Kunlun

One month after Ji Yun returned from No. 9 Ruins.

It was the end of the university semester in Jiangnan Base City, and Luo Yue was extremely busy with school.

Every day, she not only had to keep up with her coursework but also deal with all kinds of leaders trying to curry favor with her. After all, many of them had eyes and ears everywhere. Word had spread, albeit only a little, through the Martial Artist circles that Ji Yun had attended Luo Feng Supervisor's succession ceremony with her.

Although the War God Palace strictly forbade such things from happening, as long as the news didn't spread widely, no one would find out.

Ji Yun toyed with the Blue Bird Statue he had obtained earlier.

After roughly half a month of examining it, making deductions, and checking records, Ji Yun believed that the Blue Bird was a token or a symbol.

According to Ji Yun's theory...

Perhaps in ancient Huaxia mythology, people had accidentally eaten Vegetation Spirits or other treasures, greatly improving their physical abilities. That might explain why ancient warriors were said to be able to take on ten thousand enemies.

Ancient tales and novels also mentioned that ginseng and other plants could greatly improve a person's vitality and blood. In modern scientific terms, that meant improving one's physical fitness.

And the accounts in Daoist texts or the Classic of Mountains and Seas about flying through the air might describe Martial Artists who had broken through to Planetary Level and gained the power of flight.

Or perhaps some exotic beasts had mastered that power as well. But since the environment hadn't changed much, this might explain why not all animals had mutated in ancient times.

If so, ancient people could fly because they had reached Planetary Level. And the legendary abilities of ancient sages and mystics to summon flames or thunder were manifestations of Planetary Level special abilities. Those few who could summon wind and rain over a vast area must have possessed a domain.

These treasures must have come from Ancient Civilization Ruins or from the ruins of visitors from beyond the universe.

Then Kunlun, the foremost sacred mountain in Huaxia, might be where the ruins were located. More than one ancient text called Kunlun the source of the dragon veins. Most people had already identified the locations of these dragon veins, and many of them were known to contain Ancient Civilization Ruins. So perhaps Kunlun was, to date, the largest Ancient Civilization Ruins by area.

With the strength of Councilors, they could go anywhere on Earth except the Ancient Civilization Ruins. Yet they couldn't freely venture into Kunlun's vast territory. Perhaps that, too, was due to the ruins.

Then perhaps Kunlun, this mysterious place, held the secret that allowed ordinary people to train and even break through to higher levels.

Ji Yun had already discovered that the white crystal he'd used to break through was a treasure from the universe called a Wood Bud Crystal. It contained immense energy and was considered a treasure even in the vast universe.

Perhaps ancient humans had possessed all kinds of abilities that seemed unbelievable before because they had used Wood Bud Crystals they'd stumbled upon.

Xi'an Base City.

It was located in the northwestern part of Huaxia, only a short distance from the former Qinghai Province, at the end of the Kunlun Mountain Range.

A Councilor had also been stationed here in seclusion for years, holding off King Rank Monsters from the depths of the northwest. When he heard Ji Yun planned to head west from Qinchuan and journey to the elusive Void of Kunlun, he came to see him in person.

At the foot of the mountains.

The Councilor pointed to the mountain range stretching into the distance and asked gravely, "Are you certain you want to go in?"

"Several years ago, I ventured into the central part of Kunlun. But, guided by some unknown force, I somehow ended up in Chuanyu Base City. The strange thing was that my satellite navigation showed no problems at all."

"It's an unfathomable place. The danger doesn't just come from the unpredictable terrain. There are also many King Rank Monsters."

The Councilor tried to dissuade him. "Although Hong and Thor have agreements with these King Rank Monsters, they'll still attack us if we enter their territory. They won't hesitate for a moment. Beasts are beasts. They can't change their nature."

Ji Yun gazed at the foot of the mountain range as well. It was indeed majestic. He could make out snow-covered peaks in the distance, while eagles soared across the sky. These flying monsters that lived in the high mountains were all at least Lord level once they reached adulthood.

"I've made up my mind." Ji Yun nodded. "I've also obtained some information about Ancient Civilization Ruins. Based on my deductions, I believe this place might be where I'm meant to go."

As he spoke, Ji Yun took out the Blue Bird Statue he had won at auction.

"I've examined it. It's nothing special, other than being made of a sturdy material."

The Councilor took the statue and looked it over. "The statue did come out of the mountains, but according to the ancient records I've consulted, these statues can be found across the land of Guanzhong and even throughout the Central Plains. There's nothing unusual about them."

"The Void of Kunlun isn't just in the Classic of Mountains and Seas." After leaving those words behind, Ji Yun rose into the air, turning into a streak of blue light as he shot into the Kunlun Mountain Range.

I lay listening as cold winds swept past the snow-white mountains.

The Kunlun Mountain Range was covered in snow year-round. Only dark, low shrubs and moss grew there, making it seem desolate.

Ji Yun had entered Kunlun three days ago.

With his flying speed, he could have crossed the mountain range countless times in three days. Yet he felt as if he'd made no progress at all.

Every time he emerged, he seemed to have been going in circles. He also kept feeling some force weakening his domain.

Yes, Ji Yun felt that something was suppressing his domain.

He took out the Blue Bird Statue and examined it closely again.

The Blue Bird Statue suddenly seemed to reflect some light, growing a little brighter under the sun.

Ji Yun froze and quickly examined it for changes.

The Blue Bird's head seemed to react differently to the sun. Gradually, a fine, intricate pattern appeared on it.

The pattern looked a little like scales and a little like... a map.

Ji Yun opened his Auxiliary Optical Computer and compared the pattern to determine his location.

The Councilor had said that following the satellite navigation could lead a person astray without them noticing. But satellite positioning itself was still very accurate. Using it, Ji Yun seemed to have found a way forward.

"Over here?" Ji Yun carefully compared the lines that seemed to form a map on the pattern.

Following them step by step, Ji Yun eventually reached a snow-capped mountain.

A river wound down from the mountain, growing wider and more powerful the farther it went. From what he could see, it seemed to be the Yellow River.

The snow-capped mountain at its source seemed hazy and unreal, making it hard to see clearly. The misty feeling was somewhat like the swirling black tree roots he'd encountered in Ruins No. 9.

"Is this... a barrier?" Ji Yun rose into the air and flew toward the snow-covered peak at the river's source. He felt as if he'd entered an illusory maze.

The Blue Bird in Ji Yun's hand suddenly began to glow. The deeper he went, the brighter it became. Before long, Ji Yun found a valley beneath a towering snowy peak.

"Hmm?" Ji Yun suddenly came to a halt.

An Ice Field Bear King lived at the bottom of the valley.

The Ice Field Bear was silver-white from head to toe, its fur clean and free of even a speck of dirt. But the fangs showing at the corners of its mouth reminded him how terrifying it was.

Ji Yun activated his Auxiliary Optical Computer, slowly turning the dial to scan the Ice Field Bear.

A line of text appeared on the screen: "Planetary Level, Fourth Rank."

"Fourth Rank?" Ji Yun frowned.

Planetary Level, Fourth Rank was no longer an entry-level Planetary Level. Relying on his domain alone, Ji Yun wasn't confident he could take it down in an instant. What's more, the endless mountains held no shortage of King Rank Monsters. If he got caught in a drawn-out fight, his life wouldn't be in danger, but exploring Kunlun would become a real hassle.

"Can I go around it?" Ji Yun cautiously held the Blue Bird Statue, watching its brightness. Unfortunately...

Ji Yun noticed that the closer he got to the Ice Field Bear, the brighter the Blue Bird became. In other words, the next step forward might lead straight to the Ice Field Bear's position!

Should I risk it? It wasn't really a risk, since his domain gave him enough confidence to escape unharmed. But this was clearly an Ancient Civilization Ruins, and one that hadn't been discovered before. It would be a shame to lose this opportunity.

"Sniff, sniff."

The Ice Field Bear suddenly stood up. Its upright body towered more than fifty meters high, reaching halfway up the valley walls.

Ji Yun held his breath and released his domain, masking his presence.

After calling out a few times, the Ice Field Bear headed toward the valley entrance. The entrance was enormous and offered a clear view of the small snowy peaks below. But to the Ice Field Bear, those peaks were little more than hills.

However, the Ice Field Bear didn't leave the valley. It stopped at the entrance.

"Now's my chance!"

Ji Yun's eyes narrowed.

Holding the Blue Bird Statue and using his domain to conceal his presence, Ji Yun flew up outside the valley from the side. He crossed over the mountain ridge and headed deeper into the valley, watching the statue grow brighter and brighter.

As the Blue Bird Statue drew nearer, the light in the depths of the valley began to twist. Space itself seemed to ripple, and the whole scene looked very much like the mirror-like entrance to Ruins No. 9.

"Roar!" The Ice Field Bear only reacted when something changed inside the valley. It saw the tiny figure of a human suddenly vanish and charged over in fury, covering the few hundred meters in an instant.

Unfortunately, by then, the distorted light had already settled, and the human had disappeared.

The distorted light concealed an entrance. Beyond it lay a crystal-clear hall.

The hall was vast and empty, with not a soul in sight. Yet despite how long it had stood, it showed no signs of decay.

Suddenly, a voice rang out through the hall.

"Intruder carries a Falling Ink Star Token. Verification complete. Token confirmed."

Ji Yun's Auxiliary Optical Computer suddenly lit up. The Auxiliary Optical Computer he'd obtained from Ruins No. 9 spoke in a sweet voice.

"Hello, member of Falling Ink Star. I'm the intelligence of this base. I've now connected to your Auxiliary Optical Computer."

"An intelligence?" Ji Yun jumped in surprise.

"Do you mean something like the intelligence in Ruins No. 9?"

The Auxiliary Optical Computer lit up, displaying the image of a sweet-looking young woman. The hall then lit up as well, and a stream of light gathered in midair, forming a woman identical to the one on the screen.

"You mean this base also belongs to Falling Ink Star?" Ji Yun was astonished.

"Yes," the sweet-voiced young woman replied. "This base was used by Falling Ink Star on Earth Star to store supplies. It contains a few treasures."

"But the real treasures are all kept on Falling Ink Star. Though some of the treasures here are quite valuable, they aren't the sort of things that make powerful experts go mad."

"Treasures?" A flicker of excitement passed through Ji Yun's mind.

"What level are these experts you mentioned? Universe Level?"

The sweet-voiced young woman smiled. "On Falling Ink Star, Universe Level experts can hardly be called powerful. The powerful experts I meant are above Universe Level. But in the vast universe, Universe Level experts are still considered strong."

"Could you show me?" Ji Yun slowly let out a breath, calming himself.

"You are the first person in fifty thousand years to enter this base with a Falling Ink Star Token. You naturally deserve ownership of everything here."

The sweet-voiced young woman smiled. "Please, follow me."

A passage suddenly opened in the middle of the hall. It was blue, and seemed to lead some distance ahead.

"All right." Ji Yun nodded, holding back his excitement.