Lin Changqing stared at the golden pillar of light shooting into the sky, his brows already tightly furrowed.
In the Primordial World, the emergence of a treasure always caused some kind of disturbance.
But now, as the restrictions on this secret realm opened, pillar after pillar of golden light shot straight into the heavens.
This spectacle was far too conspicuous.
In the Primordial World, this was a major taboo!
"Brother, what should we do now?"
Ao Ying turned to Lin Changqing and asked with some concern.
With such a huge commotion, it was absolutely impossible to keep others from noticing.
If they went in now, they would surely be in danger when they came out.
If they were surrounded by one or two Golden Immortals, or even trapped by a Grand Unity Golden Immortal, things would become extremely troublesome.
"Why don't we just leave this secret realm alone?"
Ao Ying thought for a moment, then sighed.
Lin Changqing, however, remained resolute as he watched the darkness within the vortex gradually expand, revealing an extraordinarily ancient palace.
"No!"
"An opportunity is right before us. If we don't go, we'll plant an Inner Demon."
"If cultivators like us are timid and hesitant, how can we ever attain the Great Dao?"
As Lin Changqing spoke, boundless killing intent flashed in his eyes.
This was the first opportunity he had discovered since entering the Primordial World.
If he gave it up just like that, he would never be able to accept it.
He wanted to see who could take his opportunity from him!
"Let's go! We don't know what dangers or fortunes lie inside the secret realm, so you'll be safer by my side!"
"We'll go in together."
As Lin Changqing spoke, he took Ao Ying's hand and sped toward the Dragon Clan's secret realm.
Ao Ying gazed at Lin Changqing, deeply moved. A faint blush rose on her face, and unfamiliar feelings stirred in her heart.
Of course, Lin Changqing had taken Ao Ying's hand for more than just her protection.
More importantly, this was a Dragon Clan secret realm. No one could be safer inside it than a nine-marked true dragon.
The two turned into streaks of light and plunged rapidly into the vortex. In an instant, it was as if they had crossed countless mountains and rivers, crashing down from the sky into another world.
At its center stood a cluster of ancient palaces, while the surrounding mountains, rivers, and lakes stretched even farther.
The vortex they had entered through was nothing more than a vast hole suspended in the sky.
No wonder the Dragon Clan's secret realm was actually a world within a cave!
That explained why Green Vine, despite being the ruler of this ten-thousand-mile swamp, could not open the Dragon Clan's secret realm. Only someone with true dragon blood could do so.
With Ao Ying in tow, Lin Changqing plunged rapidly toward the rows of palaces.
The Dragon Clan's secret realm surely held many treasures.
In the beginning, when heaven and earth had just formed, all things were innate. Any stone picked up or blade of grass pulled from the Primordial World would have been an innate treasure or an Innate Spiritual Root.
As the years passed, nearly ninety-nine percent of innate things gradually evolved and disappeared, replaced by acquired things.
After the Beast Tribulation and the Dragon-Phoenix Tribulation, innate things had become pitifully scarce.
But in ancient times, innate things had still been abundant and commonplace.
This ancient Dragon Clan secret realm must contain countless innate treasures!
If not for the strange events outside, Lin Changqing would certainly have taken Ao Ying through the secret realm inch by inch, searching every last corner.
He might even have torn up every blade of grass here.
But now, the spectacle outside was sure to draw others in. If they kept searching at such a leisurely pace, something unexpected might happen.
"Ao Ying, with your true dragon blood, can you sense where the most extraordinary places in this secret realm are?"
Lin Changqing asked Ao Ying. She closed her eyes, and her body abruptly changed. A thousand-zhang Azure Dragon appeared, stretching across this world.
Blood surged through the Azure Dragon's body, and divine patterns shimmered across her scales.
A moment later, Ao Ying looked at Lin Changqing.
"Brother, I sense two places with the strongest presence. One is on the mountaintop, and the other is in that sinkhole over there."
As she spoke, Ao Ying changed back into human form and pointed in the direction she meant.
Following her gesture, Lin Changqing looked toward the two places.
The mountaintop lay at the very center of the countless palaces. A vast and magnificent palace stood atop the peak, towering more than three thousand zhang high!
It stretched across a broad swath of the mountain ridge, spanning tens of thousands of zhang.
Lin Changqing had already guessed what it was: likely the heart of this palace complex, and the center of the secret realm.
The other place Ao Ying had pointed out was near the foot of the mountain. A mere thousand-zhang-wide pit lay there, surrounded by dense thickets of blood-red trees that concealed the surrounding landscape.
Lin Changqing frowned as he studied the two places. If they searched them one at a time, someone else might get there first.
"Ao Ying, we'll split up. You're weaker, so go to the sinkhole. I'm stronger, so I'll head to the main hall."
Lin Changqing spoke to Ao Ying.
Those who came here afterward would probably notice the palace first, just as he had.
Most of them would likely head for the palace, making the sinkhole the less dangerous option.
It made the most sense for him to go to the palace.
Of course, Lin Changqing had his own little reasons too.
Ao Ying could sense that the sinkhole held treasures. There was an eighty percent chance they were something like a Dragon Clan inheritance, which would be of no use to Lin Changqing.
The vast palace, on the other hand, might contain some kind of innate treasure—something he actually needed.
"Brother, you don't have true dragon blood..."
Ao Ying frowned as she spoke, her eyes filled with concern.
This was a Dragon Clan secret realm. Strength mattered far less here than Dragon Clan blood, especially true dragon blood.
Lin Changqing only shook his head nonchalantly.
"It's fine. Opportunities go to those destined for them. If I can't force one, then so be it."
Lin Changqing smiled, but Ao Ying still shook her head.
"Brother, even if you won't come with me, please accept this."
As Ao Ying spoke, a drop of essence blood flew from between her brows and landed in Lin Changqing's hand.
Ao Ying's face immediately turned a shade paler. This essence blood contained a trace of a true dragon's soul. In this Dragon Clan secret realm, it was an extremely useful treasure.
Lin Changqing gazed at Ao Ying with mixed feelings, but did not refuse.
This could indeed prove useful at a crucial moment.
"Then let's split up! Go!"
Lin Changqing said, and the two sped off in opposite directions.
Ao Ying headed straight for the sinkhole, while blood-red energy surged behind Lin Changqing. A pair of crimson wings appeared, and with a single flap, he landed at the palace entrance.
The palace was ancient, covered in countless shimmering divine patterns. Dragon Clan runes glowed, enveloping the entire structure.
But this secret realm had existed for countless years, and its formations had long since fallen into ruin. A gap had now opened in one corner.
Lin Changqing put away the essence blood in his hand and darted through the gap.
Countless treasures and spiritual roots within the palace had long since decayed from the lack of spiritual energy. They crumbled into dust at the slightest touch.
He passed through a crumbling corridor and entered the main hall. The scene before him made Lin Changqing's eyes widen.
"This is... true dragon bones!!!"
The central hall stood three thousand zhang tall and spanned tens of thousands of zhang.
Dragons lay prostrate all around it, but their scales, flesh, and blood had long since vanished.
Only rows of white, crystalline skeletons remained inside the palace.
There were at least tens of thousands of these Dragon Clan skeletons!
Even the smallest was two thousand zhang long, twice the size of Ao Ying's true form. They had to have been at least at the peak of the Golden Immortal realm!
The largest skeleton was a full ten thousand zhang long!
Even a Grand Unity Golden Immortal might not have been so immense.
This was the skeleton of a Primordial Golden Immortal!
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