This trip to the Ancient Ruins was both epic and perilous, but the rewards far exceeded everyone's expectations before the trip.
Lin Ming's mind sank into the Inner World, and even with his composure, the dazzling array of gains stirred waves of emotion within him.
First and foremost are the precious medicinal herbs that stretch as far as the eye can see. The vast majority of these are rare and exotic herbs that have long since disappeared from the outside world and only exist in ancient records. These were obtained by plucking feathers from the passing geese in the Ancient Forest. The sheer quantity and variety of these herbs are enough to drive any Alchemist crazy.
Among them, the Soul Infant Demonic Tree has been successfully planted. The two Soul Infant Fruits that have condensed on it, resembling infants, emit pure and powerful Soul Fluctuation.
One of these two Soul Infant Fruits will be used to fulfill the promise made in exchange for Bodhi Treasure Liquid; the other can be harvested when needed later!
Feeling the abundance of medicinal herbs, Lin Ming was overjoyed. With them, he had a solid foundation for both daily cultivation and future refining of High-Grade Pills.
In addition, there were two other incredible gains.
Firstly, there's the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit that Zi Yan obtained within the Beast Spirit Barrier! This fruit was formed from the fusion of the Essence Blood of the Ancient Heavenly Phoenix and the Ancient Void Dragon over countless years, containing unimaginable vast energy and Bloodline Power. It is a treasure powerful enough to change the landscape of the Ancient Void Dragon Clan.
Secondly, there's the Pill Beast that manifested from the Eight-Colored Pill Lightning, Tier 8 Medicinal Pill! This little guy is incredibly Spirituality; if properly nurtured and provided with enough energy and pills, it's almost certain to advance to the level of a true Ninth Grade Treasure Pill!
At that time, it will truly possess the legendary miraculous effects of bringing the dead back to life and Defying Fate, and its value will be immeasurable!
Of course, the biggest gain from this trip to the ruins was undoubtedly the Dou Saint remains that were finally obtained!
The skeleton itself is as clear as jade, and has remained intact for thousands of years. It contains part of the essence and Dao of a Dou Sheng Expert in life. Whether it is used to refine High-Grade Pills and weapons, or to comprehend the Dou Sheng Dao remaining in its bones, it is a peerless treasure that can cause bloodshed throughout the entire continent.
Not to mention, it is also engraved with the cultivation method of the true Heaven Tier Dou Technique - the Great Heaven Creation Palm! Lin Ming had personally witnessed the terrifying power of this battle Dou Technique, which was enough to become another powerful Trump Card for him to dominate the continent in the future.
In addition, the two Ancient Human Puppet of the Three-Star Dou Venerate, and the ten Earth Demon Puppet that can form an array and briefly unleash the strength of Two-Star Dou Venerate... this fearless Puppet army has become an extremely terrifying hidden force of the Five Elements Sect.
Adding to the two Earth Tier High-grade scrolls he had previously acquired, the total value of Lin Ming's gains on this trip is probably far greater than the combined gains of all other forces that entered the ruins!
Even with Lin Ming's composure, his heart was filled with satisfaction and anticipation at this moment.
However, everyone knows that now is not the time to immediately digest these gains. Whether it is cultivating the Great Heaven Creation Palm, studying the Dou Saint remains, nurturing Pill Beast, processing the massive amount of medicinal materials, or preparing for Zi Yan's safe absorption of the Dragon Phoenix Origin Fruit, an absolutely safe and undisturbed environment, as well as ample time, are all needed.
Everything needs to wait until we return to the Five Elements Sect and settle down before we can slowly and carefully study and plan it.
Having offended the two overlords of the Beast Domain, the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan and the Nether Python Clan, in the Beast Realm, who have numerous eyes and ears and deeply entrenched influence within the Magical Beast World Beast Domain, Lin Ming and his companions naturally dared not linger here for too long, lest they cause further trouble.
Even as Hei Qing Space-Tearing once more, Lin Ming and his group were not delayed in the slightest. At this moment, Lin Ming possessed spatial abilities no weaker than the Ancient Void Dragon, so after Hei Qing left, he directly Space-Tearing and departed.
The Five Elements Sect, the Forbidden Area in the Back Mountain.
This place is shrouded in mist and surrounded by Strange Peaks. The Heaven and Earth Energy here is much richer and purer than in other parts of the sect. It is a place that only the Great Elder, the Sect Master, and the Vice Sect Master are allowed to enter. No one else is allowed to set foot here without permission.
At this moment, on a platform with a wide view at the top of the mountain, stood two figures.
One of them, dressed in a simple gray robe, looked middle-aged, but his deep eyes contained the vicissitudes and wisdom of time. The aura he exuded was like a dormant volcano, powerful yet restrained. He was none other than Yao Lao, the Great Elder of the Five Elements Sect Elder Yao.
Standing beside him was a woman dressed in a pale white dress. The woman had a slender figure, a waist as thin as a willow branch, seemingly so delicate that it could be grasped with a single hand, and an aloof and refined temperament, like a secluded orchid in a valley.
However, her delicate and pretty face was etched with a lingering worry, and her brows were slightly furrowed. It was none other than Xiao Yi Xian.
"Elder Yao, Lin Ming and the others went to the Beast Domain to explore those Ancient Ruins. It's been quite some time now, and there's still no news from them..."
Xiao Yi Xian gazed at the distant, misty Sea of Clouds of clouds, her voice filled with barely concealed worry.
"I've heard that countless powerful figures from all sides have been drawn to those ruins, including some well-known Dou Venerable Elder, and even some of the top forces in the Middle Continent... I'm really worried about them."
Upon hearing this, Elder Yao stroked his beard and smiled, appearing quite relaxed. He glanced at the worried woman beside him and comforted her, "Xiao Yi Xian, you're just letting your concern cloud your judgment. Outsiders may not know Lin Ming's abilities, but don't you and I know them well?"
"His meticulous planning, numerous methods, and profound Trump Card are so formidable that even I might not be able to subdue him. With his strength, in those ruins, if he doesn't cause trouble for others, they should be grateful. How many people can truly threaten him? Moreover, he has Zi Yan by his side, and Qing Lin and Xiong Zhan are not easy opponents either. The elders from the Five Elements Sect who accompanied him are also all skilled fighters. Rest assured, they will surely return safely."
Upon hearing Elder Yao's analysis, Xiao Yi Xian couldn't help but picture Lin Ming's always calm and smiling face, as if he had everything under control. Her worries eased slightly, and she nodded gently, but her gaze still involuntarily drifted to the distant horizon, hoping that familiar figure would appear soon.
Just as the two were talking, several rapid whooshing sounds suddenly came from the distant horizon. Elder Yao and Xiao Yi Xian sensed it almost simultaneously and looked up sharply.
At the edge of their vision, a dozen or so points of light of various colors were rapidly expanding, hurtling towards the Five Elements Sect's mountain gate. The leader, dressed in a blue robe and with a tall, upright figure, was none other than Lin Ming.
"They're back!" Xiao Yi Xian's beautiful eyes lit up instantly, the worry on her face vanished, replaced by an irrepressible joy.
Elder Yao chuckled, a hint of satisfaction and anticipation flashing in his eyes. "It seems this lad has certainly made a great trip! Let's go greet them!"
Two figures then swooped down from the mountaintop platform and headed towards the mountain gate.
On the mountain peak, the sound of wind breaking gradually subsided, and more than ten figures quietly landed. It was Lin Ming and his group, who had rushed back to the sect.
"Sect Master!"
"Lin Ming!"
Elder Yao and Xiao Yi Xian, who had been waiting at the mountain gate, immediately came forward, their faces filled with a relieved joy.
When they saw that Lin Ming and the others, though slightly tired, were breathing steadily and no one had been injured, the two men finally felt a huge weight lifted from their shoulders.
"Elder Yao, Xiao Yi Xian, we're back!" Lin Ming smiled gently and nodded to the two of them.
Zi Yan cheered and rushed to Xiao Yi Xian's side like a fledgling returning to its nest, chattering away as she began to recount her thrilling experiences in the ruins. Xiao Yi Xian listened with wide eyes, sometimes tense, sometimes amazed.
Qing Lin and Xiong Zhan also stepped forward to greet Elder Yao, while the members of the Five Elements Sect went to arrange the follow-up matters and disperse the curious disciples who were watching, maintaining order in the sect.
The group walked through the familiar sect paths and arrived at the Assembly Hall on the Back Mountain. After activating the barrier that isolated detection, Lin Ming waved his sleeve, and several orbs of light, enveloped in soft energy, floated out.
In an instant, a rich Medicinal Fragrance, pure Soul Fluctuation, a subtle yet powerful energy pressure, and the faint Saintly Might emanating from the jade-white skeleton... a variety of strange auras intertwined and permeated the entire hall, instantly moving Elder Yao and Xiao Yi Xian.
Xiao Yi Xian's beautiful eyes were drawn to the Spirituality, curiously peering Pill Beast within the ball of light; women are naturally powerless against such adorable and magical creatures.
Lin Ming briefly recounted his main experiences during his trip to the ruins, including the battle for the main hall, the terror of the Heaven Tier Dou Technique, the conflict with the Old Ghost Xing and the Heaven Demon Phoenix Clan, and the final rescue by Hei Qing. Although his words were concise, the dangers and opportunities he encountered still stirred the hearts of Elder Yao and Xiao Yi Xian.
"I never imagined your trip would be so extraordinary."
Elder Yao sighed, his gaze sweeping over the orbs of light once more before finally settling on the floating Dou Saint remains, his expression extremely solemn.
"The Dou Saint remains, Heaven Tier Dou Technique... Kid, you've brought back something that's enough to shake the entire Middle Continent this time."
"It was just a coincidence," Lin Ming said modestly, then turned serious.
"Elder Yao, Xiao Yi Xian, I will organize some of these things and leave them in the sect. When the time comes, the medicinal herbs need to be classified and stored, and you will be responsible for overall management; the Soul Infant Fruit needs to fulfill the promise made when exchanging it for Bodhi Treasure Liquid, and you will also be responsible for this matter. This Pill Beast has developed intelligence and needs to be carefully fed with pure energy and pills, and you will also need to take good care of it, Xiao Yi Xian."
Then, Lin Ming looked at Elder Yao: "As for the Dou Saint remains and the Heaven Tier Dou Technique on them, these are of great importance and require careful consideration. I will discuss this with Elder Yao in detail later. And these Puppet..."
Lin Ming pointed to the ten Earth Demon Puppet standing quietly to the side and said to Elder Yao again, "Elder Yao, I will give you the methods to control them and the formations later. You can then decide where to place them to enhance the sect's foundation."
Lin Ming assigned the tasks in a clear and organized manner, and everyone agreed without objection.
"As for Zi Yan..." After dealing with one more matter, Lin Ming will have to get to Zi Yan's affairs.
However, Lin Ming waved his hand and said gently, "Alright, you've all had a long journey, so go back and rest."
Upon hearing this, everyone left the Assembly Hall one after another, filled with excitement and anticipation.
Soon, only Lin Ming remained in the hall. He stood with his hands behind his back, gazing at the continuous Five Elements Sect mountains outside the window, his heart filled with peace and determination.
This harvest will be the key to the true rise of the Five Elements Sect, and he will surely lead the sect to embark on an unprecedented path to the heavens on this Dou Qi Continent!