix into a Dragon Phoenix Body, laying the foundation for her future supreme ability to surpass the Dragon Emperor!

If they miss the opening of this ruin, and the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit is taken by the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan, not only will the loss to Zi Yan be immeasurable, but if the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan refines and fuses it to create a Dragon Phoenix Body, it will create a formidable enemy for them. Therefore, this is something they absolutely cannot miss.

After weighing the pros and cons, Lin Ming quickly made a decision.

"It seems that returning to the Jia Ma Empire will have to be postponed. It won't be too late to go back after the matter of the Ancient Ruins is resolved," Lin Ming decided in his heart.

As for Ya Fei, although it was more than a year late, the Vitality Energy of the Bodhi Primordial Beginning Pill meant that a year was nothing. However, the opportunity of the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit was fleeting.

Having made his decision, Lin Ming stroked his chin, his gaze sharpening as he considered the next steps.

"Since I'll be staying in the Middle Continent for over a year, I need to find something to do and not waste my time."

Improving one's strength is not something that can be achieved overnight; it requires time and accumulation. However, some preparatory work can be done in advance.

Suddenly, Lin Ming remembered something, looked up at Elder Yao, and asked, "Elder Yao, before I entered the Star Domain, I asked you to consult the ancient texts of the Pill Tower to find clues about the Beast King Token's Token. Did you find anything?"

Upon hearing this, Elder Yao's spirits lifted, and a smile appeared on his face, clearly indicating that he took the matter very seriously.

He stroked his beard and said, "Even if you hadn't brought it up, I would have told you. I went to great lengths to do what you asked, practically turning over every single one of those dusty ancient scrolls piled up in the corners of the Pill Tower!"

At this moment, Elder Yao paused, a hint of pride flashing in his eyes. "Persistence pays off! I actually found a few words about the Beast King Token in an Animal Skin scroll from an unknown era!"

Lin Ming immediately sat up straight, his eyes fixed intently on Elder Yao. Xiao Yi Xian, Zi Yan, and the others also cast curious glances at him.

"According to the records in that document, this Beast King Token was a token of a powerful sect called the Beast Taming Sect in ancient times. Moreover, it was not possessed by ordinary disciples, but was a certificate used by their personal disciples to receive the core inheritance!" Elder Yao said slowly, his tone carrying a trace of reminiscing about the vicissitudes of ancient times.

"Beast Taming Sect?" Lin Ming raised an eyebrow; he had never heard of this name before.

"Yes, a sect that specializes in controlling and raising Magical Beasts. It is said that it was once very prominent in ancient times, and its beast control techniques are unparalleled," Elder Yao explained.

"However, this sect has long been lost to the annals of history. The records mention that the reason for its demise seems to be... that it provoked the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan, which was at its zenith at the time and possessed a pure-blooded Ancient Heavenly Phoenix!"

"The Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan?!" A glint flashed in Lin Ming's eyes. It's the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan again! It seems that the Beast King Token involves quite a lot of karma.

"That's right. The specific reasons are now lost to history, but the Beast Taming Sect was indeed destroyed by the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan, and its lineage was severed." Elder Yao nodded and continued.

"But that's not the most important thing. The most important thing is that, based on some extremely obscure geographical descriptions and sect characteristics in that document, and combined with some ancient legends and geographical changes throughout the Middle Continent, I have spent several months verifying and deducing from various sources, and have finally roughly determined the area where the Beast Taming Sect's mountain gate was located!"

"Oh? Where?" Lin Ming immediately asked, a hint of anticipation rising in his heart.

Even if the ruins of an ancient sect have been destroyed, the legacies and treasures that may remain within are absolutely extraordinary! Moreover, this Beast King Token is a token of inheritance passed down to its direct disciple!

Elder Yao's gaze swept over everyone, and he said in a deep voice, "It's located in the Southern Region of the Middle Continent, deep within a place called the Meteor Beast Mountain Range! It's now a paradise for Magical Beasts, rarely visited by humans, with chaotic space and fraught with danger. It's precisely because of this that the ruins have survived to this day, not being completely discovered by later generations."

"Southern Region of the Middle Continent... Meteor Beast Mountain Range..."

Lin Ming repeated the two place names in a low voice, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the table, his eyes flashing with a thoughtful light.

Just then, Xu Shilin, who was standing to the side, seemed to remember something and spoke up, "Junior Brother Lin Ming, speaking of the Meteor Beast Mountain Range... My Xu Family is located in a place called Maple Nan City in the Southern Region of the Middle Continent. Although our family is quite far from the Meteor Beast Mountain Range, even using Space Wormhole would require two transfers and would probably take more than two months to reach it, I have still heard some rumors about the Meteor Beast Mountain Range."

He paused, and seeing that everyone was looking at him, he continued.

"According to some Magical Beasts hunters and adventurers who frequent the Southern Region, deep within the Meteor Beast Mountain Range lies a Deadly Land area called 'Fallen Phoenix Abyss.' Legend has it that in an extremely ancient time, an Ancient Heavenly Phoenix may have truly perished there! This is the origin of the name 'Fallen Phoenix Abyss.' However, the era is too ancient, and the truth has long been lost to time, now only regarded as a vague legend by the locals."

"The Fallen Phoenix Abyss? The Ancient Heavenly Phoenix?"

A glint flashed in Lin Ming's eyes, and he subconsciously glanced at Zi Yan beside him, who was blinking her big eyes and listening with great interest.

The Ancient Void Dragon and the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix are sworn enemies. If that place is truly related to the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix, this trip will likely not be peaceful.

"Thank you for informing me, senior brother. This information is very important." Lin Ming nodded his thanks to Xu Shilin.

His anticipation grew even stronger. The ruins of the Beast Taming Sect might be the Deadly Land where Ancient Heavenly Phoenix perished... This Meteor Beast Mountain Range seemed to be far more complex and interesting than he had imagined.

"Now that we have a clue, the Meteor Beast Mountain Range is definitely worth a visit." Lin Ming's lips curled into a smile.

"Perfect, let me test just how powerful this new force really is!"